Advice on budget: Is this crazy?

[fairytinkerbell]

Ok. We have (3) options. Which one would you do?

Option 1: Fly in, 9 days/8 nites
Deluxe Resort: $2750.
Flights Airplane: $690.
Rental car: $500.
Food: $850-900.
5 day Hoppers: $600. (?) AAA disc.
Universal $120 ?
Attractions: $100

TOTAL: $5,660.

OR

Option 2: Drive from NY, Arrive Sunday, leave follwg Sat
Off site hotel $700
Rental car: $475(compact)-$750(suv)
Food: $850-900
5 day Hopper $600
Universal $120?
Attrctns $100
$2845

OR don't rent a car, save the money, or stay half at deluxe resort and half off site. take rental car? drive own car? or spend the $6k

 

[mrudman]

I'd do option 1, but with some revisements.

That's a long drive to take! (We're in Ohio, and would never consider driving it).. you're cutting out 4 days of vacation time.

I would skip the rental car, and just do Disney transportation.. saving you $500... rent a car for just the days you'd need it to get to Universal, or take a taxi there.

I'd see about renting DVC points if you really want Deluxe, or better yet, just stay in a moderate resort and save tons there.

You could probably cut option 1 down to about $4000, and have a 9-day vacation versus a 6-day one.

Just my opinion,

 

[Hannathy]

I would fly and stay at a value resort. I like a rental car but that could be up to you.

 

[ilovemk76]

I would do:

Option 3: Fly in, 9 days/8 nites
Resort: .
Flights Airplane: $690.
Rental car: .
Food: $850-900.
5 day Hoppers: $600. (?) AAA disc.
Universal $120 ?
Attractions: $100

TOTAL:


Down grade the resort to a moderate or a value.

Take DME to and from the airport.

Get a rental car for on day at the Car Care Center and go to Universal. Get the car the night before and get to Universal's parking area before they open. Return the rental car early the next morning. Rent a economy or mid-sized car to save money.

 

[rigs32]

Why is the rental car quote so high? I've never spent more than $100 for a week renting a small car.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

I can't believe it's almost $6K. I remember we used to end up spending $3k and that was years ago w/ an off site hotel. Now , years later, we really want to treat ourselves (anniversary) and stay at a Deluxe resort at least a few nites.... We were thinking of going in July but the average temps say 92 degrees. What would the real feel be, 100? That's way too hot for us to take. Were thinking of the fall.

Can get 25% discount for summer at delx resort... Not sure what to do!
Ee gad.

 

[M5ward]

I agree...skip the rental car and rent points. Take a cab to Universal with a little of the money you save.
My assumption is that there are two of you (and maybe one small child) and you are looking for studio sized accommodations.

 

[TwistGrl101]

Fly
don't rent a car
do a split stay at a value/deluxe (first 3 nights in value)
get regular tickets instead of park hoppers

 

[Donnainnj]

I would fly if the price was that low. You would have to add gas/food and hotel to the budget for driving. As others have said rent points for DVC, esp if it is just the two of you, a studio will be fine. I would check into Priceline name your own price for the car rental. That price seems real high unless you are going over Christmas or want some exotic car. I would also get park passes for more time, the latter days are much cheaper then the first few, and I like the freedom to go for a few hours.
Donna

 

[Marionnette]

Ok. We have (3) options. Which one would you do?

Option 1: Fly in, 9 days/8 nites
Deluxe Resort: $2750.
Flights Airplane: $690.
Rental car: $500.
Food: $850-900.
5 day Hoppers: $600. (?) AAA disc.
Universal $120 ?
Attractions: $100

TOTAL: $5,660.

OR

Option 2: Drive from NY, Arrive Sunday, leave follwg Sat
Off site hotel $700
Rental car: $475(compact)-$750(suv)
Food: $850-900
5 day Hopper $600
Universal $120?
Attrctns $100
$2845

OR don't rent a car, save the money, or stay half at deluxe resort and half off site. take rental car? drive own car? or spend the $6k

The only craziness that I see is that you are all over the place with your plans and options. You've basically hit on every possible permutation and then ask which you should choose. The answer basically lies with your preferences and budget.

If you hate flying then driving is a better option even if it means fewer days in Disney. If you love onsite deluxe resorts then you will probably be miserable with an offsite hotel. And if you have to put thousands of dollars on a credit card and take months to pay it off, you will most likely regret spending it once the bills begin to arrive.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

Yes, 2 adults only.

I don't know what dvc points are. We have AAA..

Never thought of just doing simple tickets vs Hoppers - thanks! But we usually like to try to go to the Magic Kingdom on every night of the ticket (5).
The only nites we don't go is the one day at Universal, we'll do Downtown Disney.

I wonder if I could somehow see the hotel rates for the drive in - we'd leave ny at 5am, and would probably stop driving around 7pm. that's 14 hours or 13 hours (if we stop for restroom and lunch). Wonder where we would be?

Do u think 92 degrees is too hot to enjoy WDW?? I'd save $ if we went in the summer.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes, 2 adults only.

I don't know what dvc points are. We have AAA..

Never thought of just doing simple tickets vs Hoppers - thanks! But we usually like to try to go to the Magic Kingdom on every night of the ticket (5).
The only nites we don't go is the one day at Universal, we'll do Downtown Disney.

I wonder if I could somehow see the hotel rates for the drive in - we'd leave ny at 5am, and would probably stop driving around 7pm. that's 14 hours or 13 hours (if we stop for restroom and lunch). Wonder where we would be?

Do u think 92 degrees is too hot to enjoy WDW?? I'd save $ if we went in the summer.

Go to google maps, select get directions, put your location in and walt Disney world or Orlando. It will give you driving directions and the route and time it takes to go. Go down the list till it is how long you want to drive and see where you are. Then look for motels in that area.

 

[scrapquitler]

Ok. We have (3) options. Which one would you do?

Option 1: Fly in, 9 days/8 nites
Deluxe Resort: $2750.
Flights Airplane: $690.
Rental car: $500.
Food: $850-900.
5 day Hoppers: $600. (?) AAA disc.
Universal $120 ?
Attractions: $100

TOTAL: $5,660.

OR

Option 2: Drive from NY, Arrive Sunday, leave follwg Sat
Off site hotel $700
Rental car: $475(compact)-$750(suv)
Food: $850-900
5 day Hopper $600
Universal $120?
Attrctns $100
$2845

OR don't rent a car, save the money, or stay half at deluxe resort and half off site. take rental car? drive own car? or spend the $6k

I'd do option #1. If you are staying onsite, skip the rental car. Use magical express to get to the resort, then use resort transportation. If you still want to do Universal, use a carservice or taxi (no point renting a car just for that). I'd stay somewhere less expensive than a deluxe. If you ditch the car and downgrade the hotel, you'll save probably $1500.

BTW, you didn't include the price of gas to travel from NY-FL in option #2. If you do that, you also need to include other travel expenses like meals & a hotel on the the way down and back (unless you are driving straight thru -- too much for me!)

 

[HM]

I think your Universal cost is too low. A one-day is about $90 each even with AAA discount. I'd also go with fly in, drop the rental car for the whole trip, pick up for the one day trip to Universal at one of the onsite rental locations. Don't forget you'll also be paying $15 to park at Universal. And I'd also drop the Deluxe resort and stay at a moderate (CSR) to save money...hopefully with some sort of discount.

 

[Beezle2]

Your flight prices look good so if it were me I would fly in, drop the hotel to a Moderate, get the rental car so you can get to Universal or maybe see about a one day rental just for the day you want to go there. I would not want a 8 day trip to cost $6000 but thats just me

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Do u think 92 degrees is too hot to enjoy WDW?? I'd save $ if we went in the summer.

Heck yes, we visited WDW early Oct 2009, it was fairly uncomfortable heat and humidity wise, I couldn't imagine being there in the summer.

You've posted before, very similar to this, I don't think I've ever responded but you've been given lots of tips. Decide already and enjoy your visit.

ETA - yes I have responded to a previous post of yours.

 

[happily single]

I would go with Option 1, but tweak it a bit.
1. Get rid of the rental
2. Universal seems low
3. If you do use a rental, its $20-30 to park at Universal!
4. Gas for the rental

 

[PrincessDadx2]

Do u think 92 degrees is too hot to enjoy WDW?? I'd save $ if we went in the summer.

Don't know why you think this. Rates will be lower once school is back in session. There is currently a free dining promo through Sept 28th. Room discounts have only been released through mid summer I think, but there will be better rates for Sept/Oct which is back to school and hurricane season.

And yes, it is hot but not too hot to enjoy yourself You just have to take it slower, drink lots of water, and maybe take a break in the heat of the day. That is easier to do if you are onsite.

 

[Marionnette]

Yes, 2 adults only.

I don't know what dvc points are. We have AAA..

Never thought of just doing simple tickets vs Hoppers - thanks! But we usually like to try to go to the Magic Kingdom on every night of the ticket (5).
The only nites we don't go is the one day at Universal, we'll do Downtown Disney.

I wonder if I could somehow see the hotel rates for the drive in - we'd leave ny at 5am, and would probably stop driving around 7pm. that's 14 hours or 13 hours (if we stop for restroom and lunch). Wonder where we would be?

Do u think 92 degrees is too hot to enjoy WDW?? I'd save $ if we went in the summer.

You have AAA. Use them! Get them to do a Trip Tik for you and add hotels along the way. No one here know what route you're taking, so it's not as if we can recommend a hotel for you, let alone know where you will be at 7pm on whatever day you are traveling. You're better off deciding on a reasonable driving distance and making your hotel reservations based on that.

The temperature question is also subjective. 92 degrees is hot no matter where you are. It sucks to be in Philadelphia when temps reach that high. It sucks to be in Florida as well. But there is no guarantee that it will be that hot if you go in the summer. Just as there are no guarantees that it will be cooler if you go is the fall or spring. One of my first visits to Disney was in April when they were having a heat wave with highs of 98+ the entire week.

Like Disneymomma81 said, make a decision and try to enjoy the anticipation. You are making this much harder than it has to be.

 

[Minnesota!]

Ok. We have (3) options. Which one would you do?

Option 1: Fly in, 9 days/8 nites
Deluxe Resort: $2750.
Flights Airplane: $690.
Rental car: $500.
Food: $850-900.
5 day Hoppers: $600. (?) AAA disc.
Universal $120 ?
Attractions: $100

TOTAL: $5,660.

OR

Option 2: Drive from NY, Arrive Sunday, leave follwg Sat
Off site hotel $700
Rental car: $475(compact)-$750(suv)
Food: $850-900
5 day Hopper $600
Universal $120?
Attrctns $100
$2845

OR don't rent a car, save the money, or stay half at deluxe resort and half off site. take rental car? drive own car? or spend the $6k

I would do a modified #1.

Fly in, nix the rental car, use Magical Express, do just a few nights at a deluxe if it's that important to you...or rent DVC. Looks like for 8 nights in a standard AKV in July would run about $1742...cheaper for a value studio. Even a Beach Club studio is "only" about $2000. Saves you $750 right there!

http://www.dvcrequest.com/point_calculator.asp

Your Universal Cost is low...way low.