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I've been a Disney World travel planner for 11 years. Here are 12 things I never buy in the parks.

I've been a Disney World travel planner for 11 years. Here are 12 things I never buy in the parks.

Jennifer Greene

I've been going to Disney World for decades, so I've learned what purchases to skip.Jennifer Greene

I have been visiting Disney World for 30 years and planning vacations there for 11 years.
I always give my clients a list of "items not to buy" before they leave for the parks.

I have been visiting Disney World for 30 years and planning trips with MEI Travel for 11 years. There are plenty of pricey park purchases that you can bring from home or find a local Walmart or Publix before your vacation.

Here are 12 things I never buy at Disney World.

I wouldn't spend money on single-use bottles of water.

You can get free cups of water or bring your own water bottle. Jennifer Greene

I don't think anyone should be buying bottled water in any of the parks or resorts.

You can get free water from any quick-service dining location, resort pool, or fountain around the parks. Why waste $4 a bottle when you could spend nothing?

Batteries are usually much more expensive in the parks.

I test my batteries at home before leaving for Disney World. Jennifer Greene

Before you leave home, put fresh batteries in your camera, portable fans, and whatever other electronics you may use on vacation.

I've found that the markup on a pack of standard batteries in the parks is almost 50%.

The Disney autograph books are cute, but they're not worth it.

You can get the characters to sign any old notebook. Jennifer Greene

It's not a Disney trip for the little ones (or young at heart) without getting autographs from their favorite characters. But it's cheaper to purchase your autograph book before leaving for the parks.

I always buy my daughter's on Etsy. They're personalized with her name and can cost half as much as Disney charges ($10 to $25 a pop).

I always buy my hand sanitizer ahead of time.

The small things of hand sanitizer can cost $12. Jennifer Greene

I certainly always want hand sanitizer around after touching so many shared surfaces in the parks. Disney sells small bottles with cute characters on them, but they cost $12.

I recommend going to the dollar store and stocking up there before your trip.

There's nothing magical about the balloons.

Balloons just aren't a practical souvenir. Jennifer Greene

The $14 to $18 Mickey balloons last maybe a week, and they're more of a hassle than they're worth.

If you want to take a fun photo with the bundle of colorful balloons on Main Street, just ask the attendant.

You can get a funnel cake somewhere else.

There isn't anything special about the funnel cakes at Disney World. Jennifer Greene

Save this purchase for your county fair and opt for a more unique Disney sweet treat instead.

I suggest the Skool Bread in the Norway Pavilion — it's my favorite snack in Epcot, and it's around $5 as opposed to the $10+ funnel cakes.

The novelty cupcakes may look pretty, but there are better treats at Disney.

After trying a few cupcakes at Disney World, they all pretty much taste the same. Jennifer Greene

There are novelty cupcakes all over Disney World, but they aren't worth the $5 or $6.

I've tried a few and found them kind of dry, plus they don't have much flavor.

Don't forget to pack your sunglasses from home.

The sunglasses options in the parks can be pricey. Jennifer Greene

You're heading to the Sunshine State, so don't forget to bring sunglasses. There's no reason to purchase them for $17+ in the parks unless it's an emergency.

I can find cheaper sunscreen outside of the parks.

I know I'm going to need sunscreen every time I visit Disney World. Jennifer Greene

A bottle of sunscreen typically costs at least $14 in the parks. I buy a cheaper bottle before my trip and make sure to pack it in my bag before we leave.

I don't think the misting fans work well enough for their price.

The fans aren't worth $22. Jennifer Greene

It gets hot in Florida, but I don't think there's any reason to buy a gimmicky $22 misting fan. It's more of a novelty item and not worth the cost.

Pick up a cheaper cooling towel on your way to Disney World.

Cooling towels can be a lifesaver at Disney World, but the branded ones are expensive. Jennifer Greene

Cooling towels are another item you can purchase for less before leaving home. They really do the trick on a hot day, but I don't buy the $25 version in the parks.

You can bring your own snacks into the parks.

I like to buy snacks at a local grocery store and save my money for meals. Jennifer Greene

I don't buy novelty snacks in the parks, mostly because they cost nearly $10 a bag.

If you're driving to Disney World, pack a ton of snacks to have for the trip. If you flew into Orlando, you can do an Instacart order and have it delivered to your hotel.