600.00 for a day at the Magic Kingdom!!

[MSSANDRA]

Ok, so it sounds crazy but hear me out. We have done many trips to the world, all a week or so long. We now have family about three hours from WDW. WONDERFUL. Thought this week-end would be a perfect time for a quick trip just to the MK. So, one day park tickets to the MK are almost 100.00 each (95.00), so for us 400.00. We wanted to go down Friday night and stay at POP so we could do AM ,EMH (150.00). Gas about 50. and about 100 for food, and extras. 600.00 to enjoy one day at the MK. That is driving back to the home after the park closes. To stay the extra night would bring it up to 750!!!! Going to have to think this one out. Maybe APs? We are down at least once a month or so. I really don't mind spending money for WDW, but I just could not bring myself to do this!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I would consider APs or 10 day NE tix if you really think you will be doing this monthly. I'd at least add on the WP option if you go with the NE tix. Could do nice 1 night, 2 day trips.....1 park day / 1 DTD or DQ or WP.

 

[DawnM]

it will be in your best interest to get 10 day non expiring tickets.

 

[bumbershoot]

it will be in your best interest to get 10 day non expiring tickets.

Hmm, interesting idea. If the OP will only do one day every month, yes that might be good. And then if they get the WP&M on the tickets they can spice up the trips over time. I like it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Why not do annual passes then if you are going down at least once a month. You could also take advantage of the other perks of being an annual pass holder!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm

 

[arihillfarm]

Why not do annual passes then if you are going down at least once a month. You could also take advantage of the other perks of being an annual pass holder!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm

AP holders also get free parking, so you could stay off-property and save even more vs. staying on property, even with an AP room discount.

-Astrid

 

[arihillfarm]

A 10 day NE ticket with WP and PH is $50 more than a premium AP. If you think you'll make at least 9 weekend trips in a year, the AP will be the much better value and allow you to extend a trip on longer holiday weekends or during the summer. Plus, there are discounts on dining and shopping with an AP. If I lived close enough, you can bet we'd have APs!!

-Astrid

 

[DawnM]

I missed the once per month part. Yeah, you might want to consider APs.

If you are in FL they will be less as well (Fl residence pass). You might actually find you go more often (stay 2 days every month.)

 

[peteanddebbie]

Ok, so it sounds crazy but hear me out. We have done many trips to the world, all a week or so long. We now have family about three hours from WDW. WONDERFUL. Thought this week-end would be a perfect time for a quick trip just to the MK. So, one day park tickets to the MK are almost 100.00 each (95.00), so for us 400.00. We wanted to go down Friday night and stay at POP so we could do AM ,EMH (150.00). Gas about 50. and about 100 for food, and extras. 600.00 to enjoy one day at the MK. That is driving back to the home after the park closes. To stay the extra night would bring it up to 750!!!! Going to have to think this one out. Maybe APs? We are down at least once a month or so. I really don't mind spending money for WDW, but I just could not bring myself to do this!

Check your math. It looks like it your at $700 without a second night at POP. I think you should definitely look into AP's.

 

[Marionnette]

Ok, so it sounds crazy but hear me out. We have done many trips to the world, all a week or so long. We now have family about three hours from WDW. WONDERFUL. Thought this week-end would be a perfect time for a quick trip just to the MK. So, one day park tickets to the MK are almost 100.00 each (95.00), so for us 400.00. We wanted to go down Friday night and stay at POP so we could do AM ,EMH (150.00). Gas about 50. and about 100 for food, and extras. 600.00 to enjoy one day at the MK. That is driving back to the home after the park closes. To stay the extra night would bring it up to 750!!!! Going to have to think this one out. Maybe APs? We are down at least once a month or so. I really don't mind spending money for WDW, but I just could not bring myself to do this!

The majority of your costs are not going to be the tickets. It's the other stuff...$100 for one day of food, $50 in gasoline, weekend onsite resort rates. APs will certainly save you *some* money but it won't change the fact that you're talking about spending $300 every month on top of the ticket cost. $3600 per year + $1977 (the cost of 4 FL Resident APs) = $5577 annually. Even more if you're not a FL resident.

If you're going to do APs and monthly 1-night trips, you might want to consider bringing food, and staying offsite. Like you, I don't have.a problem spending the money on Disney, but when I look at that annual cost, my preference would be to take fewer trip trips but make them longer.

 

[SandrA9810]

When I lived in Miami, it was just a four hour drive. We did the monthly thing too. This was before they offered the monthly payment plans that they do now for annual passes.

In May, we would purchase a Play 4 Pass (it's usually a Play 3 now), and go during the summer months. In the Fall before the Play 4 passes expired, we would upgrade to Seasonal passes. The passes would expire on the date of the original purchase (May of the following year). It broke the cost up, and still allowed us to visit in the summer months.

We did a mixture of on and off sites. Just look in the little red traveler's book they have at rest stops for coupons to the hotels. We got some good rates on some of the nicer hotels. In the off season with the passholder discount, staying on site became relatively cheap.

Unfortunately, gas prices is what killed our weekend trips because it ate a huge chunk of the money, and it's so unpredictable. And Disney food can get old fast, snacks and breakfast before going into the park can help cut out spending money in the park.

 

[kiki02]

When I lived in Miami, it was just a four hour drive. We did the monthly thing too. This was before they offered the monthly payment plans that they do now for annual passes.

In May, we would purchase a Play 4 Pass (it's usually a Play 3 now), and go during the summer months. In the Fall before the Play 4 passes expired, we would upgrade to Seasonal passes. The passes would expire on the date of the original purchase (May of the following year). It broke the cost up, and still allowed us to visit in the summer months.

We did a mixture of on and off sites. Just look in the little red traveler's book they have at rest stops for coupons to the hotels. We got some good rates on some of the nicer hotels. In the off season with the passholder discount, staying on site became relatively cheap.

Unfortunately, gas prices is what killed our weekend trips because it ate a huge chunk of the money, and it's so unpredictable. And Disney food can get old fast, snacks and breakfast before going into the park can help cut out spending money in the park.

But do they have a play 3 or play 4 in May now? not sure what you mean? does this mean you only spend 3 OR 4 DAYS IN TEH PARKS ALL SUMMER?

 

[scrapquitler]

Ok, so it sounds crazy but hear me out. We have done many trips to the world, all a week or so long. We now have family about three hours from WDW. WONDERFUL. Thought this week-end would be a perfect time for a quick trip just to the MK. So, one day park tickets to the MK are almost 100.00 each (95.00), so for us 400.00. We wanted to go down Friday night and stay at POP so we could do AM ,EMH (150.00). Gas about 50. and about 100 for food, and extras. 600.00 to enjoy one day at the MK. That is driving back to the home after the park closes. To stay the extra night would bring it up to 750!!!! Going to have to think this one out. Maybe APs? We are down at least once a month or so. I really don't mind spending money for WDW, but I just could not bring myself to do this!

I would do it. I'd consider buying AP or non expiring tickets so that I could do it more often and save a little bit.

I know that $600 for a one day things sounds like a lot, but consider this: Have you ever taken your family to a major sporting event? If so, you probably spent that much money for a one day event. We've been to many Nascar Races ($75 a ticket, plus parking, plus food, plus gas to get there), my brother takes his family to NFL games for the day and that costs him a lot more than $600 and they are a family of 3. A day at Six Flags can easily cost almost that much, or a night at the indoor waterpark hotel.

No 'big' sort of family outing is going to come cheap. If it's a couple times a year thing, then that's that. If this is something you think you want to do a lo, there are a lot of way to economize and make it cost less each time so you can do it more often.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

We spent that for one day at Universal Hollywood. Admission for everyday for the rest of the year came to $3 a person. Since we live on the east coast we only had one day so had to pay the front loaded cost of that day which was about $600 for 7 of us admission and parking. Was if worth it? Yes, for seeing it just the one time it was.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MSSANDRA]

Thanks all. I think APs for everyone might take care of my Christmas list. When we add in a week long trip as well as those week-ends, it really makes sense to just bite the bullet and do it! With APs, we can hit the parks for a couple hours when we arrive on Friday night, and if we can get a good price on a room, stay Saturday night and get in a few hours Sunday morning as well!!!

 

[SandrA9810]

But do they have a play 3 or play 4 in May now? not sure what you mean? does this mean you only spend 3 OR 4 DAYS IN TEH PARKS ALL SUMMER?

The PLAY 4 pass is for Florida residents. It's a discounted ticket, but you don't get any options to add to it. It's usually only good for the summer months. I haven't really followed the ticketing, but I do get the promotional emails and I see stuff that's similar.

We actually did a lot of one day trips. We'd drive up early in the morning and head home after park closing. It also meant we couldn't park hop. One day was enough of a fix for each month.

If we were feeling rich, we would stay at the campgrounds for the weekend. Go up friday afternoon and leave sunday night. We loved it at the campgrounds and that made up for not being in the parks.

That's one thing you learn as a resident, there's way more than the four parks, and there's a lot of great things to discover that still give you that magically feeling.