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.

 

[nngrendel]

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.

This would also be a great idea.

I dont want to take the fun out of the trip we are taking. However if I can keep the fun in it and take some $$ back home would be great. I know we are going to drop some cash down but there is no sense in breaking the bank if you dont have to. Sharing large food orders and dividing food up still allows you to go out to eat but keep the cost down. Which allows you to splurge on other things.

The kids are always thirsty so the tip about getting free ice water is a great help. No telling how much money this will save us. Im not looking to be the penny pincher that cant go out and have fun because I refuse to spend money. However, I am on a budget and would like to have the biggest bang for my dollar.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Yeah, it's really a challenge with small kids.
Small kids seem to always want something and then maybe not eat half of it.

Good luck.


BTW- I'm originally from Macon.

 

[nngrendel]

Yeah, it's really a challenge with small kids.
Small kids seem to always want something and then maybe not eat half of it.

Good luck.


BTW- I'm originally from Macon.

Well my kids range from 7 to 16.
Ages are 7, 12, 13, 14, 16. They all want this and that and either starving to death or thirsty. I need all the luck or advice on how to save a buck I can get.

BTW I will pass through Macon on the way to Disney and I am originally from Savannah.

 

[whitney37354]

Yeah, it's really a challenge with small kids.
Small kids seem to always want something and then maybe not eat half of it.

Good luck.


BTW- I'm originally from Macon.

I have a four-year-old who is a "grazer" when eating.
Macon= Half-way to WDW from our house!

 

[Phonedave]

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:

For that to work it has to be a 1BR or larger. Studios do not have a full kitchen. (but they do have a micowave, small fridge, toaster, and coffee pot)

Oh, and they don't hold them for non-DVC so they can show them off. It's a Florida law pertaining to maximum fill rates and room availability on time share offering. They are required to keep some rooms available for cash use.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

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.

Heck, go one step further. Put up a sign "Egg sandwiches $2" and make a tidy proft.

-dave

 

[nngrendel]

Macon= Half-way to WDW from our house!

I cut through the woods until I reach Macon then hit 75 south bound!
Matter of fact if anyone is traveling May 29th on 75 south between Macon and the Florida Turnpike you may want to be on the lookout for a White Chrystler Town and Country van. You may want to stay in the right lanes of traffic if you see me coming. Cruise will be set to "We need to hurry and get to Disney" setting. I will be traveling at a high rate of speed for us all to get acclimated to ride Mission Space.

 

[Monsterfan99]

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.

We splurged with adding Jelly :ROFLOL:

I thought the same thing going it, but it made eating quick and easy. We found a counter service place, sat down, got free water and had lunch.

 

[pax_65]

Even if you're just in a DVC studio or an ordinary hotel room with mini-fridge, buying some key groceries can give you a huge savings. We always buy breakfast stuff - usually just some cereal, milk and maybe some donuts or something. We don't want to stop for breakfast anyway - we want to eat fast and get into the parks!

Most days we usually take a pool break in the afternoon from the park, so for those days we pick up some lunch meat and bread and chips and have lunch in our room or by the pool. We might grab a snack at the pool then, but we're not buying a full lunch for everyone. If we decide to stay in the park then we just grab lunch somewhere (which is fun too).

Another benefit of the mini-fridge... when you go out to dinner and enjoy the usual huge Disney portions, you can take home a doggie bag and enjoy that for lunch the next day. We do this all the time and really enjoy it.

One final suggestion... probably too late to help you this time, though... get a Disney Visa card. We use it for everything we possibly can (and never carry a balance, obviously). You earn $1 for every $100 you spend. Over a year or two this can add up. We end up with several hundred $$$ available to spend, and we usually use it on food in the parks and at the pool. Free money you can blow without worrying about it!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[stlbobby]

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!

Be careful with this generally they won't refill a bottle, but will provide a cup of water. It has to do with possibly getting germs from the mouth of the bottle on the water spout.

I actually carry a Camelback with me on long days. I have a small one that carries 100 oz of water granola bars, a small first aid pouch, sunscreen and my camera. It may sound like a lot, but if you are planning 12 or more hours in the park it is worth it.

Also remember getting to the parks for rope drop, coming home for a lunch in the room and a swim, and going back as the day cools down can be a much more relaxing strategy. You may feel you're losing park time, but the quality of the time improves.

 

[nngrendel]

Be careful with this generally they won't refill a bottle, but will provide a cup of water. It has to do with possibly getting germs from the mouth of the bottle on the water spout.


Also remember getting to the parks for rope drop, coming home for a lunch in the room and a swim, and going back as the day cools down can be a much more relaxing strategy. You may feel you're losing park time, but the quality of the time improves.

I wouldn't expect them to refill the bottle. I figured they would just give you a cup of water. Even if we dont carry bottles around this would be perfect.

I have never spent an entire day at the parks. Plans are always go early morning then come back for a rest before we go back for night. Its a vacation so taking it easy is important for me too.

 

[stlbobby]

I wouldn't expect them to refill the bottle. I figured they would just give you a cup of water. Even if we dont carry bottles around this would be perfect.

I have never spent an entire day at the parks. Plans are always go early morning then come back for a rest before we go back for night. Its a vacation so taking it easy is important for me too.

If that is your plan and you are looking to save money then definitely try and do sandwiches. I din't see if you said you were driving or flying. If your driving bring a case of water and or juice and a variety of lunch meats and bread. For snacks I'd go with nuts and trail mixes or granola bars to avoid melting and sugar crashes.

If you are flying you can order a car service and ask them to stop at a grocery store on the way from the airport, most will be happy to make the stop, but check when you make the arrangements. Depending on how strict you are with sticking to eating in the room this could still save money over ME and QS.

Some WDW rooms come with a fridge, but even if it isn't part of the room package they are always available to rent at the resort. I've even heard of buying a dorm type fridge at Wal-mart and returning it at the end of a vacation. Again that would depend on if you are driving. Always remember a good cooler will keep lunch meat for weeks and you can replenish ice for free.

 

[nngrendel]

If that is your plan and you are looking to save money then definitely try and do sandwiches. I din't see if you said you were driving or flying. If your driving bring a case of water and or juice and a variety of lunch meats and bread. For snacks I'd go with nuts and trail mixes or granola bars to avoid melting and sugar crashes.

If you are flying you can order a car service and ask them to stop at a grocery store on the way from the airport, most will be happy to make the stop, but check when you make the arrangements. Depending on how strict you are with sticking to eating in the room this could still save money over ME and QS.

Some WDW rooms come with a fridge, but even if it isn't part of the room package they are always available to rent at the resort. I've even heard of buying a dorm type fridge at Wal-mart and returning it at the end of a vacation. Again that would depend on if you are driving. Always remember a good cooler will keep lunch meat for weeks and you can replenish ice for free.

Were driving. I always being a large cooler and just pour water out and replace with fresh ice each day to keep food for sandwiches and such cold. We bring bottled water and soft drinks and just use ice from the ice machines to get the drinks cold. That saves 50 bucks on the refrigerator rental. I have had one of these before and they barely would fit a 6 pack of drinks.

 

[need2go2wdw]

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.

:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

Thread win IMO!!

 

[Tinkermommy]

We discovered last year that Costco will deliver to your hotel room! We had two cases of water and various snacks and food delivered and bell services held onto it until our room was ready. Saved a lot of money, and time because we could eat breakfast in our room most mornings. Even counter service breakfast can be $30 or more for a family of four and it takes a lot of time (at least with two poky kids). This year we got the kids their own packs to keep snacks in. It should come in handy when waiting in ride lines or when they get fussy. Plus, it costs less than a $4.00 frozen banana

 

[DisneyGator]

On our last trip to WDW we bought those prepackaged sub sandwiches in the Wal Mart deli for $3 each. We brought mini chip bags and got mayo and mustard packets at quick service restaurants, along with ice water. Some of the places have burger topping bars too, so you can add topings to your sandwich if you like. Neither of us are big eaters, so we each had half of the sub for lunch and wound up eating the other half for dinner. We both ate for about $7 for the day! We normally buy both meals at a quick service restaurant and spend about $50 to feed us both lunch and dinner....so we were thrilled at the savings, and we will definitely be making a habit of this!!!