First time without the DDP- tips?

[kj2mom]

Gift cards for meals was how I budgeted...for some reason when you buy the gift cards periodically over time it seems much less than whipping out the credit card all at once during the trip. I know it is just mind games but for me it works (plus I got a lot of my gift cards free with my Disney Rewards points). I went through all of my cards and allocated them to our TS meals (for the 3 of us I usually set aside $150). It felt soo good when the bill came to just put down my cards and be done with it (I had a package of singles and fives in case I needed more for tip). The great thing about the gift cards is they never expire and never reduce so you can start putting them away anytime and have them for when you need them (I saved my last ones for as much as 9 years).

 

[ejrj]

Totally agree on the mind game aspect of the ddp and I will absolutely be using gift cards for that reason! At the end of the day Money is money of course, but I enjoy not having the feeling of constantly seeing the cash leave my hand. It's a financial illusion but I'm happy to play along! We'll have a small sum of Disney Reward Dollars and I plan to start buying the Target red card/Disney gift cards.

 

[Marbel]

Too funny. I received a totally random text from my husband yesterday afternoon that said 'hey!!i know we're doing the trip different this year but we're still going to Earl's to get my Thanksgiving sandwich, right?!!'

That holiday sandwich is a MUST for me. So yummy!

 

[Disnsyncey]

You might consider a rental car so you can make trips out to the store. There's a Whole Foods up the way towards Universal that's always fun (if expensive). And the local Publix stores are actually quite decent. Far more decent, in terms of good foods there, than they were in the late 80s, that's for sure!



I've never once gotten it to work financially for our family. And we don't eat just one meal a day.

woo publix!!!!! Best ever

and for a totally unhealthy snack that keep the fam going, my parents and I just realized the awesomeness of the candy/caramel apples in the parks! They will cut them for you and y'all can have a great pause for a quick snack!