What's the Worst Disney Budget Advice You Ever Got?

[ssawka]

Having stayed on site once before, I dont know that I'd put much extra value to waiting in line and dealing with all the people to ride those buses.

Magical Express was nice -- that was the only time we've flown down when we've gone to Disney -- but the IMO, disney buses around the parks / hotels are nothing to brag about.

I'd much much much rather stay in an offsite Condo and have the far great room to spread out and also generally I can get from condo to park much quicker then the Disney buses could get me back to one of their hotels.

Yes, driving on the highway, waiting in traffic to get to the parking booth, finding a spot, walking to the tram to take you to the TTC, then taking the monorail or boat to MK is so much more convenient. I know the other parks are a bit easier, but we spend most of our time at MK.

 

[ChisJo]

i don't know what's worse. the bad advice or you actually trying it.

I was new to Disney, never had travelled there. The advice sounded good. I didn't know my car or where I was parked..I didn't know the parks of what to expect. This came out of a Disney planning book, so it sounded like a good idea. I never did it which was why I said it was a waste of time to get that bandana. No hating required.

 

[cglaura]

the offsite and onsite debate will always go on. there are TOO MANY variables involved. how many days are you wanting to stay. is it just 2 adults OR a huge family. etc...etc. it's too hard to compare because every family is different in size and wants/needs.

as for me. i have no kids, just me and DGF. it's easier for us to stay onsite. i don't want to stay in a offsite "condo" because i live in one and that's the last place i want to be. i'm on vacation. i don't want to be anywhere that reminds me of home/work/etc.

but like i said...every disney guest has different wants and needs. apples to bananas.

This is so true. For me a condo rental is just a ridiculous amount of space...just me and dd19. We go Value Room, 40% discount (I only go w/ discount) which comes to about $55 per night and I think $65 weekend rate.

So for my 15 day trip in January the total room cost was $839.62

Park Tickets: $285 x 2 = $570

We don't eat alot, our food budget is $35 for the both of us per day (2 cs split and some snacks).

We don't really eat big breakfasts, we usually split a bagel, from home.

TS meals about $125, if any.

At a condo the meals wouldn't work b/c we go open to close. We'd be starving by the time we got back to the room to cook....and to me it would be a hassle leaving the park mid-day and coming back. But I also no longer have young kids that would melt down and need a rest. Our vacations are go go go...fun fun fun...adventure, I can relax when I'm 6 feet under

My worst bit of advice was not from DIS but a friend who suggested we get the earliest flight so we could have an extra day in the park (arrival day). Well, I didn't quite factor in having to leave for the airport at 3am to allow for all check in and 45 min to the airport. We were so tired we just went to DTD, which is what I would have done normally!

 

[dixonismydog]

I have to agree with a small first aid kit, ALWAYS goes in my backpack.

DS5 was super excited and running to the bus one day and of course tripped. Blood everywhere......I went to find a cast member (this was at POP)......it was like puling teeth trying to get the kid a band-aid. First to the reception desk....then to the store clerk......finally a cast member sweeping the floor, could see that I was in a bit of a panic (carrying around my son, with a wad of bloody kleenex stuck to his knee) and took charge of the situation. Mind you it took about 10 minutes for him to come back with one. I was shocked......you would think, they had never had a kid need a band aid before?

 

[ICF]

Yes, driving on the highway, waiting in traffic to get to the parking booth, finding a spot, walking to the tram to take you to the TTC, then taking the monorail or boat to MK is so much more convenient. I know the other parks are a bit easier, but we spend most of our time at MK.

MK is the only one even close to a pain....but even then, we can get from our condo to the parks in less than 30 mins. We often had a 15 minute wait for the buses to get to the parks when staying on site so it really wasnt any quicker.

I'll also say that I have never waited more than 1 or 2 cars (1 min tops) at any of the parking booths and with the back way into the parks via Sherberth Rd there is little to no traffic that you are waiting in.

 

[ssawka]

MK is the only one even close to a pain....but even then, we can get from our condo to the parks in less than 30 mins. We often had a 15 minute wait for the buses to get to the parks when staying on site so it really wasnt any quicker.

I'll also say that I have never waited more than 1 or 2 cars (1 min tops) at any of the parking booths and with the back way into the parks via Sherberth Rd there is little to no traffic that you are waiting in.

I'll take your word for it, I have not done it much, I just remember what a pain MK was when I went as a kid. Anyway, nothing can beat the short walk from MK to BLT!

 

[jgates]

Going against what I am sure 90% of you do, but the worst for us was taking a Misting Fan. That stupid thing was a PITA to lug around. Absolutely hated it. Took it one day & that was it. Was so glad we borrowed it instead of spending money on it.

Not worst advice, but I really hated staying at the DTD hotels. They had their own bus that had to go to about 4 hotels (at that time) & it took forever to go ANYWHERE. That's probably why the bus service for Disney itself seems so good to me. We finally gave up & just paid parking & took the car. Now I have no desire to stay off-site unless I do have a car. I don't want to HAVE to be at the bus stop by 9:20 or something like that. I want to wander out when I feel like it.

For us dining plan would be bad advice. I can't make it work for us. We often share a beverage & I make the kids (whoever is with) hae at least one meal a day with a glass of water only - your body needs it in the heat & humidity there. So for us it's just not great.

 

[gabriellyn]

Going against what I am sure 90% of you do, but the worst for us was taking a Misting Fan. That stupid thing was a PITA to lug around. Absolutely hated it. Took it one day & that was it. Was so glad we borrowed it instead of spending money on it.

I am with the 10% - I find them useless! Instead of hot and humid with dry skin you feel hot and humid with moist skin.

 

[ssawka]

Going against what I am sure 90% of you do, but the worst for us was taking a Misting Fan. That stupid thing was a PITA to lug around. Absolutely hated it. Took it one day & that was it. Was so glad we borrowed it instead of spending money on it.

Reminds me of the first time we took DD to WDW and borrowed my nephews Pal Mickey. That thing was ridiculous, he was heavy, you couldn't hear hime, and he gave useless and often wrong information.

 

[crisi]

MK is the only one even close to a pain....but even then, we can get from our condo to the parks in less than 30 mins. We often had a 15 minute wait for the buses to get to the parks when staying on site so it really wasnt any quicker.

I'll also say that I have never waited more than 1 or 2 cars (1 min tops) at any of the parking booths and with the back way into the parks via Sherberth Rd there is little to no traffic that you are waiting in.

I've had bad bus trips and magical bus trips. I've also had great car rental experiences and car rental experiences that make waiting for the bus heavenly. What works for us is to skip the car rental - any car my husband is willing to drive and will fit our luggage is pricey anyway - stay on site - and take the occasional taxi. Taxi's might run us $100 for the whole vacation.

The worst car rental trip had us overcharged and waiting for more than an hour for the "right" car to show up (we needed a minivan). I'd rather wait at any bus stop in Disney than at an Orlando car rental parking lot.

 

[teacup princess]

Going against what I am sure 90% of you do, but the worst for us was taking a Misting Fan. That stupid thing was a PITA to lug around. Absolutely hated it. Took it one day & that was it. Was so glad we borrowed it instead of spending money on it.

I agree. Although, I must admit I like the feel of the cool mist it and I didn't have problems carrying it. (I made my kids do that). It was a PITA to monitor their usage of it while waiting in line, ect. It oversprayed alot and would spray anyone behind or in front of us in line. To be polite to the others, I eventually had to have them take them off so yep, money wasted there.

 

[pigletto]

I was sure I was the only one who didn't like the misting fans
To be honest.. I bought them from Walmart and they are really huge and awkward. And they leak. After I bought mine I saw some of the cute little ones people had in the park and they didn't look too bad. Mine were enormous in comparison. And of course I bought 4 of them.
They were used once on one trip. Complete waste of money.

 

[swilshire]

doing laundry while on vacation doesn't sound very fun to me.

To me, there is nothing worse than coming home with a ton of dirty clothes. We just spent a week at DVC Vero Beach. I did a small load of clothes every night. I ran the washer and dryer while we were relaxing in the evenings.

We're spending one night in a hotel on the way home, so when we arrive we'll have about half a load of laundry. That can wait a day or so. Much better than feeling obligated to start the laundry as soon as I get home.

Sheila

 

[torinsmom]

To me, there is nothing worse than coming home with a ton of dirty clothes. We just spent a week at DVC Vero Beach. I did a small load of clothes every night. I ran the washer and dryer while we were relaxing in the evenings.

We're spending one night in a hotel on the way home, so when we arrive we'll have about half a load of laundry. That can wait a day or so. Much better than feeling obligated to start the laundry as soon as I get home.

Sheila

This is so me. I throw a load in every day or two and fold them while we are relaxing midday. I go home with a suitcase full of clean clothes instead of three loads that need washing.

 

[crisi]

This is so me. I throw a load in every day or two and fold them while we are relaxing midday. I go home with a suitcase full of clean clothes instead of three loads that need washing.

When we joined DVC I would have laid down money that the washer and dryer and stove would not get used.

They both get used quite a bit. We throw in laundry into the washer in the morning, move it to the dryer at bedtime and fold it quick in the morning.

It isn't like at home where I have LOADS to do all the time and it becomes a huge job. The washer dryer is right there, not down steps like mine is at home.

I wouldn't do it if it were a "go to the laundry room" thing.

 

[Sandy61]

Worst advice...take snacks in with you. After 4 days in the parks it suddenly hit me that my poor kids were missing out on all the great snacks. We had peanuts, granola bars etc that I packed but not once did the kids get a snack that was from a vendor.

This June when we go I will pack snacks for the morning but then let them buy something in the afternoon.

 

[jgates]

I actually don't like this either. I always have SOMETHING in my purse because I am diabetic. Our first trip I didn't really keep anything in my purse because there are SO many places you can get something to eat quickly. However, one trip my blood sugar was crashing in a hurry & the dole whip window SHUT as I walked up to it. I yelled I have to have sugar & she just turned around & walked in the back. I was in such a fog at that time I ended up I think way over in Tomorrowland Terrace before I got something. I have no idea why I didn't get to Main St & get a candy bar - but I was just not in there.

So anyway......I HATE carrying a ton of granola bars (that get crushed & crumbled), etc., but I do have something on hand. And obviously chocolate melts. The snacks at Disney are part of the experience.

And thanks to the others who dislike the fans too LOL!!

 

[Suzanne033]

Reminds me of the first time we took DD to WDW and borrowed my nephews Pal Mickey. That thing was ridiculous, he was heavy, you couldn't hear hime, and he gave useless and often wrong information.

My DD LOVED Pal Mickey!! He had a clip so that she could hang him on her pants belt. He would vibrate just before saying stuff so she could bring him up to her ear if it was too loud to hear.

He would give us great info about wait times at big rides, tell her cute little jokes and tell us interesting tips about where we were in the park.

It was well worth the cash!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I agree. Although, I must admit I like the feel of the cool mist it and I didn't have problems carrying it. (I made my kids do that). It was a PITA to monitor their usage of it while waiting in line, ect. It oversprayed alot and would spray anyone behind or in front of us in line. To be polite to the others, I eventually had to have them take them off so yep, money wasted there.

I found these little personal fans in the camping section at Target..really small but powerful. We used those last time and they worked well. No water needed.

Regarding the laundry, I wash my clothes when I get home anyway, because of the whole bedbug thing. My cousin brought home bedbugs from a timeshare close to Disney( not sure which one-have to ask). Big pain in the butt..cost her hundreds of dollars in the long run, so I'm not sure how cost efficient the timeshare ended up being,lol.

I know the bedbugs have been found at WDW too, so never put the suitcase on the floor, the bed or the furniture. I use the luggage racks-I also don't put my clothes in the drawers. It's worked so far.

 

[iheartdisney]

worst advice I've ever heard is the "buy souveneers at Walmart before you go." HUH?
i just couldn't imagine one of my kids saying, hey. look at this! And I pull some crap out of my bag and say HERE! You might like that, and want that, but I have picked up THIS for you. I love the unique things for sale at Disney Parks. I would rather have one $20 item like the baby characters or the POTC toys than 4 cheap $5 Walmart crap toys. I guess that is just me. And it doesn't take too much to set aside $30 per kid for them to pick their own keepsake!