Am I being Cheap??

[lalapodip]

dvc guy - I can relate to the spinners - I have Buzz and Mickey safely packed away (along with the Sorcerer Mickey ears and the Minnie ears) awaiting our August journey!

 

[lexis53]

Not only do I NOT think you are cheap in a negative sense, but I cannot thank you enough for posting this

I am really new to the Disney vacation. Just knowing that my DD will want a glow in the dark necklace and stuff like that is great to know! I just got the oriental trading catalog and they have a ton of cheap glow in the dark stuff.

The idea of bringing your own souvenirs is great and so is packing snacks! My DD will want to play and munch on a fruit rollup and not want to mess with waiting in line

You guys are great and OP, I cannot thank you enough for posting this! It taught me a lot!

 

[MinnieGi]

I do that too!!

At at DS sale last year I bought two lighted spinners one Pooh and the Other Beauty and the Beast. They've been on two trips so far and will be going on a third in October! DD loves when I pull them out of the bag and they are great to kill time waiting for a night parade or fireworks. DD's even had parents and kids ask her where she bought them b/c they haven't seen those models for sale.

I also buy pins at a DS sale b/4 we go. And when the DS Halloween stuff is greatly reduced I bought DD Minnie Mouse headband ears, Minnie shoes and dress, Princess dresses and bring it with us. The stuff down there is sooooooo expensive! DH thought I was a genius when he saw the same pair of Minnie Mouse shoes that DD was wearing for more than triple the price of what I paid!

Items we have bought down there like mouse ears, light up pins I keep in a special box at home and am able to pull them out for each trip so we don't have to rebuy!

Thanks for the tip about Walmart having the glow necklaces and where they are - I am going to buy some of them! DD will be so impressed when I pull those out of my bag too!

 

[Tiger Fan]

We are going this December and had the trip planned since this past Christmas. My sister and I hit The Disney Store at least once a week for several weeks after Christmas and we bought a ton of holiday goodies for 75% off. We are going to pull this stuff out for our 3 kiddos while in the World this year. I consider myself a bargain shopper, not cheap at all!

Lisa

 

[admiral nelson]

Not cheap, stuff is way overpriced there. As long as all the kids have the same stuff, it shouldn't cause a problem.

 

[Lewisc]

Not cheap at all (assuming you were going to buy those items in the first place). CAUTION it works if the kids are going to throw the items out. Not sure I'd like the kids showing their friends the statue of liberty buzz thing as a souvenir from Disney.

Originally posted by Tracie
I work at Wal-Mart, and we got in these spinning light things (like the buzz thing I bought DS last year at spectro parade) they have the statue of Liberty instead of Disney character, but the are $4.00. We also have the glow necklace, bracelet, ring, mouth thing, etc for only .84 each. We are taking are friends who will not have a big budget and I can't see me paying for these things in the parks for all 4 of the kids. So am I cheap to buy these things to take with us and give to the kids when they start begging for them at the night time shows??

TIA

Tracie

 

[SIDEWALK]

We bought a plain sun hat on sale at gap kids and instead of having the charactors sign their autographs in a book - they signed the hat with a sharpie! Now she has a great sun hat with everybody's signatures! And she actually wears it in the sun! I used to have to beg her to wear a sun hat!

 

[crazelion]

Well I guess I was a different kid then because I never won't any of that junk park stuff when I was a kid. If my mom bought a snow cone and cotton candy then I was happy and would not ask for anything else in the park. I am the same way now since I'm adult. I buy snow cone and cotton candy in the park that's it.

I bring my own refillable water bottle in the park. So I won't have buy water. Bring a snack with me.


I have always been cheap. Wal-mart is my favorite store because I can layway. Has anybody ever took advantage Christmas in September at Wal-mart where but Christmas layways in early. I do and it helps to pay a liitle at a time on the layway without charging anything.

 

[TandyR]

I have a question....do I have the only kids who play with their spinners once they got them home? I normally find them playing with them once a week or so. I do pack them and take them to WDW when we go so we don't have to buy more because I don't want a ton of them around the house even though they play with them.

I am hoping to find the light up braclets somewhere cheap around here before our next trip.

I normally buy t-shirts and stuffed Disney charictors and stuff before going on the trip. The girls know they both get one thing each from us at WDW and anything else they have to buy themselves with money they have saved.

So you aren't cheap at all.

 

[shovelhd]

I packed a whole medium sized rollaway bag full of food, accessories and this "junk". It became the souvenier bag for the way back as each kid had their own budget. This way they didn't waste it on stuff we could get cheaper at home. BTW the glow necklaces alone were $3 each at Fantasmic and I bought mine at the Dollar Store.

My DD really wanted that spinning Mickey at Epcot so she paid for it herself. She also wanted the glow necklaces (gotta have more than one) and I just pulled them out of the slingpack. Ka-ching.

The top "saver" items for us in order were:

Beer and wine (Orlando Publix on the way in)
Pins for trading
Breakfast items
Clothing
Souveniers
Soft drinks
Snacks
Toiletries (suntan lotion, bug juice, etc.)

We're talking hundreds of dollars saved .vs. buying on property.

 

[maggiew]

I went to Wal Mart today and bought some glo necklaces and bracelets. Thanks for the info!

Maggie

 

[MaMudduck]

Before last year’s trip, I went EVERYWHERE, looking for anything Disney: coloring books, pens, towels, toothbrushes, clothing, reg. glow sticks, Mickey candies etc, etc.
Each day of the trip I gave DD (7 then) a little "surprise" gift.
Wrapped in something Disney- I used an old DCL backpack, party "loot bags", Dis wrapping, & TDS bags

One day it was all "Bathroom stuff"- toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, Mickey mirror......
One day might be: First day stuff; autograph books, pens, Disney sunglasses, lanyard / pin, cheap watch...etc

You get the idea.
DD loved it!!!!
In fact, if you ask what was the best part of her vacation she says the surprise packages!

I did it because I didn't want to hear all day: "can we go into the store and buuuuyyyyyyyy this & that I hate that! almost as much as being overcharged are the stuff at WDW.

I've already started collecting up everything for this Oct. trip (which we just decided on going 2 weeks ago)
I don't know if I'm going to be able to live up to last years...but for sure some of the old stuff will be magically reappering in these new bags.

 

[Bell Family]

I guess I am the ultimate in cheap. I just tell the kids no when they ask for all that "junk" that I know will be thrown into the back of the closet with the birthday party goodie bag toys and happy meal toys.

With annual passes to Disneyland, I would go broke if I bought the kids something everytime we go to the park. We go to Disneyland like some families go to the movies. So my kids have learned to appreciate the trip, and not to ask for the overpriced stuff. They each have an autograph book (bought with passholder discount). They do get Disney clothing as gifts (bought on sale). But they do not get the "junk".

Our upcoming WDW trip wil be their first, but I think we have laid the ground rules down here in California, so I do not expect it to change there. Our trip will be during their birthdays, so they will be allowed to pick a gift at the world (within a price range) . My oldest has some money she received for her First Communion this year which she is planning to take to buy somehting for herself.

I think the memories are the best thing one can bring home, and not the stuff. I do however can relate to the frugal advance shopping you are all doing - that is my usual plan for holidays and birthdays,

 

[SIDEWALK]

You know - Bell Family - that's a really good point - saying no isn't the end of the world! (No pun intended)

My DD understands no and accepts it most of the time. And because of that I don't mind buying her something on occasion. And at this point (she is 8) if she looks at the tag and it's a crazy price - she doesn't even want the thing! She say's "I'm not wasting my money on one thing!"

I am so proud.

 

[chrisann]

Could anyone give me a rundown on the most popular souvenirs?(my ds is 4yrs)
If you could give me approx. prices, that would be great.
Also, how much are those buzz spin things. I saw one at Value Village and picked it up$1.99. I know I saved $$$ but I love knowing how much I saved!LOL

Thanks!

 

[SIDEWALK]

We went when my DD was 4 1/2 and the best thing I bought her was a hat that she could have all the charactors sign with a sharpie - she wore that everywhere showing everyone her signatures.

The Wal Mart on 192 had a nice selection of T shirts that are Disney themed which are reasonable prices too! I bought adults small and she still wears them! And there were lanyards and small key chains that were only $1 and $2 that she put on her backpack for kindergarten.

Little ones don't need that much to make them happy - my DD is now 8 and I know I will have to spend a lot more this time around.

 

[luvaladdin]

I didn't read all the posts yet on this one, but I may be in the minority when I say that I don't shop before or during my trip to Disney. I believe that the treat for my kids is taking them in the first place, and I don't feel that I have to buy them all sorts of stuff that they just want in that moment. I allow them to choose one toy that they want, and try urging them to buy something they can't get anywhere else, i.e. the toy store at home. I don't buy anything for myself, first because I'm on a budget and second, I don't like to shop. Where I do spend money, though, is on all those snacks in the park - Dole Whips, Mickey bars, cinnamon nuts, etc. But having said all that, I think for this trip I'll at least buy things like lollipops and some other candy, because just as I like my snacks, the kids like their candy.

 

[SIDEWALK]

I agree with you - like I said before - there isn't anything wrong with saying no. But if I can find something in my travels that is useful and will make my DD happy and only costs $1 - then I am more than happy to buy it for her.

About the food - I like to buy one really unusual thing - like the turkey leg - or the Mickey Ice cream bar- per day.

 

[dsnycrzy]

Great idea MaMudduck. I have to try that. With me taking 10 people this year (7 of them kids) this is a great way to brighten there eyes every morning.
I am also going to start going to Mcdonalds and buying the toy (especially now that Finding Nemo is the theme)

You are not being cheap at all. One of the joys for me is shopping for Disney World trip stuff on a budget. This year with me taking more people, I had to do some real penny pinching. We have a neighborhood Thrift store here and they sell nice things for cheap. I write a list of all the kids (and adults, a bargin is just as good for them) sizes and look for Disney things. I found a Tinkerbell bathing suit for my neice $3 and half off, 2 pooh bathing suits for my baby $2 +$3, I found a mickey shirt you put over your bathing suit for $3. I have a whole dresser of Disney every thing shirts from there, so I pass up things for me. The bigger kids, I'm still searching for. People will be pulling out the summer clothes soon figuring out what is to small for there kids and off to the thrift store it will go and my bargains for them will begin. I also put those water/fan bottles on lay away at Walmart since I needed 9 of them ($4 ea on sale vs. $17 ea at the parks). I went to the Dollar store and found those boggie boards for a $1 in about 6 different colors, so I got each kid there own and matching snorkel mask and fins. I picked up coloring books and crayons there also. This saved me tons of $$$ and I had fun doing it.

 

[SIDEWALK]

I think it's the thrill of the hunt - not so much the savings that has us doing this.

I didn't think of boogie boards!!! I saw them at the $1 store! Also the blow up toys!. Are you allowed to have them in the water parks??