Originally posted by Disney4me04
I have not been to Disney since I was 10 and 11. I will be 38 when we go. Man did I just say 38!
Someone share with me how they would plan out that 5 day trip. Seeing Epcot and AK is a must. I have never seen them.
I am thinking about vouchers. Please understand I am still so much in the planning stage and saving. Just cause I save that much does not mean I will spend that much.
I am willing to take all ideas you have out there.
I will not use Mears so Transfers are going to cost me!
Well.... we need a starting point.... approximately how much were you planning on spending, how many people in your party, did you want to stay onsite only or would offsite be a consideration, what time of year are you going and I assume since you mentioned transfers that you are flying?? Lots of questions.
If you are a very frugal person or think that you will be on a tight budget, for onsite really the only choice will probably be a value resort (PopCentury or the All Stars) or possibly a cabin in Fort Wilderness (they sleep at least 6 and have a full kitchen... more money than the value resort rooms, but more options for eating and better for a large group). The value resorts only allow 4 people per room (including children), so if you have 5 people (assuming no infants) you would need at least two rooms at the value resorts.
There are lots of arguments about onsite versus offsite. Each has their pros and cons. We choose offsite only because we want a suite and we are frugal (read "cheap") and refuse to pay over $100/night for a suite onsite when we can get one down the road for $59/night with free bkfst! But we have stayed onsite in the past (pre-kids) and cannot deny that there is something "special" and "magical" about being surrounded by Disney.
Check into the price of transfers versus rental car. Sometimes it is just as inexpensive to have a car versus paying for transfers. And you have more hotel/restaurant options with a rental car. Plus if you are considering doing Universal, SeaWorld, or anything like that, a car would help. (Although since you have only 5 days, I will assume it will be Disney only).
Are you willing to spend every day in the parks or did you want a day off during the week to relax? Since you seem to want to see a lot, I will assume you will visit a park each day. What my family does is a park per day with the last day spent revisiting MK (it is our favorite park). But some people do a park in the morning, back to hotel to swim/rest, and then a different park in the evening. If you go during high season the park hours are MUCH longer and it gives you more options. Since we go during value season, the park hours are much shorter. We have something like.... AK from opening until closing (9-5), hop over to MK for evening parade and fireworks and stay until closing (about 9 pm). And some people choose to hop to Epcot every evening, as it is usually open the latest.
If you haven't been in a while and haven't seen anything other than MK, I personally would plan one park per day and either spend the extra day resting mid week (and seeing DTD) or spend it on the last day seeing whatever you felt you missed.
Just to give you an idea, as far as a budget (and of course, this is just my experience) we fly from New Hampshire or Boston (depending on the rates), get a rental car, stay off site in a 1 bedroom suite for $59/night that is 10 minutes from the parks (8 nights most recently), get free bkfast each day, usually counter service lunch and offsite dinner (no place fancy). Sometimes we eat in the room (subs, pizza, mac/cheese). We usually have one or two character meals (last time we had CRT bkfst and Chef Mickey dinner), spend about $100 each on souvenirs. We had 5 day park hopper plus tickets. Additionally, on our last trip we spent one day each at SeaWorld (and did Dine with Shamu) and DTD. We don't really limit treats for financial reasons (only for tummy ache reasons) and average a few mickey bars, dole whips, popcorn buckets turkey legs, and sodas a day (DH is a diet coke addict). Our budget is usually in the range of $4000. I know we could do it a bit cheaper (skip the character meals, limit souvenirs and treats, get a cheaper standard hotel room versus a suite, skip the rental car), but we do what we are comfortable with. And I know we could spend WAAAY more.... I'd love to stay at the Poly or the CR, have more character meals, etc, but again, we do what we are happy/comfortable doing. Plus I am just frugal by nature and it would seem like a waste to me to spend $200/night on a room that I am only sleeping and showering in!
I have never used the vouchers, despite the fact that my frugal nature has made me look into them. I feel that they would "lock" me into eating at specific places too much. I would like more freedom. Plus I would feel like I would have to order lots of food to "get the most" for my money. Since DH and I are always trying to watch our weight, it wouldn't be the best choice for us. But I know it works out for others.
Anyhow, since this post is too long already, I will end here. Please let me know if you have any more specific questions.....P
. I agree with pjlla ... perhaps you can put the $20 in a new "travel" savings account or into a piggy bank until you get to $100 and then send it in.
