What's your best penny pinching tip?

[Goofy_Mom]

I found something intersting today. In one of our local malls, a store opened up called Toysrus Express. It has a bunch of toys, of course. I found a light up spiny toy with replaceable battries. I imediatly thought lets get this, it'll be less expensive here than at DL. Wrong!! it was 6 bucks. I bought a light up sword for my DS last year at DL for 5.

 

[Pintail]

We buy water and snacks at the Target on Harbor when we get to CA. (a few miles South of Disneyland.)

 

[Yukonjack]

When we went last year, we brought a bunch of granola bars, packs of peanut butter sandwich crackers, cheese sandwich crackers, and empty water bottles (like Nalgene bottles). We brought those into the park with us so the kids could have snacks (that were also healthy) for no cost. Mostly all they cared about was eating something, and not eating themed foods.

I also took somea advice I received on these boards and went to the Disney store here and bought some secret gifts for the kids that were all on sale. Every morning they would wake up to a new gift (like Minnie ears hair things, and small stuffed animals/toys). They loved it and it was super cheap compared to the stuff at the DTD stores.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Stay at a hotel with a free continental breakfast! My boyfriend and I found a hotel that would cost us $300 for 4 nights, but it didn't have a free continental breakfast so we chose to stay at a hotel that will cost us $314 (with AAA discount) and has that. It will save you plenty of money to not have to pay for an extra meal. Plus, it's easy to quickly grab a bagel or a bowl of cereal before going to a park instead of spending roughly an hour at a sit down place like IHOP or somewhere in the park.

 

[marcemc]

We bring water, glowing bracelets & snacks. I go to the outlet Disney store a week before the trip to get inexpensive little things.

I also like Amy&Dan suggestion about sharing a meal from Plaza Inn. We do the same thing, some Disney meals are really big and you can split them with your kiddos.

 

[Cagirl767]

We like to bring flavor packets (i.e Crystal Light) to add to the free water, or our own water. We also split Churros and bigger snacks. We also bring baggies to split a popcorn among the four of us.

IHOP has kids eat free with a paying adult after 4pm.

 

[WeekdayDisneyland]

I focus on the big items for the biggest budget impact: Hotel, air, tickets.

Hotel: I like a comfortable, clean 3 star that serves a full breakfast. Staying on-site is not a priority for me; I'll save hundreds of dollars in this category alone by choosing something like the HoJo's over the Grand Cal.

Air: I'm local, but back in the day I would only buy tickets only if they were on sale. This meant planning far in advance and watching the price of airfare. Or, I'd wait until the last minute and score a deal that way. Driving (if feasible) can also be less expensive than flying.

Tickets: Legit ticket brokers are nice. I'd consider buying less days on a park hopper and during Halloween time if I was planning on doing that event too. So let's say I was planning a 3 day trip to Disneyland in October. Instead of buying a 3 day park hopper at $181 plus Halloween time tickets, I'd buy a 2 day pass non-park hopper for $149 (through Ares). Savings of $32 per person.

Other good budget savers: eating breakfast at the hotel and carrying in snacks. Bringing in water bottles with the intention of refilling them throughout the day saves alot of money.

 

[ShellyMouse]

i buy the glow necklaces & braclets at the $ store too. and to make them last longer...you can put them in the freezer to "recharge" them. stetch that $ even further!!

 

[LavenderPeach]

i buy the glow necklaces & braclets at the $ store too. and to make them last longer...you can put them in the freezer to "recharge" them. stetch that $ even further!!

Really? I've never heard this before. Does it work if they're completely done glowing or do they have to still work a little bit in order to "recharge"?

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I also just tell my kids how lucky we are to be going to Disneyland at all this year--so fair warning that we will not be buying a lot of junk at the stores. We have never been ones to buy suveniors, anyway. We just say things cost too much there. The only exception has been when we go around Christmas time and sometimes we do buy ornaments, but certainly not every year. Kids do understand what a family can and cannot afford if they are explained the facts ahead of time. It may take some reminding, but there is so much benefit to going to Disneyland, that the need to buy "stuff" sort of falls to the wayside.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

We have a buget for souvinears. I think last year we spent maybe $50 on them. A couple of mouse ears, a light up sword, and a pair of earings. I think this year we're going to get a balloon or two, another pair of ears, and a couple ordaments. I was thinking I'ld like to get the shadow cuts of my kids, but we'll see how much that costs.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

My boyfriend are budgeting for souvenirs as well. I know for sure what I want from DL. Haunted Mansion portraits. I have no clue how much they are there, but I'm making sure to save enough for at least one. Hoping for a couple more. My boyfriend and I don't really buy souvenirs. I will buy a magnet though because that's what my family I collect. Maybe a few pins or Alice in Wonderland stuff, but other than that, I don't really need anything.

 

[ShellyMouse]

Really? I've never heard this before. Does it work if they're completely done glowing or do they have to still work a little bit in order to "recharge"?

ours have always still worked a little bit when we put them in....and they are not quite as bright as the 1st time, but still pretty good!

hotel fridges usually have that teeny-tiny freezer space in them...glow necklaces are the only thing that will fit anyway... (my dd was begging me to put the banana man here, lol)

 

[silence]

We like to bring flavor packets (i.e Crystal Light) to add to the free water, or our own water. We also split Churros and bigger snacks. We also bring baggies to split a popcorn among the four of us.

IHOP has kids eat free with a paying adult after 4pm.

We do this as well. The kids sometimes get a little cranky if we only offer up water, the Crystal Light adds some flavor. I ask for the free cups of ice to pour it into as well.

 

[RainyDayPixie]

I also just tell my kids how lucky we are to be going to Disneyland at all this year--so fair warning that we will not be buying a lot of junk at the stores. We have never been ones to buy suveniors, anyway. We just say things cost too much there. The only exception has been when we go around Christmas time and sometimes we do buy ornaments, but certainly not every year. Kids do understand what a family can and cannot afford if they are explained the facts ahead of time. It may take some reminding, but there is so much benefit to going to Disneyland, that the need to buy "stuff" sort of falls to the wayside.

I have a Dec 1-4 trip planned and haven't told DS 5 or DS 2, but have been saying we need to save $ (and not buy that toy, eat out, clip coupons, etc.) so that we maybe can go to Disneyland someday. Can't wait to surprise them!

I think the "buy a treat and share" is a great idea. Then everyone gets everything!!