tips to save money!!!

[d1gitman]

we try to maximize what we get out of the fixed costs by going for as many days possible, usually 10 days.

for instance, travel. we have to pay for travel from Boston to Orlando and back. The more days we stay, the 'lower' the cost per day our travel is.

Same with park passes. The price difference between a 5 or 7 or 10 day pass is minimal.

this leave food, which we try to go during free ddp (i know some people think it's not free)

accomodations, we usually stay at a value resort. we are a family of 4 so we can all fit in a regular room

magic express....no need for a rental.

 

[amberdburke]

You can check out my PTR link below for all of the $ saving ideas we are using, but the biggest thing I've been doing is using survery sites, mypoints, etc. to get free giftcards to use while we're there.

I have "earned" $30 in Visa Gift Cards
Several $5 fast food cards to use while we're driving
$25 Rainforest Cafe GC
$75 Best Western GC for the drive down
Several gas cards

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Regarding the free water...I'm starting to think I'm the only water snob out there. I just cannot drink that Florida water. The smell is too much for me. In fact, I don't even like to order soda at a CS restaurant because they tend to pre-pour them, then ice melts, and the soda tastes like .

Am I the only one?

Another tip for saving money that we use is that we put our cash (or, we're really old timers, travelers' checks) for each day of the trip in its own envelope, which we store in the room safe. We grab an envelope in the morning and go, and anything that's left goes back into the safe. Sometimes we use the leftovers to buy souvenirs at the end of the trip. There is always money left over. It's harder to spend cash than it is to swipe a card. It's more "real."

 

[hollypoast]

we try to maximize what we get out of the fixed costs by going for as many days possible, usually 10 days.

for instance, travel. we have to pay for travel from Boston to Orlando and back. The more days we stay, the 'lower' the cost per day our travel is.

Same with park passes. The price difference between a 5 or 7 or 10 day pass is minimal.

this leave food, which we try to go during free ddp (i know some people think it's not free)

accomodations, we usually stay at a value resort. we are a family of 4 so we can all fit in a regular room

magic express....no need for a rental.

I like the way you think... I wish I could convince my DH that longer trip= less cost per day.

Here's what we do:
-filtered water bottle
-we reuse our disney ponchos (you can put them in the dryer for 5 seconds or so and they fold right back up and fit in a zip lock)
-disney visa to earn gift cards
-bring snacks
-grocery delivery, if staying with whole fam
-pre-buy souvenirs on clearance at the Disney Store and set them out to surprise the kids when we return each day
-ask for Disney GCs for Christmas
-split meals at all restaurants, even table service (but over tip waitstaff so they don't loose out on full tip, if we all ordered entrees)
-keep watching for travel deals and rebook, rebook, rebook
-book airfare as soon as your dates are released
-loose change jar
etc.

 

[huffjoann]

use the crystal light packs in the water to knock off the chlorine taste

Even though we do the dining plan, I still bring in a few fruit chew type snacks or granola bars to tide us over,, for some reason we seem to NEED snacks while waiting on que, LOL.

Bring in your own glow sticks for fire works, night parades etc.

def skip the hoopers,, just plan out your days ahead with EMH or ADRs and you will find that you don't need to do the hoopers,, also it saves time,, you will waste time just going from place to place, why not enjoy one place for the day,

 

[jennabcassell]

I also bring lunch/snacks in the park and get free ice water. I get the crystal light / tea powdered drink packets for the water and put them in our water bottles so the cup doesn't turn into a soggy mess or fall over in the stroller. I also bring lunchables for lunch. They now have sub sandwiches along with the cheese and crackers. I take them out of the cardboard pouches and they are all sealed in plastic, throw them in the soft sided insulated lunch bag under the stroller and go. My son loves to eat lunch on the TTA!! We get to sit down, its in the shade and has a nice breeze and if were not finished we can usually go around again with out getting off!! Then we splurge on a mickey ice cream bar!!
And always bring your own glow sticks for target or the dollar store!! I love to see the smiles on other kids faces when we share our extras!!

 

[lauralong81]

skip park hoppers, and...

don't bring your kids. That saves TONs o money!

 

[stargazertechie]

use the crystal light packs in the water to knock off the chlorine taste

Even though we do the dining plan, I still bring in a few fruit chew type snacks or granola bars to tide us over,, for some reason we seem to NEED snacks while waiting on que, LOL.

Bring in your own glow sticks for fire works, night parades

def skip the hoopers,, just plan out your days ahead with EMH or ADRs and you will find that you don't need to do the hoopers,, also it saves time,, you will waste time just going from place to place, why not enjoy one place for the day,

I would rather cut off my own arm than skip hoppers. Having the option to take advantage of EMH at one park, and then hop to the least crowded park... My time is valuable too- definitely worth the $55 or so!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I would rather cut off my own arm than skip hoppers. Having the option to take advantage of EMH at one park, and then hop to the least crowded park... My time is valuable too- definitely worth the $55 or so!

It may be worth $55 to you, but for a family of four it is an easy $220 to cut.

 

[Belle83]

Regarding the free water...I'm starting to think I'm the only water snob out there. I just cannot drink that Florida water. The smell is too much for me. In fact, I don't even like to order soda at a CS restaurant because they tend to pre-pour them, then ice melts, and the soda tastes like .

Am I the only one?

Another tip for saving money that we use is that we put our cash (or, we're really old timers, travelers' checks) for each day of the trip in its own envelope, which we store in the room safe. We grab an envelope in the morning and go, and anything that's left goes back into the safe. Sometimes we use the leftovers to buy souvenirs at the end of the trip. There is always money left over. It's harder to spend cash than it is to swipe a card. It's more "real."

It's not just you. The FL water smells like sulfur, it's really gross.

 

[Satchmo128]

- We bring our own water bottles in to the park and refill as necessary (I am usually a water snob, but just deal with it when I am there. The Crystal Lite packets do help, though!)
- In the months leading up to the trip we get Disney giftcards to use throughout the trip (we stay offsite, so no dining plan for us. Everything is OOP)
- Being friends with a cast member usually affords us some free park tickets and a free car to use while we are there...

 

[rentayenta]

~ buy trading pins from eBay. I have a few great sellers who will combine shipping making the savings even greater. My biggest score was 40 pins for less than $1 a pin inclduing shipping.

~ like other have stated we share food, even at TS. This isn't so much to save money but it's a secondary gain. I have a small appetite as does my middle DD so she and I will often share. Again we don't share to save money, we share to not waste food.

~ hit up the Dollar area at Target. I have found some great Disney trinkets there and like to leave pixiedust gifts each night.

~ use our DVC discount where ever possible. We may get one AP this year and buy the TiW card. I still need to do the math.

~ bring ponchos, batteries, and sunscreen from home. I bought Disney ponchos in Sept 2007 during a crazy storm, I still have them and they are still like new. Taking care of your things helps them to last longer. Same goes for the misting fans. We still have them from a 2006 Disneyland trip. I have a little Disney storage area in my basement.

~ allow each child to bring two of their favorite Disney plush animals. This saves BIG. My children still love their Disney plush so if they have them to go back to each night, the requests for new ones are few.

~ take pictures with your phone of the ride photos. I'm not hauling some 8x10 picture around all day.

 

[d1gitman]

I like the way you think... I wish I could convince my DH that longer trip= less cost per day.

I am fortunate that DW and I are on the same wavelength with WDW and how to spend our money. We always set a budget and then try to squeeze everything we can out of that budget with keeping our 'wants' in tact as best as possible.

 

[Jletendre]

Lot of good ideas but the big expenses you can only save so much (room, tickets, airfare). We always book with a Disney discount (room, free dining etc). If Disney ever stopped these attendance would likely drop!

We buy as much as we can home (at Walmart, Target etc) vs. in the parks.

- Little fans / misters
- Glow necklaces/bracelets
- Party stores carry assorted lighted PINS
- Autograph pens (plenty of Disney ones in local stores)
- Small breakfast, snack items

My DW also brings little Disney hair things and nail stickers for our own little Bibbity Boppity Botique for DD's.

I find we usually can skip lunch and have a lite meal, snack vs. fill sit down lunch.

 

[Tinkerbell63]

We're a family of 5 and usually purchase the DDP. I'm not a big eater, so sometimes I share a meal with one of my adult kids. At the end of the trip, I've given away my leftover credits to another guest in line to pay. It's great seeing the smile on their face when they get a free meal.

 

[cajunbaby1]

Hit up your Dollar Tree for all of those "disposable" items--cups,plates, etc. They usually have tons of those Glow Stix-bracelets,necklaces.
Water dropins for thos of us who can't drink plain H20.
Great to get things for the kids to play with-games, coloring books. They usually have the Noodles for playing in the pool. Beach toys too. These you can pass on to some kids at the hotel so you won't have to lug them back home with you

Target also has a "dollar section" and you can often times find cute little disney treats for the little ones.

 

[nicoleakr]

I'm surprised the op didn't know about the budget board, being an old timer and all.

I did realize that there was one! I am a creature of habbit lol I just go to the thread and area I like but I will be checking it out!!!Thanks for the tip!!

 

[GinnyEmma]

I did realize that there was one! I am a creature of habbit lol I just go to the thread and area I like but I will be checking it out!!!Thanks for the tip!!

Lol, I wondered. There was a recent bruhaha over there re. In topic vs. Off topic. Useful information is great where ever.

 

[kaligal]

Price flying vs. driving.

Buy your tickets from Undercover Tourist or some such. It's only a few bucks saved, but it's still a few bucks.

Stay off site.

Buy your water and some food at the grocery store.

Stay out of the gift shops. If you don't go in, you won't buy. And when you're dumped into one when exiting a ride, find the exit and go. Don't look around.

 

[megan926]

We are not huge eaters...so when we are @ QS restaurants...we sometimes order kids meals...the burger, fries, and two sides is PLENTY of food for one of us!