How do you save while on vacation?

[cooniez]

We are staying onsite at the DLH and our vacation will last from June 9th - 17th (w/2 of those days spent in SD). I know that the 'big' ways to reduce our total vacation expenses would be to: 1) stay offsite, 2) not go during high season, and/or 3) have a shorter vacation. Due to my work schedule & DD1 starting school in August I am only free to travel during this week (unless I make my kids wait 'til end of year to go...but that is not an option for them!). Also, I have considered staying offsite, but 2 yrs ago we stayed at GCA and it was very easy just walking to the park & not waiting for shuttles. Plus, it just seems more magical for the kids staying at the DLH. We don't vacation often hence the longer trip, as we have to make it count! lol We may not be able to take the kids on a "true" vacation for another year (depending on my work).

We are willing to splurge a bit as we are celebrating DD2's 4th bday during this trip. I do want to try to be as practical as possible (as I DO need to pay off all the expenses charged to my cc ONE of these days!) , and was curious as to the tips/tricks you seasoned travellers may have. Would appreciate any advice, TIA!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We bring in snacks and drinks to the park. The kids will often share adult meals instead of getting individual kids meals (often cheaper especially if we bring our own drinks). We get "souvenirs" ahead of time on sale through the Disney store or the dollar section of Target, and limit in park souvenirs. We get large drinks and popcorn and split them using disposable cups and baggies.

 

[cooniez]

We bring in snacks and drinks to the park. The kids will often share adult meals instead of getting individual kids meals (often cheaper especially if we bring our own drinks). We get "souvenirs" ahead of time on sale through the Disney store or the dollar section of Target, and limit in park souvenirs. We get large drinks and popcorn and split them using disposable cups and baggies.

Great suggestions! What meals do you typically get that you've found you could split? We have 2 girls: 13-years & our 4-yr. old. Our 13-year old can eat like an adult, so she may have to get her own meal. I honestly don't remember what adult meals we bought last time. We did share when we could, but a lot of the stands sell things that are more like appetizers so we usually ended up getting our toddler corn dogs!

How is the park on letting you bring your own drinks in? I always thought that they monitor that stuff or do they not really care about that when you have to go through the checkpoints?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

You can bring in anything but glass and alcohol.

The Mexican restaurant in Frontierland has larger portions. Also The Plaza's fried chicken meal is larger.

 

[gokdog]

My recommended discounts are generally related to the actual booking of the trip. My wife calls me a stalker, as I literally check the website nearly daily when we are planning a trip and generally speaking the rates switch quite a bit, especially just after something is announced.

While planning a recent trip we were able to lower our rates on 2 separate occasions and finally add Std Concierge for only slightly more than our initial std room rate.

We are AP right now, but when we were not we found that booking a Disneyland Package through Costco Travel did not save us any money over booking direct through Disney, but did add some significant perks, such as a Free Premium Character Meal as they actually book through the Disneyland Systems directly. This perk was worth roughly $150 for our family of four and even included the tip.

My biggest recommendation would be to read this site, I have been 5 times in the last 4 years and still learn something new every day.

 

[iujen94]

This year will be our first trip to DLR, but we've had lots of prior trips to WDW. The big way we save money is by eating breakfast in our room. At WDW, there is a service that will deliver groceries from a local grocery store to your room (from my research, I think Von's does the same thing for DLR). We order cereal, some milk, OJ, cereal bars, fruit, etc. and eat breakfast in our rooms. Not only do we save a ton of money from not eating out, but we don't waste a bunch of valuable morning park time in a restaurant! We also order waters, Cokes, snacks, etc. and bring those in to the park with us too. Hope that helps!

 

[blackjackdelta]

We go the opposite way and try to save before we go and set a line item budget which we do reconsile when we have time. Always come back with money.

Jack

 

[cooniez]

My recommended discounts are generally related to the actual booking of the trip. My wife calls me a stalker, as I literally check the website nearly daily when we are planning a trip and generally speaking the rates switch quite a bit, especially just after something is announced.

While planning a recent trip we were able to lower our rates on 2 separate occasions and finally add Std Concierge for only slightly more than our initial std room rate.

We are AP right now, but when we were not we found that booking a Disneyland Package through Costco Travel did not save us any money over booking direct through Disney, but did add some significant perks, such as a Free Premium Character Meal as they actually book through the Disneyland Systems directly. This perk was worth roughly $150 for our family of four and even included the tip.

My biggest recommendation would be to read this site, I have been 5 times in the last 4 years and still learn something new every day.

I actually booked through Costco Travel as well, and was told they share the same booking system as WDT. I do think it's an added value getting the free premium character dining for the 4 of us as I prob. would have purchased this anyway. While they currently can offer us only the package w/added perks and a slightly discounted room rate for DLH, the rep did state that as we get closer to end of April they SHOULD have their June promotions out. I booked early to avoid the DLH booking up, but I can always ask them to update the reserv. if promos come out applicable for our dates. I will keep checking the Costco site/calling so I can add any June promos that come out.

 

[disneychrista]

(If you can) Eat breakfast in your room, not in the parks - easier to do if you have a car to pick up supplies at the store.

Drink water not soda, it is better for you and available free at counter service. Unfortunetly water foutains are not as plentiful as they once were. And they aren't listed on the park maps.

Limit suvieners, buy at the end of your trip, instead of being this or that throughout the trip. Unless you have the money to spear, rememeber you don't need everything you see just because it is cute.

 

[iujen94]

Speaking of souvenirs, that's another way we save. Each of our two boys is allowed to pick out one "toy" type item ($20-25 limit) and one "clothing" type item (shirt, hat) for the entire trip. They can buy it on the first day, the last day, or in between, but that's it. They know this on day 1 of the trip, which eliminates both a lot of extra purchases and/or whining about wanting extra purchases.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I find the biggest way to save while you are there is to budget before you go. Try and decide ahead of time how many times you will sit down and dine and how many times you will have counter service. Budget for your souvenirs and snacks. I use travelers checks and envelopes in my hotel room and label it per day and by "subject" i.e. Food, tips, snacks, souvenir. Dh drops that envelope into his wallet for that day. You could do the same thing with gift cards too just label the front with a sharpie with what it's for food or sovenirs. It helps from over spending in one day. We also don't use any credit while we are there it's all cash. It's harder to over spend when that's all you brought in the park with you that day.
We do like 3minnies1mickey and eat breakfast in our room and we bring snacks, lunch and all of our drinks in to the park. Drinks are a huge expense while you are there. We usually drive but this year we are flying so I will have Vons deliver all of our drinks and perishable items. It's free delivery for your first time.

 

[mrswh]

I always stop by Michael's or the Target dollar spot before a trip and buy a couple packages of glow bracelets/necklaces. You can get 15 of them for $1 usually. So when you are at the parks at night you don't have to buy them the $22 light up doohicky that they forget about the next day anyway.

Also if your DD likes princesses and wants to dress up, buy costumes from the Disney Store online before you go, they are much less expensive. And bring some hair glitter and bobby pins so you can do up your own princess hairstyle if she wants one.

And I think a PP already mentioned - check the rates frequently - as long as there is a room available in your category they will re-rate you if a special comes along.

Have fun!

 

[CandMmommy]

We saved change in a jar from vacation to vacation. We cash in the change and split it between the girls for spending $.

 

[SilentFeline]

DBF and I split almost everything we eat and we bring our own water. You can also get free ice water at most counter service restaurants. It does't sound like much, but doing these two things actually saves quite a bit of money. Also, we always set a limit on how much we want to spend on souvenirs. What I do is make a list of all of the things that I like in shops, making sure to include the location and prices of each item. Then on the last day of our trip I rank all of the items and purchase the ones that are within my budget. It sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn't, and it prevents me from feeling guilty at the end of the trip!

 

[coaches24]

We booked a hotel with a free buffet breakfast (desert palms) so that will save us some. We plan on doing a late lunch at BTR BBQ atleast once which will allow us to skip dinner. We bring snacks for DD and bottled water for all of us in a small soft cooler (throw ice in from the hotel). We don't buy many souvenirs. Last trip we bought one Christmas ornament and one plush Tigger for DD. mostly we just save up before the trip and keep track of everything so we don't go over.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We have always put a limit on souvenirs as well. We either say 1 souvenir per trip or we don't do souvenirs at all. My kids are okay with either, but I like getting them 1 thing. Once the 1 thing is bought, that is it--and it really does help them regulate their emotions about wanting everything.

I have never been a big souvenir person, though--because I would rather have the memory rather than a cheap item to remember things by.

Another way we save a lot of money (and calories!) is just drinking water in the parks. We never bring in bottles of water--but instead just walk up to any counter that serves food and ask for "tap water with ice"--they happily give it to you in a cup with a lid and straw. So no need to ever spend money on drinks in the park. We do this when ordering food, and often when not--we just go to any place counter to ask for it.

 

[cooniez]

Wow, thanks everyone for the great ideas & please keep 'em coming!

During our last trip we did share food (when possible), but only sometimes drank water (DH was a soda freak before, but now has been working out so we may be able to do the water route - either bringing our own or asking the restaurant - this time!) We also bought those glow necklaces at Target & I see they still have them pretty much year round as well!

DD2 (4 yrs) will want EVERYthing and she is NOT good at hearing "No"! lol But I will def. try to work on making it clear to her that we will have a limit on souvenirs. She is older now so she may understand even if she is not happy about it!

Question about using traveler's checks or gift cards....do any of these have protection if they are lost? I am scared to bring cash because I'm pretty klutzy and wouldn't put it past myself to let bills fall out of my purse, backpack, etc. I do like the idea of setting money aside per day and not using a cc. Also, how do you determine about how much to bring per day? We don't vacation often (much less to DL) so I have no idea what a ballpark figure would be. We haven't yet figured out where we would be dining everyday (and how often we'd do sit down dining or counter service). Even if we did, I wouldn't know about how much we would spend at each place.

 

[Escape2Disney]

I find the biggest way to save while you are there is to budget before you go. Try and decide ahead of time how many times you will sit down and dine and how many times you will have counter service. Budget for your souvenirs and snacks. I use travelers checks and envelopes in my hotel room and label it per day and by "subject" i.e. Food, tips, snacks, souvenir. Dh drops that envelope into his wallet for that day. You could do the same thing with gift cards too just label the front with a sharpie with what it's for food or sovenirs. It helps from over spending in one day. We also don't use any credit while we are there it's all cash. It's harder to over spend when that's all you brought in the park with you that day.
We do like 3minnies1mickey and eat breakfast in our room and we bring snacks, lunch and all of our drinks in to the park. Drinks are a huge expense while you are there. We usually drive but this year we are flying so I will have Vons deliver all of our drinks and perishable items. It's free delivery for your first time.

We do the same thing! I have gift cards and cash broken out into envelopes and only take what we need each day. I NEVER use a credit card or my debit card at Disney - too easy to over-spend.

We also order groceries through Vons. We order cereal, soy milk, yogurt, sandwich fixings, snack bars, cases of water, etc.

We use allears.net to preview restaurant menus so we know how much we'll be spending when we go to restaurants. We also give ourselves a daily 'slush fund' for impulse purchases and unexpected expenses.

By uber-planning the financial aspects of each trip, we typicall either stay on budget or come home with money.

 

[Isatricia]

I am planning on taking refillable water bottles - insulted kind that keeps drinks cold and leak proof. Since my girls do like something other than water on occasion, I am going to get the individual packets of lemonade and fruit punch to mix with the water in their bottles.

I found at Target last week some glow wands - similar to the bracelets and necklaces. They were $1 each but still a lot less money than getting the glow/light up stuff in the park. I got 1 for each girl for each night. The wands have flowers or stars on the ends and are the size of a "magic wand".

 

[californiamomof4grls]

We do the same thing! I have gift cards and cash broken out into envelopes and only take what we need each day. I NEVER use a credit card or my debit card at Disney - too easy to over-spend.

We also order groceries through Vons. We order cereal, soy milk, yogurt, sandwich fixings, snack bars, cases of water, etc.

We use allears.net to preview restaurant menus so we know how much we'll be spending when we go to restaurants. We also give ourselves a daily 'slush fund' for impulse purchases and unexpected expenses.

By uber-planning the financial aspects of each trip, we typicall either stay on budget or come home with money.

I got the envelope idea from my grandma it's how she used to budget her household back in the day before ATM cards! LOL! The first time we went we didn't do this and we over spent by way more then I liked! SO now I budget every part of it. I want now surprises! LOL! I'm bringing a whole carry on with just snacks! My flight is only about an hour and a half so I'm going to frezee their uncrustables and bring those too.

Wow, thanks everyone for the great ideas & please keep 'em coming!

During our last trip we did share food (when possible), but only sometimes drank water (DH was a soda freak before, but now has been working out so we may be able to do the water route - either bringing our own or asking the restaurant - this time!) We also bought those glow necklaces at Target & I see they still have them pretty much year round as well!

DD2 (4 yrs) will want EVERYthing and she is NOT good at hearing "No"! lol But I will def. try to work on making it clear to her that we will have a limit on souvenirs. She is older now so she may understand even if she is not happy about it!

Question about using traveler's checks or gift cards....do any of these have protection if they are lost? I am scared to bring cash because I'm pretty klutzy and wouldn't put it past myself to let bills fall out of my purse, backpack, etc. I do like the idea of setting money aside per day and not using a cc. Also, how do you determine about how much to bring per day? We don't vacation often (much less to DL) so I have no idea what a ballpark figure would be. We haven't yet figured out where we would be dining everyday (and how often we'd do sit down dining or counter service). Even if we did, I wouldn't know about how much we would spend at each place.

I know that if you loose your Traveler's Checks they can be gotten back. I saw on a different thread they said to photo copy them before you leave. Not sure why you would copy them. But maybe it makes it easier to get them back. I don't know about the GC. But maybe some one else does. I have a friend here on the boards and she a Visa GC she bought from her bank. So that's a good option too if you can find one that doesn't charge for every little thing!