Anyone tried a "Budget" trip at Christmas before?

[BernardandMissBianca]

Our last Christmas trip was Dec 2009 at if you plan right the parks are pretty manageable especially if you are ok with skipping a few rides.
We actually got a walk up appt for DD at BBB on Christmas day and it didn't really start getting crowded until after noon.
According to my time stamp on the photos we did the Tree at 8am, Saw the fairies at MK at 11, started BBB at 11:30 and was out by 12, Did Carousel of progress at 2 and was on Space Mountain by 2:30.
Now we did have a torrential downpour while at Buzz Lightyear, so that may be why the crowds were lower than usual.

Looks like we headed over to Epcot around 4.
We headed back to MK around 10pm and stayed until 1.

That was the first time we ever spent Christmas day at MK, but it wasn't as bad as I originally thought. We usually do Epcot because they can absorb the crowds a little better, and we just don't try to do any of the big ticket rides.

We've only run into a park closure once the 3 times we've been at Christmas and that was DHS. They had started the tier 1 closure which is the main road into the park. The park was crowded but we just skipped the rides.
I'd say to definitely get into the parks I would aim to be there by 10, especially on Christmas day.
We plan on being at Epcot that day to see Gary Sinise do Candlelight Processional.

 

[labdogs42]

We plan on being at Epcot that day to see Gary Sinise do Candlelight Processional.

We will probably do Epcot on Christmas Day, too! Maybe we can meet! How cool would that scrapbook page be?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

That would be cool!!

And I can pick your brain about digital. I'm considering a switch because I'm running out of room for books.
Keep me posted if you decide to go and when you finalize plans. We book ADR's Wednesday. I want Biergarten for Christmas day when they open Candlelight Processional packages on June 26th.

 

[pigletto]

She's getting closer to booking that trip.. keep posting to her. If my bank account must suffer so should hers

In all seriousness it sounds great!! And you know what? In planning out this trip we wanted to spend the last two nights at Universal. The 21st was 224.00. Much higher than I have ever paid, but hey it's the holiday. The 22nd? 365.00.

Ummm. NO. I am not paying that. So we're spending our second last night at Universal and I am searching for an airport area hotel for our last night. And you know what? None of the prices I am seeing are even a little bit inflated offsite. It's just the theme park hotels. Maybe try Bonnet Creek?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We've attempted to do Universal several times but the cost is just crazy! We'd only spend a day or two there so I can't justify it.
As it is, If I add the dining plan to Christmas trip, it's going to be more expensive. I'm really on the fence about it.

 

[labdogs42]

She's getting closer to booking that trip.. keep posting to her. If my bank account must suffer so should hers

In all seriousness it sounds great!! And you know what? In planning out this trip we wanted to spend the last two nights at Universal. The 21st was 224.00. Much higher than I have ever paid, but hey it's the holiday. The 22nd? 365.00.

Ummm. NO. I am not paying that. So we're spending our second last night at Universal and I am searching for an airport area hotel for our last night. And you know what? None of the prices I am seeing are even a little bit inflated offsite. It's just the theme park hotels. Maybe try Bonnet Creek?

I booked the AutoTrain tickets yesterday, so we're going. But still haven't finalized where we are staying. I am considering Caribe Royale, Bonnett Creek, on site at POP or POR, or maybe a condo at Windsor Hills. Gotta get all my prices on those and figure out where I want to book.

 

[crazelion]

We driving instead of flyng. One I don't there is enough drugs to sedate all on the flight. Two I would had pay luggage fees because I will be over limits. 3. I have never fly before and my sense of direction is aweful.

Driving is cheaper for us any because it will be only 10 hours with one driver. I can take much as I want. The kids can sleep most of the trip. I can pay for gas with my reward programs that get free gas gift cards.

By the time I leave. I should have the enough Marriott gift cards to pay for the trip. Gas cards to pay for gas. Resturant cards to pay for food. WDW gift cards to pay for food in the parks.

We have decide we is going to Busch Gardens Tampa for a day. Kids wants goes US and IOA. So will be spending one or two days at WDW. The Free hotel breakfast will save big dollars. They have happy hour at the hotel two that will save money.

 

[labdogs42]

Narrowing it down to condos at Windsor Hills. Love the idea of all that space! And the prices are totally right. Now I just have to compare the zillion emails I got after sending in my requests on VRBO!

 

[livie1205]

we are going for christmas but instead of a budget trip we make THAT our christmas every other year, the kids love it since they only need so much stuff they love doing a trip.

 

[w84no1]

we are going for christmas but instead of a budget trip we make THAT our christmas every other year, the kids love it since they only need so much stuff they love doing a trip.

Depending on our experience this year, I might suggest that to my wife.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Woohoo! got all my dining reservations today except for Candlelight Processional, I have to wait until the 26th to do that.

Surprisingly there was a lot of availability every day.

 

[labdogs42]

Woohoo! got all my dining reservations today except for Candlelight Processional, I have to wait until the 26th to do that.

Surprisingly there was a lot of availability every day.

Nice!

 

[livie1205]

Depending on our experience this year, I might suggest that to my wife.

The kids really do not miss the toys every other year,we take a small tree and do a WDW xmas,we try to do extra stuff like club level and tours plus with 5 of us we end up spending LESS with a trip then doing xmas for everyone...we just tell family we are not having a xmas and we do not expect gifts nor do we buy any...it really saves a bunch and we really have a blast .We have a blended family so on the yrs we do not have my dss we do WDW (a week before) then the yr we have them all together we have xmas at home.It works out great!

 

[labdogs42]

The kids really do not miss the toys every other year,we take a small tree and do a WDW xmas,we try to do extra stuff like club level and tours plus with 5 of us we end up spending LESS with a trip then doing xmas for everyone...we just tell family we are not having a xmas and we do not expect gifts nor do we buy any...it really saves a bunch and we really have a blast .We have a blended family so on the yrs we do not have my dss we do WDW (a week before) then the yr we have them all together we have xmas at home.It works out great!

I'm definitely going to take a tree along and we will do stockings. My DS also loves to shop at Disney, so that will be part of the experience. DH and I probably just won't get each other gifts (what the heck do we need anyway?) I'm liking the idea of this more and more!

 

[torinsmom]

Did I forget to mention that I'm the queen of enabling? Sorry about that! Maybe I'll see you in the World in December now!



Yeah, I hear you about driving, but that's one thing we won't do to save $$. It is Auto Train or fly, so that's assumed in the budget. AT is looking good right now. Price is more than we payed last March, but not by much. We love having our own car there, too. (and we had it narrowed down to August or December, too!)



Yes, shooting to not take the kid out of school. That was a pain last March and he was only in first grade! Don't want to do that again.

Yep, AP's will save on parking. So, I'm going to keep researching off site hotels. We go to Disney enough that I like to try new things. We've done at least one of each class of hotels onsite, we've done a rental house, so maybe it is time for an offsite hotel! I'd like one with a nice pool so if we decide the parks are too crowded, we can go back and hang out at the pool. Off to research!

Don't know if you'd consider Emerald Island vs. Windsor Hills, but I thought I'd post a link to the place we stayed in 2010 and are staying again this summer. It is a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath townhome, right across a parking lot from the clubhouse. It's only $471/week year round. The owners have been very nice and their management company was very responsive when we had a problem with the cable.

http://www.emeraldislandtownhouse.com/#

I am about to start foster care, and I plan to go during the holiday season in 2013 if I have a child then. I would probably shoot for the week before Christmas and leave on Christmas eve. My mom would shoot me if I wasn't at her house for Christmas day

 

[ban26ana]

We're doing the ultimate Christmas budget trip this year. We have a camping membership, and we stay for free at participating campgrounds. There is one in Orlando about 20 minutes to the parks. So we're driving, and our stay is free! I have a Target debit card, so I'm using that to get a little bit of savings. I can't wait until my grocery store does their "buy $50 in gift cards, get $10" deal again. That's like saving 20% on Disney stuff! Since we'll have our camper, we can pack meals to take to the park, or just eat in our camper. That's going to save a ton of money. We're Annheuser Busch season pass holders, so our day at Sea World will be free.