Last Minute Lost of Income

[nsla35]

My husband just lost his job and wont be joining us at Disney. We were not going to go but everything is paid for and grandma is coming. What can I do at Disney to save money on all of the expenses relating to the trip.

Thanks,


elaina

 

[brymolmom]

Bring lots and lots of food and snacks with you. Bring a cooler into the parks with lunches/dinners/snacks/drinks.

Bring refillable water bottles and get ice water at CS places to fill them.

 

[BrettS]

When you say everything is paid for, what exactly do you mean? If everything is really paid for... airfare... hotel... park tickets... dining plan... rental car if you need one, then theoretically you can go down and spend no money at all... maybe just tips for dining. If you still need to buy things like park tickets or meals or whatever, let us know exactly what you need to spend money on and what is paid for and I'm sure we can come up with a lot of great tips for you

 

[VAN]

Please don't bring a wheeled cooler into the parks!!!

 

[nsla35]

My mom paid for the hotel room, car rental. I already paid for tickets for my daughter and myself. I need to pay for parking, food at the parks, knick knacks, and I guess whatever expenses one encounters at the parks. I never been so I dont know. Thanks for the suggestions.

Elaina

 

[nsla35]

I thought about bringing a cooler with lots of drinks and food and leaving it somewhere since towing around probably is not a good idea. Why would this not be a good idea?

 

[Ava]

My mom paid for the hotel room, car rental. I already paid for tickets for my daughter and myself. I need to pay for parking, food at the parks, knick knacks, and I guess whatever expenses one encounters at the parks. I never been so I dont know. Thanks for the suggestions.

Elaina

If you are staying off-site (assume you are since you mentioned paying for parking; on-site guests can park for free at all the parks), try to eat off-site as much as possible. It's a lot cheaper than food in the parks. Check out the off-site board for restaurant suggestions.

 

[BrettS]

You are allowed to bring a small soft sided cooler into the parks, but you can't bring a hard sided cooler or one with wheels into the parks (but you can bring them into the water parks). If you bring a soft sided cooler in you can either carry it around with you all day or put it in a locker near the front of the parks. The lockers are $9 per day and require a $5 deposit that you get back at the end of the day.

You can bring in pretty much whatever you want as far as food or drink except for alcoholic beverages and anything in glass containers.

As far as budgeting for meals goes, take a look at the menus at this site... http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm. Some of the prices are a bit out of date and they're a little higher at the parks, but you can still get a good idea about the food cost. Typically, though, expect to pay $10-15 per person at a counter service restaraunt and $25-$35 (or even more) per person at a table service restaraunt depending on what you order. If you go with a cup of water instead of soda you'll pay less, of course. If you have little kids that can share a meal you can save money there, but they won't let you share meals at buffets or all you can eat restaraunts, of course. You can always ask for a free glass of ice water at any of the restaraunts or snack counters even if you're not buying anything there. (although not all of the snack carts have water available). That way you won't have to pay for bottles of water... and you definitely want to drink a lot and stay hydrated.

If you're staying at a Disney hotel then parking will be free and you won't have to worry about that. If you're not at a Disney hotel then parking is $14 per day at the parks, so that's definitely something to put into your budget. Depending on how firm your plans are now, if you're not at a Disney hotel you might want to consider changing to one. Disney will provide free transportation to and from the airport to their resort guests, and of course, free transportation to and from the parks. That way you might be able to do without the rental car and save on the $14 per day parking charge... even if the Disney resort is a little more you might save money in the end.

 

[disneyfans95]

If you are staying off-site (assume you are since you mentioned paying for parking; on-site guests can park for free at all the parks), try to eat off-site as much as possible. It's a lot cheaper than food in the parks. Check out the off-site board for restaurant suggestions.

You still might be able to cancel with a small penalty (cheaper then going and spending the money down there). I am not sure how far out you are from going, but check into the policy for cancelling.

If you can't and still have to go, food will be your #1 expense. Stop at local grocery store and stock up there. That will save you a ton vs eating in the parks. So have b-fast bars, cereal, etc in the AM in the room. Keep milk and items cold in a cheap cooler or many hotels have a small fridge.

Pack a few PB&J sandwiches with frozen water/fruit drinks and eat them at the park.

At night, hit some of the all you can eat type places (Sweet Tomatoes, CeeCees etc) to find good deals that stretch your dollar.

Don't buy junk in the parks. If you need to bring your daughter home something, there are a TON of discount places that you can get something cheaper there.

Parking is what it is, so just deal with that.

 

[crisi]

A lot of people "pre-shop" their souviniers. The Dollar Store often has little Disney toys or coloring books - plus glow bracelets. WalMart has been known to carry Mickey T shirts. Pack them and pull them out at appropriate times. If you need a "park memory" outside of the photos you take, choose one thing and choose wisely (I like Christmas ornaments, you can find them pretty inexpensively in the parks). Remember at home it becomes "plastic junk you trip over."

If you purchase snacks, split them. A Dole Whip is a wonderful thing, be we find one can be split four ways and everyone gets enough of a taste.

Some people leave their coolers in the car.

Remember if you park, your pass is good for the day if you leave and come back.

There are few expenses you NEED to budget for - parking is one if you are staying offsite. You need to eat, but you can pack in inexpensive food (Disney doesn't allow rolling coolers because they are easy for people to trip over - and lockers are expensive, so plan on carrying what you haul in). You won't be the first Disney guests to eat peanut butter sandwiches.

A lot of people bring those little packets of crystal light and ask for water - which any counter service place will give you. Many people don't like the tap water at Disney (its a little sulfurous). There are also ample water fountains if you bring a water bottle.

If you need a stroller bring it - if its marginal, bring it anyway. Make sure to pack everything you need or might need - sunscreen, extra socks, bandaids, feminine products, advil, a hat, sunglasses (think sun, walking, blisters) - and carry a good selection of that stuff into the parks. Nothing blows the budget like arriving in the parks for the day and spending $13 on sunscreen because you forgot to grab it or realizing you didn't bring the charger for the camera or having to buy a $11 rain poncho.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

stroller rentals in park are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ so if u need a stroller, bring it!

 

[MEM]

Can I ask a question? If your DH just lost his job, why can't he go on the trip too? I understand that he needs to hunt for a new job and apply for unemployment and all, but I don't understand why he isn't going.

 

[gracie1]

You mentioned about budgeting for knick knacks....and such. I would completely scratch that off the list. I wouldn't plan on souvenir shopping, and that can cut down on the money you are spending.

 

[disneyfans95]

Can I ask a question? If your DH just lost his job, why can't he go on the trip too? I understand that he needs to hunt for a new job and apply for unemployment and all, but I don't understand why he isn't going.

I would assume so he can keep job hunting. Plus that would add another mouth to feed and maybe they can't all share one hotel room?

 

[nsla35]

I asked my DH to come along but he chose to stay and concentrate on getting a new job. I dont think that he could go and enjoy himself with the uncertainty of his job situation. I am going to try for my 6 year old that has been talking about this for weeks. She made honor roll all year and this was in part a gift to her for doing well in school. Plus my mom has made all these plans(expenses) as well and felt guilty if I told her we were not going. You guys have made some great suggestions and I will exercise some of them. I will probably opt for the stroller, great idea, since I didnt really think my child needed one but now I think she will. I will bring the packs of Crystal Light, peanut butter/jelly sandwiches idea is great, snacks & drinks. I also just found out the place we are staying at has free shuttle service but no strollers but hopefully I can still bring mine.

Thanks to all,

Elaina

 

[DisneyNutMic]

I got laid off 3 weeks before my wedding. Not to mention we were building a house. We went on our honeymoon. We even bought a few knick knacks for our house. We enjoyed a few good meals while we were gone too. It was very hard to enjoy that trip though. I say eat as cheap as you can. Set a small limit on spending for anything unnecessary (knick knacks) and stick to it. I hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I know parking is $14 per day, but I would seriously consider driving your own car as opposed to a shuttle. Quite often there are set pick up and drop off times that may not be convenient for your touring plans. Also, sometimes the buses go to many different hotels and your trips each way could be very long. With a small child I would cut back in other areas and drive. Other ways to save money is not go to a park everyday. You can spend time at Downtown Disney at the lego store playing for free. There is also a under $10 store where you can promise your daughter 1 souvenir. You can visit onsite resorts such as Animal Kingdom and watch the animals for free. There is the campfire, Chip n Dale sing along and a move at Ft. Wilderness for free. Walking around the boardwalk in the evening is great and there are street performers. I also would not buy hopper passes. I am sure your daughter will have a wonderful trip even doing it on a budger.

 

[fkj2]

Sometimes restaurants.com has major discounts on their certificates. One of the recent additions is the Blues restaurant on Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island side. I got a $25 for something like $4, give or take. You have to spend $35 to use it, which with all of you going I imagine you would do easily.

 

[torinsmom]

At the CS places, anyone can order a kids meal. It is plenty for me and comes with a drink for around $6.

Ice water is free everywhere.

Bring in snacks.

Decide how much souvenir money your daughter will get and put it in an envelope. When its gone, its gone. Encourage her to "window shop" until she is sure what she wants to spend it on.

Bring something to eat for breakfast in the room. Donuts, poptarts, muffins, etc.

 

[disneymarie]

I thought about bringing a cooler with lots of drinks and food and leaving it somewhere since towing around probably is not a good idea. Why would this not be a good idea?

We have never had a problem bringing in a smaller cooler, about 18" high and wide. Water, some string cheese. fruit, pretzels, I even made Turkey and ham sandwiches. I have a scooter, or our stroller. but this is an item I use on Park outings,

In the room I take a elec water pot, those oddle noodles, toaster bagels and bread, packs of cereal, dried fruit, Order Pappa Johns to the room, add a bottle of soda ask for paper plates, cups, napkins. THere is a $2 off coupon if you search PAPPA JOHN coupons.

Epcot has a taco meal stand, the spaceship eatery in Fantsy land Magic Kingdom.
Just outside of DTD is a mini mart that has pizza, sub's, lots of food to get by on. Do you have AAA for parking, What about a quick yard sale, or items you can part with? PT job for extra $ just for Disney,

http://www.bagbuddycart.com/
$39.99 keeps jackets, and folds the size of an umbrella stroller. Great for leaning on to walk for mom too.