In the age of Instagram, Disneyland can be like a giant photoshoot. You’ll see visitors wearing perfectly coordinated outfits, snapping pictures with their dole whip or Matterhorn macaroon. If you also want the perfect ears or tee for your trip, there are a few things you can do to avoid breaking the bank.
1. Shop before you go.
Honestly, the best advice I can give to save money on clothing and accessories is to buy it before you actually visit the resort. Several non-Disney stores sell tons of Disney-licensed clothing, which often ends up being a lot cheaper than buying directly from the parks or your local Disney store. These include Target, JCPenney, Wal-Mart, Hot Topic, Amazon, and Kohl’s.
You can also find fan created Disney clothes and accessories! Obviously prices from different sellers aren’t consistent, but many of these shops offer the perfect outfit for your trip – at a big discount from the official store. Try Etsy, TeePublic, or RedBubble. (I have my own Teepublic shop here!)
2. Try a little DIY.
Even if you’re not terribly crafty, it might be worthwhile to try making your own stuff! There are tons of tutorials online to make your own Disney tees, Mickey/Minnie ears, or tiaras with materials from your local craft or dollar store. Here are a few I’ve done over the years:
3. Take advantage of your cards or points.
If you have airline, credit card, or hotel points, Disney is quite often an option for a redeemable gift card. Disney gift cards can be used for virtually any purchase at the Disneyland Resort: tickets, meals, merchandise, events, etc. Gift cards can come in very handy if you want to pick up a few new outfits without adding to your credit card bill.
And for those interested in signing up for a Disney Visa, you’ll get 10% off select merchandise locations in both parks and in Downtown Disney.
Do you have any other money-saving tips for your Disneyland outfits? If so, I’d love to hear them!
On my most recent trip to Disney World, I noticed a lot of people wearing cute Disney clothes and accessories they had ordered off Etsy or Amazon. You can find a lot of Disney souvenirs for much cheaper online than you can at the parks. You can also order things like Disney photo albums, character autograph books, etc. in advance and save money rather than buying them in the parks.
yep, that’s absolutely true!
I guess this isn’t necessarily saving money but for me to budget I buy gift cards at the grocery store for Disney. So if i have fifty dollars in gift cards that is all I can buy for ears or whatever during my trip.
That’s a great idea!
Great tips! I am always looking for ways to save money.