how do you do Disney on a dime?

[beansmom]

while i think it generous of bil to offer, i'd feel weird at his house without him there. And I wouldn't wanna have to worry about kid-proofing, etc. I also don't think the drive is economical in either money or time.

I'd just add a couple days room only. Since you will have a car, I would rent a fridge at the resort and bring cereal, milk, fruit, lunch meat and eat breakfast and one other meal in the room each day. $12 a day for the fridge divided by 4...I can't buy breakfast (or snacks for that matter) that cheap...much less another meal each day and a snack. If you can bring some groceries--cereal, snacks, water, soda--from home, that's even better.

DW resort guests get free parking at the parks.

 

[squirrel]

I wouldn't even bother renting a fridge from Disney.

You can pack some food or go grocery shopping and get fruit, cereal, and other snack items.

You could fill a garbage can with ice and put your drinks, milk in it. If you don't want to do that, it would be cheaper to buy a milk at the food court each morning than to pay for the fridge.

Definately bring some of the flavor packages for the water. Ice water is free at the CS or any place that has soda dispensers.

 

[lmbcdb]

As for budgeting for food. I would take my own snacks and drinks into the park.

I tip I will share. There is a Hess gas station just outside of the magic kingdom that is a great place to have lunch. It is not like your typical gas station. They have a cafe area inside that has about 15 tables. They sell hot dogs 2/$1, grilled chicken sandwiches, subs, pizza by the slice or a whole one which cost $8.00 for a whole one, some mexican items, all sorts of drinks and chips.
Last time we were there which was Feb 2010 we stopped for lunch and got 4 hotdogs, two drinks and a bag of combos total cost for lunch $7.35 for two people.

We are used to taking in our own food places. We go to the Fort Worth zoo all the time and pack a lunch - DS is very picky. Sometimes I think I raised him that way, but DD is not so...

That's a good deal on food. And my kids LOVE hotdogs! Thanks!

 

[lmbcdb]

Don't forget about parks closing during this time. If you are not staying on WDW property, you might not get into the parks. Or at least the park of your choice.

It's beginning to seem like more hassle than it's worth to stay at BIL's.

But, I really want to stay a few extra days. With what I've been reading about the crowds, I'm thinking early morning trips with long afternoon breaks won't get us everything we want to see unless we add more days.

 

[lmbcdb]

Yes, you can add tickets to your package and pick them up early (up to 3 days, I think). Look at the bottom of the 1st page of this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

We go that time of year every year and I don't think the parks will close on the 19th and 20th. This don't get REALLY busy until a couple days later.

OP, I know that you can find a cheap hotel offsite if you're interested. There is a thread about Priceline hotels over on the Orlando boards .

Thanks for the info about the tickets. These boards are so awesome! We are proabably going to stay off site near the hotel. I'll do more research and find a nicer place than the LaQs I read about.

I'm not worried about not getting in the parks on the 19th and 20th. We are early risers and make rope drop every time!

 

[ready123go]

um, both!

We got free dining - the QS plan with our value package, then upgraded/paid for the DDP.

After looking at hotels around the park, I'm tempted just to pay the room only at ASMo for two days. Can I do that, and still add on the extra days of tickets to my original reservation?

I think you won't get the park tickets until you check-in for that reservation. In other words, if you do two days on room-only prior to starting the package that includes the park tickets, I don't think you will be able to get your park tickets until you check in for the package dates two days later. Unless I am wrong here.
Does anybody else knows something different??

Sorry, found previous post that contradicts this - sorry, sorry...

 

[robinb]

Thanks for the info about the tickets. These boards are so awesome! We are proabably going to stay off site near the hotel. I'll do more research and find a nicer place than the LaQs I read about.

I'm not worried about not getting in the parks on the 19th and 20th. We are early risers and make rope drop every time!

Check out the Orlando board . They have a lot of great advice for offsite hotels. The problem with staying onsite, as you know, is that it's Holiday Season and even the Value Resorts are quite expensive.

 

[lmbcdb]

Check out the Orlando board . They have a lot of great advice for offsite hotels. The problem with staying onsite, as you know, is that it's Holiday Season and even the Value Resorts are quite expensive.

Thanks. I found it and started roaming through it.

Here's what we're going to do:

• add two days of tickets to our resort reservation
• drive down two days early and stay offsite near the World (via Priceline)
• pick up the tickets two days early at a park
• eat PBJs for a few days. I can handle that knowing that in a few days I'll be eating away at all the restaurants. (it's also made my diet easier lately!)

YOU GUYS ROCK!

Couldn't have figured it out without you!
(or would've stayed at BIL's and been miserable!)