Is it really worth the trouble lugging your own water?

[marriedmarylander]

If me and me DH drank 3 drinks each per day say at $2 each drink, that's $12 day x 7 days = $84 + tax.

2 Brita water bottles = $16 + tax
Backpack to carry stuff making sure to have room for 2 bottles = $30 (max)
Total = $46 + tax.

Um... ??? $30 savings..

Plus the fact DH loves water and I hate water (no matter where it's from even bottled water.) I can drink it though if I have to if I'm having a meal.

 

[jk8]

Doesn't sound worth it to me. I'm all about not lugging things around. We drank free ice water.

 

[stinkerbelle]

What it boils down to for us - is we're on vacation. We KNOW we're going to spend money. I *need* my water...I don't go too far without a poland spring water bottle in my every day life.

if us having more water/soda during the day means we spend more money...so be it.

Really - a $30 difference is the difference between 1 sit down meal vs. a counter meal.

 

[MomofKatie]

Or you could just get one water bottle and both drink from it, and get a water bottle strap to carry it- that brings your cost way down- you could even spring for a few sodas for you!!

 

[Minnie116]

If me and me DH drank 3 drinks each per day say at $2 each drink, that's $12 day x 7 days = $84 + tax.

2 Brita water bottles = $16 + tax
Backpack to carry stuff making sure to have room for 2 bottles = $30 (max)
Total = $46 + tax.

Um... ??? $30 savings..

Plus the fact DH loves water and I hate water (no matter where it's from even bottled water.) I can drink it though if I have to if I'm having a meal.

For us it would be, We are going in July and I know that DH and I will probably ddrink about 5 bottles each per day plus my dd will drink at least 3 bottles and DS maybe 2 bottles

for our family the cost would be:

10 bottles per day x $2 per bottle x 7 days = $140.

Personally, I would rather buy 2 Brita bottles for $16 and spend the extra $120+ on a great meal. We just throw the bottles in the stroller anyway, we really don't have to lug them around.

 

[KristinU]

Prior to having a child (and the stroller to lug stuff around in) DH and I were major minimalists and carried just our IDs/tickets/cash and bought water along the way. A $30 savings for the trouble of lugging stuff around isn't worth it IMHO. Plus, if you don't have any sort of bag you get through the gates much faster Now with the basket on the stroller we do throw a bottle or two in for the day.

 

[Evil Queen]

We bought the bottles that have a carrier and strap (3.88 at Wal-Mart). We are hoping to do the fanny packs, and do away with the backpack, but it still may be needed. The DS9 will need a snack or two throughout the day and I refuse to buy those. Meals I will buy in parks, but not meals AND snacks.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I mentioned on another thread that in January DH carried around the SAME, unopened bottle of water for four days. We bought water at our grocery stop and drank maybe two bottles. And one of them was a bottle that I MADE DS drink because he had been drinking so much Sprite. Of course he was using the water to wash down his Cheetos.

Anyway, just today I did buy one Brita bottle. It will (hopefully) be warmer in October. We are doing Magical Express so we won't have a grocery stop. I figure we can fill the Brita with ice water each morning and save a little bit on bottled water in the parks. I mean, if DH is going to carry water around whether someone drinks it or not we might as well have the Brita bottle. Then if we DO drink it we can refill it!

What we usually did in the morning was fill our mugs on the way to the bus, drink our drinks on the bus, then rent a locker for the mugs at the parks. On the way back in at night we would fill the mugs before we went to the room. We'll have a drink with each meal, so that's five drinks right there all included in either the price of the mug or the price of the dining plan. (OK, dining plan is two meals but we can use the snack credit for drinks, too.)

I can't imagine drinking five bottles of water in one day. I don't like water. I don't think for people who have to carry everything around that it is worth trying to bring your own. If I had a stroller I might, but having to put everything in a backpack really makes a person pick and choose what to carry.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

DH drinks a ton of water. On our last trip we bought two cases at the grocery store and by the end of our trip we had just four for the flight home.

We use those small lunch bag style "coolers" to carry two waters each in our bags for the day. The kids and I usually share and DH drinks the rest. We supplement with other drinks in the parks. No biggie.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

To be honest, it depends on when you go.

We just got back on Monday and never used our Brita bottles or even stopped for a beverage other than at meals. It just was not that hot. However, we've also been there in July and August and needed those water bottles very much. I suppose that if you're not a water drinker, then they would be a pain in the neck to carry around. But for a thirsty family of 4 in July, the convenience of not standing in another line couple with the savings is enough to make it worth the effort ($2.50/bottle x 8 bottles/day = $20/day which is $140 for the week).

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Our math works out different, and for us its worth it.

4 people x 4 bottles a day (July weather) at $2 a bottle x10 days =$320

Cost of Brita bottles = just under $10 total (got on clearance at Walmart)
We are bringing umbrella strollers which have a pouch to slide the bottles into so no cost for carrying them, and no added trouble for us.

Savings =$310

If I'm being conservative and saying my kids wouldn't drink 4 bottles of water daily (although they will, especially my ds), and say only 2 bottles a day for them and 3 a day for dh and I thats still $200, or a $190 savings.

Yep. Its worth it. I agree with the philosophy though, your on vacation and you know you are gonna spend money. Thats why you won't catch me complaining about food prices, or packing snacks from home. But in this case, for us, little effort = big savings, and literally no difference in what we get (snacks from home are never as cool as snacks at the parks, but water is water), its a no brainer. IF we weren't already carrying something that would hold our water bottles so that it would become a convience issue, I would reexamine.

 

[liznboys]

Prior to having a child (and the stroller to lug stuff around in) DH and I were major minimalists and carried just our IDs/tickets/cash and bought water along the way. A $30 savings for the trouble of lugging stuff around isn't worth it IMHO. Plus, if you don't have any sort of bag you get through the gates much faster Now with the basket on the stroller we do throw a bottle or two in for the day.

What she said!

 

[marriedmarylander]

Besides WDW where can I find one of those water bottle strap things? I'd rather buy one for like $2 rather than $10. I guess I don't shop for these things much I have no idea what they are even called. Walmart probably? That store annoys me though I can never find anything.

Also, we might still bring a really small backpack - cheapo Walmart, Target, or something. I'm thinking we might want to take our baseball caps off and put them in the bag, sunglasses, random souvenir, or so... but if we get a separate water bottle carrier thing for a couple bucks I dont' have to worry about finding a specify mini bag for the water bottle and then can get one for really cheap - $10 or less. Or a small messenger bag.

And about the 2 brita bottles - DH says he wants us to have our own..I again don't see what is wrong with during a meal to get a cup at the restaurants and pour water in that so at least during meals we aren't sharing the same bottle if we keep drinking at the same time.

He actually told me he doesn't want to talk about the trip until we go on it.. So I think I will just keep one brita bottle and when we are packing just pack it up since he doesn't seem to want to answer any questions regarding the trip now

I might also get a normal bottle just in case we happen to not mind the tap water there... I have been to Florida as an adult - Miami, Daytona. But like I once said I don't even drink water much (bottled or tap) so I really don't know if I liked it or not. I don't remember having an adverse reaction though. I do remember using water to anything other than rinsing after brushing teeth though. But before I went no one was warning me about water.

 

[lmjacobs]

I agree with the free ice water. They'll give you a cup of it if you ask, after all they don't want their guests dropping from the heat. Then toss it. I hate water and really can't stand hot water that has been strapped to my body all day.

 

[lmjacobs]

nice pic!!! love the show.

 

[rayelias]

Maybe it's just me, but... have you tasted the water?!?I don't know what they do to it, but it tastes like sulphur. It's worse at Magic Kingdom, but pretty bad at the newer parks, as well.

Bottled for me!

 

[Disney Fool]

"I can't imagine drinking five bottles of water in one day. I don't like water."


Sorry, but in the summer months, it is IMPERATIVE that you drink a lot of water; you are probably sweating off more than you drink. When you begin to feel lightheaded, and fuzzy, and your fingers are tingling, and your legs are weak, then you know you haven't had enough water. All the CM's remind you daily to drink, drink, drink water. Five or six bottles a day is not too much.

 

[marriedmarylander]

"I can't imagine drinking five bottles of water in one day. I don't like water."


Sorry, but in the summer months, it is IMPERATIVE that you drink a lot of water; you are probably sweating off more than you drink. When you begin to feel lightheaded, and fuzzy, and your fingers are tingling, and your legs are weak, then you know you haven't had enough water. All the CM's remind you daily to drink, drink, drink water. Five or six bottles a day is not too much.

When they recommend drinking 8 glasses of water it is not literarlly water. It can come from food sources as well. For instance, a piece of bread contains a lot of water. Any beverage contains water. Fruit contains water. Fluids of any kind are sufficient it does not have to be water.

To be honest, when I feel lightheaded it's because I don't have enough sugar in my system, not water.

 

[HockeyChick]

If you can go to Florida in August, sweat in the parks all day and not need 5 bottles of water a day, I envy you. Of course, I drink probably 6 a day at home in January, so maybe I'm just weird. I've had 3 already today. I know I will be guzzling the water while I'm there.

If you are drinking sodas with caffeine you are doing nothing to hydrate your body, BTW. Caffeine is a diuertic.

 

[marriedmarylander]

If you can go to Florida in August, sweat in the parks all day and not need 5 bottles of water a day, I envy you. Of course, I drink probably 6 a day at home in January, so maybe I'm just weird. I've had 3 already today. I know I will be guzzling the water while I'm there.

If you are drinking sodas with caffeine you are doing nothing to hydrate your body, BTW. Caffeine is a diuertic.

There is lemonade, juices, punch, etc.