Juliah
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2004
- Messages
- 548
Thanks to everyone on Disboards for tips that really helped with our trip! Here are some of the things that worked best for us...hope they help others.
Food: I was really pleased we managed to feed 2 adults and 3 kids age 18-22 for 7 days for $700. That included all meals, snacks, and groceries. We ate most breakfasts and some other meals in the room--cereal, granola bars, fruit, pb sandwiches, cheese, etc. We had 4 table-service meals (big splurge was O'Hana) and ate our way around World Showcase at the F & W Fest. We never felt deprived; in fact, eating breakfast in the room was convenient, and it worked better for our DD who has a metabolic disorder and has to eat soon after she gets up. Besides groceries, our biggest savings came from bringing bottled water to the parks, drinking ice water at most meals, and sharing portions. We had a free fridge in the room and also used a soft-sided cooler. We thought Earl of Sandwich in DTD was a good deal at $5 for a generous sandwich.
MNSSHP: We felt this was one of the biggest bargains of the trip. We didn't use a park hopper that day, since I knew we could get into with a party ticket at 4 o'clock, so we got 8 hours at the MK for only $34 each (including tax). Plus, it was a blast! We had so much fun and were doing so well on our budget, we went again our last night at WDW.
Hotel at WDW: This was the biggest piece of our budget because we stayed at the Polynesian. While not for everyone trying to keep costs down, with 5 people, 2 in wheelchairs, the size of the room and proximity to the monorail made this the only way to go for us and still have a pleasant vacation. I was one of the lucky ones who got an email discount; otherwise, we just wouldn't have gone. We also reduced cost a little by staying one less night than we originally planned.
Souvenirs: My girls were too busy pin trading to do much shopping. We stocked up on pins on sale at Disney Catalog online, then they traded for WDW pins that reminded them of the trip--like Splash Mountain and Lilo in a witch's hat--and found pins of their friends' favorite characters to bring back as gifts. We kept our list of who we were shopping for short. I liked the ideas I read here about foods, so we brought tins of mints, cookies, and pretzels, then grouped them in clear bags we decorated with Disney stickers. Most of my shopping was for birthday and Christmas presents, which I would have done at home anyway. DH and DS found Disney polo shirts at an outlet store. Our biggest souvenir bargain--DS got in the hot seat at Millionaire and won a hat, polo shirt, lanyard, and pin set!
Best budget help of all: mind set. With job changes, surgeries, and other hits to our budget the last couple of years, to be able to go at all was an amazing blessing. We were so excited to be at WDW (and so used to living on a shoestring) that it really didn't seem like a big deal not to buy everything that we saw or not eat a lot of table service meals. Despite keeping an eye on the budget, I think it was one of our best Disney trips yet.
Food: I was really pleased we managed to feed 2 adults and 3 kids age 18-22 for 7 days for $700. That included all meals, snacks, and groceries. We ate most breakfasts and some other meals in the room--cereal, granola bars, fruit, pb sandwiches, cheese, etc. We had 4 table-service meals (big splurge was O'Hana) and ate our way around World Showcase at the F & W Fest. We never felt deprived; in fact, eating breakfast in the room was convenient, and it worked better for our DD who has a metabolic disorder and has to eat soon after she gets up. Besides groceries, our biggest savings came from bringing bottled water to the parks, drinking ice water at most meals, and sharing portions. We had a free fridge in the room and also used a soft-sided cooler. We thought Earl of Sandwich in DTD was a good deal at $5 for a generous sandwich.
MNSSHP: We felt this was one of the biggest bargains of the trip. We didn't use a park hopper that day, since I knew we could get into with a party ticket at 4 o'clock, so we got 8 hours at the MK for only $34 each (including tax). Plus, it was a blast! We had so much fun and were doing so well on our budget, we went again our last night at WDW.
Hotel at WDW: This was the biggest piece of our budget because we stayed at the Polynesian. While not for everyone trying to keep costs down, with 5 people, 2 in wheelchairs, the size of the room and proximity to the monorail made this the only way to go for us and still have a pleasant vacation. I was one of the lucky ones who got an email discount; otherwise, we just wouldn't have gone. We also reduced cost a little by staying one less night than we originally planned.
Souvenirs: My girls were too busy pin trading to do much shopping. We stocked up on pins on sale at Disney Catalog online, then they traded for WDW pins that reminded them of the trip--like Splash Mountain and Lilo in a witch's hat--and found pins of their friends' favorite characters to bring back as gifts. We kept our list of who we were shopping for short. I liked the ideas I read here about foods, so we brought tins of mints, cookies, and pretzels, then grouped them in clear bags we decorated with Disney stickers. Most of my shopping was for birthday and Christmas presents, which I would have done at home anyway. DH and DS found Disney polo shirts at an outlet store. Our biggest souvenir bargain--DS got in the hot seat at Millionaire and won a hat, polo shirt, lanyard, and pin set!
Best budget help of all: mind set. With job changes, surgeries, and other hits to our budget the last couple of years, to be able to go at all was an amazing blessing. We were so excited to be at WDW (and so used to living on a shoestring) that it really didn't seem like a big deal not to buy everything that we saw or not eat a lot of table service meals. Despite keeping an eye on the budget, I think it was one of our best Disney trips yet.
We'll be taking a budget trip this Christmas break and can relate! Great idea about the pin trading, and LOVE your gracious attitude!!
