I'm SO Excited!

Kerry · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 04:11 PM

Hi everyone,

Yay! I'm so excited!!!

Just booked my trip to Disney for 7 nights with my 5 1/2 yr old daughter and I wanted to ask if anyone has been recently to Orlando and has any tips or tricks to save some money while eating on the site?

I'm not staying at one of the resort hotels, so I couldn't buy the dinning plan with park tickets...

Let me know- Thanks

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 05:45 PM

How fun Kerry! I haven't been to O-town in years so I can't be of much help there. All I know is I'm super jealous because I've heard Disney World has changed soooooo much (in a good way) since I've been there last. Hopefully some other members will have some handy tips for ya.

Say hi to Mickey for me OK? LOL

Jewel · #3 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 07:14 PM

What fun Kerry. I LOVE Disney....we live close enough that we are passholders and go several times a year.

We are a family of five so we really try to save on the meals.

Did you get a regular hotel room or one with a kitchen? (we now are spoiled and only stay with a kitchen)....although when we went for ten days last April....we camped!

If it is a regular room, make sure you get a fridge and microwave in your room. If the hotel does not have free breakfast, have breakfast in your room...cereal and milk...some sort of breakfast sandwich that will heat in the microwave. This is the first place you can save $$$.

We pack in our lunches, snacks, and water. I freeze the water bottles so they are the ice packs. There are lockers in each of the parks so you can put your cooler in there...or if your daughter will be using a stroller..(she is big but by the end of the day those 5 year olds are wiped!) it is really really handy to hold your cooler. Water bottles are $2.50 per bottle and (when are you going????) most of the time it is pretty hot there. Especially Animal Kingdom.

We will treat the kids to the ice cream at least once during the week and a couple of other things...but try to mostly bring in yogurt....fruit snacks...fruit...goldfish...etc.

We splurge on the dinners and will eat at least three or so meals in the parks...but even they are pretty pricey.

I LOVE the Crystal Palace buffet. If you can manage to get the very last lunch reservation they actually start bringing out dinner during that time so you get the dinner meal for the lunch price (still about $20+ for you and I forget how much for your daughter....mine became "adults" at age 10..even if they only eat three chicken fingers). It is a character buffet so the Pooh cast walks around to all the tables repeatedly during the meal.

Sometimes we will eat a very large and filling breakfast.....and then have an early large dinner in the park and that is all for the day...except for the snacks we pack in.

I don't know if that is enough for you....what else do you want to know? Start trying to make some dinner reservations now...you can make them even if you are not staying at the park.

Oh...if you get a meal at Hollywood Studios (dinner) at any of the sit down restaurants, you automatically get preferential seating at the Fantasma shows..they walk you over after dinner. Because of this it is really difficult to book dinner at Hollywood Studios so you definitely want to do that one right away. (and be persistent...when I have wanted a campsite one Thanksgiving weekend and they were full I would call every morning until I got it...they run the cancellations every morning and that is when the openings show up).

It is very worthwhile to invest in one of those tour guide books...I have used the Birnbaums...which is an old staple...and I have paid for Tourguide Mike's. They give you all the little tips and tricks for planning out your day to beat the lines as best as you can.

Okay..I have to go before I burn dinner..if it is not too late...but ask away. I have been going since I was...well since it opened so I should be able to help.

Jewel · #4 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 07:19 PM

Make sure you go to Walmart in the area BEFORE you go to the park...they have tons and tons of Disney merchandise at a fraction of the price. Your daughter can be a Disney princess for a reasonable amount.

In Epcot there is a soda bar where you can try sodas from all over the world for free...just to the right and towards the rear of the big fountain when you walk in. Kids can spend all day in Innovations at Epcot so be prepared to set aside a lot of time for that.

LOL....okay....maybe I need to do a site on this...I am really excited for you!!!!

Kerry · #5 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 08:06 PM

Now that's what I'm talking about!!! LOL! Thanks for all the great advice!
I'm staying on Hotel Plaza Blvd., how far is the Walmart (Lake Buena Vista)?

For sure it will be HOT as I'm leaving in 19 days

Breakfast is free for my little monkey at my hotel, so that's probably where we'll start our day most days- though I have already booked breakfast with Lilo and Stich one morning.

Are snacks like ice cream etc expensive on site? I imagine like $10 for a cone? LOL or am I crazy?

A "fancy" one site dinner is probably a must, so maybe I will check out the Crysta Palace buffet as you suggested- I wil for sure call tomorrow morning to reserve!

Let me think of some more questions...but for now gotta build at least one page on my site....

Thanks again Jewel and YES! Lisa I will definitely say hi to the mouse man for ya!

xoxox

webman · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 09:37 PM

In the Latin American section at Epcot there's this Mexican dining area right in front of the ride. Usually prices are reasonable. Though last time I checked they jacked 'em up.

Guess everybody and their mother found out.

We always called this ride a Mexican Small World

I forgot the name of the resturant. Maybe Jewel can help(BTW, I love your website Kerry

).

2Young2Start · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 12:02 PM

Hey, sounds like a fun trip!

Some tips on saving money-

-Try not to eat at Disney Land, it's really expensive and there are plenty of great restaurants off of the site.

-Only go on rides that your really want to, and only take the tours that you really want to.

-Have fun, and don't spend all of your time worrying about money, it makes your trip a whole lot more fun

Kerry · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 12:44 PM

Hi everyone,

I just booked at The Crystal Buffet as Jewel suggested and also at The Liberty Tree for Dinner with Minnie Mouse....

Will pack snacks for sure and check out Walmart the first day I get there, in order to save some cash.

In the end, I know I will have a great time and will not spend my days worrying about the moula, as this is a trip to remember and oh yeah- the world is full of abundance, so my $$$ will replenish in no time...the adsense clicks will help ease the pain...LOL!

Have a great day!

Kerry · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 07:44 PM

Yay- 4 more sleeps till Disney!!!

(can you tell i'm excited?)

LOL

Jewel · #10 (**permalink**) 07-16-2008, 04:53 AM

Hi Kerry...have a fantastic trip!

If we weren't going out of town ourselves next week I would have tried to come up and meet you

At Wal-mart make sure you get your daughter some kind of those spray bottles you fill with water...it has a little fan attached. It is about $4 at Walmart and $16 or more at Disney...and you will want it. It is really really hot.

Don't forget the hats, sunscreen, lots and lots of water.

Do try and check out the campground if you have time. At the main area...not where the camping is, there is a free petting zoo (with Minnie Moo who has a natural Mickey on her side in her pattern). That is a great place to watch the electric boat parade at night...right on their beach.

Also....get a book on hidden Mickeys. You should be able to find them at any regular bookstore or even the Walmart in Orlando, but if not you can get it at the park in some of the stores. I am sure Main Street or Downtown Disney (or Disney Marketplace or whatever they are calling it this week) will have it. You can also print out a bunch online. Just do a search. They are fun to hunt for...especially when you are waiting in the loooonnngg summer lines. Looking for the Mickeys makes the time go by.

I can't wait to hear how it went!!!!

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