No matter what your budget is...what is the one thing you WON'T cut corners on

[FunnyLady1966]

Staying at a deluxe resort. If we can't afford to, we just won't go. I'm too old and my sleep is too valuable to stay at the Values and I can't stand the sprawl and motel feel of the moderates. I hate doors that open to the outside.

In day to day life: High quality food. I don't eat junk.

Agreed although we stayed at POR and really enjoyed it; minus the space. I've only stayed at deluxe resorts minus one trip offsite (NEVER AGAIN) and once at POR. You get spoiled with the accommodations and really...it's my vacation. Time to splurge.

 

[DLgal]

Agreed although we stayed at POR and really enjoyed it; minus the space. I've only stayed at deluxe resorts minus one trip offsite (NEVER AGAIN) and once at POR. You get spoiled with the accommodations and really...it's my vacation. Time to splurge.

We used to stay at POR when I was growing up and going with my family. Back then, I loved it. I've stayed there a couple times as an adult as well as Coronado. I just never come away from those trips LOVING it the same way I do when I stay at the Deluxes. I'm a spoiled brat,I know. I've now stayed at every deluxe except AKL (because the lobby gives me the heebie jeebies for some reason and I NEVER want to stay there).

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Staying on property. The bubble is what makes me feel "vacation-y". We bought DVC last year so I don't see this being an issue moving forward.

At home, soft toilet paper. I didn't grow up with money and we always had single-ply cheap scratchy stuff. My Mom still uses it because she swears there isn't a difference. I'm 100% for generics on most things in my life, but I will not budge on my Charmin ultra soft

 

[Chickinvic]

I don't like staying on site at WDW (and would not even consider it at DL). I always get a private villa with it's own pool and hottub when I go to WDW, and would not change a thing about that. I don't know if there is really anything I won't skimp on. I guess maybe snacks? lol

 

[disney-inspired]

8 am to Midnight for DL, early entry is at 630 am. DL used to be open until 1 am. And many trips we were in at 630 am and didn't leave until 1 am. I felt like I got my money's worth.

I haven't seen them offer early entry since before COVID and 6:30am? Usually it's 1 hour, so did they let you in at 6:30 but kept ropes up?

 

[georgina]

So it seems this has turned into a Disney thread (I was thinking it was more general). I am happy to stay offsite when visiting WDW, using Marriott points to stay at Flamingo Crossing resorts (free breakfast and free parking!). I do like renting DVC points to stay onsite sometime, but other than that the prices are too high vs the benefits for me. I sometimes book the Swan for a night here or there with Marriott points. I have a cheap gene, DH has 4 scuba trips booked this year so I renewed my Universal AP, but I stay at Cabana Bay for a low price, will be there in august and December.

Have to laugh at the Advil comment earlier. Ibuprofen is the same whether you buy a name brand or the Costco generic version! All the same stuff. And with my sciatica I take a lot of those.

Doing a Viking river cruise next April, I booked an extra large room with a separate sitting area, but to me that is different than Disney rooms.

 

[tvguy]

I haven't seen them offer early entry since before COVID and 6:30am? Usually it's 1 hour, so did they let you in at 6:30 but kept ropes up?

I haven't been since covid. The voucher says 630 am is for "Extra Magic Hours" for guests of Disney hotels only. 7 am is for "Magic Hour", which anyone with a 3 day park hopper can get. Two different programs.

 

[leebee]

At Disney, we won't skimp on table service meals w/adult beverages. We always do one a day. My sister thinks we are crazy to spend the money, but dinner out in good restaurants with wine or a cocktail is important to us. We live in an area full of family chain restaurants, where "ethnic" food is Olive Garden or cheap mom-n-pop Chinese take-out places, so we like to enjoy the variety and good food in the Orlando area.

In real life, I won't skimp on laundry detergent or dish liquid. I just find the clothes don't seem as clean when I use store brand or off-label detergents, and the cheap dish liquids don't cut the grease very well. We use Arm and Hammer or All laundry detergent, and Dawn dish liquid. We just got a new dishwasher and aren't happy with the way it's cleaning/drying the dishes, but I just realized we are using Target brand dishwasher liquid. Maybe I should try one of the name brands to see if there is a difference.

 

[kathy884]

I am assuming we are talking about vacations here. For DH and this is a vacation anywhere, it's having his own bedroom and bathroom that he is just willing to share with me and DS, but not anyone else -- no bunking up with extended family / friends / significant other of DS. If the accommodations don't work for that or the budget wouldn't work for that, he will stay home.

So for marital bliss, of course, this is what I make sure we have for trips with extended family when DH is along. Or for example if DS and significant other are traveling with us -- that means a two bedroom / two bath condo or two hotel rooms that we budget for before inviting them, as we typically pay for them.

Now DS and I for my side of the family, have no problem bunking up, but that's just too much family togetherness for DH. I totally get that, totally respect that, and totally budget for that (even if that means traveling less to stay within vacation budget and do accommodations that DH will be happy with). Some say happy wife means a happy life. I say happy husband equals a happy life.

I grew up in a family that invites a lot of people, have blowups, cots, pull-out beds, and all camp out together with bathroom sharing, so this was a significant change for me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I grew up in a family that invites a lot of people, have blowups, cots, pull-out beds, and all camp out together with bathroom sharing, so this was a significant change for me.

I don't think it's quite as much with my husband's family as you describe above but I do think they are more used to sharing a lot more space.

I did that more with his family when I was in my early and mid-20s but by my late 20s and now just about mid-30s I want my space and I want privacy. I really don't want to share a bedroom with my sister-in-law nor the other one if the boyfriend comes. I really don't want to share a bedroom with my in-laws anymore (they also snore so badly) and the days of sleeping on a couch or pull out bed just to save money are just gone. And I don't want to fight over a bathroom because it's the only one. Shower schedules in the past have shown it's hard even when 2 of the in-laws tend to shower at night.

While my husband shares this mantra for the most part he's more inclined than I am to at least share with his sister (either one). The only place I'll do now is my husband's grandmother when we stay with her although we have 2 separate bedrooms we do share 1 bathroom when we're there but even now I'd just like a hotel room please.

I'm also this way with my mom. When she came with us to Vegas in 2017 she sorta joined after we had started making plans so we canceled a hotel we had where it was just one room/one bed and moved to another hotel (still Hilton just the street behind the strip) that had suites. We had the bedroom and my mom slept on the pull out bed from the couch. It wasn't uncomfortable for my mom although we did agree it would have been easier to have more than one bathroom only because of figuring out showering and using the actual restroom. There wasn't really a way I'd have wanted to share a room that had 2 beds in it with my mom if I'm with my husband. If it's just my mom and I I'll deal with that although I still prefer more privacy.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I'm surprised at the number of people who wouldn't skimp on staying on-site. We just LOVE off-site--we can rent a 4BR house for cheaper than on-site. The kids love the space and the private pool. I will say, I think it has a lot to do with vacation style--we go-go-go during regular life, so when we're on vacation, it's nice to slow down--swim for a bit, snack when you want, etc. It's not about saving money for us, it's about the space.

This is not meant to criticize those who feel/spend differently, just an observation.

 

[DLgal]

I'm surprised at the number of people who wouldn't skimp on staying on-site. We just LOVE off-site--we can rent a 4BR house for cheaper than on-site. The kids love the space and the private pool. I will say, I think it has a lot to do with vacation style--we go-go-go during regular life, so when we're on vacation, it's nice to slow down--swim for a bit, snack when you want, etc. It's not about saving money for us, it's about the space.

This is not meant to criticize those who feel/spend differently, just an observation.

I go back and forth on this.

We have plenty of space at home. When we are on vacation, part of the novelty is being in a hotel with amenities such that I don't have to FEEL like I'm at home. I need the detachment for my own mental health. If we were in a vacation home, I would feel compelled to prepare meals, clean up, do laundry, etc. I would not be able to RELAX. We would not be able to call for room service, or fresh towels, and we wouldn't be able to leave the kids in the room and walk down to a bar for some good drinks and conversation.

The only real benefit seems to be saving money, but then you lose a lot more.

 

[kathy884]

I go back and forth on this.

We have plenty of space at home. When we are on vacation, part of the novelty is being in a hotel with amenities such that I don't have to FEEL like I'm at home. I need the detachment for my own mental health. If we were in a vacation home, I would feel compelled to prepare meals, clean up, do laundry, etc. I would not be able to RELAX. We would not be able to call for room service, or fresh towels, and we wouldn't be able to leave the kids in the room and walk down to a bar for some good drinks and conversation.

The only real benefit seems to be saving money, but then you lose a lot more.

Actually a nice compromise between these two and what we usually do is rent a timeshare condo. It gives us that resort feel with amenities - great pool, hot tub, sometimes tennis, mini golf, clubhouse. It has a kitchen, but we don't feel obligated to use it. We do though like it for making breakfast and snacks, heating up leftovers. We budget to eat out, but after some busy days, prefer to stay in.

These are typically more expensive than a house, but less expensive than hotel rooms.

 

[disney-inspired]

I go back and forth on this.

We have plenty of space at home. When we are on vacation, part of the novelty is being in a hotel with amenities such that I don't have to FEEL like I'm at home. I need the detachment for my own mental health. If we were in a vacation home, I would feel compelled to prepare meals, clean up, do laundry, etc. I would not be able to RELAX. We would not be able to call for room service, or fresh towels, and we wouldn't be able to leave the kids in the room and walk down to a bar for some good drinks and conversation.

The only real benefit seems to be saving money, but then you lose a lot more.

This! It always surprises me when people cook on vacation because to me, that is no relaxing.
So along with staying onsite, I would never cut eating out on my vacations.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Have to laugh at the Advil comment earlier. Ibuprofen is the same whether you buy a name brand or the Costco generic version! All the same stuff. And with my sciatica I take a lot of those.

I thought the same thing. I'm not sure I've ever bought actual Advil before.

 

[Darcy03231]

For vacations - At least a balcony cabin on a cruise, and most usually a large aft balcony.

At home - shoes. I don't care how much they cost, I'm buying good shoes.

 

[Moliphino]

This! It always surprises me when people cook on vacation because to me, that is no relaxing.
So along with staying onsite, I would never cut eating out on my vacations.

Same. I am NOT cooking on vacation. No laundry, either. I pack enough clothes to last the trip.

 

[Chickinvic]

I go back and forth on this.

We have plenty of space at home. When we are on vacation, part of the novelty is being in a hotel with amenities such that I don't have to FEEL like I'm at home. I need the detachment for my own mental health. If we were in a vacation home, I would feel compelled to prepare meals, clean up, do laundry, etc. I would not be able to RELAX. We would not be able to call for room service, or fresh towels, and we wouldn't be able to leave the kids in the room and walk down to a bar for some good drinks and conversation.

The only real benefit seems to be saving money, but then you lose a lot more.

The villa I rent when going to WDW is a huge step up from staying in a hotel IMO. The gated community it is in has all those amenities anyways, but I love having a private pool in the yard with no restrictions on hours, and no need to share with other people. It has everything there that I could possibly want. I am not one that gives a hoot about the so-called "Disney bubble". I like Disney, but I don't need to be surrounded in it 24/7.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Actually a nice compromise between these two and what we usually do is rent a timeshare condo. It gives us that resort feel with amenities - great pool, hot tub, sometimes tennis, mini golf, clubhouse. It has a kitchen, but we don't feel obligated to use it. We do though like it for making breakfast and snacks, heating up leftovers. We budget to eat out, but after some busy days, prefer to stay in.

These are typically more expensive than a house, but less expensive than hotel rooms.

Agreed, although you can do a hotel that is a suite and get the same thing.

We didn't feel like we had to cook but we made like 2 meals I think (quick stir fry ones with just about no prep) when we did a condo for rent by owner in Hawaii. The meals weren't a "we can only afford to go if we do" it was just sorta pre-planning by stopping at Costco for liquor and the meals so we could stay in for lunch and dinner rather than go out.

But for significantly less than what a hotel would be we had this amazing view and the ocean to lull us to sleep every night.

And with the balcony (although short in width) we had stools that we ate our food at on the ledge and just relaxed. That trip was one of the most relaxing ones I've been on. It was in a gated area in a more residential part of Oahu but oh so relaxing, no hustle and bustle just the ocean and with a rental car (which you could have two vehicles and the parking was included) we could drive to where ever we wanted.

We've done condos at the Lake of the Ozarks and the only laundry we did was the towels we used that they provided (per the owner's request and totally fine) although if you needed to you could use the washer and dryer. Having the kitchen there was great for breakfast meals because the Lake unfortunately while very large lacks breakfast options in variety especially during the week because the Lake is more of a weekend getaway for many.

We did a townhouse in Austin, TX which was great because we had 3 bedrooms and 5 people. I think we used the kitchen just for more beverages. The space in the townhouse was perfect for our needs because every bedroom had a bathroom in it. And it came with a carport for our rental car.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No laundry, either. I pack enough clothes to last the trip.

I pack enough clothes for the trip as well..actually I pack a few extras just in case, I'm terrible at that part.

But I fail to see the difference here with Disney (and I'm not speaking specifically to you just quoting you for ease). Disney has a laundry facility at every resort and you betcha that there are people that use it either intentionally or because they got a stain or they just have specific needs for detergent (think bedding and all).

You can choose to not do laundry just as easily at Disney and at a condo or townhouse or house. Typically speaking for some of these types of places the laundry facility is just in your unit (like DVC can have) or building if like a townhouse or actual house. In fact many DVC owners do enjoy the ability to have their place more like a home. Even going so far as to do Owner's Locker and such. Your deluxe resorts have laundry facilities for your usage as well.

For rent by owner places can def. have the owners say "gather all towels and wash them" or "wash the towels you use" and I can see that putting someone off but you can easily rent from places that you don't do that because they have a service that comes in after you or they come and do it themselves after you leave.