Help...Leaving tomorrow, budget cut in half

[mobes_jk]

We are supposed to be leaving tomorrow for our trip, which includes one day each at IOA, Universal, and Sea World. In the middle of that, we will be at Disney for 5 days. We started planning this trip a year ago and we will be going with my dh's parents, 2 sisters, brother, sister's boyfriend, and our neice. The problem is that my place of employment has made a mistake with my paychecks for the last 2 months and I will not be getting them before our trip (maybe not til we're back). This means that we need to cut our budget in half. We've decided to bring our lunches into the parks, so I'm going shopping now for that. My main problem is that everyone we are going with will be spending like crazy while we are on a restrictive budget. I'm almost happy about it, though, because we'll feel less guilty when we get home since we saved a bunch of this money. My main question for you guys, though, is about souveniers for my kids. Each of our kids now only gets $50 to spend and I'd like them to make the best use of it. Ages, etc. are: DD 6, DS 3, and DS 1 1/2. My daughter already has an autograph book, we'll do smashed pennies, and might get a passport for epcot. I'd appreciate any tips you have for us. We're just trying to make the most out of what we've got...

Thanks

 

[kathmzh]

What about hitting the outlets down there at the end of your trip for the souvenirs? I know they have better prices than the parks. Maybe the kids can spend a few days "scoping out" what's available, then find something they like at Belz or another outlet for a better price! My kids loved the pins, autograph books, smashed pennies, and they each got a t-shirt. Avoid things like tatoos, face painting and hairbraiding -- that will really eat into your budget!
That's tough about your paycheck - but as you said, you'll be glad when you return!

 

[anditoo72]

I so know what you are talking about we are stressing in the vacation budget too, we were even thinking this morning of cancelling. I did hear a tip a while ago that I have been keeping in mind for a souviner In Downtown disney in the huge disney store there there is a Mr. Potato Head station that is $16.00 to fill a box. From what I hear they have all kinds of disney related potato head accessories. You don't have to include a head, so I plan on bringing mine from home and getting enough of accessories to make three little ones happy. Thats a great stretch for 16.00. Also someone suggested bringing glow in the dark necklaces from home so you won't have to spend a lot more money there. I loved that one too!! I hope you have a great time. After I posted my thread and started reading the replies, I realized that just because I don't have the amount of money to spend that I wanted to, doesn't mean that there will be less magic while we are there!!

 

[jgates]

A lot of suggestions might be dependent on the age of the kids.

Pressed pennies (.51 each) plus the book is great

You have the autograph book deal down

MY DD (9 at time) loved the Epcot passport and making the fan I believe it was.

Maybe their own little 'photo album' of postcards? If you bought those early, you might even be able to get some of the characters to autograph the cards too. Individual cards can be pricey, but I remember at epcot, they had 'packs' that ran a lot cheaper of 10 cards. That way they could create a scrapbook at home, or you could buy a mini-photo album to hold them.

If they like the pin deal, maybe limit of 3 pins each or something on their lanyards.

At one of the food service stands (I believe across from IASW area), they had a frozen ice cream deal in a clear plastic style drinking cup with a design of the castle on it- you got to keep the cup. DD still uses them for juice glasses - we just rinsed out in a water fountain.

A tub of popcorn in one of the plastic buckets with a park logo on it. We use our bucket to save change for the next trip. I think around $4.50 for that.

In Epcot, China had some really cute little things that were reasonable. Small fans, etc.

As far as the outlets, I would go the first evening, maybe have them buy the items and then 'dole out' each day when you return to the room. The stock varies so greatly from trip to trip that you may find a ton of stuff and you may not find anything you want. We go to the Prem-ear store in the outlet about 1/2 mile north of the Marriott Village at Little Lake Bryan - I believe go out on Hotel Plaza Blvd - go to the right & under the interstate. Turn left near or at Bahama Breeze. Go past Marriott Village and about 1/2 to 1 1/2 miles up on your right is the outlet mall. Back side of it is on the bottom end of International I believe. It's only about 6 min from Downtown Disney if that.

 

[robsmom]

Are you positive the paycheck thing is just a mistake

Normally I don't advocate spending what you don't have but if you have truly earned the money and are confident they are going to pay you, I would think about using a credit card to expand your budget a bit. If you want to spend less and are truly happy about it great but if it is a cash flow issue why not charge.

If my company didn't pay me for 2 checks, I would be looking for a new job. Unless it was my mistake (didn't submit a timesheet or something) I would be yelling loudly about my lack of pay.

do you work for a big company. A small one should be able to cut you a check.

 

[canwegosoon]

I hope you don't mind me suggesting this but, I think $50 each is a lot. Perhaps you can go to a store ahead of time and get a small disney book (2.00) and a box of bandaids (3.00) princesses, for the 1 1/2 and 3 yr old. There are even Cindrella drinking cups at Target. I would allow the 3 and 1 1/2 yr old to pick out a small item actually at Disney. The 6 year old is a little different...I would suggest either the pins as someone else already has, or the Sorcerer Micky hat( or other hat). I think that you could do $50-$70 total. You could put almost another hundered toward your budget.

What ever you decide...I hope you have a great time.

 

[campingcorgi]

I'd hit the Dollar Tree or WalMart and get a few small (read cheap) toys. Put those aside and pull them out if the kids seem to need a new distraction. I think 50 dollars is waaaaay too much--just tell the two older ones that they can pick one thing and they'll be happy. We had done several trips before our almost 4 year old even realized that you could buy all those neat toys that they had out for playing. She was so shocked that she could take the toy home!!

 

[kayeandjim00]

I just wanted to agree with an earlier poster - if it's a small company they should be able to just cut you a check. Even if it's a larger company could you contact your HR person or Payroll Department and explain the situation and that you are going on vacation and need the money? I would hope that they would do anything possible to accomodate you considering it's money you EARNED, especially if it's their mistake. As another poster mentioned as well, if you are certain this will be resolved by the time you get back then I would considering using your charge card while you are on vacation to give you a little breathing room. Hope this is worked out and you have a great trip!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

My two kids each got a Beach towel and new T-shirts bought ahead for the trip. And I explained ahead that these were their souvenirs.

At end they also got inexpensive spray fans (4$) from CVS since they loved Grandma's so much.

DS (11) got to buy one souvenir from Grandma's purse and DD(3) received another tshirt from Grandma and was bought a crown by Mom (as Mom's one souvenir)

They got no other souvenirs or park snacks and were very happy because they didn't expect anything else.

Aren't the tickets enough!
Don't feel guilty not spending more.
Remember how much great stuff is included in the ticket price, rides, parades, Fireworks and character.

 

[momxx5]

Good luck.

I also think that $50/child is a lot of money. My children understand how much the whole trips cost and are just happy being there. They really don't ask for much more.

As a special treat we go to DowntownDisney and let them buy something to take home - usually way under $30.

 

[jessiangel]

I went to the Disney Store and got all my souvenirs already. Everything is marked way down. You might want to try that if you have a store near yuo. Are you staying on-site? The refillable mugs would be a great souvenir and cost effective if you drink a lot of soda or coffee.

 

[TinkOhio]

I have to agree with those that said that $50 is way too much. If each child wants to spend money while there, I would suggest buying Disney dollars at home to bring down. Try getting lots of disney singles so that each child feels like they have their own money to spend. My kids tend to be alot more careful when it's their money that they have to stretch!

Also, I'm not sure what they're called, but there are free childrens' scavenger booklets that are located at the entrance to Epcot. When your kids finish with the questions, you take them to guest services where they will be checked. (This isn't scary or hard.) Upon completion, each child will get a free Disney character poster (small) and get to keep the booklet. My kids really enjoyed doing this. I also saw a few of these floating around at AK for that park, too. Not sure if they have them anywhere else!

Don't forget to take in the kids' stations at Epcot, either! Your kids can decorate free masks on sticks. At each country, the stick part is stamped and a paper symbol is attached. My kids were very proud of their creations!

Another fun free thing to do is catch a monorail to the Poly for the lighting ceremony. A fire twirler does a routine that the kids will love. Downstairs is Captains Cook's where you can catch an inexpensive, tasty meal. They have burgers, dogs, sandwiches, wraps, fruit, etc. set up kind of cafeteria-style. Prices seemed more reasonable here than in the parks, and there are many healthy options!

Lastly, check out the Disney store! I was just in there today, and alot of the small toys and stocking stuffer-type stuff was half off. Maybe you could buy these in advance and do a pick-a- number type of thing down there!

Hope these ideas help!

 

[C.Ann]

Gotta agree with the others - $50 is quite a bit of money for such young children..

Aside from all of the great suggestions here, I would say your BEST bet would be the Disney Outlet Stores - and that's even WITHOUT being in a money crunch! Why spend $20 on an item in the parks that can be had for $2.99 in the outlet stores? How about only 9 cents for postcards? Pins for half the price (or even LESS) than in the parks? If I were you, I would go there before I even step foot in the parks..

And remember - if you go to the parks with the attitude that you are somehow being "deprived" because of this loss of money, you will feel deprived.. Instead, go in with the attitude of making a game of it - just how far can we make this money stretch?? Then if you want to, on the LAST day, have a ball and blow all the money you saved the 8 days prior!!!!

Good luck - and have a blast!

 

[mobes_jk]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I know I will be trying some of them. I am thinking about getting some things prior to leaving tomorrow, although we won't be able to go to the Disney Store or outlets. I really only had this question because we'd been putting this money awary for a while and I had to cut the amount we'd saved in half. I know the kids won't mind at all, and they really don't need to buy a bunch of "junk", but I wanted to get some good ideas about what we could do with this money (which I did!) As we all know, things at Disney can get SO expensive. I just started thinking, if I didn't know about the price of mister fans, for example, I could be blowing tons of money just on those, you know?

I do feel much better about this now than I did earlier when I found out about it. It will be a good thing in the end when we don't spend so much!! I know we can have just as good a time, especially by using the tips I've learned here. Thanks again!!

 

[DonnaSue]

Go and have a Wonderful trip!!!! Everything will work out just fine, I am sure!!!!

Have a safe trip!!!!

Donna

 

[CarolA]

Personally I think $50 is a LOT. We went for a week with my best friends two kids and they each had $20 I gave them. Everytime they said "I want" we said, "OK use your money". It became funny. Then they did not "want". The last day their Mom took them to the gift shop and made them spend the money!

The other thing I would consider is dropping IOA. With the ages of your kids.... I just don't know if it is worth it. Could you spend the day around the pool while your family does IOA? It sounds like an action packed vacation and a day of rest with three little ones might do a WORLD of good.

Mister Fans are also at Target here. MUCH cheaper. I have never used them. (I think they are too much trouble to carry around!)

Also, are you bringing a stroller? The rental ones will add up quick for you little one.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

My boyfriends son (now 15 - but we started going to Disney when he was 8) loves collecting pencils. He gets them from whereever we go. They are not expensive and are small enough to store - We got him a nice pencil box years ago and he keeps all his pencils in this box.
Linda

 

[cinamin27]

budget saving tip for Universal - buy a suvineer cup at a counter service restaurant for $4.99 the Jimmy Neutron ones holds 32 oz of drink & refills are only $1.34 with tax & its not just on the same day, this is ongoing, keep bringing the cup back for days & days, months & months, & years & years. You have to specifically ask for the $4.99 cup because there are other suvineer drink holders that cost much more (like $11.99 each).

Also, if you buy a suvineer popcorn bucket (maybe around $5 bux filled), refills are only $1.99, same thing as the cups, can refill forever, not just the same day. Cheap snack for the kids during the shows or walking around, all kids love popcorn!

The cups & bucket are not park specific you can get refills at either park regardless of which park you bought them at. Cant find a refill deal like that at all at Disney!

 

[Desnik]

I don't know if you've left yet. I just wanted to throw something out there. Your kids are young, why not skip IOA and/or Universal? There really isn't that much for them there and you could spend the day swimming, and saving money!!(If you haven't bought tickets yet)
Also I think you could spend way less then $50 each on each kid for gifts.

 

[232271]

i agree with desnik, young kids may not enjoy US/IOA as much as you think, lots of stuff is intense and for taller/older kids, that would save a bundle, besides the pools are so fun!! and you will want to relax some.

good luck and let us know how it turns out!!