What are some things that you have done to save money on your upcoming Disney Trip?

[CouponAngie]

Our upcoming trip is June 1 - June 8 and we are sooooo excited!
Here are some of the things that I have done to budget plan for our trip:

1) Decided where we are going to stay. We are not staying in a WDW Resort. This was not just a money-saving strategy, but trying to get a large, comfortable room that had the most value. I also talked to my 3 children, DS9, DD12 and DS14 about their preference. DS14'a preference was to stay close to DTD, the other 2 didn't care, so an accommodation within walking distance to DTD that also provided continuous service to the parks fit the bill.

2) Once I narrowed down the area we wanted to stay, I then played the travel sites like a slot machine for a period of about 3 weeks (LOL!) When the price bottomed out on a DTD resort plus flight on Travelocity, I jumped on it. It ended up being cheaper than just the room rate on a DVR.

3) Researched the internet for good advice from the pros such as Mousesavers and here, of course!

4) Figured up what the fares for a taxi would cost us to and from the airport. Determined that hiring a towncar from airport to hotel, with a stop at a grocery store along the way (for bottled-water and snacks, poptarts, etc) and then from hotel back to airport would be cheaper for our family. So, I booked it!

5) DH14 wants to go to HOB in DTD, so I got on Restaurant.com and got a $24 GC for $2.00! Made our reservations there!

6) Purchased park tix from Undercover Tourist, for a savings of $40

7) Pre-paid for PhotoPass CD. Normal price $149.00. Pre-pay price $99. Another savings!

8) All 3 children want to go to the TRex Cafe. Once I determined it was a Landry's restaurant I purchased the Landry's Select Card for $25, which will credit me back $25 at the restaurant. The reason I did this is because Landry's also offers a $25 gift credit on the month of member's birthday, and my BD happens to be in June, which will give a total of $50 for TRex.

9) Also purchased a $25 GC for a Restaurant at one of the DTD area Hotels, which only cost me $2.00. So, another $23 savings.

I'm still looking around for coupons, discounts and ideas. I love bargains!!!

Anybody have any good ideas for more discounts? What ways have you "cut corners" while planning your Disney Trip?

 

[Riverhill]

This is more of a way to stash money for Disney. Every time My DH or I buy anything we pay cash and put the change in a tin. I work at a bank so each month I take the coin in to place in the DISNEY fund. So far in the past month I have stashed $88.00. I hope to have an extra $450 by the time we leave for Disney.

 

[CouponAngie]

This is more of a way to stash money for Disney. Every time My DH or I buy anything we pay cash and put the change in a tin. I work at a bank so each month I take the coin in to place in the DISNEY fund. So far in the past month I have stashed $88.00. I hope to have an extra $450 by the time we leave for Disney.

We've been throwing all of our spare change in a jar too! It really adds up quickly, and it has warmed my heart to see the kids chip in! I think it kind of gives them a vested interest in the trip, even if their contributions are only a few dollars. I've also got plenty of quarters now, and will be carrying some of them on our trip. Our hotel has a W/D available, so I'm planning on packing 4 days worth of clothes for each person, and washing about halfway thru our trip. The quarters will be handy for that, and I've been signing up for Freebies on different websites. Tide has already sent me a sample of detergent that I will be carrying, and waiting for a sample from All. That should take care of it!

 

[cglaura]

Our biggest saver is to get ice water if eating in the parks. Ask for a cup of ice water = free. Ask for bottle water = $$.

We also take our own water bottles to refill while walking around. We bring drink packets (Wylers /Crystal Light, etc) to add for fun.

The counter service meals are pretty large and can be split if you are not big eaters.

Adults ordering a kids meal at counter service is allowed, thought the selections are not as varied as adult fare.

Also, you can get the items a-la-cart, not a combo as listed on the menu...you can get just a burger, no fries.

ETA: Just wanted to make sure you knew you couldn't catch a wdw transportation bus to the parks from DTD. I wasn't clear if that is what you meant by continuous service...or that was your hotel offering continuous bus service.

 

[disney_me]

This is more of a way to stash money for Disney. Every time My DH or I buy anything we pay cash and put the change in a tin. I work at a bank so each month I take the coin in to place in the DISNEY fund. So far in the past month I have stashed $88.00. I hope to have an extra $450 by the time we leave for Disney.

We do the Disney "FUN" fund! All change goes in a jar and we cash it in a week before we leave. We are going to Disney in February so I can't wait to see how much change we had saved!

I also like to order kids meals for myself in the parks. Sometimes the adult meals can be too much!

 

[CouponAngie]

Our biggest saver is to get ice water if eating in the parks. Ask for a cup of ice water = free. Ask for bottle water = $$.

We also take our own water bottles to refill while walking around. We bring drink packets (Wylers /Crystal Light, etc) to add for fun.

The counter service meals are pretty large and can be split if you are not big eaters.

Adults ordering a kids meal at counter service is allowed, thought the selections are not as varied as adult fare.

Also, you can get the items a-la-cart, not a combo as listed on the menu...you can get just a burger, no fries.

ETA: Just wanted to make sure you knew you couldn't catch a wdw transportation bus to the parks from DTD. I wasn't clear if that is what you meant by continuous service...or that was your hotel offering continuous bus service.

Those are good tips too. I've bought a waist-pack for me that has two attached water bottles. My kids have small Camel-Packs from a previous ski trip that they plan to bring. Drinking water will be cheaper and better for our kidneys!

It's our hotel that's offering the Transportation. I had read somewhere that we couldn't get buses to WDW from DTD. I was a little worried about relying on hotel transportation, however, I've been reading lots of reviews about our hotel on TripAdvisor, etc. and most of what was said about the shuttle service was postive. I hope our experience is so!!!!

 

[duffy]

About 4 years ago I signed up for an AMEX card with SPG.com. With my first purchase using the AMEX card, I got 10,000 points. (it may be different now.)

I put everything I can on the AMEX card. I pay it off promptly each month too. Last year, I had accumulated enough points to have a long weekend with my husband at the Swan. Each night was 4,000 points and $60. I am not thrilled with the fact that the Swan and Dolphin charge $10 for a "resort fee" daily, and charge for parking. Because of these "hidden" fees, the cost was really $80/day + the 4,000 points per day. Still, a heck of a deal!

We flew down on a Thursday evening. I'd booked a car weeks before, but used Priceline literally the day before we left and got a great last-minute deal, but I'm not sure how much it was.

We'd bought 10-day, non-expiring tickets at least 3 years ago, so that was not an expense on this trip. We stayed 3 nights at a fantastic, beautiful hotel that enabled us to walk to our favorite park, Epcot, and easily all around the Boardwalk, for roughly $80 a night!!

This was by far the best money-saving thing I did.

 

[Danibelle]

OP: Which hotel did you choose? I usually stay at the Marriott Village which is pretty close though not walkable to DTD.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Signed up for the Alamo Insider and got a great rate of $90 total for an 8 day car rental for our May trip

Clipped coupons for the snacks we will be getting at Super Target when we arrive at Disney. $6.50 already clipped.

Rolled the coins in our bank and have $253!

Watched Southwest Airfares everyday and found flights for $54 each way and bought them 4 weeks before our trip!

Signed up to get BOGO coupons emailed from Sweet Tomatoes.

Bought Disney gift cards at Giant Eagle and earned enought fuel perks that when my tank was near empty last week I paid .85 cents a gallon and saved me $41.

 

[StephMK]

Thanks for sharing your tips! I didn't know that about T-Rex - can the bday credit be used anytime during the month? DS's bday is late June and we are going the same time you are!

I think we are also going to try HOB & get the Rest. GC. We will eat a few meals in the timeshare (SIL's transfer) partly to save & partly because I can't eat out for a week, it gets to be too much. Plus I figure w/the heat, we will take more breaks at "home" during the week.

I have been checking rental cars every few days & got our fullsize through Alamo down to $108 for 6+ days. I'm saving change & my bday money is going to our trip. I mystery shop & have been putting that aside too. I have saved our medical bill receipts & will put in for reimbursement in a week or two. The rest of our annual medical reimbursements are saved to help w/holiday expenses in Dec.

Our flights went down on SW quite a bit by changing to an airport farther away so we have enough credit for another flight somewhere before Jan. Both DH & I have friends/family we could visit so we'll duke it later this year if a need has not come up.

 

[libraryfreak]

I got a car rental for $36 for one day, including fees. This was cheaper than the town car, so look and see if you can get a similar deal. Then you can easily go to Walmart.

Make sure the car rental company you pick has a drop off point close to your hotel. We were on property, so we dropped it off at the Dolphin (IIRC), and took the shuttle.

You'll have fun!

 

[disney_me]

We also stay off site to save more money!.....

Staying in a 6 bedroom 5 bath house for $900.00 for a week. Spilt that with 3 families and we are paying $300.00! Where can you stay in Disney that cheap?

 

[ancestry]

Generally speaking we do the opposite -- meaning we cut corners in our day-to-day lives so that we DON'T have to cut corners so much at Disney. When we are on vacation we prefer to splurge a bit.

Basically I nickel and dime everything in our lives EXCEPT for our vacations.

 

[jgates]

LOL - no one I would want to share with for that long!

Our car rental is down to $94 for 6 days (Nat'l). We needed about $50 or so in taxis anyway & this will allow us to get some soda, water & snacks without hauling from Wisconsin in luggage. So break-even on cost, but we can com e& go as we please with the car.

I have always told the kids they have one meal a day where they have to have a glass of water to drink - healthier & cheaper. Since we grew up in the country with a lot of iron content in our water, the minerals in Disney's water don't bother us.

We normally only have 1 sit-down meal per trip. This trip we will have 2 (PTC & Crystal Palace), as the meals are not as pricey as some of the sit-down ones we have done previously. Otherwise everything else is counter service.

If you are staying off-site, do you have any relatives that are employed in a hotel chain? If so, you may be eligible for friends & family discounts from that chain.

 

[puakinikini]

We are planning a trip in October and I also bought the House of Blues restaurant.com gift certificate.

If you save mycokerewards, they have a $15 WDW gift card for 1500 points. This seems kind of high to me, but if you have the points to spare it is a way to save money.

 

[CouponAngie]

OP: Which hotel did you choose? I usually stay at the Marriott Village which is pretty close though not walkable to DTD.

The Holiday Inn Walt Disney World Resort on Hotel Plaza Blvd. It was closed for a while for rennovations and has reopened within the last few months. It's getting good reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

[CouponAngie]

Thanks for sharing your tips! I didn't know that about T-Rex - can the bday credit be used anytime during the month? DS's bday is late June and we are going the same time you are!

I think we are also going to try HOB & get the Rest. GC. We will eat a few meals in the timeshare (SIL's transfer) partly to save & partly because I can't eat out for a week, it gets to be too much. Plus I figure w/the heat, we will take more breaks at "home" during the week.

I have been checking rental cars every few days & got our fullsize through Alamo down to $108 for 6+ days. I'm saving change & my bday money is going to our trip. I mystery shop & have been putting that aside too. I have saved our medical bill receipts & will put in for reimbursement in a week or two. The rest of our annual medical reimbursements are saved to help w/holiday expenses in Dec.


Our flights went down on SW quite a bit by changing to an airport farther away so we have enough credit for another flight somewhere before Jan. Both DH & I have friends/family we could visit so we'll duke it later this year if a need has not come up.

Yes Ma'am! The $25 credit is valid the whole month of your birthday according to the Landry's website!
You will probably have to buy it in your DS's name, if it's him that has the June BD. When I signed up for the Select Membership, it only asked for my BD. If you buy the card, don't forget to go ahead and call T-Rex and make your reservations!!!!!

 

[CouponAngie]

Signed up for the Alamo Insider and got a great rate of $90 total for an 8 day car rental for our May trip

Clipped coupons for the snacks we will be getting at Super Target when we arrive at Disney. $6.50 already clipped.

Rolled the coins in our bank and have $253!

Watched Southwest Airfares everyday and found flights for $54 each way and bought them 4 weeks before our trip!

Signed up to get BOGO coupons emailed from Sweet Tomatoes.

Bought Disney gift cards at Giant Eagle and earned enought fuel perks that when my tank was near empty last week I paid .85 cents a gallon and saved me $41.

SCORE! on the $54 flight!!!! That kind of bargain gives me the same rush I feel when I've Black Jacked!! LOL!

 

[CouponAngie]

Thanks for sharing your tips! I didn't know that about T-Rex - can the bday credit be used anytime during the month? DS's bday is late June and we are going the same time you are!

I think we are also going to try HOB & get the Rest. GC. We will eat a few meals in the timeshare (SIL's transfer) partly to save & partly because I can't eat out for a week, it gets to be too much. Plus I figure w/the heat, we will take more breaks at "home" during the week.

I have been checking rental cars every few days & got our fullsize through Alamo down to $108 for 6+ days. I'm saving change & my bday money is going to our trip. I mystery shop & have been putting that aside too. I have saved our medical bill receipts & will put in for reimbursement in a week or two. The rest of our annual medical reimbursements are saved to help w/holiday expenses in Dec.




Our flights went down on SW quite a bit by changing to an airport farther away so we have enough credit for another flight somewhere before Jan. Both DH & I have friends/family we could visit so we'll duke it later this year if a need has not come up.

For the HOB GC from Restaurant.com website, you can 50% off thru today by entering promo code FRESH. That means you can get a $25 GC for $5. If you're not in a hurry and can wait it out, sometimes a promo code will come out where you can get a $25 GC for $2 like I did, and sometimes even for just a $1 (I did that when we went to NOLA).
If you want to narrow down available restaurants just enter zip code 32830. I narrowed my search down to restaurants in DTD so that we can walk by putting it in zip and choosing "1 mile radius".