Disney dollars (Listography 2011}.

{Each Wednesday, Danielle, @ Elleinad Spir, Emily, @ Notorious MLE, and myself are working our way through the lists of Listography 2011.}

If you're looking for "some ideas for trimming back your budget" [which happens to be this week's Listography topic]- DO NOT go anywhere near Disneyland Park.

And definitely, do not stay overnight in the Disneyland Hotel... or any of the hotels in the resort for that matter- even if they claim them to be- and even if they are in fact the the ticket to the "ultimate Disney experience".

And when you're exhausted from going to bed at 3am (or 4- but who's counting after 3?) the night before, and leaving your house in a total disaster state- since you're only going to be gone for one night, and you finally get there, and slip into your bikini, and realize that you've been so busy having "summer FUN" that you've somehow forgotten to workout for the past month, and your eating habits haven't exactly entailed summer's "light & fresh" fare (well at least not the "light" part of the equation)... and your kids are flying down the water-slides-- you really needn't order any cocktails.  Even if you're surrounded by women with dark skin, long legs, & huge boobs.  And you're sitting right behind one of them- that you swear is one of the 'OC Houswives.' ...especially when those pretty cocktails come off of a menu with NO prices listed.

And seriously- room service??  A budget deal-breaker!  Who would be foolish enough to $8.99 on a slice of chocolate cake??  Not to mention the $7.99 slice of apple pie a la mode.  Or the [bottle of] prosecco.  Or the tip... or delivery fee.  If you're on a budget, Just Say NO to room service.  A no-brainer.

And last, but definitely NOT least, do not invest in annual passes- even if it costs 80-freakin-dollars per person to get into the park- and the cost of the cheapest passes pretty much covers 2 visits... and even if your son is admiringly obsessed with Disney trivia, and hidden Micky's, and checking off every single attraction/ride/feature/store on the premises... and even if your daughter is adorably smitten from the point of entry to exit, prancing around all proud as she leads us with her treasured map- saying things like "This is magical!" and "I can't stop smiling!"  And even if they offer the best damn corn dogs you ever did have. (right Stephanie??)

                         

...or you could realize you only live once and throw caution to the wind (and live off of Top Ramen and quesadillas for the next year).

 And how do {or don't} you trim back your budget??  Link up @ Emily's, or share in the comments :).