Need Tips & Advice Haven't been to Disney in 10 years!

[Joycie]

Hello, I am new to this site. I really need some advice and money saving tips. We are going to Disney March 18 -25 2004. My hubby and I are taking our kids age 4 and 14. We are so EXCITED. I almost cry every time I think about it. AM I NUTS????? I told my husband I am so excited for my kids I think I am going to have to find some nerve pills to take while there. I am ususally a calm person but this excites me so much! We are flying, renting a car and staying at all star movies in the Fantasia Preferred room section. All that is paid for now. Here is what I need help with. I am trying to figure out how much I need for food so I can start saving. I am an EBAY mom so I gotta have a goal to shoot for since I only have 5 Ebay weeks. Any moneysaving tips or things NOT to miss would be appreciated. I am sure so much has changed in 10 years. I know prices sure did go up! Thanks!

 

[DJBounce]

Welcome to the DIS!! First piece of advice is to scour these boards. There is a wealth of information here! For money saving tips, look at the budget board. When my family plans for money, we look at Deb's site ( allearsnet.com ) and look at the menus. We figure out where we want to eat and budget the money for that day. We like to have a least one sit down meal a day, sometimes two. We really like the all you can eat buffets and character meals. They are expensive, but you can load up on food and be full for a good portion of the day. And for your 4 year old, a great way to meet the characters without waiting in line at the parks. We always have the intention of eating breakfast in the room, but it never seems to happen. Another piece of advice is to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hour or early entry like it used to be called. We generally do this at MK and MGM. It's amazing how much you can accomplish these mornings, especially for your 4 year old in Fantasyland. You will be there at a busy time, so if you can get your family up and out the door by 7:15, it's well worth it. We do early entry, then have a late breakfast or lunch priority seating made at that park. Then when the parks are packed, you can go back to your room, swim, nap or relax. Then go back in the evening. Have each member of your family list what their must dos are in each park, do those attractions first, then everything else is a bonus. We always go to a least one of the water parks. Both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are fun. Get there when they open! Most important, relax, have fun and know you won't see everything. It just gives you an excuse to go again!!

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Hey, Joycie!!

No, you definitely are not nuts!!! You are here with lots of other people who absolutely LOVE WDW, and get excited every trip!! My DD and I go about twice/year now, and we are still revved up about making our plans!!

I second everything DJBounce has said, and add that you can also look at the disneydollarless.com site for some money-saving tips.

Definitely take advantage of Extra Magic Hour, that will save you so much time standing in line, especially during Spring Break!

When our children were young, we would go to the early-entry park, grab a muffin and some juice, hit our favorite rides, and then eat a sit-down lunch while the prices are lower at the nice restaurants. Then we would go back to the resort, swim, look around, etc. (never got in that nap everybody talks about, lol) and go back to the parks in the evening, eat at a counter restaurant for dinner, and watch the fireworks/parades, and get in a few more rides.

Just remember to take in the small details, don't just run, run, run, you will enjoy everything so much more.

 

[Montana Minnies]

Joyce
Welcome to the Dis Boards! You are sure to get some valuable information to help you in planning a fun trip here on the boards.
My sister and I were at WDW last July and had not been there since 1988. You are sure to see a lot of changes and I can understand your excitement in going again after not being there for so long.
If you haven't already I would suggest you invest in a "Passporter" guide book. It will give you a basic idea of the cost of things, some money saving tips while visitng WDW and what there is to see at the different parks. If you are able I would also suggest to try and have one of the character meals, not only do the children seem to love it but the grownups do too.
My sister and I had such a great time we are going again this summer with more of our family members. There is so much to see and do one can't possible do it all in one visit.
Enjoy and don't forget to pace yourselves. Have a wonderful time and let us know how your trip goes.
Enid
PS: While I was writing this two people posted, you guys are just to fast! lol And have great ideas as well!

 

[SnackyStacky]

I don't know if you mean BUDGET kind of money saving tips, or actual SAVING tips, but here's my SAVING tips:

1.) I use an *** savings account. It's all done completely online, and it accrues 2% interest. The interest is accrued daily, and posted monthly, so it adds up. It's all done online, and is linked to an existing checking account. They give you $25 for opening an account from a referral. If you want one, PM me with your first name, last name, and E-Mail address!

2.) Whenever I make a purchase with my check card or a check, I enter it into the checkbook rounded up. For example, if I have a purchase for $20.34, I'll enter it as $21. So $.66 goes towards my Disney trip! It doesn't sound like a lot, but in about 3 days, I'd accrued about $10!!! I then transfer that to the *** account, and get interest on it too!

3.) I also have one of those auto coin sorters. All of my change goes in there. I roll it, deposit it, and transfer it to the *** account, and get some interest.

4.) Any "found money", goes into the *** account. For example, when I get rebate checks for $1 or $2, I put them into that account. Basically that's any money that you get that you weren't expecting. (I would say your EBay money would fall into this category....)

5.) It's too late for this, but it's a tip for if you go again. Instead of making payments on your Disney reservation, put the money into an interest bearing account. Pay your deposit, but put off paying your balance as LONG as you can. The money will then build interest.

Those are MY money saving tips!

Edited to add: I was re-reading this and realizing that it came out totally wrong! Those money saving tips actually came from Mousesavers. They're just my favorites!

 

[5dizneynutz]

You should also think about making some kind of intinerary. You don't have to plan every second, just what park you will visit on what day. When you have that figured out, figure out where you want to eat at those parks and make your Priority Seatings!!! Take it from my experience, you don't want to wait till you get there to decide where you want to eat and then not be able to get a PS. Especially the time of year you are going. Fast food gets old after a couple of days!