Challenge - Can 2 adults do 7 days at WDW for $1,000?

[mla973]

I'm going to throw out his challenge - do you think 2 adults can do WDW for 6 nights/7 days on less than $1,000? Include: Disney Resort, all meals, tickets for some/all days, some souvies, etc. Do not include transportation.

We are just starting to build a house, but I would really love to come down again, so I'm trying some budget scenarios here. Sometimes it seems like getting there is the most expensive part for us. Driving (from Michigan) take two days of gas, food and at least one overnight somewhere in a hotel. Flying (from a local Michigan airport) is at least $350 each these days, plus parking at the airport and travel to and from MCO.

Just to give you some background - staying at a Value is ok, would prefer Moderate. We do not typically eat at a "fancy" place but one or two times. We eat mostly counter service at the resorts or parks. Time of year does not really matter.

What do you guys think? Can it be done???

TIA!!

 

[debster812]

Does the $1000 include your park admission as well? That's the big one.

If time of year does not matter, then you should DEFINITELY be looking at a Value or Mod resort, during 'Value Season'.

 

[gigi1313]

probably, but it would be tight, unless maybe you get a pin code for $55/night at a value... at $79/night it would be approx $500 for 6 nights (w/tax +-)... that would leave you needing tix for two... four day adult myw premium is $263 each but includes three pluses which would stretch it to a 7 day ticket... so another $500 and you have not eaten yet... do you have a disney visa? if so, you may want to run lots of purchases for the new house thru it and use your rewards for food, etc...

i guess the bottom line is, yes, it can be done, but very scrimpily! good luck w/the new house...

 

[mla973]

Yes, park admission would be included in the $1,000. It would not have to be admission for the full 7 days, but with the new ticketing system, I know the prices difference is not that much for the basic MYW tickets.

 

[HayGan]

You could do a value resort with the dining plan and including 7 day MYW tix for $1,200 (quote directly from WDW.com). That is without a discount. So if you have a AAA card you could probably save 10-15% off the room rate and be just around $1000 for the week.

 

[mla973]

HayGan - what dates did you search??? I did 6 nights/7 days at a value resort during value dates, with MYW base plus dining and I got $1368.

Thanks to others for the tips. Maybe it is doable on about $1200???

 

[Mac and Us]

You've got some great suggestions here. Here's something to consider. How much do you normally spend a week for groceries, eating out, coffee, etc? Add that to the $1000. you have allotted because you need to eat and you might as well figure in your normal grocery allowance as well. I'd also add in what you and your husband normal use per/wk for gas $.

Just a suggestion you may have already thought of that and have included that in your $1000.00

 

[HayGan]

HayGan - what dates did you search??? I did 6 nights/7 days at a value resort during value dates, with MYW base plus dining and I got $1368.

Thanks to others for the tips. Maybe it is doable on about $1200???

I did it on December 4 - 9th (when we will be there ) I think it may be cheaper because you wouldn't be staying a Saturday night I figured if you were driving these dates might be better.

 

[Colinsmom]

For reference, a moderate like CBR was $85+tax per night in early December 2004, with the discount code. And the values were $55+tax per night at the same time. A few ideas for bringing the hotel cost down (yet still experiencing a moderate) include shortening your trip a day, and splitting your stay between a value and a moderate.

But the package that HayGan found might be your best bet - it would definitely help keep you within your budget!

 

[TNKBELL]

Try www.mousesavers.com they had a report on a trip that was $1000.00. Good Luck you can do it!!!

 

[pearlieq]

Another idea to get a cheaper room is to rent points from a DVC member. Ther cheapest room available--Sun - Sat at Old Key West during Adventure or Choice Season (Jan, Sep - Nov, and Dec until Christmas) would run you $540 - $600, depending on the price you negotiate with the member. This would give you a bigger room in a deluxe resort, as well as a microwave and refrigerator for eating meals in your room.

The cheapest of all possible tickets will still cost you about $415 for the two of you. If you're looking for the cheapest option, 7 day Magic Your Way tickets with no hopping, extras, and with expiration are going to be your best value. This is better than getting a 4 or 5 day ticket with plus options because the plus options will cost you $90 but the upgrade from a 4 day to a 7 day ticket would only be about $15-$20.

Food can be super cheap. Bring food from home, pick up things from the SuperWalmart if you're driving. Make sure to carry your own water/water bottles. Eat breakfast in your room, eat a big late lunch, carry hearty snacks, and have a late dinner back in your room. You can probably get by for about $40 per day for food/souveniers if you eat most of your meals in your room and stick to smaller souvenier purchases.

Honestly I don't think you can do it for $1000, but if you can pinch together $1200 - $1300 I think it would work. Don't forget that any of your normal pocket money and grocery money all get to apply to your trip.

So, to recap:

Room - 6nts (Sun - Sat) at OKW in Adventure or Choice Season - $540
(60pts @ $9 per point)
Tickets - 7 day Magic Your Way base ticket - $411
(Maple Leaf Tickets, includes shipping)
Food - $25/day includes 1 BIG counter service meal and 1 snack - $175
(Food from home/bought at a local grocery store would come out of your normal grocery money)
Souveniers - $75

Total: $1201.

 

[canwegosoon]

This is my no frills with all the magic budget
No problem if you are willing to camp. Borrow a tent and sleeping bags from family/friends. Check out the camping board! Bring Brita bottle/crystal light to cut down on cost of beverages.

Got a price from disney site for Oct15th-22nd ( wasn't sure when you wanted to go) including tickets for 6 days...$716.24

That leaves 283.76 for 7 days... for food($33 a day), $25 for groceries and $28 for souvies.

Food suggestions: Bring cereal, breakfast bars, bagles/peanutbutter. Lunch bring tuna packs from home, split a double hamburger and order extra bun/ get water ($8)or split a turkey leg (bring energy bars with you), PB/J, Pick up yougart at campground store. For dinner get $8-9 combo meal at counter service or get the Trails End Take out and split it from Deb's www.allearsnet.com
"Trail's to Go"

available from 4:30 P.M. -10:00 P.M. daily
No Delivery

Freshly baked thin crust pizza

16" Thin Crust Cheese Pizza $13.99
$1 for each additional topping
Pepperoni, Onions, Sausage, Black Olives, Fresh Mushrooms, Green Bell Peppers, Extra Cheese

Giddyup and Go $19.99
10 pieces of chicken, fries, cole slaw and biscuits for 4
White Meat only $24.

 

[fac]

I guess you definitely like to stay on-site, right?
If not, you can consider a timeshare presentation and it will cut down the cost. Even with a studio, you may still have a microwave and eat in the room.
In addition, you may save on ticket as well. I also assume you do not plan to go to the park everyday.

 

[ryan840]

We (my husband and I with our son who will be 21 months old at the time) are flying NWA out of metro airport and our roundtrip total was $301 for both of us, you might want to check into that, it would allow you to put more into your budget. I also bought my tix off of ebay (risky, i know) and saved about $80 on our two day park hoppers. We are still hoping to find a better code, but right now we got a value hotel during regular season for $95 a night, including all taxes. If you stay off site (we just canceled our reservations at the Hotel Seralago for $46/night) you can save a ton, and have a fridge/micro in your room. Most also offer limited shuttles to WDW. Hope this helps.

 

[bearzabout]

Hello from Ann Arbor Michigan.

Yes you can do Disney on a budget of $1,000 per week. Are you willing to stay off-site? A nice two bedroom condo off-site would cost about $261 if you book using the Ready-Set-Go auctions on Skyauction.

A car using Mousesaver discounts would be around $150/week.

Parking would be $56/week.

7 day Magic Your Way tickets at Undercovertourist.com are $205 each (no park hopping).

That would leave $123 for food. Have breakfast in the room (you would have a full kitchen). Share two counter service meals each day and you'll stay on budget. Refill a water bottle and buy snacks and drinks at a grocery store.

If you drive, the money spent on car rental can go towards food.

IMHO, doing Disney on cheaply is better than not doing it at all.