I worked at Disney World for 2 years. There are 9 things I’d never buy at the parks.

Water bottles at Disney can be upwards of $4 apiece. When you’re in the Florida sun all day, you must stay hydrated — but not at that cost.

There are water fountains located all around Disney World property, so I usually bring a reusable tumbler that I fill up throughout the day.

Most quick-service restaurants will also give you free cups of water, so there’s no need to spend $4 every time you need a drink.

Every season the parks seem to release cute popcorn buckets.

There are always so many to choose from, and some Disney fans collect them. Personally, I don’t understand the draw.

They’re usually huge, so I don’t get where people store them when they’re not at Disney. Even in the parks, I don’t like to carry around something bulky on top of everything else I bring.

If you love eating popcorn in the parks (unlike me), you might be able to save a bit of money on refills with the buckets. However, the discounted refills are only ever going to be lucrative if you stick to one bucket since they often cost between $13 and $25 each.

One of the things I love about visiting Disney World is enjoying all the different food offerings.

I visit my favorite restaurants at Disney, hit up the food stands at the Epcot festivals, and keep my eye out for new seasonal offerings.

However, I always try to avoid generic, fairly basic food I could easily get outside of Disney, such as Caesar salad, chicken nuggets, pizza, or plain cheeseburgers.

When Disney first started making spirit jerseys some years back, I was the biggest fan. However, I’ve found myself avoiding them.

They’ve seemed to nearly double in price over the years, and I just can’t allow myself to spend upwards of $80 on a long sleeve T-shirt.

I’d rather buy other Disney merchandise.

I’ve never been a fan of the different variations of Crocs that Disney releases. In general, I’m just not a fan of this style of shoe.

I’d much rather spend my money on different Disney merchandise.

If you’ve visited Disney World, you know that a typical day involves some sort of rainstorm.

As someone who’s been going to the parks since before I could walk, I always make sure to bring rain protection. That way, I don’t have to spend money on a pricey Disney poncho or umbrella — which can cost between $12 and $40.

Although a lot of the balloons Disney releases are adorable, I never buy them.

They’re impractical, pretty expensive at about $14, and you have to carry them around all day.

Many buildings and attractions on the property don’t even allow balloons inside, so it really becomes a hassle to figure out what to do with them as you explore the park.

It can get very warm at Disney World, especially in the summer. But if I know it is going to be a hot day, I always bring my own misting fan.

I can typically find a functional one on Amazon or at Walmart for a lot cheaper than the version in the Disney parks that’s over $20.

Plus, I like getting a smaller fan that can be popped in a backpack as opposed to some of the larger models Disney sells.

I’ve tried the different prepackaged candies and popcorns from the Disney gift shops so many times before, and they’re never worth it.

I’d rather get fresh popcorn or a made-to-order dessert when I’m visiting the parks.

This story was originally published on September 26, 2022, and most recently updated on March 26, 2025.