Episode 565 - Saving Money Revisited

Authored by: SortaGrumpy on Friday, May 15 2009 @ 07:51 AM CDT

1) Filtered water can be had free at any self serve beverage station. Bring your own water bottle, empty soda bottle, even your refillable beverage mug. As long as you are filling with the water tab, there is no problem. You can also fill up at the water fountains. If the taste is too much to handle (I don't think it's that bad), bring some crystal light type single drink flavor packets.

2) Granola bars, ZBars, PopTarts and many other prepackaged snack or breakfast items can all be carried on a plane in your luggage. They don't take up much room at all. You are going to need some extra room in your luggage on the return trip for the souvenirs you bring back anyway. As you said it will save you time and money. With a bar and your refillable mug of caffeinated beverage for breakfast, there's no waiting in line and you can be on your way to rope drop that much faster. Added benefit of eating light, you are set up for an early lunch. Thus, avoiding the lunch crowds and saving even more time.

3) Counter Service meals can frequently be shared. Speaking of counter service, there is no tipping involved. Eliminate or limit your table service meals and save the tip.

4) Don't forget to check for a AAA discount rate on the room.

5) You may want to consider getting everyone on the same page regarding souvenir spending before you leave. Set an agreed upon amount per person and stick to it. Also, there is a Disney Store outlet not to far from me. Every time I'm in there I see and hear parents saying they are stocking up on the deeply discounted merchandise to give to their kids before or during a trip. What a great idea.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: StephinMA on Friday, May 15 2009 @ 10:19 AM CDT

In regards to water: We fly and due to the luggage restrictions for most airlines, we found another way to get a case of water to our hotel. We order it directly from Costco.com I believe it is under $7 and shipping is free. You do not need to be a Costco member to buy from their website. We order it about a week before we arrive and have it sent to the resort. (The label should have the resort name, your name, your reservation number, and you arrival date) It costs a little more than what it would cost if you could stop at Target or Publix on the way to the World, but it is significantly cheaper than what it would cost at Disney.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: wdwowner on Friday, May 15 2009 @ 12:54 PM CDT

The Best value by far: Stop at the Hess station on WDW property, 24 - 20oz bottles of water for $4.99 No shipping, stop on way into WDW, enough for the entire trip.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Atomicmickey on Friday, May 15 2009 @ 02:18 PM CDT

Re: Water

Are that many people so skittish about water fountains these days?
I don't recall ever spitting the water out at WDW, and there's a fountain
at each restroom. I've never carried a bottle of water in the parks.
Maybe on those 100 degree, 99 percent humidity days, would be nice
to have something when in long lines, but I've never thought of a
bottle of water as a necessity when there are fountains about.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Atomicmickey on Saturday, May 16 2009 @ 02:20 PM CDT

Question: What happened to the "WDW Today" song?

I was listening to an older episode today and realized I really
miss it from the beginning of the show. :)

Maybe alternate the beginnings--there's nothing wrong with the
current one at all!

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Thorpeedo on Sunday, May 17 2009 @ 12:19 PM CDT

First trip in 03 was as a couple, we decided that paying for breakfast in the all stars every day was not happening....So one visit to McDonalds later, and one salad later, we had a dish, we filled the sink with free Ice from the machine to keep the milk cold (no fridge cost), and had cereal each morning. Cost - minimal :-). It saved the money, but i'm not so sure it was worth the hassle.
Second visit in 05 visit we saved significanly by staying off property. This is how you save serious cash. Total cost was reduced by 1/3rd, experience reduced by quite a bit as well though.
This year ...i'll be back.... in PO Riverside..with a cost double the original trip, but with 3 kids in tow (our one and 2 borrowed).

[ Reply to This | # ]