Lets be honest. If you’re like me, you’ve had some days where your bank account is empty, but you’ve got a lot of plans for the day. And what if you happen to be broke at Disneyland? You probably spent all your money on the ticket to get in! This post will provide you with some tools and “tricks” to mastering your broke day at Disney. You may be broke, but you can still get some cool souvenirs and experiences.

Water (FREE): Staying hydrated is important. If you go to any of the restaurants or permanent food stands, then they should be able to provide you with a cup of water. Sodas and various drinks can cost $5 or more each, so saving money while staying hydrated is great! If it’s a “temporary” stand that has wheels, they won’t be able to get you a water cup.

Bring Your Own Food (FREE): Feel free to bring in your own food and drinks to the park. No alcohol – you’ll have to buy it at Disney’s California Adventure. This will save you a LOT of money.

Fastpasses (FREE): If you are REALLY new to Disney, it’s time you learn this now. Fast passes are free and they don’t charge you like some of their competitors do!

Pressed Pennies (<$1): This is a really cheap souvenir! Depending on the pressing machine that you go to – some are quarter pressers and some are penny pressers – you’ll be able to make an awesome souvenir! Plus new machines just deputed for the 60th Anniversary!

Shrunken Ned (50¢): Located in the Adventureland gift shop, South Sea Traders, Shrunken Ned will give you a cure for any ailment you have! It’s fun to see how he analyzes each person case by case! And you get a print out of the prescription. Other machines like this are: Fortune Red in New Orleans Square and Esmerelda on Main Street, U.S.A..

Buttons (FREE): Celebrating something at the park? They have buttons for First Timers, Birthdays, Anniversaries/Engagements, and a simple “I’m Celebrating Button.” They’re available at most of the gift shops and they’ll even write your name and the year on it! Plus, they’ll randomly have special events that give away unique buttons. MAGICAL TIP: keep a tally of every person who wishes you a happy birthday or says congratulations on the back of the button to see how magical your day really was.

Autopia Driver’s License (FREE): When you’re in line, a Cast Member will give you a driver’s license for proper certification. They may be changing the look of these when the ride opens soon with new sponsorship from Honda.

Jedi Training Academy (FREE): This is in Tomorrowland. If you have a young one (between ages 4 and 12) with you, they’ll get a lightsaber, a cape, and a chance to battle a Sith! Read more about it here.

Jungle Cruise Map (FREE): You can ask them at the ride or download it here! A map of the entire attraction and the various rivers and regions.

Animation Academy Drawings (FREE): At Disney’s California Adventure, you can go inside the Animation Academy where you’ll be taught how to draw a character. They do the class every 30 minutes and you get to keep your “now-professional” drawing!

Autographs (FREE): Meeting a character and having them sign your book, backpack, hat, shirt, etc. is free! All you need is a Sharpie pen. And you’ll have that memory forever. Learn more on our past post about meeting characters.

Character Pictures (FREE): When you’re meeting characters, have the character attendant take a picture with your cell phone or camera. They won’t charge you, it’s a courtesy. If there’s not an attendant, take a selfie.

Disney Chase VISA Card “Meet and Greet” (FREE): If you have a Disney debit or credit card, you have an exclusive character meet and greet where you get a free photo. They’ll give you the voucher to redeem a 5×7 of the interaction at the end of the night.

Senior Wilderness Explorer (FREE): Through completing a series of challenges at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, you’ll earn stamps for your explorers book. Once you complete everything you’ll get an official sticker badge.

Buzz Lightyear Ride Pictures (FREE): After you get off Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland, you’ll see touchscreen computers on the left. Find your picture and enter your email, and they’ll send you your ride picture for FREE!!

Ride Photos (FREE): When you get off the ride, feel free to take a picture of your photo with your cell phone or camera. This won’t give you the best quality, and you may have a watermark on top – but you’ll still have the photo to look back on. Plus now you’ll have the code for your picture, so if you’d like you can pay to have the high quality one when you get home.

Stickers (FREE): Take a survey when you enter/exit the park or even talk to a custodial cast member. They may be nice enough to give you a free sticker! Sometimes they have stickers at the Vacation Club booths too.

First Aid (FREE): If you need a bandaid or cough drop – something simple and urgent – they’re there to help! Ask any cast member for assistance to the nearest first aid.

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Samples (FREE): Walk in, they give you a free sample. Walk in again, they’ll give you another sample. Don’t be greedy.. I swear I haven’t been.

Boudin Factory Bread Samples (FREE): Right across from Ghirardelli is the bread factory. You can sample some bread as you walk through the building.

Disneyland App Snapchat Heads Up!

Phone Apps (FREE): Some essential apps to have while you’re in the park

Disneyland (iPhone/Android) wait times and restaurant, entertainment and character information

Snapchat (iPhone/Android) because of their geotagged filters for pictures

Heads Up! (iPhone/Android) Check in at Disneyland on your phone and get the DisneyParks pack for free!

Pictopia: Disney Edition (iPhone/Android) for Disney trivia

Disney Magic Kingdoms (iPhone/Android) to build your own park

Disney Crossy Road (iPhone/Android)

Disney Dream Treats (iPhone/Android)

Other

Trading Pins ($7.95+): This is a fun and relatively cheaper souvenir. You can start collecting them too overtime. In a future post, you’ll learn about strategies to pin trading.

Silhouettes ($9.95): Not free, but still very cool. It takes about a minute and they’ll cut out a silhouette of your face as you have a quick chat. It goes on a 5×7 background and they give you two copies. You can see an example on our about me page! It costs an extra 9.95 to have another person or character.

Discounts (10%-15% off): If you have a Disney VISA Card you get 10% off select dining locations. If you have an annual pass you get a lot more discounts! Click here to learn more. They also have discounts for D23 Members, Disney Vacation Club, AARP and AAA.

Have ideas of other ways to save money at the parks?

Write them in the comments!