Budget question for Feb Disney trip.

[lucigo]

Basically my question is, how far off site is too far? I am taking my mom to Disney in Feb. for 4 days (using military tix). My daughter lives off University, about 2 miles from UCF. Is that too far to travel ever evening? I'm guessing its 45 min away. Of course there are tolls and parking costs.

I'm seriously considering a value resort with dining plan, but having a hard time justifying it when we have the apartment...and also have to figure out what to do with her pets if we stay onsite.

What do my budget minded friends think?

 

[snowy76]

I would consider it. If you think about it, there are plenty of locals who are just about that far out. Looks like an easy drive from 417 to SR-536 or Osceola Parkway. We're driven that route from the airport in Sanford. Tolls weren't more than about $6 each way. With parking and gas it's still cheaper than a room.

 

[sissy_ib]

Further than you are willing to drive is too far. Are you the military member or spouse? Remember you may be able to get military rates of 40% off lodging. And there is Shades of Green as well.

An you leave the pets at you DD house and she take care of them for a few days?

 

[lucigo]

Further than you are willing to drive is too far. Are you the military member or spouse? Remember you may be able to get military rates of 40% off lodging. And there is Shades of Green as well.

An you leave the pets at you DD house and she take care of them for a few days?

I am the spouse, I was quoted $700 for 3 nights at Pop with dining for 3 adults and 1 child. I have 1-day tix from previous free dining that I can upgrade so the tix really won't be much of an expense.

I also have GAD tix, and I'm thinking that if we are going to stay on-site I will probably let them expire rather than take another trip down in December, its a 450 mile trek each way from P'cola.

The upside is I think my mom would enjoy the table service experience.

Honestly I'm just trying to figure out the best way for us to enjoy Disney but for her to still have a way to decompress in the evenings. We are so used to my son (7yo with autism) that we sometimes forget that he is a lot for other people to handle, and since she lives in MO she isn't used to it, KWIM?

 

[lucigo]

Further than you are willing to drive is too far. Are you the military member or spouse? Remember you may be able to get military rates of 40% off lodging. And there is Shades of Green as well.

An you leave the pets at you DD house and she take care of them for a few days?

DD22 wants to go to Disney with us...they are her animals. So we would still have to work that out.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Further than you are willing to drive is too far. Are you the military member or spouse? Remember you may be able to get military rates of 40% off lodging. And there is Shades of Green as well.

An you leave the pets at you DD house and she take care of them for a few days?

I was going to say, that there are some great rates under the Military 30/35/40 discount in early February. I was looking at that week at Pop for 2 adults and it was only $300 or so for 5 nights. That is even less than Shades of Green.

You know Disney has the new place you can board her pets, but I don't know the prices, a local vet would probably be less per day.

Suzanne

 

[Mickey527]

I would stay at Disney and have your daughter come and stay with you for a few days or evenings if she can't get out of class.
I think she will have better memories of the time with grandma at the parks than if grandma was to come and stay at her college.
45 minutes could wind up being 1 hour or more depending on traffic. Do you want to do an hour drive every morning and afternoon in bumper to bumper traffic and then spend the day at the parks? I did it a few times from my sister's house in Clearwater and now get a room at the parks rather than make that drive.
Try Shades of Green, if they are booked you can get another resort with a great discount if you are military. I have stayed at Contemporary and Poly when SOG was booked for alot less than what others have paid. I don't think you can get the free meal plan through SOG though, you would have to book through Disney for the meal plan.