Budget ideas needed - WDW package, tickets, car rentals, etc...

[Tinker'n'Fun]

This post is long, sorry, and most likely confusing.

We are going to Disney end of Sept-begin Oct. It is DH, me, DD17, & DS15. I have bounceback from FD last year so we are staying Pop Century, Free Reg Dining, and have 8 day base tickets right now. My balance is due soon.

Here is my problem:

DD is starting college in the fall and wants to fly home early. We are staying Wed - Wed and she wants to fly home on Sunday, so only missing 3 days of school. I have no problems with that except I need to figure out the best/cheapest way to do this.

We have Southwest, so airfare, I am going to wait til they have a cheaper fare and change her over - I also have a credit with Southwest since our flights went down so this is okay.

Tickets: If I go down to the one day per person as required with my plan to get free dining, I could have DS do the YES program. Can I buy different tickets for each of us. If not, can I go down to 1 day tickets nows, and increase the days through Disney at the same price if they go up?

Now DD does not want to go to the airport alone. This is where my problem starts. We have the Fantasmic Package for 5pm on Sunday. So I was hoping she could fly out around noonish. Budget wise, what is the best thing I should do:

- Ask to use ME for her on that day and two extra trips for me? Pretty sure this would not happen.

- Rent a car for the whole trip and drive her to the airport on Sunday? Has anyone heard of any good rates at this time? This would be nice also as I am disabled and the hardest part of the day if waiting on busses at the end of the night. If I am staying onsite, do I park for free?

- Rent a car on Saturday and return it on Monday? Is this an expensive option. I have never rented a car before.


Last but not least, I have to change our Fantasmic Package because she will not be there. Will they still keep my table for me? Or should I take the hit and just show up without her. I will be getting her portion of the Wishes Dessert Party money back.

Thanks for understanding, I am sure I have more questions about this as she threw it at me last night, and I didn't sleep a wink...

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

When I booked our package for 5 nights I only purchased 3-day park tickets. DS has 2 unused days from a previous trip we will use up. DH and I will upgrade our tickets 2 days when we get there so you should be able to do the same (in theory).

As for the trip to MCO... um... have you considered a cab or towncar service? I understand that airports are big and intimidating, but since your daughter is in college now, have you talked to her about doing it alone?? She's the one who wants to leave early, will be flying alone, will be going off to college alone - this would be an excellent test of her independence and ability to really take care of herself.

My now-former student is blind (just blind, no other "issues") and she navigated Detroit, Minneapolis, and Dallas Ft. Worth's airports on her own last month having never flown solo before. She did okay, granted I was a nervous wreck, but it ended up being the best thing to happen to her this summer. She gained an AMAZING amount of independence and the confidence that she could tackle the unknown and slightly scary.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

When she sprung this on my last night, my first reaction was to tell her to go to the airport alone, but I could see the hurt on her face. I am already a total wreck with her going away to college, and ultimately if I can't figure out pricing, she will be doing this alone. But if I can swing it, I would like to be there when she leaves. I just keep having these visions of her leaving me twice, once this August for college, and then just a month or so later at the resort. Why does this have to be so hard!!

 

[msmayor]

When she sprung this on my last night, my first reaction was to tell her to go to the airport alone, but I could see the hurt on her face. I am already a total wreck with her going away to college, and ultimately if I can't figure out pricing, she will be doing this alone. But if I can swing it, I would like to be there when she leaves. I just keep having these visions of her leaving me twice, once this August for college, and then just a month or so later at the resort. Why does this have to be so hard!!

Seriously...she's going to have to navigate college on her own, so getting to the airport to catch a plane isn't a big deal.

My daughter (as a freshman) did it for the first time on her own last year coming home for Thanksgiving. She did FINE, and with her sending me texts throughout her travels to the airport and getting on the plane, I really was 'with' her all the way.

You won't be able to be with her long anyway; you can't wait there with her. You would just be dropping her off. You can't go through security with her, and she can't wait until the last minute to do so. She really will be on her own anyway, even if you drive with her to MCO.

Put her on ME and stay in touch via texting.

 

[dizneechic]

Tickets: If I go down to the one day per person as required with my plan to get free dining, I could have DS do the YES program. Can I buy different tickets for each of us. If not, can I go down to 1 day tickets nows, and increase the days through Disney at the same price if they go up?

Yes with the one day tickets you can upgrade each ticket to the needed number of days. Just remember that after 4 days it isn't much more to add days so your paying the premium on your dd's ticket. Can't really help with YES group info.

Now DD does not want to go to the airport alone. .....
Rent a car for the whole trip and drive her to the airport on Sunday? Has anyone heard of any good rates at this time? This would be nice also as I am disabled and the hardest part of the day if waiting on busses at the end of the night. If I am staying onsite, do I park for free?

IMO I would rent a car for the entire trip. I'm not a big fan of buses so prefer to have a car to be on my own schedule. If staying on site parking would be free, and if your disabled and have a handicap hang tag for your mirror you can bring that and park up closer to each park.

Rent a car on Saturday and return it on Monday? Is this an expensive option. I have never rented a car before.

Check rates DAILY! We rent through Dollar each trip, not the cheapest but we have always done well and for the sake of comfort we tend to stick with what works. Anyhow for my week rack rate was $460 (tue-mon), renting via my wholesale club (BJ's) brought it to $250, but one day when I finally decided to suck it up and book so I could have my ducks in a row there was a city special bringing the car down to $146!! I haven't seen it at that rate since so I am thrilled we scored a Full size with that rate. The good thing with a rental car (when booking direct vs an expedia type of place) is your pay when you pick up the car so if prices change just book a new reservation to make sure you got the better rate and then just cancel your older one. We also found that being members of their clubs (for us Dollar Express) sped up the process immensely! We don't even go to the place inside the airport to get our car, just walk to the garage express booth and get the keys, sign and go. Last time we had a Dodge Caravan brand spankin new with 3 !! miles on it and it was 300 for 10 days.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

A) because she's your oldest B) because she's your daughter.

The week before I moved to California for college, my BFF and I drove to MA for 5 days. My dad drove with me to Calil, but mom stayed home. It was tough, but they knew I'd be home.

You'll get through this okay.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Okay, I've decided if she is leaving early she will take ME unless I find an excellent deal on renting a car for the whole week.

I am changing our tickets to one day tonight.

Still need to work on the Fantasmic problem, and trying to loosen the knot on DD's apron strings!. They seem to still be really tight.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Good job mom!

Maybe have her be in charge of all of her own stuff as you guys fly out - get her ready to do it alone. She'll be fine. ME will take care of her and she should be just fine at the airport.