As you know, there are all sorts of items you have to keep in mind when you’re prepping for a trip to Disney World.

I’m sure you’re thinking of all the essentials, your outfits, your most comfortable shoes, and some of those just-in-case items. That’s all well and good, but have you ever thought about the items you should never buy when you get to Disney World? Well, we thought we’d save you the time (and some money) and share a list of the things we think you should definitely not buy in the parks!

Let’s not waste any time and dive right into our list of 7 things you should NEVER buy in the Disney World parks!

Sunscreen

Let’s start with one of our most recommended park essentials — sunscreen. Yes, you’re in sunny Florida, and yes, we absolutely want you to protect your skin, but buying sunscreen inside the park can end up costing you around double what you’d pay at your local store or favorite retailer like Amazon.

Unfortunately that theme park markup is real. The best thing to do is to plan ahead and pack your own.

For example, we’ve really been enjoying this Supergoop! SPF 40 Sunscreen and maybe it could be the one for you! It’s effective at protecting your skin. It fits perfectly even in a fanny pack. And it’s typically less expensive then picking up the option you find in the parks.

Get it here!

Autograph Books

Sure, Disney’s autograph books are classic, but they’re for what they are (just a few pages of paper) they’re also overpriced. Instead, buy a cute notebook beforehand, or get creative and have characters sign a hat, a picture frame, your refillable water bottle (have fun with it and get creative).

You’ll end up having the same magical memento for a fraction of the cost. Plus, who doesn’t love a DIY Disney souvenir?

Now, if you do want to have an authentic Disney autograph book, how about checking out this Disney World Park Life Autograph Book? At the end of the day, it’s a perfectly good book to get those autographs and it’ll save you a bit of cash too!

Get it here!

Bottled Water

We are HUGE on making sure you’re hydrated at Disney World. It’s a hot place that doesn’t have a ton of shade. So, this one’s a biggie.

A bottle of water at Disney World can cost around $4, so instead of shelling out constantly for water, do what we do — bring a refillable bottle and take advantage of the water refill stations throughout the parks! Now, if you don’t have a refillable bottle, you can still get a free cup of water from counter-service restaurants throughout the parks for free!

If you’re looking for a solid option when it comes to a refillable water bottle, check out this Owala Water Bottle!

We also love it because it made for the perfect canvas to have some of our favorite characters sign it.

Get it here!

Ponchos

Speaking of Florida weather, it really is no joke, and if you find yourself in Disney World during the rainy season (which feels like it’s all year long), you’re almost guaranteed to have a shower each and every afternoon. While Disney does sell ponchos, they’re about $12 each, and that adds up fast if you’re buying for the whole family.

What we’d rather you do (which will save you some cash) is to pick up a pack of ponchos before your trip. That way you’ll save big without sacrificing comfort, and when the rain starts, you’ll be glad you did!

Now, we love our Frogg Toggs Poncho and we’re pretty sure you will too! It comes with its own case. It’s sturdy and lightweight, and can be stuffed really small into your parks bag.

Get it here!

FuelRods

Aside from staying hydrated, one of the things we need you to know is that you will burn through a metric ton of power on your devices while your at Disney World, specifically on your phone since everything from navigating to reservations, even just unlocking your hotel room, it all happens right on your phone.

So, you’re gonna want to come with some kind of power bank so you don’t suffer from a dead phone only partway through your first day. You’ve probably seen that Disney offers FuelRods all around the parks for around $30, and you get unlimited swaps at the kiosks when they are out of juice, which is super convenient.

The thing is that you can typically pick up a pack of them on Amazon for the same price that you’ll find at the park (and yes, they’re the exact same thing and can be swapped without a problem).

So, if you want to bring some FuelRods, we’d recommend checking out Amazon so you can come with your own for about half the price.

Get them here!

Balloons

Now, these last two are going to feel controversial (just warning you up front). If you’ve seen those iconic Mickey balloons, you know how tempting they are. They almost feel like a right of passage when you come to Disney World, but be warned. Not only are they going to end up hitting you and your neighbors (most likely in the face if you’ve got them secured to a stroller) all the time, they’re quite pricey.

On top of that, they won’t even make it through airport security if you’re flying home. So, enjoy them while you’re in the park, but if you really want a souvenir that lasts, there are a lot of other options than a pricey balloon.

Bubble Wands

Yes, they’re cute, and kids love them, but those Disney bubble wands come at a premium, and they can be, shall we say, not the most enjoyable experience when you get a face full of them.

If you really want to blow some bubbles on your trip, maybe instead you pack a few dollar-store bubble tubes or even bring a small wand from home. That way, you and the kids will still have fun, and you won’t be spending a small fortune on one from the parks.

Now, if you’re looking for a Disney bubble wand at a bit of a discount, check out this Disney Lightning McQueen Bubble Wand! This might be the perfect one for your kiddo especially if they love Cars. Also, this one lights up!

Get it here!

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest deals on Disney products, so stay tuned for more.

Did you know we have a Disney-themed Amazon Storefront? Check it out!

The post 7 Items You Should NEVER Buy at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.