Money Saving Tips When Visiting Disney Parks

Disney trips are a load of fun but they can also take a toll on your wallet. There are a few things I always try and do before visiting the parks to make sure that I don't worry too much about money when I am there. 

Purchase tickets using gift cards

We use our Target Red Card to purchase gift cards at 5% off. Target offers debit or credit card options. We then use these cards to buy our tickets online. This is a great way to save a few dollars on each ticket! It also helps budget before your trip. You can buy a gift card every month or so when you have a few extra dollars, it will add up sooner than you think!

Purchase gift cards for spending money

You can also use the Target gift card hack to buy gift cards for your in park spending like food, souvenirs etc. 

Purchase Used Pins 

We purchase a pack of Disney pins BEFORE we fly to Disney on ebay or Mercari (use my link to save $30!) .  Search for Disney Pin Lot and make sure they have the Disney marking on the back. You can trade these pins with Disney cast members to create your own collection.

Pack snacks

Whether we drive or fly to the park we always bring snacks. Southwest lets you bring 2 bags so a half a bag or so of food is worth it. We always bring: goldfish, jerky, oatmeal packets, my favorite sour raisins, nuts and most importantly capri suns or juice boxes. 

Get a hotel room with a fridge

Making sure your room has a spot for cold snacks is a must. We bring capri suns or juice boxes and freeze them. They act as ice packs in your back pack for your other snacks. 

Bring a Water Bottle or Camelbak

In order to continue their exclusive contract with Disney, Coca Cola provides all its products to the park for free. This includes water bottles. Plastic is so wasteful and water is FREE. Our camelbak has seen so many Disney trips and its one of our fave items. We got ours second hand but the investment is worth it.  Make sure to pick one that has extra space for snacks. 

Pack glow sticks from the Dollar Store

Every time I am at the park I see kids sad because their parents wont buy them the ridiculously priced goodies they bring out at parade time. You know, that cart that walks by with glow sticks and light up toys? When I was a kid my mom was clever enough to buy glow sticks in advance that she pulled out during parade time. It was cheaper and just as fun! 

Bring apparel from your favorite small businesses

I love to wear small shop Disney swag, especially in the park where I can tell all the people who ask me where to get the cute items. A few of my faves are Pixie Lee & Co., Ears Full of Sugar,  Ambrie,  and Bibbidi Bobbidi Brooke.  You can also find cute things on Mercari (use my link to save $30!)  and poshmark like gently used spirit jerseys and kids clothing! 

I hope this guide gives you some fun tips to save money on your next magical getaway!

Sincerely,

Samantha 

Santa Cruz, California Local Gift Guide

For Anyone: 

Ride out the Wave is a great online resource to buy local gift cards. There are plenty of options that can be purchased online. Check them out here.

Indie book shops need our help!!! And who doesn't love a great book? My fave bookshop is Bookshop Santa Cruz. There are lots of ways to give the gift of reading. Gift cards, books or purchase tickets for an upcoming virtual book event. Bookshop Santa Cruz offers online ordering and curbside pickup. Check them out here. They have also created handy gift guides for adults and kids. 

Ethos in Capitola Village has a wide variety of low-waste gifts. This a great spot for anyone who loves beauty products or low waste home solutions. They even have pet toys. They have created a great gift guide. Check it out here. They offer curbside pickup and local delivery. 

Staff of Life is a great local store that has yummy food but also lots of gift and home items. A local gift basket, wine or a gift card would make a great gift. Check out their website for details.

For Beauty Lovers:

Nudi Goods is a wonderful low-waste cosmetics company. They have wonderful gifts like lip balms, mascara and candles. Check them out here or at Ethos in Capitola Village. 

Hip and Chick in Santa Cruz has some delicious body products and candles. They have online and in store purchasing options. Find their holiday collection here. 

For Kids:

Wonderland Toys is the cutest spot and the owners are super helpful and friendly. They have lots of items perfect for stocking stuffers as well as educational toys and games. Visit them online or in person. 

Also, check out Bookshop Santa Cruz here. They have also created a kids gift guide. 

For Jewelry Lovers:

Laguna Jewelry makes beautiful one of a kind pieces. You can follow her creation process on Instagram, it’s super fun to see the final product. Check out her website here. 

Many Hands Gallery in Capitola sells lots of different items from artists in the local area. It’s a good spot to pick up gifts for people with all different styles. Make sure to check out the jewelry made by my good friend Alena Byrnes. Find the gallery opening hours here. 

For Coffee Lovers:

There are so many amazing local coffee shops in Santa Cruz. My favorite is the Ugly Mug. They offer gift cards here.  While you are there make sure to pick up some Bella Biscotti. It's delicious. 

If you want to gift the gift of coffee beans my favorite local pick is Cat and Cloud. They have 4 locations throughout Santa Cruz County and they also offer coffee subscriptions you can mail to your out of area friends and family. Find their coffee here. 

For Beer Lovers: 

Beer Thirty in Soquel has a wide variety of beers, ciders and other beverages you can purchase and gift this holiday season. They also offer gift cards. Check them out.

For the Health Conscious:

Nordic Naturals, a company based in Watsonville employs over 150 local residents. They have plenty of options for great stocking stuffers and wellness gifts. You can purchase online, at Staff of Life or your favorite local health food store. 

Santa Cruz Core is my go to place for massage and wellness. They have 2 Santa Cruz County locations. They offer all sorts of services and super friendly staff who can help you pick a great service to gift to a loved one. I have had multiple appointments their since summer and I was really impressed by their covid precautions. Check them out here. 

I know that purchasing local is a privilege not everyone has. If there is an item you must get from a big box retailer try and do it in the local store. This helps support local employees from your community. 

I created this gift guide to help support my favorite local businesses. I chose all of the options based on personal experience and was not influenced by any store or brand to promote their products or services. Comment below if you have any local recommendations of your own! 

Best Solid Shampoo

So many people have asked me how to transition to solid shampoo. Most people need time to adjust to a different type of hair care. For me this was about three wash cycles before my hair became less oily and way more manageable than it was when I used traditional shampoo. Take this time away from others as the motivation you need for change! I have used so many different types of solid shampoo and liked each for different reasons. I also recommend using an apple cider vinegar rinse a couple times a week if you have hard water.  

Benefits of Solid Shampoo

1. Lower/Zero Waste

2. Reduced cost (for most brands one bar is equivalent to 3 shampoo bottles)

3. Travel convenience 

Best 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner- Love Beauty and Planet 

This bar smells delicious and lathers wonderfully. It doesn't go mushy or anything so it is a great travel option. It is cruelty free and sulfate free. One of the best things about this bar is that it is easy to find at Target and Walmart so it is accessible for lots of people. My only complaint with this is that one of their ingredients is palm oil. I try to avoid products that include palm oil which is why I prefer some of other bars. 

Best Men's Bar- Ethique Tip-To-Toe 

My husband really likes this bar and its great for shampoo or shaving. It smells nice as-well. Definitely a good low maintenance option. All of Ethique's products are free of palm oil. 

Best Purple Shampoo/Conditioner Ethique Tone It Down

There aren't many options when it comes to solid purple shampoo. What I like about Ethique's Tone it Down is you can get the shampoo and conditioners in mini size so you can try it without committing to a huge bar. 

Best Overall- HiBar 

I LOVE my HiBar shampoo. I used the green maintain set but I have also heard good things about the moisture set. I wasn't so sure about this bar when I first tried it but I was a believer after just one wash. I get the cleanest hair when I use this bar. The lather is just as good as traditional shampoo and it smells great. The conditioner lasts longer than the shampoo which is a first for me.  The shape is unique but quite useful. I purchased my HiBar from Grove Collaborative but you can also get it from a local stockist.