3.  Load up on birthday / celebration freebies

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)

If you’ll be visiting Walt Disney World the month of a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon, you can upgrade your trip with some freebies.

The easiest way to access small freebies and VIP treatment at Walt Disney World is to wear a celebration button. Now, these little buttons aren’t as rare as they used to be—these days, it seems like everyone in parks is celebrating something. However, if you will be visiting around a birthday, anniversary, or another significant day, it can’t hurt to make sure Disney cast members know. These buttons are available for free at Guest Services in any of the parks or at the desk and concierge at Disney resorts. Many cast members stay on the lookout for opportunities to share a little extra magic with guests who are celebrating. In restaurants, this may mean a free dessert. On rides, it may give a cast member an incentive to let you ask for front row or a good seat. Your best strategy is to be kind and respectful—there are no guarantees when it comes to celebration freebies, but this always goes a long way. If nothing else, you might get some VIP treatment!

There’s a more surefire way to score freebies, particularly if you’ll be visiting Disney around the time of your birthday. There are a number of restaurants and quick stops throughout Walt Disney World that aren’t owned by Disney—think Starbucks, Rainforest Café, Shula’s, and even the Swan and Dolphin Resorts. Many of these offer excellent birthday freebies if you sign up for mailing lists. A few of the options include free drinks from Starbucks, free cupcakes from Sprinkles, free or BOGO entrees at Rainforest Café and Shula’s, and free popcorn at AMC Theaters. Check out our guide to birthday freebies at Disney parks for more specifics!

4. Upgrade your lunch plans at Epcot’s festivals

Image: Disney

Unless you travel to Epcot smack in the middle of summer, chances are you will visit during one of Epcot’s four eclectic festivals. These include the Epcot International Festival of the Arts in January and February, The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival in March through early June, The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival from August to November, and finally the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays from the end of November through December.

While all of Epcot’s festivals incorporate booths throughout the parks where guests can dine on creative small plates, none is better for roving foodies than the Food and Wine Festival. If you happen to be visiting Epcot during the ever-lengthening festivities, upgrade one or more of your mealtimes by touring the festival booths. Epcot Food and Wine dishes are some of the best deals for culinary treats within the parks, and there is seriously something for everyone. You can easily put together a full Smörgåsbord of decadent delights for the same price or less than a table or counter service meal. We usually share many of our dishes, and you can always go back around for a second helping if you really enjoy something! Historically, our consistent favorites include the Liquid Nitro Almond Chocolate Almond Truffle, the Chocolate Picante from Flavors of Fire, and literally anything from the Africa or Belgium booths.

5. Get VIP seating for shows

Image: Disney

Now, this one takes a shrewd shopper, but there are situations where a clever Disneyphile can score upcharge reserved seats for fireworks, concerts, and evening spectaculars for the spectacular price of almost nothing—if you choose one of Disney’s ever-changing entertainment-dining packages wisely.

These packages aren’t the same as Disney’s VIP dessert parties or fireworks cruises—those are great, but you’ll definitely pay big bucks to partake in them. Rather, these are packages Disney offers for dining at select restaurants that include exclusive fireworks seating. Some of these honestly aren’t such great deals. For example, a Fantasmic or Festival of the Lion King dining package will almost never be worthwhile. Both of these shows almost always have Fastpasses available for preferred seating, so you’ll be spending extra on a meal for no reason.

The best way to score a super-value on dining packages means you either need to:

A) Choose a dining package that only requires one table service credit per guest if you are on the Disney Dining Plan.

Or…

B) Pay out of pocket for a dining package that costs about the same what you would have spent in the restaurant anyways, such as some of Disney’s buffets.

The best choice for the first scenario is the Rivers of Light Fireworks dining package, where you can use one table service credit to eat at Tusker House then enjoy special seating for the show later on. Honestly, even if you’re paying out of pocket, this package is still a pretty good deal.

As for the second option, you will probably get the best deal at an Epcot buffet location like The Biergarten, which is one of the park’s most solid restaurants—you will definitely get the opportunity to eat to the fill! Usually, Biergarten is an available option for festival concert dining packages and for nighttime shows like Epcot Forever, which costs two table service credits for a package but offer a comparable price if you’ll just pay out of pocket. Always double check and compare prices before making your decision, but sometimes, these packages will work out in your favor!