Anyone go with NO BUDGET!!

[madalex]

I do my best to get deals for my trips and am willing to modify a trip to do so (for example, for our trip next month, I originally booked a split stay at WL/YC, but when the 4/3 deal came out and there was no availability at either of those resorts, I rebooked the trip at AKL and saved $2,000+ in the process). However, once I am at WDW, I eat at signature restaurants every night, enjoy a drink whenever I feel like it and generally don't pay much attention to how much money I am spending (other than "souvenir budgets" for the kids).

 

[tndisneyfan]

We don't really have a set budget but we do things to save money whether we mean to or not. For example not getting dessert or not getting the most expensive entree at a restaurant. Also on souveniers I've not bought a few things just because I thought they were too expensive. That being said, we don't deny ourselves and have a tendency to splurge on vacation.

 

[ScrapperBelle]

We have a general budget (meaning I know what my limit is), but we usually have our room and/or package paid off by the time we get there and we each have our individual spending money. As for food and snacks we pretty much get what we want when we want.

That's why we're not doing the dining plan anymore. Somedays we want 2-3 sit down meals...other days we snack, eat fast food, order a pizza to the room, that sort of thing. I HATE having to plan everything out. I also don't like having to use 2 credits for some of our favorites. I'd rather just eat there and pay for it.

At home I'm pretty thrifty and frugal. We only eat out once or twice a month and we live in a really rural area, so we don't spend much on entertainment. Vacation is our time to eat out and enjoy ourselves...so that's what we do.

 

[Pakey]

Someone posted that they do ADR w/o the dining plan....I am just curious...while we also don't really have a budget and have extra disposable income why not go on the dining plan? I mean it does save 30% why pay full price if they offer that discount. Does that mean that if you rec'd a 40% off code you wouldn't use it. I hope that doesn't come off as mean I didn't mean it to be just curious!

We don't budget and don't use the dining plan, even though we do ADR's. We've done the deluxe twice and the regular once and neither works so we don't use it anymore. The reason: it doesn't fit how we eat. We eat one TS a day and it's dinner at a signature or at a non participating restaurant. We generally split an appetizer and may or may not get a dessert; sometimes I want an appetizer as an entree. During the day, we just want a snack. Plus, the best food at WDW is at places not on the plan. I'm not going to eat at places I do not care for just because I can get 40% off.

 

[ReneeDisney]

Someone posted that they do ADR w/o the dining plan....I am just curious...while we also don't really have a budget and have extra disposable income why not go on the dining plan? I mean it does save 30% why pay full price if they offer that discount. Does that mean that if you rec'd a 40% off code you wouldn't use it. I hope that doesn't come off as mean I didn't mean it to be just curious!

Hello! My family and I have never done the dining plan (in over 25 trips to the land) and always make ADR's for our meals - breakfast and dinner. I agree that if something is discounted then you should take advantage of it. Simply put- I want to sit down at my meal and not worry about if my appetizer isincluded or that the tip is not included -- too much stress for a vacation. Also, we've priced out the plan and since my family and I mostly eat two TS meals a day with little snacks or CS -then the plan doesn't save us that much money for it to be beneficial! I hope this gives you some insight that you were looking for. And you did not come off mean at all - curiosity is wonderful!!

 

[minniebeth]

I also think it depends on what kind of trip it is...many people here do several trips in a year or within a couple of years, more than a lot of people do.
We would probably fall into that category, never meaning to!
When we do a family vacation, we save up and splurge enough to really enjoy ourselves without having to worry too much.
This upcoming trip I'm doing is an unplanned trip, so we are for the first time doing WDW totally on a dime. We are staying at POP which I'm really excited about and we have basic tix. We are not on the dining plan, which we have done before (free dining as well), and look to keep expenses very low and watch every penny. It will be something new to me and I see it as a quest!

 

[homerjay316]

My wife and I do not budget, but we are mindful and responsible when spending. Usually I find we spend a little more than I would have liked, but no more than if we had a budget and went a little over. Mind you we have no kids, which makes going down there with no financial plan a little easier.

In June we are going with my bro-in-law, his wife, and their 2 year old daughter. I've been looking forward to taking the little one to WDW since the day she was born. I'm wanting to pull out all the stops. I've made additional ADRs on top of what we are allowed on the DDP, trying to decide if she's too young for BBB, debating La Nouba for the adults, and considering any other investment that might in any way enhance our WDW experience. I'm already realizing that with a larger party some budgeting may be in order this time.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

When I'm in Disney I want to have fun and do whatever I want and eat where ever we want and buy what I want. Naturally within reason to. I work all year and don't do a lot during the year. I save my time for Disney cause that's what I love.

 

[CamColt]

No crazy at all. To me its vacation and we shouldn't have to worry about that stuff. We go and have fun. The diet and the budget go ot the window.

With that said we don't go to V&A, mainly because I dont' think I would eat anything there, but we have dined at YSH, Shulas, CA Grill, Il Mulino, etc... and drinking around the world is one of our favorite activities. I just try not to think about the price and have fun.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

No crazy at all. To me its vacation and we shouldn't have to worry about that stuff. We go and have fun. The diet and the budget go ot the window.

With that said we don't go to V&A, mainly because I dont' think I would eat anything there, but we have dined at YSH, Shulas, CA Grill, Il Mulino, etc... and drinking around the work is one of our favorite activities. I just try not to think about the price and have fun.

LOVE THAT! DIET & BUDGET OUT OF HERE

 

[PoppyGirl]

DH goes with a budget...and I just spend what needs to be spent.

I'm like someone else who said they just budget a ridiculous amount of money so that we can spend what we want for what we need and not worry about it. And we arent' doing the dining plan this time because I like TS and not CS.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

No budget here, either!! It's vacation! I can worry about finances at home.

Now, we don't go crazy, either. I'm not going to go buy a diamond tiara just because I told myself I can spend whatever I want. However, as far as dining, accomodations, etc., we don't limit ourselves. We've only stayed deluxe so far and probably only will. I'm going on a grown-ups only trip (pseudo-Spring Break for us recent college grads!!) in March, and I told myself if I didn't have the kids, I'd just stay at a value or mod. Nope, not gonna happen. We're staying at BC. I've made a personal decision to try every deluxe on property.

We've never done the DDP. We've done all the big guns, as far as restaurants, though. We've not done V&A's, however. I like to eat as a family, so until the kids are older, we probably won't. If I were to go on a romantic trip, I might.

We don't go too crazy with souvenirs. I like to pick up CDs (park music, special events, etc.) and books. DS gets a lot of shirts and toys. DNiece had to get some of the Goofy sour powder candy every time we saw a machine. The adults will pick up a tee or ornament here and there, but we don't spend a lot in the shops.

I do love the Budget Board, though!! How the rich get richer!! At least that's what my coupon-clipping mom says.

 

[engle]

This is tooooooo funny!!! We drank the dang bisque and didn't care that there was a spoon!!! In fact, we eat it how we see fit and with whatever flatware looks good!!

 

[Tina G]

Someone posted that they do ADR w/o the dining plan....I am just curious...while we also don't really have a budget and have extra disposable income why not go on the dining plan? I mean it does save 30% why pay full price if they offer that discount. Does that mean that if you rec'd a 40% off code you wouldn't use it. I hope that doesn't come off as mean I didn't mean it to be just curious!

I think you are confused about the DDP. Where are you getting that it saves 30%??? The DDP is a way to basically prepay for most of your meals for the trip. You get one table-service meal, one quick-service meal, and one snack per night of your trip. You pay $39.99 per night for an adult. The only way you save money is if you would have normally paid more than $39.99 for those same three things in that day. For many families, they would not spend that. For example, if I eat a character breakfast at Crystal Palace for my table-service ($20), a quick-service meal of about $10 and a $3 snack, I've just spent $33 for those meals. I would LOSE money on the DDP in that scenario. However you can easily make the DDP a value by eating at a more expensive restaurant for your TS meal. Not everyone wants to do that. Many people are not big eaters, don't eat appetizers or dessert, and may want to eat at restaurants that aren't on the plan. If you are getting the DDP because you believe that you will save 30% on your meals, you are mistaken. You will want to check the prices on the restaurants you will be going to and see how much you would spend OOP in order to determine if you would save.

Also, I don't understand when people say they get the DDP for "convenience". Personally I don't see how the plan is in any way more convenient than just paying OOP for exactly what you want to eat when you want to eat it. Paying on the dining plan involves giving your card to get credits deducted and then having to pay the tip separately. Paying OOP you can just hand over a credit card and put the whole thing on it. If anything, we have seen the DDP to be the opposite of convenient. We've seen a lot of confusion about what you can get for certain credits, people holding up lines because they aren't sure what counts as a snack or what they can get in a quick-service meal. I also don't see it as being necessarily convenient to prepay for meals months in advance. That is essentially wasting money as you could have saved that money and gotten interest on it and then paid after you actually ate the meals.

I'm just saying the number one reason you should get the DDP is value. If you will most likely spend more than the cost of the plan then the plan is a good value. If it's not a good value, I just don't see it as being more convenient than paying OOP.

 

[jrt1176]

We dont have a budget when we go to WDW.

Dinner is a big part of the vacation. We eat at the best restaurants inside and outside of WDW when we visit.

It wouldnt seem like a vacation if you limited this area for us!

We usually stay at a Deluxe hotel and shop mostly for family, as we arent kids anymore. But, it will be my niece's 1st visit, so I am sure she will be getting lots of stuff.

 

[disneymom1980]

Although we have a general idea of what we can spend, we don't hold ourselves to a strict amount. During our October trip, we did use the Deluxe Dining plan because it was nice to have everything paid for. We will be doing that again in a week. We basically just buy what we want.

However, when we went in October, it was the first trip for my DH and both DDs. We probably put out some extra money because of that. DD #1 did the BBB with the package that included the dress and everything, even though we have princess dresses. I just wanted her to get the full experience out of everything.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I think you are confused about the DDP. Where are you getting that it saves 30%??? The DDP is a way to basically prepay for most of your meals for the trip. You get one table-service meal, one quick-service meal, and one snack per night of your trip. You pay $39.99 per night for an adult. The only way you save money is if you would have normally paid more than $39.99 for those same three things in that day. For many families, they would not spend that. For example, if I eat a character breakfast at Crystal Palace for my table-service ($20), a quick-service meal of about $10 and a $3 snack, I've just spent $33 for those meals. I would LOSE money on the DDP in that scenario. However you can easily make the DDP a value by eating at a more expensive restaurant for your TS meal. Not everyone wants to do that. Many people are not big eaters, don't eat appetizers or dessert, and may want to eat at restaurants that aren't on the plan. If you are getting the DDP because you believe that you will save 30% on your meals, you are mistaken. You will want to check the prices on the restaurants you will be going to and see how much you would spend OOP in order to determine if you would save.

Also, I don't understand when people say they get the DDP for "convenience". Personally I don't see how the plan is in any way more convenient than just paying OOP for exactly what you want to eat when you want to eat it. Paying on the dining plan involves giving your card to get credits deducted and then having to pay the tip separately. Paying OOP you can just hand over a credit card and put the whole thing on it. If anything, we have seen the DDP to be the opposite of convenient. We've seen a lot of confusion about what you can get for certain credits, people holding up lines because they aren't sure what counts as a snack or what they can get in a quick-service meal. I also don't see it as being necessarily convenient to prepay for meals months in advance. That is essentially wasting money as you could have saved that money and gotten interest on it and then paid after you actually ate the meals.

I'm just saying the number one reason you should get the DDP is value. If you will most likely spend more than the cost of the plan then the plan is a good value. If it's not a good value, I just don't see it as being more convenient than paying OOP.

I agree with most everything you said. The DDP only saves if you were going to eat that amount anyway. Also since tip is no longer included you have to include the amount you tip on you cost. For a $20 meal a 15% tip would be $3. So that would raise the price of the DDP to $43 a day. Not trying to turn this into a tipping thread, just pointing out that DDP no longer covers it and if you choose to tip, that would need to be added in to your cost of the DDP.

 

[jaminmd]

You're not crazy at all! We're on VACATION!!

We go & have a great time... no worries!

 

[drew2wdw]

Now, I don't mean buys thousand dollar art works or anything but like...not look at menu prices and eats and drinks when, what and where they wish??

BECAUSE I DO THAT!!! DH and I are not wealthy by any means but we go to WDW to enjoy, get away from work, have an escape, etc. So, we eat at V&A every trip, we eat when, what and where we want with no care for $$, we have drinks....sometimes I have several grey goose slushies. Oh, no, they are $9 and sometimes I have 4 or 5!! In a day!!!

And I can pay for it. I pay the credit card bill off when I get home and I bring a lot of cash too. And then, I go back to real life....I cut coupons, I buy generic at the grocery store, carry our lunch to work, we don't eat out alot because it is too expensive!!

So, please tell me I am not alone and that I am not crazy!!

You're not crazy!!!! This is us exactly! Right down to the coupons AND the multiple grey goose slushies! (oh, and paying of the credit card EVERY month too )

Someone posted that they do ADR w/o the dining plan....I am just curious...while we also don't really have a budget and have extra disposable income why not go on the dining plan? I mean it does save 30% why pay full price if they offer that discount. Does that mean that if you rec'd a 40% off code you wouldn't use it. I hope that doesn't come off as mean I didn't mean it to be just curious!

We've done the dining plan once before (tried it out when it was offered for free) but we haven't done it since because while we like to eat at TS restaurants, the ones we visit are mainly Signature restaurants. The dining plan just isn't the same value if you're using 2 credits per meal. And we RARELY eat CS -- we mainly just snack or get one CS meal to share just to hold us until dinner.

 

[itchin2go]

We don't budget for WDW either. We don't spend like crazy, but we eat, drink and shop for 6 days, and then go back to real life!

Someone posted that they do ADR w/o the dining plan....I am just curious...while we also don't really have a budget and have extra disposable income why not go on the dining plan? I mean it does save 30% why pay full price if they offer that discount. Does that mean that if you rec'd a 40% off code you wouldn't use it. I hope that doesn't come off as mean I didn't mean it to be just curious!

The dining plan won't necessarily save you $$$. Disney advertises that it will, but they're trying to sell it. We have ADRs for every day of our trip as well, but no dining plan this time. It doesn't fit the way we eat, AND it doesn't save us $$$. We might break even by doing the dining plan, but we want the freedom to eat what we want without worrying about whether it's covered by the plan. The dining plans are very good for some people -- they just don't suit us.