How Much Do We HAVE to Spend at Disney

[Vernie822]

I think others have mentioned this but, if your first 5 nights are at one resort, that last night of credits expires at midnight on your checkout day. Assuming that's your check in day at AOA, you can use those credits up until midnight that day.

Also, your refillable mug should work at AOA during your time there. We did a split stay in November and ours worked through the end of our 2nd hotel stay even though we bought it at the first.


Pack snacks from home for breakfast - quick things like poptarts, breakfast bars, etc. We don't like to waste time in the morning eating anyways!
Snacks such as goldfish, trail mix, etc. are helpful to have throughout the stay for in between meals.
Water at restaurants -- QS locations will give you a cup of ice water free of charge.
Split the heartier QS meals -- Pecos bill has fajitas that you can load up, you can bring some fruit and stuff from home to supplement as well. AOA has the create your own pasta that comes with any veggies/meats you choose to add in, and a bread stick, appears to be pretty hearty.
Ribs @ Flame Tree in AK.. also seems to come with sides & is a bigger meal.
Cosmic Ray's half chicken meal.. lots of food!

 

[kj2mom]

Have you already factored in your regular grocery & gas budget for that week? I figure when I'm on vacation, there's an extra $50 in gas for our two cars and $150 in groceries that I'd normally be spending - that $ becomes part of our vacation spending. If you haven't - that might give you a little wiggle room. As for food - I'd order groceries for the trip and use those for breakfast and snacks to avoid spending $ in the park. Any quick online garage sale stuff you can do for some extra cash (summer clothes are selling very quickly here, as well as outgrown bikes, etc).

As I was reading through this thread I was thinking exactly this about the regular, at home budget. Don't forget since you will be gone for 7 days that is 1 week's worth of at home budget that could be rolled into your vacation budget. Even if that is only $100 in groceries not needed at home that could be sufficient to get you through that last day (if you bank some credits to use on your check out day). You can do it and still have a great time!!!!

 

[Vernie822]

I also say keep the DDP. You've worked hard to pay for the trip already, you deserve to enjoy yourself! Yes the last 2 days may be a stretch, but you can do it. If you supplement breakfast in the room, bring PBJ/snacks for another meal, and maybe eat one meal out per day, I think it's do-able.

Also consider using snack credits on things that will last you a few days so the kids don't even notice the last few days that you're not splurging as much. Big bags of candy or popcorn can be snacked on throughout the trip!

 

[ArwenMarie]

I am assuming they are five People.. Therefore offsite would bee either a Suite type place or 2 rooms.. They can do 2 cheap Motel rooms off some turnpike and save alot ,but that for me would really be a downer.. I think a nicer off-site Suite, or 2 rooms, near Disney PLUS paying for offsite parking would not be too much savings in the end...

I don't know how much they paid for the AoA suite...400? 500 a night?

You can get a 2 bedroom villa at Caribe Royale (just one I am familiar with) for way less than that and still have plenty of space for everyone. Which would free up a nice dining budget for the remaining days.

Anyway, that's just what I would do

 

[kayteekt]

I appreciate your input! I can't delay the trip unfortunately - we've already bought airfare a while back for my mom and my step-son who is going to be with us. We've already paid off the room and dining plan and all that. I think we'll just have to not shop AT ALL and only get snacks if it's an emergency - peanut butter and jelly the last two days maybe? I don't know! Definitely was planning on having more money for the trip!

You could maybe share some meals when you have the DP and then you could use the first day of your last 2 days when you won't have the DP. The DP is good for the day you check in through day of check out at midnight. So, you'd have that whole day to use any credit (snack or meal) that you have left...so you'd be down to 1 day w/out dining.

 

[kayteekt]

I don't know how much they paid for the AoA suite...400? 500 a night?

You can get a 2 bedroom villa at Caribe Royale (just one I am familiar with) for way less than that and still have plenty of space for everyone. Which would free up a nice dining budget for the remaining days.

Anyway, that's just what I would do

Yea, maybe for your last 2 nights you could look at somewhere off-site, if you're open to that. Those AoA suites are high in my opinion.

 

[mousefan73]

If you are able to scrap up Money for Disney stuff. The walmart and Targets near buy have tons of Disney stuff cheaper. Also since you have a car there is a

Disney's Character Warehouse at the Orlando Premium Outlets .. Great Disney store outlet.. I have found some really cheap and good deals. Example I found old Pins for 2.95.. bought 5 of them and used them for trading at the parks. if your Kids are into this..



Located in: Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets
Address: 8200 Vineland Ave #1252, Orlando, FL 32821, United States
Phone:+1 407-354-3255

Though It would really be hard for me to enter that mall with not alot of Money.... but the Disney store is by the Food court.. maybe plan a quick trip over there also for a cheaper meal when you dont have Dining.

 

[Hikergirl]

OP, if you haven't already be sure to check and see about substituting on the DDP.
I'm pretty sure you can now substitute the dessert part of your meal with another side. That can help you stretch sharing meals.
Also, you can use your snack credit for things like soups or sides at CS restaurants. If you pack snacks to bring to the park you can use your snack credits to add to your meals too.

 

[Ambehnke]

If you don't figure tips... we literally spent less than 100$ while we were there for five days in November on souvenirs for the kids. We didn't HAVE to spend anything. (We were on the deluxe plan though= way too much food) We bought dollar store things and t-shirts from Target and Kohls before we went. I think you can do it.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

YOu don't HAVE to spend anything more than your park tickets. But most folks want dining and souvenirs and some extra stuff.

If you really needed to cut, you could switch to offsite, pack lunches and eat meals/buy souvenirs offsite. but since you already have the onsite and the dining plan, then maybe look for cheaper onsite accommodations, if you can move at this point.

Don't spend money on bottled water. Get water at the counter services. You can save lots just by doing this. Although some do insist on the bottled water, and you'll have to decide if that's what you'll do. Don't buy anything extra off the dining plan.

 

[Accident]

I didn't see mention of what type of room at aoa or what the other resort is. I've had an emergency where I called up to get a room while standing on property and the CM was amazing at finding me anyway to save money that I could. Now they aren't going to help you with tricks like bring your own food, especially breakfast or after park snacks but if there is money to be saved on the room, changing resorts, getting a lower cost room they can help.. Worse case they can't save you any money and it was just your time to call..

Is there any extras you can cancel like maybe remove park hoppers or water parks and more from the tickets?


1: free water at counter service locations
2: free over the counter medical supplies (tylenol, asprin, ibuprofin, benedryl, claritin, band aids) at first aid locations (they give you 2 doses)
3: don't use your car if your driving once it's parked to avoid an additional tank fill if it fits into your plans.
4: breakfast is really easy to store in a room, especially with cereal, donuts and similar. Deli meats, tuna, etc for sandwiches also store well. The fridge isn't huge so don't go crazy pre-arrival with shopping. There is a walmart and publix near property if your looking to get anything after arrival and you have a car. google maps is pretty good at helping you find the closest one but publix in celebration is really nice and not that far from aoa.
5: bring a case of water with you. Disney actually sells a case of 24 8oz dasani for $6 in resort shops if you need a case.
6: bring a refillable water bottle and put the free water or water fountain water in it to refill. Get one of those drops you can put into bottled water if you want to not only drink water, they are lower cost.
7: I find counter service if you don't go crazy and smart about what your ordering to be reasonable and some have decent sized portions that an adult + small child can share.

 

[hsmamato2]

It can be done..... Bring some boxes of cereal and disposable bowls and spoons for your family,eat breakfast in your room each day(either bring milk if you drive, or buy milk at giftshop) that's breakfast daily.
Use the dining plan to the HILT while you have it,and if it were me I'd be using the snack credits for each day (so 5 people on the plan for 5 days = 25 snack credits) and I'd buy wrapped treats,and save them to eat on the last 2 days(less output for food) Look at allears and on here for the best 'bang for the buck' prewrapped items,and buy 25 of them ....(if you have 5 people,you get the idea) I like the giant prewrapped rice krispies treat bars at candy shops, possibly caramel corn at Germany shop in epcot(?)
I'd also use only qs on the 4th day in (qs lunch,qs dinner) and save your last TS for the next day,after you check out/check into AoA
On your last day where you check out from your 5 day hotel/ddp, your dinner credits are good thru midnight of that night I believe.... so use that LAST dinner credit a a great buffet,where you can all eat really well for those credits,which leaves that one last day to pay for food....
if you keep it REALLy simple, utilize the prebought snack items, you can probably get away with free in room coffee and snack (and cereal) for breakfast, a lunch at a qs where you can share items, drink ice water you should be fine the last day or two... just cut out ALL unneeded foods like soda,extra fries,etc.
So overall plan is check in for 5 days, use ALL snack credits to buy prewrapped items to use on your last 2 days, eat cereal/coffee in your room,eat ONLY qs on the 4th day(before you checkout) saving one ts dinner for checkout/in day. Make a res. on 5th day using the last ts credits for a buffet dinner. on 5-7 days,eat either cereal in room, snacks already gotten,and careful qs.

 

[hsmamato2]

FWIW I've done the ddp before and we didn;t buy any extra food and were too full at the end...

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Okay, my trip is coming up on the 22nd and we've had some unexpected financial issues (our house flooded). We have the regular dining plan for the first 5 days of our trip, and then we're staying at AoA for the last two days with no dining plan. My question is, we're looking at REALLY tight finances during the trip. Like maybe we'll have a hundred dollars to spend outside of money for gas while we're there. I see lots of other people have saved thousands of dollars for their Disney days, and I'm curious - can we spend a week at disney, 5 days on the regular dining plan without having to spend a lot of money? My mom is coming too and she's going to cover tips at the restaurants thankfully (very nice of her).

I'm already looking at avoiding gift shops with the kids and bringing snacks from home. Has anyone else done Disney without spending a lot? Any tips on how to save money in such a short amount of time? Lol. Thank you!!!

We're a party of 5 and always have credits left over when we're on DDP -- we scramble to use them on our last day. We also usually have leftovers after TS meals that we have packaged up at the end of the meal and eat the next day. If you have leftover credits, maybe you can use them for sandwiches (or something similarly sturdy) to cover some of your meals for the next 2 days.

 

[caroline1851]

I was on a limited budget last time iwas there. A GREAT souvenir idea that's cheap and lasts the whole trip are the pressed pennies. Buy the book for $9 then each penny machine you find, it only costs $.51. And it's super fun to look for them everywhere. That's the ONLY souvenir we bought between my son and me. Your biggest expense will be food. We saved a ton of money by ordering Gardengrocers.com Every morning, we ate a muffin and/or apple for breakfast then brought bottled water, trail mix and protein bars to the parks. My only regret is we "splurged" for Crystal Palace and it was awful and a complete waste of money.

 

[valerie160]

I didn't read through every response, but do agree with possibly removing DDP (sharing qs meals instead and eating breakfast in the hotel and possibly bringing PB&J or other sandwiches some days for lunch).

Also have you thought about selling items you don't want or need on the facebook yardsale sites or craigslist, etc? It might be a way to make some quick cash for vacation.

 

[leebee]

Souvenirs- We never buy souvenirs. We take pictures on our phones so we have memories. I bring glow sticks from the dollar store (I get the tube of 12 or 15 bracelets for $1) for evening shows and fun. If you really want to have souvenirs, tell the kids you're starting a pressed penny collection. 50 cents for the machine plus 1 cent for the penny. Getting them at EVERY PP machine is expensive, but getting a couple per kid isn't so bad. I'm not sure I'd spend the $9 for the pressed penny book; I found them randomly at ToysRUs once for about $2 each.

Dining plan/food- I find we always save money NOT doing the dining plan- usually around $200-$300- but that's for only two of us. Something to consider is that it's easy to share meals at WDW; places like Flame Tree BBQ and Cosmic Rays offer LARGE servings that easily feed two (like a half-chicken with 2 sides for one QS credit). Also, most of the DDP QS desserts are not so terrific. Swap dessert for a side to stretch meals further, then have a mickey bar as an afternoon snack credit! Usually 5 nights of credits can stretch to cover 6 days, but you'll have to buy food for that last day. Also, I'd try to bring food with you instead of ordering through Garden Grocer. They are expensive. I tuck breakfast foods like packets of oatmeal, mini-bagels, packages of cheese (like the 8oz. cabot bars), fruit cups/applesauce, a container of peanut butter, etc., into our suitcases. I packed cereal in large storage containers. Anything you are afraid will leak? Put it in a ziplock or two. I've even frozen yogurt, sealed it in a ziplock, and put it in an insulated soft-sided lunch box and it traveled beautifully. You can use the toasters and microwaves at the food court to heat or toast stuff if needed. We really prefer to have smaller meals at breakfast, that we can eat while we are dressing, to save time and money!

Take advantage of EVERYTHING that Disney offers that's included with your park ticket. DON'T set up charging to the magic bands, and maybe don't go to Disney Springs, so nobody is tempted to spend money you don't have.

Snacks- bring granola bars (no chocolate) and gummy snacks from home for the kids to nosh on in the parks. Bring an empty water bottle per person- get cups of ice water from QS locations and pour it over into the bottles. If your kids won't drink plain water, bring some store-brand Mio drops or drink-sticks from home.

 

[Hikergirl]

OP, if you have a car you can always eat dinner off site for the last couple of days. CiCi's pizza is pretty cheap, they used to have $5 buffet. Its may not be the most convenient thing to do but food will definitely cost less outside the parks.

 

[LISmama810]

Like maybe we'll have a hundred dollars to spend outside of money for gas while we're there.

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but are you renting a car? Cancel the rental and you've saved that cost plus the cost of gas.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

We didn't pay for any food besides our dining plan including our check out day. We had tons of snacks that we used for things to bring home. Your dining plan is good until midnight of your check out day so your first AoA night could be covered if you stretch things, that leaves you 2 days and you can plan some for that if you stretch as well. Share at QS. You can get water free so sub that soda for an extra side to stretch it. If you share at least one QS each day that will leave you 5 to share for that 6th day and should cover lunch and dinner. Sometimes we don't want our dessert with our TS dinner, so much food, so we choose something that can be boxed and eaten as breakfast or a snack later. I have no problem eating key lime pie for breakfast on vacation! Snacks can be used for muffins or other items for breakfast. My kids didn't get a snack every day and neither did we. On that 6th day use leftover snack credits to buy things for breakfast and snacks for your remaining days. We did bring some pop tarts and such but barely used them, but it might make sense for you. Look at menus and have a plan for those last few meals. $100 should get you through that.