Have you ever Not spent money in parks?

[bearloch]

there are plenty of ways to get some magic without braking the bank! if food is covered!

Bring your pins to trade and trade with cast members! its great fun and challenge to find the ones you love!

Sotmk game and cards are fun and free!

the new pirate adventure treasure map game is also free!

transportation stickers! collect these and the cards

collect stickers form the vacation clubs and cast members!

we also saw kids ( older ) with a notebook asking cast members to log where they are from! cute idea!

 

[emilyltd]

Ha ha. No. I have never been successful at that. Usually, I'm pretty good at being frugal. But I have never come out of a Disney park without plunking down some money.

 

[squirrel]

Sure I have gone a few times with Free Dining.

The only extras I spent money on were the special popcorn buckets (made it easier to attach to the stroller when done). I usually buy my daycare children something Mickey straws and (bucket of Little Green Aliens, big character toys-bath?). I also purchased a resort mug (they weren't included back then).

I also brought my own microwave popcorn to put in the popcorn buckets.


Last year at DLR, I bought nothing. I had to pay for food (no dining plan) but didn't spend anything on merchandise.

 

[crayon3448]

We went with free dining once and spent less than $30 on other stuff on a 6 day trip.

We did this, too. On our last trip, the only money we spent was on tips and a 25 dollar picture frame we bought since it was DD's first trip.

 

[rainynight]

Free dining last year the only me money we spent at the parks was for tips, a coffee mug, and a little dinosaur toy.

 

[NYCDiane]

Went to DisneyLand twice as a kid and ONLY because we happened to be in California visiting my aunt and ONLY because my cousin worked there and we got passes. No, my mother (always the cheapskate) bought nothing at the park --- not a snack, not a keychain, not a tshirt ---- nothing to remember the trip by or to bring back as a gift for someone else.

 

[Blessedwith3boys]

Just wondering if anyone has ever booked a package with room,tickets and quick service dining plan and not spent any additonal money?
I know I always blow extra money on junk or extra sodas just wondering if anyone has attempted it?

With QSDP you get 2 snacks per day. If you eat breakfast in your room and avoid the souveniers...your're golden !

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes. It is expensive enough to stay onsite and visit the parks that we don't want to give Disney any more money than we have too. We take our own snacks and for the free CS water or bring our own drinks. I could not believe a snack bag of pretzel I brought in with me had the price stamped on the bag. I paid 69 cents yet Disney wanted $2.99 for the exact same item!

When we get hunger enough for a meal we leave and eat off property. Then relax at the pool for the afternoon. Have dinner offsite and then return to the parks when its cooler.

 

[MSSANDRA]

A few trips ago, before DS6 was able to say ,"I want", we did a full week, with the DDP and the ONLY out of pocket money we spent in the parks was on one bottle of water. We were at a cart that at that time did not do DDP cards, and I was dying of thirst! This was when tips were included and we just had everything we needed!

 

[Marionnette]

With QSDP you get 2 snacks per day. If you eat breakfast in your room and avoid the souveniers...your're golden !

QSDP is only 1 snack now.

And it's per night, not per day.

 

[rewardsinlife]

Have an annual pass for DL/ DCA with parking and had already paid this off and more many trips ago this year. Only stayed for the late morning and afternoon and didnt spend a cent. Had own water and a couple snacks, had breakfast before we went and a late lunch once we left the parks. So in the parks...nothing spent!

 

[sweetdana]

Close to zero yes.

If u do a sit down u have to tip.

No toys junk is easy we go often enough there isn't much we don't have. Dp is way more than enough food n snacks as long as water in park n fill up cups at resort work.

I'd say on a budget I could do 8-10 days with on 50$ and still splurge. . + tips ... I could even skip all ts and skip tips.

I'd skip most mouse keepings and bring a pack of bagels and dry cereal for the mornings.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We rarely spend $ in the parks. Maybe an occasional ice cream.

I wouldn't consider drinks as "extra spending". You could always pack some bottled water so you're not so thirsty and it would cut down on the drinks you have to buy.

As far as buying "stuff" sold in parks, our kids have gotten over their want of toys & pins.

If the only way I could go was on a tight budget with very little spending, I think it can be done with the meal plan.
You can always pack some instant oatmeal packets or a box of cold cereal for a quick breakfast.

 

[livsmom04]

I have. On our trip last April we didn't have much money to spend on anything extra. We always get the DxDP and we always have enough snack credits and meals not to spend any extra $$. This year we will be spending more money because we booked the BBB for our daughter but other than that we're good.

 

[JayCeeDoubleU]

This is possible?!? We go between 10-15 times a year with three kiddos under 6 and they always manage to find something they "need" lol. Maybe I should present this as a challenge next time!

 

[carebee21]

Nope. No way could we do it. Even if I took out buying a bottle of water here, a soda there and an alcoholic beverage every now and again, I'm still married to the worst packer alive. He forgets something each and every trip, whether it be PJs, a sweatshirt, a swimsuit or a belt, so we always end up paying for something

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This is possible?!? We go between 10-15 times a year with three kiddos under 6 and they always manage to find something they "need" lol. Maybe I should present this as a challenge next time!

It will get better as they get older & understand the value of money. Or do what we did: bring an index card & pen. Each child would get a certain amount to spend. If they want that $5 lollipop, it would be deducted from their "wallet". Once it's all spent, they're done. Funny how they'd suddenly say, "$30 for this?! No way!"

Nope. No way could we do it. Even if I took out buying a bottle of water here, a soda there and an alcoholic beverage every now and again, I'm still married to the worst packer alive. He forgets something each and every trip, whether it be PJs, a sweatshirt, a swimsuit or a belt, so we always end up paying for something

I am too so it's probably the control freak in me but I pack it all myself. I'll tell dh & kids to bring me 5 shirts, 5 pants, etc but I keep a packing list in my computer & print one out for each trip. I always pack the weekend before we leave so I have all day uninterrupted to get it done. It's a PITA but it's actually more stress for me when things are forgotten. Like when we pay $4 for a tiny pack of Motrin in the parks when I can buy a giant bottle of 800 pills for $8 from the pharmacy at the hospital where I work & pack some. Some trips we learn the hard way.

 

[dpswift]

As far as food goes I always seem to have leftover credits at the end. We get our resort mugs for drinks at the resort and then save the included drink for later if we eat a meal at the resort. For me and my kids two quick service meals and our refillable mugs are enough for us.

I do however buy a few pins to remember our trip. They are a great way to remember what was important to the kids on the trip.

 

[plummer925]

Not quite the same as I have never had free dining.

In 2002 we went for 5 days and spent less than $200 (food and a small gift for a friend).

In 2010 and 2011 we went for 1 day each and spent about $20 (food)

I am not one to spend money on extra stuff. Most is junk. People do not think so at the time, but honestly, 10 years later, how much is still around versus donated or sold on a yardsale? (Maybe, since this is the Disboards, a higher percentage then the general public). There is a reason that Goodwill has so much Disney stuff!

 

[pryncess527]

Yeah, the two times I've been as an adult with no kids I don't think I bought anything extra. I'm not planning any souvenir money in my budget for our next adult trip. I have enough "stuff" in my house -- I'm trying to get rid of half of it, so I've reached a point where it's getting easier to avoid shopping, especially at places like Disney.

Now if they had an Ann Taylor at Disney, I might be in trouble