Disney Dollars -- Does this sound like a good plan

[Disney4me04]

Okay every time I go to the mall. I buy at least 5.00 in Disney Dollars. My plan is to save as much in Disney Dollars as I can before we leave October 26, 2005.

Now here are my questions for Disney Dollars:
1. Can I use them to pay the balance on my hotel (if not already paid)
2. I know I can use them for food in the Park
3. I also know that I can use them stores in the park.


Does this make a good plan!

I figure I need about $1000.00 to cover food and spending for the 5 days. I think I am over budget but better to be over than under. I will just take the rest home towards the next trip or cash them in for cash.

 

[shelleybell]

Yes, you can use them to pay the balance on your hotel. I think we are in the minority, as I do this also. The way I see it, if it is a Disney Dollar, I cant spend it. If it is a real dollar, I can spend it.
I am glad that this savings plan works for you too. It is always nice to open up the "Disney shoebox" and count my trip money!

 

[xraydave]

We've been planning our trip for about eight months now. My relatives love buying Disney dollars for special occasions for the kids (and us). We even took some of our "christmas money" and bought DDs becasue we, like you Shelley, know we would spend it on something else if it were "real money". It's a great way to save.

Counting down Shelley! Did you get my PM?

 

[WillAndFinn'sMom]

I hadn't thought of that, but I think I will start doing it. Thanks!

 

[Disney4me04]

I wish I would have started this when the D-store was open at the mall by work. I have about 13.00 worth right now. Every trip to the mall means I have to buy Disney Dollars. I go about 2 times a month.

Also every Sunday before payday. I take whatever is left in my checking account and transfer to savings. So I always start with a zero balance.

I am also doing the Walgreens rebates. Getting the free after rebate stuff. Since I have to buy shampoo, deoderant etc and then taking those checks and getting more DD.

My goal is to at least have all our food and spending money by the time we leave in 18 months.


Yes a DD bought is one I can not spend. When I have a lot of change saved and rolled. I will take to the bank at the mall and cash in and go get DD with it.

 

[dizagain]

Disney Dollars are the way to go!!! I am an"envelope saver"...I keep money in envelopes for special occasions, trips, etc. If it goes in the bank, I tend to spend it on other things! We saved Disney Dollars for our first trip - the girls got lots as gifts as well. They each had around $100 - they were in heaven!!!! I also got some as gifts and bought some as well - I loved having them because they didn't FEEL like money!! We're doing Grand Canyon and San Anonio this year, but once summer's over, I'm going to start my stash of DD's for June '05!!!

 

[InstImpres]

You can turn in all your DD's at checkin (it sounds like you are staying onsite). They will than give you room key charging privelages for that amount (or more if you leave a credit card). This way you don't have to carry around "money" If for some reason you don't spend all of your account credit, they will give it back to you at the end.

Sandy

 

[Disney4me04]

I will turn all the DD in at check in. I will make sure to start getting 5 and 10s. So there are not so many singles to count.

I need to find a bank that has a coin counter, I don't think mine does. I guess I should check other branches as they might. So I can go and cash in my change jar some day too.

I did find 5.00 today when I cleaned my room and threw that in the DD stash.

Will they give it back in DD or cash? I would hope cash.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Looks to me like you have a great plan. It's better to have too much money towards your trip than not enough.

 

[PartyofSix]

You say dd come in 5 and 10's any larger "bills"? I'm thinking of surpising my family of 6 seven counting the nanny and need all the advise i can get. I"m a US/IOA but with 4yo triplets i have to go to the house of mouse so i was thinking dec 29th-jan1 with them.

 

[Jynohn]

I did this for our last trip and it worked out GREAT! Every time I went to the mall I would buy 10 Disney dollars, sometimes 20 if I could afford it.

I looked at all the menus on WDWIG.com and had a general idea of what we would order and how much it would cost. Every time I had enough Disney dollars for a meal, I would seal it in an envelope and label it with the name of the restaurant and our PS date and time.

I ended up having almost all of our meals prepaid that way, and I was pretty accurate with the amount that each meal would cost. Anything left over in the envelope after each meal if I overestimated was used as spending/souvenir money.

This was a really fun and painless way to save, and even though they obviously weren't, it felt like all our meals were "free" since I had long ago paid for them...

Good luck with your saving and have a great trip!

Jynohn

 

[lovesdumbo]

I've decided to reward myself for my weight loss by buying $10 in DD for every pound lost. I've lost 31 pounds and just bought my first $50 in DD last week. I figure I'll purchase $50/week til I get caught up. I'll put them on my Disney Visa to earn the extra 1% reward (I always pay off the balance each month). If I loose the 90-100 pounds I'd like thats $900 - $1,000 and an extra $9 - $10 in rewards. I figure I'm saving at least $15/week by not buying coffee/bagel every morning and even more by not getting nearly as much takeout for dinner.

I'm not sure if I'll put them on my room when I arrive at Disney or use them to purchase park tickets at TDS before we go-depends on the room discounts/packages available when we go....

Before my last trip I also made envelopes for housekeeping tips and put US$ in those. It was so wonderful not trying to find change in the mornings. Those could be done in advance too.

Happy Saving.

 

[starwood]

I am also doing the Walgreens rebates. Getting the free after rebate stuff. Since I have to buy shampoo, deoderant etc and then taking those checks and getting more DD.

Make sure you check to see if you have any coupons for these items. You can use them AND get the rebate (possibly making up to $1.00 on each item).

I prefer Rite Aid for rebates to Walgreens even though I use both. Rite Aid you can apply for your rebates on-line (saving .37 stamp).

 

[georgina]

Originally posted by PartyofSix
You say dd come in 5 and 10's any larger "bills"?

The largest my DS had them in was 10's. Last time I had a Disney visa double rewards offer (last summer) I bought $500 worth of disney dollars for my trip, and they were all 10's.