Going to WDW by car looking to Save $

[Stitch1231]

hey there gang I'm looking for more suggestions on my trip to WDW 7/2 to7/7 where I can save some $

I have DVC and an annual pass so thats all good now looking for ways to save on meals

I know bring water and soda
bring snacks what els should I get

Kids love apples and peanut butter was thinking of bringing that too

any suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[rewardsinlife]

Eating outside the park as much as possible really helps our budget. We drive in, find a restaurant or fast food nearby and grab food and eat it in the car while going through parking. By the time we hit the tram or bus, we are full and ready to go.

Hearty snacks that you don't have to worry about melting works well too. Jerky, popcorn, granola bars, fruit roll ups, peanut butter/ cheese crackers. Bottles of water for everyone that can be refilled in the parks.

The trick, is to not wait until you are starving to find food. That is when the closest and probably most expensive food stands and restaurants will be more than happy to accommodate you. When we start to get hungry, we go to a shortish line and discuss what types of food we might enjoy for dinner and look on the maps for reasonable choices within or close to that area. Pick out a couple, go on the ride, and then look at each one until a winner is found. Works for our family anyway. If you already kind of know what the kids will and will not eat, might be easier to discuss the food between the adults and then decide between them for the winner. Usually the last thing on a kids mind is eating...it is on what ride they will be going to after!

Good luck!

 

[Marionnette]

hey there gang I'm looking for more suggestions on my trip to WDW 7/2 to7/7 where I can save some $

I have DVC and an annual pass so thats all good now looking for ways to save on meals

I know bring water and soda
bring snacks what els should I get

Kids love apples and peanut butter was thinking of bringing that too

any suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks

Are you staying in a studio or will you have a full kitchen? If you have a full kitchen, then there are a lot of meals that you can easily prepare, including crockpot meals and quick skillet meals. You'll have a full freezer so that you can freeze ice packs for a soft-sided cooker or freeze individual water bottles. Grapes freeze well and make a wonderful, icy snack.

I would not pack more water or soda into the car than you need for the trip. That additional weight will impact your gas mileage and negate your savings. Make a grocery stop when you get to Orlando or save time by having groceries delivered to your villa.

Just about any snack that you pack for your kids to take to school or on field trips will work well in the parks. Avoid anything milk-based because of the possibility of spoilage.

Make sure that you know what discounts apply to DVC members and any that apply to AP holders. There are portable benefits that you can print out from the DVC website and you should have gotten a booklet with AP benefits when you got your AP. There may be blackout dates for discounts around the 4th of July. Read the fine print.

 

[buzz2400]

buy rain ponchos at walmart before you go. you can get them for under $2 vs. buying them at park for more than triple the price. You will get rain during july.

Buy the little packets of flavor packets (at walmart) and ask for cups of water at the parks. The water doesn't taste so well but once you add the flavor packets it is drinkable. You will also get the ice which you will need in July.

We always carry around granola bars and one water bottle per person (which we keep filling up at the counter services). We used to carry peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but by time we sat down to eat, they were too smushed.

We always go past downtown disney and there is a subway and other places to eat.

 

[rock_doctor]

Being DVC is the first step... We stop the first night in Florence SC ($39 coupon from the "red book") and then stay at the knights Inn ($30-40 can't remember) just outside Disney. Walmart in Kiss for food supplies, when we do eat out we like golden corral (the whole family can eat for the price of one person at a disney restaurant). Cheap fuel stops... Carmel Chruch Va, Latta SC, Exit 3 in Ga (racetrack - right turn off exit ramp when going south on I95). Walmart in Kiss also has a good price for gas and if in a push the Hess stations on Disney property are not bad. The first two stations are Pilot/FlyingJ run inside first and get their frequent travelers card. It is free but gives you fuel at a slight discount and the cash price when using a credit card (i assume it works the same for gas. We use diesel and buy $150 at a shot). I would cook in your room as much as you can. The studios have a microwave and a can opener. One bedroom and larger have full kitchens. Walmart has a great selection of premade foods (i.e. frozen chicken patties for example). Tolls are high in Del and Md (twice as much going north then going south) but you can use your EZ Pass the whole way. There are no tolls in FLA providing you go the standard way (I95 to I4). Good luck.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

What kind of meals do you mean: sit down meals in your hotel or ones to bring to the parks? If it's portable meals to the parks, you can pre make salads, PB&J sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, I like to make tomato and hummus sandwiches.... I bring pretzels, baked chips, animal crackers, fruits, along w/ the sandwiches-- very filling and cheap.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Depending on your kids' ages, you can save a lot by splitting meals. In 2012, I went to USO/IOA and Legoland with my mom and 2 boys (11, 13). Mom and I were able to split meals very easily at both places, and the boys split to a lesser extent. When they were younger, they easily split a single adult meal. You can also just split parts of the meal (ie, the boys got burgers and fries, mom and I split a burger and "stole" fries from the boys b/c their were more than enough).

Limit park bought snacks to one a day and buy the signature thing you can't get at home. You can keep granola bars, individual dried fruit packets, individually wrapped twizzlers and slim jims, etc in your park bag for anything else.

Drink water at meals, and bring your own Mio or flavor packets. We took a water bottle to split between the boys and one to split between me and dh. The flavor makes the water from the fountains taste fine.

Poptarts or yogurt and granola bars in your room make a fine breakfast. Fresh fruit works well if your kids like it.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I also take my own glow sticks for after dark. At 10/$1 at Michaels, I can give them to kids around us, too.

I bought our Disney tees at the Disney Store at home before we left, so we weren't tempted to buy them at the parks.

The Walmarts near WDW all have dated WDW merchandise available for a lower price than in the store. They do seem to be licensed, so I have no problem buying there.

Bring your own movies and microwave popcorn for evenings in the hotel room.

 

[Marionnette]

I also take my own glow sticks for after dark. At 10/$1 at Michaels, I can give them to kids around us, too.

I bought our Disney tees at the Disney Store at home before we left, so we weren't tempted to buy them at the parks.

The Walmarts near WDW all have dated WDW merchandise available for a lower price than in the store. They do seem to be licensed, so I have no problem buying there.

Bring your own movies and microwave popcorn for evenings in the hotel room.

DVC members can borrow movies from the resort library for free by just showing their member's card and room key. No need to take your own with you unless you absolutely MUST have certain DVDs.

 

[Bell30012]

CiCi's Pizza is one of our favorite ways to save money.