Um..so if you're on a budget, would you like...

[RadGirl]

to know about good deals on some of the stuff others are purchasing/finding in prep for their trip?

I know I would

So here's what I've got so far:

Apple's promotion for free rental of stroller. Not using it, but reaaally had to think about it

Back up power/ battery charger for i-phone. I bought 2 from amazon at $1.79 each! (they aren't the highest rated but my coworker uses it and he says it's fine. and w/ my and waiting on lines, I NEED to have a charged phone at all times!


At the Dollar store they have those slap bracelets and the backing is white, so I plan to take a sharpie and write my contact info on id. Voila! I.D bracelet!

What's some of the stuff you've found?

 

[tzeitel]

I like the slap bracelet idea! Never thought of that but will have to remember for our next trip

 

[frannn]

When Disneystore.com has a % off (like the recent F&F 25%), I got a few theme park shirts and a photo album to use in August. I have also gotten autograph books in the past.
Purchased a misty mate (think spray fan) off ebay for about 12.
Got a bagallini from Amazon- about 18.
Bought a new checked bag for half price (thanks to someone here who posted)- about 53.
New refurb camcorder for 82 from Canon.
Wow...seems like a lot..though had I shopped for all this in the few weeks leading up to my trip, I may have spent a lot more.

 

[RadGirl]

Thanks Tzeiteland And Frann! I almost forgot! Dollar store also has Disney journals which i think would make great Autograph books. Alas, they dont have the small pop-up hampers :'(

 

[DawnM]

I love yard sale-ing and thrift store-ing.

When the kids were little there was a thrift store near Disneyland that we would stop at on our way home from DL. We found all sorts of park things there. A $40 Buzz Lightyear toy with cool sounds for $3 is just one example.

Now the kids are older but I still find things like Disney rain pochos for .25-$1, DisneyWorld T-shirts for around $2 barely used (last year I found THREE Pirates Tees that looked new!), Mickey ears hats for $1, and many, many park souvies for very little.

Last year I found several of those 3d etched glass souvies for $2-$3 each.

 

[RadGirl]

Just bought 2 candy filled princess personal mini fans at cvs for $0.89 each (normally $4.99) because they have their valentine's day left overs on clearance !

 

[hollypoast]

I love yard sale-ing and thrift store-ing.

When the kids were little there was a thrift store near Disneyland that we would stop at on our way home from DL. We found all sorts of park things there. A $40 Buzz Lightyear toy with cool sounds for $3 is just one example.

Now the kids are older but I still find things like Disney rain pochos for .25-$1, DisneyWorld T-shirts for around $2 barely used (last year I found THREE Pirates Tees that looked new!), Mickey ears hats for $1, and many, many park souvies for very little.

Last year I found several of those 3d etched glass souvies for $2-$3 each.

Awesome idea!

 

[disneychrista]

Best money saving tip I have, is not not buy a bunch of crap that you don't need. Even if it is "cheaper" it still costs money.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Best money saving tip I have, is not not buy a bunch of crap that you don't need. Even if it is "cheaper" it still costs money.

I have to agree with this. I save money by not buying a bunch of crap I don't need.

My kids are teens and tweens so I don't have to buy a bunch of little Disney junk to have so they can have a new toy every night on our Disney trip. Mine don't ask for little glow sticks or Mickey ears so none of that applies to us.

The main thing we do to save money is use our Southwest Visa to buy all major purchases so that we get SW miles for every dollar spent and we use those miles to pay for our airline tickets.

 

[RadGirl]

I have to agree with this. I save money by not buying a bunch of crap I don't need.

My kids are teens and tweens so I don't have to buy a bunch of little Disney junk to have so they can have a new toy every night on our Disney trip. Mine don't ask for little glow sticks or Mickey ears so none of that applies to us.

The main thing we do to save money is use our Southwest Visa to buy all major purchases so that we get SW miles for every dollar spent and we use those miles to pay for our airline tickets.

Lol! Well, I have little ones

 

[nhmommy]

Now. Can anyone tell me where I can find those collapsable hampers? For cheap?

Do you have a 5 below? I have seen them there. Also I have seen a collapsable toy box in the Wal-mart clearance that would work pretty much the same.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

These might be old news, but they always work well for us so I thought I'd pass them along:

I sign up for free samples of detergent and save them for vacation. I don't always do laundry on trips, but I still bring a little just in case because we have had some situations where we had to do a load. I also picked up a bag of clothespins that I take to hang up wet swimsuits/clothes.

My kids like to trade pins so I buy ahead of time on ebay and clearance on disneystore.com and give them as gifts for Christmas, Easter and birthdays. They make great stocking stuffers.

I'm pretty sure most of you know about the Dollar Tree ponchos, but for any new DISers, I buy two packs of ponchos at the Dollar Tree and if we use them I just throw them away so no carrying around wet ponchos and they are folded up very small so they're easy to put in a pocket or purse.

For the collapsible hampers I think I got one at Walmart with the ironing boards, hangers, etc.

 

[momof1princess]

we take a box of non-perishable food with us to wdw. pop tarts, paper plates, plastic spoons, bananas, apples, a jar of peanut butter; things like that. not only do we save a ton of money buying breakfast, but we save a LOT of time in the mornings. we also take a small cooler with a 1/2 gallon of milk, a few juice boxes, and 3-4 bottles of water for the drive home. we replenish the ice in the cooler from the ice machine at the resort.

 

[RadGirl]

Well, my app is acting up and won't let me quote, but thank you nhmommy, mrsbornkuntry, momof1princess :-D

 

[scribega]

Best money saving tip I have, is not not buy a bunch of crap that you don't need. Even if it is "cheaper" it still costs money.

Had to laugh at this because we had dinner with my parents (one retired and the other semi-retired) the other night and they went on and on about this auction place they go to and how they been buying things for $10 or $25, etc. My dad was like "I just threw out a bid of $15 and nobody else bid so I won it."

It was on all of this stuff that don't need. So they spent hundreds of dollars on stuff and they kept talking about the great deals.

I was tempted to say "I saved hundreds, by not going and not buying."

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

I'm pretty sure most of you know about the Dollar Tree ponchos, but for any new DISers, I buy two packs of ponchos at the Dollar Tree and if we use them I just throw them away so no carrying around wet ponchos and they are folded up very small so they're easy to put in a pocket or purse.

Where did you find them in the store? I casually looked the last time I was there and couldn't find them. Thx!

 

[thebeesknees]

Where did you find them in the store? I casually looked the last time I was there and couldn't find them. Thx!

I found them on the health and beauty aisle, believe it or not. Or you can ask one of the employees. They seem to be seasonal (show up in the spring), so if they are not there the first time you look, keep checking back.

 

[marthachick]

Now. Can anyone tell me where I can find those collapsable hampers? For cheap?

I found mine at our Dollar Tree several years ago. I was looking for the over-the-door shoe holder thingy & they had these also so I grabbed one. We take it every trip we go on. I just leave it and the shoe holder in a suitcase. I have also seen the hampers at Family Dollar and Dollar General near the ironing boards & stuff like that.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Where did you find them in the store? I casually looked the last time I was there and couldn't find them. Thx!

I usually see them up by the registers.

 

[momof1princess]

walmart also has ponchos for about $1-$2, if you can't find them anywhere else cheaper. they're in the sporting goods department.