Can it be done for $1500-2000?

[mrsklamc]

Are they willing/able to get a Disney credit card between now and then? They could rack up some points in a year. Wouldn't count on it as a deciding factor but it could help.

 

[michellejed]

It will be about an 18 hour drive without stopping and of course you will have to stop.

Based on mileage they would probably stop around Chattanooga and cheapest hotels in the area for Aug is about $68 with tax.

Factor in food for the 2 days min would be about $50.

Gas for the trip down is about $142 based on $3.70 a gal and about 32mpg so just for the trip down and back will be........................$544


Because of the hours it takes to drive they would not arrive until late afternoon and if they want to spend a full 4 days in the park then realistically they would be there for 5 nights.

All Star for 5 nights and tickets for 5 days with 3 adult tickets and one child would be...................................................................$1801, this is based on this years Aug prices no discounts so if FD is offered for next year you could use this amount.

VBRO list several homes in the area for under $1000 for a week in Aug so that is doable, but then add in daily parking , travel time and of course you will be cooking etc., food you would have to buy if you were home any way so would not add to much more if you do a rental and eat all meals at the rental.

Plan one, stay on property with fd.......................$2345

Plan two, stay in a rental with tickets and eating in rental........$1844 plus food

 

[erbeaman]

Hmm... sounds like it's going to be tough, but possible. I think if we can keep it close to $2000, I can talk them into it. We have done YES tix in the past, and it seemed to save us a lot of money. I looked at them a couple of days ago, and it doesn't seem to be as good of a deal. Bummer! Still an option, of course, as every penny counts!

I agree that they may need to reset their expectations, but they are pretty frugal. The last time they went, their tix were gifted to them and they had someone's timeshare to use for free, so this trip will be a financial shock !

 

[maplevale]

This would leave $245 for food, drive around gas, and parking. Don't forget that the food and driving around gas would be an expense they would have at home. That may cover part of the amount.

I think this is a good point too. Maybe there is somewhere they will 'save' money they aren't thinking about that could help add to the budget. For example - a week vacation for me means my kids aren't in daycare/camp so that is an extra $400.

 

[MinnieForMe]

When you are looking for accommodations, I know that Royal Palms in Davenport, Fl (15-20 minutes from Disney) offers four bedroom townhouses. They sleep 10 people but two would be on the pull out sofa. They are 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.

I haven't stayed there yet (booked for February). It can't be that expensive to rent as the points with our RCI timeshare were next to nothing. Most people want to be closer (Bonnet Creek, Sheraton Vistana or on site).

 

[MinnieForMe]

Hmm... sounds like it's going to be tough, but possible. I think if we can keep it close to $2000, I can talk them into it. We have done YES tix in the past, and it seemed to save us a lot of money. I looked at them a couple of days ago, and it doesn't seem to be as good of a deal. Bummer! Still an option, of course, as every penny counts!

I agree that they may need to reset their expectations, but they are pretty frugal. The last time they went, their tix were gifted to them and they had someone's timeshare to use for free, so this trip will be a financial shock !

If spending $1500 to go on a week vacation will be financial shock then they might want to save and go another year. I, personally, would not travel on that tight of a budget especially when anything could go wrong. What if they get a flat or have a car problem along the way? Can they afford to pay for the unexpected? One year we had to take our toddler to an emergency room while at Disney. Luckily, we have great insurance but the co-pay was an unexpected vacation expense.

I'm not trying to be a downer and I think it can be done. However, I think it will be harder for them if they see the rest of the group dining out or buying items in the park.

 

[cheer25mom]

This is my opinion as well. Rather than planning a vacation with such a strict budget, I would reset their expectations. If it isn't doable for them, it isn't doable.

Hmm... sounds like it's going to be tough, but possible. I think if we can keep it close to $2000, I can talk them into it. We have done YES tix in the past, and it seemed to save us a lot of money. I looked at them a couple of days ago, and it doesn't seem to be as good of a deal. Bummer! Still an option, of course, as every penny counts!

I agree that they may need to reset their expectations, but they are pretty frugal. The last time they went, their tix were gifted to them and they had someone's timeshare to use for free, so this trip will be a financial shock !

I honestly thing that they are going to have to reset their expectations if they are going to enjoy this trip at all. I grew in a family that counted every penny even though they didn't have to, and trips like this were miserable. Parents complained about the price of every meal, Mickey bar, ect and no one had any fun. If they are that tight, they are going to have to loosen up.

 

[HoosierDaddy71]

We are planning to go in Oct, driving from Central Indiana, for a week and I have the cost at about $2200. That includes $500 for food which could be trimmed down but it only includes $200 for lodging because we are exchanging a timeshare. IOW, if they watch food and lodging costs, it is possible. But there is a point where you miss out on fun stuff because you are too concerned with money.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I think you owe it to that family and the other families to say it will very likely be more than $2000 so they can make the commitment or not. Who has a crystal ball to say what gas prices will be next August, or ticket prices? If I'm one of the other families and I'd rather stay on site and book character meals, and this family backs out at the last minute because of price and I'm 30 minutes away from WDW in the cheapest home you can find without being able to book a reservation at Chef Mickey's, I'd be pretty irate. And if I'm this family and the $2k is a stretch and next year tickets for my family are another $200 and gas has gone up and suddenly I'm $2500 in, well, I wouldn't blame YOU but plenty of people would.

Yeah, I agree. The other families might not want to stay off property, and should know upfront those details. Planning for a large group and making everyone happy is HARD!

It would be VERY tight at 2K, but it could be done.

4 Day basic tickets through YES - $880 (2A2C)
4BR house at 7 Dwarfs Village Kissimmee w/ taxes divided by 2 families - $375
Gas for travel at 1000 miles each way, 20 mpg, $4 gas - $400
Hotels both ways -$100

Total of $1755

This would leave $245 for food, drive around gas, and parking. Don't forget that the food and driving around gas would be an expense they would have at home. That may cover part of the amount.

I was going to suggest 7 Dwarfs too. But this will be really tight regardless, and I agree with the others about if something goes wrong, this budget better have a little wiggle room.

 

[Alexander]

I second the Bonnet Creek idea! You can get great deals on multiple bedroom villas there AND they have free transportation to Disney. Check redweek.com. I have gotten several reservations from there. This resort is also not technically on Disney property because it is a little swath of land that Disney doesn't own, but they own everything around it. It is right next door to Caribbean Beach Resort.

Is this a family you or others buy birthday or Christmas gifts for? Start giving them Disney gift cards, or have them start buying them at Target.

 

[HeatherC]

Another option is a condo through SkyAuction. We have stayed several times in great places for under $350 a week.

Bonnet Creek is also awesome. Roughly $110-$120 a night for a two or three bedroom.

Also...remind them to add in their weekly food budget....that could an extra hundred or so on top of the $2000.

 

[HeatherC]

Just remembered...check out Regal Palms. Four bedroom villas that sleep at least 10 with 3 1/2 baths. Can rent them on HomeAway.com. Real nice pool area too. They are about $100 a night with tax. If two families split the bill it would only be $350 for the week.

Hope this helps!

 

[TravelMommy]

Good Luck with your planning, it is always a challenge when planning a group trip! I think any budget is doable as long as everyone's expectations are in line with the budget. Hope a good discount code and/or free dining comes out to help.

 

[ShariVT]

I just checked vrbo in the emerald island sub divison one of my favorite places to stay very close to disney and you can get 1 house that will sleep up to 20 people for a week next aug. for 1287 plus tax split between 4 familys is only 322 for the week. Making the budget much easier to handle.

 

[torinsmom]

Can you really get a house that sleeps 9 during the summer for $1000 a week?

We are staying in an offsite house right now that was/is $700/week except for Christmas/New Year's. It's 5 bedrooms(2 Kings, 1 queen, 4 twins) and has a nice layout with gameroom and pool. 7 minutes to AK, maybe 8 to DHS, 10 to Epcot, 12 to MK---using Sherbeth Rd shortcut. I'm sure there are other houses in the area for the same price.

http://www.vrbo.com/229838

Could they get the Southwest Visa and get the 50,000 points towards their flights? You have to spend $2000 in 3 months, but I did that easily using it for all my bills and then paying it at the end of the month. 2 days driving would just do me in. They should sign up for Southwest DING as well to get the best deal.

Maybe the family on a strict budget could do some things to save more money since they have some time. They could make it a Christmas gift for the whole family and only buy smaller gifts for each other. They could ask family to give them Disney gift cards instead of gifts. They could start a change jar for souvenir money--I usually end up with $100-$150 even though I mostly use my check card.

 

[mrsabbott]

I posted somewhere on here a link where you can get a deal on a 2 or 3 br town home for as low as $299 a week plus tax and cleaning fee. I'm on my phone and can't look it up right now. A $2000 budget is doable but it will be tight. Ticket prices are what they are and you can't help gas prices. So lodging and food are the variables here. Bringing food with you isn't a bad thing.. I count part of that as my normal weekly food budget, freeing up a little money for a few treats. We will bring food with us when we go. It doesn't mean we will have less fun. It's all about attitude! pictures are a great souvenir. Bring your own camera and you are set! We usually pick up something small like a magnet or an ornament to take home with us.

 

[mrsabbott]

Oh.. And driving straight through isn't so awful and would save a few dollars!

 

[Marionnette]

Help! I may have bitten off more than I can chew... I have volunteered to coordinate a trip for a large group (up to 17 depending on which families decide to come for sure). One family of 4 would like to keep their budget at no more than $2000 including travel from mid-Michigan (they are willing to drive- 2 day drive), lodging, park tickets, and food. We are looking at getting two pool houses somewhere with two families sharing each house. Can it be done?

Here's the breakdown:
We are planning on going August 2014. They only want 4 days in the parks, no hopper. We would need a house that sleeps 9 in beds. I was hoping for free dining so we could maybe stay onsite, but it doesn't seem to be happening in August anymore lately... It can be done for less than $2000, right ?

How will the other families feel about vacationing on such a shoestring budget? I don't think that this family's budget is realistic, given that tickets alone will consume more than half of their lower limit of $1500. As others have pointed out, there is no way to predict what gas will cost next summer, what ticket prices will be and how much the demand for offsite rentals will jump given the onsite pricing for 2014.

Will the others be happy with staying offsite and in a resort or condo that offers less so that this family can also go? Or even sharing living space with them for a week?

Will they be okay with eating their meals in cheaper restaurants, packing lunches or returning to their rental property to cook dinner each night so that the other family can stretch their dollars?

Will they be comfortable denying their kids a Mickey Bar or light-up spinning toy because the other family cannot afford that splurge? How do you explain to little Timmy that even though Daddy is fine with buying him the pirate sword, Tommy's parents can't buy him one.

I would be perfectly honest with this family and let them know what the other families intend to spend and how they will be spending it. After all, this is their hard-earned vacation, too. They should not feel as if they cannot spend their money in front of the other family out of consideration for their feelings.

 

[angelat]

I also agree that $2000 might not be realistic.

As someone else mentioned, you could get a condo at Windsor Hills for cheap. We rented through www.vacationcentralflorida.com the last two times we went. (LOVED IT BTW)The second half of August you can get a three bedroom two bath condo for $299 a week. With taxes and cleaning fees that's $422. The catch is, you have to stay Sat - Sat, so if that isn't the plan, it wouldn't work. But with 2 queens or a king and a queen and two twins, plus some have a pull out couch, you/they could save some money there if you could fit both families in one condo.

When we went in August 2011 we budgeted about $150/day for quick service only meals and snacks/drinks at the park for two adults and two teenagers...we rarely spent $100 a day and that was opening to closing at the parks. We froze waters overnight and packed two for each person in a backpack which my husband carried around all day (kept him cooler) and we also brought one with us. (saved us $120 for the 4 days of parks)

While the YES program doesn't offer as big of a discount as it once did, that's also a good option for saving some money if it fits their schedule. If you have two children attending the class and both parents attending with them, tickets for 4 days (4 people) would be $617. With only one child and one adult attending, tickets for 4 days would be more along the lines of $950 (all including taxes).

If the YES program is not an option, I'd recommend using Undercover Tourist for the tickets rather than direct from Disney.

Lastly, if they eat the meals on days not spent in the park, at the condo, they could roll the cost of that food into their normal food budget they would spend when at home. That could feel like a savings of $100 - $150.


So, in summary...if you could fit two families in one condo, go with the YES program for both kids, carry water and eat only counter service meals it might look something like this:

Travel to and from: $500 (approximate)
Condo: $211
In park food: $400
Food for condo: $150 (could come out of regular food budget at home)
Parking at WDW: $60
Cheapest YES tickets: $617

Total: $1938

Again, that is cutting it close. I personally would not go on vacation, that far from home, driving, without at least and additional $500 in cash/in the bank for emergencies.

Good luck with the planning and the trip. I hope it's enjoyable for everyone!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I just don't know. It is going to depend on what kind of rate you can get on the houses. 4 day base tickets for 2A2C are $871, almost half that budget.

This is not correct.

4 Day basic tickets through YES - $880 (2A2C)

They are cracking down on misuse of the YES Program. Other than pre-formed groups it is very limited.

While the YES program doesn't offer as big of a discount as it once did, that's also a good option for saving some money if it fits their schedule. If you have two children attending the class and both parents attending with them, tickets for 4 days (4 people) would be $617. With only one child and one adult attending, tickets for 4 days would be more along the lines of $950 (all including taxes).

If the YES program is not an option, I'd recommend using Undercover Tourist for the tickets rather than direct from Disney.

The YES individual registration is normally not available during the summer, only at specific low attendance periods.

Based on current pricing, two adult and two child four day base tickets comes to $1,148.07 including tax at the Gate.