I just read through this entire thread, and I am confuzzled...But, I have been here a long time, and I have an idea of who this poster actually may be. If not, then perhaps they are sisters, as this thread sounds exactly like a certain 'Mama' who used to post the same types of threads...
What I can see, is that based on the OP's original post, subsequent posts and very last posts, things have somehow changed?
The original post had an air of panic in it that the OP would not have enough money. Based on the fact that she did not properly research, she is being hit with a ridiculously high resort fee of $90.00, that is due upon check-in.
As well, she had listed a character breakfast out of that same amount of money, so the available funds left for food would be small, as transportation also needed to come out of that same fund.
No credit cards and no other vacation funds available either - that is why so many people were worried and frustrated by the OP's responses. This is the Budget Board afterall...
Now, the latest posts seem to suggest that she may have overbudgeted by a couple of hundred dollars (I know she mentioned that before, but I don't remember an actual amount), and she will be ok. Why start the thread then?
I too am totally confused as to why she booked such an expensive hotel (the resort fee is just killing me - that is more than we paid in Hawaii for goodness sakes!), in which not to use the full kitchen? Since the hotel is the vacation, then using that full kitchen would have been the smartest thing to do.
Also, as others have mentioned, this hotel is very questionable in regards to the shape and quality. I would hate for them to have issues, and not have any available funds. Have had relatives stay there, and they said it was very problematic, and the location is not that great either. If not using the full kitchen, then a Disney Value Resort stay would have been the best choice, as all transportation would have been covered.
I'm really not sure what the OP expected, when she started this thread? It is still titled, "Ok now I'm getting worried..." for a reason.
Perhaps OP over-reacted, found money, feels embarassed, or realized that she made a budget error? Regardless, the tone of the original post, along with the thread title, suggests that she may not have enough money, and that is not a good thing when in Orlando, as it costs money to vacation there.
If the OP has been to Disney many times, then surely she knows that proper planning and research is essential when vacationing, and by not doing that this time (of which she admitted), she found herself in a place where she might not have enough funds to cover this vacation, that cannot be cancelled, due to pre-purchase of airfare and tickets.
I don't understand flying to Orlando for 4 days, as that seems like a total waste of money, but if that is what OP had planned, then she should have done her due diligence in looking at the location of that hotel, utilizing the full kitchen (Garden Grocer, etc. sell out quickly, so she should have secured that months ago), transportation costs and other misc. expenses that might come up.
There should not be any problem for the kids to eat out of their resort room either. We love eating in our DVC villa, so not sure what the problem with that would be? Without scaring them into thinking that you have no money, you need to tell them that you really don't have much money for extras on this trip, and they will be eating in the room, end of discussion.
I hope that the OP does indeed have enough money to cover incidentals on this trip. Hopefully, the hotel is fine, and that resort fee is worth it!
Despite some necesseary judgmental posts on here, OP, you have received some very good advice about how to stretch your budget. There are many of us who absolutely would not be taking that vacation at all, but that is your choice to make. Incidentally, not everyone who has debt goes on vacation either! You stated that you used emergency funds to pay bills, which then means you absolutely should not be taking this vacation, and it also tells us that you really do not have any available funds for this vacation, and thus the start of this thread.
My hope is that for future vacations, you do a better job of researching and planning, so that you know exactly what funds you will need BEFORE you actually go on vacation. We have been to Disney a million times, and are DVC members, with mininal expenses, yet we still plan out a budget, as that is the responsible way to deal with our finances. My hope is that you also learn to save some money in a vacation fund, as most of us who are financially sound do, as vacations are not a necessity to life, as you seem to be making them out to be.
Best of luck, Tiger