BC to Florida - Tips appreciated

[canuckprincess1]

Hi everyone! I'm looking for some wisdom in booking/saving/finding deals for our first ever Disneyworld trip! We went to Disneyland in 2011 for the first time, and we are looking to go to Disneyworld December 2015. We are a family of 5 - 2 adults, 9y/o, 8y/o and 1y/o at the time of travel.

I just checked flights from Vancouver to Florida for December this year are just under $500, which is a steal from the other side of the country. We will want to do Disneyworld, each park - so at least 4 days, and Harry Potter at Universal 1 day.

Unfortunately in Canada we can't do all of the same credit card deals and coupons and savings tricks that the US gets, but looking for anything that will work and that will help us save for our trip. I appreciate any and all tips. Thanks!

 

[Carina]

Waving from Vancouver Island!

We went in September 2012. We are a family of 5 (older kids)

I used Swagbucks a lot to earn paypal money (message me if you want more info)

I flew out of Seattle to save a fortune

I flew southwest so I could pack as much as I wanted without spending more on baggage fees

I stayed off site ( we had a private pool house for the same amount of money as a Disney Value (2 double beds for in a tiny hotel (technically MOTEL ) room - no thank you)

I stalked the transportation board on this site to get an AMAZING car rental deal

I shopped a Safeway ( not on VI anymore ) for airmiles you can get Universal Park Tickets and DW tickets

We went to Universal 2 days ( so worth it)

I have a friend that went in December she said NEVER again - I did probably 10 times the # of things she did in the same time frame.

 

[canuckprincess1]

Hi Carina!

Thanks for your post! We are also on VanIsle!

I've signed up for swagbucks, but I don't know how to gain money from it at a rapid enough pace.

You can change your Thrifty's points into Airmiles, so that might be an option....

 

[jakoky]

HI there, I am also on Vancouver island. We did Disneyworld in 04 (we are a family of 5). We also flew out of seattle and saved a ton. I think we paid $1700 for all of us.

I would check out credit cards. So many give you a huge sign up bonus, could be enough for at least one free flight. We have two cards and have enough for 3 of us to fly free on our next trip (hopefully in February back to DL)

They definitely offer very good deals for hotels there. The year we went we got a room at the pop century for $55 a night and it was only 1 year old at the time. I will say that it is MUCH harder at DW to get a room for 5, most places don't allow it. We travelled with another family when we went and we shared a 3rd room between us (which worked out great)

I am jealous, I would LOVE to go back to DW. We have only done it once and have done 4 DL trips since. My kids favourite part of DW was the waterparks, they loved them.l

Good luck planning! Check flights from seattle vs van and see if you can find a crazy deal. The drive really isn't that bad. My husband looked at it that he saved almost $500 an hour of the two hour drive. (one trip we saved almost 2000 flying out of seattle-crazy).

If you have any airmiles also, check if you have enough for passes. In all our trips I have only had to ever buy 3 passes, mine have all been free. Sadly without a safeway here now that wont happen.

Have fun!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

If you are looking for a room, there are some Port Orleans Riverside rooms that can sleep five. These are usually less expensive than the suites at the All Stars or Art of Animation, but on the other hand you only have one bathroom.

I'd encourage you to try to avoid the holiday season (expensive and insanely crowded) and go in either early December, or, if you can, in January instead (much cheaper and much less busy). Yes, the weather is a bit iffy and can sometimes be a bit chilly but it may be worth it for the savings.

TP

 

[runsandjumps]

Flying out of Seattle will save you a ton.
I have decided that staying on site is a better option if you aren't planning on renting a car.

 

[Carina]

Flying out of Seattle will save you a ton.
I have decided that staying on site is a better option if you aren't planning on renting a car.

My rental car and parking (and then some)was paid for by the savings from a cheaper per night accommodation, and cooking meals in our HOUSE.

Was much cheaper at the end of the day to stay offsite, rent a car ( and man was it nice to not need a bus at the end of the day) and buy meals to cook and food to pack for lunches.

I know some people say "it's not a holiday if I need to cook" but stopping at the grocery store for a hot chicken, bagged salad, and some buns or whipping up a spaghetti dinner while my kids play in their own pool with dad, was hardly a hardship for us, especially when aforementioned spaghetti was eaten poolside!

My food budget for 5 of us for a 10 day trip was $500 ($50 per day)

I know we cant stay onsite for $50 per day in food that's $10 per person per day

 

[DPickering]

Hi from Vancouver!

Our strategies:
We are going again Jan'14 after being there this past Jan. For flights we got the Aeroplan Amex with the 35k sign up bonus and referred ourselves for another one for another 35k plus 10k back to the first card, got the 10k referral bonus from a few other people. Already had some Aeroplan points so flights are taxes only to/from Seattle. Vancouver taxes were too much.
Buying Disney tickets using Airmiles. The Safeway near us since reopening after renos has ridiculous airmiles promos all the time so we should have it covered in a few months.
For hotel I've been promoting the travel site Travelpony and getting a referral credit when ever a new user I refer completes their first stay. Been booking in two day increments as I earn the credits. Two days left to cover. So hotel will be free. Hotel has a kitchen so will save money by buying groceries and making what meals we can.
Rental car we will pay for unless we have extra airmiles to cover it. We might but that's a bad way to use airmiles as rental cars in Jan can be super cheap.