Can Disney be done on a budget of......

[AngieInOH]

Mady, do you know what the cancellation policy was if you go through AAA. And are the room and meal plan booked as a package? I love the idea of getting the meal plan, however, it seems to lock you into your reservation a bit more.

 

[Sleepy]

I would also say no to Cirque and Disney quest as you will have park passes for everyday so why spend more money on other entertainment. Just go back to one of the parks and see something you missed the 1st time around. You will never run out of things to see and do in the parks.

I would like to add to this discussion.

We went on our very first trip to WDW when my son was 7. We spent 2 weeks. We wasted our money by buying the Premium Annual pass for the simple reason we only spent one day in one water park. There was just so much to do and see in the regular parks. We never saw everything in that amount of time. Dinsey Quest was not on the premium pass back then (I don't think)...there had to be a reason we did not go. Looking back, I was glad we did not try to cram everything into that 2 weeks. We purposely left some things out so that future visits would contain new experiences. We are planning trip #4 and still have not done one of the water parks, Disney Quest, all of the shows, some of the rides, etc. If you are going during an iffy weather time, I say ax the plans for a water park (you can save the money and save disappointment if too cold AND it will leave more time needed for those regular parks.......trust me....you will NOT see everything! ). Instead, I suggest doing Chef Mickeys character dinner. This was a wonderful first night way to get into the Disney spirit. We hit the park for the last hour opened after we ate at Chef Mickey. While everyone else was lined up for the parade, we hit about 7 rides with no wait. It was great. Enjoy your trip.

 

[dandelion garden]

Hi,

I think you & I are on the same exact planning track ! Have you been reading my email? I too am planning my families' 1st trip & our tentative plans sound just like yours.

I just recently got a quote from AAA for a jan-feb'06 7 night stay at POR for me, DH & DS7. I priced out MYW + hopper + options (for DQ) + dining + towncar transfer. I was quoted approx $2300 based on 2005 prices.

I was also worried about committing to a package so far out and asked about their canc. policy. I pasted their reply below.

"Cancellation insurance was included in the package price. The insurance allows you to cancel for any medical, sickness, death in the family reasons only. This insurance is optional at $44.95 per adult and the children are covered under the adults. The insurance is non-refundable once purchased.

The change policy for these packages is:

For changes made outside 45 days prior there would be no fees to make any changes. For a change made 44 days or less prior to arrival or that results in a rate change, there is a change fee of $50.00 per package plus any change fees assessed by hotels or other suppliers. In addition if you booked airfare through Disney there would be an additional cancellation or change fee per ticket equal to the cancellation or change fees assessed by the airline.


The cancellation policy for these packages is:

AAA charges a $25.00 per reservation cancellation fee to cancel a reservation.

From Disney: Outside 45 days prior the only fee assessed is the cost of the insurance (if purchased) and any fees for any published airline tickets that were purchased.

For a cancellation made 44 to 6 days prior to arrival, there is a cancellation free of $100.00 per package plus the cost of the insurance and any cancellation fees assessed by hotels, airlines, and other suppliers.

For a cancellation made 5 days or less prior to arrival, there is a cancellation fee of $200.00 per package plus the cost of the insurance and any cancellation fees ***** by hotels or other suppliers. "

Hope this helps. Happy planning!

P.S If our plans do coincide & our boys do decide on disney quest what do you say we meet for a spa day with all the extra money this board saves us?

 

[Luv Donald Duck]

Just wanted to give my opinion about Disney Quest. We went (me 27,dh 27 and our ds 7) and we didn't like it. Definetly not worth the money. My son didn't enjoy himself. There was one level that he liked because it had air hockey and arcade games but some of them weren't included in admission, you had to get tokens or quarters to play them.

As far as Cirque, we loved it. They offer thick pads for the younger kids to sit on. My son is on the short side, so he used one and it lifted him enough so he could see the show. There is no talking through out the show they just perform amazing stunts and our son was amazed by it. We are going back to Disney this May and he has asked numerous times if we can go back to Cirque.

 

[matdamom]

We went the second week of January this year, and ended up being able to swim in the pool at the resort two days. The weather was hot the first three days, then cooler the last three days. So you *can* swim. We didn't go to the water parks.

I agree with everyone else about eating breakfast in your room, and then eating lunch in the parks. We saved money this way. Also, we stayed in a timeshare resort and ate a few evening meals outside of the parks - slashed our meal prices by half!

We have decided to skip DQ until our kids are older.

 

[KristiKelly]

Okay, I'm going to give my 2¢ now:

My Budget:
Air fare: $600 (keeping my fingers crossed I come along a good deal out of OH)

I can't help you here, we are in NC and always drive.

Resort: $100/day ($700) is it reasonable to assume I'll be able to get a code if I stay Value season Jan/Feb? If I can't get it below $100 we'll probably have to settle on the Value resort

You might also want to look into renting DVC points for a studio. I know that Old Key West are the least amount. You could also look into renting points @ Beach Club Villas, the cost would be a little more than OKW but the pool is awesome. If the weather is nice this can easily replace any thought of going to a water park.
You may also be able to find some codes for that time of year. I would also look into getting 1 annual pass. Usually better deals are available to AP holders.

Tickets: 7 day hopper for the three of us $668 (might not need that many days but it was only a few dollars more)

Again, I would look into 1 AP & then maybe a 6 day pass, I realize the price difference isn't much but we rarely even go to a park the 1st day. We usually get familiar with the resort, walk over to Downtown Disney, eat at a resort, maybe swim if the weather is nice.

Eating: $100/day ($800) I think we can do it for less than that but I'm rounding UP! My DH does not like to be frugal when it comes to eating and drinking. The refill mug is a must!

I would say this is more than plenty, we are a family of 4 & can eat on $100-110 a day. Somedays definitely more though, we ate at Cape May Cafe in Oct. 04, me, DH, DS, DD - DH & I each had an Amstel Light and buffets for all 4, with a tip this one meal was over $100.00 but other days we didn't spend nearly that amount. If you get 1 AP, by the DDE card for $50, this will save you 20% on most meals (the list of restaurants can be found @ allearsnet.com I believe). So for $800, this could save you $160. I love the refillable mugs, they're great souvenirs as well.

Cirque du Soleil: $203 Is it worth it? Definately something that could be cut. Any suggestions?
Disney Quest: $71 Is it worth it?

Cirque du Soleil: I see that you've already decided to probably not do that. We have been 5 times and have never been - no time and I don't think our kids are old enough to enjoy it.
Disney Quest: I know my DS7 would enjoy it and we had planned on going during our Oct. trip but never had the time. I don't remember if you said this is your first trip or not but if it is, you will be surprised at how busy you will be and may not have time for it. This could be one of those things that you budget for & play it by ear.

Couple of final questions: If we go in Jan/Feb will it be warm enough to make use of the pools? My son loves to swim.

We've never been that time of year but I had a friend that went 2 years ago in Jan and she said the weather was in the upper 70's to low 80's during the day. The pools might be heated as well, I can't remember.

Also, is it worth it to go through a travel agent? Is there any other benefit other than they look for discount codes? Does the agency sometime have codes that isn't given to the general public? I love planning things like this but if there's an advantage going to an agent I don't mind. I'm not planning on getting a package as I've heard that's it's harder to get your money back if you cancel. You just never know what might happen between now and then. When would you book the reservation?

I always book everything myself. I used a travel agent with our 1st 2 trips and the trips I've planned myself, I've come out cheaper. I have read good responses about Dreams Unlimited, one of the sponsors here on the DIS, I think they are good about looking for discounts. I also think WDW is good about cancellations, I think you have up to about 48 hours to get all of your money back.

I hope this has helped some. Hop over to the DIS - -DVC rent/trade board and look into renting points for DVC. The studios come with a refridgerator, microwave, toaster & coffee maker. We usually will have breakfast in the room - cereal, breakfast bars, fruit, etc. This can also cut quite a bit off the food budget & get you into the parks a little faster in the morning.

 

[MAGICX2]

We are a family of four and my DS will be 4 in May. I always do a ton of research when taking a trip to WDW.
#1-Never by tickets from WDW. Use mousesavers,mapleleaftickets, or ticketmania.
#2-POR rocks! We have stayed there alot and DS loves it. It is bigger, but pool is awesome with a great slide. Request building 14 or 15. Close to lobby, restaurant and bus stop, yet quiet.
#3-Forget DQ and Sirque. Sirque is neat looking, but way to slow paced for a 6 yo. DQ is good for the 10+ crowd, but limited activities for a 6yo unless he is a total computer/video game nut.
#4-Buy a AAA membership for $39 and save a bunch on the room and then if codes come out use that instead. OR buy one AP for a person in your group. Like stated before, you get lots of discounts and the $90 difference in your park ticket will be made up in your room, shopping, dining, discounts.
#5-Register on Delta and SouthWest airlines for their email updates. I am from Ohio (GO BUCKS!) and two weeks ago I got a weekly email special for roundtrip, nonstop flights from Columbus to Orlando for $136!!!! This was around the begining of March and you had to travel by March 31. You may have to wait it out on the airfare. If you get a rate for less than $175 buy it. If you check one day and it is $180 and you check the next and it is up to $195 or $200 you better buy it if it is within 15 days of your travel, because you won't get another special before then.
#6-Use the Magic EXpress from Disney for your transfer.
#7-Make two PS ressies for Character Breakfeasts and do bfeast in the room the rest ofthe time.
#8-Pack snack size crackers/cookies/fruit snacks and juice boxes. Take a small lunch size soft side cooler. Freeze the juice boxes, through in some pint size waters and the snacks. When DS says he wants a snack/drink pull out the cooler. Don't stop at the snack stand! You will spend $20 in a hurry.
#9-DS is always asking for souvinears as soon as we hit the door. We tell him if he gets this he can not get anything the rest of the day, he may want to wait and see what else there is. Usually buys something early the first day, then figures out he should wait til the end of the day and mom/dad will take him back to the place where he saw the thing he REALLY wanted.
#10-HAVE FUN! You are going to spend some frivolous money! No use in dwelling on it. Just try to keep an eye on your spending and know when you are getting out of hand. If you use your room key as a charge tool, it is easy to loose track. Keep your receipts with your room key so that whenever you pull it out to use it you are reminded of what you have already spent!

 

[AngieInOH]

Thanks for all of the wonderful reponses I'm getting. I'll be packing a carry- on full of breakfast things and snacks. Once the snacks are all gone it will be great to use for all the souveniers!!! What a great idea.

I'm still unsure about whether to get a package or not. Just really scared to do that due to cancellation restrictions. You just never know when your little one might get sick, or my job wants me to work on something.

Thanks MagicX2 for the flight info (GO BUCKS!). Does anyone know what day of the week airfare goes down? Is it usually cheaper to fly during the week or on the weekends? I don't know which to book first, the hotel or the flight.

MATDAMOM: Thanks for the weather info in January. I want my son to get to go swimming at least once or twice while we're down there. He's so excited about the pool. We definetly won't be doing any of the water parks. Too many other Disney things to do.

Dandelion Garden: I think I'm going to PM you as it does sound like we have a lot in common as regard to our planning. Maybe we can just keep each other posted (it might be awhile till I get with you).

FYI, I'm pretty sure I've settled on POR. It just sounds so wonderful. My son would probably like the All Stars a bit better but he won't miss it if he doesn't know about it (am I a selfish mother or what! ). Anyway, he really likes the pool at POR. So now the decission to be made is mansions or Bayou. I think I'm leaning to Bayou but would love to see pics since the updates. Also, I'm still trying to decide on the dates.

It's a good thing I have several months to figure this all out (and these boards to come to).