Are they pullin a fast one on me?

[SILVER52900]

Ok I am paying 2300 dollars to go to disney. These are the details of the trip. It is me and my boyfriend that are going. We are going July 9-19. We are staying for 10 nights at POP Century with the dining plan. We are also doing a 7 day park hopper. We didn't have any special discounts or codes or anything. We have until May 25th to change any aspects of the vacation. Do you have any suggestions on how to get our bill lower? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. By the way we only have 500 more dollars to go.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

wow that seems like alolt
we went in dec 9 nights at pop with dining plan and tickets but NO hoppers
there was a code we saved almost 300 so it was 1518 bucks
do you have AAA you could save that way?

 

[drogerstn]

You can omit the Dining Plan and spend less money on eating. The Dinning Plan will save you money if you typically eat one Table Service (TS) meal a day appetizers and desserts (especailly during the evening) and one Counter Service (CS) meal a day. You can eat for much less if you eat more CS meals in the parks and POP food court and if you eat a few TS meals for breakfast or lunch instead of supper.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

wow that seems like alolt
we went in dec 9 nights at pop with dining plan and tickets but NO hoppers
there was a code we saved almost 300 so it was 1518 bucks
do you have AAA you could save that way?

I wonder if part of the difference is the "season" that you are both visiting in? Early July might be high season for the value resorts and depending on when you went in Dec., you could have been there during value season. Of course, if you went during the holidays, that throws this theory out the window!


Rachel

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Any chance you can change your trip to August? Free dining is being offer beginning August 13

 

[belleandthebeast]

Even w/ the AAA discount, it still comes out to $2216. Still an $84 savings!

 

[aynt79]

If you can move your vacation to between Aug 13 and Sept 30 you can get free dining plus it is a cheaper "season". I priced 10 nights at Pop with a 7 day hopper and free dining at $1,379.78 at disneyworld.com

If you can't move the dates, think about how much you would normally eat and see if the dining plan is worth it. The dining plan costs a little over $750.00 for those ten nights. Take a look at the menus at All Ears and see how much you would eat without trying to get the most out of the dining plan.

 

[Sweedee]

That alone can save you around 130.00 if you change to a standard room. Also, I agree with the PP about the dining plan. We choose to use for our family of 4, but when we go back for our anniv trip next year, we probably won't be using the MYW dining plan for just the 2 of us.

 

[grimley1968]

The above suggestions on changing to "value" season to get a) the value rates for the resort and b) the free dining are valid, and I second both reasons.

But it does not sound like you are getting ripped off relative to anyone else who goes in peak season and has to pay for the dining plan.

 

[vital]

Does that include airfare? There are 3 of us (one 6yo) going June 19-25 staying at POFQ with 6 day park hopper passes and dining plan for $2275. Airfare was 201$ per person which is not included in that price.

 

[liltoot]

Maybe I'm not understanding correctly but when you say you "have only 500 hundred more dollars to go" did you mean to pay it off or that is the amount left for spending money? If that's the spending money I don't think you have planned anywhere near enough for two people. I would rather bring money back home to start saving for the next trip than to feel like I'm running short.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

As much as I love the dining plan, I would also get rid of that if I wanted to save money. My husband and I planned to pay for the DP in August. It was worth it to us because we have been to WDW many times, and this was one way to make the trip a little different. The DP takes up a lot of your day; again we don't mind because we have done it all MANY times (except EE). You can eat for much less than you will spend for the DP and not be hungry. We used to travel with 2 adults and a teen who eats alot and still spend under $75/day. We did TS almost every day, and a few character meals. Some days we would only do CS and wouldn't even spend $50 that day. We always bring snacks and breakfast type food for our room (healthy things like pop-tarts, cereal bars, etc.) You can also purchase a refillable mug at your resort for around $12, that saves a ton if you are big drinkers!

If you did room only, you could but tickets from a broker (check mousesavers.com) and save money there too.

 

[formernyer]

Maybe I'm not understanding correctly but when you say you "have only 500 hundred more dollars to go" did you mean to pay it off or that is the amount left for spending money? If that's the spending money I don't think you have planned anywhere near enough for two people.

Depends on who the person is. I went with my two kids last month. We were on the DDP, so meals were already covered.

I spent a grand total of $100 while were were there. That included $12 for a refillable mug and the balace was spent on souveniers. We bought the souveniers at a discount gift shop in Kissimmee where they were 1/3 the price at the parks. If we had to purchase souveniers at the parks I wouldn't have spent much more than I did...we just would have bought less items.

Just because you need a lot of spending money doesn't mean everybody does.

 

[lovmy2girls]

We eat big, and the dinning plan is a lot of food. I think you can eat cheaper paying for your own meals. Maybe not as good, but cheaper.

Since you are staying that long at the Pop, maybe price out a Annual pass, then price out a room only ressie. You will be shocked how much you save. If you have AAA they give discounts on AP's in some states. Check mousesavers.com for the room only price for the Pop with an AP discount.

 

[liltoot]

Depends on who the person is. I went with my two kids last month. We were on the DDP, so meals were already covered.

I spent a grand total of $100 while were were there. That included $12 for a refillable mug and the balace was spent on souveniers. We bought the souveniers at a discount gift shop in Kissimmee where they were 1/3 the price at the parks. If we had to purchase souveniers at the parks I wouldn't have spent much more than I did...we just would have bought less items.

Just because you need a lot of spending money doesn't mean everybody does.

I didn't say that I needed a lot of spending money or that anyone else needed to. I've never used the dining plan so I would obviously spend more money per day. The person asked for suggestions and since she didn't say if she had been to Disney before I thought she might want to rethink if $500 dollars would be enough for two people for ten days. These boards are to try to help each other not to look for the smallest thing to jump on just to disagree. Flame away.

 

[diannaneglia]

I don't think that sounds alot to me...especially cause you are on the dining plan...I have POP for 11 days...and a 10 day ticket park hopper + water parks for me and my two kids and it cost me about $2000...

If I were you...if it is really about saving money...I would skip the dining plan...or you could wait and go when they have the dining plan for free...but if you skip the dining plan, it would save alot I am thinking...it wouldn't hurt to call and ask them...you could eat breakfast in your room and just eat a big lunch or early dinner...snacks for the rest of the time...of course snacks sometimes can cost alot too...

I am having the kids eat breakfast in the room and then for lunch we will go back to the room and rest and have sandwiches or oriental noodles (I am bringing a hot pot)...then we are going out for a nice dinner after our rest when we go back to the parks...I am planning on spending no more than $100 for the day for meals and actually hoping it to be less than that...

This is all just my opinion of course...I am a first timer so I don't have experience with this kind of thing but thought I would try and help by adding my 2 cents (no pun intended)...

Oh and I guess I sound like I am being a cheap-skate...but buy trying to compromise has allowed me to be at Disney for 11-12 days...and let me add...we are doing Cirque, Hoop Dee, Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace and also horse back riding at Fort Wilderness...so by skimping on eating (which I need to do anyhow...and my kids don't eat much either) it has allowed us to do many other exciting things...

And so far as the spending money...because I am bringing kids...I plan on bringing alittle more than I would like too...$500-$1000...so I think $500 for the two of you should be grand!

Ok I am done now...I think......

Good Luck!