This is really weird!!!***UPDATE on page 3***

[RitaZ.]

A one-day hopper ticket? I have never heard of that. Whenever we have stayed on WDW property and used a FL resident discount, we have to show proof of residency at check-in. I guess that family knows something we don't...

 

[katerkat]

Wow! Um, that's not a budget. Nor would I have spent so much on toys if I was on a budget. Nor would I have eaten at Fulton's if I was on a budget. And all in all, that's a pretty stupid and unhelpful news article.

 

[ead79]

Yep, I saw that article in our paper (I'm from the Atlanta area). I was shocked at how poorly the author budgeted her money. I could certainly do a LOT better than that for $900, as could all DISers! That souvenir budget was astronomical. I am considering sending in a letter about the article, offering to give a sample budget of my own.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Originally posted by katerkat
Wow! Um, that's not a budget. Nor would I have spent so much on toys if I was on a budget. Nor would I have eaten at Fulton's if I was on a budget. And all in all, that's a pretty stupid and unhelpful news article.

My sentiments exactly! Especially your last sentence.

 

[Indyman]

Two mugs $20: Most seen item at hotel, free refills soda, juice or coffee during your stay

At least she cleared up this confusion.

 

[honeywolf7]

Yes, Fulton's still has a menu posted outside (or at least they did in September.)

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by Indyman
At least she cleared up this confusion.

 

[noel]

I'm assuming she brought along an extra suitcase to pack all of their souveniers in - otherwise she would've needed to buy one and that would have put her WAY over budget.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Here's the email I just sent to the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

To Whom It May Concern,

First of all I would just like to say if someone is going to an article on trying to help someone take a trip to Disney, then perhaps they need to do a little more research. The problem me and a lot of people are having with this article is the fact she got the FL resident discount for the hotel room and she isn't one. Every FL resident is checked at the desk with an ID before checking in. We'd like to know how that discount was available to someone from GA. I'm assuming she's from GA since she writes on your paper. Also, the 1 day hopper passes. Those are ONLY available to cast members. How do I know that, I was one and gave the 2 passes I had away to a friend after I left Disney. So how did she get those? And what's the purpose of visiting Disney for 2 days if you're going to only visit one park?
If she was on a budget, why did she eat at one of the most expensive restaurants in Disney...Fulton's Crabhouse??? There's a menu right outside the restaurant and she and her family could have scoped it out before going in. She mentioned at how surprised she was on what they spent. Also, why did she spend so much on souvenirs if she was "on a budget". The last time I was in Disney I bought hundreds of dollars in sovenirs, but I had the money to spend. I spent close to $200 in souvees as I purchased for a lot of friends and myself and husband, but I had more than $900 for a 2 day budget. My husband and I were there for 9 days and 8 nights.
Please forgive me, but as a former journalist major and writer for my school newspaper and currently editor for a publishing company, the article was poorly written and very misleading. Understand where I'm coming from please, I'm not trying to be insulting, just constructive criticism: if you're trying to help someone get to Disney on a budget, then make sure all your means are available to them. 1 day hopper passes ARE NOT available to everyone unless they are friends with a Disney CM. The room at the FL resident is DEFINITELY NOT available to anyone unless the FL resident is standing there checking in with them. Now if the friend was a Disney CM, that's what she should have said as they get there rooms for 50% off the rack rates and DON'T have to be there at check-in, but don't say the friend was a FL resident, because that makes us FL residents very upset knowing others are using a perk that was specifically designed for us.
Look at it this way for me, someone (a family of 4 just like in your article) reads that article who is planning say a quick 3 day trip to Disney and all they have to budget is about $1000 for their 3 days. They are NOT FL residents and they want to purchase 4 day hopper passes, AND they don't have any connections to anyone in FL for discounts of ANY type. Based on the article in your paper, they won't be able to do it, because they're going to see what she spent in 2 days $863.23 and think...."wow, we need another $700 at least to make our trip." I'm a FL resident, and for my 7 day 5 night trip in a couple years I have about $1200 budgeted. That's $300 more than what your journalist was given for only 2 days and look how many more days I'm staying.
It's very misleading and just doesn't make a whole lot of sense for what she spent being "on a budget". $200+ dollars on souvenirs and she was on a budget...why? I told my neices no on a lot of things when I took them to Disney three years ago, because Aunt Denise was on a budget and didn't have it to spend. They did get a couple of souvenirs each, there was 3 of them, but that was it, THAT was what I budgeted. All souvees were also under $15.

Disney on a budget
Visit to House of Mouse tests family's ability to keep expenses down while making memories

That's the title of the article written by:
By SHILA NIEVES BURNEY
The Journal-Constitution

Please see how misdirecting that title is after reading the article to those who haven't been to Disney and even to those who have. I hope to hear from someone soon as I want to be sure that you understand, I'm not angry at the article, I just don't understand how her expenditures were being on a budget. Help me to understand this please.

Sincerely,

Denise Watson

What do you all think? Hope I didn't come across as harsh, but they need to understand how misleading that article was.

 

[phamton]

I thought the one day pass she was talking about was an UPH as she stayed onsite. I know you can't buy a 1 day PH but can't you get a one day UPH if you are staying onsite?

 

[honeymo78]

I thought the UPH only applied when you had a minimum stay - I can't remember whether it is 3 days or 3 nights.

 

[jiminy579]

Denise,
I am anxious to read the reply you get! I am surprised that her story passed the editor's desk! Obviously those who proofed it haven't been on the DIS before! Just imagine the amazing money saving tips we could come up with if everyone here picked their favorite tip to post!!! Now that article would be worth its weight in gold!!

 

[phamton]

There is no 3 day minimum stay for UPH according to: http://allearsnet.com/pl/ticket.htm

Edited to add I see they paid $53. The cheapest UPH I saw was 2 day/1 night $132.06. The only other option is a one day one park ticket which was around the price the author paid.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Originally posted by phamton
There is no 3 day minimum stay for UPH according to: http://allearsnet.com/pl/ticket.htm

That's fine, no one is disagreeing with you on this fact. Our point is, how unbelievable this article is. Nothing she did was in a budget.

 

[Dog]

I re-read the article and another thing that strikes me as odd is that they are saying they were there for two days. But the way they ate was 3 days (resort breakfast last day) which means they must have spent two nights.
Heres the odd part. I am assuming they used their one day "park hopper" on the second day. The first day they ate at Fultons . The second day and I assume, was the only day at the parks. Why did they eat off property (Bahama Breeze) when they were on such time constraints. Would it not have been better to eat off property the first night ;and if it had to be Fultons, eat there the second night after parks closing. I DONT GET IT .

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Here's the short reply I got to this "interesting" article:


I'm sorry you didn't get a reply. I sent your information to our
Public
Editor and a correction was done on the type of discount (cast member)
and
the type of ticket (one day-one park ticket).

Thanks for taking the time to read our publication.

Interesting huh? At least she admits her mistake on the two factors most of us were in debate about. Still though..... It took nearly 2 weeks for this small reply too.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Tiggerlover91
Here's the short reply I got to this "interesting" article:


I'm sorry you didn't get a reply. I sent your information to our
Public
Editor and a correction was done on the type of discount (cast member)
and
the type of ticket (one day-one park ticket).

Thanks for taking the time to read our publication.

Interesting huh? At least she admits her mistake on the two factors most of us were in debate about. Still though..... It took nearly 2 weeks for this small reply too.

In my opinion, those were two very big and miseading 'mistakes'. It's a journalist's job to check facts. Where did she get her degree, a Cracker Jack box???