Budget related dilemma

[martiniglassesforme]

I have a vacation package booked with free dining at Pop Nov 2 - Nov 9. I included Photopass+ also. We are renting a car. It's my daughter's 10th birthday, and her first trip to Disney. Very very excited.

My dilemma is this. I have a lot of United frequent flier miles. I just discovered that I have enough miles to book a free hotel reservation off site for the length of our stay. If I cancel at Pop, I could redirect some of the money I have already paid towards a Disney Gift card that we'd use for the dinners I already have booked, so paying for meals would be kind of a wash. Then I'd just have to get park tickets, and I have until November to get that taken care of. No problem.

BUT - I am wondering if the $400 I would save overall is worth it. I mean, it's her first trip. It's her birthday. I kind of got sucked into it all and I want her to be surrounded by everything themed and Disney and all that. I'd also have to think about accumulating enough miles for another trip down there later next year like I'd like to. This trip would bring me down to zero miles.

So, what say the Budget Board? What's better, saving the money or preserving the experience?

 

[Mouse Fanatic]

I have a vacation package booked with free dining at Pop Nov 2 - Nov 9. I included Photopass+ also. We are renting a car. It's my daughter's 10th birthday, and her first trip to Disney. Very very excited.

My dilemma is this. I have a lot of United frequent flier miles. I just discovered that I have enough miles to book a free hotel reservation off site for the length of our stay. If I cancel at Pop, I could redirect some of the money I have already paid towards a Disney Gift card that we'd use for the dinners I already have booked, so paying for meals would be kind of a wash. Then I'd just have to get park tickets, and I have until November to get that taken care of. No problem.

BUT - I am wondering if the $400 I would save overall is worth it. I mean, it's her first trip. It's her birthday. I kind of got sucked into it all and I want her to be surrounded by everything themed and Disney and all that. I'd also have to think about accumulating enough miles for another trip down there later next year like I'd like to. This trip would bring me down to zero miles.

So, what say the Budget Board? What's better, saving the money or preserving the experience?

I would stay on Disney property, there is nothing like it. Save your points for another trip

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would stay on Disney property, there is nothing like it. Save your points for another trip

Same

 

[lkh]

After staying on property once, I will always stay on property! When I go with my boyfriend's family we stay off site but his dad doesn't mind driving (to FL there and back or to the parks), but it's so nice to not have to worry about parking or the limited bus times of some of the offsite hotels. Plus, it's just so much more fun to be immersed in Disney!

 

[quirty30]

If you really want to immerse her in Disney and make it a magical birthday celebration, I would definitely stay onsite. And the free dining is such a good deal. I wouldn't give that up.

 

[disneymom2003]

I agree with everyone else.. Nothing like Disney Magic when you stay on site. Have a great trip!

 

[crisi]

Remember that staying offsite will add $15 a day in parking.

If money is tight, I'd skip the car rental and stay onsite. You REALLY do no need a car if you fly into MCO, stay on site and don't have any offsite days planned.

 

[rigs32]

You don't need a car when you stay at pop, but rentals at MCO are so cheap it's not a huge saver to drop it.

There are benefits of having a car. Free parking at the parks if you're staying on site. Can be quicker than the bus. Book some meals at other resorts - I especially like going to AKL and POR for the Yee Ha Bob show. Car is infinitely easier and faster than bussing between resorts.

BUT take the bus to MK. It will drop you off at the gates. If you drive you have to park at the TTC and monorail or ferry to MK.

 

[Disneychix]

I'm kinda confused about the saving flyer miles for a trip next year part. If it's 2 trips you want and you only have enough flyer miles for 1 (and you already have this trip booked at POP) then keep your package and save your miles for next year.

Or do you not have enough time to save for the trip this year?

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I would stay on Disney property, there is nothing like it. Save your points for another trip

Me too!

 

[HM]

Keep your current reservation. Drop the rental car.

Use your points for another trip in the future where you visit other attractions in Orlando with your daughter (Seaworld and US/IOA).

 

[3angelsmom]

I would stay on site for her first trip.


Save the miles for another trip, or, if they're going to expire soon use them for something else. I don't use united miles, but a quick look at their website shows that you can use them for car rental, restaurant.com gift cards, and merchandise in their rewards portal among other things.

 

[martiniglassesforme]

I'm kinda confused about the saving flyer miles for a trip next year part. If it's 2 trips you want and you only have enough flyer miles for 1 (and you already have this trip booked at POP) then keep your package and save your miles for next year.

Or do you not have enough time to save for the trip this year?

I have enough miles for this year. But it will bring my balance down to zero and I may or may not have enough time to accumulate enough for next year.

I think I am going to keep my reso at Pop. If this was our third or fourth time going, then sure, stay off site, just for comparison. This time next year, I may have enough miles for Hilton Bonett Creek, which is so nice it's ridiculous. I wish I could use miles to book Wilderness Lodge! That would be perfect, but there's only certain hotels on the list with the miles program.
Thank you everyone!

 

[Frankiemack]

I can tell you that I took my first trip to Disney when I was 13 and we stayed off site trying to be budget friendly. I've been to Disney 5 times since and all stays have been onsite. I wish I stayed onsite when I was younger to enjoy all Disney properties have to offer. In retrospect, I didn't have as much fun as I could have had and my parents didn't save that much money.

If you are flying in to and out of Orlando, and only plan on spending time at Disney, I would strongly encourage you to dump the rental car and use the Magical Express service that is free. It really adds to the experience...That is a $200+ savings! In my opinion, POP has one of the best bus transportation systems in the park since it is a dedicated service. I never waited more than 15 minutes.

Also - you are staying at POP with Free Dining, does that mean with the Quick Service Plan or have you upgraded to the Standard Disney Dining Plan? If you have not upgraded, you could use the extra money to do so and book some character meals....If you have upgraded, that extra savings will go right towards gratuity for meals and maybe even a special Disney Cake for one of them. (Click here to see examples of cakes with prices and how to order.)

Make sure she wears her birthday button for the entire trip! We went for my DD's 3rd birthday and the extra attention she got was magical! She still remembers and begs to go back for her birthday again every year.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

I can tell you that I took my first trip to Disney when I was 13 and we stayed off site trying to be budget friendly. I've been to Disney 5 times since and all stays have been onsite. I wish I stayed onsite when I was younger to enjoy all Disney properties have to offer. In retrospect, I didn't have as much fun as I could have had and my parents didn't save that much money.

If you are flying in to and out of Orlando, and only plan on spending time at Disney, I would strongly encourage you to dump the rental car and use the Magical Express service that is free. It really adds to the experience...That is a $200+ savings! In my opinion, POP has one of the best bus transportation systems in the park since it is a dedicated service. I never waited more than 15 minutes.

Also - you are staying at POP with Free Dining, does that mean with the Quick Service Plan or have you upgraded to the Standard Disney Dining Plan? If you have not upgraded, you could use the extra money to do so and book some character meals....If you have upgraded, that extra savings will go right towards gratuity for meals and maybe even a special Disney Cake for one of them. (Click here to see examples of cakes with prices and how to order.)

Make sure she wears her birthday button for the entire trip! We went for my DD's 3rd birthday and the extra attention she got was magical! She still remembers and begs to go back for her birthday again every year.

You totally summed up all I was thinking. On property is so magical and relaxing. Gives ton of flexibility compared to traveling all together in a car.
If you really need a rental to do something off property, there are rental places on property that you can get a car for around $40 for that day. (which is what we are doing)

I also have some budget saving options that I am not using because I will save them to apply to another trip next year. Helps me be sure I get the second trip.

 

[martiniglassesforme]

Yeah, I ended up paying my deposit and some more with some Disney GC's so if I cancelled, I would have $750 refund on those GC's for the week for meals, which I think is fine. There are three of us.

Hotel is taken care of with FF miles.

Tickets is the only cash expense...

I hear you with the car rental. I am constantly waffling on this one. I either want the convenience and security, or I decide that the busses are fine. I guess I am not one to wait around for a bus. When I want to go, I just want to go. I figure Disney will be a lot of waiting in lines anyway, And if I could minimize bus waiting by getting a car, then that expense is minimal for the convenience it would provide. Our last day is not a park day and we want to go check out a few of the other resorts and go to DTD. I think a car is key for that kind of running around. Plus I would like to hit Publix for some snacks and breakfast items, maybe a birthday cake too. I just can't decide because people keep saying I don't NEED a rental car, but I kind of want one.

All that being said, I think we are going to keep the Pop reso and keep accumulating the miles for Bonnet Creek next year.

 

[Marionnette]

I have a vacation package booked with free dining at Pop Nov 2 - Nov 9. I included Photopass+ also. We are renting a car. It's my daughter's 10th birthday, and her first trip to Disney. Very very excited.

My dilemma is this. I have a lot of United frequent flier miles. I just discovered that I have enough miles to book a free hotel reservation off site for the length of our stay. If I cancel at Pop, I could redirect some of the money I have already paid towards a Disney Gift card that we'd use for the dinners I already have booked, so paying for meals would be kind of a wash. Then I'd just have to get park tickets, and I have until November to get that taken care of. No problem.

BUT - I am wondering if the $400 I would save overall is worth it. I mean, it's her first trip. It's her birthday. I kind of got sucked into it all and I want her to be surrounded by everything themed and Disney and all that. I'd also have to think about accumulating enough miles for another trip down there later next year like I'd like to. This trip would bring me down to zero miles.

So, what say the Budget Board? What's better, saving the money or preserving the experience?

I always look at things by asking myself "which choice will give me the most bang for my rewards bucks?"

IOW, will you get more value by using your FF miles for the hotel stay now or for the airfare later?

You also mention that you will "save" $400 by using your points now but would you bank that money in order to use it for the next trip? Would that be enough to compensate for the loss of FF miles that could have been used on the future trip?

Really, the only way to decide which will be the better use of your points would be to determine your OOP expenses both ways. The final numbers will tell you which payment method will get you the most mileage.

 

[martiniglassesforme]

I always look at things by asking myself "which choice will give me the most bang for my rewards bucks?"

IOW, will you get more value by using your FF miles for the hotel stay now or for the airfare later?

You also mention that you will "save" $400 by using your points now but would you bank that money in order to use it for the next trip? Would that be enough to compensate for the loss of FF miles that could have been used on the future trip?

Really, the only way to decide which will be the better use of your points would be to determine your OOP expenses both ways. The final numbers will tell you which payment method will get you the most mileage.

Well, staying off site would definitely be less OOP expense, hands down. Even with parking and rental car added in.

Here's how it shakes out.

Pop total with free dining and upgraded to regular dining plan. Rental car. 7 day tickets. Photo pass +. $2546. (Sorry for using real numbers but I think it is relevant and I promise I am not trying to be braggy)

Off site total. $750 dining GC's. Free hotel. No resort fee. Rental car. Photo pass +. 7 day tickets. Parking at Disney. $2140.

So, $406 savings to stay off site. But, no more miles (for now) and probably less exciting of an experience.

 

[Marionnette]

Well, staying off site would definitely be less OOP expense, hands down. Even with parking and rental car added in.

Here's how it shakes out.

Pop total with free dining and upgraded to regular dining plan. Rental car. 7 day tickets. Photo pass +. $2546. (Sorry for using real numbers but I think it is relevant and I promise I am not trying to be braggy)

Off site total. $750 dining GC's. Free hotel. No resort fee. Rental car. Photo pass +. 7 day tickets. Parking at Disney. $2140.

So, $406 savings to stay off site. But, no more miles (for now) and probably less exciting of an experience.

Yes, I understand that onsite vs offsite for the UPCOMING trip would be more expensive OOP. I meant, price out doing onsite THIS TIME (and saving the FF miles for NEXT TIME) vs using the FF now and possibly paying more OOP next time. Which one will cost you more OOP in the long run? Look at the bigger picture.

 

[ssawka]

You don't need a car when you stay at pop, but rentals at MCO are so cheap it's not a huge saver to drop it.

Where? On occasion I have found deals on rental cars for $125-$150 for 5 days, but the normal price is in the $350 range. To me that is a "huge saver". Maybe I just don't know where to look. I'm not trying to be snarky, I would just truly love to know where I can find cheap rentals at MCO.

OP, sorry for hijacking the thread!