We just got back from our "Debt free to Disney" trip. We have been debt free for 1 year after using Dave Ramsey's plan for financial peace. Once we had everything paid off, we started setting aside money for Disney. It took 6 months, but we did it, and I'm so glad we did. We came home with NO bills!
Here are some things I learned:
1. You CAN do Disney on a budget, and you'll be happier if you do.
2. Staying offsite is not bad at all. We had a huge room, full kitchen, and FREE breakfast every day. It never took more than 15 min. to get to any park.
3. Ridemakerz in DTD is awesome!
4. If your husband is not a "crowd" person, let him take a morning off and he's a new man.
5. Kids are much more selective with their souvenirs if they are paying with their own money.
6. Almost every ride and show at Disney spits you out into a gift shop.
7. Getting your dd's hair done at Harmony Barber Shop costs $7.50, and at BBB it's more like $57.50. The people at the barber shop are licensed and do a great job. My dd's got tons of compliments all day (even jealous looks from little princesses that were all dolled up from BBB).
8. Most CS places will let adults get a kids meal.
9. Fast passes are essential! Figure out the system and use it!!
10. If you spend time in line for character autographs, you won't have that time to do the rides.
11. You can't use an iPod touch to access the internet at the parks.
12. Sometimes it's much easier to just pay for parking and drive your own car than it is to take Disney transportation.
13. Earl of Sandwich in DTD is AMAZING! (Get the Hawaiian BBQ)
14. If your kids are into pin trading, make sure their pins are securely attached to the lanyards. My dd's lost 5 pins in the course of the week.
15. If you are in DHS for Fantasmic and you see the 1st show, you can ride TSM with a very short line after the show. Everyone is either leaving or headed for the 2nd Fantasmic show.
16. You have to go to the bug show if you want to get up close to the Tree of Life in AK.
17. There are NO bathrooms on Discovery Island!
18. PhotoPass photographers know where the good shots are, and some of them will do magic shots w/o being asked. Sometimes you have to ask.
19. Waiting in line for characters at EPCOT is long but worth it. We spent 1hr in line, but we got the "big 5" all at once- Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.
20. Being flexible with your schedule is key. Have a plan, but be willing to adjust. You could take 10 trips to Disney and not see everything.
Here are some things I learned:
1. You CAN do Disney on a budget, and you'll be happier if you do.
2. Staying offsite is not bad at all. We had a huge room, full kitchen, and FREE breakfast every day. It never took more than 15 min. to get to any park.
3. Ridemakerz in DTD is awesome!
4. If your husband is not a "crowd" person, let him take a morning off and he's a new man.
5. Kids are much more selective with their souvenirs if they are paying with their own money.
6. Almost every ride and show at Disney spits you out into a gift shop.
7. Getting your dd's hair done at Harmony Barber Shop costs $7.50, and at BBB it's more like $57.50. The people at the barber shop are licensed and do a great job. My dd's got tons of compliments all day (even jealous looks from little princesses that were all dolled up from BBB).
8. Most CS places will let adults get a kids meal.
9. Fast passes are essential! Figure out the system and use it!!
10. If you spend time in line for character autographs, you won't have that time to do the rides.
11. You can't use an iPod touch to access the internet at the parks.
12. Sometimes it's much easier to just pay for parking and drive your own car than it is to take Disney transportation.
13. Earl of Sandwich in DTD is AMAZING! (Get the Hawaiian BBQ)
14. If your kids are into pin trading, make sure their pins are securely attached to the lanyards. My dd's lost 5 pins in the course of the week.
15. If you are in DHS for Fantasmic and you see the 1st show, you can ride TSM with a very short line after the show. Everyone is either leaving or headed for the 2nd Fantasmic show.
16. You have to go to the bug show if you want to get up close to the Tree of Life in AK.
17. There are NO bathrooms on Discovery Island!
18. PhotoPass photographers know where the good shots are, and some of them will do magic shots w/o being asked. Sometimes you have to ask.
19. Waiting in line for characters at EPCOT is long but worth it. We spent 1hr in line, but we got the "big 5" all at once- Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.
20. Being flexible with your schedule is key. Have a plan, but be willing to adjust. You could take 10 trips to Disney and not see everything.
