Just how cheap are you?

[jann1033]

OK personally i got a chuckle out of this and mean it light hearted not rude inflammatory any other mean spirited way... with all the incendiary topics about refillable mugs it dawned on me( slow witted evidently) if you got 6 drink refills in your trip you paid for the mug plus had a souvenir for the kiddies at home...but people throw fits cause they can't use them again... so if you wish you could refill your mugs for the rest of your life what other "squeeze till it gives blood" penny saving tips do you do at Disney....maybe i can take some lessons and afford to go more than every few yrs

 

[pampam]

I'm not exactly sure what you are looking for, but here goes. In the food courts of the value resorts, there are microwaves and toasters. Some people buy a loaf of bread and make their toast every morning. Also, you could buy, for example, a can of chili, ask for a plate, and heat it up in the micro. Are these the type of things you are hoping for?

 

[bicker]

My mother used to reuse teabags.

 

[Marseeya]

I'm far from being frugal, but I was very proud of this purchase last year. I found some Disney Store princess tee shirts at a Big Lots type of store (called Gabriel Brothers) and got them for my DD rather than buying them in the parks.

This year, I bought two misting fans for $4 at Walmart, rather than paying almost $20 at the parks.

Is that what you want to know?

Bicker, hopefully your mom only reuses her own tea bags... she surely wouldn't recycle other people's bags, right?

 

[PattnFmly]

I try to be frugal, but when it comes to WDW it's tough! But one thing I always do is get some light up toys for my DS's to use after dark! I've gotten necklaces, whistles, bracelets, halloween glow-in-the-dark toys & other stuff like that. I just don't let them know until I pull them out of the backpack. Surprise! And they're just as excited as if I bought them there.

 

[bicker]

Bicker, hopefully your mom only reuses her own tea bags...

Gosh, I sure hope so!

 

[patsal]

We usually split three CS meals as a family of four as there is plenty of food for all of us to share and I order one extra cup of water (for me as I have to take meds and I like to take them with water). So I guess you could say we save about 8.00 per day on vacation by sharing. Typical vacation saves us $96.00. It's vacation, I don't like to cheap out just don't like throw out food.

 

[bicker]

just don't like throw out food

I used to think that way, but then I realized they're going to throw the food away if I don't order it, anyway.

 

[jenrose66]

I could use some lessons at learning to be cheap. Me and dh feed off each other. We're young and stupid and since we have the extra income we spend it! We splurge on our Disney trips, money is not an object. If we see something we want or we want to eat somewhere, we do it. I even (gasp) paid rack rate for last years summer trip! However, with a baby on the way, and dh transitioning to being a stay at home dad, we will need to learn to behave ourselves better Actually, I did clip coupons for grocery shopping this week!

I'll be eargerly reading this thread for other people's tips

 

[sara74]

Can't think of any prime examples but I do know that a good friend of ours claims that copper wire was invented when DH and his father both found a penny at the same time!

 

[luv2nascar]

our youngest was 2 last trip and we were on dining plan. So she ate free at buffets but at sit downs/TS she just shared with us. She's not a big eater anyways and there was always plenty. I bought activities for the kids to do in the car at Dollar store along with Glow necklaces to take. Got my $4 mister at Walmart. We had refrigerator and refillable mugs. At Pop CS you get a bottled beverage which we saved for later and used refillable mugs.
We also went to outlets before buying souvies in parks. Saved on Tshirts there.

 

[rondaK]

I don't know if anyone else saw the news about a week ago. They showed some of those glow necklaces (just like the ones from China in the Dollar stores) and they have lead in them!!! There were several different pieces of jewelry from Dollar Stores and one child actually died of lead poisoning from a silver necklace that had sports charms. It surprises me that they would be allowed to even sell these in the U.S.!! (all of the laws for lead paint & yet we can import cheap jewelry filled with lead and hang them around our children's necks)

 

[KarenAylwood]

If you're looking for ways to save at Disney- the Budget board has about 500 threads just like this one.

Reusing ziplock bags, dollar store finds, sharing meals, bringing breakfast for the room, buying the souvies at the Disney Outlet there, buying pins on ebay for cheap and having your kids trade them, the list goes on and on and on and on....

 

[mygyky]

There were several different pieces of jewelry from Dollar Stores and one child actually died of lead poisoning from a silver necklace that had sports charms. :

How long was the child sucking on the necklace for this to happen?

I tried to find the best deal on the accomodations, but once in the park, I think the price will be the price and I will pay it. We will take the advice if you see and like it, buy it, because you may not see it again. The thing that will hurt the most is that free in room delivery. DW and DS9 can just buy stuff and have it delivered. I may need an empty suitcase for the return trip with souveniers.

 

[princess pooh]

I buy most of the souveneirs at the disney outlet store. Sometimes they'll sell the same stuff at the parks but for 50% less!

I also bring snacks from home or do a grocery stop on the way from the airport. I sometimes get hungry before bedtime and it's much cheaper than buying snacks at the hotel giftshop.

 

[G's mommy]

I don't know if anyone else saw the news about a week ago. They showed some of those glow necklaces (just like the ones from China in the Dollar stores) and they have lead in them!!! There were several different pieces of jewelry from Dollar Stores and one child actually died of lead poisoning from a silver necklace that had sports charms. It surprises me that they would be allowed to even sell these in the U.S.!! (all of the laws for lead paint & yet we can import cheap jewelry filled with lead and hang them around our children's necks)

Beware of Dollar store buys. My son almost strangled himself to death with one of those jelly yo-yo balls, the ones with the gel rope and heavy ball on the end, the ones that all little boys just love and you see them at Dollar stores and as prizes for tickets at game rooms. He was 7 years old, was swinging it around in the air and it wrapped around his neck and he could not get it loose. He passed out and fell face first into a concrete driveway, knocking out teeth (baby teeth luckily) and scraping his face badly. Luckily I came out into my garage just as he hit the pavement and went to him and was able to get that ball unwrapped from his neck. At the ER, we were told that they had seen several deaths from these toys just in our area. My son had a cat scan and was treated for the scrapes and cuts on his face and we were able to go home. BEWARE of these toys! Do not let your children have them no matter how old they are. Thanks for the heads-up on the light-up necklaces. I'm sure we have some of those too around here!

 

[jann1033]

Can't think of any prime examples but I do know that a good friend of ours claims that copper wire was invented when DH and his father both found a penny at the same time!

jenrose, i'm old and stupid so what can i say?

thanks for the ideas...I meant to add legal and not against Disney policy but didn't have to....

Beware of Dollar store buys. !

there was a news show, i think around Christmas, that mentioned how lots of these things are from countries where they are not policed like here and they truly are dangerous( made me stop buying toys or basically anything but gift wrap there. I notice our Marc's stores sell similar items if there are Marc's anyplace but around me or maybe other "off price" places.) don't really remember why they can sell them but they could. you'd think they'd have to meet some of the same regulations but they don't

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I am sure you could bring a loaf of bread in and feed a family of five for a week with one of those turkey legs!

 

[Lilo312]

I rented dvc points for my room at the BCV this year....
saved nearly 40%

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I don't think we are cheap, but these are some things we do instead of spending more than we have to...

...avoid the whole refillable mug brouhaha. Buy what drinks you like a Publix and keep them in the frig in the room. Much more convenient to have them right there in the room and not have to go to the quick service area. Buy lots of water, too.

...eat breakfast, snacks in the room. Also bought from a trip to Publix.

...buy souvenirs from the Orlando Premium Outlet Character Premiere store (it is on the way to Publix )

...we share some counter service meals. I will eat the youngest's fries or side salad that comes with her pizza and DH and I will split a sandwich. Mom and Daddy will buy the double cheeseburger and an extra bun.

...bring your own detergent for the laundry from home. I pour mine in an empty 20 oz. Coke bottle and bring it with me.

...We bought the DDE card. It is much easier to pay that sitdown dinner bill with the 20% off.