Help me get my kids to WDW cheap!!

[shefor24]

Hi. My family and I were definatley on a tight budget when we went, and I sent a box through UPS to our hotel with plenty of food for breakfast and snacks in it. It worked out so GREAT!! I put a case of Walmart water in it and then we had a fridge in our room, so we kept the water in the freezer part and then in the morning we would take the bottles with us to the park and they would stay cool for quite awhile. Even if they weren't "cold" at least it was something wet to drink. And it beat spending so much on food at the park. I packed (in the box) cereal, plastic bowls, spoons, and breakfast bars, I even found an old toaster that I packed and then just left it in the room, so I packed Pop tarts and bread for toast in the box too. Yes, the box was big. I had each child put a fanny pack on and I loaded them with baggies of licorish ( I am not sure the spelling) and sunflowerseeds, and crackers, raisins, and gummy bears to snack on throughout the day. So we saved (I feel) quite a bit by doing this. We just made a stop at the store before we got to our hotel (MOWC) and it worked out great. I advise anyone to do this. Good luck

Go #24!

 

[shefor24]

I didn't say the reason we stopped at the store was only to buy milk, that was all. Then we didn't have to worry about buying a ton of grocerys there. I just collected it for a few weeks before the trip to send down there.

Go #24!

 

[Disneydenise]

Check all the discounts sites for Park hoppers. I think the best price I have found was a 4 day Park hopper thru AAA. I'm glad to hear you decided to go you will never regret it. You can always get things but your children are little only for such a short time. Have good weather a safe trip and and enjoy the kids faces when they see their Easter surprise. My girlfriend did that for a christmas trip she had all the clothes packed in her car they just got showered and left. The fastest shower the kids ever had. Make sure your video camera is rolling when they see the Easter baskets.

 

[momuv2poohs]

We are going in April also. This is some ideas I have come up with: I found a better discount at www.disneyworldhotelsandtickets.com for Flextickets and individual tickets to area attractions. Believe me, I searched.. Try staying off WDW site and get a hotel with a refridgerator.. Pack your lunch and get a locker at Disney World and eat your lunch there. Get a motel with buffet breakfast thats already included in your stay... Keep drinks and junk food in the fridg... try getting a motel with a GREAT pool so that the kids will enjoy just "HANGING OUT WITH MOM AND DAD" I sincerely believe that they would be truly happy just going to Florida, taking in 1 or 2 days at Disney and then hitting Sea World or Busch Gardens, etc. and spending quality time with you and your husband. I believe kids enjoy just getting away with family and spending time one on one. You may even consider doing a tour at one of the timeshares in exchange for a 4 day 3 night stay there at their resort. I wish you the best and good luck and I agree with the above... the kids are growing up and one day there will not be time for vacations.. Hope to see you at MICKEY'S HOUSE. Also what about the kids getting after school jobs for a month or so, maybe you could babysit on weekends, ect. to save some extra money. Have a car wash.. Maybe say, instead of going out to dinner this weekend, we get popcorn, watch tv, and put the money you would have saved in a piggybank and REALLY use it on the trip. Also, SAVE THAT CHANGE. We saved about $200.00 last year when we started thinking about going on vacation, those pennies, nickels and dimes add up quick. I wish you the best...

 

[momuv2poohs]

I loved the idea soo much about the Easter basket. In fact, I am sitting here wondering if it would not be a great idea to tell my 7 year old we arn't going to be able to go this year (we were going to go to Church that morning and then leave afterwards) and then do the same thing in his Easter basket. It would be sooo great, just dont know how to get the bags packed without him seeing me, unless I stayed up after he went to bed and did everyone elses, I could do mine and and my husband and his sister's while he was at school on Friday. Any ideas out there? Well, have a wonderful vacation and a safe one.

 

[Jeafl]

We too are a family of 5, so here is my absolute best money-saving tip...NEVER order pop to drink at meals. If each person just had water at lunch and dinner it would save at least $20-25 a day, since they are $2.00 each. If the kids get sick of plain water, bring powdered kool-aid or lemonade (make sure it's the pre-sweetened kind) and add some to their water. It's amazing how much money we saved by doing this. Besides the pop doesn't always quench their thirst, and the water keeps you hydrated in all the heat.

Jill

 

[jdads2]

We are planning our first trip to WDW and are discussing most of what has been discussed in these posts.

Here is where we are starting:

Air from Buffalo, NY: $875.00
Hotel (7 nights) DxL: $1330.00
Disney tix: $1500.00

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I had to edit here. I hit the tab and enter button about a bazillion times.

Anyway...that's where we are starting. We don't want to spend that kind of $$$ plus food. Food could cost us about $300.00 a day. Unless we want to see counseling (psychological and dietary) we are going to make other plans.

Here are some things we are thinking of doing:
Airfare isn't too bad at $175.00 each, nonstop.

Hotel: We will make the ressies to make sure we have a room. While we wait for the vacation to come I'll check to see if I can get deals either at DxL or another resort. If I find a better deal I'll cancel my original ressies(I know to make sure that I can and without penalty).

We are joining the Disney Club and checking with AAA on cheaper tickets.

We are getting a towncar for the transfer from the airport to DxL. They allow for a grocery store stop. I'll buy a styrofoam cooler(cheaper than renting a fridge on-grounds) and some cold-cuts, cheese, snacks, fruit, breakfast stuff and beverages. Should run me about as much as 1 character breakfast.

This isn't exactly a cheap vacation, I don't expect it to be, but it's getting more reasonable.

Dave

[This message was edited by jdads2 on 01-23-01 at 08:17 PM.]

 

[Maleficent2]

Beleive me it will help I know you do not have much time left but you can earn a few dollars and every dollar helps.

DO Beenz for Disney Dollars
Freeride
eTour- Cheesecake factory Gift Certificates
Milesource resturant gift certs
Red Lobster for $15.00 Gift certificates will only take you 8 days to earn and you can earn one for you and one for hubbie

Check out Big Lots or Odd Lots for Disney Stuff for those baskets also those Dollars stores have Disney things from time to time.

Most of all have a wonderful trip!

Mal

looking for a new tag so sad

 

[chris1gill]

So glad you are going & staying at HIFS!!! I saw a promotion, I think it was yesterday... for a rate that was less than a hundred dollars a night for a kidsuite... now I wish I remember where I saw it!! Have fun!!! It will be great!

 

[SunniB]

Hi! I am going in april too. During spring break week- I am a teacher and can't take off during the school year and although I have two kids (7 and 11)I have another one on the way so I can't wait until summer.
I get a hotel right across the street from Universal-(Best Western Universal) for $50 a night, great deal for spring break week. I also got a flight for the 4 of us for $800- red eye flight down but because of it being spring break week there wasn't much else I could do- priceline turned down $200 a ticket. But still we are coming april 7th and leaving the 16th- 10 days total and only spent $1300 on hotel and flight. (oh yeah- one night in Spring hill with Great Grandparents)

I am waiting for my Emerald Isle membership to make a car reservation and I will buy my tickets through AAA.

As for meals our room comes with a continental breakfast- which will be okay for kids and hb- not for me though. I am going to order from net grocer things like bread, peanut butter and other instant foods. We will leave at lunch time come back to the room and eat/nap and then go back later!
Disney on a budget is doable- just have to be willing to dedicate some time to it!
good luck!!

Sunn