[disneyguy]

OK I am planning my next trip to be a serious Budget Trip, but we still want the best. We never set a budget, I find it to be too limiting, and you fell terrible if you go over it, but how can you save some of the green stuff while still getting/doing the best at WDW?

[Dana]

I know how you feel I hate budgets! I love to spend, spend and spend....did I mention spending is fun? Anyway, I don't have a money tree out back so the way I try and limit myself with cash is by the way I save for the trip. I figure in the costs for everything I want to do and limit myself to X amount dollars per day for T-shirts and WDW gear. I have a specific amount a money for each day according to what I want to do and put it in an envelope. That envelope doesn't get opened until the day written on it...yes I am that disciplined. I can seperate the food money from the fun money and go from there.....I have to do it this way or I will go over my limit for the day and run out of money ...lololol A way I have found to cut costs on meals without actually feeling like I am missing out is doing a character meal for breakfast and counter service for lunch and dinner. Character meals are cheaper for breakfast always,so that is the most economical way to do them. I do have a table dinner here and there like O'hanna's or Lecellier, but don't do it every night. Me and my DD arent' snackers either, so that also helps. A popcorn maybe watching a parade, but the rest of the stuff does nothing for me...except the occassional dessert. that's it. That's the best of my budgetting. Not much for it. i save for a year to have a great "all out" trip,so I tend to overdo alot....lolol

[disneyguy]

I have also waited an entire year, but we just do not have the funds. I just cannot stand to cut out sit-down dinners. I have NEVER been a big breakfast eater, so I just don't feel like I get my money's worth there. I just have no idea what to do!!!

[llama]

If you absolutely MUST have sit-down dinners, why not schedule early dinners, by taking the latest possible lunch sitting (it's usually about 4 p.m.) The lunch menu is always cheaper than the dinner. Also, how about dinner at some not-so-conventional places - like The Earl of Sandwich for instance or Wolfgang Puck Express. Very good food for a lot less. Empty your pockets every night of all your change and put it in a jar. Take breakfast foods & eat in your room. Not only is it cheaper, it saves a lot of time which you can use for touring. Limit your souvenir purchases. You're a big boy now - do you really NEED all those souvenirs? Look around and choose one thing that you really, really like. Forego the rest. You'll see. You'll get much more pleasure out of that one special purchase, than a bunch of impulsive buys. (this is the mother coming out in me. lol)

[Dana]

Bring pop-tarts and what not for your breakfasts. If you aren't a big breakfast eater, than this wont bother you. Eat your dinner early at around the last serving time for lunches at a sit-down place. then grab a burger or something later if you are hungry. You can have you cake and eat it too. Try having your main meal at lunch. It will work out. You could also have your breakfast at last call for a character meal...like 11am in some places. Grab counter service for you dinner and have some snacks. You could also start prepaying for some of these meals using meal vouchers and cut the vosts later. Buy one or two here and there and before you know it, you will have a few days worth of lunches or dinners paid off. There is a way to make this work for you.

[disneyguy]

I came away from WDW last time with only one souvenier (a special mug I found). I always do really good there. Thanks for the tip about the early dinner/late lunch. Do you know if most resturaunts operate that way??? Also, we had planned on taking breakfast foods.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by disneyguy

I came away from WDW last time with only one souvenier (a special mug I found). I always do really good there. Thanks for the tip about the early dinner/late lunch. Do you know if most resturaunts operate that way??? Also, we had planned on taking breakfast foods.

You can go to allears.net and there are the times for each meals posted for most restaurants. If you have any in mind, let me know and I will check my passporter....it has all of that. It depends on the place about the early lunch thing. Places like Chef mickeys doesnt have lunch, but the crystal palace does. Let me know. It's no problem for me to look for you.

[karliebug]

I agree that lunch is cheaper than dinner at nearly all the sit-down places. I always bring my own snacks and breakfast foods and we stop at a grocery on the way and buy a case of bottled water. If you are big soda drinkers, you could buy that as well. If you order ice water with your lunch meals at the park, it is free and saves at least $2 per person (that was $10 per meal saved for our family of 5) and the water is better for you than surgary sodas anyway.I also buy some of the vouchers in advance so that it is prepaid before we go. Do you have a disney visa? YOu may want to consider it. We had $300 in reward dollars for our last trip, plus we got $100 disney dollars at check in with the vacation package they offered.

[Aggie_10]

I stop by the grocery store and get bagels, granola bars, boxed cereal for breakfast, we eat CS for most lunches, and a nice dinner at some of our favorite places. We take water bottles into the parks and snack foods in a backpack. My 3 DS's earn Disney Dollars before we go and that is all they can spend on souvenirs when we are there. This year, I am going to pack a coffee maker and toaster for the room. They did not have them at the Beach Club the last time we went.

[SummerSchoolMat]

Try to do a budget based on two items:

a. The realistic floor - This is the bottom line cost it will take for the family to attend WDW with no frills.

b. The emotional ceiling - If I spend more than this amount, I'll be ticked.

Once those two are set, sprinkle some pixie dust on the floor to get the vacation you want with an eye on the ceiling.

[mrsmouse]

If you plan on flying down, book as early as possible. We booked flights about a year ago for our November '04 trip. We just had to make a change and the flights have gone up over $100 per person. Luckily we only had to make a change for one person. We lost the air for the person canceling and we had to purchase another non-refundable ticket for the additional person. My silly brother decided to get married this year and that is the additional person we had to add.

[disneyguy]

Originally Posted by mrsmouse

If you plan on flying down, book as early as possible. We booked flights about a year ago for our November '04 trip. We just had to make a change and the flights have gone up over $100 per person. Luckily we only had to make a change for one person. We lost the air for the person canceling and we had to purchase another non-refundable ticket for the additional person. My silly brother decided to get married this year and that is the additional person we had to add.

That isn't always true, but airlines are becoming better and better, if you find out they are offering a lower fare after you book your flights, then just call them.

[disneyguy]

I forgot to post Dana, I couldn't find meal times on AllEars. I haven't had time to go to Barnes and Noble to get a new passporter. Definetly have to read before the trip.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by disneyguy

I forgot to post Dana, I couldn't find meal times on AllEars. I haven't had time to go to Barnes and Noble to get a new passporter. Definetly have to read before the trip.

I am done with my 2004 version. I am waiting for the 2005 that is suppose to come out in December. Want my 2004? I could mail it out to you.
here is the link to the menus on all ears: http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

Let me know about the passporter. It's not problem.

[PiratesFan]

I have found out from doing WDW with kids that are fussy eaters, we tended to spend a lot on counter service while none of us becoming really satisfied. A lot of counter service here and there can add up significantly if that's all you rely on for your meals. No matter what the budget, scheduling a couple of Character meals is a must, especially when you are cutting back in other areas. This way, you can enjoy a relaxing sit down meal, while being entertained as well. It's always a trip highlight for our 2 DDs. On our next trip, we are planning on doing a lot of character meals, even going to some twice.

When flying, we usually stop at a local supermarket before entering Disney property to load up on bottles water, sodas, fruit, and other snacks for the kids, enough to last the stay at WDW. This has offered us great relief from the times when the kids just need a little something to hold them over for dinner.