This is quite the loaded question. And honestly the answer would be different depending on who you ask, this is just how we have tried to manage a budget and pivot when necessary since moving here. If you have ever been on a Disney Vacation you know how expensive it is and how broke you are when you get home! We knew going in we were going to have to be very conscious of our spending and eating out once we moved and below are just a few things that have helped us out as we’ve learned!
So our biggest struggle has been making the boys understand that we aren’t on vacation so we can’t buy souvenirs and eat all the things every time we go to the park. When we came on vacations we had saved money up to spend and the boys usually had their own money or gift cards to spend on what they wanted. They knew if they didn’t get it while we were there they wouldn’t be able to get it later. Now, we CAN come get it another time or it can be a birthday/Christmas/holiday present. But they still feel that sense of urgency that they won’t be able to get it later.
No Sense Of Urgency
Thankfully, they are starting to understand that not only do they not have to get it right now but after some time it isn’t something they can’t live without. And I won’t lie, it’s hard for me too! The seasonal stuff is what gets me, but I also tell myself that I don’t need all the things and I live here now so if I don’t get something this year I can get it when it comes around next year! Or even better, when it goes to the Character Warehouse outlet. Although Jay is a bit of an enabler and tends to get me some seasonal things on his own even though I have tried to refrain! Hahahaha!!
Don’t Eat All Your Money
One of the biggest ways we have curbed spending is to not eat out in the parks a lot! My biggest tip for living here is to eat before you head to the parks and then bring snacks with you. We are very selective on when we eat at the parks and how we eat at the parks. Very rarely do we go to a sit down restaurant in the parks and all order a full meal and drinks (Trust me the drinks are what get you, bring your own!). Usually if we are eating out in the parks, Jay and I will split a meal and the boys will either split a meal or order exclusively off the cheaper kids menu.
This has helped tremendously because then we can still go to some of our favorite places but we aren’t breaking the bank by all eating a full meal that is typically too big anyway!! Eating out beyond the Disney bubble is a different animal. You can eat out at a very reasonable price at local spots in town.
Eat Local
One of our favorite places is in downtown Winter Garden, called the Whole Enchilada. It is AMAZING! As the name implies it is a Mexican restaurant that sources it’s ingredients from local farms and butchers and made fresh to order. They have an amazing rooftop bar and it is incredibly family friendly. We have found that most things are very reasonable on Plant Street and the surrounding Horizon West area.
If It’s For Free, It’ For Me
Another huge money saver down here is ALL the free festivities that go on everywhere! We have so enjoyed going to all of these things and just getting to know our community. Of course there are things you could spend your money on but the great thing that you don’t have to!
We have enjoyed 4th of July, Halloween, Fall and now Christmas festivals, parades and parties. We have yet to see one event that required you to buy a ticket to go and enjoy everything offered. We bring our snacks and eat before we go and then just go and enjoy all the activities without spending a bunch of money.
Even Disney has some free activities we have enjoyed! Over in Disney Springs they have the Christmas Tree Stroll right now that is totally free! You go grab a map and hunt down all the different trees throughout Disney Springs and once you’ve completed the map you go back and get a completer pin. This was such a fun way to explore Disney Springs and see all the trees and we didn’t spend a dime to enjoy it!
And of course we just enjoy going to parks to ride some things and just walk around! Although this isn’t free since we pay for our annual passes it is still something we can go and do without having to spend money in the moment.
Conclusion
There is absolutely no shortage of things to do and enjoy down here and we are trying to do it all while staying on budget! It isn’t always easy and sometimes there is just something we have to have (ummm…Mr Toad Popcorn Bucket) but overall we don’t spend a ton of money eating out or buying souvenirs like we would if we were on vacation. I hope this helped a little if you are thinking about moving down here and want to know what it’s really like or if you are just curious what it looks like to live and play in Disney every week when you don’t have disposable income. and if you do have disposable income…..feel free to share! Hahahahha
If you haven’t already subscribed to the blog, make sure you click that subscribe tab and get the new blogs in your email every week! You can also follow the blog on Instagram and Facebook to see all kinds of Disney magic! I so appreciate anyone reading my ramblings and I hope that it makes you smile and brings a little magic to your day! Thats all for this week, if you have a topic you would like for me to write on, please comment below and let me know!! Thank you for reading and have a magical day!