With all these price increases that we’ve been seeing, I think it’s time we start looking at ways to save money when visiting the parks. This first tip I’m sharing has been super helpful for me, so I hope it’s just as beneficial for you.

This money-saving tip is for our friends that are DVC Members and Annual Passholders or anyone that travels with someone in one of those categories. Buy your bottled beverages from merchandise locations!

Almost every merchandise location has a refrigerator filled with water, soda, juice, and Powerade. There are also snacks nearby, like pretzels or trail mix. Since these drinks and snacks live in a Disney shop, guests can use discounts to purchase them. They also have a variety of water in these refrigerators, not just Dasani water. This discount might not be huge, but every little bit helps.

@wdwinfo Money Saving Tips at Walt Disney World! #wdw #wdw50 #disneyworld #disneyparks ♬ Cumbia Buena – Grupo La Cumbia

I go through water like no tomorrow, and my mom always needs a Diet Coke. Buying our drinks from different stores throughout the parks has helped us save money over the last few years. I learned this hack while in college because I was trying to save any money I could while visiting Disney World. These hacks I learned were beneficial because I was working in hospitality. That industry doesn’t pay a lot when you are just starting, so it added up even if I saved a few cents here and there.

I recommend that if you want water, go to a quick-service dining location where you can get a free cup of water, but I know some people prefer bottled water. Recently, I have started traveling with an insulated water bottle. I can fill it with cups of water at those quick-service restaurants, meaning I don’t have to purchase water from stores or those locations.

Keep in mind, Annual Passholder discounts fluctuate. Recently, our discount was at 30% for a limited time. Other times, Annual Passholders have a 20% discount at merchandise locations. If you are curious about the current discounts, Disney has a page dedicated to that.

What are some of the ways you save money when visiting the parks? Let us know in the comments.