What was your surprise expense @ wdw?

[marie32]

Drinks inside park

Pictures bought at parks (Cheaper to buy a digital camera)

Laundry detergent and fabric softner sheets

Tolls

 

[frannn]

Maylox, and other silly drugstore stuff we should have brought
Pictures
Tshirts at the MNSSHP-they are a few $ more than reg MK shirts-and we all had to have one!
Any souvineir, especially all the new HM stuff
Cost of shipping it all home
Tips for taxi, meals, room service
Sunblock & aloe
Sunglasses
Everything at WDW is a budget buster!!!!!

 

[HaleyB]

Mine would have to be clothing. Of course the fact that we had to buy an entire outfit for my son in the park... because that is where we were when he jumped in a fountian and got soaked, didn't help. Still I smile every time he puts on that Tigger shirt. I don't know what ever became of the pants we bought that day, come to think of it....
I have never regretted a single dollar spent in WDL or WDW, not even the $3+ drink that got ditched after two sips because there was no wait for Star Tours!

 

[Pig Pen]

We didn't budget for all the tipping...we took a towncar from the airport, used a bellhop at the hotel, had to tip again several times when we moved from CSR to VWL, returned to the airport via towncar.

DH was having a fit (mostly because he was inexperienced and was overtipping by a long shot).

 

[vhoffman]

Take any medicines you think you might need, but don't pack them in another container. Keep them in their original, labeled containers. If it OTC products, buy the blister pack type. That doesn't take up any room at all. For perscription drugs, keep them in their original containers. Do be aware that all baggage is screened, and a security person might question "funny" looking meds, especially any type of narcotic, such as pain pills. I, like many people, have to purchase my meds from a mail order pharmacy and it comes in three month supplies. That makes for some pretty large bottles! I had no luck getting my mail order pharmacy to give me a smaller bottle ( I was lucky to get my meds in any form from them!). However, here's something I did--I can still fill some prescriptions at a local pharmacy and have a good relationship with the pharmacist. He agreed to give me smaller bottles with the information on them, as long as he saw the original containers. He was willing to do this with my pain meds. Some pharmacists might not be willing or able to do this, but its worth a try not to have to carry around pint size medicine bottles.

 

[cacgac]

SOUVENEIRS!!! We were so on our budget until it came to shopping. The outlets, DTD, the shops on Main Street in MK! Both DD and DS wanted tee shirts, and those princess stores in DD. The memories were great however!! I even stashed some gifts away for Christmas!

 

[Antiguan]

Birth Controls Pills. $25.00. For what would have cost me $8.00 at home. Wont forget those again.

I would also have to agree with the tipping. Seems like I was always tipping someone.

 

[KristiKelly]

Bottled water is expensive, go to Sam's Club, they have 32 - 16 oz. cases for less than $5.00. We would freeze them the night before, put them in our backpack and have them for later in the day. Also, our kids wanted to go to Rainforest cafe and wanted some kind of drink, I think they ended up being $5-6 each. What a Ripoff. Take plenty of film. I had lots of film and bought some disposable cameras for my kids @ Walmart, pack of 3 cameras $6.77 I think. We ended up having to buy another @ Animal Kingdom - 1 disposable camera was almost $17.00 OUCH!!!!!!! At our Walmart recently I saw the little fans that you fill with water for $1.00, down there you'll spend about $16 for the little Disney one.

 

[pnorto]

My Budget Breaker was getting both of my DD(4 & 6) Handmade dolls at Germany in Epcot. It was something my wife and I wanted to get them from our trip a few years ago but I didn't remeber them being $150.00 a piece for a total of $300.00. But I a nicer note, when I got back home and was reconciling my checking account, I discovered that I had recieved a $600 bonus from work that had been Direct Deposited while I was gone. I worried the last three days of our trip for no reason at all.

 

[WIcruizer]

1) I've learned this one by now, but I know sometimes people forget....the hotel TAX. You're thinking the room rate is X dollars but forget the TAX is over $10 a night.

2) Food , food , food. Either you fight it by bringing in enough snacks, water, drinks and eating off site or you budget accordingly. I don't get upset over the prices anymore, can't worry about something we can't control.

Here's what we do for food, for what it's worth (I've posted this before so bear with me.)
First, we get a very nice two bedroom suite off-site. There are several nice suite hotels all priced about the same as an All Star. Since it has a kitchen, we can have breakfast there or the hotel offers a free breakfast.

So after a big breakfast, we pack a few frozen water bottles, some fruit, granola bars, etc. to snack on at the parks. We really don't have a "lunch." We'll also buy a snack here and there like the turkey legs, popcorn... Then we'll have dinner outside the park.

What I've noticed is after you do this a few years it becomes habit. And it's funny...as the kids get older and they appreciate money I heard my 12 yr old say "$7.50 for a bad cheesburger??" So I know my kids aren't "missing" anything. We spend the money on the good treats, not the overpriced average or bad meals at WDW.

 

[MosMom]

I always forget my watch and end up buying one while we are there since knowing the time is a must. Cheapest I can usually find is around $17.

 

[geffric]

Our surprise expense this year was PINS..

We went to Members day and the kids got lanyards and pins.. that was it, they were off and wanting to buy and trade pins..I ended up spending $100 in pins...

 

[hentob]

We had planned for my son to attend Simba's Cubhouse while we dined @ Jiko. Well, he didn't want to leave!!!!!!

Then, the next night when we went to Spoodles, he BEGGED us to attend the Beach Club Childcare (over a "boring dinner").

IMO--It was $$ well spent!

Hentob

 

[40plus]

Biggest expense we had was day after arrival DD#1 popped and ear drum. $225. on charge card since they didn't take Our health insurance at emergecy care center 10 minutes away from A S Resort . + $35. for prescription that pharmancy down the road did take .Forgot about the 5 hours spent at center, then at pharmancy. on Sunday morning into afternoon. Many Thanks to the gaurd @ Poly who let us park for slightly extended time 1 extra hour so we could go to Mk for for 2 hours.

 

[RitaS]

On our last trip my sister got a nasty headache with nausea and the works. I was suprised that the Disney First Aid office in Epcot gave her something for the nausea at no charge at all and with no wait. If you feel ill at Epcot don't hesitate to stop at the aid station. They are tops.

 

[jgates]

Did we discuss phone!!!! If you are calling from your room, don't use the direct dial method. You will pay thru the nose. (That's probably a midwest expression, but you know what i'm trying to say!). Sam's Club cards are 3.47 cents per minute. You may (check with the hotel) pay a .50 local/tollfree call fee, but it is still better than an $8 or $9 3 minute phone call.

Also -watch the roaming charges on your cell phone. Know what you will pay. Mine is .30 minute nationwide because I'm on a high-volume business plan but the normal consumer plans are .69 minute roaming for USCellular.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A couple of years we were at the Art of Disney on Main Street. Judy saw that the Bill Justice sculpture "Dragon Around" (very limited edition, cold cast bronze) of Chip and Dale was on sale for 1/3 off the original Disneyana price. After telling her it would be her Birthday, Anniversary, Christmas and Valentine's Day presents combined I bought it for her. There was a comma in the sale price.

 

[BrittnTylersMom]

This is a great thread!! I've been taking notes!

Thank You so much for the heads -up!!!

 

[jiggerj]

It seems that whenever I am at Disney my camera breaks. Every trip down there it seems like I have to buy a new camera. And they ain't cheap down there !

 

[WIcruizer]

It seems that whenever I am at Disney my camera breaks.

We learned years ago that neither one of us can be trusted with a "real" camera. We will break it or lose it! Therefore, we only use disposable cameras now.