Any tips for Disney on a Budget??

[cantwaitforwdw]

We just returned from a great trip to WDW in March and my husband would love to take our 3 year ols daughter back next year. Does anyone have any tips to go on a budget?
Is there a better/cheaper time of year?
We like to stay at a Disney Resort - are there any promo codes out there?
We ordered from the garden grocer last time for snacks, but can you take your own lunch into the parks?
Anyone with some flight ideas...i know of we had of waited last year we could have booked our flights later and they would have been cheaper.
Any tips or ideas would help...Thanks.

 

[SandraC]

* Visit the DIS Budget Board

* Download Southwest Airline DING for cheap flights

* Renting a car in Florida is SUPER cheap. Book online doesn't cost anything and you don't need to give a credit card. Check back often as the prices will go down. Book the cheapest car and ask for a free upgrade at the counter. Renting a car gives you total freedom to grocery shop and do inexpensive on-site restaurants.

* Stay at a Disney value resort. We have only stayed at Disney mods and love them. But I feel that I missed out the TOTAL Disney character of the values. Even thou my kids are 8 and 14, we will stay at a Disney value next time for the themes.

* Visit www.mousesavers.com for great deals.

* If you know you will be returning often thru the years, purchase mutli-day Disney hoppers that don't expire with plusses. Last year we bought 10 day hoppers that don't expire with 6 pluses pretty much at par thru a mousesavers.com link. I got a good price and we will use the tickets over 3-4 Florida trips. We also bought the Universal Studios 7-day tickets for $82. Good thing I bought them when I did because dh got laid-off work last month.

* Grocery shop

* Eat breakky in room from groceries, however, try to do one character breakfast. There are the least expensive meal. We love the castle breakky! We've done it 4 times.

Have fun planning! Sandra

 

[loretta lowerison]

Try to go in the value seasons like Jan or Feb or even early Mar. We also eat outside of WDW for cheaper meals. We always bring our own frozen water bottles. We got a case of 24 for $4.99 compare to the $2 a bottle inside the park. If you have a stroller, carrying them will be easier too. We also ate a big breakfast at IHOP so we don't need as much inside the parks. By the way, if you feel the car rental rate is too high, try priceline and name your own price. I was accepted for a week rental for an economy for $15 by Alamo. I love priceline and alamo.

 

[branmack]

Around March or beginning of April, keep your eyes and ears open for free dining in September. This is a great time to go and you don't have to worry about bugeting for food. Our family of 4 will save around $800.00 this year.

 

[disneynovic]

On the budget board, just the other day, there was a discussion about snack and lunch ideas to bring into the park. Some good ideas. For us, we are driving down, free hotel on the way down and back, rented a house, easy and cheap breakfast and dinner, and are only spending 3 days in the parks, plus one day in Universal, free from airmiles. Also, see about buying tickets or making reservations from CAA, or underground tourist, through mousesavers.com special newsletter link.

 

[MCFADDEN5]

If you are a CAA member what kind of discounts on DIS hotels or other perks.

 

[disneynovic]

Here is the CAA link for Disney benefits http://www.caasco.com/travel/disney/walt-disney-world-benefits.jsp
I priced a MYW 3 day basic adult ticket with them yesterday, and was quoted $213.49US as opposed to $216US on underground tourist. Not a huge savings, but will add up to $15 savings for my family or 2 CS meals. Also, the special parking area I hear is great. Not staying onsite, so don't know what the savings could be.

 

[tiggerrulz]

We used to pack a lunch in a cooler bag, and if we didn't feel like hauling it around all day, we put it in a locker at the front of the park. Put in a couple of freezer packs, and sandwiches and drinks stay cool all day. Add some snacks, and it is way cheaper than park food. We may not pack lunches anymore but we certainly still pack snacks.

 

[SandraC]

We like having our biggest meals early in the day, rather than dinner. Less crowds, less money, same food. Granola bars and fruit snacks keep us going at the parks rather than sandwiches. S

 

[DonnaBoo]

Snack items from the grocery store. Maybe a big meal in the middle of the day.

 

[vod2117]

Stay in a moderate hotel and go in the value season. Even though the moderate resorts are a tad bit more expensive than the value resorts, you are a level above a value resort in comfort and services plus didnt pay much per night for the hotel. Try using Spirit Airlines. They have Penny and $8 fairs. Get the Disney Visa card, it will provide you with free souuvenirs, special discounts and special opportunities non-card members cant get.

 

[Camilo]

Get the Disney Visa card, it will provide you with free souuvenirs, special discounts and special opportunities non-card members cant get.

Hi...
Is the Disney Visa card now available to Canadians????
I would get one for sure if it is.

Thanks, Camilo

 

[LittleFlounder]

Hi...
Is the Disney Visa card now available to Canadians????
I would get one for sure if it is.

Unfortunately, the Disney Visa is not available to Canadians.

 

[ASDFG]

We just returned from a great trip to WDW in March and my husband would love to take our 3 year ols daughter back next year. Does anyone have any tips to go on a budget?
Is there a better/cheaper time of year?
We like to stay at a Disney Resort - are there any promo codes out there?
We ordered from the garden grocer last time for snacks, but can you take your own lunch into the parks?
Anyone with some flight ideas...i know of we had of waited last year we could have booked our flights later and they would have been cheaper.
Any tips or ideas would help...Thanks.

Just a few that come to mind....
- Stay at a value resort
- If you live reasonably close the US border, try pricing flights out of a US airport (Buffalo, Bangor etc.) and driving.
- Magical Express is free transportation to and from the Orlando airport.
- Stick with counter service meals, sit down dinners can be pretty expensive.
- Depending on how long you're going for, consider an annual pass - you get discounts for shopping and meals at many locations.

 

[Captain's Wife]

Some good tips on here already, the most important one being go in value season. As for the choice between a value or mod resort - make sure you do the math. A value resort with a fridge added at $15 night can be almost as much as a mod which includes a fridge. Also, don't the mods include a coffee maker now?

- definitely pack snacks/lunches for the parks. Most 3 year olds prefer to "graze" throughout the day on fruit, cheese, crackers etc than sit down for a meal anyway. Carry a travel mug and fill it from the water fountains, or bring a few bottles of water from your grocery order with you into the parks every day

- if you're buying lunch instead, and using CS, try only a combo to split with the little one. If you're still hungry, you can always go back up to the counter and buy more food. More often than not we find we're paying for food that just ends up being wasted.

- use only cash or travellers cheques in the park. Captain thinks I'm crazy, but I only take our daily allotment into the parks with us and avoid putting charging privileges on the room key. This cuts down on impulse spending and helps me keep track of what we're spending. You'll have noticed that WDW is a place where people spend - and spend LOTS. It can be very difficult psychologically not to get caught up in that spending mindset, whether it's food or merchandise.

- if you don't plan on going offsite, don't rent a car. Disney transportation may not always be the most convenient way to get around, but it's FREE.

- if you're even close to a US airport, fly from there. Flights are way cheaper, and deals more frequent. However, again, do the math, and compare airlines with free bag check to those that charge. If you do fly with one that charges, pack light - two adults and a small child can fit everything they need into two suitcases or even one.

- bring your little one's Disney attire from home. It's easier not to get caught up in the "everyone's wearing a Mickey t-shirt, we have to buy one" if the kid's already wearing one. Likewise any princess attire, which can be purchased much more cheaply at Walmart or second-hand stores.

Shelley