Originally Posted By Lisax4 Im taking my 4 boys in December for the first time on my own. I'm on a budget and trying to cut corners but at the same time have a great time. Driving down, staying at the Park Vue, planning on eating breakfast at the hotel and trying to just have one big meal a day. I'd love to hear what your best cost cutting tips are!! thanks
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess We always take our own bottled water into the park. Since it's December, you won't need as much as during the summer season, but it still would be nice to have several in a backpack. (We freeze some, too, and put them in lockers--at least in the summertime.) Small bottled waters in the park are nearly $3.00 each. Not sure how old your boys are, but if they're younger, something like Capri Suns might work well, too (even frozen, to last throughout the day). We also take things like beef jerky, nuts, fruit snacks, or granola bars. Just a few things to keep from spending $20 on snacks every few hours! I know some families who take sandwiches and put them in a locker for lunch, and then just splurge on dinner. Honestly, a nice homemade sandwich would probably taste better than anything greasy you could buy at lunchtime, anyway (chicken strips, hamburgers, etc.). We also eat breakfast at the hotel each time. I think some of the restaurants have bigger portions (the one by Space Mountain, whose name escapes me, comes to mind) and you could split a pasta dish between two or three of your kids for dinner (depending on their ages). The chicken fettucini over there is fantastic! I have not had better elsewhere. Another idea is leaving the park and coming back, though that's time consuming. I know some people leave for McDonald's or Mimi's across the street. Stay away from the IHOP by the Radisson/Red Lion, though! EXPENSIVE. Hope those tips help!
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan We try to buy shirts/small souveniers in advance at the Dollar Store or Walmart. You can find Disney stuff at both of those places for pretty cheap. Maybe you'll be able to bypass those at the park altogether. But my kids always want something there. We tell them to pick one souvenier over the duration of the time in the park, and buy it on the way out on the last day. That way they can be sure of what they want, and only get one thing. My Walmart has a great Star Wars Lego t-shrit right now for like $7.00. Kind of Disney-ish....my son wants to do the Jedi Training Academy, and there are light sabers on the shirt. If he wears that, he (hopefully) won't ask for a shirt at the park. I agree with the water/snacks ideas above. And having breakfast at the Park Vue. We'll be eating our breakfast there next week! Have a great trip....
Originally Posted By The-Tink-Mobile the disney character wharehouse will save you a ton, you can ask for a membership card there and get between 15 and twenty per cent off extra, we have a ams card , from there, it is easy to find, even the tourist imformation booth has directions and a ten per cent off coupon as well, it is a great place to shop, your triple a or bcaa card may give you discounts as well, mimis is a great place to eat as previously mentioned, we enjoyed dinner at the restuarant by fantasmic, it was great and pretty reasonable..have fun
Originally Posted By The-Tink-Mobile bcaa card or triple a card won't give you discounts at the character warehouse but maybe at other places ...sorry for confusion i may have caused, tink -mobile
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x Before the trip, I start giving my girls an "allowance" of Disney Dollars. This way, they are responsible for buying their own souvenirs at the park. It usually adds up to about $20 what I give them, plus, we usually go around birthdays or holidays, and that's their "wish" for presents. I second the water bottles. You can get a small cooler at Walmart for $5 and it's great for putting about 4 or 5 .5 liter bottles in there, I freeze 2 or 3, and put the others in cold. (Plus, save the .5 liter bottle, and get your own "souvenir" of Pirate Water! :x) I also bring in single serve packets of Teddy Grams, Goldfish (and the Whales at Walmart taste better and are cheaper! Only $2 for a 9 pack), and trail mix. The Trail Mix has M&Ms in it, but otherwise, I don't recommend anything with chocolate, even granola bars, because they get super messy (remember, M&M's melt in your mouth, not in your hand). And nuts are good for energy. That cooler I mentioned above has an unzippable top so you can store your snacks up there. If your kids are older, and you don't have a stroller to store the cooler, get them all a small backpack or a hip bag (again, inexpensive at walmart) so they can hold their own stuff. DD will carry a small back pack for her Penny book and Autograph books. As far as autograph books go, you can make your own if you're even a tiny bit crafty. I've seen people with small sketch books, and they've covered and decorated the front to personalize it to the child (I saw a couple of little girls with them at the Princess Fantasy Fair). You can even just print pictures of Mickey and the gang, or even the Star Wars characters, or other favorite characters, have the kids decorate a paper that will fit over the cover. Use clear packing tape to "seal" the front...wrap it all the way around, and include a "if lost please contact" info in the front cover. This is also good if the child gets lost and has his autograph book on him. I hope this helps. I've been looking for ways to save $$$ at Disneyland for YEARS!
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x And also, about the water... save the water bottles, and refill them at water fountains. Then bring in Walmart brand water flavor things...the fruit punch and cherry limeade are huge hits with my girls. They also have lemonade and "gatorade" type ones, too. This way, you can not have to buy sodas during meals or snacks, if you do decide to buy them in the park.
Originally Posted By Toxman Buy glow sticks at the dollar stores, for those nights you'll be there late. While you're at the dollar store, pick-up some ponchos. You can use them on GRR or have them available if it rains.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Check out the portion size of the meals ahead of ordering. Especially at places like the Plaza and Red Rockets. Meals can be easily shared. You can get a cup of ice water at the soda machines for free. Just leave the lid off and let the CM know it's water. Sodas and drinks are easily shared as you get free refills and straws Buy a loaf of french bread in DCA or at La Brea, with some string cheese, an apple and some nuts, an instant picnic You can get "First Visit" "Honorary Citizen" birthday, anniversary, wedding, buttons for free at City Hall. Makes a fun souvenier. I second, third and fourth the bring in your own water idea. There are fountains with higher spigots (?) in several locations, let us know if you want specifics, so you don't have to stand there trying to refill at those little fountains The park water isn't that tasty so XPPX's idea to flavor the water is great!
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess I love that loaf of bread, cheese, apple and nuts idea! Sounds yummy, too! (I get so burned out on park food when we're there.) I also love the idea of adding flavors to the park water!
Originally Posted By mater4 amazedncal2 where are the tall fountains? I plan on reusing my water bottle this trip.
Originally Posted By LuLu Best place to get water is Rancho del Zocalo - they have a cart outside with paper cups and a high spigot you could fill a water bottle with. It's really easy to access. I think French Market has an outside water station too. I don't carry water bottles any more, I just get the free filtered water! I've also ducked into Pizza Port to get a cup, or stood in line anywhere they serve fountain drinks. They don't mind giving you a free cup of water! Such a deal!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 LuLu is right the filtered water from the fountains tastes better If you do want to refill bottles here are the fountains that have tall spigots: Rancho, at the outside cart in the middle of the seating area. If River Belle is open and they haven't changed it, there is one inside by where you get the condiments. Plaza Pavillion has one along the wall near the second piano. I believe there is one near the back side of the French Market where you buy the Mint Juleps and Fritters. Thats all I can envision right now.
Originally Posted By x Pirate_Princess x I think Tomorrowland Terrace has one, too, near where the napkins/condiments are. And maybe the Funnel Cake/Mint Julep window in NOS?
Originally Posted By GMLSKIS I do Disney cheaper than anybody I know. That means staying at the Super 8 around the corner but still within walking distance. That also means carrying in a backpack food and drinks for the whole day. The motel provides a free continental breakfast and a water bottle in the backpack can be refilled for free many places in the park. DCA has free bread and tortilla samples that I have been known to get more than once a day.
Originally Posted By crazycroc Sell blood, and/or plasma. There has to be something like that in the O.C. You get a free fruit punch afterwards, it's really delicious.
Originally Posted By crazycroc Also, each area of the park has trash cans that are just brimming with free food. I would recommend the trash cans by Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. Also, if eating out of the trash can bothers you, just watch for people who leave their leftovers on the tables. This is an especially helpful hint in the New Orleans Square area. Happy Hunting.
