Do People Really.......???

[2nd childhood]

I've never heard of the swapping things or the dirty diaper. Both seem a bit over the top to me. I have heard of the others mentioned, but have never done any of them and I'm not planning on it. Although the extra bun wouldn't be so bad if you had children that were light eaters.

 

[DrTomorrow]

OK I'm sure I'm going to get flamed for this but...

Does anyone else think that if you are so strapped for money that you resort ot some of these tactics, you really should be putting your money somewhere (ie, bills) other than Disney.

I know, I know, I can hear it... "Don't tell me how to spend MY money"

JMHO

No flames, but my thoughts.

IMHO, there are folks who, after paying all the 'important' bills, have some money left over for a vacation and they are doing what they can to spend their vacation at Disney instead of Lion Country Safari or the Mystery Spot. To further understand this, spend a little time on the DIS Budget Board....

 

[Lizzybee]

I don't see anything wrong with the sharing a burger meal, like others said lots of times there is just too much food to eat, so why waste food and money?

I have never heard of the dirty diaper thing, we go in August and now I'm totally sure that when I see strollers I'll be looking for the dirty diaper. I wonder if you can tie a depends to a scooter and keep it safe in the same way???

I have indeed pool hopped and I'm not ashamed (we were at POR and pool hopping between POR and POFQ is completely legal )

I don't understand the "fixin" bar salad...ok how many pickles do you like on your salad and do you mix mustard, ketchup and mayo for a dressing? Question number 2 on this phenomenon: If they haven't purchased any food, what are they making the salad on/in, a used tray? a purse? a baggie?

 

[scraptoons]

Everyone has their reasons for doing things.

Doesn't it sorta remind you of annoying things done by family members?

Let them be.

As for the money reference (being able to afford the extra food, etc)...please have a heart.

Some people (like my DH) has not only worked hard and extra to make the ends meet, pay off the bills, have extra to save, etc. all in the past few months, despite all the set backs. These people have earned the right to do what they need to do for a little piece of a dream.

This is something that he has managed to accomplish, after dreaming of this trip for 13 years, and I'm pretty proud of him. When you have to work so hard to do all of those things, of course you are going to watch every little penny. Especially if you have little ones who can't eat a whole plate of food anyway.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

I will admit to ordering an extra bun when I get a double cheeseburger

it isn't free - you have to pay 79 cents for it - why do I do this? we want two burgers and not all the fries that come with the meal -

would you think it was cheap if I cut the burger in half and split it that way?

if disney is willing to let me pay for the bun - I don't see a problem with it

and it does save me money so that is a bonus - but not a must for me!!!

 

[puddleduck]

Some people get a double cheeseburger and an extra bun or split meals not neccasarily because they are broke, but why spend tons of money if you don't have to. We went to Pecos Bill's for lunch. My 5 yo wanted a hamburger, but I knew he would not eat a lot. I ordered a double cheeseburger combo meal w/ an extra bun. We shared the drink, fries and dessert along w/ the cheeseburger. I saw no need to buy 2 cheeseburger combos for food that would not be eaten. Heck, at home I can easily afford to buy 2 adult combos and 3 kids meals at fast food restaurants, but I never do. The kids don't eat that much. My dh and I usually share fries and I can normally buy one adult chicken nugget combo for all 3 of my kids to share or split 2 reg. cheeseburgers and a large fry between the 3 of them. I just don't like spending money that I don't have to or wasting food just because I happen to have the money.

On another note, no I would not tie a dirty diaper to our stroller, make a salad from the toppings bar, pool hop or use mugs from previous visits (we just bring our own drinks to begin with )

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

You'd be very surprised, but not everyone that does the double burger with extra bun thing or the salad thing does so because they are strapped for money. I have some relatives that are made of money and they'd do the burger thing in a heartbeat. But they would consider making a salad out of that or getting excessive topings for their now two burgers abuse of the Privilege.

 

[TDC Nala]

yeah, I don't get the whole asking for the bun thing, why not just cut the burger in half?

 

[connorsmom911]

Ok, I will probably burn in Disney hell for this...but we did sneak an extra person into a room. Our first family trip to Disney, my father was adamant that he was not going, so my mom said that was fine, my 2 sisters, her and I would go by ourselves on a girls trip. We planned for months, booked our trip, did a package with a travel agent to stay at CBR (back in the days before we knew anything!), got excited, packed and then 2 days before we were leaving, my father finally announces that he is going with us. He didn't think we were serious and that we'd actually go without him.

We protested that the room would not hold 5 people, that it was only 2 double beds, that he had plenty of opportunity to change his mind any of the MILLION times we asked over the last few months! But my mom relented and said he could come. So we crammed his luggage in the van and drove down. Although he said he would sleep on the floor, it ended up being us 3 girls taking turns for a week making up a little bed on the floor and listening to him snore all night. We barely slept, and we had to leave the room in 2 groups as we were afraid of getting caught. My dad also used my 3 unused days off my PHP ticket from the year before because we had the package tickets.

But I have to admit, it was still a magical trip, our first as a family. We even came "that" close to buying into DVC on that trip back in 1993, took the tour and my parents were prepared to buy, but they couldn't sell to Canadians just yet, and by the time they could, they had talked themselves out of it. Yes, kicking themselves now.

It was really special last week, as we all returned to the World for one day, my family (dh, ds and me), my parents, and my 2 sisters, for the first time since that first trip. Most of us have been but not all together since 1993. We had lunch at Teppanyaki in Japan, and afterwards, my sisters and I each bought an oyster in the store and got our pearls. To our surprise, all 3 pearls were the same colouring and exactly the same size. We decided to make them into identical necklaces right on the spot. Although we are not terribly close (I am the oldest, with a 5 year gap between me and my next sister and then another 2 year gap to the youngest), it was a small, sentimental moment for me, realizing that this is likely the last time we would be together is Disney. My little sister is getting married next year and both my parents health is questionable. My dh and I are not planning to go back until 2010.

Another wonderful memory, and another reason I never look at the $$ it costs to go to WDW...it's priceless!

 

[Luv'sTink]

I wonder if you can tie a depends to a scooter and keep it safe in the same way???

Funny

 

[KimberlyC]

*Tie dirty diapers to their strollers?

I've never noticed such a thing but if the goal is to deter stoller theft, why not just personalize or lock your stroller? The diaper method seems extreme to me. I gotta ask, to anyone who has done it, does it work, do you get revolting looks and if so, is it worth it? I just put an iron on patch and iron on letters on DS's stroller because I figure who wants a stroller with my kid's name on it.

*"Swap" things in the parks with complete strangers?

confused3 What do people swap and why?

The others I have heard of but i don't have a family of 5, don't eat red meat, and generally order my salad without most of the toppings so no chance of that here.

 

[Amps]

I'd try the extra bun deal in a heartbeat, expect I'd be much happier eating the double burger myself

Also, about pool hopping: Really, whats the big deal? Near as I can tell, I'm staying on Disney property and should feel free to tour the amenities at the other resorts without feeling guilty. It's not like you're paying directly to swim in the pool at your hotel, it's just a bonus and you may as well share it.

 

[cstraub]

Sharing meals is fine & can be done tactfully....My hubby & I do it all the time. We order 2 entrees that we'd both like to try & share some of each other's......

This approach sounds wasteful to me.

I did know you had to use tact to share a meal. I refuse to buy more food than I will eat and then just throw away what I don't eat. We order one meal and then split it. I have been know to split one meal with both of my younger children. I do not like to waste food. Buying food knowing you will not eat it in for the sake of tact doesn't seem right.

We are very healthy eaters and are very aware of portion sizes and calories. I am convinced that most of the food served at WDW is PLENTY for two.

 

[maslex]

Kind of on topic......on pool hopping......

when you're in the pool, can you ACTUALLY tell which people are from "your resort" and someone from another one?

are you really paying that much attention to the other people rather than having a great time in the pool?

I just don't get it. How can you tell someone is pool hopping?

 

[Tink10]

This approach sounds wasteful to me.

I did know you had to use tact to share a meal. I refuse to buy more food than I will eat and then just throw away what I don't eat. We order one meal and then split it. I have been know to split one meal with both of my younger children. I do not like to waste food. Buying food knowing you will not eat it in for the sake of tact doesn't seem right.

We are very healthy eaters and are very aware of portion sizes and calories. I am convinced that most of the food served at WDW is PLENTY for two.

Believe me when I say that none of what we order goes to waste......We eat it all (or almost anyway)

As far as sharing meals tactfully......There most certainly are ways to do it & ways not to do it. Having been a server in a restaurant or 2, there have been all too many times where guests tip very poorly when they split a meal. A shared meal is actually more work for a good server than if the guests had ordered separately & unfortunately, people don't realize that. You can always tell the people who are sharing because they're "frugal" from those who are sharing because they can't or don't want to eat the full portion........

Sharing at counter service locations is fine, as long as people don't hoard the whatnot on the topping bars to "supplement" their lack of food actually paid for.

Seriously though....In my original questions I didn't have a problem with sharing meals at all.....Just the extra bun thing.....That seems pretty over the top & just a way to scam WDW out of an almost free extra burger.....

To all those who asked about "swapping".......

I've read that people (who don't know each other) will arrange a meeting to swap strollers & Pal Mickey dolls (and a few other things) while on vacation (all in the name of saving a buck or 2). This, to me, seems a bit unsanitary.......Leaky diapers, kids drooling or sneezing/coughing on things....Ick!

 

[dgaston]

Wow! I'm out of step with many posters on this thread. DH and I often share CS meals because they're too big for us. We started doing this back in the day of Quick and Casual Vouchers (now extinct). I still plan on buying the extra bun to split double burgers and certainly will not feel guilty about it. And we have each ordered cheese soup and then split a steak at LeCellier, tipping well, so we weren't over full.

And I admire people who arrange the stroller swaps, Pal Mickey swaps, and Christmas tree swaps. I think it's creative and fun!

 

[mrzrich]

I've read that people (who don't know each other) will arrange a meeting to swap strollers & Pal Mickey dolls (and a few other things) while on vacation (all in the name of saving a buck or 2). This, to me, seems a bit unsanitary.......Leaky diapers, kids drooling or sneezing/coughing on things....Ick!

Gee, I guess I would offend you then seeing as if I am leaving a theme park early I find a family with a tired child or one just walking in struggling with lots to carry and give them my rental....silly me I thought I was sharing pixie dust I didn't realize I was just sharing drool

 

[MajorWoody]

Hello,

In regards to the one of the questions on this thread...

I've heard that people sometimes take a disposable diaper and soak it with soda, to make it look like a dirty diaper, then attach it to their stroller to dissuade someone from absconding with it. I like to think that is what the OP either saw or heard about. I just can't imagine that someone would leave a genuinely soiled diaper on the stroller when there are so many trash cans available.

Hope that helps,

Take care,

Bill

 

[mrsltg]

I've done the double cheeseburger/pay for an extra bun thing. The portions are just too big for dd and I so we often share a lunch. I proudly admit (and dh will attest) I am as far from cheap as you can be. I spend money like its water. BUT - I won't spend money on something just to throw it away. The dirty diaper thing is just gross, though...

 

[mom2of2]

To all those who asked about "swapping".......

I've read that people (who don't know each other) will arrange a meeting to swap strollers & Pal Mickey dolls (and a few other things) while on vacation (all in the name of saving a buck or 2). This, to me, seems a bit unsanitary.......Leaky diapers, kids drooling or sneezing/coughing on things....Ick!

Sorry that you feel that way but I ran the DIS Stroller Swap for almost 3 years and the purpose of the Swap was NOT to save money. Here on the DIS we are a community and the Swap was designed to bring DISers together. We each did scrapbook pages, took pictures and left little gifts for each other. The stroller was used for ages 3-7 so diapers/drool wasn't an issue. We also had people cleaning the stroller and had rules regarding food an whatnot.