Please Help!

[kami2199]

I tried to post this once but did not see it come up, so I'm sorry if this is a duplicate!

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Ok,

So this is my first trip with my family to Disney. I did actually go as a kid but that doesn't help when planning for this trip!

I would like some input from anyone with suggestions or tips on how to do this on a budget. Let me tell you what I have done so far:

Booked airfare with Southwest out of Midway for $460.00 on four tickets.

Won a 2 bedroom condo at Sheraton Vistana Resort for a total of $335 or so. I used a coupon on Skyacution for something like $25 off?

Rented a midsize SUV from Alamo for $180 with taxes. That was not my first car choice due to gas prices but husband loves the idea and it was the cheapest when I booked.

Now, I have not bought my Disney tickets yet but plan on getting a park hopper for 7 days. We will only be doing the disney parks this time. We are going to be there Oct 29 - Nov 5. There will be four of us. We also plan to do alot of our own cooking at eating at the condo. Not that we won't eat out, but more often in. Thought about doing the Arabian Nights Dinner one night as well.

I understand there is a Wal-Mart nearby. Can anyone tell me the average cost of things such as pop, milk, bread. I have heard things are really overpriced near Disney so I'd like to prepare myself before we get there. Also, we would like to take one day to go to the beach. Any reccommendations on that?

Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mwalsh]

you can get discounted tickets and learn of other savings by subscribing to mousesavers newsletter - you may want to try that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I understand there is a Wal-Mart nearby. Can anyone tell me the average cost of things such as pop, milk, bread. I have heard things are really overpriced near Disney so I'd like to prepare myself before we get there.

The Super WalMart is very close. Their prices are normal as they really are not a tourist-oriented business.

From the Vistana you would make a right out the gate onto 535 South. Cross the traffic light at 536 and go under 417. The WalMart will be on your right betweeen the second and thir lights. If you go under a second road and reach 192 you have gone too far.

BTW, it is the largest WalMart I have ever been in.

 

[OzFan]

First I want to say "Hi and welcome to the Dis boards!" I live in the Southwest side of Chicago about 15 minutes from Midway. Do you live in the area? Mousesavers is a great newsletter and i have bought my tickets through ticketmania almost everythime we go. The newsletter will give you special discounts. I love mine! The Super Walmart is your best value for food and supplies. Any question just PM me.

 

[EthansMom]

Here's the link to sign up for the Mousesaver's newsletter: http://www.mousesavers.com/newsletter.html. Mary at Mousesavers emails out a newsletter on the 15th of every month. In the newsletter, there is a special link to http://www.ticketmania.com that gives additional discounts on WDW tickets. I've used Ticketmania in the past and highly recommend them -- they are a reputable discounter of attraction tickets.

Here is a link to WDW menus with prices in case you want to plan your dining while at WDW: http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

It costs $8 to park at the WDW parks, but that is good at all of the parks all day.

When you stop at Walmart, make sure to buy bottled water -- it has a really high mark-up in the parks.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[swilshire]

The only thing that always gives me sticker shock all over Florida is milk prices! The only place we've found to be reasonable is the Sams Club on 192, which is still very convenient to Vistana. They sometimes run out of milk on weekends the demand is so great.

I haven't been there since the new Super Walmart opened, but I always hated going to the older (farther away) one because the lines were always so terrible. Anything I can't get at Sam's, we get at Publix. Their prices are about like those at home and they have an ad each week with good bargains.

Sheila

 

[kami2199]

THANK YOU everyone for your input. I'm the type of person who wants to know what I'm going to do and where I'm going to go before I ever get there. For the most part, it's obvious what we'll be doing. But it's the little things I want to be prepared for! I'll subscribe to Mousesavers and definately go to Wal-Mart for our supplies.

Any suggestions on a day trip to the beach? How's the food and show at Arabian Nights?

Thanks!

 

[powellrj]

I guess my biggest surprise our first trip was all the toll roads. We don't have any where we live, so that was something I hadn't prepared for! Make sure you have some spare change!

Most of the grocery stores compare in price to what I am use to paying except Goodings tends to be MUCH higher. Most of the resturants are about what you pay around here for the same type of meal.

Another thing we were surprised at was how expensive conveninence store fountain drinks were. Most of the places around here are in the any size for under a dollar range. Thats not true there.