Budget Saving Tips for DL Anyone?

[jewelergirl]

Hi all- I posted this earlier on the budget board, but it was suggested that I post it here

We are going to DLR in a couple of weeks and I have been cruising this board for tips on saving money. We are on a really tight budget, and just wanted to get anyones input who might have soemthing to share .

Here is the master plan, such as it is:

It is me , my DH and my 8YO DD - a late birthday surprise for her - she REALLY wanted to go on her birthday last month, but we just could't pull it off. We have a week 's vacation, but it looks like we will be able to do 4 days on the current total budget of $1100. We could push it to as much as $1400, but it would mean squeeking by for the next month on everything else- still maybe....

So far we are planning on using priceline for hotel (with the help of betterbidding.com). Looks like we should be able to get a hotal for $40 a night plus 13-15% room tax, hotel parking, DL shuttle, etc. Brings 3 night priceline total anywhere from $174 to 226. Anyone has any ideas on cheaper accommodations, suggestions are welcome!!!

Will buy 2 day hoppers online from DLR- 149x2 and 129x1= $427.

Food budget is $300 (includes our own breakfasts an snacks that we will bring with us, sandwiches/fast burgers on the road trip days, and 2 lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks at DL)

Gas will be approx $100

$12x2 wheelchair rental (DH has an injured foot- can walk part of the time, but for sure, not all day x 2.) = $24

$40 for souvaniers (at Walmart near DL- they have a great seleciton of nice Disney stuff- we always buy there).

We'll drive down from Redding, CA on Tues 5/26 and stay the night. Go to DL on Wed 5/27, CA adventure in mornig and afternnon, then DL in evening on Thu 5/28. Drive home Friday 5/29.

Would love to stay longer we have the time- maybe go to Universal (DD has never been there) or stay longer at DL, but I just dont know if we can manager it financially. I know DLR has that great deal on the longer hopper passes with the free days, but the hotel and food are the killers.

That's it in a nutshell- any advice, help, etc are so very much appreciated! We don't know too many of the ins and outs, just what I've drummed up the last couple of day online, so even if it's obvous to DL vet, may not be to us.

You guys rock- long live DISNEY!

 

[MaiynaMouse]

I don't have any specific budget tips for you but have you tried checking Getaway Today (www.getawaytoday.com)? i just checked on them with your information and came up with many packages (hotel and park hoppers) ranging from $600-$700. It doesn't save you any money from what you've already said you are budgeting but it might help with just booking the package and not worrying about bidding on priceline and not knowing what you're getting in to. I know they also offer several different coupons and discounts on things. Might be worth checking into.

I also checked with them on some of the 5 for the price of 3 deals and found a bunch for $700 (Comfort Inn Anaheim Maingate) and up but lots of them in the price range of $700-$800. i know that doesn't help a lot with the food for those days but if you really want to consider the option of staying longer, it's a good way to go! I'm sure others will have ideas as well....just wanted to throw this one out to you!
~mm

 

[Eeee-va]

Do your ticket prices include some sort of tax or something? On the Disney site I see a price of $409.00 for two adult and one child 2-day hoppers....an $18 difference isn't much but if you can get it, it's something.

$300 is a very reasonable amount to spend on food, but if saving money is your main priority, you might be able to cut some corners. If nothing else, avoiding drinks at DL is a great way to save money, as those sodas are expensive! You can buy one of those packages of Crystal Light to Go (or its equivalent)--a pack of maybe 18 "single serving" packets can be as low as $2 (at least they can go on sale for $2 apiece here and I got 2 for $4 or $5 in Florida). I tend to put 1/3 a packet in a 16.9 oz. bottle and find that it's, if anything, too strong.

You can bring water bottles from home and refill throughout the park; I've heard there's nice cold water at the First Aid center. Or you can just ask for ice water at the counter service restaurants. Anyway, if you were just going to get 2 sodas each adult per day at the parks, getting water will save over $20 (maybe a couple bucks less if you get the Crystal Light, but sodas are also more than $2.50 each).

Have you sat down and figured out how much your food "should" cost each day? If you're very VERY serious about saving money, then I'd do fast food value menus (or sandwiches) while on the road. If you're skipping soda or bringing it from home, you can get a decent amount of food for under $5 per person per meal, so that's $60 for two "road trip" days, leaving $240 for Disneyland and breakfasts. I don't know about you but I don't spend much on breakfast...$2 or $3/day seems a bit on the high end to me unless you have a real breakfast every morning. I'm more of the granola bar type, myself. But if you spend $3/day (and you can often get a box of cereal for $3 total!), that's $36, which leaves $204 for Disneyland.

In the parks, you can either smuggle in sandwiches (or keep them in the lockers outside), and/or have one large meal and then a smaller one (depending on appetites, maybe split a meal?) or just snacks for the rest of the day. I'd think the 3 of you could get a large meal (even at the Carnation Cafe or a sit-down restaurant in DCA) for less than $50. If you do the counter service burger thing I think it's more like $30/meal, if your DD gets a kids' meal. So even four total burger-type meals at DL for 2 days would be "just" $120, leaving $84 (!) for snacks.

Again, you could easily spend a $300 food budget for four days, or even a whole lot more, if you wanted to, but I think you could also spend less, depending on your priorities. Of course, I don't know how much your room/parking will cost in total, so I can't advise you as to how much the total budget will be. I can just tell you where I cut corners myself.

Have a delightful trip! I love the idea of going mid-week!

 

[tiffntwins]

We like to buy things at the Disney Character Warehouse Outlet Store, which is just up Harbor in Fullerton. You can get some really cheap stuff there.

Orangefair Marketplace
243 Orangefair Mall
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 870-9363

 

[jewelergirl]

Thanks so much to Eee-va and MaiynaMouse for the great suggestions. I will definately check in to the packages- I didn't even look at those as I thought it would be to pricey.

Great food suggestions. We dont drink much soda, and take a water bottle everywhere, always

Yeah, we do very light breakfasts as well, but I like to make sure we have at least one fruit to help keep things balanced - well pack some so we dont have to search out groceries on precious mouse-time.

I think you are right- we can probably cut the food buget down a smidge. Can't miss the strawberry funnel cake though- we MUST share one of those beauties - way enough there for three

GRACIAS!

 

[jewelergirl]

Great tip on the outlet- I did not know about it- will definately check that out!

Thanks, tiffntwins!

 

[MaiynaMouse]

No problem, jewelergirl. We will actually be arriving the day you are leaving.....May 29th. Hope you have a fabulous trip.
~mm

 

[jewelergirl]

To you as well , Maiynamouse!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

share meals it will spread out more. dont forget mimis its across the street an ive heard has good food an its cheaper then some of the meals in dl

 

[mystic_path]

Here is a tip for you... Getawaytoday packages drop considerably in price on Wednesday's. We watched the prices for months before we booked. With my best friend I purchased my flight and hotel with taxes for $760 per person at a hotel right across the street from the main entrance, and the rest of the week the prices went up to $1060 before taxes per person. A month later my mom and dad purchased their package on a Wednesday as the prices had dropped on that day and got a sick deal too. Then the prices went back up and my parents were laughing. We then recommended this tip to some other friends who are coming with us and they booked on a Wednesday as they found the prices dropped too.

Also most hotels offer free continental breakfasts. That can save you money on a meal right there.

 

[specialks]

Our biggest savings come from bringing in our own food & drinks. We have a stroller though so it makes "hauling" easier. We had a fridge in our room so we made sandwiches and packed veggies in a lunchbag with a ice pack. We never ate lunch at the park and often could eat our sandwiches while waiting in a line so we didn't have to take time out to eat. We also packed vitamin waters to drink. All of this was in our diaper bag (could use a backpack) and the bag checkers didn't have a problem with it.

Also, we stay at a hotel with a free deluxe continental brkfst. This saves so much money for our group of 5 that it is well worth it.

 

[DianneMcLean]

Well, first of all, bring your own food. Food can really cramp a budget. Does your hotel have a fridge? The parks are not too strict anymore on food being brought in - you can also store your food in an ice chest in a locker outside the main gate of DL, it's just to the left of the main gate. They are allowing bottled water. We each bring a bottle for the day, and refill at drinking fountains.

Take the food tours over at DCA. Of course, you can't eat a meal from the tour, but it's a nice little snack. The tortilla factory gives you a sample, and the sourdough bread factory gives you samples.

We do not eat full meals, never have, except for one nice meal during our stay as a family. We just don't like to have a full belly when we are riding the roller coasters and walking around in the heat. So, when we want to munch, we'll agree to share something. Four of us split two kids hamburger meals, or hubby and I will get a blue cheese burger at the pilot diner at DCA. Another favorite is the breadbowl soups - there is a nice little stand under the stairs above Pirates of C. ride.

 

[pixiewings71]

Hello!!! Welcome to the boards!! I really suggest you book one of the 5 for 3 deals, that would really be the best way to afford a longer trip. Who can pass up 2 free Disney days?

Bring your own water bottles, refill them in the First Aid Station or at Rancho Del Zocalo at DL, the First Aid Station water is cold and filtered, it's good!! We usually go there to refill and the nurses are all very happy to see us coming in to do that. We usually just drink straight water but yes, you can get Kool-Aid, Crystal Light or my favorites Simply Lemon, Lime & Orange. You can get samples of the last 3 by visiting their website and requesting them. We don't drink sodas or anything else but if we did we would just bring our own. We share meals, DBF & DD9 will share and DD12 and I will share, or DBF and I share a meal. We also stagger our times, for instance we will eat in the morning and then again around 3 or 4, then we don't need to do dinner. If we get hungry we grab a snack instead. The hotel we are at next weekend has a free breakfast so we will eat that, when we stay at the HoJo we get breakfast stuff at Costco on the way and eat muffins in the morning. Take your own snacks, granola bars, goldfish, small bags of chips anything not chocolate will keep just fine in a backpack. You can take sandwiches in, just put them in a locker inside and they should be fine, especially if you have a small soft sided cooler. Eat off site, Mimi's has amazing food with huge portions, Millie's is good, Denny's is good, avoid the IHOP as it is way overpriced and even if you get a free meal offer from Captain Kidd's do yourself a favor and do not eat there!!!! Trust me, the food is nasty there, just not worth it. We "ate" there once and right after leaving DBF and I had to find something else to eat.....not budget!! DTD has the Rainforest Cafe, DBF and I share a Maya's Combo, coconut shrimp, BBQ ribs, chicken, very good and very filling.

Another vote for the AMS character warehouse, we love going there!!!

I'm sure my post is somewhat all over the place and I apologize for that, I hope you're able to get some $$ savings tips from it tho.

Oh, before I forget, go to Whitewater Snacks in the GCH, good food, HUGE portions, very shareable!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

pixiewing right on point with it all

 

[jewelergirl]

Excellent- thank you! Will try those- great to know about the cold water at the nurses station. We may still do 5 for 3- just have to see what our income is (it's not fixed- changes every week) We won't be buying til Sat. the 23rd. I am hoping we get a good deal on priceline that close as well.

A couple of people have mentioned Mimis now- may try it if we stay the longer duration. If not, I hate to leave the park and lose ride time. I'd live on space mountain if I could !

Thanks all- you are the best!




GONNA SEE MICKEY!***GONNA SEE MICKEY!***GONNA SEE MICKEY!

**** ********** ***********

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I used priceline.com for our last 2 trips ~ earlier this week & early March! We stayed here both times ~ http://www.anaheim.crowneplaza.com/ ~ it's really lovely.

Both times my winning bids were in the low $40s ~ add $12 per night for the resort fee and my total per night was in the mid $50s!
Go with HoJo's $59 ent. rate if it's available for your dates ~ they can pop up at the last moment and with priceline you'd be fine waiting till just before your trip.

Priceline tips ~
*Bid on a 3.5* room
*Start with the #5 area (Disneyland area) start at whatever price you want ~ say $40 per night.
*If you don't get it add a non 3.5* area (Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills-Mission Viejo, Seal Beach) raise your bid by a dollar or 2 and try again. I had to do this a couple times ~ adding another non 3.5* area each time and raising my bid by $1 or $2 until I finally got a room!

 

[WannabeAriel]

Can anyone tell me if the Disney Character Warehouse Outlet Store is accessible from the HoJo using ART?

 

[Escape2Disney]

...Another vote for Mimi's! If you register on their website, you'll get a coupon for a free breakfast (minus drinks). I registered an email address for each family member, and it worked great! Be sure to register right before your trip so the coupon doesn't expire.

If you have breakfast here, you can go before entering the park. That way you don't miss any play time! Keep in mind many of their breakfasts come with muffins, so you can stash the muffin away for snacks later.

Gotta love a free meal!!

 

[pycees312]

Know before you go. Know what you may possibly spend money on before you go. use allears to research food pricing and decide witch places you like and look at how much your spending would be to get the items your family may possibly eat. Then put change, extra money you get on a gift card that you can load up until your trip and try and get as close to or more than you food budget on that card( don't forget to add tip, although for us since we have an AP our tip is usually covered and accounted for through that). Use that card on your trip verses your ATM/Credit cards.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I usually with pick up another part time job abd put that money away for the trip, most difficult is getting time off since vacation time is restricted.

Jack