What do you give up first?

I think the "extras" are the first to go with us as well, however being a DVC member means that the accomodations are just about always the same. For us there are always dining places that we will not skimp on or skip, like Shula's steakhouse or the Turf Club at SSR. but when trying to "economize" we do tend to go off property to eat where quality dining can cost considerably less for a comparible meal. Think Flippers Pizza at the crossroads shopping center, (fantastic pizza) or Golden Corral or Olive Garden, or Sweet Tomatoes, or, well you get the idea!!

I'm with Vettelover. We might give up some of our food, but there are certain meals that will not be messed with.

Ditto. We'd hit the must-hit restaurants, but after that would maybe grocery shop a little more for lunch and snacks. We already do the Cheerios and Pop-Tarts for breakfast (exception - one morning of Mickey waffles!).

Food always gets ditched last!

It seems we are a group of food lovers! I would give up special foods last, too. The cool thing about WDW is that there are cool foods at all price points, though

I'm in agreement with everyone else. Food gets cut last. Extra's get cut first. Some places you just can't skip.

For us it's dining..we would rather do one or two meals at sitdown places and buy lots of snacks for the room than miss out on MNSSHP.
Then it would be the extras, then the hotel last.

Of all the extras I think the parties are the hardest to give up.

Cut the extras (do you mean stuff like cirque du soleil and special nights on at the park etc?) before food. As for hotel, I've only ever stayed in the Disney Value resorts so, other than downgrading to not-disney (which I wouldn't like to do on a Disney holiday!) then there is no more downgrading to be done! The All Stars were totally fine though and I don't really feel I'm missing out by never having been able to afford a moderate or luxury. Although, Animal Kingdom Lodge does look mighty tempting...

Good morning!

Love the new site! A few days ago I made WDWFGU my home page when my initial home page, a search site, went down.

When I want to save money on a trip, I'll probably first downgrade the hotel, going from a deluxe to a moderate or from a moderate to a value. Because I am unable to drive, I don't have the option to stay (or even go to eat) offsite unless I want to take a taxi everywhere. If I'm not on the Disney Dining Plan, I'll eat more counter service meals and at Trails End Buffeteria (a bargain by Disney standards) and fewer table service meals. A meal at California Grill or Shula's, where I bought the most expensive menu entrees (at over $102.00 without tip, the 48 oz Porterhouse, baked potato and bottle of Darjeeling tea at Shula's on 12/4/2005 was my most expensive solo meal ever), is a one-time experience.

Jim