Anyone want to help plan my friend's vacation?

[paysensmom]

Single mom with a 10 year old boy and 13 year old daughter. They have never been to Disney before. She can only go March 22-25th or 26th. VERY last minute, I know. She just called me today. I have some things going on this weekend so I wanted to post on here because I know you all can plan very well!
She is open to staying off site, she will be flying from either IAD or Shenandoah National Airport. She was thinking of staying onsite and getting the dining plan. I told her she could probably save a bundle by staying offsite and not getting that dining plan.
Would you mind pricing out a few different options for her?

[scottmel]

I would tell her to go onto mousesavers.com - look at mary's preferred offsite hotels - see the rate. Compare it to the disney rates on the disney website. ?

[dminnie]

What's the budget? If she is on-site there is no cost for a car rental. That makes up for a lot of the cost. The dates she has just miss the current promo they have though.

Dining plan: all three would be "adults" on the plan. If she needs to save $, I'd suggest, she do it OOP. She could just do 2 TS meals and do CS for the rest. We also have packed a few things to eat for breakfast in the room to save $ and time on food. Who wants to stand in line for breakfast, when you could be having fun in the park?

[bababear_50]

Pop Century
March 22-25 (4 nights, 5 days)
= $798.76

Add 3 Adult
4 day base tickets $817.92

includes ME
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Mousesaver Link


http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disn...tel-discounts/

Although she would have to allow for cost of transportation to and from the airport.
Approx $51.00 plus tip each way
a couple transportation links:

http://allears.net/pl/airport.htm
http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Orlando

Bestwestern Lake Buena Vista is coming out at
$466.84
+ 9.99 nightly resort fee= $39.96
Total = 506.80

Undercovertourist
3 adult MYW 4 day Base Ticket
$802.92


If it were me I would book Pop Century.
Order only 3 day park passes from undercovertourist $767.85
Enjoy a day at the resort combined with a visit to Downtown Disney.
OR
If kids are interested I'd buy one day pass for a water park.$155.85

[Marionnette]

Originally Posted by paysensmom

Single mom with a 10 year old boy and 13 year old daughter. They have never been to Disney before. She can only go March 22-25th or 26th. VERY last minute, I know. She just called me today. I have some things going on this weekend so I wanted to post on here because I know you all can plan very well!
She is open to staying off site, she will be flying from either IAD or Shenandoah National Airport. She was thinking of staying onsite and getting the dining plan. I told her she could probably save a bundle by staying offsite and not getting that dining plan.
Would you mind pricing out a few different options for her?

I'd tell her to rethink her travel plans.

That's the weekend before Easter week. Very expensive (holiday rates for airfare and rooms). Very crowded (between 8-10 on a scale of 10). Airfare alone is going to cost her about $1K. The cheapest I found was RT airfares for around $319 pp.

Disney room discounts only go thru 3/22. That means she will pay rack rate during holiday time for most nights of her stay if she decides to stay onsite. AND she will pay holiday prices for the dining plan.

Cost of 4 nights at ASMu, 4-day MYW base tickets and DDP would run about $1850 for 1 adult and 2 children age 10+.

That's around $3K once you factor in tips and extras. For 3 nights. For 3 people. She would do better to wait unless she has money to burn and the patience of a saint for dealing with large crowds.

Offsite will not be much better. If she rents a car and pays for parking, it will cost her almost as much as staying onsite. Plus, she will run the risk of parks closing to day guests (people not staying onsite) due to crowd size. If she relies on hotel shuttles, she will still have to pay for ground transportation from the airport to the hotel and back.

[dminnie]

I'd tell her to rethink her travel plans.

That's the weekend before Easter week. Very expensive (holiday rates for airfare and rooms). Very crowded (between 8-10 on a scale of 10). Airfare alone is going to cost her about $1K. The cheapest I found was RT airfares for around $319 pp.

Disney room discounts only go thru 3/22. That means she will pay rack rate during holiday time for most nights of her stay if she decides to stay onsite. AND she will pay holiday prices for the dining plan.

Cost of 4 nights at ASMu, 4-day MYW base tickets and DDP would run about $1850 for 1 adult and 2 children age 10+.

That's around $3K once you factor in tips and extras. For 3 nights. For 3 people. She would do better to wait unless she has money to burn and the patience of a saint for dealing with large crowds.

Offsite will not be much better. If she rents a car and pays for parking, it will cost her almost as much as staying onsite. Plus, she will run the risk of parks closing to day guests (people not staying onsite) due to crowd size. If she relies on hotel shuttles, she will still have to pay for ground transportation from the airport to the hotel and back.

I agree.

What was priced out here is only a value too. If she does REALLY want to go then, I'd encourage her to stay on-site. At least let Disney do all the driving that way. Driving around Orlando is not much fun when the spring break crowds are there.

If there is any other time she could go when the rates are a bit less and the crowds aren't so big it would be much better for a first time visit. Pay rack rate and deal with crowds once she knows if her family enjoys WDW.

[blessedby3]

I agree with staying on site. A single mother with 2 kids...I wouldnt want to have to pay for a rental car and be responsible for getting from place A to B. When DH and I are in FL, it takes 2 of us to navigate the roads when we are off property.
The added cost of the rental car plus parking will bump her cost up a bit. I would suggest to stay at a value on property and take ME.

Her timing is bad, though, as far as costs and crowds. Very busy time. I would also say paying OOP is the best option for food. They can probably buy 2 adult meals and split them between the 3 of them.
Maybe check out a less expensive TS option. Ohana for breakfast is very reasonable, as well as Boma for breakfast. Trails End is supposed to be the cheapest buffet on the property. We have eaten at all these and love them all.

Definately prepare her for the fact that the parks will be beyond crowded. I always hate it when my friends tell me they are going to WDW for the first time and it is over a major holiday or over the roasting heat of the summer. My DD's inlaws just went over Christmas (24-29) and they were shocked at the crowds (and couldnt figure out why WDW would be so crowded at that time) even though I warned them.

Have her check out www.easywdw.com for the best parks to be in for that particular day. I always follow Joshs' advice. I hate crowds!

[bababear_50]

Another search
expedia.com
link here
flights and hotel

http://www.expedia.com/packagesearch...Type=hotelsort

[hsmamato2]

can't she book a discount room/package starting on 3/22 and get that rate for the whole weekend? I thought that's how it worked,if she gets there before the end of the sale

[MarthaJr.]

Originally Posted by hsmamato2

can't she book a discount room/package starting on 3/22 and get that rate for the whole weekend? I thought that's how it worked,if she gets there before the end of the sale

That's what I thought too!

I agree with staying on property and not needing rental car and have to navigate the area.

Flights are sky high during that time period. Is it possible for them to leave Thursday evening...that could save on the airfare. I found that if she booked POP & air (IAD) through southwest 3/21-3/25 $3127 not including park tickets....ouch! Airfare seems to run around $359-379 per/person out of IAD.

I also tried Kayak.com and found a lesser fare 3/21- 3/26 out of CHO and return to IAD for $898 for all. Then if you book right through Disney you can get 4 nights at POP & 4 day tix for each person for total of $1651.08 Or with air $2549. If you add the quick service dining plan that would be and additional $563.70. Room only at POP is $907 or with air $1805.

IMO I would book the package at POP and pay OOP for food.


Best of luck in whatever they choose to do!

[poohfriend]

with a suggestion.

[paysensmom]

Thank you all for the suggestions and pricings!!!
I tried telling her it was one of the busiest times to go and most expensive. She can only get certain times off from work that match up with when the children are out of school. I am going to push for May since she thought MAYBE she could get time off then. I am going to pass all of this info to her.
She doesn't have internet, so she can't research much on her own.

[clutter]

May would be much better. Also, Southwest has gotten really expensive out of IAD, and they weren't doing non-stop flights last time I checked. She'd really be better off flying out of BWI if she can go at an off time to avoid traffic (the beltway construction is finished, so that helps.) She could also try AirTran. She may have to fly out of National though.