Is it possible to not spend any money while in the parks?

[Chickee123]

I might be getting laughed at for this question. We have a dining plan and plan on bringing our own drinks to the parks. Wishfully thinking we won't need to buy anything else, right?

 

[Sunnyday3]

You will be responsible for the tips on the dining plan if you have table service. You can always charge that to your room. Will you want souvenirs?

 

[luv2sleep]

I might be getting laughed at for this question. We have a dining plan and plan on bringing our own drinks to the parks. Wishfully thinking we won't need to buy anything else, right?

Yes, of course! The only thing you NEED is food and water. Just bring your own. I'm a DL vet and we have gone several times and not spent any money by packing our own food and drink. Really easy.

I'm also 'over' merchandise and rarely ever buy their pics.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Depends on how long you want to look at.

I know I've spent weekends in the park where I didn't buy anything at Disney. Althought the average per room-night is $267 (having just looked it for for 2013.) I had a case of water, and soda in the room, brought in power bars, ran over to Publix to grab a couple of frozen meals.

 

[china mom]

I am NOT on the dining plan and have successfully spent the day in the parks without spending any money - and that is with two children.

We bring breakfast food from home and buy milk at the hotel - breakfast taken care of.

We pack sandwiches in the room and put them in a small cooler to take to the parks. Ice water is free and we bring Mio water flavoring for a change up at lunch time. We have snacks for throughout the day. My children know that we do not buy souvenirs. We are back to the room by dinner time and split a $16 pizza.

Now, when DH comes with us, the kids know it is a different story and they get him to constantly open his wallet - usually for sodas and often for a QS meal in the parks.

 

[bdoyledimou]

other than a Minnie Strawberry bar and Dole Whips -- i dont spend a cent in the parks.

i have no need for souvenirs (wife does that anyway) -- and i am cheap.

 

[scoutie]

It's absolutely possible. I started a similar thread a year and a half ago for my first trip to Disney. We were on the dining plan as well. Aside from tips, we didn't spend any money in the parks. Each of my kids had a Disney gift card that they could use for souvenirs, and that worked well. It also taught them to budget their money, think about what they truly wanted, etc. We had an amazing time with lots of great memories.

 

[dkrauss]

I might be getting laughed at for this question. We have a dining plan and plan on bringing our own drinks to the parks. Wishfully thinking we won't need to buy anything else, right?

I'm sorry I did giggle but more because of what a "great" question this is........I wish I could say I could do this but.............it just wouldn't happen

Doug

 

[Steakgoddess]

You may not need to buy anything else, but you may wantto do so.

I'd budget fun money... just in case.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We've spent many days in the parks without spending any money besides tips when we were on the DDP. We're not big souvenier people and the DDP has always provided more than enough credits for snacks.

 

[LarryFmScotland]

I'm as tight as a camels eyelids in a sandstorm and hardly every spend any money in the parks if I'm on the Dining Plan.

It's funny but my friends and colleagues think that because I love Disney and go there all the time that I must buy hundreds of stuffed Mickey's and snow-globes, but I hardly ever buy any souvenirs. The photos I take are my momentos and I think the less I spend there the sooner I can go back.

Be cheap see the world!!!

Cheers Larry (from Scotland!!)

 

[pigletto]

We've also spent many days in the parks without spending anything extra but paying for the tips when we were on the DDP. And that wasn't because we couldn't or were trying to save. We don't buy many souvenirs and usually only buy the ones we do want at the end of the trip. After this many trips we have all the "stuff" we want and the novelty has worn off. I think it's really easy to go on the DDP and not spend extra.

 

[MAD on Disney]

You will be responsible for the tips on the dining plan if you have table service.

OP, I hope you didn't miss this point, since you mentioned that you have the dining plan. Unfortunately, I think some people overlook this for at least a couple of reasons; either they simply forget because of the ease of using the plan, or because they mistakenly believe that it is covered as part of the plan (I think at one time it was, but it is not any more). Of course, nobody is required to leave a tip, but I believe it would be really wrong not to do so (provided you don't have terrible service, which is very unlikely at Disney).

 

[abmitch01]

we eat breakfast in the room, don't buy souvenirs, refill our water bottles. We used to bring lunch-y stuff in our bags but this year we're going in august and I think it will too hot to carry perishables so we will splurge on CS meals. But DD and I can split an adult meal often. This is my first time onsite so will have to eat dinner out as we're not in a condo or house. That will feel strange (and expensive).

 

[Disneychick75]

99% of the time we spend no money except food and drink. If we brought our own food, we'd probably spend nothing.

 

[luv2sleep]

I might be getting laughed at for this question. We have a dining plan and plan on bringing our own drinks to the parks. Wishfully thinking we won't need to buy anything else, right?

Yes. I'm a Disneyland vet and have had many trips where we've spent nothing. We have annual passes. We bring food and water. I'm not into spending money on stuff (souvenirs/ merchandise) either. I've only purchased photos on one trip and we don't take them except with our cameras. If I was going to WDW and didn't what to spend money I'd find a way to eat in the room and bring sandwiches, water, etc into the parks. You do not have to spend $$ in the parks.

Eta: I couldn't find my post so I came back to post but now just found it!. It didn't come up in my subscribed posts lists. Sorry that I posted again lol!

 

[figment_jii]

As a few PP mentioned, you will need to bring in some money with you cover the tips at the TS locations because those are not covered by the DDP. In terms of food, assuming that you don't deviate from the specifics of the dining plan (i.e., you don't order any appetizers, specialty drinks, sides, or alcohol) you can probably make it without incurring any extra costs.

In terms of not spending any extra money, I suppose it is possible, but I would find it difficult. There are always fun souvenirs and inciting snacks (not all snacks qualify for the DDP). Also, I personally always like to have some cash on me just in case the credit card readers aren't working and a venue cannot take the magic band payment method (I've been there when the system was down so some of the kiosks were cash only; no credit card or DDP).

 

[smokeyblue]

During a DDP visit of 8 park days, other than TS tips, we only spent money on one day. That was our last day as we were departing for good and picked up a few souvenirs. Honestly, with the DDP we were so stuffed all the time that we didn't want for food and we are huge eaters. We actually ended up a lot of extra snack credits that we blew the last day. You can surely get away without spending any money in the parks, especially if you are on the DDP.

 

[mousefan73]

NEED the answer is no. WANT is a different story. Looks like you got entrance, food, drink covered. If onsite, tranportation is covered.

Nice thing about Disney is the parks are all inklusive. Sure they nickle and dime you for"special memories" ( dessert party, pirates thing, MSSHP etcc). But once in the park, all rides, meet and greets, shows, parades, fireworks etc are paid for. Even animation classes at HS.

If you can say no to special treats, snacks, ice cream, shopping. No cent is needed. I personally cannot do it. I tend to go crazy. But I honestly dont buy needless stuff any other time. So i dont feel guilty dropping 200 on xmAs stuff in September.

 

[kitayama]

Like others have said, you don't need to spend money, but Disney has a way of making you want spend money. Those Magic Bands are great at making you spend more money then normal. Beep then pin is surprisingly more easy then pulling out a wallet, finding a card, swiping the card, putting in your pin, putting away your card, and putting away your wallet. I know it seems trivial, but it makes a significant difference in spending habits.
On my trip in June we payed for all meals and other random stuff with our debit card, and we still managed to rack up a $1200 magic band bill in a week... Oh, and that was our second week there so I have something to compare it to. During our first week we stayed offsite, spent the same amount on food and other random stuff on our debit cards, and did not spend the extra $1200. You would be surprised at how fast the little charges add up. We had the money to spend so it wasn't a problem at all. I suggest putting extra money in your budget so you will be prepared for the bill.

Oh, and the dangerous phrase... We can send it to your room for you so you don't have to carry it. Disney is great at removing barriers to spending.
Staying on Disney property also talked us into buying DVC... I go to a Disneyland weekly and I never thought of buying DVC before this trip to Disney World. (Bounce back offer was tempting too...)
Hmm... I guess staying in Disney World makes you want to spend money period... Be prepared for it!