Avoid This Common Clothing Mistake At Disney Parks To Save Money & Stretch Your Budget

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Let's face it: Disney is expensive. It's not just the tickets and hotels, but the little things that sneak up on us and add up to an empty wallet. Common culprits are Mickey-shaped pretzels, Lightning Lane passes, and drinks from every country in Epcot. But the real kicker is the merch. When you enter a gift store, it's almost as if you black out, and suddenly you've spent more on sweatshirts, pins, and Loungefly bags than you did on park tickets in the first place.

However, this common mistake can be prevented with a simple life hack. The best way to take the stress out of your next Disney vacation and save money on merchandise and souvenirs is to buy them beforehand. While it sounds counterintuitive, this could actually save you hundreds of dollars on your next Disney trip. There are plenty of places to find cute Disney merchandise: most obviously, the official Disney website, but you can also find more affordable options at Target, Etsy, or several other online retailers that sell Disney merch. When you purchase all the budget-friendly Disney souvenirs you want ahead of time, you will be less tempted to go wild in the gift store, plus you get to rock everything you bought already in the parks.

Think about it, if you go into the park already wearing a Cinderella shirt, Mickey ears, and an adorable Loungefly bag, you're less likely to want to grab something else to carry around all day as well. This goes for park essentials, too, because they will also add up in price as soon as you step into the parks. Think lanyards, autograph books, water misters, etc. These are things you'll want to pack up beforehand to avoid the in-park price spike.

This Disney merch hack also works great if you are visiting the parks with kids. Instead of splurging on every eye-catching doodad they see, get stuff before the trip to surprise them once you're there. For example, kids always want bubble wands, but these can sometimes cost upwards of $30. However, you can find some on Amazon for $15-$20. This way, when your little ones start asking for a bubble wand, you can pop out the one you already bought as a fun surprise. This trick works for adults, too. If you want to keep the excitement of new things up during your trip, buy a mystery Disney pin blind box and open it periodically throughout your trip.