Taking a budget too far (possible debate)

[Doesney]

I am all for saving a few bucks when I can, but the lengths some of the budget board people go to blows me away. My philosophy is, if I can't afford to eat what I want on vacation, then we probably have no business going at all.

When all is said and done, a disney vacation is quite expensive, but there are certain things that I will not sacrifice, and food is one of them.

No, I will not eat army rations, nor lunchables, nor will I pack up the the kitchen appliances to save a few bucks. I will not let a 2.00 savings on a voucher dictate where I will eat, nor will I force the family to share meals. I won't take dessert back to the room and save it for breakfast the following day.

I feel a vacation should be about splurging and while we do not always have 300.00 meals, we eat where and what we want.

Am I the only vacationer that feels this way or are there others that eat whatever they like?

 

[phillybeth]

I think some people do that type of 'food budgeting' at home, so it becomes second nature. I do pack snacks-peanut butter crackers, granola bars, that sort of stuff for munching on in th room or an afternoon break, and also pop-tarts and such for breakfast, as DH and I are not big breakfast eaters anyway. But I see your point- why don't thy just camp at FW then, if they are taking toaster ovens, microwaves, hot pots, etc and cooking in a hotel room?

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Well, we plan on doing a little bit of both. We have a 3 year old so I like the idea of having snacks in the room as well as pop and bottled water. So we are bringing a small collapsable cooler and will have a grocery stop to pick up these things. If we decide we want a Mickey bar or something won't not get it because we have snacks in the room.

We will also do breakfast in the room most days. Not because of budget, but because I don't like to waste morning park time eating breakfast! LOL! It will probably be cereal and pop tarts, something slong those lines. We do have a couple of character breakfasts planned though.


I could never cook in my room or anything like that. One of the fun things about vacation is trying all of the great restaurants!

 

[jkovick]

You are not alone. I think that it's fine for people to take little snacks and things with them in the room, however bringing appliances and cooking is, not only a fire code violation, but is way over the top! I think there are reasonable money savers people can use, but moderation is the key. Smuggling in picnics to the parks, in room cooking etc would add stress to my vacation, not aid in my enjoyment.

 

[tastelikecandy]

Ok, here is what gives me a laugh. I know so many people who drive SUV 's or BMW's so they can look like they have money and live in a shack, open the window's so they don't have to use the A/C, get one buffet plate for all six kids, and take advantage of welfare and social security. Did I say that made me laugh, actually it makes me nautious.

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

I guess we're kind of like Jenn Lynn. We try and do a grocery stop and pick up beverages, nuts, other snack items. And DH and I do share entrees at times, but it is more because the portions are so large (and then we have room for dessert LOL).

I guess it is all where we individually draw the line. I think spending $2.50 for a bottle of water when I drink 4 in a day is too much, so I will buy and bring in my own water. However, I wouldn't try and make a free salad out of the condiment bar at a restaurant though.

And I will bring in snacks as generally the snacks in the parks are more than I want or need in terms of volume.

 

[Ursula]

ITA! I scrimp and save all year so I can splurge a little bit while on vacation! I do buy snacks & drinks for the room but that is more for convenience than anything else. When we're out in the parks, we eat what we want.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Your not alone. I buy everything when I'm on vacation. Food, drinks, snacks, everything.

When I go somewhere it is a VACATION, that mean's no preparation beforehand and just get pampered the entire time Not having to prepare any type of meal or snack is a vacation for me!!!

 

[Doesney]

We ALWAYS buy a case of water too. But there is a difference between that and lugging a microwave half way across the country to make macaroni and cheese at the Allstars.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I say that if that is the kind of vacation you like, then you should do it that way. I don't get to go out that often (with wild DS4&DS6) so even a family restaurant is a treat for me-I don't have to cook! I personally couldn't enjoy a meal that cost me $300, but that is just me. Now, DH gets nice sized gift certificates every once in a while to some of the best restaurants around here, and I have no problem spending $150 on dinner if it's someone else's dime. But if it came out of my own pocket...I'd rather do something else with the money..

I don't disagree with you at all...I wish I could "splurge" more often! I guess I DO eat what I want..I just don't want the expensive stuff!!

I bring snacks and drink boxes into the park for convenience. I would NOT pack a picnic to sneak in..Too much trouble. I have brought a coffee maker to a Value Resort because there were none available, mostly for the convenience. The next time I stay at the Pop Century by myself, and I will be buying my refillable mug because I can easily run back and forth to the cafeteria.
I cannot imagine packing up like the Clampets and bringing in the cooking stove, your own microwave, and refrigerator. At that point it is no longer a vacation, but a camping trip.... I have brought in a cooler for easy access to drinks, and breakfast food because DS's move reallllllyyyy sllllooooowwww in the a.m., so we don't have time to go out to get breakfast.

 

[wvrevy]

Well, with the caveat that I am more the same type of vacationer you are (I don't wanna cook nuthin' ), I can somewhat sympathise with people that have to really scrape and be careful with a budget. We weren't exactly rich when I was a kid, so the only way we'd have ever been able to go to WDW would have been to cut as many corners as possible. We chose NOT to do that, so I never stepped foot in WDW until my 1st wedding anniversary...

If you limit this debate to "those that can afford it", then I'd totally agree...But for some people, skimping and clipping coupons is the only way they can afford to get to WDW, so I certainly can't fault them for it.

 

[sue1013]

As long as no one's cooking in their room bring whatever snacks, breakfast food, drinks, whatever you want. The posts on the budget board I find really, really strange are "I'm planning my food budget, how much is a mickey bar, how much is tax at the restaurants?" That would be no vacation to me if I had to think about the tax at the restaurants. Sounds way to stressful, might as well stay home.

 

[arminnie]

I traveled on business extensively for many, many years and stayed in 4-5 star hotels and could order anything that I wanted. So to me it's not that big of a deal to go out and have a nice meal.

For me going to WDW is about the experience of being there not what I eat. But that's just my personal preference. I would much rather use the money to go shopping.

I'm often so tired at the end of the day that to go out would be punishment not a treat.

 

[shelbyjosh]

I feel that if you have to be on that tight of a budget at WDW, then you really shouldn't be there! How can you go there and expect to only spend X amount per meal? C'mon, that is a little much! It's one thing to scrimp and save to go, but to scrimp while you are there-no way! We do take snacks to tide us over between meals and we also have our own water bottles that we refill each night and freeze for the next day. This is minor compared to what so of these other people have expressed doing.

 

[Disney Ella]

My family was poor growing up and vacation meant going to a state park cabin and bringing our own blankets, sheets, pots and pans, and dishes. My mother cooked every meal, but still managed to look forward to going on vacation. How I don't know.

I usually bring some cereal to WDW and the kids and I will eat in the room because we don't want to waste time in a restaurant and everyone isn't always in a restaurant mood first thing in the morning. We try to bring our own water in, but usually don't bring in snacks.

I look forward to going to the different restaurants and even though we'll be spending half of our stay at Cypress Pointe Grand Villas, I can't imagine that we'll really do much cooking. If we weren't able to afford to do this, I wouldn't let if keep me from WDW. I don't know if I'd go so far to bring cooking appliances with me, but I'd be looking for every opportunity to cut costs.

 

[totalia]

I'm just setting a certain amount that I think will tide us over for that time but I won't be using vouchers or anything and there won't be restrictions. So long as nobody is going over $20 a meal, we should be fine.

 

[Talking Hands]

DH and I will frequently share a hot dog for a snack or share something like fries but it is because we know will not finish 2 orders of something not because we must. We don't share drinks because he wants a soda and I can't have those sold at Disney so I bring my own or have iced tea.
It is not a savings thig for us but we don't want to pay for what we will not eat anyway.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by Doesney
I feel a vacation should be about splurging and while we do not always have 300.00 meals, we eat where and what we want.

Golf claps for you.

I don't think it should be too hard to realize that for some people, splurging is not an option for every meal. Just as it is YOUR choice as to where and what to eat on YOUR vacation, it is everyone else's right to choose where and what THEY eat on THEIR vacation.

Rather than passing judgment on someone for choosing to take dessert back to their room or eating Lunchables or deciding where to eat so they can save a few bucks, why not just enjoy your own vacation and quit worrying about what someone else is or might be doing.

Your vacation, your choice. Their vacation, THEIR CHOICE. As long as it doesn't hurt you, why does it matter?

 

[Doesney]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
Golf claps for you.

Back atcha buddy

 

[KimR]

I would never cook on vacation - we like to have nice dinners in sit-down restaurants with a relaxing atmosphere. Food is very important to us and we don't mind spending the money on a good meal. However, if others prefer to scrimp and save, using vouchers and eating crackers and cereal I couldn't care less. How other families spend their money on vacation is their business. And as for thinking someone has no business going to WDW if they have to be on a tight budget: We all have different budgets and different prirorities: I don't think any of us have any business judging how others spend their vacation money.