Trying to save money flying to WDW

[Sammy]

LOL....ok, you had me until the 3rd paragraph! Thanks for the early morning laugh

 

[MinnieForMe]

Too funny but sadly not far from the truth with some of the posts on here!

 

[Arielle22]

You had me at first but then it was a good laugh. Thanks for the chuckle.

 

[Green Tea]

The only tip I would add is when you visit the pools at the other resorts to swipe another family's mugs as soon as you get there so you can enjoy soda at all the resorts. Then sell them on ebay when you get home.

 

[Shih-Tzu]

You're going to be pretty tired of tuna before the trip is over - may I recommend that you buy admission to one buffet meal for one of the kids and send them in with SEVERAL baggies to fill? Maybe you could train the YOUNGEST one - I see he is under three, so he wouldn't have to pay at all. That would be alright, wouldn't it?

I hope that you get that job so you can buy into DVC while you're there (or if you own DVC, maybe you could buy more points?).

Another thought - find another family that shares your interest in money management - have them book a room for 4, but get a whole bunch of sleeping bags - someone COULD sleep in the tub, another under the vanity, the younger two could share a Pack'n'Play, maybe one could bunk out in a dresser drawer? Do you really think Mousekeeping would notice that you had been using the ironing board as a bed as long as you put it away each morning? Like, do you think they might check on how many are in the room? By using the sleeping bags to carry your clothes from the airport, they will serve double-duty and are less likely to rip than a garbage bag. (BTW - get the other family to ask on check in for all the free upgrades they can get - conceirge would be much more comfy and you wouldn't have to carry as much tuna in your pocket because your family can cruise through the lounge there just like a herd of locusts of almost biblical perportions).

Sounds like you have a big crowd for a family - maybe you need to have a big coloured flag on a stick to wave to keep your group together. If you do that, apparently only one person has to get in line for the attractions, and then just when it's almost their turn, then the rest of you can rush by everyone else to get "with the rest of your group"? If anyone says anything, just mumble another language (study a menu posted in WS in Epcot for fancy foreign words).

Great idea about the 2004 mugs!!! Best of luck on your trip - keep us posted on how it went!!!

Actually - you had me there for a little bit - I think I was on at least the 3rd or 4th paragraph before it clicked in (I think it's when I saw the number of posts you've made to the boards)....because people have asked questions almost as absurd!!!!!

 

[ccgirl]

I gotta admit. You had me until the mugs. You need to throw in using your neighbors ticket and can your 5 year old pass for under 3 since they are really short.

 

[trip]

In the past, we have had the "corn family". You can be the "stay puft marshmallow family".

 

[cat83]

Hey, we're looking to save money too-

This trip will be just DH and I, and if you have 4 people, we can all split a tent sight at FW. I think the limit it 10- so any other families of 4 out there wanna join in the share?

I don't have a tent, but we're going in December when the nights are cool... you don't have to worry about flying with sleeping bags either, I'm sure we can find some just laying around in the other tents
(Same goes for food- forget paying for buns and tuna when there is FREE food on the campsites!!)

 

[surfergirl602]

Ha Ha, OP, you're so funny. :rolls eyes:

 

[luvthemouse71]

That was the funniest thing I've read here in a while. but like a PP said, not so far off from some posts.

 

[Schachteles]

You seriously made my afternoon! LMAO this was awesome, I was laughing so hard I had to read it for my coworkers, they were rolling!

 

[a1tinkfans]

I am NOT going to pay baggage fees to these crooked airlines! We're going for 5 days, so we have come up with a plan.

I'm going to pack each of us a carry-on with underwear, socks, swimsuits and extra shoes and small toiletries in clear bags to get through security.

Anything that doesn't fit in the carry-ons, we're going to wear in layers on the plane. For example, DS11 would wear his regular underwear and then layer four more pairs of shorts, four more t-shirts. Then, when we get to MCO, we'll go to the bathroom and strip the layers off and carry them in a a garbage bag that I'll put in the carry-on. That will save us at least $200 on the trip in saved baggage fees. We're also going to fill up all our pockets with snacks and juice to save money on those types of things once we get there.

Does anyone know what the bun policy is at Disney restaurants? I was thinking of taking ziploc bags filled with tuna salad and then just buying buns to save money. I can get those little mayonnaise packets at the condiment area for free, so I think we could knock out two to three lunches depending on how tight the clothes are getting. My DS has a set of cargo shorts that have LOTS of pockets, so I'm pretty sure I can get 4 bags of tuna on him with no problem.

Also, does anyone know where I can get some Disney mugs before we go? We're staying at Pop, so that would be a great saver to just fill up as we go by every time. Do you know can you put milk in the mugs? My DS4 really likes milk in his cereal and I'll be stashing cereal in his diaper bag so he can cereal in the morning for breakfast.

Ohh and one more question, not really budget related, but DS9 is really ADD and he doesn't like to stand in lines. I've read about special passes for special needs kids and I think he would really enjoy his vacation more if there was a way he could just bypass the lines. He's really hard to manage when his hands are idle. I usually let him have a hand-held video game to help him not freak out, but we sold those games on craigslist to pay for BBB for DD2 while we are at Magic Kingdom. I think I can get a note from his doctor about standing in lines - would that help? I was hoping that if I just said he was special needs we could get a pass without having to jump through too many hoops. Does anyone know how I can get one of those passes?

You can just post answers here on this thread and I'll check back the next time I'm at the library. I've got to apply for a certain number of jobs to keep my UE coming, so I'm at the library a few days a week and I can check it then. I thought I was going to get this one job, but they wanted me to start right away and I've been planning this vacation for so long and my kids would be so disappointed if we didn't go.

Thanks for the responses in advance!

if its remotely accurate

 

[CowboyCO]

It just occurred to me that we're going to need to save those baggage fees on the way back as well, but after 16-hour days in the Florida sun, I'm sure they are going to need to be washed. I'd just rinse all the clothes out in the sink and hang them to dry, but with all that humidity, I don't think would dry very well. If I could get a ground floor room, I could probably string a line up outside between a couple of trees and leave them out to dry while we are at the parks...

But - you know, in thinking about it, I don't want to take that much time away washing stuff when I'm on vacation, so I think we'll just layer them back on for the trip home. As long as the first layer is clean, who cares, right? Besides, it's only a 4 hour flight.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

AAAH well, since I can't go back to WDW til 2011, at least I can have a laugh...

Well, if we all follow the ideas in your OP, we can all get back sooner!
Thanks for the laugh!!!

It just occurred to me that we're going to need to save those baggage fees on the way back as well, but after 16-hour days in the Florida sun, I'm sure they are going to need to be washed. I'd just rinse all the clothes out in the sink and hang them to dry, but with all that humidity, I don't think would dry very well. If I could get a ground floor room, I could probably string a line up outside between a couple of trees and leave them out to dry while we are at the parks...

But - you know, in thinking about it, I don't want to take that much time away washing stuff when I'm on vacation, so I think we'll just layer them back on for the trip home. As long as the first layer is clean, who cares, right? Besides, it's only a 4 hour flight.

Great idea! I'll bet if you layer all those stinky clothes, you'll suddenly have your own private flight home!

 

[KENNYBOT]

Want to save money flying to WDW, fly into Tampa. Usually cheaper and much smaller airport. Easy in and out.

 

[Samar]

On the off chance that the OP was serious, try to limit your carry ons to 2. One bag for adults, one for the kids. We did that and pre-paid it (to save $4). We also brought one small EMPTY carry on suitcase that was for souvenirs. If it couldn't fit in the bag, we didn't buy it.

As for the rest of the post,

And if this was indeed a mockery of some of past crazy posts, then and well written

 

[dvcminnie]

thanks for the laugh If you go fly Jetblue the first checked bag is free and they have tv's to keep the kids happy.

 

[sydneysmom]

I'm pretty sure if your kid has his pockets full of tuna fish, the rest of the crowd will be more than happy to let him go right to the head of the line.

OMG, this is HILARIOUS!! when I read this I about fell out of my chair !

In all seriousness, I really hope this is a fake thread becuase there can't be a person alive who would forgo suitcases in lieu of trash bags.... not even to mention packing their kid w/ tuna then jacking mayo off the condiment table.

But if the OP wants a tip for money saving, just buy one park ticket and let one family member go in, ride the rides, see what they want....then head out and tag the next family member and give them the park pass. THAT could save hundreds of $$ ! Sure, the family memories aren't great, but you could each get a photo and photoshop it together so you're all in the pic in front of the castle !

 

[disneyjunkie]

Too funny but sadly not far from the truth with some of the posts on here!

I bet some of those posters were offended by the OP.

In all seriousness, I really hope this is a fake thread becuase there can't be a person alive who would forgo suitcases in lieu of trash bags.... not even to mention packing their kid w/ tuna then jacking mayo off the condiment table.

This is the DIS home of the poster who was planning to give up a BED in order to save money on her disney trip. She planned to take a late flight to MCO. She was staying on site but didn't want to waste money to stay the room the first night for just a few hours.

Most people solve this problem by staying off site that first night. Not this poster. She decided she would just sleep in the airport the first night.

 

[Green Tea]

I bet some of those posters were offended by the OP.



:

Maybe they were just jealous they didn't think of it first.