For those traveling on a shoestring...

[lntsmom]

I have a picky eater and a tight budget. I was happy to find printable coupons for McDonalds on the Anaheim/OC tourist bureau site. You can print as many as you like. They're good for 10% off your total purchase!

I have been thinking that a good plan for my family is to eat breakfast in our room, lunch in the parks, and dinner LATE. I'm just hoping the McDonalds there has extended hours...at least until after the park closing. If not, I may adjust the plan. The coupons may only save me $5 or $6...but a savings is a savings!

I found coupons on my local airport's site for a free day of parking. The McDonalds coupon. The coupons in the back of the Birnbaum book for 10% off a purchase of $50 or more in souvenirs Also the coupon for buy two pretzels, get one free.

When I add that to the discount I got off rack rate by booking my hotel semi-early thru Mousesavers it makes me feel less guilty about the "splurge". Not that the savings add up to much in the big picture, but it should come to a little over $100 savings on the small stuff!

 

[lkohawaii]

I have a picky eater and a tight budget. I was happy to find printable coupons for McDonalds on the Anaheim/OC tourist bureau site. You can print as many as you like. They're good for 10% off your total purchase!

I have been thinking that a good plan for my family is to eat breakfast in our room, lunch in the parks, and dinner LATE. I'm just hoping the McDonalds there has extended hours...at least until after the park closing. If not, I may adjust the plan. The coupons may only save me $5 or $6...but a savings is a savings!

I found coupons on my local airport's site for a free day of parking. The McDonalds coupon. The coupons in the back of the Birnbaum book for 10% off a purchase of $50 or more in souvenirs Also the coupon for buy two pretzels, get one free.


When I add that to the discount I got off rack rate by booking my hotel semi-early thru Mousesavers it makes me feel less guilty about the "splurge". Not that the savings add up to much in the big picture, but it should come to a little over $100 savings on the small stuff!

Can you post the web address for the Anaheim/OC tourist bureau?

 

[disneegrl4eva]

thats a good deal...heres something else thats a good deal...they have a Red Robin in Garden Grove...and on their website you can join their club and get $3.00 off your total purchase or if somebody has a birthday while your at disneyland they get a free burger...the coupons come in email format

 

[Buckimion]

McDonald's Link: http://www.anaheimoc.org/listings/index.cfm?action=displayListing&catID=2&listingID=887&notify=1

 

[got2travel]

Here's a few more deals for you...

The IHOP right across the street from the main entrance offers "Kids Eat Free" every day after 4pm. I think you can get 2 kids meals for every 1 adult meal.

Join the ESPNZone club for free. Just sign up on their website ESPNZONE You will get an email that you take to their giftshop where they will give you a $20 merchandise voucher, a 40 point game card, and a small soft cooler. The $20 can be used in the restaurant.

 

[lntsmom]

There were coupons for other Anaheim attractions on their website. I found them when I went to comment that the ones they sent me in the mail had expired last month. I was going to ask for them to send me a new one...then I stumbled on the printables!

I'm going to go do the ESPN thing now. I was told to not do it more than 30 days in advance as there's a time limit on their offer. Does anyone know what it costs to play a game there? I'm guessing more than a dollar, since you get $10 of tokens free with each Park Hopper. Maybe with the deal on the tickets plus this deal it will give us a cheapie fun break the day we go to DCA.

Thanks for the tips!

Beth

 

[got2travel]

Yes, you are correct about the time limit on the membership. Once you sighn up and receive the email, you have to redeem it within 30 days. So be sure you don't sign up too early. The games at ESPN run on points, not tokens. The games were anywhere from 5 pts to 12 pts. I think $10 gets you 40 points. Plus, with the membership, you get to refuel your card at a 20% discount, so 40 points would only cost $8.


Edited to add: Sign up as many adults as you have in your party. You can combine the $20 meal cards.

 

[denyd]

Something else to look for are these area based coupon books. They normally cost about $40 for those in your local area, but you can order one for a non-local area for $25. I've gotten one in the past for Hawaii when I travelled there for a week on vacation. (There is one for Anaheim & Orange County)

The book contains a couple hundred buy one get on free offers for everything from fast food (McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell) to casual (Coco's, Denny's, Marie Callendar's) to fancy sit down places. It also contains 2 for 1 tickets to places like Angels & Dodgers baseball games, San Diego & LA Zoo, Long Beach Aquarium. For a family on a budget taking a 1+ week vacation, these can be big money savers.

 

[funnygarcia]

The coupon books would be Entertainment books right? They also have a monthly subscription printable only membership offer ($3.99 a month) on the entertainment web site. (didn't see subscription for Orange County??).
I believe all the books for 2005 are at half price right now.
www.entertainment.com

Other things I do.. gift certificates do not expire in CA. I ask friends and coupon boards to send me their expired McDonald treat coupon booklets. These are booklets aimed at children to use for free fries, free cone, free drink, free pie, free cookies. They are treated as gift certficates and the older ones say "does NOT expire in CA" (the ones printed in 2005 might not state the "do not expire" but they are gift certificates).
We each redeem one coupon each time we walk between DL and HoJo's. For a late snack/light dinner we might get 2 coupons of fries and 2 of drinks -drink refills for free- and buy 4 cheeseburgers. Cheap meal for four!

Become a member of the Rainforest Cafe Safari Club. $15 to join good for lifetime (must use at least once per yr) Receive $10 certificate, $5 on your birthday, 10 % off meals or free appetizer, Priority seating with no reservation (Skip that LONG line!). They occasional send other coupons (free volcano dessert with entree purchase).

If you get an AP you get at least 10% off meals in the parks and other items in DTD. (20 % at some places like Wetzels Pretzels and Haagen Dazs in DTD).
Double points at ESPN Zone!
Check out Mousesavers for a nice list.

 

[TiggerCate]

My DD7 got a bunch of "about to expire" GCs from McDonalds at Christmas from a friend whose mom is a manager there. I wonder if she still has them- she IS a pack-rat.

 

[kuusimo]

The IHOP right across the street from the main entrance offers "Kids Eat Free" every day after 4pm. I think you can get 2 kids meals for every 1 adult meal.


We were there at the end of April and I did not see the IHOP sign up advertising this. Is it an "unpublished" special?

We are lucky that our two boys (3 & 2) split all meals. They love the toasted cheese sandwiches from Whitewater snacks (in Grand Californian Hotel) and they spilt meals at Mimi's cafe. My husband and I spilt meals there as well. They are so large that everyone goes away full. I think our average bill at Mimi's is less than $15.00 with tip for a family of 4.

We also stayed at a hotel that had discounts to local places. We got kids eat free at Sizzler. We just needed to show them our room key.

 

[Pixie]

My DH is a picky eater who loved McDonalds and IHop, he wll be thrilled to know that both are so close to DL! Thanks for posting ths info.

 

[funnygarcia]

I heard the IHOP is a bit over priced-- just a warning.....


We usually go to the Denny's across the street at park closing- don't want to waste time at DL to eat
I signed my children up for Denny's B-day club , saved the postcards sent out for free meal = two meals paid.

I participate in Mypoints and other programs and cash out for Rainforest Cafe GC and Dsiney Dollars. One more dinner done!

Already paid for: ESPN Zone, McDonald's snacks/drinks, Denny's kid meals, Rainforest Cafe, snack paid with Disney $ in DL . I think we will get a refillable mug for WWS this yr - we like eating lunch there.

 

[Pixie]

I wonder if the entertainment books are worth the purchase since they expre in Nov, I've seem them advertised for 9.99. Anyone out there wth one who can comment? We would only be using them for food as everything else s already paid for.

 

[KristaBelle]

What is my points? how does it work?

Thanks!

 

[Redcon1]

I participate in Mypoints and other programs and cash out for Rainforest Cafe GC and Dsiney Dollars. One more dinner done!

I've been a member of MyPoints for about six years now. I've never seen Disney Dollars as a reward. Is this new? Where are they listed?
Thanks.

 

[got2travel]

I wonder if the entertainment books are worth the purchase since they expre in Nov, I've seem them advertised for 9.99. Anyone out there wth one who can comment? We would only be using them for food as everything else s already paid for.

I would say it's probably not worth it to buy a book, but what you could do is get a 1 month online subscription for $3.99. You could then print out any coupon you think you might use. But another thing to consider is there are tons of fastfood coupons and I believe they are good just about anywhere, not just in the area of the book or subscription you purchase. Browse around entertainment.com and see if there are any places that interest you, then you can decide.

 

[SeansMom]

I just got an email from entertainment saying all books are $9.99. The offer I got also had free S&H.

You might also consider stopping somewhere outside the park to stock up on water. We bought a BIG case of water instead of shelling out $2.50 every time we wanted a drink. Soda was $2.75 so we just drank the water we brought in. Also picked up some snacks and brought those little snack bags. We had some great chocolate covered pretzels and other finger food that we could snack on until time for our reservations or time to leave. Sharing meals is a great idea too. We shared several times. After all, there is really no way to carry around leftovers!

 

[HaleyB]

I've been a member of MyPoints for about six years now. I've never seen Disney Dollars as a reward. Is this new? Where are they listed?
Thanks.

Sometimes you can get "Webbies" with your points and, if I understand it right, you then can use these to get th Disney Dollars. I have never done it, but I read about it on the main (WDW) budget thread here. They will be able to tell you if this is still possible and exactly how to do it.