A Little Bragging from a Cheapskate!

[DisneyStarWisher]

I don't mean to brag, but I'm actually impressed with myself. I'm usually good at saving money on trips, but I think I've outdone myself. I am going to WDW for 5 days/4 nights in February with my DH who is attending a convention. Because we are taking several other trips next year, I knew I had to do this on a TIGHT budget. So here's how it looks:

Hotel: 0 (DH's work is covering this expense due to convention.)

Airline tickets: 239.40 (My DH's is paid for, but I must pay for mine.)

Cirque tickets: 0 (My mom and dad are giving these to us as Christmas gifts.)

Park tickets: 0 (I will be the only one going into the parks. I will be using 2 days on my non-expiration park hoppers I previously purchased. True, this isn't free, but it's not an expense I have on this trip.)

Meals: 155 (Here's where I am so impressed with myself. Chosen restaurants include House of Blues, Shula's Steakhouse, Kona Cafe, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Earl of Sandwich, Sunshine Seasons, Columbia Harbor House, Haagan Dazs, and Ghiradelli's. How did I do it? Well, I bought 2 $25 restaurant.com gift certificates to HoB and Shula's. My DH's breakfast and lunch will be covered for 3 of the days at the convention, and his school district is reimbursing him 3 dinners at $30 each. I will eat breakfast in the room. Then I will eat at Sunshine Seasons and CHH (using Disney Dream Reward Dollars) for lunch without him on the days of his conference; I will probably take bottled water into the parks to drink with my lunches. We will also use around $130 Disney Dream Reward Dollars to pay for the balances at dinner (except Shula's which we will pay OOP).

Not bad! 5 days/4 nights at WDW for under $400!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Mods, sorry if this is on the wrong board. I just realized that I put it on the Restaurant board. I intended to post about the restaurant savings, but I ended up adding the other information. Please move it to the correct board. Thank you!

 

[PoohsFan1]

Congratulations, are you staying on site or off site, if you are staying off site do you have to rent a car or take a taxi everywhere because that will jack up your price some more, but if you are staying on site, then WOW....maybe I should have you do our budgets for now on Have an awesome trip.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

The conference is at the Hilton Bonnet Creek. From what I understand, there is a free shuttle that runs regularly. The only cab we will take will be from the airport to the hotel and back, which will be paid for by my DH's work. Throughout the week, we plan on using the shuttle so that we don't have to rent a car. I hope it works!

BTW, thanks for the compliment. I LOVE planning trips and saving money, my two favorite pastimes!

 

[Belle5]

Very impressive and exciting! Have a blast on your bargain vacation!

 

[tlenzendorf]

What was the promo code again? I can't remember. Since we are doing OOP for our next trip, certificates for HOB is a great idea! Also, do you know when they expire? We don't go until next October. The website doesn't give much info.

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi DisneyStarWisher,
Great job. That is fantastic. There is really nothing like going on vacation and spending so little. Have a wonderful time.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

What was the promo code again? I can't remember. Since we are doing OOP for our next trip, certificates for HOB is a great idea! Also, do you know when they expire? We don't go until next October. The website doesn't give much info.

I don't remember what it was. I just googled restaurant.com discount codes and found one for 80% off. I got the $25 certificates for $2 each. As far as an expiration date, I don't think there is one. At the bottom of my printouts, it states "This Restaurant Gift Certificate does not expire." Good luck with saving money!!!

 

[tlenzendorf]

I don't remember what it was. I just googled restaurant.com discount codes and found one for 80% off. I got the $25 certificates for $2 each. As far as an expiration date, I don't think there is one. At the bottom of my printouts, it states "This Restaurant Gift Certificate does not expire." Good luck with saving money!!!

Sweet, thanks! I found a code for 70% off. Good enough for me! In case anyone wants to know, the code is "give". Just be aware, it's only 1 certificate/party/table.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Wow! With a little more research, I just learned that I can get 15% off at Earl of Sandwich and Ghiradelli's with my AAA membership and20% off at Haagen Dazs and 10% off at Whispering Canyon Cafe with my DVC membership. I MAY be able to get 20% off at House of Blues, but probably not since I am using the restaurant.com certificate. I will definitely ask though. Yeah!!! More savings!!!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Wow! With a little more research, I just learned that I can get 15% off at Earl of Sandwich and Ghiradelli's with my AAA membership and20% off at Haagen Dazs and 10% off at Whispering Canyon Cafe with my DVC membership. I MAY be able to get 20% off at House of Blues, but probably not since I am using the restaurant.com certificate. I will definitely ask though. Yeah!!! More savings!!!

Ooooo thanks for that update! I will have to put that in my notes definitely for next year since we have AAA and are doing OOP. Keep the discounts coming!

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

Good job Saving money on this trip means more $ for the next one

 

[disney*mom*82]

Ive looked into the certificate expiration dates last time when I bought them and they say on their site that they do not expire and if the restraunt closes down or stops taking them, they will refund you the amount you spent on it. I bought some of these for Inlaws trip we sent them to WDW in Sept, they really enjoyd HOB and had no problems using the certificates.

 

[Zife]

Wow! With a little more research, I just learned that I can get 15% off at Ghiradelli's with my AAA membership

I'll have to remember this when we're there in Oct. I *LOVE* Ghirardelli's!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Ive looked into the certificate expiration dates last time when I bought them and they say on their site that they do not expire and if the restraunt closes down or stops taking them, they will refund you the amount you spent on it. I bought some of these for Inlaws trip we sent them to WDW in Sept, they really enjoyd HOB and had no problems using the certificates.

Did they let them use more than one at a time do you know? It says on the certificate one per party/table/visit.

 

[mjmartin01]

glad to hear you can use the gift certs from restaurant.com

 

[mollygirl13]

To the OP-

Great job!!

We just returned from a 5 night/4 day "Disney" trip as well! DH had a convention to attend & I went along because, ummm, it IS Disney World and his company KNOWS that WDW is MY place!

Same thing as you-we did it for under $500.00

DH's company paid for our room at the Boardwalk, his meals, his airfare, rental car, tolls, etc

We already had our Annual Passes and we used our Disney Reward Dollars.

We paid for my meals (which were mostly counter services anyway) & my airfare

What was most expensive was going to Jellyrolls every night plus my addiction to the new Caramel Store in Germany

 

[Rantybaby]

My cousin would call "THRIFTY"

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

My cousin would call "THRIFTY"

True, thrifty probably has a more positive connotation, but I'm not ashamed of what I am! I think I'll keep my title of "cheapskate."

BTW, way to go, mollygirl13!

Any other cheapskates out there? Anyone else have examples of cheap trips, particularly with dining at table-service restaurants (since, of course, this is the restaurant board)?

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Sweet, thanks! I found a code for 70% off. Good enough for me! In case anyone wants to know, the code is "give". Just be aware, it's only 1 certificate/party/table.

You can get 80% off right now with the promotion code PRESENT.