Budget Help - 10 Days at WDW with $500

[turnlisa]

I received a call yesterday from a lady at our church. She has befriended an au pair from Brazil that has always dreamed of going to WDW. Since I am the Disney expert at our church, she called me. The au pair (let's call her G) has made it the highlight of her trip to the US to go to WDW. She is leaving on Saturday and when she returns from her trip she will be returning to Brazil.

All of the hotel is booked. Here's the kicker - 10 days at WDW with $500. Mrs. H has requested that I give G a call and offer any suggestions on ways for her to make the $$ last for the 10 days. G's friend from Brazil is flying in to spend this time with her. I want to help out as much as possible but I am thinking, "$500!" I know it can be done but I want to offer her the best advice possible and I know the Dis was the place that would have things I hadn't thought of. I have to call G after 5:00 tonight so any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bete]

is to bring foods with you in your luggage if you are staying on Disney property without a car. You can get powdered milk and use it with cereal you bring. Granola bars and such are good, too. Bring dry fruit and nuts. If you are a meat eater bring dried meat like the campers use. Powdered drinks like Crystal Light are good.

There's a mug deal at the Disney resorts that's a decent deal. You can do refills for free at the resort (not good for free refills at the parks) and they will allow you to bring the mug into the parks; so, your first drink is without cost. You can use the mugs then for water at the parks.

Share meals as much as possible. You can stretch a double hamburger by ordering an extra bun and separating the two burgers. There are other sandwiches where you can pay for extra bread and share the deli meat, etc. There are combo meals like chicken and ribs that are huge; so, you can share meals. Share your drink, too if you don't just use water.

It might be too late, but there's free dining right now as a promo with getting a full price resort room at Disney. You may be able to still change your Disney ressies to take advantage of it if you are on property. It's doubtful you can do this anymore at this time frame, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If you stay at a value resort like POP and All Stars you get a free QS dining plan.

If you want to spend a little more money Disney at their resort have a dining plan for quick service. It includes meals at the parks. You get 2 quick service meals which includes drink, dessert and entree (or sandwich) each day and a snack (used for ice cream and such). You get the mug in this deal, as well. The cost is $30/person

If you have a car by all means go to the grocery store and stock up for your Disney resort room. This works if you are off property, too.

If you rent a condo and commute you can make all your own meals.

You didn't specify how the couple will be staying there (on site or off); so, this is my best advice for now.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I can't think of more right now, but give me some time...

She can order kid's meals at CS locations - should make her $ stretch a bit more.

 

[Purseval]

Don't buy anything for 9 days. Drink water at the parks, bring in your own food. Save all of your money for food. You didn't say anything about location and transportation but if she can get to a market a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly can feed 2 people for several days.

On day 10 take your leftover money and buy some souvenirs.

 

[mamaLori05]

Honestly I don't think $500 sounds unreasonable at all. We went with our family of 4 (2 adults, a 3 yr old, and a 9 month old who was on only table food, no baby food) last trip for 9 days and spent about $400. We spent about $300 of that on food, and then $100 on extra's (BBB and each child got a couple small souvineers. Dh and I didn't find anything that we really wanted, the pictures and memories were enough for us). We ate mostly CS, but did do 2 TS meals. We found the portion sizes to be HUGE at CS, so me and my dh usually split one of the meals, and then the kids split a kid's meal. We brought pop tarts, muffins, and those small boxes of cereal for breakfasts and ate breakfast in the room before we left. We had the refillable mugs, so we used that for most of our drinks. We would fill up our cup before we left for the parks and then while at the parks once that drink was gone we filled the cup up with water. Then at meals we would get a drink with our meal. Even with splitting the meals we all left feeling full.

 

[CherylA]

Well you don't say anything about park tickets, I'm guessing she'll need a park ticket. I would recommend a ticket for the length of days she'll be there. I would just get the 10 day base ticket which means one park per day. It's $279.00 Including tax. That leaves her with $221 for food for 10 days, about $22/day for food. I'd bring a travel mug so she can fill up at water fountains in the park and a couple boxes of things like granola bars or packaged chips. Eating only counter service she should be able to do it.

 

[maggiew]

Please elaborate a little on what the $500 needs to be spent on. It sounds like the hotel is already booked and not included in the $500? Does she need tickets? Or is that just for food/souvenirs?

If she needs to pay for tickets out of that, a 10 day base ticket is $279, as mentioned above. That leaves her $221 for food. That is around $22 per day. She could probably eat 2 counter service meals per day on that. But it would leave no room for souvenirs. If she ate a kids meal once per day, she might have enough to get a Tshirt or something.

Maggie

 

[robinb]

Where is she staying? I'm assuming off-site. Is the $500 for both people? Do they have park passes or do they have to buy those too?

Park passes are probably the biggest expense. I would skip park hoppers to save some $$. For food they could eat breakfast in the room and even pack sandwiches into the parks in an insulated lunch bag which will fit in their backpack. Yes, it's boring but it's also cheap. Any CS place will give you ice water ... add a lemonade packet (like Wylers or Crystal Light ... about 10-cents per packet) and you have something better tasting than just plain water.

 

[erincon23]

If she's staying off site she'll have to budget for either parking every day, or transportation to the parks (unless her hotel has a free shuttle).

And if she has a car, she could look into the discount restaurant.com certs or try to get an Entertainment book and save money that way.

 

[Kat77]

Try to find out where she is staying and if she has tickets or the dining plan. I'm hoping she booked a package and the $500 is all spending money.

 

[turnlisa]

Good news! I talked to G last night and she is in better shape than Mrs. H had mentioned. Despite not really knowing what to do and booking through Disney online (still makes me cringe), she is staying at ASMovies, has tickets and the dining plan (quick-service). All that being said, I think $500 is good since she mentioned not really wanting to buy souvenirs. I did tell her to make sure she pays attention to the credits she uses and to ask questions since everyone will help her. Also, told her to take my # just in case she got confused.

My bigger concern is that with the same $500 she is planning on spending 3 days in Miami - but booked a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. Hoping that she is able to do that without any hitches - outside of the Disney realm I'm lost!

Thank you so much for everyone's suggestions - I did pass along some of them like eating in your room for breakfast. I stressed asking questions - afraid that she will pick something out to eat, get up to the counter and find out that she needs to shell out cash. Thanks again to everyone - knew that my Dis friends wouldn't let me down!