First and foremost... I budget myself per day, and will bring a portion of that into the park. Yes, I do have my credit cards, but I try not to use them. If I budget my family's spending $ at $100, I bring $80. If we don't go through all of the money, then I add it into the next days budget. This usually allows for a shopping spree at the end of the trip! In my budget, I include meals, with the exception of any big ticket meal like Chef Mickey's or Cinderella's Castle.
Secondly I do not buy to-shirts or expensive souvenirs at the parks. Yes I will buy something IF it is under $10 or my budget allows. This is not to say I don't buy to-shirts ect. I mean what is a trip to Disney if you don't have something saying you were really there?!?!
I go to a place called BELTZ Mall. It is located at the far end of International Drive. It is a discount mall broken up into several buildings within easy walking distance to each other. In two of the buildings, is a shop by the name of Character Outlet. THIS IS DISNEY OWNED AND OPERATED! It is a OUTLET shop for all of the park's over run and discontinued merchandise! They have FANTASTIC prices, and I can usually buy something for every one in my family and my extended family for under $100! I have purchased to-shirts that I had seen in the parks for as little as $4.99!!
If you have a car, I am sure that someone at the front desk of the hotel you are staying at can give you instructions on how to get there... (I will try to post actual directions later) Or if you don't have a car, a taxi can take you there, and there are always plenty of other taxi's outside the doors looking for a fare!
Also the water bottles in the park are very expensive! Save money by bringing you own along! Fill it up with ice and water in your hotel, (or freeze it over night if you are lucky enough to have a freezer) and carry it with you. I recommend one of the Britta water filter bottles. They are expensive, but they filter the water from the drinking fountains which truly doesn't taste so great.
*** FOOD AND DRINK DISCOUNTS ***
American Express Card Holders and Annual Pass Holders:
10 % off many DownTown Disney restaurants
20% off at Official All Star Cafe in Disney's Wide World of Sports.
20% off Hoop Dee Doo Revue and Polynesian Luau.
DISNEY CLUB CARD HOLDERS
10% at many Down Town Disney Restaurants (excludes alcohol)
10% at Planet Hollywood, Cheesecake Factory, House of Blues, and Rainforest Cafe.. Rainforest cafe requires cupon from Disney Club site.
Free souvenir wine glass (1 per person up to 4) at Fulton's Crab House or Portobella Yacht Club... requires cupon from Disney club site.
Free breakfast sandwich with the purchase of another at the McDonalds in Downtown Disney.
You can save with cupons to restraunts that are off site! This is a good way to help save some money. The links I have are listed below.
contact me with your favorite money saving tips! |
