Budget tips for Christmas at WDW

[IllinoisMommy]

We are planning a 'once in a lifetime' Christmas trip to WDW in 2012 . I am soooo excited about the planning....not so much about the price hikes this time of year. Anyone have any thoughts about how to limit spending on a Christmas trip?

Background: family of five, we will be flying and want to stay at least a week. Probably from 12/22-12/30. No- I can't go earlier due to my work schedule. Here are my thoughts so far...

Staying off site... with a family of five we need more room to spread out, and I want Santa to leave his gifts in a separate room . We also are going to WWOHP for one day.

Sit down meals at lunch rather than dinner... figured make an ADR for when park starts to fill up, and save $$ over the cost at dinner.

Touring resort hotels for the decorations... beautiful decorations, and FREE. Definitely want to see GF, Wilderness Lodge- any others??

Spending money... will give each child a set amount to buy what they want and no going beyond that!!

Saving... Putting aside money each month (we always do this for Xmas) and we have always done a 'vacation jar' where spare change goes. I think I will add more for this trip just knowing how much it will cost in the long run.

I'm not looking to 'save' money so much as just keep it reasonable. I am pretty practical, so the possibility of spending $8,000 plus is just ridiculous, IMHO (Staying on site with dining plan would be at least this much it seems).

Thanks for any tips or suggestions for traveling to the World this time of year

 

[Teresa Pitman]

You do know, right, that the parks are absolutely packed at this time of year?

I think staying offsite and planning to eat at least one meal in your condo/suite is a good idea and will save you some money.

Most of the hotels are beautifully decorated. I'd also suggest going to AKL and the Poly to see their trees and decor. It's also well worth going out to the Fort Wilderness campground and checking out the decorations people have at their campsites. Many are WAY over the top!

Teresa

 

[Kay1]

Since you're staying offsite, I would suggest at least one of get an AP to save on parking. Also, I have the change jar too, but it adds up pretty slowly. I always take cash back when I pay for groceries or sometimes just toss a Disney gift card in my shopping cart.

 

[winniedapooh]

We have gone numerous times at this time of year with 5 children and here is my experience. We stay offsite and rent a house. Found a great family that we have become friends with and rent their homes all of the time (romancingthemouse.com).

We get up extra early, with 3 bathrooms it is a breeze to get everyone ready in under an hour. We are at the park we choose to go to at opening. We get as much done as we can in the morning and do an ADR at the park we are at or a quick service meal. Back to the home for naps and pool, then a meal. Back to the parks after dinner and stay until pretty late.

We get early seating for the parade at MK or the fireworks where we are. Kids and adults are not cranky and everyone is ready to have fun! Just watch out for those last minute people who push their way in and won't let you see once they are in!! That time of year it drives me batty bananas!

This has worked very well for us and the kids...frankly when given a choice this year of staying at BLT or anywhere else...they ALL chose the house!

Good luck, have fun planning, know that you will be there will a zillion of your best friends...it is gorgeous that time of year!

 

[IllinoisMommy]

You do know, right, that the parks are absolutely packed at this time of year?

My husband first thought it was one of the least crowded times . Yes, I know it will be packed, and so does he now too. But he says- at least he won't be standing in line sweating

We plan to be at RD so we can maximize what we are able to do.

Kills me that we can not go two or three weeks earlier when the crowds are not so large. But- I am also super excited about being there on the actual holiday. However- we are avoiding MK on Christmas Day.

 

[IllinoisMommy]

We have gone numerous times at this time of year with 5 children and here is my experience. We stay offsite and rent a house. Found a great family that we have become friends with and rent their homes all of the time (romancingthemouse.com).

We get up extra early, with 3 bathrooms it is a breeze to get everyone ready in under an hour. We are at the park we choose to go to at opening. We get as much done as we can in the morning and do an ADR at the park we are at or a quick service meal. Back to the home for naps and pool, then a meal. Back to the parks after dinner and stay until pretty late.

We get early seating for the parade at MK or the fireworks where we are. Kids and adults are not cranky and everyone is ready to have fun! Just watch out for those last minute people who push their way in and won't let you see once they are in!! That time of year it drives me batty bananas!

This has worked very well for us and the kids...frankly when given a choice this year of staying at BLT or anywhere else...they ALL chose the house!

Good luck, have fun planning, know that you will be there will a zillion of your best friends...it is gorgeous that time of year!

Thanks for the tips. I will check out that site. Our daily plans so far sound a lot like what you did, so I am glad that it all worked out well for your family.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Reserve your rental car as early as possible for the lowest price. Keep checking for lower prices during the year.

 

[annsteere]

Make sure everybody has at least one set of warm clothes. It can get surprisingly cold and having to buy extra sweatshirts, jackets, etc. can be a real hit to your budget.

 

[laurafergie]

We did Xmas last year with 9 people and I totally agree with the above tips.

We only did one ADR, otherwise we ate breakfast at the house, packed lunch in and bought a coke or fries to supplement. (At least DH and I and the younger kids did every day, the older kids were on their own Left about 1-3 pm and went back for rest or maybe pool. (It was really COLD last year) We ate supper at the house every night, and some nights went back to the parks.

We did not have Hoppers, just regular MYW tickets, that alone saves a ton.

Do your research on what parks to go to what days. Avoid the EMH parks, and DHS on Fantasia night (unless you're going), that kind of thing. Because I am an OCD planner, I had a spreadsheet taped to the fridge that said what park we were going to that day, what the major attractions were and what was for supper. (I had bought groceries on the first day.) This kept all the Mom questions down to a minimum.

I also had a small box of Xmas decorations and decorated the living room of the house. Made it feels Christmasy

I would suggest you do a lot of research on the WWOHP. We were going to do that, but the fast pass system at Universal works way different than Disney, and we did not want the extra expense of purchasing the Express lines pass, or staying onsite for one night. But I had 9 people vs your 5.

Do your research, be organized and just go ahead and accept the crowd levels and everything will be fine. You are going to have BLAST.

 

[swilshire]

But he says- at least he won't be standing in line sweating

Maybe shivering!

We have learned to bring only a few gifts to have something to open on Christmas morning along with the stockings. Santa leaves the gifts at our house "while we're gone". We either sneak them under the tree after the kids are loaded in the car or go in before they do when we get home and put them out.

Usually we open them when we get home. Once we "moved" Christmas up a day and our youngest never even figured it out.

The one year we took all our gifts along with us, the kids were more interested in staying at the condo with their new things than they were in going to the parks. Plus it's a big hassle, even driving.

Sheila

 

[CowboyCO]

Here's a radical suggestion, but it saved us a ton.

Look at flying into Tampa instead of MCO and rent a car there. WDW is West of Orlando and only about 30-40 minutes longer drive than from MCO. Rental car rates there will be MUCH LESS than at MCO. Car rentals three are business driven rather than tourist driven.

 

[IllinoisMommy]

Great ideas everyone...thanks

 

[marko]

If you are staying offsite, you should look at a condo at Bonnet Creek (offsite, but on Disney property) and see if that interests you. It can be very reasonable, lots of space, and close to everything.