How do you go to WDW and not spend a fortune in the stores? I'm sitting here looking at my Disney Direct catalog, and want SOOO much stuff in there. And I know it will be twice as bad at WDW, since the selection will be huge! Being a disney freak, I want it all, but my wallet doesn't allow for it! How do you stick to a budget at the parks?
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How do you not spend a FORTUNE?
- Thread starter tinkfan05
- Start date
It really takes some self control. When in comes to collectables you really need to limit yourself to a few categories. My wife and I collect the snow globes and that’s it. WE don’t buy pins, figures, watches, etc.
Horizons78
Grade "A" Funny...
Duct tape......plenty of it too.......you'll want to place your cash and credit cards in a small box. Then apply the duct tape until you have something that resembles a seventh graders attempt at creating the planet saturn.
In reality, moderation is all I can recomend my friend.
In reality, moderation is all I can recomend my friend.
I find the easiest way to not over spend is to save all our "stuff" spending for the last day of our trip - by this point I've seen everything and can best make a decision for what I'd like - and it's much harder to spend all that money at one time than if you've been collecting for the whole week... But then again- the only things I get in WDW are ornaments, scrapbook stuff, and some postcards... I'm not big on the "stuff" catagory - b/c I know that once I get it home it'll just go in my junk drawer...
Also try to give yourself a budget before you visit - when you're sitting at home it's much easier to determine a set amount that you have to spend than when you're looking around the World of Disney and the only thought in your head is "I want it all - every last stinkin cup, pen, pin and other junk - I want it all"
Also try to give yourself a budget before you visit - when you're sitting at home it's much easier to determine a set amount that you have to spend than when you're looking around the World of Disney and the only thought in your head is "I want it all - every last stinkin cup, pen, pin and other junk - I want it all"
polynesiangirl
Well-Known Member
Oh man, you are asking the WRONG group of people here.
I usually don't do *too* bad (of course, last time when I ended up buying the monorail toy set, and like 3 accessory sets for it ON A WHIM, I didn't do very well, hahaha.)
I just try and remind myself of any of the similar Disney items I already have at home, or can buy at the Disney Store later if I reallyreallyreally want it. But since there are so many "unique" Disney items in WDW, it's still hard. I usually have to rationalize that the less money I spend on souvenirs, the more money I'll have to come back sooner!! I find that works better than any other motivator.
I usually don't do *too* bad (of course, last time when I ended up buying the monorail toy set, and like 3 accessory sets for it ON A WHIM, I didn't do very well, hahaha.)
I just try and remind myself of any of the similar Disney items I already have at home, or can buy at the Disney Store later if I reallyreallyreally want it. But since there are so many "unique" Disney items in WDW, it's still hard. I usually have to rationalize that the less money I spend on souvenirs, the more money I'll have to come back sooner!! I find that works better than any other motivator.
You speak the truth about those pins. I have yet to buy my first pin and the only one I’m going to buy is the minimum ride height one for my three year old when she hits 40”. My wife tried to buy me the Star Wars pins when they first came out but I wouldn’t let her. I reminded her that 4 years ago we were just going to get this 1 snow globe and now we have nearly 80 of them.rainfully said:
Boo's Mom
New Member
Well we save a fortune on food by taking snacks, drinks and breakfast items down to Disney with us. We go to Downtown Disney the first day and we usually browse through the stores. If there is something that we really want but don't want to take the risk of it not being there later in the week we buy it. If we remember something we wanted but didn't get before the week's end, we will go back and get it but if we forget, well we forget it. If we are out at the parks and see something that we know is at downtown disney also, we will wait and get it later in the week when we go back to DTD, but if its something that we haven't seen at DTD, we will go ahead and get it. We only buy as much stuff that we feel like carrying around the parks. if we don't want to carry it, we don't get it. Our trip usually costs $1500 or so for us to go down there and we usually spend a little over $1000 (total among everybody in the group) while we are down there. That $1000 includes food, souvenirs, and other little expenses. .....this probably won't help you at all :lol:
shoppingnut
Active Member
polynesiangirl said:
Okay, I most definitely see why you needed the monorail, I did too. Just listening to the spiel makes me feel like I'm there.
What I have tried to do before I go is sort of look over the things I have so when I get there, I can say well I don't need that because I have it or something like it. It's very hard indeed, but I have cut myself back considerably in the past two years, so my wardrobe doesn't consist of all disney shirts. I think about what I really would like to buy before I go and try to stick to it, sometimes I do well, sometimes I buy a few things extra, but even so at that point it's not as bad as if I bought everything. I also like to visit the Character Warehouse stores in Belz and the Premium Outlets to check out the discounted disney merchandise.
themouseman
New Member
GOD I love those pins
shoppingnut
Active Member
PINS, I LOVE THEM TOO. another item that got out of control quickly. I now limit myself to no more than 3 pins per trip.
MR. DISNEY
New Member
What I do is charge everything back to the room. Now you may say thats not good, BUT..... every time I pick something up I say "DO I REALLY NEED THIS, AND DO I WANT TO CHARGE THIS TO THE ROOM" Most of the time I put it back unless I really, really, really want this thing. I have found that at the end of the week WE have spent less than expected
dixiegirl
Well-Known Member
usually when we go to disney we really , really splurge i love it cuz it's one of those rare times my husband justs lets me go!!! well also we save so, when we do go we can do this we also have two girls, the little one not quite at the wanting stage,, although she did go crazy for the plush mickey last year, and our oldest well she loves everything disney!! but we usually bring more than enough money just in case there is that.. oh my god i have to have it but its super exspensive..we also brouse during the week then decide toward the end ..
DFD111
New Member
Budget, Budget, Budget
Okay, lets tackle the most difficult part of the Walt Disney World experience, spending cash on the trip. I went for 7 days in August of 2003 and took about 1300 dollars with me and when I boarded the plane back to NJ I had and I remember this exactly, $59.29 on me in my pockets. We had the meal plan on our trip and that does help, trust me. You just need to limit yourself on a Per-Day Cash Amount. I set mine at $140.00 a day. I wouldn't let myself go over that, which would have been ($980.00) but we also had alcohol with our meals, which is not included in the meal plans. So that was an out of pocket expense. We also made use of Valet Parking when we went to the Poly for breakfast, and then hopped on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Did the same for the Contempory Resort. I also did the Richard Petty Driving Experience while I was down there so that was another $90.00. But if you are looking at a good way to make it through your trip without going broke. Figure on a daily budget. Also try to take about $20 - $40 of that budget and place it on you as emergency money. And then if you don't have to use it, put it away toward your next trip. Hope that this helps.
Okay, lets tackle the most difficult part of the Walt Disney World experience, spending cash on the trip. I went for 7 days in August of 2003 and took about 1300 dollars with me and when I boarded the plane back to NJ I had and I remember this exactly, $59.29 on me in my pockets. We had the meal plan on our trip and that does help, trust me. You just need to limit yourself on a Per-Day Cash Amount. I set mine at $140.00 a day. I wouldn't let myself go over that, which would have been ($980.00) but we also had alcohol with our meals, which is not included in the meal plans. So that was an out of pocket expense. We also made use of Valet Parking when we went to the Poly for breakfast, and then hopped on the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Did the same for the Contempory Resort. I also did the Richard Petty Driving Experience while I was down there so that was another $90.00. But if you are looking at a good way to make it through your trip without going broke. Figure on a daily budget. Also try to take about $20 - $40 of that budget and place it on you as emergency money. And then if you don't have to use it, put it away toward your next trip. Hope that this helps.
netenyahoo
New Member
If you like pins I recomend limiting yourself to a certain character/park/attraction, etc, so you don't go overboad buying all the neat pins. I usually get Sorceror Mickey pins or patriotic Mickey pins and ones related to my favorite rides. When we go during a holiday or special event then I usually get one for that. It is really easy to go crazy with pins and I have realized on my last trip that I need to cut back. I will only get a few pins every trip, but I also like to bring a couple to trade with cast members. I am glad I don't like snowglobes. Next trip I do want to look into getting some books, CDs and some attraction posters. It is hard being a disney freak with a small bank account.
CoffeeJedi
Active Member
Maybe i'm just weird, but, i can't stand it when i go to Disney and the people i'm with want to shop! i generally buy one little souveneir and some gifts for my friends and family on the last day, but other than that, i see shopping as a waste of time. I'm there for the experience, the attractions, the shows, the resturants, and exploring new and familiar places. Anyone else with me, or am i a freak?netenyahoo said:
(i do like going into some of the interesting shops that have cool theming though, but generally i'm too busy looking for the in-jokes hidden on the walls to actually look at the merchandise)