Anyone Done Disney on an Extremely Tight Budget?

[sabrsjnk93]

Also, if you have time, hit the disney outlets on your way into town, let everybody get a souvenir at outlet price, so they already have something new before seeing similar items at higher prices in the parks.

Also, just wanted to mention, if you are driving down I-95, the BELZ OUTLETS, exit 318, the one on the left of the freeway, is great. This is a great rest stop too, you are about just under 2 hours to go. We have bought really nice pins and t-shirts for a fraction of they are in the parks, very reasonable gifts.

 

[sabrsjnk93]

We too are on a tight budget, and now that I have read the parking fee is going up to $14.00 (What are they thinking?). We did this little tip in Aug when we were last there: We parked at Downtown Disney and caught the busses there to the TTA for free.
That left us with a little more in our pocket to spend in the parks.

BTW see you next weekend, we will be there Oct 9 -11, look for the 40 year old in the pink mouse ears princess hat

 

[smkiya]

Don't forget dd's birth certificate. She can opt for the gift card in the amount of a days admission if you go to the park on her birthday.

 

[cschulte]

You can learn to draw characters at the Magic of Animation at HS. I haven't done it but we're planning it on our next trip. The picture is then a souvenior

 

[Justbranches5]

Thanks for all the great tips everyone! We are here and having a great time!! It is super hot here right now though
We actually had a small windfall before we left so that helped with the budget a bit.
So far, we've been to Disney's Hollywood Studios where we only lasted til 2:30 with the extreme heat & then headed off to the resort pool to cool off for a while. That evening around 7, we went to the Magic Kingdom & squeezed in a few rides.
At DHS, we brought our lunches (Bagel sandwiches, grapes, pringles) & ate at a nice CS place on the way to Tower of Terror where they had covered pavilions with fans & a huge condiment center. We each packed our own lunch with a frozen bottle of water & carried them on our backs in small drawstring sacks. When we ran out of our water, the CS's were happy to give us large cups of icewater just for asking. They were very nice about it & it was free! We just poured it into our water bottles, added crystal lite or lemonade & enjoyed our free drinks! So don't be shy about asking & don't feel obligated to buy anything!
More later...

 

[TinkerBrie]

Have a GREAT trip!!!!! I'm jealous!!!!!

 

[bluesky225]

Glad to hear you're having fun! Keep us updated!

 

[DisneyGirl@Heart]

Be sure to get the free souvenier after riding Pirates of the Carribean.

What free souvenir?????

 

[reservations4five]

We are driving down from Ohio - staying overnight in GA, I was wondering if I packed a cooler that didn't get opened until we arrived if I could take some of our groceries with us.

I have 2 freezers full of beef and one full of chicken and pork, I hate walmart meat.

What do you guys think?

 

[mrsannb]

What free souvenir?????

There is a board in the gift shop that has trivia questions on them, and if you tell the cast member the correct answer, you pick a prize out of the treasure box or they give you something along with a certificate. We got an eye patch and earring once. I think another time it was a jewel and a coin, or something.

 

[mrsannb]

We are driving down from Ohio - staying overnight in GA, I was wondering if I packed a cooler that didn't get opened until we arrived if I could take some of our groceries with us.

I have 2 freezers full of beef and one full of chicken and pork, I hate walmart meat.

What do you guys think?

You could always buy a bag of ice along the way, or get ice at the motel in GA.

 

[Justbranches5]

We are driving down from Ohio - staying overnight in GA, I was wondering if I packed a cooler that didn't get opened until we arrived if I could take some of our groceries with us.

I have 2 freezers full of beef and one full of chicken and pork, I hate walmart meat.

What do you guys think?

Definitely...if you have room for the cooler

Put the meat inside doubled grocery store bags. Freeze a bunch of water bottles & bag them as well. That should get you to GA with some nice cold water to drink along the way. Then buy bagged ice before you go to bed & replace the water bottles with that for the second leg of your trip. Have fun!

 

[islac]

my family and i will be going to a Disney world to spend the holidays.. i'm just not sure which one. so all these tight budgets tips and experiences that you're sharing are helping us a lot. thanks!