3. Skip breakfast (sort of)

Image: Disney

To clarify, we’re not saying skip breakfast entirely. Rather, make your own breakfast most days of your trip.

Breakfast at Walt Disney World is usually both expensive and unhealthy. Mickey Mouse pancakes and mega-cinnamon rolls are great, but you’ll end up spending hundreds of extra dollars if you take all your breakfasts at your resort or in the parks.

If you’re not staying on property, stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast or a kitchen in your room. On Disney property, you can get access to a kitchenette or full-kitchen if you stay in any of Disney’s vacation club/Villa resorts. This can make putting together breakfast for a full family easy.

Even if you don’t have access to a kitchen, you can plan quick breakfasts of microwaved oatmeal, cereal and milk, breakfast bars, or fruit to enjoy most mornings of your trip. The key is to get the energy you need before hitting the parks so you aren’t tempted to blow your budget on the first breakfast buffet you come across.

We usually splurge on one Disney breakfast. The options are myriad, but some visitor favorites include the Akershus Royal Dining Hall princess breakfast, Tusker House at Animal Kingdom, Chef Mickey’s, or the extra-delicious Kona Café at the Polynesian Resort (order the Tonga Toast and thank me later). We’ve had mixed reports of waning quality at Epcot’s Garden Grill, Liberty Tree Tavern, and even Crystal Palace, so your splurge breakfast may be better spent elsewhere.

4. Drain old gift cards

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Have you built up a stack of nearly-drained generic Visa/Mastercard gift cards over the years? If you regularly receive these from family and friends on birthdays and Christmas, you may have a whole drawer of potential Disney cash waiting to be tapped. This one requires a little foresight and patience, but you can actually drain those pesky micro cards at Disney if you’re clever about it.

Before your trip, gather together all your low-balance gift cards. Write down your balance in marker on the back of each of the cards and put them together in a pouch or envelope in order of balance. On a side note, if you have gift cards left over for specific restaurants and stores, do a quick check to see if any might be usable in Disney Springs.

During your Disney trip, before you make purchases, take a moment to get one or two of your low-balance gift cards out. While it’s tempting to start with the highest balance cards to cover a full purchase, try to do the opposite. You can either start with your lowest balance cards or pick a card that just short of what you’re looking to buy. Have it ready to go with the balance easily accessible before you get in line.

Image: Disney

When you reach the cash register, ask the cashier if you can divide your purchase between 2-3 cards. Try to avoid doing more than this, particularly if other guests are waiting. I would keep it to two cards if the store is busy. While some rookie cast members may not know how to do this, most Disney establishments can divide a purchase between two cards. Give them the gift card with the exact balance you’re looking to drain first, then put the rest of your purchase on your normal choice-method of payment. Make sure they know to run the cards as credit. I’ve had occasional confused cast members try to run them as Disney gift cards, which won’t work.

Do this every time you have a chance throughout your trip, particularly when buying souvenirs or snacks. By the time your vacation is over, you’ll have hopefully used up all that extra cash!