Is a budget trip better than no trip?

[rentayenta]

Of course a budget trip is better than no trip. There is plenty of magic to be had inside the parks without spending more than on the necessary items like park hoppers. With twin 7 y/o's, sharing meals should be easy. You've been given lots of great tips. Follow them and have a magical time.

 

[floydfamily4]

Thanks all! Now to start planning

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

The could skimp in hotel and on souvenirs. One thing I don't think I could skimp on is food. I'm good with taking snacks for the room and eating breakfast in the room. We also take all of our own drinks and our kids' lunches. But, I am NOT willing to skimp on DL snacks and meals. It's something I look forward too each trip and if I couldn't eat what I wanted to eat I would be disappointed!

 

[tffnyjean]

Put me in the "Heck YES" category. There are so many ways you can save money! I agree with all the suggestions you have gotten here. At 7 your children won't notice the ways you are budgeting, heck they are in DL!

 

[kkmcan]

Absolutely! Some of our best trips were budget trips. We brought in our lunch, no souvies for anyone and did a one day pass plus Halloween party for a quick 2 night trip. We were greatful to be able to do that when a full trip wasn't in the budget.

We've also done a trip where we stayed in our inlaws timeshare (free), used our AP's, brought most of the food we needed and paid for $100 in gas to get there and back. Now that was a cheap trip.

 

[pinktink83]

YES!!! DL is much easier to do on a budget than WDW. Its definitely doable and still fun!

 

[KCmike]

From Five for Fighting's Song "Disneyland"

"It's a nice day when you wake up in Disneyland".

So the answer is YES! Our first trip was a budget trip for a fun weekend getaway in October several years ago. We had a blast!

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

Yes because budget trips can be fun too.

We've only been to disneyland once about 5 years ago. We had lodging offsite but it was just across the street so we were able to walk to the parks. It is set up so different from Walt Disney World. We only had 2 & 1/2 days & we spent one day at each park & then did our favorites & downtown area the last day. We only ate 2 TS meals & that saves alot. Can't remember the name of the place we ate at in downtown disney there but it was a Cajun place & the sweet tater fries & beigets &food was awesome!

I'd go in a heartbeat on a budget if it was almost 1/2 paid for & with 1 flight paid & the lodging that is a big savings. You can eat iced water free & that saves big. I remember on our first trip to Disneyworld I got those pkg. ice tea & kool-aid powders that you could mix with the water & we used them alot. You can even split some big CS meals & that'll save too. As for buying stuff I'd let the kiddos have a small budget & get something little each. A fun family trip together & the memories are worth more that the trinkets we buy for sure.

Have fun!

 

[tanyaewa]

Every trip is a budget trip for us - that's how we manage to take 2-3 vacations a year.
The #1 way we save money is by not buying ANY souvenirs.
Photos, autographs, plastic cups from kids meals, buttons from CM all add up to a great bounty! I bought Disney shirts prior to going that I gave them on Day 1 and were their *special* new shirts.

The #2 way is by not buying any beverages at meals. Drink water. Saves up to $40 per day for a family of 4. Buy soda at the 7-11 or Target for a treat in the hotel and re-fillable water bottles for in the park

#3 - cash in any and all airmiles/ credit card points for Visa giftcards or even parkhopper passes. They accumulate but not enough to get a flight - but maybe a $50 or $100 giftcard would be a help

Good Luck - have fun!

 

[oumagic]

But if hotel is free, and DH's food is free, and you are just feeding yourself and two 7 year olds, this should be doable for way less than 3 grand. Three grand is what I budget for three adults, staying on property for 4-5 nights, including air.

I think you misunderstand. Id I understand correctly, their annual vacation budget is $3k and they spent most of that on a vacation that had nothing to do with Disney. Now they are trying to squeeze in a budget trip with what was left of the $3k annual vacation budget.

I say "go for it!" A budget trip can almost be a game as to how cheap you can do it. Save on hotel as best you can, pack or purchase food to eat in the room, and look at discount park hoppers and you will be surprised how cheap you can do it and still have fun. Make sure you tell the family that it is their choice: budget trip or no trip and you will be surprised how ready they will be to do it on the cheap.