Money Saving Tips

[mickey+minnie91]

Does anyone out there have any money saving tips they have used through out the park? Any and all suggestions welcomed

 

[DLR29]

Try here: http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyland.html

I believe AAA offers 10-15% off of tours and character breakfasts. Also some meals are big enough to be split between different members of your party.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

um dont forget you can get free glass of ice water when you ask.
If your tight on money but one fry and share it between two ppl as a snake. its prety good size.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Bring in your own water bottles, we did that this time and saved us a ton of money.

If your staying offsite, find a place that has free breakfast.

 

[Master Mason]

AP discounts are great, you get them on food, merchandise, free parking. I honestly think with the perks, I have already paid for mine in 6 days in the parks, and I still have many months of opportunities left.

there is also the disney visa card, that you can get a discount with as well as earn disney dolars.

 

[Carter'sMommy]

My son and I are into Pin Trading. The pins at the parks are anywhere for 6.95 to 12.95 EACH! I went on Ebay (make sure they are official Disney pins)and bid for several lots. I now have 30 pins that I paid 77.61 including shipping which breaks down to $2.59 each. To me that is a HUGE savings !!
During our times that we cannot get to the parks we talk about which ones we want to keep and the ones we want to trade. We also go on the Pin Trader site and "research" to see if the ones we have are "special".

It makes the time between our visits to the parks bearable!!

 

[Hound 109]

- We "share" our Dole Whip floats (ask for an extra straw & spoon). Knocks a $4.50 treat into two $2.25 treats. (of course we get two a day )

- When we stayed on Harbor Blvd. we walked by McD's 4 times a day. Would always pick up a happy meal or frosty since my 8 y/o is always hungry & kids meals (cause he's hungry) at the parks cost 6 bucks.

- When we had a sit down counter meal (& sometime table service meal). I let DW & DS order what they want & I just get a water. (twice we ate at that great place in DCA that served sour dough bowl salads & soups). There was always enough food to feed all three of us. I was the "give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything" guy. (& i hate tossing out perfectly good food)

 

[JadeDarkstar]

http://mousepinsonline.com/tp40/Default.asp?ID=18157

i got to say this is a good site. im gona order 50 pins for 90 dollers

 

[disneyscootergal]

- We "share" our Dole Whip floats (ask for an extra straw & spoon). Knocks a $4.50 treat into two $2.25 treats. (of course we get two a day )

- When we stayed on Harbor Blvd. we walked by McD's 4 times a day. Would always pick up a happy meal or frosty since my 8 y/o is always hungry & kids meals (cause he's hungry) at the parks cost 6 bucks.-

When we had a sit down counter meal (& sometime table service meal). I let DW & DS order what they want & I just get a water. (twice we ate at that great place in DCA that served sour dough bowl salads & soups). There was always enough food to feed all three of us. I was the "give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything" guy. (& i hate tossing out perfectly good food)

Hound, I've always been curious about prices at that McDonald's on Harbor. How does it compare to the one in DCA?

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Not Hound, but we've always found the prices at the one in DCA WAY higher then the regular McDonalds on Harbor. To me it isn't worth eating there with the McDonalds so close on Harbor.

 

[Chumpson]

We also go on the Pin Trader site and "research" to see if the ones we have are "special".

I am interested in this. Could you explain where you go and what you do?

 

[disneyscootergal]

Not Hound, but we've always found the prices at the one in DCA WAY higher then the regular McDonalds on Harbor. To me it isn't worth eating there with the McDonalds so close on Harbor.

Thanks, Jen!

 

[mattmommy]

My aunt and Uncle live near WDW and friends with 5 kids came down to visit and go to the parks.

Uncle Rickie has a rule. Just get yourself a drink. You will leave full. It might have a few bites taken out of it, it might be cold, but you will be full. All the kids HAD to have their own meals. UR loves when they came to visit.

 

[Hound 109]

Not Hound, but we've always found the prices at the one in DCA WAY higher then the regular McDonalds on Harbor. To me it isn't worth eating there with the McDonalds so close on Harbor.

I didn't know they had a McDonalds IN Disney.

We ate (actually we mostly picked up happy meals to go) at the McDonalds on Harbor & the prices seemed in line with prices at McD's elsewhere.

Extra note to anyone that cares - It's a little slower in the morning. I would leave the room 10 min. ahead of the others & stand in line at 6:55 am at McD's.. (EE was at 8am). I would order & have the food when rest of family walked in at 7:10am. Important if you are anal about getting to gate 30 min. before opening.

 

[dizzyami]

To save money on souvenirs - I told my kids (5 and 3) that on the last day of our trip - I would buy them 1 thing - whatever they wanted. They looked at all the shops, and would change their mind every day what their special prize was going to be. On the last day - I bought DD a $15 Ariel playset and DS a $10 Buzz lightyear blaster thing. $25 was the total I had to spend - and I never heard begging the whole trip!!!

 

[Carter'sMommy]

I am interested in this. Could you explain where you go and what you do?

Here is the link of the disney.com site

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/page?id=getStarted#value

and PinPics
http://pinpics.com/

ENJOY!

 

[disneyscootergal]

I didn't know they had a McDonalds IN Disney.

Burger Invasion in DCA is run by McDonald's. That's what I was referring to.

 

[kuusimo]

We always split meals. We also refill our water bottles with the water and ice in the parks. We bring in our own snacks and frozen water bottles.

The first aid station has packets of tyelnol and advil- as well as bandaids.

We generally will eat lunch at the parks and then dinner off-site after we have taken naps. This saves a lot of money in the long run.

When it comes to souveniers since we go every year, my boys do not get a lot. We always get an ornament from places that we have been to that year. We now get them with a picture insert so you can see how our family looked. Last time my boys each got a pair of ears and a postcard for their teachers and grandma.

 

[joeysmommy]

definitely used my AAA card and Disney Visa on our last trip. I probably saved about $75 in dining discounts with my AAA card. (Goofy's Kitchen, Plaza Inn Bday Party for 12, etc)
The Disney Visa saved me $14 per day in stroller rentals.

We brought in our own snacks and waters in my backpack. and I also brought in sandwich bag sized ziploc bags for leftover churros etc. Saved a lot on thrown out snacks just so we could get on a ride.

Before my trip last year I read a lot of money saving tips about cheap eats at Whitewater Snacks at GCH. I of course forgot all about it while there, but it seemed that everyone only got hungry at DL, not DCA.
I read that Whitewater Snacks is right near the private entrance to DCA.
Will check that out this trip. Wish we were staying at DLH again instead of offsite hotel

Also, my family gave the boys Disney Dollars for their Birthdays, I told them they could buy anything they wanted with it (within reason).
They were much more cautious with their money, well my 5 yr old was.
And it was great becuz my cheapskate husband didn't complain about a $7 balloon when the kids were using "their own" money for it. I of course bought their meals and a snack or 2 per day, but anything more was to be used with their $. When they wanted another ice cream I reminded them that they might not have enough to get a Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster gun or that Lego set they wanted at the Lego store.
Also, I didn't have a heart attack when the bill at Build A Bear was $150.
Will definitely do it again this year.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

how much dose build a bear cost each?? how many did your kids make