Kinda bummed right now. Need Advice

[Lorenski]

I'm on my way to the World in 11 days. I have had a major financial problem spring up on me at the last minute. It's not a do or die situation but If I go to Disney I will not have nay money to buy anything like soveniers or extras.
My trip is totally paid for and has been since Dec. I have the deluxe Dining Plan and enough money for tips and an emergency. My son says I should still go as everything is taken care of and that I don't need to buy tshirts and stuff like that.
Has anyone gone to Disney on a major budget and no money for extras. Sorry if this is a dumb question.

 

[MOREMICKEYFORME]

I have gone to Disney a few times and not bought a thing other than food, and that was basic food (counter service only).
You have a dining plan...you'll be all set. I think you should go and have a great time. Your friends and family don't need souvies...and if you feel they must have something, get them each a few pressed pennies of their favorite characters, you'd be surprised how many adults like these as gifts!
Go and have fun. I will be there at the same time and I may run into you at one of the meets!

 

[bopper]

You've been before, you'll go again...enjoy what you DO have and don't worry about what you don't. Maybe make a counter service napkin collection...or take pictures...or collect autographs. Lots of fun free things as souveniers.

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

I have actually gone several times with no extra money at all. I found ways to make everything cheaper, between packing mini bottles of liquor in my suitcase and switching some of my sit down meals to counter meals (to save on tips) I saved a TON of money. If you want a cool gift to bring home, take the animation Academy Drawing class at MGM. Who doesn't love a hand drawn character picture? I know I do. It makes a great souvie! The pressed pennies are also great gifts. The World is a special and magical place, you might even realize that you will really like breezing through those gift shops after every ride because of the air conditioning, NOT because of the merchandising. I have a hard time buying extra's now when I go. LOL I have spoiled myself! Go, and have a magical trip!!!!

 

[disneylove69]

I have been plenty of times and didn't spend for extras. I am assuming you are going to realx and have fun. Who said you have to have souvenirs. How about taking some cool pictures and then getting some nice frames to put them in when you get back.

 

[pediatric-rnp]

If you want to bring back souvies, use the snack credits on your deluxe dining plan to do this. We turned our snack credits in for fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate covered Mickey rice krispie treats in the confectionary store on Main Street USA - it was a HUGE hit with everyone back home! The fudge sells for $4.00 each, and is worth one snack credit. They package it in a nice box and place a Mickey sticker on the box.

There was so much food on the dining plan for our meals, we were always full & never had room for the snacks, so this worked out perfectly!

 

[fhtpdw20]

Go ahead and shop,....but... just write down the sku numbers. Call Disney Merchandising when you get back home and order over the phone as finances permit.

 

[Lorenski]

Thanks everyone for you advice. I was feeling a little down this morning and having a bad start to my day.
Yes I am going to relax and have fun and I don't really think I need another tshirt or mug. I am really looking forward to this trip. My goal this trip is to get as many photos of the disney villains as I can.

Thanks again for listening to me rant and feel sorry for myself.

 

[xmlguy]

What are your cancellation options?

I'm not asking this to suggest that you cancel your whole trip. But with your changed finance circumstances, it is possible to shift your options from the high priced Disney accomodations and food to more budget-minded thing, leaving plenty of room for souverneirs, have a great time, and have money left over for when you return. Maybe it would allow you to enjoy the trip more if you know that you'll have saved some expense to get a little breathing room for when you get back.

The more details you provide about your trip, the more I could help suggest options that will allow you to have fun and save money at the same time.

 

[ahoff]

With everything being paid for in advance you are all set, and the dining plan is a bonus. The times I was on the dining plan made it very relaxing, and allowed me to get the meals I might not have wanted to pay for. Including dessert! I think the plan gives you too much food sometimes. Having been so many times there is no need for more coffee cups!

Great idea for the animation drawing, Tracey.

 

[BeccaBellePA]

My new favorite free souvenir: Try to get in a DHS street show. You get a free trophy "necklace" and a fun little business card. It's all free and really different from anything you'll find in the shops. Plus, you'll get a great story out of it!

 

[curly-love]

if the trip is payed for i would go. tshirts are something you can always buy online (at the disney store) at a later time!

 

[mercydisney]

Thanks everyone for you advice. I was feeling a little down this morning and having a bad start to my day.
Yes I am going to relax and have fun and I don't really think I need another tshirt or mug. I am really looking forward to this trip. My goal this trip is to get as many photos of the disney villains as I can.

Thanks again for listening to me rant and feel sorry for myself.

I was just going to post that pictures are your best souveniers. Years later your tshirt will be rags and your mugs will be cracked.... You'll always keep your pictures and think of how much fun it was taking that picture.

 

[Kyen]

If you want to bring back souvies, use the snack credits on your deluxe dining plan to do this. We turned our snack credits in for fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate covered Mickey rice krispie treats in the confectionary store on Main Street USA - it was a HUGE hit with everyone back home! The fudge sells for $4.00 each, and is worth one snack credit. They package it in a nice box and place a Mickey sticker on the box.

This is what I did too. I had 15 snacks left so I bought co-workers one chocolate bar each and they loved it because they thought I spent a fortune!!!! For my niece I made special autograph frames (before I left) and had her favourite characters sign them plus I took a picture of just the character, then when I got home I framed both the autograph and picture. She loved it so much that she wants me to do it again for our next trip.

If you want to meet rare characters try visiting the animation building (where the Incredibles are) at DHS at 4:45 on the days that fantasmic is playing once! I had a chance to see 4 or 5 villians!

 

[black562]

Jump in the front cab of the monorail with the driver and he'll give you a "Monorail Drivers License". I also got a little card from the Dapper Dans that said I was a Main Street Dapper Dan for the day. If you see one of the streetmosphere police running around, sometimes they'll give you a "citation" for not smiling enough or several other silly things.

I have a package of Rock Candy that my father got me on our last trip to Disney. He passed away 3 months later very suddenly and I have the Rock Candy now sealed in a ziplock bag forever. It will remain as one of my most treasured souvenirs from WDW. Another is a sketch that Dad and I recieved from Harry Holt, a Disney legend and animator of movies such as Snow White. He was at the old Disneyana shop on Main Street one day and did 12 sketches for free.

Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time, but when you are it is so memorable. I truely hope you have a blessed and happy trip. Perhaps you'll get sprinkled with pixie dust and return home to find some good news!!!