On my way any last minute tips, deals?

[JennHales]

I am taking my daughter for her 8th birthday. Any last minute tips or deals? I am on a budget and only have $250 spending money while I am there. (after hotel tickets for 4 days)
Thanks
Jen

 

[my3kids]

I'm just back. I thought the crowds would thin out at night but it was packed in DL. Definatey go in the morning and get a lot done before the crowd hits later. CA Adventure was not ever crowded. We love that park! Especially in the evenings there there was never a line and this was during last week's vacation period.

 

[JennHales]

Thanks my3kids, We are morning people so we will be first in line.


We are staying at the residence in, Garden Grove. From my understanding the shuttle service is very slow. I wonder if it would be best just to take a cab over to disney.
jen

 

[Wendi2000]

I am taking my daughter for her 8th birthday. Any last minute tips or deals? I am on a budget and only have $250 spending money while I am there. (after hotel tickets for 4 days)
Thanks
Jen

You are going to be spending most (if not all) of your money on food. If your hotel offers any free meals, take advantage! If you like what's offered on the kid's menu, order it for yourself too. If you can agree on a menu item, share. If your daughter is like most kids, she will see many things that she wants and will ask you to buy stuff everyday. Tell her right up front that you are not going to buy anything until the last day (or whichever day you choose), tell her to keep a list of the things she really wants, and then on the last day she can pick what is in her budget.

Let her set the pace, she will have a very magical Birthday indeed!!! Have fun!!!

 

[ScrapperKimmyD]

Like Wendi said, you'll be spending a lot on food. A lot of the kids meals are just one of those frozen PBJ sandwiches. You could buy a box for yourself if there's a store near your hotel and take them in and save a ton of money that way. Otherwise, share meals. The sandwiches at terrace are big enough for 2 people, as are the meals at Rancho del Zocalo - especially if you buy some chips or something to go with the meals. And bring your own snacks in - those things really add up!!!

If she wants to get a t-shirt or sweat shirt or some type of clothing, you could go to the Disney Character Outlet. We saw a bunch of shirts in the $12-15 range and some were even less. It's not walking distance, but I'm sure there's some sort of public transportation to get you there.

Be sure to go to City Hall and get a Birthday button/sticker!

We had a couple of early days and a couple of really late days where we closed down the park. (Thanksgiving week). The longest line we stood in was about 20-30 minutes - Autopia, which didn't have a fast pass for some reason. Otherwise, we just about walked onto each and every ride! It was great!

 

[JennHales]

I appreciate your help, wisdom and advice.

I am looking forward to going to disney when it's not so busy.

I am a bit worried about finding healthy food options. I had lap ban surgery and I can not eat junk food. We are staying at the Residence inn and they have free breakfast and I usually eat a salad and cottege cheese for lunch. For dinner I think we will just order one meal and split it. So I am going to budget
$60 $20 a day for food per day (tuesday
$50 for Ariels Grotto.
$30 for cold treats at the park
$40 Shuttles to and from airport
$20 trolly to Disney
That's $200 which only leaves $50 for souviners. Looks like I need to up my budget or cut something out. I will try and stick with it. I don't really need to budget but I hate going home after a trip and adding up how much we spend. It's always 4 times what we thought we would.

Thanks Ladies.
Jen

 

[ScrapperKimmyD]

There's a stand near the fast pass pick up place at splash mountain where we found carrots and ranch dressing and really yummy pineapple! I think they had other healthy food there, too.

 

[minnietoo]

I appreciate your help, wisdom and advice.

I am looking forward to going to disney when it's not so busy.

I am a bit worried about finding healthy food options. I had lap ban surgery and I can not eat junk food. We are staying at the Residence inn and they have free breakfast and I usually eat a salad and cottege cheese for lunch. For dinner I think we will just order one meal and split it. So I am going to budget
$60 $20 a day for food per day (tuesday
$50 for Ariels Grotto.
$30 for cold treats at the park
$40 Shuttles to and from airport
$20 trolly to Disney
That's $200 which only leaves $50 for souviners. Looks like I need to up my budget or cut something out. I will try and stick with it. I don't really need to budget but I hate going home after a trip and adding up how much we spend. It's always 4 times what we thought we would.

Thanks Ladies.
Jen

It is hard to find high protien low carb (low sugar) food at DL for a reasonable price - especially when you have to toss out most of the food (carbs). If you have shakes, protien bars, or other protein drinks etc. that you can bring along to eat with or between meals then you will be better off. The "healthy food" is also high carbs (fruit and bread exchanges). You can also bring individually wrapped cheeses and keep them cold in your ice bucket in your room - that will help with your protien (that's if you can have cheese).

If you don't "have to" budget - set a higher budget and then be happy when you spend less. Set a limit on souviners - that's where it really adds up. I would also avoid a cab ride if at all possible - your money will be gone in no time for the fare and tips.

 

[tammie33]

This is a great link to Menus at the various Disneyland & CA Adventure eateries: AllEarsNet Disney Dining. You can use this to find places you can eat at and budget accordingly.

FWIW... I really like the soups and salads at the Pacific Wharf Cafe in CA Adventure.