WDW Dirt Cheap for a family of 6?

[sksjasams]

If you buy a case of water at walmart or target, you can freeze 6 bottles each night. Take them with you in the morning when you head to the parks. Each person will have cold water to drink until lunch. Be sure to put them in a plastic bag before you put them in the backpack so they don't sweat over everything. Pack a sharpee and label the bottle cap of each bottle so you don't get them mixed up.

Have an awesome trip!

 

[Eliza32]

Don't be so quick to dismiss photopass. You can pre-order the CD for $99 (it just sits there in your account waiting for pics to be added) then you get ALL of the pictures. I think it's a really good souvenir for the money, and you get to add lots of disney borders relevant to the year you are there.
The pictures are something your kids could add to their scrapbooks later too. You get 4 weeks to edit the pictures once you get home, so it helps to prolong the magic a bit too.

 

[Marionnette]

Oh YES good idea.
I forgot about those. But don't they hurt your arms. Or am I just showing my age? Do they have decorate-yourself ones? Maybe at Joann's with a coupon??? then the kids could use fabric paint to customize them.

They're not bad if you're not carrying all of your worldly possessions in them. If each kids is carrying some snacks, a sweatshirt, a water bottle and some cash, they aren't too heavy. Just don't buy the cheap ones with thin strings. Those will cut into your arms. It's much better to do that than to try to convince them to take turns carrying a backpack laden with everyone's stuff. Water bottles for 6 people get pretty heavy!

 

[Beemitchcowski]

Great tips! We are planning a budget trip too...its a few months away!

Here are a few tips that I have:

If you are a AAA member..look into getting the Diamond Parking Pass...it doesn't get you free parking..but it allows you to park in a designated parking area that is next to handicapped parking! ..There were a few times that the area was full....but if not its a time saver!

I was told that you can always ask the photopass people to use your camera and they will take a few snapshots for you!

We stayed at Windsor Hills last time and enjoyed ourselves! We also used WEGOSHOP to deliver our groceries..they will shop at Publix, Walmart, Super Target...pretty much wherever you choose! We loved it! We had our groceries delivered early on (while we were unpacking and getting settled in)..It was nice not having to go back out and do grocery shopping (I also thought of it as a way of "pampering" myself while on vacation)

Also, depending on what unit you are staying at...you will want to pack or remember to buy extra toilet paper/garbage bags/soap and such...we were lucky..our owners included more than just a starter pack..with 6 people you will probably go through more than what the starter pack gives you!

 

[iheartpeterpan]

Oh YES good idea.
I forgot about those. But don't they hurt your arms. Or am I just showing my age? Do they have decorate-yourself ones? Maybe at Joann's with a coupon??? then the kids could use fabric paint to customize them.

We used the string backpacks on our most recent trip and they worked out great, plus they go on any ride easily. I don't think I saw a single fanny pack this trip!

 

[cyndik1111]

Great tips!
If you are a AAA member..look into getting the Diamond Parking Pass...it doesn't get you free parking..but it allows you to park in a designated parking area that is next to handicapped parking! ..There were a few times that the area was full....but if not its a time saver!

I was told that you can always ask the photopass people to use your camera and they will take a few snapshots for you!

We stayed at Windsor Hills last time and enjoyed ourselves! We also used WEGOSHOP to deliver our groceries..they will shop at Publix, Walmart, Super Target...pretty much wherever you choose! We loved it! We had our groceries delivered early on (while we were unpacking and getting settled in)..It was nice not having to go back out and do grocery shopping (I also thought of it as a way of "pampering" myself while on vacation)

Also, depending on what unit you are staying at...you will want to pack or remember to buy extra toilet paper/garbage bags/soap and such...we were lucky..our owners included more than just a starter pack..with 6 people you will probably go through more than what the starter pack gives you!

Ok, will check out AAA parking. i heard it wasn't any closer if the parks are not busy (we are going during a quiet time) but it can't hurt to check it out.

i did look into the wegoshop- but truth be told, I love to check out different grocery stores and see what cool stuff they have. Went to a super target once and nearly died and went to heaven- kind of looking forward to going back and rooting around, while DH sits by pool with kids. For anyone else into grocery stores, check out our home town Wegmans if you are ever near one- so amazing!

Photopass- ok I'll check it out, but I worry about my lack of self control.

 

[thebeesknees]

We didn't bother with the water bottles. Any CS spot will give you free ice water, and the water is filtered, so no nasty taste like the water fountains. One less thing to carry around.

 

[delmar411]

Photopass- ok I'll check it out, but I worry about my lack of self control.

See about joining a photopass share. If you go onto facebook and search Walt Disney Photopass Share , it should bring up the group.

It will bring the photopass CD down to about $15 instead of $99.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We didn't bother with the water bottles. Any CS spot will give you free ice water, and the water is filtered, so no nasty taste like the water fountains. One less thing to carry around.

Yep ~ that's what we did when we visited WDW and when we visit DLR - also DLR baby centers and first aid centers have nice filtered water in the drinking fountains.

 

[delmar411]

We didn't bother with the water bottles. Any CS spot will give you free ice water, and the water is filtered, so no nasty taste like the water fountains. One less thing to carry around.

Sorry but this is so wrong. Yes you can get free ice water anyplace that has a soda fountain but at least 50% of the time the water is that disgusting swamp water, esp at MK.

BTDT on several trips and I was simply sick to my stomach over the nasty water. It's not any better over ice.

 

[Darcy03231]

We're a large family and stay off-site because we love all the room. Here are some of the things I do to make dinner easy. We tend to stay for at least two weeks, but you can modify it for one.

If the home doesn't have a crock pot, I buy one. I can get one at Walmart for $20. It makes dinner really easy. There are lots of great crock pot recipes on another thread, but some of our favorite are meatballs w/spaghetti sauce, pulled pork, and mexican chicken.

I get the tin, throw away pans and make casseroles the first night we're there. I leave one out and put the rest in the freezer. If we're having a casserole that night I take it out of the freezer in the morning and its thawed and ready to cook by that night.

Again, first night there I make up pasta salad, potatoe salad, tossed salad and fruit salad. If you pick up a rotiserrie chicken (or cook something easy like hamburgers/hot dogs) dinner is ready in no time.

I also stock up on paper and plastic so there aren't a lot of dishes.

Typically I've found we tend to have a big breakfast, hit the parks and then come back to the house in the afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner, swim, relax and then head back to the parks in the evening. If we get hungry we tend to snack more then eat, which saves quite a bit of money over the course of the week.

 

[leadfootlevi]

Sorry but this is so wrong. Yes you can get free ice water anyplace that has a soda fountain but at least 50% of the time the water is that disgusting swamp water, esp at MK.

BTDT on several trips and I was simply sick to my stomach over the nasty water. It's not any better over ice.

This is correct. We got a "free" water at Cosmic Rays. It was horrific. My DH was walking into the bathroom with the cup in his hands when I said "Don't take that in there...Gross." He said "I don't see why not, it tastes like toilet water." Blech.

 

[hsmamato2]

Oh, and by the way, we are not doing photo pass. My husband loves to take pictures. That will be his job! And we will just ask a kind stranger to get a few family shots for us. I don't want the added expense of those photos. Once I see a picture of my kids, I have to have them all, even if they aren't the best. So I know that would be a budget killer. So I'm not even gonna go there.

Big Tip just hand your camera to the photopass photographer, they will take a picture of your whole fam for you!!!(with you in it too!)
I carry the photopass card(it's free) hand it to them,and also my own camera. They scan card and take a pic,then take another (the same) with your camera!!!
You don't even have to go view the pics later on if you feel tempted....

 

[hsmamato2]

FWIW,I don't mind the free tap water they give out..... but I'm not a fan of the fountains....
And I agree about photopass, they are horrendously overpriced,and almost every time the pics from your own camera are going to be more personal and better!
I think if you hit the super target and buy easy cook items like bagged salad and hotdogs,etc it should be easy enough to eat in your place-
another thing, is SWA still offering the points for a new cc deal? if you haven't applied yet, check that!
and if you have applied, keep careful watch over your flight dates, you may not find any great deals,and you won't get 6 free flights(it'll be less,but you have to look for specials for that)

 

[Beemitchcowski]

If you have a SAMs club membership...they have several quick meals available...u can look on their website! Most meals are under $10...pair it with a side dish and you are set!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What restaurant is IIRC? $6 per person is right up my alley!

Sorry about that - I'm trying to figure out all these abbreviations myself

Anyway, I believe the buffet at CiCi's is ~$6 each. But, as I mentioned a carryout special may be a better deal.

 

[kvnchapman]

Just more expensive.

I love vacations strategy and vacation upgrades. Just go with whichever one is cheaper on your dates. Lots of folks have success with farrell, too. Several others have used EBay and gotten truly low rates, even lower that I quoted. I've used both VS and VU, and feel totally comfortable recommending them.
You guys do not need this much space (or expense), but this October we have a 4BR/4BA 2200 sq ft penthouse/presidential unit - 7 nights at $1165 total. Because we are splitting the cost with my parents, we are getting the "oh my word!" nice condo for under $600.
WBC is really nice - units are modern and upgraded; good pools, lazy river, water slides, free minigolf, gas grills, family activities, walking/jogging trail, free shuttle to WDW parks and right in the middle of the World.

cyndi - did you find the websites with the good wbc rates???
hope so!

 

[2Monkeys]

I forget where I read this tip, but the suggestion was to take spices in a pill container (the one with the days of the week on it) and use a sharpie to label each section. Put in your checked luggage though! This way you have what you need to cook meals without buying a bunch that you will only use a little of.

I think your budget sounds great and I know you will have a magical trip!

 

[cyndik1111]

Sorry about that - I'm trying to figure out all these abbreviations myself

Anyway, I believe the buffet at CiCi's is ~$6 each. But, as I mentioned a carryout special may be a better deal.

Is there a thread that lists all the great dining deals offsite, but near WDW? Like this one?

Pill container is a good idea for spices.

And no I didnt find a website with cheap WBC rates. Anyone know what it is?

 

[karliebug]

It is going to be very hard to get all 6 roundtrip flights for that 100000 points unless you are going at a very slow time.