Oh Boy...I dont have enough money for Disney

[Virgderon]

In my early days before the DisBoards I was always broke when I went to Disney. Even now I never take more than about $600 with me.


Is there any family member that may be willing to donate to the Disney Fund for the kids? Or, I may get flamed here, maybe put off paying a bill in full for this month only.

This is a good suggestion. My mom used to give each of my kids $20 before we went on a trip.

Also, if you are going to skip paying a bill, make sure it is not a credit card and make sure that you pay it before the 30 days late mark so you don't mess up your credit. I've done that a couple times with the electric and gas bills in my younger days.

Do you have a change jar? Do your kids have any savings bonds where you can cash one? (Just one!!)

Other readers, please don't flame me. This is a Disney emergency!!!!

 

[rantnnravin]

Seems everything is paid for except spending money...
for airport transfers at home why not: http://www.mta.info/mta/airtrain.htm runs 24/7, $5 per person, children under 5 free

i second skipping the mousekeeping tips

perhaps stretch out the meal credits and pick up pre-packaged counter service sandwiches and snacks to share for the last day ($ for fridge rental for that last night/morning might be worth it) not sure what your flight times are...
Up to your trip, definitely try eating out of the pantry/freezer (You'd be surprised what you come up with when you set your mind to it)
without knowing how tight your budget is now, it's hard to give any other money stretching ideas...

 

[Leshaface]

I might get flamed for this but I wouldn't spend $20 for mousekeeping if that is all you have. Save that and use it for your family.

Also, is it too late to change your DDP to the QSP? That would save you a lot of money, not only on the plan but on tips as well. We always take snacks with us. You can make do with snacks you bring in the airport and you can make breakfast out of stuff from home.

Even if you don't have enough to buy much there... you can still have a great time. Go and enjoy.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. You would save a good amount of money if you went with the Quick Service dining. I know you have ADR's already in order, but it sounds like you wouldn't stress as much if you had the QSDP. Just a thought.

I was also going to say not to tip Mousekeeping, but didn't want to stir the pot

 

[gracie1]

Before rescheduling, doesn't the airline charge a fee to reschedule?? I think airtran can charge up to $75 per ticket, so if that is the case it would not be worth it.
You could look into the Quickservice dining plan and save money that way. It would definately save in tips, and then each person also gets two snacks a day so that should be plenty for the kids.
as for the airport, is it cheaper to pay the taxi or to park there?? Our parking here can range from $7-10 per day. I say look into the parking, and if it is only in the $7 range, then it would only be $42 for parking instead of $60 for a taxi.

 

[livndisney]

You can get a surprise bag at Mickey's Mart at DTD for 6.99 plus tax-that may help a little with the shopping at Disney.

 

[DawnM]

Cut out the unnecessaries this trip.....small souvie or no souvie......just go and have fun at Disney. Eat your dining meals and carry snacks with you. You will be fine.

Dawn

 

[Disney845]

You mention the $150 gift card to cover tips (so I assume you have the dining plan with 1-TS, 1-CS, and 1-snack/day). The cost of tips could easily be eliminated if you don't eat at the TS restaurants. You can use a TS credit at CS. I know that eating at the CS isn't maximizing your free dining...but if you don't have the money to cover the tip then this is an easy change up.

You will already have 1 snack per day/person. You can share. Get 1 box of popcorn the three of you eat from (only 1 snack credit), get 1 fruit cup/slice of cake, /etc and share.

You can get a cup of water for free at the restaurants. Or pack a sports bottle and refill at the waterfountains for free.

Share! If you have (3) TS credits (using as CS) and (3) CS credits per day, then use them like this. (2) credits used to "buy" breakfast to split amongst you, (2) credits used to "buy" lunch to split, (2) credits used to "buy" dinner. Your whole day's meals are covered. Some of the CS have large portions for CS (try places like Cosmic Ray's for the chix/ribs combo).

Get the carrot sticks or the grapes as the "dessert" with the meal and save them for the kids to snack on later in the day.

By just doing the above (cutting out TS meals where you will have to pay tips, and sharing your credits over 3 meals) you have freed up this entire $150 you were thinking you would use.

Another idea is to pack a "bag" of cereal or poptarts (they have toasters in the food courts) and eat breakfasts in your room before starting the day. You can buy milk for the cereal at the food court of your hotel (or use a snack credit for it).

As for the other $200...this may not be popular with all DISers, but I do not tip mousekeeping.

Do you have any friends/family who could drive you to the airport? Or do they have (cheaper) shuttles or public transport so you could minimize the taxi fee?

As for food on the last day (again eat breakfast in your room from your home-brought cereal/poptarts/etc), split inexpensive CS for lunch/dinner.

Airport food...if this is outbound, then feed the kids before you go to the airport, if this is on the return...eat at the hotel before going to the airport. Again, breakfast from your stash, you can get "fairly" inexpensive sandwiches wrapped up in the cooler cases at the resorts.

Other than that...economize. The kids don't need expensive treats or toys as souvies.

I really think that $350 on top of a vacay that already has the hotel/entertainment tix/airline/food all paid for is a decent sum for 1 adult and two very young kids.

 

[dimimi]

As long as you have money to pay your bills, and it sounds like you have a good budget, I would go.

I would not tip Housekeeping, or tip a lot less.
I would not cancel/change the air fare because that will be a fee per ticket.
I would change to the less expensive dining plan.
Save as much money as you can before you leave, eating inexpensive meals, etc.
Can you see if someone can drive you to the airport?
I would have water/drinks sent to the room so you didn't have to purchase drinks at the park.
I would share meals to use on the last day.

Here is one new idea: Could you ask someone close to you for an early birthday or Christmas present. I know my family would love to give me something I would use and would not be offended if I asked for an early gift. Then you would have a little extra money.

Depending on your airline, you will pay for baggage, so you might want to double check on that. If you can check luggage, I would pack breakfast foods and snacks.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[fabmic]

You are on the dining plan so you are getting mugs. No need to take them from your friend. Couldn't you find somebody to drive you to and from the airport?

 

[GoogleMom]

I really dont want to skip a bill. I have the bills budgeted already . My ds's good stroller broke down ..literally fell apart a few weeks ago. Im really tall and i havent been able to find a replacement. My mom ordered a stroller for me. I got it and it was SO short. Im 6"2! I decided to rent a stroller for orlando stroller rentals...the one with the height adjustable bar so thats 85.60 (I budgeted that along with the bills) My ds just turned 3 and he doesnt use a stroller at all at home anymore so we only need it for Disney.

The suitcase full of juiceboxes/snacks is an AWESOME idea! I can pretty much go all day without eating a bite and be totally ok but the kids cannot so on our departure/final day i can just get the kids some kids meal and they should be fine until we get home.

I have a big duffel bag so I will fill it with caprisuns and their favorite snacks and just take a few out a day to the parks! That will save SO much on drinks/snacks . As for the snack credits..the kids love poptarts so i can use the snack credits to buy them some poptarts to munch on for breakfast...maybe muffins instead of poptarts!

My mom just called and said she will give me 50 bucks for the kids souvies! I decided im going to buy dd a princess crown and a mickey barrete and do an updo like the bibbidi bobbidi boutique so she's going to be THRILLED.

I think i will be able to pull this trip off! I sure hope i can...Is it true you can get a large pizza with counter service credits? That can be dinner one nite! We have 2 breakfast adrs scheduled so on the breakfast days we can use cs credits for pizza!

 

[cydswipe]

Hi there........

I know you're worried, but hang in there... YOU CAN MAKE THIS WORK!

Can you pay a friend/family $20 for roundtrip airport service?

I agree, pack plenty of your own snacks. Plan on breakfast out of your suitcase. Bring some snacks into the park with you.

DO NOT PAY FOR BOTTLED WATER.. you can get that for FREE from any quick service place...

Everything is "NO" from here on out... no book orders, no candy in the check out lane at the grocery store.... Put what you would have spent into a jar... your 5 year old might actually enjoy doing this for a short time...

On that same note, get all you change in a jar and head to the bank. Same with can redeemption... get that done. That could easily be another $10.

You won't be buying groceries while @ disney or running to your local Target/ Walmart, so there is a little extra $ for the week.

Cut your grocery budget these next couple of weeks. Have pancakes for supper a night or two. Baked potato bar another night or two. Spaghetti and meatsauce (try going meatless?)...

While at WDW, if you have to, STAY OUT of the gift shops as much as possible. We didn't let our kids even see the BBB shop). Getting their hair done at Main Street Barber is cheaper. (we didn't do that, but I know it is)

I also agree with hitting the dollar stores. Especially for light up toys. Glow sticks are easily available. Stickers, pencils, notebooks are great for little kids. Keep them hidden and when the "give me's" start to happen, whip out a "new" item. Buy/borrow misting fans from Walmart and put a few stickers on them.

I forgot, since I started posting if you kids are both girls... Can you pack each one of their own dress up outfits?

Print off things from the Creative Design thread... loads of darling things there to give the kids some special items. Even if it's coloring sheets.

I strongly suggest SHARING a snack (like DOLE WHIPS) they are HUGE. I wished I would have thought of that earlier in our trip. Ask for an extra cup. You can stretch the snack credits out a little that way.

I would cut the mousekeeping tip in half if you had to. Can you have the kids color a few pictures and decorate an envelope for each day for mousekeeping. I prefer to tip, but only learned of that on the dis...

Have everyone eat a PB and Jelly sandwich on the WAY to the airport. That should hold them over for quite some time.

I personally think just being AT disney will keep your kids more than happy (well, that and a swimming pool)

Please check back with all of us....

Do NOT cancel/ reschedule over $200 or so........ You can pull this off, probably coming out with $350

 

[kathie859]

I'd hit your local dollar store and stock up on Disney Items and glow sticks. You'll save a ton of money by not having to worry about souvenirs and the kids will love having glow sticks at night (and you'll love not paying Disney prices for them.) One of the best souvenirs is free at Epcot and that's the KidCot stations. They are lots of fun for the kids. I am always surprised by how many people fail to have their children do this.

I'd also consider doing the QSP instead of DDP.

For the plane, don't forget to pack snacks and have empty drinking bottles so you can fill with water after you get thru security. Much cheaper than buying drinks at the airport.

I'd also cut Mousekeeping to the bare minimum if you feel that you really must tip.

I'd also try eating from the cupboard for a week and plan inexpensive meals until trip time. If you buy your lunch out--stop now and pack it.

Good luck---and happy planning---I'm sure you'll find a way to make this work.

 

[minnie_michelle]

Do not listen to the people who say to cancel. The flights alone would set you back at least $70pp to reschedule in the future, so you would be losing even more money by canceling.

Sell whatever you can on craigslist to find the difference, take lots of snacks with you, or dip into savings for an extra "emergency" $100 bucks just in case and to give you a piece of mind for tips and such.

Have fun! How could you not though...you'll be at disney!!

 

[crostorfer]

Ebay is your best friend! Look around your house and sell things that you no longer want and/or need. I sold all of my daughter's last year's school clothes and got lots of extra spending money!

 

[Rosiekins]

I agree with the DDP downgrade to QSDP. You get Mugs that will be your own so the kids have them as Souvenirs, Plus 2 quick Service meals and 2 snacks a day, Plenty for Breakfast (snack) Lunch, dinner and a treat. You get Dessert for Lunch and Dinner so you can also save those for treats or in some cases Breakfast. Use the money you get back for the switch and pick your favorite ADR and use that to pay for it. You then have all the money you saved for Tips to use for other things.

Pack some fun bags with a lunch for the kids to eat at the airport going there, include a treat or two to make it special. Way Cheaper!

Use a couple of snack credits towards treats your last day, the plane ride home etc...

Is there any public transportation you can take to the airport?

Anything you can sell, can you offer cleaning services to your friends? I know I would be more then happy to hire a friend to help with some cleaning or organizing if I had the cash.

I say Go and Have fun!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I admit, I'd have a hard time canceling this close. But, if you need to are the tickets and things refundable? The package you would lose some on but maybe not if they let you reschedule, what about the airline tickets? If I was going to lose a lot this is what I would do.

Drop the DDP, if anything get the QSDP and decide on one special meal to pay OOP for. (Our first several trips we did this, we only did CM and ate CS the rest of he time.) We have actually chocen the QSDP this trip because it take a lot of time, on your first trip, it is time you may not want to give up anyway. This will reduce your package, giving yo ua refund, and also you won't have to worry about tips. If you don't do any dining plan, or even if yo udo, share meals. We still do this even with a more comfortable budget and with the meals prepaid. They are plenty big for more then one person. If you are on the DDP, use the extra credits on your last night for salads, sandwiches, chicken, thinks that are fine cold and take a flat cooler with you, fill it with ice and you ahve food for your last day. Snacks can be fun for the kids to bring home too, and yes, go to Mickey's Mart, we got great things on the 4/$10 rack. Find a cheaper way to and from your apt, I take it yo uare in NY/NJ, so use the train, it has to be cheaper, no? I too agree, sell what you can now, have a yard sale this weekend!

If you can postpone without much peanilty, it may be best, even though it won't be easy, if you are going to lose a lot, I say do what you can to reduce the bill and try to go on a shoestring.

Our first trip to Disney was done on $1000 for 2 adults and a child. Our splurge was CM but otherwise we drank water, shared meals, and brought snacks, you know, we stiill had an amazing vacation. If you ask my DD15 what she remembers about that trip, it won't be us sharing meals or eating peanutbutter crackers to help fill up, it will be the fun that we had. Sure, it's easier when you don't have to worry about each penny, but a fun time still can be had on a shoestring.

Good Luck! (Oh, and I might get flamed for this but could you borrow a little something from savings, especially for an emergency? Just be really, really good about paying it back when you get back.)

Seems I was typing a lot of the same stuff at the same time other people were. But all good advise, you can do it!!!

 

[quentina]

I budgeted my trip PERFECTLY ...Ideally I was supposed to have $300 in disney gift cards and around $500 cash spending money. However I had several money emergencies these past couple of months and now I have pratically nothing to take to Disney

I booked our trip and paid it off as well as our airfare. It's just me and my two kids. They are 3 and 5. We will be staying at Pop Century September 12-18th . I have the DDP for the 12th-17th and a room only on the 18th (flight prices was really high and i thought i had enough money to cover the extra day)

My adr's are all planned out.The bad news is ....i only have a $150 gift card (to cover tips /extra snacks and drinks) ...and I will only have $200 cash It's like nothing . I put aside 20 bucks for mousekeeping...so that dwindles it down to $180...than the taxi to airport back and forth is another $60 ....than the kids will want food at the airport while were waiting for our flight...another $20 atleast . Not to mention i have to pay 0OP for our final day meals as well as departure day ...i feel like its too much stress and there's not enough money...

should i cancel the whole entire trip...or is there a way to do this and stretch that penny until it bleeds?
My kids are so excited to go see mickey mouse and my dd will flip if i tell her she isnt going. I cant believe i budgeted so poorly

Ok, take a breath!! First, you can take food into the airport and through security, just not drinks. You can hit a water fountain for that.

Why are you paying for taxi??? Magical express is free!

Look into Restraunts.com for their certificates and google the coupon code. They had the restraunt at the Swan (character meal) on there, House of blues etc. I got $25 certificate for $2.00. Now, you can only use one and must buy a minimum so, I am not sure if that would help.

If you ration your dining plan, it is good until the end of day that you checkout. So, this would cover the day of your cash stay. Also, pack some dry cereal/snacks etc. Since the DP includes one snack per day, I don't think you will need extra. Just share (popcorn, dole whip etc). Your kids are small, sharing will be fine.

You can go to the $1 store and get a few Disney items to give as souveniers.

I think if you can come up with another 75-100$$, you will be fine. Can you ask your parents or someone to lend you a few??? I know its not practical however; I know my family would do it versus not taking the kids.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[GoogleMom]

The $6.99 surprise bag sounds AWESOME!! We are definetly hitting mickey mart! As far as souvies...I just want a couple of keychains! We went to WDW in April...I overbudgeted! I bought $1000 spending money for a 5 night trip! And we were on the QSDP! I got a 300 dollar gift card .Even so on our departure day we had a ton of snack credits left over as well as like 100 bucks left on the gift card..and i realized i barely touched the cash... so before i left i took a HUGE chunk of that $1000 to book this trip with the DDP...I really want to go to the sit down restaurants .We have Ohana Breakfast,Arkeshus Breakfast (for my dd!) ,Cape May Cafe Dinner, Planet Hollywood Dinner, and sci fi booked for our adrs...If i cancel them or the DDP i will feel like a big part of my vacation experience is down the tubes.

 

[quentina]

I might get flamed for this but I wouldn't spend $20 for mousekeeping if that is all you have. Save that and use it for your family.

Also, is it too late to change your DDP to the QSP? That would save you a lot of money, not only on the plan but on tips as well. We always take snacks with us. You can make do with snacks you bring in the airport and you can make breakfast out of stuff from home.

Even if you don't have enough to buy much there... you can still have a great time. Go and enjoy.

This is a great idea! Skip the ADR's, do QS and no tips. You can use that money toward a little thing for the kids.

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

is the Free Dinning not available during your vacation dates ?? this is the same time we are going and we have the "Free Dinning" plan. They dont automatically add it if it becomes available for your dates you have to call and request it. I had to call and they added it no problem. We are staying at CBR but I believe the QSDP was available for the values during this time. I could be wrong but it couldnt hurt to ask.