saving money in the parks....

[LeahA]

We drive from Illinois to save money.

We are able to bring many groceries, water, alcohol from home.

We usually eat all our breakfast's in our room.

We usually always bring 5 bottles of water in my back pack to the park. I have bought the Crystal Light single packets to add to the water for something different to drink.

We save money in a change jar all year, we use the Disney Visa to earn reward dollars to take to the park for spending money.

This year we are doing no charachter meals or buffetts.

Bring beach towels from home if you can, especially if your going to water park so you don't have to rent them when you are there.

Share meals, I find especially my 2 youngest, who are now 9 and 6, could easily share 1 counter service meal.

 

[Joie]

On the mug issue why can't they put a barcode sticker that is date specific on it like the BB or TL does on their mugs? that would end the using of old mugs by people.

 

[Alesia]

On the mug issue why can't they put a barcode sticker that is date specific on it like the BB or TL does on their mugs? that would end the using of old mugs by people.

Because it isn't worth it to Disney. The amount of money they lose is so small that it isn't worth the money to try to enforce it.

 

[susiesk]

I have been buying Disney gift cards. Every paycheck I buy $25 or $50 worth. I will use those for meals when we go.
I also got all three kids a $25 one to use for souveniers

 

[nooneshome]

We had the free CS dining plan on our last trip so we were spoiled regarding not paying attention to prices. Oh well, back to our cheapo ways. We usually bring plenty of snack foods to have in our room. We always eat breakfast in our room to save money and we able to get to the parks before rope drop!!! We refill water bottles and use the koolaid singles. I usually don't order a CS meal for myself and just eat the leftovers from the kids. I rationalize it as dieting.

 

[MHSweb79]

We always bring snacks & water bottles to the parks each day, which helps a lot. You can ask for ice water at any counter service restaurant, but sometimes it isn't worth standing in line.
At MK, we found the rotisserie chicken meal at Cosmic Ray's plenty of food for two of us. We also split a breakfast platter at POFQ, which helped stretch our meal plan.
We also don't buy souvenirs except for maybe a T-shirt for me and a beach towel for him, so that's not a lot of $$.
I agree that Pop Tarts were made for Disney, and also recommend Fig Newtons and PB crackers.

 

[exbjd]

If you eat at Pecos Bills in the MK or any other place that serves hamburgers: order the Double Cheese Burger Platter (or hamburger), then ask for an extra roll. They will charge you about $1.00 for it, when you get to your table take one of the burgers off and put it on the other roll and split the fries. Now you've just made 2 decent size meals out of 1 overly large meal. The toppings are free at the bar, so load up there.

Hope this helps!

 

[lllGurulll]

The number one way I save money in the parks is to only eat CS meals and eat breakfast in the hotel.

 

[floydfamily4]

We went last Nov and while we stayed off site we saved a lot of money. We brought snacks with us (granola bars, raisins, trail mix and fruit) and froze water and juice boxes for the kids and ourselves and took those with us. We had a stroller so we weren't carrying it around on our backs. I had also budgeted for a snack a day ($5 per person) and most of the time we didn't use it but I wasn't stressed about it if we wanted something. I had my kids (little ones only 5) share an adult meal most of the time because the choices were better and the cost made sense. Sometimes we would share a large fries since I really didn't want us eating a bunch of junk during our trip anyway. Well, good luck - it can be done - remember to have fun!

Dawn

 

[Tara922c]

On the mug issue why can't they put a barcode sticker that is date specific on it like the BB or TL does on their mugs? that would end the using of old mugs by people.

because that would cost a lot more money than it would to just turn a blind eye when people re-use mugs, or use a non-disney mug. I am not saying it's right, I am just saying Disney doesn't care. Soda is cheap, cheap, cheap for them to serve. Less than a penny everytime someone refills their mug.

 

[rootbeerkid]

This may not help you for this trip but perhaps it might for future plans so I offer this summary of a recent trip. On Friday, December 4th, I did a lone-person trip to Epcot. This was at the tail end of a business trip to Orlando. For hotel, used Hilton Honor points at a Hampton Inn, which also provided a free hot breakfast. For transportation, extended the rental car for a day, which cost ~$35. For park entrance, used a day of the 10-day non-expiring tickets purchased 3 years ago at ~$450, so prorated entrance fee was ~$45. Parking was $14. One meal at Yakitori House, which was ~$10. So the complete cost for the day was ~$104 dollars. The visit began before park opening and ended about 15 minutes prior to park closing. Visited all attractions and rode Soarin 4 times. From the opinions expressed on this thread, I guess my dietary needs are a bit different from others - as long as I stay hydrated, I can get by with just purchasing a single meal in the park.

 

[jamstew]

because that would cost a lot more money than it would to just turn a blind eye when people re-use mugs, or use a non-disney mug. I am not saying it's right, I am just saying Disney doesn't care. Soda is cheap, cheap, cheap for them to serve. Less than a penny everytime someone refills their mug.

I think they'd enforce it if they were actually losing money, which I seriously doubt. The cups cost them what - maybe a couple of dollars? It would take over 1000 refills to get to the point where it costs Disney anything. The first time I bought one, I refilled it 25 times (I kept track just to see how it worked out), so they made about $10 (the $12 I paid for mug less $2.25 cost to Disney of mug & refills). Just MHO, YMMV.

 

[geenerbell]

We didn't rent a frig on our last trip. I brought paper bowls and the small individual boxed cereals. Each morning we went to the food court and purchased one large bottle of milk and spilt it. I think it was 1.79 per day times 7 days which equals about $14.00 for the week. A frig cost $12 per day which equals $84. A $70 savings is my kind of cash.

 

[Incredimom3]

If you aren't going to stay at a Disney resort, pick a place that provides a free breakfast. We used to do that and bring pb&j sandwiches for one in park meal. We rarely carry water bottles now that we know that Disney will give cups of ice water for free. If you have kids and they'd like to pin trade, purchase lanyards and disney pins on ebay. They will have a blast trading the pins that you purchased for $1 or $2 for cast members' pins which could be $10 or more if purchased at the store. Many of the park meals (except buffets, of course) are large portions and could be shared. My 15 year old and I often shared sandwiches and still felt full. If you have kids with you, bring glow sticks from the Dollar store in your backpack. Souvenier shopping - try Walmart 1st (they have tons of stuff in the store down there) or one of the two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. We picked up autograph books and pressed penny books that had been marked down in these stores. Also, a cheap, but fun, Epcot souvenier is the Passport to the World purchased in the Mouse Gear store, it includes a passport and stickers from each of the world showcase countries. CMs in each country will stamp it. My daughters loved doing that. Even better, a free souvenier: Take a picture of yourself wearing a different hat in each country. We did this and a CM in Japan dressed my daughters in full Japanese kimonos with sashes, hair combs and parasols.

Have fun!

 

[kathy884]

We usually have a condo, so save money by 1) Eating a big breakfast in before a full day at a Disney park, 2) bringing along a soft sided cooler or cooler back pack. (For a party of eight, I usually bring six juice boxes, six granola bars, 6 peanut butter or cheese cracker packs, a dozen sandwiches, banannas, and grapes.). Then for lunch/snacks we eat our own food. Later in the day -- maybe around 4:30 p.m., we'll get some counter service food and a Mickey Bar (I can't go to Disney without getting one of these, so have to offer them to the kids too.) // 3) After leaving the park, we'll buy buy $1 burgers at a Wendy's drive though and compliement that with salad, cole slaw, and fruit back at our condo. We don't want to do any major cooking after a big theme park day.

I also give kids a vacation allowance budget -- any money they don't spend they can keep (That means they are weighing souvinirs against the latest video game they are interested in that's available at Best Buy and are more prudent in their choices.) Young ones are often very tempted to spend it all the first day, so I dole in out thoughout the week, meaning if it's a big ticket item they see that they want, they need to save up and go back closer to the end of the trip.

20 Trips with # 21 coming up // The boards, though, say I’m just earning my ears.
March 1971 – KOA closest to Disney (camping)
March 1972 – Jellystone Park (camping)
March 1974 – Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1974 – Outdoor Resorts of American (camping)
March 1975 – Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1975 – Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1976 – Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1977 -- Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1986 – Marriott Royal Palms (condo by Marriott World Center)
May 1993 – Disney Contemporary (Garden Wing) (hotel)
Dec. 1994 – Polynesian Isles (condo)
May 1999 – Disney Contemporary (Main Building with high floor and Magic Kingdom view) (hotel)
Dec. 2001 – Cypress Pointe (condo)
March 2003 – Sheraton Vistana – Cascades section (condo)
March 2004 – Sheraton Vistana – Cascades section (condo)
Dec. 2004 -- Cypress Pointe (condo)
June 2006 –Tampa relative’s condo
June 2007 – Cypress Point Grandvillas (condo). Disney -- Port Orleans Riverside (hotel), and Sheraton Vistana – Fountains section (condo) – stayed three different places on this trip.
Dec. 2008 – Sheraton Vistana Resort (remodeled Fountains section) (condo)
Oct. 2009 – Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld (hotel)
(Will be going again March 2010 – staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld again)

 

[Planogirl]

Did I almost miss a mug thread?

Anyway, to save money be sure to avoid buying drinks in the parks and stay away from buffets. Also, if you stay offsite check out Expedia or a similar website to see who has discounts. Try to find a place that offers breakfast and maybe has a fridge in the room. A shuttle can also be nice but how good they are varies.

 

[tiki23]

You can get sandwiches, burgers, etc. ala carte if you ask, so if you don't want the fries, fruit or whatever you don't have to pay for it.

Ask for the fry alternative in your combo meal and save the carrots, grapes whatever for a healthy snack later in the day.

 

[sters]

We usually eat cereal, muffin, fruit in our room (which we've brought from home), which saves time and money. When we do TS, we eat at lunch and I never order soda, just drink water. Bring a water bottle and snack in our belly bag. Counter service the rest. I hadn't thought to do that bit with the double hamburger/extra roll at Pecos Bill, but think that's an excellent suggestion! Really, buy sodas for us is a waste of time...2 or three bucks...when I could apply the cost to an ice cream later! But that's not really "saving" but reallocating. Some people bring in a picnic lunch to save money, too. We're just not that organized.

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

We also do the breakfast in our room.
-I buy a 6.99 toaster at walmart before we go, and we have bagels or english muffins in the morning. With our cereal or breakfast bars.
I just toss the toaster when we leave.
-We do a grocery stop on the way to our resort the first day, for snacks in the parks, and breakfast items.
-The kids have been saving their own money for souvenirs. And they just had a birthday party, so they have even more money !!!
-We rent a car, so we drive off-site for dinners.
-We do share alot of our meals, mostly to save room for yummy desserts later.

 

[sters]

You can get sandwiches, burgers, etc. ala carte if you ask, so if you don't want the fries, fruit or whatever you don't have to pay for it.

Ask for the fry alternative in your combo meal and save the carrots, grapes whatever for a healthy snack later in the day.

I didn't know that! So, if we bring our own sides (pretzels, fruit, juice box), this could be really affordable for a family of 5. Thanks for the tip!