Disney on a very tight budget .....Am I CrAzy!!!

[tinksgilrs251520]

Hello all well my vacation is almost here and I am planning my spending to a "T"..I was just wondering if I am being crazy or not? I am going to be there for 11 nights and I have literally planned our budget for spending to a "T".. My package will be paid off and I have free dinning so my food is paid for also. So here are some of my plans so far:

1. BBB
2. pick a pearl
3. I am limiting my spending to 10 or under at each Country at WS
4 waterparks just a drink and we have two snack credits to use
(Not really spending all day there and the rest of the time is at the resort)
5. both girls are limited to 100 each to spend on souvenirs
6. then a few hundred for extra

I have been blessed that both my girls are really not interested in buying stuff down there.. last two trips they really did not ask for alot and then did not spend alot I asked them if they wanted things and they said "Nah"

We also have shipped down snacks for the room and I bought a large lemonade drink mix to makes drinks for the room since we also will have free mugs for us with the dinning plan.

Breakfast bars and cereal were also shipped, so I just have to buy a small milk for cereal ....

So tell me what you think of my plans so far ?/

 

[Cindyrellablue]

Don't forget to budget in some $ for tips for the DDP (unless you are on the QSDP) and Mousekeeping.

 

[SunnieRN]

Your plans sound great! I think the water parks take the CS plan at the booths. You may be able to get one meal and a snack or two and feed all of you better than just snacks?

Have a fabulous vacation! Sounds like you are doing a lot of fun things with a water park day and BBB!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Sounds good, agree about the tips and mousekeeping!

We never spend any money at WS, but this next trip I am getting DD a Epcot Passport so she can get it stamped at each country. I think they run around $10.

 

[VAfamily1998]

$100 each on souveniers is "a very tight budget"? Plus BBB and Pick a pearl? To me, that actually sounds like a pretty extravagant trip!

But it sounds great! I hope you and your family have a wonderful time!

 

[3girlsfun]

I am also going to be doing this. I am going to make an envelope for each day of our trip and put the tips in the envelopes for each restaurant. I am also going to put the money in the envelopes for any special events we are doing. (BBB, haircuts on mainstreet, etc.)

We will each have a giftcard with our name written on it with our spending money for the week. (If we have anything left, we will use the giftcards on our next trip booking.)

We will have snacks in the room, and will be taking water into the parks with us. Refill them with water while there.

Just so you know, I have a friend that went down and had quick service dining. They spent less than $200 the entire time they were at WDW. Their kids each got 2 souvenirs, and they had snack credits that needed to be used at the end of the week. You can definitely do WDW on a budget!

 

[dhdozier]

Hello all well my vacation is almost here and I am planning my spending to a "T"..I was just wondering if I am being crazy or not? I am going to be there for 11 nights and I have literally planned our budget for spending to a "T".. My package will be paid off and I have free dinning so my food is paid for also. So here are some of my plans so far:

1. BBB
2. pick a pearl
3. I am limiting my spending to 10 or under at each Country at WS
4 waterparks just a drink and we have two snack credits to use
(Not really spending all day there and the rest of the time is at the resort)
5. both girls are limited to 100 each to spend on souvenirs
6. then a few hundred for extra

I have been blessed that both my girls are really not interested in buying stuff down there.. last two trips they really did not ask for alot and then did not spend alot I asked them if they wanted things and they said "Nah"

We also have shipped down snacks for the room and I bought a large lemonade drink mix to makes drinks for the room since we also will have free mugs for us with the dinning plan.

Breakfast bars and cereal were also shipped, so I just have to buy a small milk for cereal ....

So tell me what you think of my plans so far ?/

Sounds like a great plan. Here is my 2 cents on a few points that may help you:
Instead of buying souveniers in the parks, we go to the Disney Outlet store. You can find several threads on here about where they are. This saves time for rides and shows and dollars stretch further on reduced items.
You can take in a soft-sided cooler to the parks, including the Water parks. My mom packed a few sandwiches, crackers, and bottled sodas. This really saved us $$$. No one messed with any of our things either.
Finally, pick a pearl is so much fun! I let both of my children do it. My advice is DO NOT buy the necklace and cage from Disney. They are too much in comparison to Ebay for costume quality (I wasn't considering real gold anyway). My experience was that I let hubby talk me into buying a chain and cage from DTD for daughter's pearl and it broke within a month. They will drill the pearl for you for free in case you do want to have it mounted later on a ring.
Have fun!!

 

[Tinkerbell3014]

Sounds like you have a great plan so far. Don't forget to tip mousekeeping and also tip money for any table service reservations. Have a magical trip!

 

[torinsmom]

I find my son spends less money if I assign him the money and either let him carry it, or put it in a special envelope(gift card would work too). He is much more careful about spending "his" money. It's also easy to overspend when it is a $10 item here, $15 here, you know. I also tell my son whatever is left he can spend at home. I gave him $25 and my mom gave him $50 this past trip and he did not spend more than $5 at WDW. He saved it for things he wanted more at home.

Don't forget you can get free ice water at the parks. I would not use snack credits on drinks, when you can use them all on snacks. We bring in the Crystal Light packets to flavor the drinks.

Oh, BTW, you haven't seen budget until you see my trips! I'm a single mom who is a teacher, so I have NO extra money. We go every year and have a great time without spending a bundle(average trip is 7 days and $2000 max with no free dining)

Have fun!

Marsha

 

[SaraJayne]

Your definition of a "very tight budget" is totally different from mine. lol

Don't forget to budget $$ for dining tips.

 

[NHdisneylover]

$100 each on souveniers is "a very tight budget"? Plus BBB and Pick a pearl? To me, that actually sounds like a pretty extravagant trip!

But it sounds great! I hope you and your family have a wonderful time!

Your definition of a "very tight budget" is totally different from mine. lol

Don't forget to budget $$ for dining tips.

I was thinking the same That is more in the way of extras than we have on an extravagant trip Sounds fun though--and I agree to not forget about tips.

 

[disneyfans95]

Pretty sure the dining plan is ONE free mug. At least that is what we got last year when we went.

Just a heads up. Maybe it changed but if not, you need to plan on buying 3 more.

 

[Stacy_C]

Pretty sure the dining plan is ONE free mug. At least that is what we got last year when we went.

Just a heads up. Maybe it changed but if not, you need to plan on buying 3 more.

We went last year and used the QSDP and everyone in our party got a mug. From my understanding, that has not changed.

 

[MamaJessie]

Agree with pp - your budget trip is more costly than my regular trip

Sounds like a good time!

 

[delmar411]

Pretty sure the dining plan is ONE free mug. At least that is what we got last year when we went.

Just a heads up. Maybe it changed but if not, you need to plan on buying 3 more.

It's one mug per person. That has always been the case. You lost out on any extra mugs entitlements by not getting all the mugs.

We got the QSDP last year and this year. Same thing each year.

2 CS Per person/per night
2 snacks Per person/per night
1 mug per person

 

[disneyfans95]

It's one mug per person. That has always been the case. You lost out on any extra mugs entitlements by not getting all the mugs.

We got the QSDP last year and this year. Same thing each year.

2 CS Per person/per night
2 snacks Per person/per night
1 mug per person

Hmm we went Oct last year with the free dining. The one sit down, one CS, 2 snacks. Got one mug!

Oh well, not the end of the world, but odd that we only got the one.

 

[delmar411]

Hmm we went Oct last year with the free dining. The one sit down, one CS, 2 snacks. Got one mug!

Oh well, not the end of the world, but odd that we only got the one.

I wonder if the cashier was just confused then on how to ring it up? Well at least you know for future use!

 

[Stacy_C]

Hmm we went Oct last year with the free dining. The one sit down, one CS, 2 snacks. Got one mug!

Oh well, not the end of the world, but odd that we only got the one.

You don't get any mugs at all with the 1 TS, 1 CS and 1 snack DDP. So, if you got one while using that plan, you got lucky. Info from allears.net:

--One table-service meal (including entree and dessert (lunch or dinner only), or full buffet, 1 juice (breakfast only), non-alcoholic beverage; dessert not available at breakfast). 1 child table-service meal includes 1 appetizer, 1 entree, 1 dessert (lunch or dinner only) and 1 single serving non-alcoholic beverage, or 1 full buffet.

--One counter service (quick service) meal (including entree/combo meal, dessert, one juice (breakfast only) and non-alcoholic beverage; dessert not available at breakfast)

--One snack (e.g. a frozen ice-cream novelty, popsicle, or fruit bar, popcorn scoop, single piece of whole fruit, single serving grab bag of chips, 20 oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani Water, medium fountain soft drink or juice, 12 oz. coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea.)

Otherwise, if you had the QSDP which is 2 CS and 2 snacks per person/per day, everyone in your party would've/should've been given a mug. From allears.net:

-- 2 Quick Service Meals per person per night: One Entree OR one complete Combo meal, dessert (lunch/dinner) or One juice (breakfast) & One single non-alcoholic beverage

-- 2 Snacks per person per night: Choose from items such as 1 frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle, fruit bar, popcorn scoop (single-serving box), single-serving bag of snacks, single piece of whole fruit, 20-oz. bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani water, 22-oz. fountain soft drink, 12-oz. coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea, single-serving prepackaged milk or juice

-- One refillable drink mug per person

 

[patsal]

Pretty sure the dining plan is ONE free mug. At least that is what we got last year when we went.

Just a heads up. Maybe it changed but if not, you need to plan on buying 3 more.

QSDP AND DXDDP both are one mug for each person on the plan. Last year there were four of us and we got 4 mugs.
Reg DDP no mug, plus you get one TS, One CS, and one snack.

 

[JB2K]

About the tipping thing -- for your table service (sit-down) meals, always make sure you have the appropriate cash on hand for gratuity, as it is expected for a "job well done".

As for "Mousekeeping", this dead horse has been beaten many times over and over on this board -- but in the name of all things "budget", I will offer this:

Tipping your Disney housekeeping staff is not mandatory, as they do earn a full hourly salary (unlike the wait staff at any restaurant, who earn a couple of bucks per hour plus tips).

Bottom line, it's up to you and what you think is customary -- it's not like the housekeeping staff is going to "short sheet" your bed, if they don't get a fancy decorated envelope with cash stuffed in it.

Otherwise, you (OP) are right on track with your plans...