SO WE'RE HEADED FOR DISNEY ... IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO STAY WITHIN OUR BUDGET?? (part 1)

Yes!

We just returned from a happy (though scorching & wet) trip to our favorite vacation spot, after being away for five years.   Thought I'd post some thoughts on traveling to Disney with a big family ... if nothing else, it will help me remember for next time.   Upcoming:  What You Absolutely, Positively Must Pack.

Keep tuning in!

Let's face it:  going to Disney is really, really, expensive.  Some folks say it's as pricey as flying your family to Europe.  (I suppose if you're staying in a deluxe Disney resort, it certainly could be.  But we are All-Star resort folks, sooo ... not exactly European pricing.)  Once you save up for your Disney package and click Purchase, how can you remain calm, resist the Disney magic urge to spend, spend, spend, and not leave Orlando bankrupt?  If you've ever entered the World, you'll know what I mean.  Something mysterious happens, and you develop overwhelmingly intense desires to buy Mickey Mouse flip-flops, pajamas, and underwear. Cool dudes with tattoos walk around with light-up mouse ears.  Grandpa wears a Grumpy T-shirt.  Grandma dons a hot pink princess hat.  The $40 Frozen dolls that your 4-year-old falls in love with suddenly seem perfectly reasonable.  And shouldn't every family have a 5 foot tall stuffed Mickey Mouse?

And now spending money is even easier with the introduction of Magic Bands, which serve as your room key, park ticket, fast pass, and yes, even your credit card.  Just wave your arm in any store and whatever you want is yours.  (I actually love the ease of the Magic Bands, but with no actual money ever switching hands, it could be very dangerous.  Just sayin.')  So for any Disneyphile families out there, here are our top 5 ways to enjoy the Disney magic without depleting your bank account:

#5.  BYOH2O.  Before your trip, throw a case of water bottles in your trunk or have some delivered to your room  (see Garden Grocer).  I promise that after one hour in the Florida sun you will tempted to pay any amount for something icy to drink.  Ten bucks for a souvenir cup of LeFou's Brew?  Give me 5!  I guarantee you'll be that desperate.  So if you have cold water in your back pack all ready to go, you will save buckets of money.  For those on the dining plan (we always are), don't waste your snack credits on drinks;  get your coke fix with your meals instead since they're included.  Most Disney rooms have small fridges now; as soon as you arrive turn your fridge down to its coldest setting, and throw in your water.  If driving, better yet, you can freeze them ahead of time for a head start.  The other thing you must bring is a bottle or two of Mio drops.  (Walmart has an off-brand that's cheaper.) By hour two your water bottles will be empty .  I can't explain why, but most water fountains in the park aren't very cold, and the Florida water has a weird taste.  Surely Disney would not allow that intentionally to make us want to buy more drinks, right???  The Mio helps - a little.  (Christopher reports that the water fountains near Space Mountain are cooler and tastier than most.)  And, while you're waiting for your table service reservation outside, many restaurants have cold water dispensers sitting out, and that's a great time and place to refill your family's bottles with decent water.  We saw this at Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom, and at Hollywood & Vine at Disney Studios.  OK - for thirsty folks, here's my best secret - it only took us five trips to discover this... at the Backlot Express in Disney Studios, they have a fill-your-own-drink station!!!!! That means free refills at a Disney Park!!!!  The food there was just OK, but they did have adorable Frozen cupcakes (see left). So buy your drinks and maybe a few cupcakes to share, and bask in air-conditioned, Diet Coke Heaven.

P.S.  We actually loved LeFou's Brew (see below).  Think Apple Icee topped with mango foam!  Buy 1 or 2 in the NON-souvenir cups for half the price, and let everyone take a swig just for fun.  Keep a lookout for Gaston while you swig; he often appears near Gaston's Tavern, and he is quite hilarious.

#4.  Buy your souvenirs before your trip.  And then hide them.  Every ride exits into a super-fun store, where there is wall-to-wall temptation to wave that Magic Band and blow your budget.  And it IS fun to bring home new souvenirs and toys from your vacation.  So if you buy a few things ahead of time, you can resist!  A few months before your trip, pay attention to your little one's favorite characters (Elizabeth Ann is nuts for Sophia the First) and start perusing the sales.  Walmart has toy clearance aisle that routinely has Disney stuff.  Much cheaper to buy a Princess Barbie at Target than in the Parks. The Dollar Store also has plenty of Disney crayons and coloring books.  Before you leave your hotel room each morning, you can pull out something fun while little ones aren't looking, and then when you return, it's as if Mickey delivered them!  More Disney Magic.

What's the ONE souvenir to splurge on in the Parks?  Mouse ears, of course!

On the Disney bus, sporting her new mouse ears.  Princess ones, of course!

You can get a monogrammed set of ears for $20 or less, which is bearable.  Since these are items that are only available in the Disney Parks, we think it's worth it.  The kids save theirs and re-wear them in years to come.  Peter and Christopher have Jack Sparrow pirate mouse ears from when they were younger that are no longer made.  The folks in Disneyland Paris went nuts over them.

Kids goofing around in 2009 with the now-coveted pirate ears.

That's enough for now.  Tune in next time to discover our final three ways to ward off budget-busting.

Want more "So You're Headed for Disney ..." posts?  See "Why Bother with Matching Shirts?"