We leave Wednesday and I'm stressing about the cost!

[Darcy03231]

When I took my niece for her first (and most likely only) trip we did Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fair for dinner, 1900 Park Fair for breakfast, Crystal Palace, Ohana for breakfast, and the Askerhaus Princess breakfast. She had a blast and loved seeing all of the characters. It also kept us out of the character lines in the parks. While the food wasn't great, the character interaction was. I thought it was money well spent.

 

[fbb]

She might be embarrassed that she overplayed or worry that you are now excited and feel the need to save face by eating all the meals. You just need to talk to your friend. That's all it is, a chat with your very, very close friend that you are going on a very long trip with.

Your friend might very well also be worrying about your feelings. You will very likely be giving her permission to change her mind when she gets there by not being signed on to join her for those meals.

For the record, I would be more offended that my friend didn't think highly enough of me to trust me to be understanding of her legitimate financial concerns than I would about friend saying "I can't comfortably afford as many meals as I was hoping. I still plan to join you for x,y,z. We will be making alternate arrangements for less expensive meals for the other meals if you want to join us." She'll probably say "Oh that's fine, because I was a little worried I made to many ADRs and didn't want to hurt your feelings." or "I'm sorry you won't be joining us for Chef Mickey's, but I will be excited to spend the day with you in the park."

What is there for her to be mad or hurt about?

I would be hurt if I knew my friend went to strangers on a message board and painted a provocative picture of my income and spending habits in order to gather up enough tactful and oblique ways to tell me the truth about how she feels.

But even if I didn't know this, I would be hurt because I would know she felt this way all along and only told me at the 11th hour.

 

[piccolopat]

The meals we have booked are CRT, Akershus, Chef Mickeys, Ohana breakfast, Crystal Palace, Gardent Grill, and Disney Jr. At Hollywood and Vine. So I guess it's just 7, not 8. I miscounted. We also have BOG lunch, BOMA dinner, and tREX dinner. We are planning to eat most breakfast in our rental house.

And of course she wants to snack around epcot. I think part of the problem lies in the fact that they are big eaters and we are not. If we were doing a la cart meals DD and I could share entrees and be fine. But all these buffets cost is killing me!

You should also discuss getting separate bills at the a la cart meals. We have friends that always want to split the bill even though they order several drinks, multiple appetizers, expensive entrees, etc. and we don't. We put a stop to that early on because we didn't feel we should subsidize them all of the time.

 

[mom2rtk]

You should also discuss getting separate bills at the a la cart meals. We have friends that always want to split the bill even though they order several drinks, multiple appetizers, expensive entrees, etc. and we don't. We put a stop to that early on because we didn't feel we should subsidize them all of the time.

LOL, no freaking way would I put up with that. Even when I'm having lunch with my best friend we always ask for separate checks (unless one of us is treating the other for a special occasion). I can't even imagine the gall it takes to try and split a bill in half when some had drinks and the others didn't.

 

[SunnieRN]

OP, since it is Wednesday and you are on your way, I wish you all the best and hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

OP, since it is Wednesday and you are on your way, I wish you all the best and hope you have a wonderful trip.

Thanks! Trip has gone well for the most part, except DD smashed her finger in the glass shower door in our room (we stopped in Atlanta for the evening). While the other kids are at the pool, she's in bed snacking on dry cereal and watching cartoons. Poor kid has bad luck with vacations- last August she came down with a stomach bug the morning we were suppose do leave. Hopefully she will feel better in the morning- First MK day is tomorrow evening!

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

But even if I didn't know this, I would be hurt because I would know she felt this way all along and only told me at the 11th hour.

This makes sense. I think I was reading it as that she was just adding them slowly as they went along one by one and then now that OP sat down to plan she was like "WHOA. This got out of hand." But I can see your interpretation too.

 

[scrapquitler]

Wednesday we are leaving for an 11 day trip down. It will be me, DD, a close friend, and her 2 DDs. I think it will be a great trip, except our financial strategies are very different.

When I travel, I tend to try and stick with smart financial decisions. We may do 1 or 2 character meals, mixed with quick service and meals at our condo. We are not big eaters and try to stick with at least a semi healthy diet while on vacation. Eating too much junk really makes me feel awful. I tend to not buy many souvenirs, which I think are overpriced and won't be remembered. I do my best not to shop on vacation (unless I'm in a place with awesome outlets, like Gatlinburg). I earn a lot of money but I have a lot to pay for and I can't just spend freely.

My friend is one of the best people I know. She is a wonderful person and her daughters are the most well behaved children I have ever met. She is very much a free spender. She doesn't make much and to overcompensate she pretty much buys whatever she feel like until her money is gone and then is broke until payday. This is her first trip to disney and so far we have 8 character meals planned. I added it up with tip and that's roughly $800 I'll be spending just for DD and I on 8 meals. I'm trying to go with the flow because I don't want to bring down her first big vacatiom, but I really don't want to spend that much on food. I usually budget $1000 for 3 of us for our whole trip. I'll be spending almost that much on just 8 of the meals! Additionally, I know she is going to buy her girls a bunch of souvenirs. She just can't tell them no. I've been trying to prepare DD, explaining to her that we don't need a bunch of disney stuff because we go so often, and we might not get as many toys as the others do. But she's 4 and I'm worried she will get her feelings hurt if I don't let her get the same amount as the other kids.

Any advice on keeping my costs down without bringing my friend's trip down? We are already saving by staying off site in a condo and we are driving my car, we got their tickets off parksavers (DD and I are AP holders). I joined the Landrys club and will purchase a landrys gift card from kroger for the fuel points. I might try and get my hands on some Sam's club discounted disney gift cards to pay for food. It only saves 5% but it's something.

How about having a couple of days where you tour separately (and you can skip the character meals). I would talk honestly with my friend and put the brakes on all those meals. Just tell her you are concerned about your budget.

As for the souveniers, just tell your daughter "I will buy you X" or "you have $X to spend" and stick to it. We always told our kids that all families are different, and it's not nice to compare, but that they didn't need to feel bad if they didn't get what their friends got because there would be other times they were doing things the firends weren't.

 

[Shanti]

Your current plan seems to be to wait and hope that she realizes herself that so many character meals aren't a good idea. I wouldn't count on that happening. You already said she and her daughters were bigger eaters so they may love them!

At this point, I would suggest having a heart to heart that finances aren't quite what you were hoping prior to the trip and that you are going to need to cut some costs. Explain that you will need to opt out of several of the more expensive meals.

I agree on not counting on the friend to change her mind about character meals mid-trip. She's had her heart set on these for months...very unlikely she'll say mid-trip, "gosh, this is a bit expensive, so never mind." The friend definitely planned ahead so is likely prepared for the prices. If the OP is not, she needs to tell the friend that, not hope or pressure the friend to change her mind.

We loved the character dining when my son was little- those meals were the highlight of our trips and I wouldn't have canceled them for anything.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Today we ate at Akershus. It was fun but pricey. Tonight we talked about cutting back on some of these meals (she brought it up). She said she's afraid I'll be upset if we cancel some. I told her I'm on board with whatever. So we cancelled tomorrow's meal and will just take it day by day and see how the budget is going.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[brittanidp]

Today we ate at Akershus. It was fun but pricey. Tonight we talked about cutting back on some of these meals (she brought it up). She said she's afraid I'll be upset if we cancel some. I told her I'm on board with whatever. So we cancelled tomorrow's meal and will just take it day by day and see how the budget is going.

Thanks for all the advice!

It sounds like you have similar concerns and were both worried about disappointing each other! At least now you know and you got the princesses out of the way! Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[ConnecticutFlea]

Happy it all worked out with no hard feelings.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I am also the same way, It makes me sick to see how much we spend on food down there..We usually just eat at the resort or QS with a few TS thrown in..Kids are older now so we really don't do any character meals, our must is Ohana and next year I think I have 6 planned some of them are the cheaper TS meals like Sci-Fi and Trails End..I would say talk to her first and then go from there..hope you have a great time..

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Today we ate at Akershus. It was fun but pricey. Tonight we talked about cutting back on some of these meals (she brought it up). She said she's afraid I'll be upset if we cancel some. I told her I'm on board with whatever. So we cancelled tomorrow's meal and will just take it day by day and see how the budget is going.

Thanks for all the advice!

She might be embarrassed that she overplayed or worry that you are now excited and feel the need to save face by eating all the meals. You just need to talk to your friend. That's all it is, a chat with your very, very close friend that you are going on a very long trip with.

Your friend might very well also be worrying about your feelings. You will very likely be giving her permission to change her mind when she gets there by not being signed on to join her for those meals.

YES! I'm glad your friend spoke up, because it sounds like you both had the same concern for each other's feelings. I hope cutting back helps ease your budget AND gives you some more touring time.

 

[JenzyHP]

Great it is working out. The thought of 8 character meals sounds awful to me. One was plenty and I think the interaction is MUCH better when you wait in line.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Wednesday we are leaving for an 11 day trip down. It will be me, DD, a close friend, and her 2 DDs. I think it will be a great trip, except our financial strategies are very different.

When I travel, I tend to try and stick with smart financial decisions. We may do 1 or 2 character meals, mixed with quick service and meals at our condo. We are not big eaters and try to stick with at least a semi healthy diet while on vacation. Eating too much junk really makes me feel awful. I tend to not buy many souvenirs, which I think are overpriced and won't be remembered. I do my best not to shop on vacation (unless I'm in a place with awesome outlets, like Gatlinburg). I earn a lot of money but I have a lot to pay for and I can't just spend freely.

My friend is one of the best people I know. She is a wonderful person and her daughters are the most well behaved children I have ever met. She is very much a free spender. She doesn't make much and to overcompensate she pretty much buys whatever she feel like until her money is gone and then is broke until payday. This is her first trip to disney and so far we have 8 character meals planned. I added it up with tip and that's roughly $800 I'll be spending just for DD and I on 8 meals. I'm trying to go with the flow because I don't want to bring down her first big vacatiom, but I really don't want to spend that much on food. I usually budget $1000 for 3 of us for our whole trip. I'll be spending almost that much on just 8 of the meals! Additionally, I know she is going to buy her girls a bunch of souvenirs. She just can't tell them no. I've been trying to prepare DD, explaining to her that we don't need a bunch of disney stuff because we go so often, and we might not get as many toys as the others do. But she's 4 and I'm worried she will get her feelings hurt if I don't let her get the same amount as the other kids.

Any advice on keeping my costs down without bringing my friend's trip down? We are already saving by staying off site in a condo and we are driving my car, we got their tickets off parksavers (DD and I are AP holders). I joined the Landrys club and will purchase a landrys gift card from kroger for the fuel points. I might try and get my hands on some Sam's club discounted disney gift cards to pay for food. It only saves 5% but it's something.

I would cancel at least 4 character meals. That is way too many especially for a 4 year old. You will be so tired from trying to get to the meals and the long waits. Plus the cost is way too much. I would think two character meals would be good enough and maybe a late breakfast so not quite so expensive. As for toys and such buy a few things from home to surprise her with and try to stay away from just browsing in the stores. Pack lunches for you and your daughter. I do believe doing this will relieve your stress

 

[connie1042]

I say 3 character meals like someone said before. Other wise you are just doubling up on the characters.

 

[Eastern]

8 character meals is 6 too many. Too much time, too much money. I would just tell her that you are trying to stay on budget and maybe do 4 meals instead. I still think it's too many, but you will definitely get your fill of characters. Tell her it will allow more money for souveniers (which you do not have to buy).

Just saw you cancelled some meals. Glad she realized this early on instead of at the end of the trip!

 

[leebee]

I know this is WAY after the fact, but I'd keep a princess meal and Crystal Palace (for Pooh and the gang), because those are the characters that were most important to my DD at that age. She didn't care if she met Mickey, Minnie, etc.! I might have added one more meal, depending on which characters are most important, because the biggest benefit to character meals is getting 4-5-6 pics and signatures in a 60-ish minute time frame rather than waiting about 30 mins per character to do the same in the parks. Time is money in WDW!!

Hope you are having a Magical vacation!