[WishUponAStar]

Have I ever even been in this thread? Not sure. I'll have to check.

Hmmm, cheap/money saving? Well, we usually keep grocery breakfast items in our in-room fridge so we don't have to buy breakfast (or use dining plan credits) for breakfast in the parks.

I ALWAYS ask at all retail locations if there is a discount for Disney Visa holders, annual pass holders, DVC members, etc. Sometimes I am surprised to get a little 10% off nod.

[tinkerbelle24]

Originally Posted by disneymania

Our big cheapskate tip is to stay at Value or Moderate!! Thats what keeps us coming back year after year!!( sometimes twice!)

Im with ya on that one. I actually purchased DVC back Sept 08 and just sold it a month ago. For us it didnt pan out. Its just my DD7 and I now so its way cheaper for us and now that I learned about the free DDP in Sept I think this will be the time we always go. Im also going to start taking an extra $200 with me just to book the bounce back offer if its a good one.

[Pinocchio's Pal]

Not sure if anyone wrote this here, there are so many of us "cheapskates". Well I am very frugal and here is what I found out...on the DDP at counter service meals they are NOT seperated between child and adult. SO...I get an adult meal for breakfast with a milk as my drink...buy a cereal and viola...breakfast for two for $2. At lunch we share a giant adult lunch. I never pay for a meal! I am sure at one point they will bust us, but until they do...CHEAPSKATES UNITE!

[mickeysgirlz]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

I ALWAYS ask at all retail locations if there is a discount for Disney Visa holders, annual pass holders, DVC members, etc. Sometimes I am surprised to get a little 10% off nod.

This is one I have to start doing . . . I always forget to ask!

[beatman23]

My wife and I made the first trip with our 2 DD's in June 2008. We stayed for seven days at CBR on the DDP. But we still did some other things to conserve $$$. It is less to conserve and more to stretch it as, come on, we are going to Disney.

We buy fan spray bottles at the big blue Wal store and let our DD's (5 and 8) decorate them. That saves us like $15.00.

Last year, we actually packed a Brita and filled our own water bottles every night. This was really very easy and I am sure saved us a bunch of cash every day!

We also bought glow in the dark rope at one of those local dollar stores. We gave these to the girls for illuminations. We flew in from bos to MCO but these things made the trip with ease.

Everybody has mentioned the poncho thing. We actually had ours from Storyland in NH. People in line at the Haunted Mansion actually commented about them!

We also purchased disney mini notebooks for the DD's for autographs. This saved tons of money!

My wife bought 20 Disney pins, on ebay, split them between the girls and then allowed them to trade when we got there. Not so much a money saver, but it was a nice way to start their collections!

[missymouse]

Originally Posted by beatman23

My wife and I made the first trip with our 2 DD's in June 2008. We stayed for seven days at CBR on the DDP. But we still did some other things to conserve $$$. It is less to conserve and more to stretch it as, come on, we are going to Disney.

We buy fan spray bottles at the big blue Wal store and let our DD's (5 and 8) decorate them. That saves us like $15.00.

Last year, we actually packed a Brita and filled our own water bottles every night. This was really very easy and I am sure saved us a bunch of cash every day!

We also bought glow in the dark rope at one of those local dollar stores. We gave these to the girls for illuminations. We flew in from bos to MCO but these things made the trip with ease.

Everybody has mentioned the poncho thing. We actually had ours from Storyland in NH. People in line at the Haunted Mansion actually commented about them!

We also purchased disney mini notebooks for the DD's for autographs. This saved tons of money!

My wife bought 20 Disney pins, on ebay, split them between the girls and then allowed them to trade when we got there. Not so much a money saver, but it was a nice way to start their collections!

Welcome to MB!!

Wow! You have some great money saving travel tips. I need to remember some of these for our next trip, especially the Brita tip. I never thought about that before. I'm all for saving money on the little things.

[nancyk]

Ww also did the the brita filter thing one trip, but we had a water bottle with the filter right in it so we could bring the bottle into the park & fill at a fountain when it was empty. This was really cool. Last trip we switched it up a bit: we took a stainless steel bottle with a soft foamy "holder" to keep it cool which we just attched to our belt loops. When we filled up at the fountain I would pull out a Nestea water flavour packet to flavour the water which made it taste fine. I don't think I could have drank the water without it, but turned out great. We kept hydrated & enjoyed the taste too.

[Cdn Mickey]

We bring bagels, peanut butter, granola bars, small camping sized cereal boxes for breakfast in the suitcase.
Last time we went to Hess near Downtown Disney (PLanet Hollywood) for milk & oj.

This time we are going to do a Super Walmart run for the stuff.
2 people list split in half and we figure 10-15 minutes tops.
Plus we will divide the tax fare 3 ways. As we have 3 rooms for our group.

[5Demons4Cookie]

I only went once so far with kids but the in laws have taken our kids without me, but with dh. I was either having morning sickness too bad, or something was wrong with another kid. (broken arm,etc) Anyways...
We buy water at home in a flat and pop it in our fridge, along with dh's Mt Dew. He got his 1st can in his gullet in the AM without costing us $2. We also took a few extra waters and drank them up by mid am. I also bought the small Gerber juice bottles for our youngest to refresh her cuppy. We brought snacks and Ziploc bags for unfinished stuff that would keep w/o a fridge til later. Brownies, etc.
I took Pop Tarts, Nutri Grain bars, and dry cereal in case they just couldn't wait until we got to the Sassagoula counter's.
Also, this next trip we are forgoing PH's since we only park hopped 1 day out of 4 last time and that was just so dh could eat in 2 different parks.

I will also be limiting the loot this time around as the big ticket items last yr are currently sitting in the bottom of toy bins. Our oldest also earns an allowance and she used it to buy her "must haves" and she actually didn't get anything else besides what she bought. She's been 4 times already and has had this or that. Oh and now that DisneyStore online has park stuff I might pick up some things for the younger kids and leave them on the tables as cute little gifts, this way they won't need much in the park.

[tinkerbelle24]

Originally Posted by 5Demons4Cookie

I only went once so far with kids but the in laws have taken our kids without me, but with dh. I was either having morning sickness too bad, or something was wrong with another kid. (broken arm,etc) Anyways...
We buy water at home in a flat and pop it in our fridge, along with dh's Mt Dew. He got his 1st can in his gullet in the AM without costing us $2. We also took a few extra waters and drank them up by mid am. I also bought the small Gerber juice bottles for our youngest to refresh her cuppy. We brought snacks and Ziploc bags for unfinished stuff that would keep w/o a fridge til later. Brownies, etc.
I took Pop Tarts, Nutri Grain bars, and dry cereal in case they just couldn't wait until we got to the Sassagoula counter's.
Also, this next trip we are forgoing PH's since we only park hopped 1 day out of 4 last time and that was just so dh could eat in 2 different parks.

I will also be limiting the loot this time around as the big ticket items last yr are currently sitting in the bottom of toy bins. Our oldest also earns an allowance and she used it to buy her "must haves" and she actually didn't get anything else besides what she bought. She's been 4 times already and has had this or that. Oh and now that DisneyStore online has park stuff I might pick up some things for the younger kids and leave them on the tables as cute little gifts, this way they won't need much in the park.

Just wanted to say Welcome to MB!

[Mickeybug]

Originally Posted by 5Demons4Cookie

I only went once so far with kids but the in laws have taken our kids without me, but with dh. I was either having morning sickness too bad, or something was wrong with another kid. (broken arm,etc) Anyways...
We buy water at home in a flat and pop it in our fridge, along with dh's Mt Dew. He got his 1st can in his gullet in the AM without costing us $2. We also took a few extra waters and drank them up by mid am. I also bought the small Gerber juice bottles for our youngest to refresh her cuppy. We brought snacks and Ziploc bags for unfinished stuff that would keep w/o a fridge til later. Brownies, etc.
I took Pop Tarts, Nutri Grain bars, and dry cereal in case they just couldn't wait until we got to the Sassagoula counter's.
Also, this next trip we are forgoing PH's since we only park hopped 1 day out of 4 last time and that was just so dh could eat in 2 different parks.

I will also be limiting the loot this time around as the big ticket items last yr are currently sitting in the bottom of toy bins. Our oldest also earns an allowance and she used it to buy her "must haves" and she actually didn't get anything else besides what she bought. She's been 4 times already and has had this or that. Oh and now that DisneyStore online has park stuff I might pick up some things for the younger kids and leave them on the tables as cute little gifts, this way they won't need much in the park.

Kids can get 1 must-have from inside the park but the motherlode of souvies comes from Premier Mall about a mile or two from the park. It has a Disney outlet store that sells WDW merchandise for a fraction of park cost. Granted some of it is left overs or out of season but unless they saw it in the park the year b4 they'll never know + out-of-season stuff makes great Christmas/b'day gifts for later.

[5Demons4Cookie]

Thanks Tinkerbelle24! Wish I'd known about this place last summer. lol

Oh 1 thing I'm not going 'cheapskate' on is monogrammed mouse ears. Our names aren't THAT common and I am dying for a family pic there with our ears on. Everything else is "We can get that at the outlet mall" Thank God my oldest is like her mommy.

Oh and something super fun and cheap to boot: We buy glow bracelets at Target in their $1 section when they have the tubes of 12 or at Dollar Tree. 12 bracelets you can link to make a necklace, if one is dead or dies ASAP who cares? I brought 5 tubes last yr and everyone was going nuts. I hooked some to our stroller too so you could see it in the dark.

[tinkerbelle24]

Originally Posted by 5Demons4Cookie

Thanks Tinkerbelle24! Wish I'd known about this place last summer. lol

Oh 1 thing I'm not going 'cheapskate' on is monogrammed mouse ears. Our names aren't THAT common and I am dying for a family pic there with our ears on. Everything else is "We can get that at the outlet mall" Thank God my oldest is like her mommy.

Oh and something super fun and cheap to boot: We buy glow bracelets at Target in their $1 section when they have the tubes of 12 or at Dollar Tree. 12 bracelets you can link to make a necklace, if one is dead or dies ASAP who cares? I brought 5 tubes last yr and everyone was going nuts. I hooked some to our stroller too so you could see it in the dark.

I the outlet mall but I'm not driving this year. I love the glow necklace idea. I thought about this last week but forgot. Now I need to go add to my list. Thanks for the reminder.

[Campbell87]

I sooo wish we could get the glow bracelts/sticks out there with us but I don't think Id feel safe with them in the suitcase on the plane - knowing my luck they'd explode and Id have glow-clothes instead!

[Southern Belle]

Originally Posted by Campbell87

I sooo wish we could get the glow bracelts/sticks out there with us but I don't think Id feel safe with them in the suitcase on the plane - knowing my luck they'd explode and Id have glow-clothes instead!

Just put them in a zip lock bag. Trust me if DH and I can bring two bottles of RED WINE back from Napa Valley, you can bring glow bracelets to WDW.