What money saving tips do you think are a bit extreme?

[okeydokey]

There is a big difference between frugal and cheap. Frugal is sharing a salad at Pecos Bill. Cheap is not buying a salad but using the topping bar to steal food for a salad.

 

[Suellen]

Suellen, who are you to determine what is mock worthy? Are you 12? I hope you don't have kids or grandchildren that someone feels are "mock worthy." Maybe there is something about you that should be mocked. I don't mind people voicing their opinions, but there is a line between disliking a person's actions and mocking that person. Grow up, this isn't high school. And yes, I am judging you because you are "Judge Worthy".

I am the one that now has to pay a higher price because people steal from the condiment bar. I am the one who now has to buy a second burger for my three year old because I can no longer buy a double burger and dice up just the extra meat for her to eat. So because people were scamming the system I now have to buy an entire second meal and throw away the bun, fries, and whatever else I KNOW my child won't eat. Maybe I could look around for someone making a salad from the condiment bar and give them the excess food THEIR actions forced me to buy.

No I am not 12 and I can accept when people poke fun at me when it is warranted. AND these are "tips to save money" that are being mocked.

 

[mrbghd]

But who are you to say how other people spend their money?

When my taxes go to support people that can't pay their mortgage and the like I think I should get some input. If someone wants to go to WDW and thet really can't afford it that is on them. BUT, when they then need assistance from the government because they cannot pay their bills due to a WDW trip. we should all be concerned.

And on the condiment bar salad: if one does not make a purchase food at an establishment but then help yourself to the condiments they are stealing. They can try to justify it anyway they want, but it is theft.

To get back on topic, this thread was not about judging people, it was about what is TOO MUCH for each person.Again, for me, it is about the effort versus the savings. And if I cannot afford to go without bringing my own buns or a microwave or hot pot for the room, I am not going.

 

[mrbghd]

Oh and to all those that think cooking in the room is gross because of smells and such... what about when they provide you with a kitchen in the room (DVC?) Is it still "gross"?

It is different Sueellen. the DVC rooms are set up to have kitchens. They have different insulation and ventilation than a standard hotel room. Also, the appliances in the DVC rooms are "controlled" by Disney. Who knows how crazy uncle Al wired the microwave that person in the room next door at Pop to keep it working. If I smelled someone cooking next door to me at a non DVC property I would complain. It is unsafe and inappropriate. Having stayed DVC I have never noticed anyone on my floor cooking.

 

[mrbghd]

I am the one that now has to pay a higher price because people steal from the condiment bar. I am the one who now has to buy a second burger for my three year old because I can no longer buy a double burger and dice up just the extra meat for her to eat. So because people were scamming the system I now have to buy an entire second meal and throw away the bun, fries, and whatever else I KNOW my child won't eat. Maybe I could look around for someone making a salad from the condiment bar and give them the excess food THEIR actions forced me to buy.
.

Something is very wrong. We are in complete agreement again It is just like any retail situation. Prices include margin for theft and waste. the more theft that occurs the more the price will increase to maintain the desired profit margin.

 

[mrbghd]

I suppose I will be one of the far-fetched ones because I will be bringing in water and snacks every day, glow sticks and other trinkets for MNSSHP but we are also cooking daily at our campsite every day and only eating lunch at a few of the specific places our family has agreed upon. Growing up my single dad of 2 DDs could not afford WDW, and as an adult, life happens (college, marriage, children, cancer) as well as a DH who believes it is contemptuously outlandish to spend that kind of money at a 'theme park' when we could go to Belize for diving, skiing in CO or fly-fishing in Spain, etc. I may be frugal, but I enjoy having money for other things (like wands at WWOHP! and a day at Discovery Cove and then an adult trip to Vegas the next month! ), and most of all I enjoy that there won't be a bill at the end of the month for interest on stupid purchases that will be tossed in the bottom of the closet before the bill comes and worse, food! I will be happy to know that on the ride home from our trip, everything will be fully paid for, no surprises, no looming bills because I planned ahead. It is 'my' money paying for this trip, and I am making sure I stretch it to the max! So, in short order, I may be that person who brings chicken salad pita wraps in to the park that I made at our site, or heck, I may just bring the bun and eat off the condiment table (NOT! lol).

Bringing drinks into the park is an excellent idea. And if you are camping, one of the perks is the campfire cookout. I truly don't believe these are the "money saving tips" that are being referred to. Again, it boils down to effort versus savings. To me you come out on the winning side of that equation.

 

[Suellen]

Something is very wrong. We are in complete agreement again It is just like any retail situation. Prices include margin for theft and waste. the more theft that occurs the more the price will increase to maintain the desired profit margin.

And here I thought you put me on your ignore list days ago!

To be honest though ~ I would hope that everyone AGREES that stealing is wrong. Those that disagree are most likely the real problem.

Though there seems to be a differing opinion here on what is stealing and what is not... I do not see any gray area here. If you walk into someplace that you have not bought something from and proceed to make yourself a salad either on a napkin or worse still a container you brought from home? That is stealing. Sorry to those that think it is being frugal ~ all the rationalization in the world doesn't change what it really is.

 

[Howellsy]

To me, extreme is when people break rules, like:

- child is 4, but mom and dad tell CMs she's 2 so they don't have to buy her a ticket.

- Family of 6 doesn't list all names on registration so they can all stay in Value room.

-Parents "borrow" unattended Disney stroller so they don't have to pay the rental fee.

- Leaving no tips at TS restaurants.

-Saying your 13 year old is 9 so you can pay childrens price for Dining Plan.

If someone wants to bring their own bun into the park, or make oatmeal in the coffee maker, I'm fine with that. They aren't breaking rules, and they aren't bothering anyone else.

I just have to mention that while everything else you mentioned is breaking a rule, not tipping at a TS restaurant isn't. I don't want to cause an argument which will surely get out of hand about tipping, but there's no Disney rule that says you must tip. I agree with the rest of your post though, as long as someone isn't breaking a rule or stealing we probably shouldn't judge too quickly!

 

[NewmanFamily6]

We have packed sandwiches and snacks for our children in the parks before. It did not make their trip less magical because they ate the lunch I packed. Now that we own DVC we utilize the kitchen and eat out sometimes. Whatever makes your trip work for your famiy.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're a party of six or over at a TS restaurant, Disney's rule is you tip 18% automatically. Otherwise, no absolute rules, although tipping at restaurants is customary and expected.

 

[Howellsy]

If you're a party of six or over at a TS restaurant, Disney's rule is you tip 18% automatically. Otherwise, no absolute rules, although tipping at restaurants is customary and expected.

Sorry, I wasn't aware whether the PP was referring to this rule or just tipping in general

Although if I got left an 18% tip in the UK (I work in TGI's here) I would think it was a huge mistake as it is very uncommon to tip over 10% even! Many non Americans may not necessarily be aware of American custom, although when in Rome do as the Romans do of course.

 

[mrbghd]

We have packed sandwiches and snacks for our children in the parks before. It did not make their trip less magical because they ate the lunch I packed. Now that we own DVC we utilize the kitchen and eat out sometimes. Whatever makes your trip work for your famiy.

Nobody is saying there is anything wrong with that. That makes sense for your family and for you the effort is worth the value. Typically, we bring a bottle of water in and I bring a protein bar and that's it. For us (2 adults) it is just easier to eat at the parks/resort. Now with kids, I could see that not beign the case.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Sorry, I wasn't aware whether the PP was referring to this rule or just tipping in general

Although if I got left an 18% tip in the UK (I work in TGI's here) I would think it was a huge mistake as it is very uncommon to tip over 10% even! Many non Americans may not necessarily be aware of American custom, although when in Rome do as the Romans do of course.

Yep. If you're coing to a foreign country, the very least you can do is read up on what's appropriate.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Some of these are hilarious and remind me of things that we did in college... the only cooking thing we were allowed to have was a hot pot (is that what they are called?) and you would be shocked at the things some people figured out how to cook!

I agree that while some things are extreme, if it's not breaking the rules, it doesn't bother me.

13 years ago I lived in a bedsit with a open coal fire. The things I cooked under the grate in the fire was . The oven was unreliable and expensive (three rooms cost $23 per week in electricity) I put meat joints in foil under the fire, baked potatoes cooked pizza all sorts.

 

[LilRonGal]

I think a lot of the tips in this thread are very valuable! I also take granola bars or fruit snacks (Disney themed!) into the parks. As for water, I'm on the DDP, so I always get a water and a juice with my CS breakfast in the morning. Both of those are usually good for me throughout the day, because I also have drinks with meals to break up using the stuff I am carrying. I don't think there is anything wrong with buying your own glow sticks or bringing in ponchos you picked up at Target. That's just smart thinking.

I've never had good luck with the cheaper ponchos. They were like trash bags. I was scared I was going to suffocate while putting them on! Last year, I ended up throwing them out and just buying Disney ponchos in a gift shop. There are many Disney ponchos here because I foolishly never take them back. I will be taking these back, though!

Frugality is a good thing.

I do agree with the posters regarding cooking in a hotel room that is not meant to have cooking done in it. It's unsafe. I've been in hotels where I was awakened by blaring alarms because someone brought in an illegal toaster, tried to make toast, and burned it. It's scary when you're trying to get out as fast as you can, seeing smoke and not knowing exactly what's going on. Putting other people at danger just to save a few bucks is selfish and inconsiderate.

(Although I really am intrigued--*how* does one cook a Pop Tart with a coffee maker?)

 

[2Tiggies]

We have packed sandwiches and snacks for our children in the parks before. It did not make their trip less magical because they ate the lunch I packed. Now that we own DVC we utilize the kitchen and eat out sometimes. Whatever makes your trip work for your famiy.

I think almost everyone on this thread would agree that this is perfectly acceptable. I don't think that is in dispute at all, although I may have missed a post or two. Disney is quite open to guests bringing their own food into the parks provided that they comply with the no glass, no hard sided coolers rule. I have always taken gluten free snacks for my DD and this is the first year I will not be doing it purely because (1) we are on the QSDP - so much food and (2) Disney now has gluten free snacks widely avaialble. We barely touched my stock last year, but I was never asked and never had to explain why I had my own snacks - ever! Bottom line: No policy against this.

I've never had good luck with the cheaper ponchos. They were like trash bags. I was scared I was going to suffocate while putting them on!

You and me both I have still bought a few for our upcoming trip but I don't know why, aside from that I got them for small change on a clearance. We had an unfortunate cheap poncho vs water cannon on Splash Mountain just before leaving for the airport and we flew home (9 and half hours) smelling like a swamp!

(Although I really am intrigued--*how* does one cook a Pop Tart with a coffee maker?)

I didn't dare ask - but I am lost on this one too!

 

[bcvmargs]

I've seen people using the hotel icemaker to mix margaritas

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

What do I think is extreme? The fact that it's extremely difficult to walk into a full service or buffet restaurant at WDW anymore. No ADR? No meal.

I think it's extreme that people order the most expensive thing on the menu, knowing that they'll never eat it, or don't really like it as well as the less expensive choice, but "it's free" (with DDP) so why not?

I think it's extreme that children are screaming (yep, screaming) at tables at 9:00 pm and later because that was the only ADR open at YSH and after all it was free food, so why not keep the poor little toddler up late (and in a restaurant where the family didn't understand qwat the food choices were).

I think it's extreme that others deem a family that brings their own food or drink into a park, or dines in their room as cheap, or breaking some mysterious rule (may I have a copy of the rule book please) without having any idea what so ever is going on behind those decisions.

I think it's extreme that anyone would find someone not "wealthy" enough to visit WDW if they have to use cost saving measures to be there.

I think it's extreme to want to dictate how others live their lives, including what they eat, how they prepare it, where they eat it and why they are eating it.

I think it's extreme to try and cloak mean spiritedness by asking others to comment on "extremes" when clearly the whole discussion will disintegrate into bashing others... simply because they are "other."

 

[Suellen]

What do I think is extreme? The fact that it's extremely difficult to walk into a full service or buffet restaurant at WDW anymore. No ADR? No meal.

I think it's extreme that people order the most expensive thing on the menu, knowing that they'll never eat it, or don't really like it as well as the less expensive choice, but "it's free" (with DDP) so why not?

I think it's extreme that children are screaming (yep, screaming) at tables at 9:00 pm and later because that was the only ADR open at YSH and after all it was free food, so why not keep the poor little toddler up late (and in a restaurant where the family didn't understand qwat the food choices were).

I think it's extreme that others deem a family that brings their own food or drink into a park, or dines in their room as cheap, or breaking some mysterious rule (may I have a copy of the rule book please) without having any idea what so ever is going on behind those decisions.

I think it's extreme that anyone would find someone not "wealthy" enough to visit WDW if they have to use cost saving measures to be there.

I think it's extreme to want to dictate how others live their lives, including what they eat, how they prepare it, where they eat it and why they are eating it.

I think it's extreme to try and cloak mean spiritedness by asking others to comment on "extremes" when clearly the whole discussion will disintegrate into bashing others... simply because they are "other."

Did you read the whole thread? NO ONE has said that bringing their own food into the park is extreme. In fact it has been said multiple times that NO ONE has a problem with it.

What someone thinks is 'extreme' money saving tips FOR THEM may seem like a fine idea to others.

The only thing people have said here is that THEY would not do such a thing because the benefit is not worth the effort and that what they find EXTREME is the things that border on stealing and really in fact cross the line INTO stealing.

 

[LilRonGal]

I think it's extreme to want to dictate how others live their lives, including what they eat, how they prepare it, where they eat it and why they are eating it.

I agree with most of your post, however, I stand by my opinion that using certain cooking implements for ways they are not intended, or bringing in appliances that are not allowed for cooking is not an extreme thing to discuss. Once you start breaking rules and putting people in danger, it's EVERYONE'S business.