is anyone else like this? what are your thrifty hangups?

[abmitch01]

I finally canceled the quick service dining plan for my DD 15 and myself because she still eats kids meals and would never eat that much food. It would be a waste of $800. But I liked having the plan because it's like on a cruise, it's paid for, I can eat what I want and not worry about money. Now that we are off the plan, I know I'm going to eat thrifty and not just get whatever I want. And I don't want to be like that on vacation. It's just so ingrained in me to think about money all the time, kwim? One person suggested putting what we would've spent in the dining plan in envelopes for each day. That sounds good to me but then I'm all "I won't get credit card points", lol. It's a sickness, I swear.

I can be non-thrifty, like taking this vacation in the first place but certain things are just ingrained in me. Is anyone else like this? What are your weird thrifty hang ups?

I'm going to try really hard on this trip to eat like a normal person and not order kids meals myself to save money. And to not get red in the face and almost burst when DD throws away half her meal.

 

[mombrontrent]

I am exactly like you about the same thing, I get it. It's one of the reasons I never eat out except on vacation and even then we try to be thrifty. We do love to travel though and spend extra money to get a suite/condo instead of a "standard" rooom. We all have our priorities and having space=keeping our sanity=better vacation for all.

 

[Figment Mom]

Instead of the envelopes, can you keep a ledger (or just a running total)? Then you can still get the cc points and see that you're still coming out ahead of the DP. Maybe you'll even indulge a little bit when you see that you're still saving money.

 

[rhiansmom]

I get it! I am doing a split stay with the regular dining plan for the first five nights because we want to do a few character dinners and that makes the most sense to be on the plan.

However on our "off" plan days I just spent a 1/2 hour trying to make a decision if I should order a $75 or $100 Rainforest Cafe gift card with my CC points. I reviewed the menu like 15 times trying to figure out what DD and her BFF will order. I finally went with the $100 card thinking that way I won't feel bad if they want an app or dessert.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I posted this on your other thread. When not on Free Dining I pay for food with Disney Gift Cards. I buy them from Kroger when they have 4xs fuel points. This works out to a 14% discount for me. If I pay for them with my Disney Rewards Visa, I get another 1% back in Disney Dollars (so 15% discount total). You could buy them with your credit card, get the points and a 14% discount on your food. Since I have already saved money/gotten a discount I feel free to order/eat what ever I want - 'Ohana, dinner at Chef Mickeys, most expensive thing on the menu, Mickey bars every day...whatever. I don't nickle and dime myself trying to come home with money because I can't spend the gift cards on anything but Disney stuff.

I do understand where you are coming from. I don't get hung up on food costs, but I do get hung up on lodging costs. While I could pay for a Disney Deluxe resort, I have not been able to get myself to do it. We have stayed in Values on site or off site in condos (Wyndham Bonnet Creek, Vacation Village at Parkway). Every time I price out a Disney Deluxe my brain says "but I could do x or y with all that extra money!", and I can't pull the trigger.

 

[abmitch01]

yeah, this is our first time onsite and I did upgrade to POR after talking to some friends. We're pretty quiet and POR seemed more our speed. But I purposely did not search for an off-site condo and car rental because I am determined that we're going to try on-site this time since it's just the two of us. I know we could stay off site cheaper, I just don't want to know how much less it would be, lol.

we were in Philly visiting my BFF last weekend. We went to Little Italy and she bought a box of six small manicotti. 34 bucks! I almost fell over. But boy were they good. Sometimes the splurge is worth it.

I'm going to try to get into BOG for lunch. I think Claire would be charmed, it sounds magical. That will be a nice splurge

 

[kymom99]

I am not extreme when it comes to sticking to a budget but when we are in Disney I try to be the voice of reason. I see nothing wrong with that. Not that we don't splurge on some things, but I PLAN most of those splurges. Just a couple TS meals per trip and the rest is CS or breakfast in the room if possible. We don't drink alcohol in Disney. Well, my husband doesn't drink at all and I drink rarely anyway so that is not an issue. I was raised to not order dessert in restaurants because my mom could make them WAY better. So basically a couple meals in some fun, unique places and the rest is just whatever. Sometimes I do eat kids meals, but I don't feel deprived. I usually price out a lot of different options, especially for lodging, but then I sit on it for a while before making a decision. I usually go with the less expensive options, but not to the point where we don't feel like we are treating ourselves.

As I said I don't consider myself extreme but I do plan. I planned a 10 day trip to San Diego and estimated the total cost with meals, gas, and everything. I came pretty darned close. I didn't limit anyone necessarily, and we did everything we wanted to do, but I planned it all out so no sticker shock.

 

[Promomx2]

We were at cbr and I made a salad from the fixings bar for dinner on two nights.

 

[tzeitel]

Lodging! I cannot see myself spending Deluxe money when we are happy at a Value. Don't get me wrong, I would love to stay at one of the Deluxes but when I think of the $$$ I can think of 15 other things I rather spend it on.

Last 2 trips we stayed at POR because we were travelling with family we only see once a year and they would not stay anywhere else. We did stay at AoA for the 2 days before the others joined us.

 

[abmitch01]

I'm like that about lodging. POR is a big step for us, I think we got a pretty good price. I always find really nice lodging when we visit other cities through deal sites, rooms I would never be able to afford otherwise. I'd love to stay in a deluxe resort but would never spend the money. Since the first time I went to Disney as a kid I've wanted to stay in the Contemporary. My DD's friend stayed in the Animal Kingdom lodge and the giraffes came right up to her balcony. We would love that!

 

[ebradley23]

Yes, to both food and lodging!! I used to travel for work, so we vacationed many years on my hotel points. This will be the first year having to pay OOP. I originally booked a value, because I'm a cheapskate. On the other hand we've become accustomed to pretty nice hotels. I finally convince myself to splurge on POR. I don't think I could ever do a deluxe though. I know I would convince myself the extra $ could be spent on more fun stuff while on vacation. I also went for the DxDDP. First, because we will have our nearly 3 year old with us. I think it will be enough food at the non-buffet restaurants to feed all three of us with the app, main course and dessert. Second, if we were paying OOP, I would only do a max of one character meal. I would never pay that much for a buffet (free kid or not). On the plan, we are doing 5 character meals. Third, it will allow us to order what we want (steak, steak and more steak) instead of cheapskating out like we would OOP. Based on history, I would probably end up doing only quick service meals even though I wouldn't be happy doing them. I just wouldn't want to pay Disney prices on table service. As it stands now, we're only doing table service which will make us all (including my healthy eater of a kid) happier.

 

[Colleen27]

My husband can be that way about dining, but I'm slooooowly breaking him of it. He wants the dining plan every trip because it means he can order without thinking about prices, as though an extra $5 at dinner is make-or-break on a $5K trip! But we did DC in December and he managed to get over the restaurant prices there, despite some very pricey meals, so I'm hoping that if/when we return to WDW I'll be able to persuade him that our usual way of eating (sharing a couple apps around the table, maybe getting one dessert to split or skipping it entirely) has more value than overpaying for the "everything" plan.

For me, it is lodging. DH stayed at Pop once and said he'd rather not go than stay in a value again (all the other value trips in my sig were solo, just me & the kids, or with my mom - no hubby). I hate spending mod/deluxe money when on most trips we're in the parks from rope drop to close and only splurge if I know the pace of the trip will be a more laid back and leave more time to enjoy the resort amenities.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We can easily spend 200 on dinner, no problem. But if my husband had to pay for a refill of soda, it kills him. Same with parking. We live just outside chicago. If we go into city for theater or dinner, he will let me out and park six to eight blocks away.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I posted this on your other thread. When not on Free Dining I pay for food with Disney Gift Cards. I buy them from Kroger when they have 4xs fuel points. This works out to a 14% discount for me. If I pay for them with my Disney Rewards Visa, I get another 1% back in Disney Dollars (so 15% discount total). You could buy them with your credit card, get the points and a 14% discount on your food. Since I have already saved money/gotten a discount I feel free to order/eat what ever I want - 'Ohana, dinner at Chef Mickeys, most expensive thing on the menu, Mickey bars every day...whatever. I don't nickle and dime myself trying to come home with money because I can't spend the gift cards on anything but Disney stuff.

I do understand where you are coming from. I don't get hung up on food costs, but I do get hung up on lodging costs. While I could pay for a Disney Deluxe resort, I have not been able to get myself to do it. We have stayed in Values on site or off site in condos (Wyndham Bonnet Creek, Vacation Village at Parkway). Every time I price out a Disney Deluxe my brain says "but I could do x or y with all that extra money!", and I can't pull the trigger.

We have always used the Disney Gift Cards bought at a discount as well, and it does make me less stressed about food cost for sure.

I just don't enjoy chicken nuggets or tiny dry burgers, and neither do my kids, and I would poke my eye out before paying $6 for a "Power Pack"! We order adult food for the kids instead.

I did see this tip on the disneytourist blog so I think you can do it at WDW; we always do this at Disneyland: Order at counter service without the sides. So "fish and chips, no chips" or burger without fries...not every place will do it, but most will. Even the corn dog cart lets you order just the corndog without the bag of chips.
Also, there are usually only cheeseburgers on the menu. If you order a cheeseburger without cheese, they charge the same price. If you specify a "hamburger" it is something like $1.50 cheaper!

This saves $2 or so on each entree, which puts a counter service entree very close in price to a kid's meal. They don't get the free drink, but I don't want my kids getting juice/chocolate milk/soda at every meal - they mostly drink water and they get maybe 1 soda a day on vacation, usually Pepsi Throwback that we have in the hotel room! - so I don't feel like it's an added value to the kid's meal. They also hate the bagged carrot/apple chemical taste so those get trashed, and they hate Disney fries (who doesn't?)

So for a kid's meal at $6 they get a tiny entree and a drink I don't really want them to have, and the icky apples/carrots/fries get tossed.

For $8-$10 they can get an adult size entree and drink water, and I don't "get red in the face and almost burst" [I love how you put that!] because they don't throw anything away, and they are satisfied instead of hungry 20 min later.

Anyway, since your DD doesn't eat much, you could either split one entree without a side for $10, or 2 entrees without sides if you want more food, but still be under $20 for both. Sorry, I have no idea of WDW prices, but the menu board prices (with sides) at DL are generally $10-$12, so I'm just subtracting $2 off of the $10 for my estimate.

 

[supergoofy]

I was torn on the dinning plan

First I was looking at it and liked it as everything was paid for.

Then I decided to stay offsite as its more room and cheaper

But then I started looking at places to eat and realized many of the things I wanted were not on the plan. Add this to the cost savings as I have all adults despite 2 10 year olds who eat like kids.

So I am somewhat torn on it as it would be nice to come home from vacation and be done rather than have all the charges from my CC waiting for me.


My solution was to take the dinning plan money and stick in a savings account so when the bill comes its paid for. And like a PP stated I am keeping a running tally of what we are at. As the day goes by I can see where we are and adjust accordingly.

Then on last day if we have an abundance of funds then its more snacks/gifts for home.

 

[abmitch01]

I never knew you could order just the sandwich, that's helpful

 

[mom2t]

I am exactly like you about the same thing, I get it. It's one of the reasons I never eat out except on vacation and even then we try to be thrifty. We do love to travel though and spend extra money to get a suite/condo instead of a "standard" rooom. We all have our priorities and having space=keeping our sanity=better vacation for all.

We are the same way. I will cook every meal if it means we can do a condo or house.

 

[msmama]

Don't think of it as spending more on food, think of it as wasting less.

I did the Dining plan a couple of times and it was fine, but now that it's just my son and I, it's not worth it. We can actually order what we are hungry for, rather than ordering what comes with the dining plan meal (I can't tell you how many QS desserts got tossed).

Will you be spending a little bit more? Probably not, but possibly. But you'll be getting EXACTLY what you want!!

And like a pp said, if you're that concerned, buy Disney GC's and that way it's like your food is already paid for!

 

[okeydokey]

We were at cbr and I made a salad from the fixings bar for dinner on two nights.

This has to be a joke. Really?

 

[Bete]

Sorry, I wouldn't stay at a moderate. How is that saving money? There are quiet sections at the values. You can stay far away from the pool areas. Stay away from the lobby/food court area, too.

If you maximize the dining plan like ordering the most expensive meals, then you are dollars ahead. The plan is a set price and if you exceed those limits you are still covered by your plan.

We don't want dessert and we are satisfied with tap water for our drinks; so, unless, we do the free dining plan we pay out of pocket. We do lunch for our big meal if we want a table service meal.

If you still don't want a dining plan then consider splitting meals to save on eating. Order tap water at Disney restaurants.

Pick out a few places to treat yourself and you will have a taste of Disney dining without doing it every day.