This blog is the 7th and final in a series of blogs that I have posted over the past few weeks on how to make the most of a trip to Disneyland in California. One of the biggest costs for my family when going to Disneyland, when we first started making the trip, was for food and drinks. It is not uncommon for a meal for just one person to be over $15 per person. But the best thing is you don’t have to pay these high prices!
Over the years we have found a few tips that will help you keep your food and drink costs low.
- TIP #1: When selecting your hotel, check to see if they include breakfast as part of their package. Many hotels do and this can save you significantly for the most important meal of the day!
- TIP #2: Look into hotels where the rooms have at least a refrigerator, and most also have a microwave. There are a few hotels, like the Staybridge Suites, that even have full kitchens. There are several grocery stores within a few miles of the park where you can pick up food so that you can pack your own lunches and snacks and take them to the park (yes, food is allowed in the parks as long as you are not bringing in big coolers). In addition, if you have a room with a full kitchen, you can choose to further cut your costs and make your own dinners as well.
- TIP #3: Keeping hydrated can also be quite expensive. A small bottle of water at the park can cost as much as $3 each and with summer temperatures this can lead to a huge fortune in a small amount of time. We have found a great way to keep hydrated without the huge costs. We have purchased Camelbak Hydration Packs for the whole family (including young children as young as 4-5 yrs old) and we use these on all our trips that we will be out and about for full days. You fill the bladder with water, you can even add flavoring such as crystal light, slide it into the pack and you are ready to go. You will never have to worry about going thirsty during your whole day! These hydration packs come in back pack models and there are also models with just the hydration pack. They are a great way to stay hydrated, save money on drinks throughout the day, and can be easily incorporated into the items that you would normally take anyways such as a backpack.
I hope these tips help you to make the most of your Disneyland trip. Please check back on my blog for future tips on how to create the best vacation at the Happiest Place On Earth! If you have any questions about planning a trip to Disneyland or would like to leave a comment, please use the comment section below. 
