Calling u experts: Disney budget ideas?

[dizcrazy]

Our office secretary has saved the money for tickets, room at POP, and airfare for her and her son.
She is very nervous about the money she'll need down at Disney.

My two "budget" ideas:
go to the Ice Crem Social rather than a character meal AND
buy sale Disney items and give them to DS while there.

what other hints do you have?




THANKS

 

[CEDmom]

Here are some just off the top of my head. If they want to do any sitdown meals go for lunch and then do a counter service dinner. Lunch is cheaper and often has many of the same things as dinner. Eat breakfast in the room and bring some snacks into the park (along with water). Buy the refill mugs if they enjoy a lot of fountain beverages/coffee/tea/hot chocolate.

 

[floridafam]

Those are both good idea. You can often get things on sale at the Disney Store and use them for gifts on the trip. I was surprised last year about the low prices on some of the things my children wanted at WDW.

Other things she can do to save money...

-save change and turn it in for cash right before the trip. I always put my change away. You'd be surprised how quickly it adds up.

-I use all the money I make from consignment shops (I take old clothing that belonged to my children) and use that for WDW. Again, I'm often surprised by how much money I make doing this.

-Take snacks for breakfast in the room at WDW.

 

[HaleyB]

Bring your own bottled water.

Use Q&C vouchers. One might feed both of them!

Did she get the Disney Visa and get her Pop rooms at a discount? If not does she have any Bank One Visa card (they can convert it to the Disney Visa) or is she willing to apply for one? I have a code for $25 Disney Dollars with new applications... it came with my confirmations of the rooms I booked using the Disney Visa discount code...

PM me if you want that code. It can be used by anyone.

The Disney Visa will save a good bit on the rooms if her dates match, and you can apply the code to exisiting resservations.

 

[Tigger1]

Go to Disney Outlets for souveniors.

We like to get popcorn in a bucket. Cute container.

WE also get the meal daeal at Animal Kingdom. We get the BBQ rib platter , a coupon for a extra drink and ice cream from and vendor at animal kingdom on that day fo rabout $12.50 . We also get the childs meal tickets from the Pizzaria place that includes reg 6 in pizza, chips, 2 drinks one with meal and one for latter, and a ice cream coupon for about $6.oo.

One meal and snakes in the oom is enough for us.

Tigger

 

[DD2Disney]

Originally posted by Tigger1


One meal and snakes in the oom is enough for us.

Tigger

LOL I need to stay on a budget HOWEVER I aint eatin no snakes

hehehe J/k

 

[crusoe2]

If she did not get her room at a discount, tell her to check mousesavers.com on March 9 for the new code that is coming out. If her trip is between 4/18 and 7/4, she might be able to apply the new discount to her room. Also get her to check out the menus at allears.net. She can get an idea of what the different restaurants have to offer and what the prices are like. This might ease her fears about costs and help her budget for meals. Doing this has been a real lifesaver for us because some of the restaurants we thought would be fun to try (because of the theme) didn't really have anything on the menu that we thought we'd like. Knowing ahead of time saved us some costly mistakes. Also, make sure she knows: 1. That she and her son can share meals - the portions are usually large and sometimes just adding an extra side dish will make a big enough meal for two people.
2. About all the free things to do like the Ft. Wilderness campfire, watching the MK fireworks and EWP from one of the monorail resorts, exploring other resorts, etc. This way if they have some non-park days they will have something to do that won't cost much, if anything.

One thing that might also help to keep souvie spending in check - buy Disney $ before they go and tell her son that those are his to spend but when they're gone that's it. Of course, how well this works will depend on the age and temperment of the child.

Hope some of this helps.

 

[crusoe2]

Just thought of something else we always do - we make sure to pack any over-the-counter meds we might need. You can get most anything you need there, of course, but the prices are very high and can really hurt when you're on a tight budget.

 

[mad4themouse]

Eat a large, late lunch and eat lightly for dinner. The restaurants are less crowded and the portions & prices are smaller in the late afternoon. Split appetizers and entrées or order two appetizers instead of an entrée.

Buy those light up necklaces at the dollar store and bring them with you for the fireworks. They take up very little room in your suitcase and they cost a fortune in the parks.

Buy a Brita filtered water bottle and use it to get rid of that nasty Orlando water taste. In the long run, it will be cheaper than buying bottled water at any of the grocery stores on the way in. Ask for ice water when you stop for meals and refill the bottle that way.

Save your souvenir shopping until the last day. Resist the urge to purchase anything in the gift shops that each and every attraction empties into.

Go to Entertainment.com and get the 10-day free trial for their online subscription to the Orlando Entertainment Book. You can print out 3 coupons for free. Print out the Ghirardelli's 2-for-1 hot fudge sundae coupon and the $5 off orders of $20 or more at Planet Hollywood. Use them at Downtown Disney for a nice afternoon. Coupons are good for 14 days once they have been printed. Cancel your subscription before your 10-day free trial is over.

 

[luvdisney81]

Just a correction on the water. Orlando city water is gross. The Disney park water is filtered and very good. I've yet to meet someone who didn't like the park water. The fountains are cold and plenty of them.

Bring a bag of chex mix, I use dried fruit, nuts and M&M's and munch all day on it. I never have a hankering for food then. I have my carbs, sweet,salty and chewy....perfect!

Sandwichs for lunch with just bread, meat and cheese. Then get fries at the service counter. You can then use the open condiment bar they have. Full of veggies, and sauces.

My Grandmother always went to Kmart and bought little disney things like the beanie's, stuffed animals and fiberoptic wands, then threw them in the bag. She would suprise us throughout our day with it, and we thought it was from the park! Much cheaper this way so we got a little more than we would have and everyone was happy. Toys and souvenirs are REALLY expensive at the park!

And whatever you do take extra film. You do not want to get stuck buying film once your there. I spent abuot 10$ on one roll of 800 speed. I was fuming!

 

[mugglemom]

mad4themouse, Just a note to join this you must use a credit card.

 

[MK Familystone]

Hi !
We buy a box of microwave popcorn packets from BJ's and pop where ever there is a microwave.
Water bottle holsters for the bottle water that you bring to the parks .
Fanny packs for the 3 pounds of mixed nuts and snickers that you bought in bulk at BJ's.
If they can get to a local store buy a box of poptarts, bagels, or mini cereal boxs for breakfast.
OH! Jar of peanut butter and jam to put on the bagels.
Just buy a refillable mug and the fluids to wash the breakfast down at the resort food court.
"ENJOY!!!"
"THE MAGIC HAPPENS!!!"

 

[Sher]

Schedule a character breakfast for the latest time available and it can cover breakfast and lunch. We have done this at the Crystal Palace and been full for the day!

My family of 4 budgets $100 a day for food and that is more than enough. We do one or two special meals like character breakfasts and then eat counter service or food court the rest of the time. For us, it's not the expense so much as the time. We just want to have as much time as possible for touring.

I bring some snacks from home that we load into our fanny packs at the beginning of the day. Saves time waiting in a line to buy something and can be eaten while waiting in line for a ride. Be careful to not go overboard here or you will end up hauling food back home. Also, I would recommend an assortment rather than a lot of one thing. There are only so many granola bars a person can take. haha

Finally, don't worry too much about what everything costs. Some people have this idea that everything at Disney is 10x more than anywhere else on earth but we have found it no worse than our local attractions. Don't ruin the magic by counting your pennies the whole trip.

Sher

 

[daisyduck007]

Haley- thanks for the tip on the Disney Card, I just called bankone and got my regular card transferred to a Disney card, and I'll also get the intro APR which was way lower than the previous one on the old card. I didn't know u could do that, I'm ecstatic! thanks again!