1 Person-1 Night-$100: Would You Do It?

[Marionnette]

I have tentative plans for a 1-night trip to Disney during the holiday season. I'm budgeting $100 OOP for the trip but could possibly spend more if necessary. I just want to see if I can get away with spending less.

Here's what I have:

• 2 SWA Awards Vouchers due to expire in March. I would use 1 for the trip down and another for the way back. I can get a nonstop very early the morning I go to Orlando and get a very late nonstop leaving Orlando to come home the 2nd day. Total OOP cost = $5.00 for the 9/11 fee.
• 9 DVC points for 1 night in an AKV value studio, already reserved but can be canceled if I have to as long as I do it with 31 days or more to go, otherwise they go into a holding account.
• $173.60 in Disney GCs and $90 in Landry's GCs to cover food and souvenirs, plus a TiW discount card for adult beverages.
• An AP that is screaming "USE ME!" OOP = $0

Since it's Southwest and I am booking a DVC studio, I can pack a bag of breakfast and snack items plus coffee to cut my costs. I'd forgo a rental car and rely on DME and the Disney buses to get around. Total time actually spent in Disney would be just under 32 hours.

So, is it worth spending about 10 hours of traveling time (travel to/from airports + sitting in airport + flight times) for those 32 hours? And if you could pull it off, would you do it or try to work something out where you had more time there (even if it meant spending more money)?

 

[megsoro]

If you're not crossing time zones, I'd do it for a day! The time change would mess with though, so if you have to do that, I'd go for atleast two days

 

[NancyIL]

With an AP, DVC points, and Southwest vouchers - I'd stay longer. But if 1 night/2 days are all you can do - then go for it!

 

[dpswift]

I would go for it. Another night would be ideal so you would have at least 1 full day but if that is all you have it is better than nothing. I really do not see you needing to by much food for the short time you are there and the food you are planning to bring.

 

[RDawn]

Friend, you are on the wrong forum if you are looking for us to talk you out of a WDW trip
I say go for it & let us know how it went.

 

[Disneychix]

Based on those factors unless you are planning on using the SWA flights for any other reason before they expire, or if you could use them to take a longer trip before they expire, I'd go!

Given all the GC money you have could you possibly swing another night?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have tentative plans for a 1-night trip to Disney during the holiday season. I'm budgeting $100 OOP for the trip but could possibly spend more if necessary. I just want to see if I can get away with spending less.

Here's what I have:

• 2 SWA Awards Vouchers due to expire in March. I would use 1 for the trip down and another for the way back. I can get a nonstop very early the morning I go to Orlando and get a very late nonstop leaving Orlando to come home the 2nd day. Total OOP cost = $5.00 for the 9/11 fee.
• 9 DVC points for 1 night in an AKV value studio, already reserved but can be canceled if I have to as long as I do it with 31 days or more to go, otherwise they go into a holding account.
• $173.60 in Disney GCs and $90 in Landry's GCs to cover food and souvenirs, plus a TiW discount card for adult beverages.
• An AP that is screaming "USE ME!" OOP = $0

Since it's Southwest and I am booking a DVC studio, I can pack a bag of breakfast and snack items plus coffee to cut my costs. I'd forgo a rental car and rely on DME and the Disney buses to get around. Total time actually spent in Disney would be just under 32 hours.

So, is it worth spending about 10 hours of traveling time (travel to/from airports + sitting in airport + flight times) for those 32 hours? And if you could pull it off, would you do it or try to work something out where you had more time there (even if it meant spending more money)?

Go for it! Dh & I did!

In around 2009 I found flights from Atlantic City to MCO on Air Tran for just $29 each way for weekends in Sept. Dh & I needed a little escape so we sent the kids to the shore with grandparents and ran away for 2 days. We had an early non stop flight down Saturday and approx. 6pm non stop return on Sunday. I couldn't decide whether to stay at a WDW resort or offsite but ended up finding a 1 BR condo at Hilton GVC for just $99/nt & around $40 for a rental car. He thought I was totally crazy until we got there and relaxed by the pool just the 2 of us.
I couldn't get any extra days off work & we didn't have the $ for park tickets since we had just taken our family summer vacation a month prior but we did have a quiet, relaxing dinner with out the whining/bickering of kids. Really, it was just what we needed.

I would gladly go alone if no one else wanted to join me. Too bad flights are so high now that trips like this are impossible.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Based on those factors unless you are planning on using the SWA flights for any other reason before they expire, or if you could use them to take a longer trip before they expire, I'd go!

Given all the GC money you have could you possibly swing another night?

I was thinking the same thing. Those gift cards would pay for another night at a Value, plus some (and there might be an AP discount to go along with it). Let the resort do the luggage switching for you and you now have three days instead of two.

Bring a little extra food in your luggage and voila!

I wouldn't be able to handle coming to Disney on one day and leaving the next. That's just not worth it to me.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Friend, you are on the wrong forum if you are looking for us to talk you out of a WDW trip
I say go for it & let us know how it went.

Exactly!

 

[phred52]

I say go for it! You're making memories!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

As a stay-at-home mom, this sounds like an amazing quick getaway that I would love! Go for it!!!

 

[Marionnette]

I was thinking the same thing. Those gift cards would pay for another night at a Value, plus some (and there might be an AP discount to go along with it). Let the resort do the luggage switching for you and you now have three days instead of two.

Bring a little extra food in your luggage and voila!

I wouldn't be able to handle coming to Disney on one day and leaving the next. That's just not worth it to me.

I looked into adding another night, at your suggestion (you guys are very good an encouraging a Disney addiction!).

There isn't another night at an AKV value studio on either side of the night that I was able to book. I could get a savannah view studio for two nights but it would cost more than 3X the number of points I'm paying for 1 night in a value studio. I have the points, I just don't think that I want to spend them that way.

The SWA flight down would have to depart my home airport later in the morning if I chose to go down a day earlier. No awards flights are available for the first nonstop of that day. The flight back home could be pushed back a day without a problem. The vouchers must be used by March and cannot be extended. We have no other plans for them, although I could postpone the entire visit and begin looking for dates to book after the new year.

I checked the passholder rate for value resorts. All Star Sports is available (no food court) at a rate of about $89/night with taxes for a standard room. POP was closer to $97/night for a standard location. However, I would hate to go from AKL (which is where the value studios are located) one night to a value the next night. It just doesn't seem worth nearly $100 to me, even if it does buy me an extra day. Plus, the resort cost would cut my GC balance down to around $85 for Disney food and misc. (I can't eat all of my meals at Rainforest and Yak & Yeti!). And I would have to stretch it for 3 days instead of 2.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I looked into adding another night, at your suggestion (you guys are very good an encouraging a Disney addiction!).

There isn't another night at an AKV value studio on either side of the night that I was able to book. I could get a savannah view studio for two nights but it would cost more than 3X the number of points I'm paying for 1 night in a value studio. I have the points, I just don't think that I want to spend them that way.

The SWA flight down would have to depart my home airport later in the morning if I chose to go down a day earlier. No awards flights are available for the first nonstop of that day. The flight back home could be pushed back a day without a problem. The vouchers must be used by March and cannot be extended. We have no other plans for them, although I could postpone the entire visit and begin looking for dates to book after the new year.

I checked the passholder rate for value resorts. All Star Sports is available (no food court) at a rate of about $89/night with taxes for a standard room. POP was closer to $97/night for a standard location. However, I would hate to go from AKL (which is where the value studios are located) one night to a value the next night. It just doesn't seem worth nearly $100 to me, even if it does buy me an extra day. Plus, the resort cost would cut my GC balance down to around $85 for Disney food and misc. (I can't eat all of my meals at Rainforest and Yak & Yeti!). And I would have to stretch it for 3 days instead of 2.

I will be at WDW for 4 nights/5 FULL days in November, and I am budgeting around $20 a day for food. My last two visits, I kept all my receipts and at the end of my trip I did the math; I spend about $18 per day in food while there on average.

I'm taking peanut butter/english muffins (breakfast), Bel Vitas (breakfast/snack), some energy bars, and some granola bars in my luggage. I will only need to buy a lunch / dinner per day. Typically I will just buy something big between lunch and dinner and snack the rest of the day, whether I bring my own snacks or not. If you did something similar, you could have breakfast taken care of each day (day one doesn't count because you can eat at home before leaving, so you only would need two breakfasts packed). You could eat dinner the first and second day at Rainforest/Yak & Yeti/Landry's restaurants using your gift cards, which would mean you'd only need about $45 for lunch for three days.

That means that if you added on ASSp for $89, you'd still have $84 on your Disney GC and be able to spend that on lunches every day leaving $39 on it. You'd actually be able to do probably two TS on that if you wanted. So far, you haven't had to spend much of your own money if you do it this way - maybe 15$ for breakfast at home? And so WHAT about heading to ASSp from AKL? You could always book the day before at ASSp, or you could be happy that you're staying at Disney for longer.

I'm always trying to figure out how to cut costs, so I could definitely do it. I'd personally not want to go for two full days only, but three would get awfully tempting. And this doesn't have to be how EVERY trip is, only one where you're trying to save money!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Yep. I'd do it. I would try to do 2 nights instead of one but I'd burn the candle at both ends and it wouldn't really matter where I laid my head that 2nd night. But one day would be a fun getaway and for practically free I'd do it. Have fun!

 

[ajasmom]

I have a 3 day trip planned arrive at mco at 9:30 am on friday and leave at 9:30 PM on sunday. We essentially have 3 full days at SSR for 30 points. I am so looking forward to this mini vacation. Would have loved to go longer but couldnt take more time off from work. I say if the 2 days work for you go for it...

 

[Nohal]

I would definately have no problem staying 1 night in a value resort to gain an extra day at Disney. You will only be in the room to shower and sleep.

 

[taaren]

If I were you I'd book it for flying there morning 1, coming back evening two.

Then I'd waitlist the 2nd night in an AKV value studio (and seriously think about just using 18 points for night 2, and be okay with moving from a value to a savannah view studio if I had the points to spare ... I'm with you in that I couldn't go from DVC to value, other way, yes, stepping down, no).

If the second night comes through in a value, then move your return reward ticket to evening three and enjoy!

We like CS so I could do 3 days on your gift cards for my entire family easily ...


In November we're planning on driving down Saturday night after work (5-6 hours) to DLR leaving around midnight to get there before the park opens, then doing 2 days in the park and drive back Monday evening. 11+ hours of driving worth 2 days in Disney? Absolutely! We'll do fine with $100 in GCs for food, and $120 gas money. having APs!

 

[Mickey527]

I could never do one night at Disney. I would extend to at least 3 days, get as much as you can with that free ticket.
I love to see the Christmas decorations and always go for New Years Eve. this year my son has leave for New Years so I won't be there at that time.
I planned a trip for Dec and booked the flight before I knew that Dec 6-10 is the most used DVC time and they are having a special D23 event for that time. No DVC rooms available at all. But I might get to at least hear Whoopi Goldberg do the Candelight Procession.
I don't like the busses, I hate the crowding on the busses and the sometimes long wait to only be told to wait for the next since they have to let a family of 200 (ok exaggeration) and a wheelchair on cause they just drove up. (ok leave that for another topic....)
I am staying off property and I rented a car. It will cost me a little more but average out in total because the place I stay is cheap ($35 a night and the car is $200 for the 5 days so together they cost me less than if I had chosen Pop.
This will be my last trip on my AP and I plan on taking a year off from DisneyWorld if I can. It will probably be the hardest thing I every tried to do.
Since I have a car I grab some food at Walmart and keep it in my room. I have a very small cooler and if I get a big lunch like the 1/2 roasted chicken I can put some in a tupperwere and have it for dinner. I carry my own bottled water and crystal lite type flavorings. My average food total is about $15 a day and covers drinks.
Hey, if you are coming down during the time I am there I can drive you to the outlets for souveniers.....

 

[Judique]

Go!!!

I used to plan this trip all the time when flights were cheap but I never took one.

 

[horseshowmom]

Friend, you are on the wrong forum if you are looking for us to talk you out of a WDW trip
I say go for it & let us know how it went.

This is soooo true!

I looked into adding another night, at your suggestion (you guys are very good an encouraging a Disney addiction!).

There isn't another night at an AKV value studio on either side of the night that I was able to book. I could get a savannah view studio for two nights but it would cost more than 3X the number of points I'm paying for 1 night in a value studio. I have the points, I just don't think that I want to spend them that way.

The SWA flight down would have to depart my home airport later in the morning if I chose to go down a day earlier. No awards flights are available for the first nonstop of that day. The flight back home could be pushed back a day without a problem. The vouchers must be used by March and cannot be extended. We have no other plans for them, although I could postpone the entire visit and begin looking for dates to book after the new year.

I checked the passholder rate for value resorts. All Star Sports is available (no food court) at a rate of about $89/night with taxes for a standard room. POP was closer to $97/night for a standard location. However, I would hate to go from AKL (which is where the value studios are located) one night to a value the next night. It just doesn't seem worth nearly $100 to me, even if it does buy me an extra day. Plus, the resort cost would cut my GC balance down to around $85 for Disney food and misc. (I can't eat all of my meals at Rainforest and Yak & Yeti!). And I would have to stretch it for 3 days instead of 2.

Do I remember reading somewhere that Disney will move your stuff from one property to the other for you? That way you wouldn't have to deal with it.

I would totally do what you're planning ~ sounds like a great adventure to me! But I would really want to stretch it to two nights if I could make it happen reasonably.