I’ve been to Disney theme parks more than 50 times – the free hack that can save you hundreds on holiday

THE pressure to make a once-in-a-lifetime Disney theme park holiday the best experience can be overwhelming.

But learning how to save money while holidaying in one of the parks can help families enjoy their bucket list trip.

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The travel money experts at  have teamed up with self-confessed Disney park expert, Ryan Ogilvie at Theme Park Trader, to reveal some money-saving tips.

Ryan said: "I’ve been to Walt Disney World 30-35 times and have been going since I was 3 years old.

"I’ve been to Disneyland Paris around 15-20 times, with plans to visit Disneyland next year and Tokyo Disneyland in 2026 or 2027."

This means Ryan has been to Disney theme parks around 50 times, which means he knows exactly how holidaymakers should save their cash.

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In a bid to save money at the Disney parks, Ryan recommends order ice water at restaurants because it's completely free.

He said: "I still see so many guests purchasing bottles of water when in the parks and it’s not needed.

"Take your own bottles (or use your Disney ones if staying on-site) and ask for ice water.

"It’s free and you can transfer it to your refillable cup. It sounds obvious, but if you’re buying multiple bottles of water at $4+ a day, you’re going to be spending into the hundreds by the end of a trip."

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While it may not seem like a lot, the cost of daily bottles of water will soon add up.

Ryan believes holidaymakers often forget these additional costs, he added: "When it comes to travelling to a Disney Park, many people are mistaken in thinking that once you book your hotel and tickets, you’re done.

"This is the biggest misstep I see people take and it results in a poorer experience. 

"Every detail of your Disney trip needs to be planned in advance to make the most of your trip.

"This includes planning on what days you’ll be at which parks, what table service restaurants you’ll be dining in and, of course, what attractions you’ll be experiencing and when (especially if you’ll be using Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi-Pass or Lightning Lane Singe Pass). Unless you’re visiting regularly, long-gone are the days when you could just ‘wing’ a day at Disney."

RYAN'S OTHER TIPS

Asking for ice water wasn't Ryan's only money-saving tip, he had plenty of others too, including bringing your own snacks into the parks.

He also recommended making the most of the free activities at the park like the parades, firework shows, character meet-and-greets.

Park-goers who are crunching the numbers should also consider whether it's more cost-effective to purchase a Disney Dining Plan and staying off-site.

Other extra costs should also be factored into a holiday budget when planning a trip to one of the Disney parks, including money for tips and parking costs.

OTHER DISNEY TIPS

Meanwhile, here are some top tips for saving money while enjoying the resort as much as possible.

Order food to your hotel

One of the things guests spend most of their money on at Disney World is food, but there are ways around that.

Bringing food from supermarkets to the hotels, means guests can prepare their own lunches from their rooms.

Some resorts will charge to bring the food up to your room, but if you go down to collect it yourself, it won't cost any extra.

Split meals/order from the kids menu

Another food-related way to save money is to split a main course, or order from the children's menu.

Meals are often big enough for two, while the children's portions can also sustain most people.

Buy discounted gift cards

Discounted gift cards exist and can be used to pay for almost everything inside the park.

Kari Becker, a Disney travel planner, told : "You can purchase discounted Disney gift cards in bulk at stores such as Target, Sam's Club, and BJ's.

"On our last trip, we saved over $300 (£266) just by buying discounted Disney gift cards."

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Use these tips on your next theme park trip

Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.

1. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
2. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer - this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
3. Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
4. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out "birthday badges" that can get you freebies.
5. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.

Here are some of the secret freebies you can get at Disney theme parks.

And a mum-of-two has revealed how to save as much as £7k on a Disney holiday.

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