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

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.

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."

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.