Budgetting Do's and Don't at the World

[hrh_disney_queen]

I did not know this!! Thank you for this tip!! I knew we could share do's and don'ts in a positive manner and learn things!! Thank you!!



This is such good reminder. We did not do this last trip and wished we had. This trip we are planning a resort hopping day to check out all of the fabulous resorts.



You no longer get wristbands, and the CMs rarely ask to see you key. So, now it is possible to take advantage of this now....

ohhhhhh...You are "supposed" to use your key? That doesn't sound like a good way to handle this.

Watch out for that resort hopping. We have "HAD" to stay at two deluxe resorts due to resort hopping..

 

[flying_babyb]

DON'T- force unwilling kids onto rides they hate or are scared of....it makes it uncomfortable for EVERYONE around you.QUOTE]
THis applies to adults too. My best freind FORCED me to go on pirates (i hate big drops) and I freaked, had a panic attack and probally irrated the people around me. Really ruined my day

 

[Foogahzee]

Long time lurker here too.

I only have 1 do right now. DO take the bus to the Hess station across the street from Downtown Disney and a small rolling piece of luggage and buy you beer and soda there. If you are a regular beer drinker this saves a fotrune!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Long time lurker here too.

I only have 1 do right now. DO take the bus to the Hess station across the street from Downtown Disney and a small rolling piece of luggage and buy you beer and soda there. If you are a regular beer drinker this saves a fotrune!

That's a great idea! All of my advice about taking food/beverage is for folks that drive and can tote everything but the kitchen sink. I don't know what folks do that fly...but now I do!!

I guess you don't want to pay $7 for a bottle of beer, either?

 

[Foogahzee]

That's a great idea! All of my advice about taking food/beverage is for folks that drive and can tote everything but the kitchen sink. I don't know what folks do that fly...but now I do!!

I guess you don't want to pay $7 for a bottle of beer, either?

Let's just put it this way, I can afford to go to a special event like the Halloween party with the $$ I save doing this

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

You no longer get wristbands, and the CMs rarely ask to see you key. So, now it is possible to take advantage of this now....

You no longer get wristbands but don't expect to walk onto attractions during EMH if you don't have a room key. They check for them just like they would check for FastPasses at the FP Return Entrance. I was at WDW in early Jan. and there wasn't a single time that I was not asked to show resort ID.

 

[dyna]

Do's
1. Bring breakfast items from home eat breakfast in room an to save time have 1 in shower a couple others eating etc there are 2 other meals to eat together.

2. Bring hard cooler or coolers from home for room we are finding 3 small better than 1 big much easier to handle when time to drain an add ice.

3. If you drive or have car bring own drinks for room

4.Take advantage of the free water at the CS you can still add your flavor stuff if you don't like the taste.

5. YOU CAN pool hop with sister resorts all stars to all stars moderate to moderate etc

6.Share meals most are to big for one even the CS, share drinks, an anything else your family comfy with sharing.

7. if really on a budget take your own lunch into parks or even better go back to room an eat in the A/C an take advantage of rest break from park. NOT so much stuff to lug around the hot park.

8. Do take afternoon breaks Disney should be about quality not quanity

9. Yes take advantage of park opening an FP's.

10. Do set a limit for souvineers before leaving home make sure everyone knows their limit.

DONT'S

1.Don't go expecting see an do everything in 1 trip an everyone with you to always be on their best behavior.

2 When someone in your party decides to have a melt down an can be removed from a show don't stay an ruin it for everyone you not enjoying nore are those around you esp when the melt down starts before the show.

3.Don't go without a plan but don't plan every minute either

4.Don't think you have to have expensive sit down meals every day to have a good time.

5 Don't forget sunscreen every day if you go in summer a bad sunburn can ruin a good time an if you not having a good time you not gettin your moneys worth.

6. Don't forget to take care of feet what ever it takes to keep feet blister free do it once again hurting feet can make anyone miserable an if you miserable with blistered feet you not gettin your moneys worth.

7.Don't forget to keep kids as safe as possible such as running where they shouldn't climbin on things they shouldn't etc....spending time at ER is not in your budget.

8. Don't force anyone on a ride or attraction they don't want to do if they scared they scared it's that simple.

9.Don't forget that most of the parks has a place for kids to get wet an cool off plan accordingly, remember wet shoes an walking for an extended period of time does not mix

10. HAVE FUN there can be a lot of joy in watchin a 3 yr old play in a pop up water fountain for an hour till they tire of it YOU an THEY will prolly enjoy that much more than pulling a screamin 3 yr old out of fountain an the kid cryin for an hour because his fun was no over yet.

6

 

[mjkacmom]

That's a great idea! All of my advice about taking food/beverage is for folks that drive and can tote everything but the kitchen sink. I don't know what folks do that fly...but now I do!!

I guess you don't want to pay $7 for a bottle of beer, either?

We got our case of beer, and case of wine (4 adults, 10 nights altogether, and we ended up with leftover wine) from garden grocer! Not to say we didn't partake in WS - F & W, we stayed at the BC - but limited.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We bring a case of waterbottles and with a permanent marker write the first letter of our names on our lid--there are 5 of us. We use and refill our bottles throughout the day and start over with new ones the next day. We could spend more than the cost of the case at one meal. I know you can get cups of water at meals and we sometimes do, but it is when we are line for a ride or parade that we are thirsty and the water is much appreciated.

As far as the refrigerator swap, I think Disney comes out okay. I would not pay $10 a day for a fridge. I would bring a cooler and use their ice. So when you pass a fridge around, less ice is needed. If they did not allow these swaps, they would not store and handle the checkin and checkout of them.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

You no longer get wristbands but don't expect to walk onto attractions during EMH if you don't have a room key. They check for them just like they would check for FastPasses at the FP Return Entrance. I was at WDW in early Jan. and there wasn't a single time that I was not asked to show resort ID.

I'm glad about this, but it will be a PITA for me...my lanyard/ticket carrier is a struggle to get cards in and out of. Wish I could just flash a wristband. But then I was always trying to find the place where they issued them. Can't win.


If you end up having to fill your water bottles in the park all day, why not just bring an empty refillable sport bottle for the entire trip and skip the "new" bottle every day? I never got the concept of having a case of bottled water shipped to your resort when you end up refilling it many times during the day. I just bring in a sport bottle and don't pay for bottled water every day.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Do's

5. YOU CAN pool hop with sister resorts all stars to all stars moderate to moderate etc


6

Not all moderates are sister resorts-ONLY POFQ and POR. The other mods you cannot pool hop...You can't even pool hop from All Stars to Pop Century.

You can hop from BW to BC/YC.


ETA: I thought of another one..have your kids wear their swim suits if it's warm enough. They will dry off more quickly when they want to get into what ever wet things there are around. At Universal Studios, I even wore mine under my clothes and took off my t-shirt when I went on a really soaking ride. Then I could just pop it back on and I wasn't walking around in a wet t-shirt all day.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We got our case of beer, and case of wine (4 adults, 10 nights altogether, and we ended up with leftover wine) from garden grocer! Not to say we didn't partake in WS - F & W, we stayed at the BC - but limited.

Yeah baby!! I wish I had your room after you left..for your leftovers!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

[*]Renting ECV while pregnant - this is just for curiousity. If I get pregnant, I may not "need" one, but it would make my trip more enjoyable (especially at AK). Is this politically incorrect? Again, just looking for honest opinions.
[/LIST]

Ok guys - lets keep this clean. What are your Do's and Don'ts with reasons? rememebr this is for educational purposes only, not for debate.

Thank you, and looking forward to the answers!!

I think that whether or not to rent an ECV because of a pregnancy is a decision that only that person can make for themselves. Others should not make that decision as they do not know all of the facts of that person's circumstances. Actually, I think that the above should apply in all cases of whether or not to rent an ECV.

I can't imagine needing a wheelchair or scooter if you were pregnant...I guess if you were sick or had medical issues, but I can't imagine any other reason, I walked all of the time when I was pregnant. I would add that I wouldn't visit Disney pregnant in August or when I was over 7 months along.

That is great that you were able to walk all of the time while you were pregnant, but not everyone is fortunate enough not to have complications during their pregnancy. Again, I state, each person needs to decide whether or not to rent an ECV based on their circumstances. Just because you see a pregnant woman riding an ECV DOES NOT mean she is lazy.

I was on bedrest with my DD, and I needed a wheelchair/ECV when I was out doing things I needed to do, because my placenta would start bleeding if I was walking too far. I'm sure some people thought I was a lazy slob, but I had a legitimate problem that wasn't obvious on the outside. Granted, I dont think I'd be at WDW with this problem, but sometimes pregnancies aren't all peachy keen, kwim?

Exactly and you or anyone else should not have to explain themselves to other guests.

Budget tip...

Don't buy your kids everything they see they want.
Don't buy yourself everything you see you want.

Wait until the END of the trip and see if you even remember what it was.

Seriously I see folks hauling home bags of "stuff" and how much do you want to bet that 90% of it just gets put in a closet within 6 months! Disney makes it all look very appealing but....Do you really need 10 Disney t-shirts, four light up spinners, a complete collection of stuffed characters etc.....??? Your vaction should be about memories NOT STUFF LOL!

Were you following me home from my last several trips?
trust me my purchases do NOT end up in the closet w/in 6 months. I have very few (actually NONE come to mind) of things I have bought for myself at WDW that I have regretted. If anything, I have regretted not breaking down and buying something I was eyeing up. That has happened more than once I'm afraid. Also, I do NOT recommend waiting until the end of the trip to shop. I say shop early and send the pkgs back to the resort using the free service at disney to do this. I can't stand wasting time going back to the stores to buy stuff I already looked at. Plus you do run the chance of something not being available any more or they're out of the size you need. This HAS happened to us. Granted, it usually happens in the smaller stores and not in the one like WOD. Although, I wanted a PM from WOD and when I went to get it, they were out of it. So I had to go the the Art of Disney. If it were the end of my trip, that's one more place I'd have to go and maybe not really have the time. I guess everyone's opinion of Souvies is unique to them. So I say go w/ your gut feeling. Do you want to revisit stores? Also, keep in mind that your resort gift shop will take a return from any Disney owned storeon WDW property. I think there are some non-Disney owned stores (i.e. Lego, virgin, etc...) at DTD that they will not take returns from, but anything bought in any of the parks is returnable at your resort gift shop. So if you have buyer's remorse, you don't have to go far.

 

[dimimi]

I was on bedrest with my DD, and I needed a wheelchair/ECV when I was out doing things I needed to do, because my placenta would start bleeding if I was walking too far. I'm sure some people thought I was a lazy slob, but I had a legitimate problem that wasn't obvious on the outside. Granted, I dont think I'd be at WDW with this problem, but sometimes pregnancies aren't all peachy keen, kwim?

Just wanted to clarify. I am very aware of pregnancy problems...so yes I know pregnancies aren't all peachy keen. I sure don't care if someone uses a scooter/wheelchair at Target, etc., or at Disney. The thought of being lazy never would cross my mind, people need chairs/scooters for many reasons.
The OP asked for opinions about using one at Disney.... So, I gave my opinion, like others did. I still say, if you are 8-9 months pregnant, I would not be walking around Disney (especially if it was hot)...I'd wait a few months and then go. Also, if I needed a chair/scooter due to a pregnancy issue, I certainly wouldn't have gone to Disney. I wasn't allowed to fly or sit in a car for long hours during my last few weeks. It is sort of funny, today at work, I'm a teacher in a large high school, I asked one of my pregnant friends (she's 7 months) and she laughed and said she would think Disney would be easier than walking around at work. But...she did say she wouldn't have fun at Disney now...she would wait until after she delivered. She's in great shape and is winded all of the time, she also has a 4 year old.

To the orginial poster...do whatever you are comfortable with, but with another child to care for, it may be easier to wait until after the baby is born. By the way, Congrats on the new baby!

 

[snowwhitesmom]

subbing

 

[MarthaJr.]

My #1 Do is to give your kids their own money to spend on souveniers.

We've been fortunate enough to have many trips to WDW. I have given my kids (since the time they were about 5yrs old) their $ alotment when we got to the park. When they were younger it was about $10/day and now DD21 and DS14 they get about $50/trip. THEY decide when to splurge on that extra yummy treat or souvenier. We provide meals while at the park and maybe a treat or extra beverage from time to time........but if they want to splurge it comes out of their money. Since I started doing this there is no whining or constant "I want, I want, I want". I simply say, "Well, you need to decide if you really want to spend your money on that." This makes for a much more pleasant trip for all of us....they don't whine, we don't get cranky... more for all of us.

That being said, almost every trip my kids COME HOME WITH MONEY!

 

[bumbershoot]

"Renting ECV while pregnant - this is just for curiousity. If I get pregnant, I may not "need" one, but it would make my trip more enjoyable (especially at AK). Is this politically incorrect? Again, just looking for honest opinions."


If I had another pregnancy like my first, I absolutely positively definitely WOULD rent an ECV, if the family wanted to go to WDW or DLR. My joints were "blown" very early on...turns out I'm very sensitive to the pg hormones, and that Relaxin kicked in extremely early and made it very difficult to walk. From my ankles to my knees to my hips, it was all very shaky, and then my wrists, elbows, and shoulders were difficult as well, so if I slipped it was extremely painful to catch myself.

I never had anything "wrong" during my pregnancy, but it was hard all the same. Even if we don't go to WDW or DLR when I'm pg next, if that happens again, I'm going to a doctor and getting some sort of prescription, or if that's not possible, I'm just renting one from a medical supply store out of pocket, b/c it was *miserable* trying to do normal daily things with my joints giving out like that.

 

[d1gitman]

I think that whether or not to rent an ECV because of a pregnancy is a decision that only that person can make for themselves. Others should not make that decision as they do not know all of the facts of that person's circumstances. Actually, I think that the above should apply in all cases of whether or not to rent an ECV

my own personal view is that ECV's are open to anyone, whether they have health related issues or are 100%. I personally wouldn't rent one for myself as I am perfectly capable of walking full time, but I don't think that there is anything wrong with renting one if I did want to. ECV's don't have any regulations requiring some level of disability to use them. just my opinion.

 

[eeyoresmom]

hrh_disney_queen...Is that a typo in your last post? "you can hop from BW to BC/YC" That's always been a no-no.

 

[BeckyScott]

A couple of things I thought of-

I loaded up on any free literature I found, grabbed a copy of anything, and then used them for the scrapbook. I wasn't a pig about it but if I saw a flier or brochure, I'd take one.

I sent off for free samples like crazy (using the freebie thread here at the DIS) for about six months. I had a gallon ziploc filled with random stuff that I packed in our bag. It came in handy several times. You never know what you might need.