Does this make me cheap?

[PHXscuba]

I think it's not only budget-smart, but time-smart too.

You're going to want ALL of the things you've listed when you first get to the parks. Did you really want/plan to spend your first hours in a gift shop buying autograph books, backpacks, lanyards, etc? Now you don't have to.

On another thread on the Disneyland side of the board, we were all sharing what we'd learned about our trips to Disneyland, and one person made the comment that for a child, a new T-shirt and new stuffed animal took away a lot of the "I-want-it-right-now" that can happen when you first get there. I think buying getting a few things ahead of the time only adds to the anticipation, especially if they were things you were going to pay double/triple for when you were there.

PHXscuba

 

[andee2000]

You aren't cheap you are smart. Why pay more for basically the same things you'd get at the park? I did the same thing last summer when we went to DLR. I got the kids some shirts and toys from Disney Store clearance and they were happy. I handed out something each day.

 

[okeydokey]

To me there is a big difference between frugal and cheap. Frugal is being smart with your money. Cheap is being miserly and having a negative impact on others (going to a restaurant and not leaving a tip). It's smart of you to plan ahead this way.

 

[Va-bear]

Oh, I'm definaltey cheap!! LOL!

Like others have said, you save money, you save a TON of time (my kids can walk around a store for hours and still be 'undecided') and, I once caught my older son telling the little one how they were "lucky, because we dont have to spend our money on souvineers - Mickey leaves them in our room at night!" As, he got older he said his fav. memories were how there would be treats in the room some mornings!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

It's an awesome idea! Go you!

 

[caroline0816]

NOT cheap! Your husband would cringe at my planning! I'm making my own autograph books, bought lanyards at Staples and got the stuffed animals and character shirts ahead of time! My MIL embroidered Minnie Mouse on my girls' shirts with their names under them - can you imagine how much those [would cost at Dis?[/I]

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

I tried the pre-purchase thing when my DDs were smaller - then I realized that they liked to pick out souvies for themselves. We realized that for us souvies were items we picked out to remind us of the trip - not just "stuff" to have when we were there. Just my opinion.