Doing Disney on a Budget????? HELP!

[DonnaBelle06]

Hi Everyone!

We're doing Disney the week of Thanksgiving, and I'm trying to find some SERIOUS budget ideas for us (especially when it comes to eating at Disney). I'm almost 100% we are not doing a Character meal due to the price (please no flames here--we're just trying to cut the cost some).

We have had some unexpected bills that took some of our Disney $$ so any creative ways to have fun and share in the Disney experience is WELCOMED!

We're staying offsite this time, but plan on purchasing 10 day tickets with no espi/park hopping option so that we can come back again next yr.

THANKS FOR ANY HELP!
Donna (here in Charlotte, NC but Disney bound in just 4 1/2 more months!)

 

[lady9]

Disney is doable on a budget especially when it comes to eating. Will you have a fridge in your room? If not, an inexpensive cooler and filled daily with ice will work. Plan to eat at least breakfast in the room. Cereal and milk, poptarts, granola bars juice, etc. For lunch, pack a picnic in a backpack or soft sided cooler of non parishable items, peanut butter sandwiches, cookies, fruit roll ups, and such. Counter service restaurants serve large portions. I have seen some people suggest buying a double hamburger and an extra bun then splitting the fries. The drinks are huge so share those or bring your own bottled water or juice boxes. At Cosmic Rays you can get a family meal of roasted chicken, potatoes, and I think carrots for $15.99, no drinks included and that was plenty for our family of 4. If you have a car restaurants outside of Disney are reasonable. You may even have some within walking distance of your hotel. Souveniers are expensive so that is an area you can cut back. You can also do a seach on this site for other ideas. I know this has been discussed before. Have a great time.

 

[Shagley]

Will you have a kitchen where you are staying? My suggestion is to make sure everyone eats a good, filling breakfast. Then bring some snacks and bottled water into the park with you. Eat a counter service lunch around 2:00pm in the park, then have a snack a few hours later. Then you can get something for dinner offsite (or back in your room) after you leave the park. That way you will only have one meal and maybe one snack that are purchased in the parks each day.

Even if you don't have a kitchen, you can still bring a small cooler and have cereal, milk, bagels, peanut butter, fruit, etc. for breakfast. Also, when bringing snacks into the park, bring something that will fill you up a bit - like crackers, cheese and pepperoni slices.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Will you have a car? If so, we have found that having a BIG breakfast at Ponderosa (I believe it's 3.99) keeps us full until mid afternoon. I don't know why, but one of them has a salad bar at breakfast, and I love it. I'm a total salad freak. This becomes our main meal of the day.

Then we have either a counter service or sit down lunch, followed by a snack in the evenings (maybe a pretzel or baked potato).

 

[Bob P]

Hi Donna,

Try here for lots of tips:

www.mousesavers.com

 

[crazelion]

If hotel has a free breakfeast take advange of it. Eat meals offsite buffets. There plenty of resturants offsite that has coupuons if pick up the coupouns books at rest stops and tourist traps.

Bring snacks in with you. That will save money. Buy Souveniers offsite because they is cheaper. Sure they won't say WDW on them who cares.

 

[brymolmom]

Where are you staying?

If you get a place with a kitchen (we have done so for as little as $60 per night right outside Disney) - I agree to make as much food in-room as possible. Bring your lunch to the parks and some fruit and drinks - then you'll barely have to buy any food onsite. And then, if you're leaving the park at a reasonable time - grab a pizza on the way back to the hotel and have more fruit in your room to go with it.

The Palms is right next to Disney AND has free cont. breakfast AND kitchens...all for really reasonable prices.

That is my best suggestion.

Other than that - pre-buy some 'souveniers' to resist temptation at the parks. Don't pull out the new stuff until you get there. Disney store is having a big sale right now - might be the time to get stuff.

 

[ellyn2000]

First, I just wanted to say "hello" to DonnaBelle06. I'm your neighbor and will also be returning to WDW for Thanksgiving. We don't go at any other time of year. All of the above suggestions are simple and I have used them to "do WDW" on a budget. When my children were younger, I would make a "Disney Goody Basket" for them and give it to them in the car before we left. It would have lots of things to keep them occupied on the drive down and some Disney goodies to give them part of the experience. I have found great things at Dollar Tree, Dollar General and WalMart. I hope your trip is fantastic and just the first of many Disney holidays.

 

[MommyBryn]

Hi there! Going to WDW on a budget is the ONLY way we're EVER able to go. :lol: Here's what we're doing...

~Going during the value season (late Jan/early Feb 2007)
~Staying at an Orlando Vacation home (since there are 6 adults in our party, this was MUCH less expensive than getting 2 hotel rooms...this is only $85-100/night for ALL of us!)
~Buying our own food to eat at our vacation home (mostly just breakfasts and snacks...maybe some late dinners)
~Renting a car (a must since we're staying off-site, but it also allows us to make grocery trips)
~Will ALWAYS take our own drinks/snacks to the park
~I'm trying to pre-plan our meals throughout the parks by using THIS site with the menus on it. That way, not only will it save us time when we get there, but we can eliminate the expensive options ahead of time.

Just curious, why would anyone flame you for not doing a Character meal? I guess I've never been aware that that is a "requirement" for enjoying Disney...

 

[mommiepoppins]

I would give your family an allowed souvie spending money and wait to the last day . Try I drive that place was loaded with souvie shops and also the character outlet.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

While we are not happy staying off site it is a great way to save money on food. If you are not big breakfast eaters, just bring stuff from home for a light in room meal, if you are or can be big morning eaters. Fill up at at cheep breakfast buffet or with biscuits from fast food. CArry some or all your food into the parks, and try to wait till you head back to the parks for dinner. Take out pizza is a great and cheap meal. Keep drinks at the hotel to reduce cost.

 

[disneynan]

When we go with our three children, we usually don't go to a park on our first day. This saves a day's admission and we are usually tired after travel. We get unpacked, swim and go to Downtown Disney. The kids are allowed to choose one item (we try to keep it less than $20 each) as their toy for the week. They are aware that whatever choice they make, that is it. They enjoy the selection at the World of Disney store and we don't have to listen to begging for things in all the post-ride gift shops.

We usually steer the younger ones to choose a toy that they can take with them into the parks everyday, so they don't always feel like they need to get all the toys they see in the parks.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Everyone's given some great budget ideas, so I would like to give my spin on how to make them magical. Most of my ideas are repeats of others, with a little twist.

I would definitely bring little "Tinkerbell" gifts with you and leave them for the kids to find every morning or evening. Maybe sprinkle a little confetti around, too. It's important to have that magical feel, it doesn't really matter how much it costs. You might even consider bringing some Disney stuffed animals with you to leave in the hotel room to keep the Disney feeling going. Have you considered decorating the windows with Mickey stickies or something? Maybe even bring Disney CD's for the times you'll be riding in the car? Tie curling ribbon or put a Mickey antenna topper on your car to help find it and keep up the magic. You can even buy those markers that wash off a car to write on the windows (just make sure you can still see to drive and park!)

As far as eating, I think the most important thing is to make sure everyone's full and well hydrated. If you'd like to do a grocery stop and bring some premade food with you for a picnic(there's a spot by the TTC where you can do this, I believe), or eat mostly counter service, or eat offsite (that 3.99 buffet is a great deal) that sounds like they're all great ideas. As long as you don't try to make do on too little food or water, you'll be fine. Cups of ice water are free, so if you want to ask for one instead of sodas, you'll save money. Water fountains are all around, so refill your bottles often. I'd much rather see a family picnic by the TTC than to share a small TS meal and feel hungry. Another suggestion I have is to always eat lunch at the parks unless you are staying at your hotel to swim. It wastes more money in gas to drive back from the parks, eat lunch (or dinner) and then drive back to the parks. Either bring something with you, eat counter service or eat off schedule. Gas can be expensive.

Another suggestion I have is for you to buy Disney groceries. In the Walgreens near my home, they have Disney cookies, crackers, pretzels, and candies on sale for a dollar a bag. If you bring them with you, they'll be just as good as a four dollar bag from the gift shop. At the grocery stores near me, they sell Disney cereals, fruit snacks, etc. I think it would be fun to have those things while in Disney- it would save money and still be magical, fun, Disney, etc. You could also consider bringing Kool Aid singles or iced tea to flavor the water from the water fountains.

If you stay out of the stores for the most part, you won't feel like you're missing anything by not buying a lot of souvenirs. Everyone likes the rides better anyway! If meeting characters is your priority, you don't necessarily need to do a character meal. You can just try to get to a character meet and greet before the characters get there (check the map and ask CM's) so you will be among the first to say hi. This is especially great early in the morning when many people are dashing to the rides. You will miss the "walk right on" the attractions time period, though. Another idea is to go to FW and see the campfire with Chip and Dale. I think it costs only a few dollars for a bag with sticks, chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. You can roast marshmallows and get in some character time. It's almost like a character meal.

Bring light sticks or light bracelets with you, too. You won't spend ten dollars a clip and you'll still glow.


Have a great time and if you miss anything, you can do it on your next trip!

 

[jj1403]

Hi Donna

How many people are you traveling with and where are you staying.

How much money are you bugetting for food?

 

[offwegotoneverland]

also pens and autograph books are quite pricey. Get pens and notebooks to sign prior to leaving home (you can often find them at the dollar store). Fatter pens are best.

Bringing in your own water is a huge savings vs the 2.50 per bottle in the parks.

Also most food places have no problem with splitting stuff.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

as far as doing disney on a budget...

take advantage and ENJOY the things you are paying for...like the rides, etc. you won't feel like you are missing anything if you appreciate what you are doing. i would recommend trying to sit up front in the monorail...we did that when i was little....costs nothing, but i thought it was the most amazing thing ever!

with your kids, try to split larger meals, instead of ordering 2, and definitely bring your own drinks into the parks. i remember my mom always bringing snacks also...and while i always wanted to buy my own thing, i think another poster's idea of bringing disney cookies/crackers etc. would make most kids happy! also, you could give your kids the option of spending some of their souvenier money on snacks...like if they really want a mickey ice cream bar or something...then they will be happy and it's not additional money have to put out. have fun!

 

[Helene]

Wrong post. Sorry.

 

[DawnM]

Hi Donna! Another person from Charlotte here. We moved here last year.

Not too much more advice....

We carry granola bars into the park for snacks. We order double burgers with extra buns and split. We order the large soda and all share.

We stay off site through SkyAuction.com for very little.

We only eat lunch in the park so we eat later (between 1-3) and then eat dinner around 8pm off-site, at the condo or cheaper place than in the parks. OR we have done another cs meal for dinner. There are many place with large portions for splitting or where you can get a kids' meal for even the adult that is quite good. Living with the Land (I think it is called) has a great food court.

We never buy things in the parks. There is a Disney outlet nearby and my kids can pick one thing out there.

We buy APs so we can go back twice (or more) in one year. So if you go at Thanksgiving this year just go back anytime before Thanksgiving next year and you can still use the same passes.

Can you go during the off-season? The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are awesome! The decorations are up for Christmas but the crowds are minimal.

Dawn