AP Story: Penny-pinchers guide to Disney on a dime

[xmlguy]

OP thanks for sharing the article , it has alot of great links for just looking around and finding other information that makes for great reading.

I know food cost more at disney and maybe some of the rooms are not all that great
in the values (I like them) but I just have to say this :

Everything is just BETTER at Disney,, the food tastes better ,, the rooms feel and look greater ,, the grounds (including the dirt/sand) are just beautiful . Even the sun just has a better look and feel in Disney. It may be all an
illusion , but wow what an illusion . !!! So, staying on property has its pluses.
Staying offsite is just ok, but it is a way to stay cheaper , theres just not the
round the clock disney feel. It is though a way to get to Disney and save
some money so you can at least come for that disney magic.

I love Florida

You're welcome! I love Florida too, but not only the Disney parts. I've had my share of the Disney parts that aren't better. I feel no magic for the counter service at the Liberty Inn. I prefer to be liberated from that bad, warmed over, steam tray, cafeteria food. It's rather shameful as an American for that place to represent American Cuisine to any degree. I'm not too jaded to see the magic, although I don't see it everywhere.

 

[MouseketeerOvaHere]

Sounds like y'all arguing over hotel rating, preparing food, on-site/off-site, ect are all missing the purpose pf the article to being with. It doesn't say, "Everyone should travel Disney like this". It specifically says it's for those on a tight budget. For some, they may sacrifice everything else simply to afford the park experience. Others are willing/ able to fork out $1000's to have their experience. I have stayed on and off and like everyone knows, each have their pro's and cons. Back in my college years, we'd get some raged out hotel with no perks, hit the parks, eat sparingly and then pig out when we left the park at the local buffet restaurant. Now, we save better and depending on our plans for the entire trip decide where to stay and what to spend. It just depends on your ability to spend. For some, this is the best time to vacation since the economy stinks so simply knowing that there are options is enough for them to start planning. So, c'mon y'all and stop with the arguing. It's just another point of view for the Disney magic.

On a side note: Anyone check out the Disneyland through the years slide show to inside the article? I just love seeing the old pictures from the 50's when Walt's dream was revealed in CA.

And wow, can you believe that opening day admission was $1!? How awesome would it be if the World and the Land brought back that price for a limited time? Hint, hint.

I know, I know; wishful thinking.

 

[xmlguy]

Disneyland prices have increased 16 times faster than the median family income. The price is about 250% higher than 1980, while in the same time the median income has risen only 12%, in inflation adjusted dollars. Disneyland prices have been increased 6.5% a year, on average.

 

[etraible]

We are going in Sept with free dining for 3 nights for just over $600 and again with free dining in Dec during a portion of the peak holiday prices for 6 nights for less than $1000 and it is all well spent to me.


Free dining in Dec?? This is new to me, can you tell me more? Thanks.

 

[johnlal]

Thanks for sharing the link

 

[twinglesmome]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30849713/

Great article--thanks!

 

[kinntj]

That was an interesting article, but most budgeters and penny pinchers already know most of the money saving tips. It just takes research and time.

Our first trip was last year and we stayed onsite because our kids were little yet and we like the convenience. We stayed moderate, but DH made that choice. It's definately very expensive to stay onsite, but DH hates to drive and this helps him.
Honestly, we didn't have to wait for a Disney bus that long at the parks or at the resort. The longest was 25 minutes and that was after Wishes. We were prepared for the wait.

We plan on going back in 2010 and we plan on staying onsite again. Our kids will be 6 and 8, so it's still be worth it to stay onsite.

DH wants to try off site when the kids are 8 and 10 and get a suite at a hotel. The kids love to swim in a pool, so that's important. The suites at Disney are definately out. It'll be easier to cart kids in a car when they are older too.

I don't understand the calling the article writers clueless. My motto is if you can get to Disney any way without going in debt, then do it!

 

[Belle5]

I am always happy for DISers who find old passes to use on an upcoming trip--tickets are such a HUGE part of the expense. But, for an article written to show people how to do DIsney on a dime...I was very disappointed to see these people featured in an article of this nature. Ok, people who are looking for strategies on how to do Disney on the cheap...go look for unused passes at hidden somewhere in your house. What is that about? I would have been far more impressed if they would have featured a family who sat through an evil timeshare presentation to get free tickets or something. The average family does not have old, partially used passes just lying around. Not including how to get discount passes was a major flaw in the article. Boo!

 

[CarolA]

I am always happy for DISers who find old passes to use on an upcoming trip--tickets are such a HUGE part of the expense. But, for an article written to show people how to do DIsney on a dime...I was very disappointed to see these people featured in an article of this nature. Ok, people who are looking for strategies on how to do Disney on the cheap...go look for unused passes at hidden somewhere in your house. What is that about? I would have been far more impressed if they would have featured a family who sat through an evil timeshare presentation to get free tickets or something. The average family does not have old, partially used passes just lying around. Not including how to get discount passes was a major flaw in the article. Boo!

There was a link to a website with ideas on "discount passes". So why the Boo?

 

[Belle5]

There was a link to a website with ideas on "discount passes". So why the Boo?

My boo was just disappointment with the family the article chose to feature--not with the DISer who posted the story. I think that a much better example family could have been and should have been found to make a worthwhile Disney on a Dime story. I shouldn't have boo'd . I should have just had my disappointed face.

 

[SandrA9810]

I live in Kissimmee... and when me and kari were both working for disney we ate out A LOT. And we could eat at Disney for just as cheap as eating at local resturants. BTW, there's no discount on food inside the theme parks, so we'd pay just as much as the next person.

And yes it could be cheaper to pack meals and such to bring to the parks vs getting the free dining. But whenever we're on the dining plan, I take advantage of eating at the more expensive places I normally wouldn't be able to afford... even using a discount (which is a joke and a half for table service dining).


And don't joke about the 40$ a night for the campgrounds... mention that on the camping board and you'd be seen as flaming.
We stay an average of 2 weeks a year at the campgrounds alone. It's quiet, peaceful, you can actually meet your neighbors. And there's plenty to do there. And the bathroom facilities are just as nice.
There's plenty of people that prefer to stay in thier own "lodging". And since it's still on disney property you can go back for a home cooked meal at dinner time. And then return to the parks for EMH.
We tent camp, and every time we set up, I never want to take it down. We have the comforts of air conditioning, a mini fridge, a grill for cooking, a tv, sometimes a ps2. Of course one of our trips includes at least three nights for halloween. It's so festive and lots of halloween specials. And what regular hotel can you go trick or treating at??? And have special pumpkin carving contests with prizes?? And the all out light spectacular some do at Christmas time. And don't forget the fourth of July golf cart parade.
We spend so much time inside the parks that we only want to hang out at the campgrounds, take bike rides, go fishing, play on the playground, go swimming. Plus you don't have to put your pets into the kennel (if in a trailer or RV), which could cause extra stress on them. And there's a great big dog park right next to the play ground. Ahhh.... the fort, i'm missing it already.

 

[SandrA9810]

And i agree with belle5, there's much better examples of doing disney on a dime. Especially starting fresh with no tickets.

It just seemed like they finally uncovered those long lost tickets and said "we should use these". It sounds like when me and Kari would do Disney days when we lived in ft lauderdale. We would get up on morning and just decide that today was a good day for Epcot, and we'd drive there, spend the entire day there... then make a really long trip back home. Which usually consisted of sleeping at rest stops along the highway for a few hours at a time. I wouldn't spend more than 20$ for a 1/4 star hotel on the side of 192, which I think only happened about once or twice.

 

[xmlguy]

The main reason why I like this article was because this kind of information is helpful to improve awareness that a trip to Disney parks doesn't have to be expensive. I'm happy for families who can afford to buy one of the Disney packages for on-site hotels. The problem is that the easiest path - buying a Disney package - even at a discount - remains out of reach of many families.

Living in California, my family was never able to afford a trip to WDW when I was a kid because the cost seemed astronomical. As an adult I discovered on my own how to do the WDW vacation at a value price. Even when I did stay on-site, I found that many of the supposed benefits that are touted - like "free" transportation - had hidden costs and were less convenient than my own off-site plans. One hidden cost of Disney transport is the inconvenience of not being able to easily drive to value restaurants and stores that aren't very far away with a car, but much too far away to walk.

The more times I went to WDW, the more I discovered that I actually preferred using value lodging and restaurants, living like a local on a daily basis, and saving the expense to use the money for other things I enjoyed more, like the best restaurants, the guided tours, and staying longer to enjoy everything. It is possible to be frugal and enjoy the trip more. It isn't an either/or choice. Instead of spending $200/day on lodging and average WDW CS and TS restaurants, I could spend less than $50/day and use part of my savings doing things I otherwise wouldn't consider, like fine dining at Victoria and Alberts. The lower daily cost lets me enjoy the parks much more because it help buy me more time to actually enjoy them at my leisure.

Compared to the typical value package at the Pops or All-motels, I can go twice as long for half the price and do a lot more while I'm there. Taken to the extreme, I have gone for two months in a year several times, still for less than what many WDW packages cost for one short trip. This approach also gives me more time and money to enjoy the other Orlando parks and attractions while I'm there.

 

[jodifla]

I think the ticket thing skews the article. That's the major cost of the whole vacation! It's easy to find cheap accommodations in Orlando. And bringing your own food, etc. That's not really new news.

 

[devilsrule2004]

yea i agree finding cheap accomadations isnt that difficult in orlando.. especially if you choose the right season to go

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

. I will NEVER stay offsite, just too much trouble,

never say NEVER.....

We hadn't stayed off site either until the year that the Downtown Disney Hotel Courtyard Mariott had the internet special of $20.04 a night! It was for Sun thru Thur and we stayed for all five nights for a total of $100 plus tax.

That was one of our best trips. And it was off site.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

We are going in Sept with free dining for 3 nights for just over $600 and again with free dining in Dec during a portion of the peak holiday prices for 6 nights for less than $1000 and it is all well spent to me.


Free dining in Dec?? This is new to me, can you tell me more? Thanks.

It was an e-mailed promotion (otherwise known as a pin code) I received from Disney Destinations.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Are you confused? APs include parking.

I stay in 1*'s that are nicer than 3.5*. Star ratings don't accurately reflect room quality - they represent hotel services offered - such as on-site restaurants and room service (regardless of the quality or value of those services). But I know a cheap motel with fancy facade when I see it - and it starts with POP or ALL.

I am not confused at all. I know that parking is included with the AP, but we prefer to stay on site, it is much more convenient for us. We drive down so we have our van, but we are on vacation and prefer to park and ride resort transportation, especially since I have to use an ECV. Before my mom passed, it was so much easier to get an accessible room on site for her and she loved staying on site (so glad I was able to make that possible) and it just never entered my mind to stay offsite, until I looked into it one time and we decided against it and won't do it. We love the ease of the dining plan and we love the Disney food ALOT.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

never say NEVER.....

We hadn't stayed off site either until the year that the Downtown Disney Hotel had the internet special of $20.04 a night! It was for Sun thru Thur and we stayed for all five nights for a total of $100 plus tax.

That was one of our best trips. And it was off site.

I will ALWAYS say never, I won't even look at off-site hotel prices, but I might consider Swan or Dolphin sometime in the future, but it all depends on my mood.

Suzanne

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I think the ticket thing skews the article. That's the major cost of the whole vacation! It's easy to find cheap accommodations in Orlando. And bringing your own food, etc. That's not really new news.

I agree, they could have at least mentioned keeping costs down by not hopping or other extras.