Am I cheap?

[natnelliesmom]

There is a big difference between being cheap and being smart!
Cheap is not letting your children have anything because you are too tightfisted to part with the cash.
Smart is buying those same things cheaper at home, packing them up and bringing them with you. The kids don't care where the things came from! We often find the same things on clearance at the Disney Store or website, Walmart or Target, that are currently on sale at WDW!
My girls "get it", they don't ask for things while we are in the parks. They know that special gifts will show up in the resort room in the mornings, or that Mommy will pull out a few toys or new t-shirts throughout the trip.
I call it being smart. Why spend more for the same items just to buy them while in WDW??
-Sarah

 

[KirstenB]

Are you still giving them Christmas presents? Or is the trip supposed to be their present?

 

[kileybeth]

Cheap? Not at all! You are providing them with some extra "Magic" at an affordable yet "priceless" cost.

I love the eyes of my little ones when they return to the hotel room and see what Mickey, Minnie, and others have left for them! Often with personalized notes that some still have years later even when they now know they are "just from Mom" or Mom's way of making sure we get something special to remember the trip by!

 

[TinaLala]

I never think of those things as being cheap - your economical! Our kids have to earn Disney dollars before the trip and what they earn is what they spend so we never have to hear them ask us for money during the trip. Once the money is gone they're done.

Also this year I'm doing iron-on shirts for DD10 (because she doesn't fit into any of her past Disney shirts) and bringing past Disney shirts for DD7. This way they'll have the 'Disney' feel with their outfits and won't want to buy new shirts. In the past I've bought goodies from the Disney store prior to the trip and I keep them in my Disney back pack so I can pull the same things out for each trip. Now some of those are tradition to use at a specific time of the trip.

 

[Kit'smommy]

I'll come out and be the mean one.

If you told your kids that Disney is their Birthday/Christmas present, then you are not being cheap - afterall, Disney is their Birthday/Christmas present and they know it. Though this is something you would have to tell them in advance.

Otherwise, yes, you are being very cheap.

Still, I couldn't imagine skipping out on a birthday and Christmas like that, even if it just means a few cheap toys on their actual birthday and Christmas morning.

Wow! I think you seriously misread the OP's post.

I don't think she meant they would get no gifts for the holiday/birthdays.

I think she was just wondering if it was cheap to buy the little tiny junky souveniers outside of Disney where they were inexpenive instead of paying inflated Disney prices.

OP - I have taken a couple of well made stuffed animal and some pencils, candy, etc with Disney theming with us and then not purchased souveniers. I don't see any reason for pay $30 for a cheap stuffed toy when I can get a well made one somewhere else for $10. I think you are being very practical.

 

[VBAndrea]

I plan on doing some of the same. One thing you also might want to do is give the kids Disney gift cards for their birthdays for whatever monetary amount you choose and let them use it while at Disney. We arrive on St Nicks so I plan on giving everyone in our family a gift card in their stocking (myself included since no one ever bothers to get me a think for St. Nicks).

What I plan to do with custom clothes and gifts I buy is have them wrapped or packaged nicely with a little note from one of the characters saying thatnks for visiting or something cute. I'll make this all up ahead of time. ANd then I'll just sneak back to our room ahead of time and put the nightly gift on the kids bed. I'll likely do this with jammies as well -- giving the kids new Disney themed jammies to wear.

So when it comes down to it, you are SMART, not cheap

 

[Steph9072]

Are you still giving them Christmas presents? Or is the trip supposed to be their present?

Oh yes, they will get Christmas presents as usual this year. They normally get a present from Daddy & I,as well as undies & socks. Then Santa brings them 1 large gift 2 smaller ones and their stockings. Not to mention the numerous presents they will receive from family.
That being said we do down play presents at Christmas. We try to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

I'll come out and be the mean one.
If you told your kids that Disney is their Birthday/Christmas present, then you are not being cheap - afterall, Disney is their Birthday/Christmas present and they know it. Though this is something you would have to tell them in advance.
Otherwise, yes, you are being very cheap.
Still, I couldn't imagine skipping out on a birthday and Christmas like that, even if it just means a few cheap toys on their actual birthday and Christmas morning.

I would NEVER skip on Birthday or Christmas. All are celebrations of life how could that be skipped?
The only thing this trip has to do with their Birthday’s and Christmas is that our trip falls between them.
The kids were told we could either go to WDW or they could have a big Birthday party with their friends. They both wanted to go to WDW. They will still get a family dinner w/ Birthday cake. Then at Disney each will pick a Character meal and either a Princess Jewelry Box Cake or A Pirate Treasure Chest Cake will be delivered. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/celebrations/customizations/

 

[QVCshopper]

I really don't want to put a damper on the fun you have, but for the safety of children, you should be very wary of any food left by strangers. Yes, even at Disney there are mean people - case in point - the child molester that was just caught at WDW's Typhoon Lagoon in the wave pool.

Honestly, we just got candy canes, and maybe one lolly. Everything was in the original wrapping. I know the mousekeepers left the candy canes b/c they were Disney themed and always showed up right after they serviced our room. It was just an idea...

 

[MALE*RN*777]

I call it smart and threfty... Way to go... You do what you have to do... I would do the same...

 

[KirstenB]

OP, you're not cheap. When I hurriedly read the thread, I thought the trip was in lieu of Christmas and birthday gifts, but seeing that it isn't, of course you're not cheap!

 

[whenuwishuponastarr]

Oh yes, they will get Christmas presents as usual this year. They normally get a present from Daddy & I,as well as undies & socks. Then Santa brings them 1 large gift 2 smaller ones and their stockings. Not to mention the numerous presents they will receive from family.
That being said we do down play presents at Christmas. We try to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.



I would NEVER skip on Birthday or Christmas. All are celebrations of life how could that be skipped?
The only thing this trip has to do with their Birthday’s and Christmas is that our trip falls between them.
The kids were told we could either go to WDW or they could have a big Birthday party with their friends. They both wanted to go to WDW. They will still get a family dinner w/ Birthday cake. Then at Disney each will pick a Character meal and either a Princess Jewelry Box Cake or A Pirate Treasure Chest Cake will be delivered. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/celebrations/customizations/

I felt the same way. We usually have a party for dd out of home. One of her favorites is renting the local skating rink for her party. Granted is allows me to invite 30 adults and 30 children(which I have no problem filling), is closed to public, includes unlimited bev and snack foods, has big tube and climbing gym, arcade and skating but it runs me $500.00
So I figured what the heck we should go back 2 disney. I am surprising her but I m sure if she had the choice between party or Disney, there would b no contest.

http://www.**************/id/1253257163.gif

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Cheap? No. Personally, I would never trade a vacation for Christmas - even a vacation to WDW.

You made a choice, and you stuck to your budget. That is a whole lot smarter than going to WDW or paying for Christmas presents with credit cards. I wonder how many of the people who are calling you "cheap" have made that mistake...

 

[Steph9072]

Cheap? No. Personally, I would never trade a vacation for Christmas - even a vacation to WDW.

You made a choice, and you stuck to your budget. That is a whole lot smarter than going to WDW or paying for Christmas presents with credit cards. I wonder how many of the people who are calling you "cheap" have made that mistake...

Oh I agree 100% we are not trading one for the other. They will get both. I was just trying to save $ somewhere in order to get it all in.

 

[jboysen]

I didn't read the OP this way at all. What I read was that by buying some souvenirs ahead of time and limiting their souvenir spending in the parks, they could afford to still buy birthday and Christmas presents. They aren't making the trip the gift, but by being frugal on the trip, they will be able to provide presents for the other occassions.

To OP, no, you're not being cheap. You are being practical. I've seen many people recommend doing what you are planning to do.

This is how I took it also. We usually go around my DD bday in Oct. If we go before, I'll watch what she is looking at and may pick it up for her, if we go after I suggest to relatives, usually DFIL to get Disney Dollars(he gives the kids money instead of gifts) and then she has her own money to buy things. Just a few more ideas for you. I definitely don't think you are being cheap though.

 

[LauralF22]

I agree... I don't think you are being cheap at all. I think it's a great idea and I will probably do the same thing for our trip (now that you've put the idea in my head)

My kids are still too young to manage their own money practically, and I'll probably let them pick one thing while we are there, but the idea of getting something from Tink every day is a great one and will give them something to look forward to.

Thanks for the idea - and for being practical, not cheap!