Bargin Trip for Large Family?

[katied]

Hi, I wondered if anyone has ideas/suggestions on how to make Disney affordable for a larger family? My admin at work would love to take her kids. She's a single mom with 5 girls (ages 3 - 15, some hers, some kids she is the guardian of). She would be driving down, and would need to stay offsite I would guess to make it work. Due to school schedules, summer would be the only time they could go.

Its been so long since I've planned a bargin trip, I don't know the ins and outs of how to plan (and I've only gone as a family of 4, not 6).

So... any ideas are welcome as I'd like to help out my admin so she can take her family. My kids go every year... so I'm feeling bad for the family that's never gone

I know the tickets will cost a fortune, so I'd probably pitch in on that cost...

Any thoughts, THANK YOU!!!

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Doubletree next to DTD in lake Buena vista. They are full suites and offer transportation to the parks. The biggest cost that is really non negotiable is the tickets to the parks. Almost all other costs can be cut somehow.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Aliceacc]

Take a look at a condo rental for all star vacation homes.

 

[MatoMany]

Look into condos! We are staying at a condo next time we go down and its going to be 840 (that includes taxes and fees) for 14 days. A LOT cheaper than the 10 days we are staying on property next month and a lot more room. Plus having a kitchen, laundry area and two bedrooms will be almost as nice as bringing our house with us..

For little girls if she wants to do the princess thing its really easy to do a home made version of BBB. Im doing it with my girls. I make glitter hairspray and glitter body lotion all the time, I have more than enough makeup to share and Im great at doing their nails. So I got costumes off of Amazon (20 each) and then Im using what I already have to do their nails/hair/make up. Just as cute for a fraction of the cost.
For food bring it with her instead of buying. When we lived in FL I use to feed the kiddos breakfast before going to the park and then pack a sack lunch (sandwich, chips, fruit) to take with us then had dinner back at home so food was basically what I would have had on hand anyway. When we are going in November we plan on doing a couple special meals but mostly doing what I use to do when I lived down there.
Her most expensive thing will end up being tickets.. Tickets are crazy expensive when you are talking about larger size families.

 

[Schmeck]

Hi, I wondered if anyone has ideas/suggestions on how to make Disney affordable for a larger family? My admin at work would love to take her kids. She's a single mom with 5 girls (ages 3 - 15, some hers, some kids she is the guardian of). She would be driving down, and would need to stay offsite I would guess to make it work. Due to school schedules, summer would be the only time they could go.

Its been so long since I've planned a bargin trip, I don't know the ins and outs of how to plan (and I've only gone as a family of 4, not 6).

So... any ideas are welcome as I'd like to help out my admin so she can take her family. My kids go every year... so I'm feeling bad for the family that's never gone

I know the tickets will cost a fortune, so I'd probably pitch in on that cost...

Any thoughts, THANK YOU!!!

For better prices on tickets, Mousesavers offers a bargain price through a link in their monthly email.

 

[Aliceacc]

Also, if she's willing to consider staying onsite:

Probably the cheapest option for a family of 6 would be the family suites at All Star Music-- they do sleep 6.

Or she could request connecting-- not just adjoiing-- rooms at any of the Values. (Careful, though-- Disney can't PROMISE she'll get them.)

Also, take a look at the Cabins at Fort Wildeness.

And, I think the most expensive of these 3 options, a family suite at Art of Animation.

 

[seenellie81]

Hi, I wondered if anyone has ideas/suggestions on how to make Disney affordable for a larger family? My admin at work would love to take her kids. She's a single mom with 5 girls (ages 3 - 15, some hers, some kids she is the guardian of). She would be driving down, and would need to stay offsite I would guess to make it work. Due to school schedules, summer would be the only time they could go.

Its been so long since I've planned a bargin trip, I don't know the ins and outs of how to plan (and I've only gone as a family of 4, not 6).

So... any ideas are welcome as I'd like to help out my admin so she can take her family. My kids go every year... so I'm feeling bad for the family that's never gone

I know the tickets will cost a fortune, so I'd probably pitch in on that cost...

Any thoughts, THANK YOU!!!

I have never done this, But what about fort wilderness so they can take advantage of staying on property. You can rent campers from local companies for around 500 a week. Then she would also have a kitchen to prep food. I believe that some companies come and set the trailers up for you and everything. Just a thought.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

She's almost certainly going to have to be offsite to stay on budget. So, they key there is location. We were off 192 just East of I4. This was a VERY convenient location from which to drive to the parks. Further West on 192, traffic was THICK. So, try to choose a location that comes highly recommended. It'll make all the difference

 

[Schmeck]

Offsite has to factor in transportation, parking fees, and not being able to do FP+ until you enter the park though. As long as they are aware of these issues and plan accordingly, they should have a pretty good trip.

 

[Aliceacc]

OK, I just did a preliminary check for you.

I found condos at Windsor Hills through All Star Vacation homes for ballpark $160 per night. ($189 if you want a private pool... I certainly would!)

Family suite at All Star Music is $344 per night.

At Fort Wilderness, $358 per night.

Art of Animation $364 per night.

 

[North of Mouse]

I have never done this, But what about fort wilderness so they can take advantage of staying on property. You can rent campers from local companies for around 500 a week. Then she would also have a kitchen to prep food. I believe that some companies come and set the trailers up for you and everything. Just a thought.

This is not 'exactly' inexpensive either! First you have to pay a site fee, then for a family that size would have to be a fairly large trailer - have never rented myself as we have a motorhome, but have heard others speak of it.

OP, 'nothing' will make it a 'bargain' vacation, but if she would be willing to 'tent' it, and prepare meals, that would actually be the least expensive IMO. Not a great way to spend a lot of time (to me) but there are those that have done it - AND they're at Disney!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Offsite has to factor in transportation, parking fees, and not being able to do FP+ until you enter the park though. As long as they are aware of these issues and plan accordingly, they should have a pretty good trip.

OP says her friend would be driving down, so transportation isn't an issue. She'll be there during the high season, so no discounts or free dining from Disney. Well worth it to plunk down $15 a day to park if you can save a grand or more on the room

And we really don't know what FP+ will be like by Summer

 

[got4boys]

I would look what is available with the Y.E.S. program (for the kids) and go during that time. Discounts have not been like they have been before, They are great for the kids and take 3 hours. My boys went and loved going behind the scenes of the Haunted Mansion.

You can probably get better pricing on the adult tickets through Undercover Tourist and save more for the kids. To save on money, because we have 6 total, we carry food, water and snacks into the park. The older kids are responsible to carry a gym sack on their back with their water, snacks, lunch.

We do treat ourselves to an ice cream or a snack when we go. During the summer, freeze the water bottles when you go in between other not frozen water bottles, wrapping them with a hand towel.

We make sandwiches in the morning before we go into the park, take uncrustables, frozen juice boxes too, pop tarts, crackers.

You can bring in more food in the morning and we rent a locker (if we know we are not going to leave the park). This way we can lighten our carry load and go back and refill our gym sacks.

You can do Disney World on a budget.

 

[iheartdisney]

You can get a house with a private pool, within 10 minutes of the parks for half the cost of of ONE Disney room, let alone 2 with that many kids. But then you don't get the "magic" of overcrowded buses and the Stacy channel.

Seriously, we stayed offsite last trip because of budget/ party size issues and it was the most relaxing trip I've ever had. We had breakfast at the house before we hit the parks, we came home for lunch/ swimming/ naps.

 

[uccats97]

I borrowed this book from my local library. It takes budgeting a Disney vacation to the extreme.

Disney On A Dime: Money-Saving Secrets For Your Walt Disney World Vacation
By: Chris and Kristal Carlson

 

[seenellie81]

This is not 'exactly' inexpensive either! First you have to pay a site fee, then for a family that size would have to be a fairly large trailer - have never rented myself as we have a motorhome, but have heard others speak of it.

OP, 'nothing' will make it a 'bargain' vacation, but if she would be willing to 'tent' it, and prepare meals, that would actually be the least expensive IMO. Not a great way to spend a lot of time (to me) but there are those that have done it - AND they're at Disney!

In the summer the most expensive nights that i have seen are $112 for full hookups. Campers run about $85 a night. So for around $200 a night its cheaper then any family suite or other room on the property to hold that amount of people. If one wanted to take advantage of the perks to staying on property it may be the most economical option in my opinion. That is if she were to want to stay on property. Of course off property you can find rooms for much less.

 

[Schmeck]

You can get a house with a private pool, within 10 minutes of the parks for half the cost of of ONE Disney room, let alone 2 with that many kids. But then you don't get the "magic" of overcrowded buses and the Stacy channel.

Seriously, we stayed offsite last trip because of budget/ party size issues and it was the most relaxing trip I've ever had. We had breakfast at the house before we hit the parks, we came home for lunch/ swimming/ naps.

10 minutes from the edge of the property, but since the parks are more than 10 minutes apart, your first statement is incorrect (unless you are plunking down a house in the middle of WDW property? Golden Oak isn't even that close to AK, for example.) Then you factor in the time to get through the gates, park, etc.

Staying offsite is doable, but I would plan to be at the park all day, avoid any park with EMH, and expect to do much less each day than if you stayed onsite.

 

[tstidm1]

I would look at some place like Seralago hotel and Suites off site. That's about 10 minutes from property and a 2 room suite costs $117 on their Customer appreciation rate. They also have A mini-fridge and Microwave to have a place to heat food up along with the ability to sleep eight.

 

[Marionnette]

If anybody can help you squeeze every last dime out of a Disney vacation, the folks on the Budget Board can! I suggest that you go over there and post your question. They'll be able to guide your friend to find the best discounts on everything from accommodations and tickets to dining and transportation. Every time that I think that I have the best possible deal figured out, some one posts a way to bring the cost down just a little bit more!

 

[Marionnette]

I borrowed this book from my local library. It takes budgeting a Disney vacation to the extreme.

Disney On A Dime: Money-Saving Secrets For Your Walt Disney World Vacation
By: Chris and Kristal Carlson

That book is outdated. It was published in 2005. It might be a good starting point, but there's a lot of misinformation in it because it is so old.