Budgetwise Tips For The Ulimate Disney Experience

[BlondieonaBudget]

So after returning from Disney World two weeks ago myself and DH sat down and discussed what we right and where we could have done better. Here are a few things we did to save money but make our DD feel like she truly was a princess. But princess hats prior to going. Savvy shoppers beware currently Zellers have Disney Princess hats on sale from $5-$7 plus an additional 50% off making them only $2.50-3.50 each. We bought two. One for DD to wear the other to collect the autographs of all her favorite Princesses! You will pay $15.95 for one at the park. Thats a whopping 78% saving!!! Go to the dollar store and stock up on everything Disney that your child is into. Don't show them and bring it with you. Each day have a "Surpise" waiting in the room for them with a note from their favorite Disney Character. We bought photo albums, pens for autographs, note pads, stickers, tattoos, tiaras, wands, Disney beach balls for the pool etc.... All a huge hit. These are just a couple of many things we did this time to save us sooooooo much money, at the same time insuring that DD felt like she was spoiled like a true Princess. Enjoy the Magic!

 

[dancin Disney style]

We have done the same things.

To save money on a WDW trip we also....
use Airmiles to get park passes
get/bring a few basic items to make breakfast in the room in the morning
travel when there is free dining or some other discount
travel at slower times of the year
use DME
pack carry on only when flying to avoid fees for checked bags
order a case or two of bottled water and have it delivered to the resort
refillable resort mugs are a good deal...if you like coffee or soda


If you have a car at WDW and want to buy some souvenirs while there they are about half the price at either Walmart or Target. Not exactly the same stuff but they have tons to choose from and for kids they will be in heaven. For example, the T-shirts at Walmart are around $12-$14 VS $28 at WDW.

 

[glenpreece]

We have done the same things.

To save money on a WDW trip we also....
use Airmiles to get park passes
get/bring a few basic items to make breakfast in the room in the morning
travel when there is free dining or some other discount
travel at slower times of the year
use DME
pack carry on only when flying to avoid fees for checked bags
order a case or two of bottled water and have it delivered to the resort
refillable resort mugs are a good deal...if you like coffee or soda


If you have a car at WDW and want to buy some souvenirs while there they are about half the price at either Walmart or Target. Not exactly the same stuff but they have tons to choose from and for kids they will be in heaven. For example, the T-shirts at Walmart are around $12-$14 VS $28 at WDW.

How on earth do u get by with just a carry on?? I'm trying to do for my trip in August just can't fathom how?? I'm flying Delta so it's $25 for a checked bag

 

[dancin Disney style]

How on earth do u get by with just a carry on?? I'm trying to do for my trip in August just can't fathom how?? I'm flying Delta so it's $25 for a checked bag

Very easy.....do a load of laundry while you hang out at the pool.

 

[glenpreece]

I usually end up doing that anyways I guess I just want too many options for clothing LOL

 

[dancin Disney style]

I usually end up doing that anyways I guess I just want too many options for clothing LOL

Oh I bring options.....I usually end up bringing way too many tops and only wear the same few. If you roll your clothes before you pack them you can get much, much more in a bag.

 

[CanadianPaco]

Very easy.....do a load of laundry while you hang out at the pool.

Yup! That's what we do!

And for our tips... we have a US bank account and each pay a put $25 in it regardless of the exchange. We have a US credit card with our bank - much better with the exchange!!! We rent a car on Aeroplan points - haven't paid for a car rental in years! Good luck!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Yup! That's what we do!

And for our tips... we have a US bank account and each pay a put $25 in it regardless of the exchange. We have a US credit card with our bank - much better with the exchange!!! We rent a car on Aeroplan points - haven't paid for a car rental in years! Good luck!

I have a US bank account as well.....every pay I put in between $30-$50 dollars. I do this year round regardless of any travel plans.

 

[BlondieonaBudget]

We have done the same things.

To save money on a WDW trip we also....
use Airmiles to get park passes
get/bring a few basic items to make breakfast in the room in the morning
travel when there is free dining or some other discount
travel at slower times of the year
use DME
pack carry on only when flying to avoid fees for checked bags
order a case or two of bottled water and have it delivered to the resort
refillable resort mugs are a good deal...if you like coffee or soda

If you have a car at WDW and want to buy some souvenirs while there they are about half the price at either Walmart or Target. Not exactly the same stuff but they have tons to choose from and for kids they will be in heaven. For example, the T-shirts at Walmart are around $12-$14 VS $28 at WDW.

Yes! Love the Walmart T's! We bought a Canada Day one for our DD with Minnie on it. It was perfect! Also find the mist bottles, hand held fans, and rain ponchos to bring to WDW. It saves even more money! We brought garnola bars, fruit to go, gum, etc with us. Them ordered items from Garden Grocer like case of water, muffins, chips etc... The $12 delivery charge is cheap in comparsion to what you would spend in these items at WDW.

 

[kimmer]

jumping in here with a couple of questions -

canadian paco & dancin disney style, which bank are you at in the states? what's the benefit of having a us bank account & credit card?

do you know if you can buy park tickets with aeroplan points? you mention airmiles? we don't fly, so do you know if it has to be part of a package with flight?

TIA!

 

[CanadianPaco]

I don't bank in the states. My bank is Canadian (think Toronto and green) and I have a US Visa and US account with them. When I get my credit card bill, it's in US funds. The advantage is that 2-3% extra charged on the exchange we pay when we use a Canadian Credit Card in the States. Since I use a US credit card and pay it in US funds, I save that extra charge. Also, I am always sliding money into my US bank account. Forced savings and slush fund all wrapped up in one convenient account.

 

[dancin Disney style]

jumping in here with a couple of questions -

canadian paco & dancin disney style, which bank are you at in the states? what's the benefit of having a us bank account & credit card?

do you know if you can buy park tickets with aeroplan points? you mention airmiles? we don't fly, so do you know if it has to be part of a package with flight?

TIA!

Last I heard, yes, you could use Aeroplan to get park tickets but I'm pretty sure you would require an obscene amount of points.

I don't bank in the states. My bank is Canadian (think Toronto and green) and I have a US Visa and US account with them. When I get my credit card bill, it's in US funds. The advantage is that 2-3% extra charged on the exchange we pay when we use a Canadian Credit Card in the States. Since I use a US credit card and pay it in US funds, I save that extra charge. Also, I am always sliding money into my US bank account. Forced savings and slush fund all wrapped up in one convenient account.

Ditto that...same bank too.

 

[SmilingGrump]

If we need to rent a car (and we usually do), then we use Priceline and start bidding many weeks (even months) in advance. If you're traveling during a slow time of year (we tend to do that) then you can get a car rental in Orlando for under $10/day. Also, check not only the websites like Expedia, but check with the rental car companies directly, often they have City Specials that are obscenely cheap ... sometimes, those City Specials are hard to find on their websites, but most have them.

Orlando is also home to some of the cheapest shopping in the US, not as cheap as Pheonix, but there are some awesome deals to be found if you head to the discount outlets. Last time we were there, my wife and my mother hit the outlet malls and their first stop was a luggage store where they each picked up a suitcase to hold the rest of the day's purchases. Sure, they spent more $$ on the vacation that way, but they saved a LOT of $$ on clothes they and our kids needed for the year.

One of the things our DDs and I love are the boxes of P&J sandwiches you can get at Target (and Walmart) in the frozen food section. We keep them in the freezer and pack them in a bag when we head to the park. They'll be thawed by the time you're ready for lunch. There's plenty of other "quick" food options at Target that are far cheaper then at the parks but won't take a bunch of prep time that's better used at the pools!

Depending on how much time you plan on spending at WDW, there's also other savings options like the Entertainment Book, Tables in Wonderland, etc that can easily pay for themselves.

 

[nepean]

We also have a US acct and cc with TD. I know BMO also have them. I put tax refunds in the acct and if I use a coupon I put the amt in a jar and when I have $20 I put it in the acct. any points I get on CC I buy gas cards and put the cash into the acct.

 

[Kindigo]

Some of the way we have saved money prior to our WDW trip in a month have been:

- Bought a couple of rain ponchos from the dollar store up here. Because I have seen them cost as much as $15 USD at the parks. We paid $1.25 each

- Purchased Disney t-shirts prior to going. Found a couple at Wal-Mart and Old Navy on clearance. Also made a couple of mickey tye dye shirts.

- Pre purchased park tickets for Sea World and Universal Studios before leaving. Saved a bit of money there.

- We are flying out of Buffalo Airport and staying a motel the night before the flight. We gives us free parking for the entire vacation for our car. The long term parking lot was about $110 for the whole trip. We got the hotel room and parking for about $60.

 

[disneyred]

How on earth do u get by with just a carry on?? I'm trying to do for my trip in August just can't fathom how?? I'm flying Delta so it's $25 for a checked bag

I second that !! wanted to only bring carryon to save money.. but we cant do it... how do you bring all the creams/lotions, etcc..... that is needed on an august trip .. these things are not allowed on carry on ???

 

[dancin Disney style]

I second that !! wanted to only bring carryon to save money.. but we cant do it... how do you bring all the creams/lotions, etcc..... that is needed on an august trip .. these things are not allowed on carry on ???

It's very easy. The only item that I need a large quantity of that won't fit in the one 3-1-1 bag is sun screen. I buy one at the resort gift shop when I arrive. It's $15....yes, much more expensive than buying at home but MUCH cheaper than paying for a checked bag. Everything else I have very small sizes of that will fit in the 3-1-1 bag or else I do without for a couple of days. The easiest way is to take only the absolute essential items....will you die without your eye cream for 5 days???? Alternately, change up some items to a non liquid version...ie: solid deodorant, shampoo bars, sunscreen wipes.

Remember that each person gets a 3-1-1 bag. We only use 3 bags for a family of 4 (3 girls, BTW)with room to spare in at least one of the bags. Also, any item that will hold it's shape outside of the container is not considered a liquid and liquid medications are also exempt. Contact lenses and solutions are considered under the medication.