Tips on Saving moneywhile at the World

[nngrendel]

I am getting close to my 60 day mark before our trip. We already have the package paid for in full but trying to find ways to save money on food and such while there. I know bringing in your own food to your room and eating as much as you can there will save money but what about other ideas??

I once asked a CM at one of the Quick Service places on how I could save some money on buying food for 5 kids. hahah.
He said that since all of the burgers they had there were double patties that you could in fact purchase 1 double and ask for an extra bun and make two sandwiches. I think he said the bun was like around a buck. Anyone that has ate one of those double burgers knows they are quite huge. I know it sound cheap and stuff but hey! Gotta save where you can. We do have several reservations and I know its going to be hard to save money at the buffets. We do want to splurge some while we are there but not go overboard.

Anyway would be great to hear some of your ideas and proven things you have done to save money while there.

 

[daverube]

The best food-sharing money-saver I know is by using only one QS credit at Cosmic Rays to get the 1/2 BBQ Chicken and Ribs meal. It's a $14 QS meal item and can easily feed 2 people. All you'll need to do is buy a 2nd drink.

As for the Burger split, I believe you have to purchase the 2nd bun (last I read it costs and extra $1). Not a bad deal, but the Cosmic Ray dinner is more food.

I hope you have a great trip!!

my 2 cents...

dave

 

[RiversideBunny]

You could make peanut butter and jelly sanwiches each day and take them into the parks for meals so you don't have to buy WDW food. Drink only from the water fountains or refill a bottle from them. Stay at a Value resort in the lowest cost room available; or the Fort Wilderness campround with your own tent. Use the Disney buses and save your gas. Don't buy any souvenirs. Don't buy the Park Hopper option or other ticket options. Don't go to shows like Hoop-Dee-Doo that cost extra. Don't buy Photopass pictures.

There are ways to save money at WDW.
Have fun.

 

[tink65]

Take your water bottle and refill it at the fountain but add a drink mix (Crystal light packets) The water at Disney tastes horrible! Also the burger thing is a good idea. I would never, ever eat a double cheesburger or hamburger anyway! Too much hamburger meat! Why not make two out of it?

 

[tiaragirl]

Bring some granola bars from home for a quick snack.. much cheaper than the sugary junk you'll buy there!

 

[DisneyJoe]

http://www.mousesavers.com/meals.html

http://www.mousesavers.com/otherwdw.html

http://www.mousesavers.com/timeismoney.html

 

[love disney]

It should also be noted that at those quick service places that only list double burgers that they actually do sell singles for a bit less. Also, anywhere that sells fountain sodas will also give you free ice water. If you need soda, sharing a large soda is a lot cheaper than getting two smalls, and is always enough for me and my friend. Just some thoughts, and most of all have fun!

 

[nngrendel]

Also, anywhere that sells fountain sodas will also give you free ice water. Just some thoughts, and most of all have fun!

Thanks for this tip! I did not know this. We planned on taking water bottles with us. Now I know how we can get them filled back up!

 

[marcriss]

My DH and I split about 75% of our meals at WDW, both TS and QS. At a TS we split an appetizer and entree. AT a QS we split 1 burger etc. It's really plenty of food and leaves room to split a snack later. This way we save money and don't go crazy with the calories.

At home we split closer to 95% of the time.

Also, take the time and either use your car or take a taxi and go to Walmart. You can buy enough water/soda for your entire stay for what you would pay for one day's worth of drinks. You can also get cheap snacks there and bring them with you.

Rather than buy extra buns, just cut the burgers in half. Just my two cents...

 

[smk]

We usually buy the childs meal at the CS places, they are cheaper and come with just enough food for us (adults), the fruit option is always welcome too. I never thought of buying an extra bun and getting a double burger, but that is a great idea. I would do that as well. I am not a big fan of buffets in general, too much food and too much money. I don't go to any at home and I don't go to any on vacations either.

 

[drp4video]

My daughter, 22, and I share meals a lot. She loves chicken fingers and only can eat one and a half, and I don't like french fries (I know, nuts). So she eats the fries and one and half of the chicken fingers, I order a side salad and put the other one and a half chicken finger in it. We will split a burger, and she gets the fries and I get a side salad or fruit or something. Or, if there is a topping bar, I get lots of grilled onions, and mushroom, and veggies.

We don't like to eat too much when we are running around the parks. If we have a fridge in the room, we will stop at the grocery store in CrossRoads and pick up breakfast items and snack foods for the room. When we do go to a sit down restaurant, once or twice a visit, that is when we eat. lol Narcoosee's, I am not sharing anything.

 

[Phonedave]

Wow, I am amazed at the number of people who eat such small portions. Thats great.

I wish I could eat something like 1.5 chicken fingers and be full. Four might be a decent lunch, and if needed to, I have the ability to eat many many more. Unfortunately I guess it takes more calories to fuel my body (because I don't gain weight). It would be great if could get away with splitting a hamburger. I know my 11 y/o daughter would not be happy with 1/2 a hamburger either.

-dave

 

[Monsterfan99]

You could make peanut butter and jelly sanwiches each day and take them into the parks for meals so you don't have to buy WDW food. Drink only from the water fountains or refill a bottle from them.

Best advice I give people. For a 3 week trip in August of last year, this saved 2 adults over $50 a day using this idea. The savings paid for both of our Annual Passes.

 

[Mikester71]

Since we always drive down, we usually head out to a Walmart, Target, or Sams Club after we get checked in and buy a few groceries for the week. We usually stock up on granola bars, bottled water, trail mix snack packs, and other goodies (basically stuff you would pack in your kids lunch to send them to school with) that we can pack in my backpack to bring with us to the parks to snack on between meals. We bring a cooler and just keep filling it with ice from the hallway ice machines (which are free) to keep some Sunny D, milk, margarine and other stuff so that we can eat breakfast in our room before heading out to the park for the day. My wife also loves having fresh fruit in the room to snack on.

 

[harryk]

Make reservations at a DVC villa, (Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge, Saratog Springs, etc.) they hold rooms available for non-DVC members as a way of showing off the offerings. They have full kitchens so that you are able to purchase all your food for a week or more stay. That way you don't have to eat at any of the park facilities.
Of course you have an investment in the cost of the resort to consider -- but it is an option.:xmas::xmas::xmas:

 

[devoy1701]

Best advice I give people. For a 3 week trip in August of last year, this saved 2 adults over $50 a day using this idea. The savings paid for both of our Annual Passes.

I can't eat PB&J every day for 3 weeks....


I do normally bring cereal and a half gallon of milk to the room with us though. on a 4 or 5 day stay we usually will eat breakfast in our room every day but one.

 

[need2go2wdw]

I can't eat PB&J every day for 3 weeks....


I do normally bring cereal and a half gallon of milk to the room with us though. on a 4 or 5 day stay we usually will eat breakfast in our room every day but one.

Totally agree...I'm all for saving a few bucks, but this is vacation...PB&J everyday for 3 weeks sounds like torture!

My saving money tip of the day: Go when they offer FREE DINING :sohappy:!!

I'm not one to try to give cost cutting tips, we always try to cut it back while at WDW but it never works for us ! We've just accepted the fact that we're gonna drop some dough when at the World!

 

[RiversideBunny]

Best advice I give people. For a 3 week trip in August of last year, this saved 2 adults over $50 a day using this idea. The savings paid for both of our Annual Passes.

Actually I was joking about the peanut butter sandwiches. :lol:

For all the money that is spent getting to and from WDW and being there and buying the tickets, etc., trying to save a buck or two on food in the parks seems to be just a way to spoil the overall fun.

 

[JenShelby]

We always bring milk, water, soft drinks, etc with us. We also bring cereal, doughnuts, cream cheese and crackers, lunch meat, bread, cheese, plenty of chips and pretzels, (buy the small packs that you would usually pack in school lunches-you will have more of a variety) you can even buy dip. I go down to the food court and grab some condiments for our sandwiches. I even bought some tuna packets (from Sams) there are crackers, low fat mayo, relish and a spoon already inside for you. (Great quick snack). We do splurge and go to a few resturants inside the parks. My husband and daughter always have to get popcorn in the parks-they swear its the best popcorn.

We always head over to Walmart for some inexpensive souvenirs. They have the same things that are offered in the parks except they are way cheaper. Of course they do not have everything, we do usually splurge on 1 or 2 souvenirs in the park.

If you have little ones, you can always pack a few snacks in your bag for the parks. Bring a few baggies and put trail mix, pretzels, chips, etc for a quick snack through out the day. We are big water drinkers so we always have our water bottles. We were there this past July and Disney now allows in small soft sided coolers. My father is a diabetic and carried around a small cooler with ice and water, etc inside. I think it held about 4-5 water bottles.

Have fun!!

 

[RiversideBunny]

If you go to WDW in the summer you can fry your own eggs on the pavement.
Find an isolated spot and wipe it down first.
If you have bread with you, you can make enough fried egg sandwiches for the whole family.