Leaving this Sunday (9th) - The Essentials Thread

[sam_justice]

Hey guys,
We are leaving this Sunday, can't wait!
I am asking for your wisdom as we are on a shoestring budget.

We are staying at the Cheyenne for 3 nights and are aware there are no microwaves/fridges and we have a 2 and a half year old so we need milk etc.

What are the essentials we need to take to save us money?

So far I have
Water bottles,
Orange Squash/Cordial,

Please help me fill out this list! This thread will hopefully benefit others in the future as well.

 

[ROBEAR84]

Hey guys,
We are leaving this Sunday, can't wait!
I am asking for your wisdom as we are on a shoestring budget.

We are staying at the Cheyenne for 3 nights and are aware there are no microwaves/fridges and we have a 2 and a half year old so we need milk etc.

What are the essentials we need to take to save us money?

So far I have
Water bottles,
Orange Squash/Cordial,

Please help me fill out this list! This thread will hopefully benefit others in the future as well.

How are you getting there? If you're flying I'm guess you'll be limited to luggage restrictions but if going by eurostar/driving then pack snacks. I took cereal bars, fruit (though the bananas got a little squashed!) cup a soups, noodle mug shot things (we took them just incase we got a kettle which we did!) tea bags! boxes of raisins. mini cheddars, breadsticks.

Paracetemol, ibuprofen and calpol! never know when you'll need them and can be tricky/expensive to get quickly once you're there.

I asked a similar question last year. This is the thread which might help...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2417114

Hope that helps! have a great time!!

ETA: There is a little shop inside the station (not the one by the main entrance, there's a bigger one on the other side) which we found great for grabbing a sandwich and drink instead of buying expensive ones in the parks/village.

 

[TabZ]

So I take it you are driving?

Any kind of snacks your family likes, bars, packets of crisps, anything non-perishable could be handy

 

[manicdave]

Was in that Hotel with my two and half year old last week.

Milk, behind the Santa Fe is a Petrol Station you can get milk there. Think it was about 2 euro a bottle. My kids are used to irish milk and this seemed a little watered down to me but they where fine with it. ( 10 min walk )

Get some food bags and raid the Breakfast for snacks as the park is amazing for ripping you off for food.

At the gate to teh Parks is a shop. you can get some water in here for 95c a bottle. Its 2.85 in the park. They do ok Sambos too. Dont worry you will be able to get this stuff into the park.

The Earl in Disney Village is amazing for lunch and cheap enough. As is Mc D's.

Even if you kiddy can walk bring a buggy!

My daugher fell out of the bed , she is used to a cot, so ask for an extra blanket and tuck them in.

 

[kahblue]

Pack a soft sided cooler. You can fill it with stuff in your suitcase. Bring some 4 or 8 gallon trash bags. Put one bag in (you may want to double bag here) and then add ice. Then, put another bag on that. You can now use this to keep things cold (you will have to change the ice every day or so).

I always pack the small boxed milk and then put them in the cooler. EASY!

 

[IsobelJackmummy]

A chunky pen (for characters hands to grip) and note pad for autographs! Even if you pay a few pounds over here for a nice 'character' notepad, it will still be chaeaper than the 5 euro (at least) for an autograph book, and 3 euros for a pen that you will pay in the parks. I'm sure your 2 year old won't know the difference!!

 

[hanksy]

Im too going on a very tight buget and there is only me and my son (so I have to carry all the bags and keep son from running off)

Im planning on packing sandwiches for lunch on the train and then a large tub of pasta for our first evening meal. Which we will eat whilst unpacking.

Im taking loads of pop for me and dilute for my son. Im also taking a travel kettle with hot chocolate and some uht milk (as i dont mind it in tea/chocolate) Just like magic also, Disney mugs are going to appear! (Poundland) for our drinks!

Im also taking wraps and tinned ham (with pull ring) to make our first days sandwiches in the park. (making them in the hotel, not park) Eating our evening meal out.

Im also taking some sausage rolls and pies too, to snack on. Plus the raisins, jelly pots, mini cheddars etc..

Ive bought my son his own backpack from disney (rrp 12, reduced to £3.50) and pencil case (again reduced) and disney colouring book and activity book, all for the train, but will be a surprise in the morning.

Id forgot about calpol, so thanks for that.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Similar idea to kahblue but we use a hard-shelled cool box and keep a clip-box at the bottom and another to fit on top of the contents. The clip boxes are easy to fill from the ice machine morning and evening and these together make a very efficient "fridge" in the room for storing fresh milk, medicines etc.

 

[kizzabel]

Travel adaptor
Calpol
Pain relief for you, just incase - I favour Solpadeine
Scarfs
Gloves
Plasters
COMFY SHOES You'll walk miles without realising.
Camera charger or loads of batteries

 

[sam_justice]

Thanks ever so much! Really good info here

 

[HFJohnson]

I would say don't even bother buying bottled water from the station. There are lots of water fountains around the park which are perfectly fine. Also, keep an eye on the receipts you get from food and drink outlets - apparently they can often have a voucher for a free drink on the back (I didn't know this when we last visited so I don't which places this applies to).

I would also second packing sandwich bags and taking snacks from the breakfast buffet. I know some people don't approve but I don't see the harm in taking a ham and cheese roll each or similar.

 

[Brummig]

don't forget cutlery, plastic plates, food bags and wipes.
Fruit is stupidly expensive in the park and hard to find.

Don't know what your sons sleeping hours are, but be aware there is limited english tv in the Cheyenne (Disney channel or news channel), so we take laptop or portable dvd to watch when we get back to the room.

waterproofs!
camera
patience and a sense of humour!