Should we be buying anything now to save?

[disneychrista]

Just remember you do not NEED to buy glow stuff to begin with, so if you truely want to save money skip them all together.

 

[MSSANDRA]

So now you know you need sun screen.

Reality, I keep a Trip bag at all times and add to it anytime I see good deals for WDW or travel in general. I get more specific as dates of planned trips approach.

As the Summer comes to a close look for sales on:

Sunscreen...but check to dates on it.
Summer travel toys....Cracker Barrel has a huge selection and are good about marking down.

Replacements for summer clothes... Feb is still iffy weather in Florida... you may need summer or winter or anything in between but you will for sure want to at least pack a swim suit.

I also keep my eyes out for sample size products, especially Disney themed
Disney themed items such as band-aids, snacks (as date gets closer but remember many food's dates are MONTHS out), t-shirts, socks, etc.

Watch for sales on bags, cameras etc if you need these items.

Plan your new tennis shoe purchases so shoes are well broken in but not worn out. Maybe new shoes for Christmas for everyone.

I also pick up things like ponchos, disposable tooth brushes etc a few things at a time, anytime I am in the $ store. Free samples are also a great way to add to your needs list.

We travel a lot so we just pull from the huge bag as we need to and restock constantly.

 

[Sagginit]

hmmm sunscreen, ponchos, any warm weather clothes, it looks like most items are covered. i too spread it out so i have less to buy right before the trip.

i would also suggest start collecting freebie samples of toiletries to pack. i do this to save but also in part because i like to toss as much as i can before i return home to lighten the load for souvenirs. those little packets of shampoo/conditioner always way less and are easier to pack than mini bottles.

and on that note a packing tip i learned is to pack old clothes i was going to toss anyway. this may not work for growing kids but for adults if you find socks, panties, pjs etc on their last leg set aside now. on the trip you can use them and then toss them there, that way you have less to bring home. the first time i heard this i thought it was crazy but then i did it on my trip last fall and it left me a lot more room to bring things home. however i only find a few of each item i need to toss a year so it may take months to weed these out of laundry and put aside.

 

[laurafergie]

Batteries! My recharable batteries went kaput at the AK and I bought regular AA to get by....I think they were like $14 for 8!

 

[jaminmd]

Just remember you do not NEED to buy glow stuff to begin with, so if you truely want to save money skip them all together.

I agree with you 100%. Those glow sticks are junk in comparison to the light up toys they sell at night. What is wrong with just saying no to a toy if you don't want to buy it for your child?

This is the budget board yet I see people "stocking up" on dollar store type junk or pre-buying souvenirs. Save money and don't buy the unnecessary junk. Going to the parks is a treat/stimulation enough. JMO.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

When Toys R Us has crayola on sale during back to school, get the triangular crayons for the plane (or car) ride. They won't roll off the tray table and down the floor! I also bought fabric markers on sale and we brought a pillow case to character meals for them to sign.

Target has autograph books a few times a year, sometimes Michaels also has them. They have a lot more pages than the Disney ones and are smaller- much easier to lug around. I used to buy the Disney ones and my daughter actually likes the $1 spiral ones better! She also collects stickers around the park to put in it (security, the horse ranch, custodians, etc... have a special stickers)

I have taken DD every Jan or Feb from 2 months old until 5 years old. We have never needed bug spray (and DD is a mosquito magnet) or misting fans- we have needed sunscreen and a hat/sunglasses. Get the sunglasses now if they still have them.

Little kids ponchos can be hard to find, harder to find in winter. You won't need very heavy duty, not a lot of rain in Feb. We have never bought the WDW ones. I have used my rain cover for the stroller.

I am on team 'bring glow sticks and bracelets.' I always pick up a $1 few packs of bracelets and it is amazing how happy kids get (and not just your own kids-lol) when you start passing them out before a parade. If you buy glow sticks (i.e Dollar Store has wand and pirate ones), they are super easy to find around Halloween. If you have a freezer in your room, put the used glow stick in the freezer and it will work again for the next parade.

In Feb- you willl probably need gloves for the evening. I always bring some cheap fleece gloves & hats. I would also get each kid a swimsuit in the next size up on clearance.

My kid loves PB&J- I saved more money just making her a sandwich and bringing it to the park when we had counter meals. I got her a Disney sandwich container from Target dollar spot (and still uses it now for school)

I always bring a bottle of Children's/Infant's Tylenol. I have no clue how much that would cost in the gift shops!

When there are coupons, stock up on travel size baby wipes.

 

[daisyduck123]

DS & I both got fried one January trip. On our check-in day, we spent the afternoon by the SSR pool, waiting for our room to be ready....didn't think we needed suncreen.

By the time our room was ready, we were toast.

 

[kcdisneymom]

On a couple of our trips we shipped non-perishables via UPS to the hotel with the date of our arrival on the outside of the package. It was like a present when we got there. Small boxes of laundry detergent, travel size personal items, coloring books and crayons, individual pckts of kool-aid (bought water from garden grocer), disposable razor, and even the powder baby formula and diapers. It left 3 days before we did, so I didn't have to worry about packing any of it in the suitcase.