Ok now im getting worried ...

[HersheyKisses]

We leave tommorow for our 3 night vacation. I was already on a tight budget but now it just got a little bit tighter. Im really worried that I'm going to be flat broke and thats my ultimate fear while im on vacation!Ok so turns out that the rate I paid for the Nick Hotel did not include the resort fee AND they place a $100 hold on your credit card for incidentals . The resort fee will be around $90 for 3 nights. On the third day we will be going to MNSSHP . We can take the shuttle there but there is no shuttle back so we'll have to get a taxi. That leaves only about $ 300 for all of our food /snacks /souvenirs ( Not planning on buying any souvenirs ..maybe one souvenir each for the kids) . $300 just does not seem like enough money . Im so used to having the dining plan and staying on Disney property. Our room will have a full sized kitchen. We can save alot of money by cooking meals but we dont have a rental car ...Any food purchased will have to go into our checked luggage. What will I be able to pack to stretch our food budget? I was thinking of buying sodas /juice and putting it in the checked luggage but im worried it might explode .

BTW we do have the character breakfast booked (not paid for yet)and I was thinking of ordering Flippers for dinner one night and having it delivered .My kids are not gonna be thrilled to eat in the room .I was going to pack microwaveable chef boyardee and they bulked.


Any suggestions ?

 

[karice2]

Do you think, you could maybe take a taxi and go to a grocery store. Maybe get a rotisserie chicken and some frozen veggies for under 10 bucks. Juice boxes should be ok. Maybe take some crystal light packets instead. Pop Tarts or something like that for breakfast.

$300 doesn't seem to be a lot but it is only for 3 days.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

We leave tommorow for our 3 night vacation. I was already on a tight budget but now it just got a little bit tighter. Im really worried that I'm going to be flat broke and thats my ultimate fear while im on vacation!Ok so turns out that the rate I paid for the Nick Hotel did not include the resort fee AND they place a $100 hold on your credit card for incidentals . The resort fee will be around $90 for 3 nights. On the third day we will be going to MNSSHP . We can take the shuttle there but there is no shuttle back so we'll have to get a taxi. That leaves only about $ 300 for all of our food /snacks /souvenirs ( Not planning on buying any souvenirs ..maybe one souvenir each for the kids) . $300 just does not seem like enough money . Im so used to having the dining plan and staying on Disney property. Our room will have a full sized kitchen. We can save alot of money by cooking meals but we dont have a rental car ...Any food purchased will have to go into our checked luggage. What will I be able to pack to stretch our food budget? I was thinking of buying sodas /juice and putting it in the checked luggage but im worried it might explode .

BTW we do have the character breakfast booked (not paid for yet)and I was thinking of ordering Flippers for dinner one night and having it delivered .My kids are not gonna be thrilled to eat in the room .I was going to pack microwaveable chef boyardee and they bulked.


Any suggestions ?

I don't want to worry you more but I wouldn't feel comfortable going on vacation, even for 3 days, with only $300 availble. Esp with over half of it to be used for a character breakfast. what happens if the unexpected happens? It usually does. With the unpaid for expenses it sounds like you are already over the $300. Do you have a back up CC that you can use if you have to? Do you have any extra $ that you don't want to use but have access to if you need it?

 

[eliza61]

Can you cancel the MNSSHP? The sodas/juice on the check baggage won't work because nowadays airlines charge a step price for going over the weight limit. believe me when I say 2 2l bottles of liquid can easily throw you over.

Also the nick hotel may have some convenience stores nearby.

Do you think maybe you budgeted a little too tightly? a 90 miscellaneous charge is not really alot so I'd be worried also if that little amount left me flat broke.


Any gold you can sell, I picked up a few extra hundred dollars by selling osme old jewelry that I had.

 

[Magic Mom]

We leave tommorow for our 3 night vacation. I was already on a tight budget but now it just got a little bit tighter. Im really worried that I'm going to be flat broke and thats my ultimate fear while im on vacation!Ok so turns out that the rate I paid for the Nick Hotel did not include the resort fee AND they place a $100 hold on your credit card for incidentals . The resort fee will be around $90 for 3 nights. On the third day we will be going to MNSSHP . We can take the shuttle there but there is no shuttle back so we'll have to get a taxi. That leaves only about $ 300 for all of our food /snacks /souvenirs ( Not planning on buying any souvenirs ..maybe one souvenir each for the kids) . $300 just does not seem like enough money . Im so used to having the dining plan and staying on Disney property. Our room will have a full sized kitchen. We can save alot of money by cooking meals but we dont have a rental car ...Any food purchased will have to go into our checked luggage. What will I be able to pack to stretch our food budget? I was thinking of buying sodas /juice and putting it in the checked luggage but im worried it might explode .

BTW we do have the character breakfast booked (not paid for yet)and I was thinking of ordering Flippers for dinner one night and having it delivered .My kids are not gonna be thrilled to eat in the room .I was going to pack microwaveable chef boyardee and they bulked.


Any suggestions ?

Why not just skip the character breakfast? I know it's fun, butwith all the other fun things you are doing, the kids won't really miss it. if they make a fuss, just explain that some trips are splurge trips and some trips are budget trips. This is a budget trip.
I know as parents we get sucked into the myth that everything has to be perfect or it's not worth going, but that's just not true.

 

[HersheyKisses]

I don't want to worry you more but I wouldn't feel comfortable going on vacation, even for 3 days, with only $300 availble. Esp with over half of it to be used for a character breakfast. what happens if the unexpected happens? It usually does. With the unpaid for expenses it sounds like you are already over the $300. Do you have a back up CC that you can use if you have to? Do you have any extra $ that you don't want to use but have access to if you need it?

Unfortunately I don't have any credit cards or any extra money . The $300 is left over after I pay the resort and the hold. Im hoping the character breakfast does not cost us more than $70 . Its only one adult and two children.

 

[HersheyKisses]

Can you cancel the MNSSHP? The sodas/juice on the check baggage won't work because nowadays airlines charge a step price for going over the weight limit. believe me when I say 2 2l bottles of liquid can easily throw you over.

Also the nick hotel may have some convenience stores nearby.

Do you think maybe you budgeted a little too tightly? a 90 miscellaneous charge is not really alot so I'd be worried also if that little amount left me flat broke.


Any gold you can sell, I picked up a few extra hundred dollars by selling osme old jewelry that I had.

I cant cancel MNSSHP...Well not that I technically cant but I wont. Thats out of the question. The tickets are already paid for . Nick hotel has a free shuttle to MK so we only have to take the taxi back after the party. I have a 50 dollar Disney GC to use for food on that day.

 

[alice99]

We went on a 7 day trip a few weeks ago. Each of us (5 people) carried on our own bags w/ our clothing and essentials. All clothing was carried on, checked baggage was only for the grocery items.

We checked 3 regular (medium sized) suitcase filled with grocery items...... I had cereals, pop tarts , paper plates, cups, etc, etc.... each suitcase weighted in at less than 50 lbs. If you do the Chef Boyardee or anything else that may leak just seal them in 2 gallon ziplock bags before going. There was enough in there for the entire week. When we got to Fla. we only had to buy bread, milk, butter, bottled water. We ate breakfast and lunch from what we brought in the suitcases..... ate dinner out .

If you put a small cooler in the suitcase(s) you could bring cold cuts and anything else perishable and take sandwiches into the parks. If your kids will eat PB&J then that's even easier (my kids won't ) , so It's cold cuts for us. I have packed groceries many times because I HATE grocery shopping when I get there.

Have pizza for dinner. People are so used to over-spending when on vacation , you don't have to do that.

300$ budget for 3 days is very do-able, though I would prepare the kids to have no souvenir.

Also, if you priceline a car, you can probably make out cheaper than all these taxi rides you are talking about.

 

[wovenwonder]

You may be able to get a 3 day car rental rather inexpensively and then have the opportunity to eat offsite or do some grocery runs.

 

[Kay1]

I would skip the character meal for certain. I like the ideas of taking a cab for groceries and selling any old gold you may not want anymore. Also, tuna kits pack well.

 

[karice2]

Unfortunately I don't have any credit cards or any extra money . The $300 is left over after I pay the resort and the hold. Im hoping the character breakfast does not cost us more than $70 . Its only one adult and two children.

Where is the Character breakfast being held? You can check the price on Allears. I would say cut the character breakfast. The kids won't miss it and they get to see more characters at MNSSHP.

 

[HersheyKisses]

Why not just skip the character breakfast? I know it's fun, butwith all the other fun things you are doing, the kids won't really miss it. if they make a fuss, just explain that some trips are splurge trips and some trips are budget trips. This is a budget trip.
I know as parents we get sucked into the myth that everything has to be perfect or it's not worth going, but that's just not true.

You're right I am going to cancel the character breakfast .I can pack breakfast items in our luggage.We're not big breakfast eaters anyway we were going to the breakfast to see the characters . I guess I can use that money for the 4D show instead which im sure they will enjoy more.

 

[QVCshopper]

I would also cancel the character breakfast. $70 could probably buy two meals at a quick service place, and you can meet most the characters for free elsewhere. My kids don't miss the breakfasts on the trips we are on the QSDP.

Also, Pop Tarts, oatmeal, granola bars, etc. all are good for breakfast. Or, the Entemens(sp?) muffin tops are great for packing. I have two kids, and two adults, and can easily eat for about $50 a day at Disney for all of us if we go cheap, share meals for lunch and dinner, etc. So, really, just each breakfast in your room, skip the meal, go fast food, and I think you'll be OK.

At Magic Kingdom, my husband and I each got a baked potato for $3.50 each, kids split an adult chicken finger meal, and we all were full for about $20 or less. So, there are ways to do it.

I also wouldn't bother with the bringing juice thing, unless you are driving.

 

[HersheyKisses]

Where is the Character breakfast being held? You can check the price on Allears. I would say cut the character breakfast. The kids won't miss it and they get to see more characters at MNSSHP.

The character breakfast is at the Nick Hotel . I believe the breakfast is 25 dollars pp?? That's really expensive for breakfast. They have another breakfast buffet without the characters that is alot cheaper. I think $11 pp .

 

[HersheyKisses]

I would also cancel the character breakfast. $70 could probably buy two meals at a quick service place, and you can meet most the characters for free elsewhere. My kids don't miss the breakfasts on the trips we are on the QSDP.

Also, Pop Tarts, oatmeal, granola bars, etc. all are good for breakfast. Or, the Entemens(sp?) muffin tops are great for packing. I have two kids, and two adults, and can easily eat for about $50 a day at Disney for all of us if we go cheap, share meals for lunch and dinner, etc. So, really, just each breakfast in your room, skip the meal, go fast food, and I think you'll be OK.

At Magic Kingdom, my husband and I each got a baked potato for $3.50 each, kids split an adult chicken finger meal, and we all were full for about $20 or less. So, there are ways to do it.

I also wouldn't bother with the bringing juice thing, unless you are driving.

Great idea..Im going to pack Enterman's cinnamom buns for breakfast and some fruit .

 

[hambirg]

You're right I am going to cancel the character breakfast .I can pack breakfast items in our luggage.We're not big breakfast eaters anyway we were going to the breakfast to see the characters . I guess I can use that money for the 4D show instead which im sure they will enjoy more.

I think that's the best thing too. While I understand that special meals are nice, when the budget is tight, your kids aren't really going to miss them.

When we go to Disneyland, we do it much more budget friendly than WDW. You can enjoy quite a few QS meals for the same price as that one overpriced character breakfast. Eat a quick, easy breakfast in the room each day, QS lunch in the parks along with all the fun snack options, and then have dinner off site. This is what we usually do at DL.

Good luck and have fun. There are enough fun things to do without having to focus on meals so much.

 

[kisaacs]

Instead of packing drinks, you could pack the little crystal light packets. Then you could just add them to water if you want something with some flavor. They're much lighter and smaller to pack than juice.

Kristen

 

[Candace]

Since you have a full kitchen, have you considered using garden grocer or wegoshop for grocery delivery?

 

[natfrac]

Back when my kids were young, we really had to budget for Disney vacations. I had a plug-in cooler (before fridges were in all the rooms) that I would pack with non-perishable food and check as luggage. I took cans of tuna, cereal, unopened mayo, snacks bars, cookies, etc. We then used the cooler to hold any breakables on the way home.
My mom has been known to pack an electric skillet in her suitcase

 

[happily single]

Good call on cancelling the Nick Buffett. They do have a "regular" buffett for about $11. My kids saw almost all the Nick Characters right in the main food court at designated times throughout the day.

Also, there is no convenience store anywhere nearby. Nick Hotel is kind of out all by itself.

I also suggest packing a suitcase full of drinks (maybe capri sun) and snacks, then carrying on your bag with clothes

Finally, Nick is a good distance from Disney, I suggest calling a local cab company to get an estimate of the cost-my guess would be in the $40 range however