Cheap Options?

[lolobug]

Hi there,
I am planning our 3rd family vacation to WDW for April 2018 (Me, DH, DD9 and DD6). The last two times that we traveled to WDW we stayed at WL (January 9 nights and April 7 nights). I am a teacher so we have to travel on school vacations, can't do anything about that, so flights tend to be pricey. We don't mind staying off site if that is a cheaper option. We did buy the memory maker last time but do not purchase the park hopper or dining plans- they just don't work for our family. Looking for ways to cut down on costs....Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Can you do summer instead of spring break...? The flights in April are always outrageous and the crowds are heavier.

 

[lolobug]

Can you do summer instead of spring break...? The flights in April are always outrageous and the crowds are heavier.

We could do summer but I'm not sure that we could stand the heat!

 

[Tattylou]

DH is a teacher and we typically go April vacation and we like April FL weather sooooo much more than summer FL weather.

Flights: I usually buy my airfare early - like the June before. Basically once I see a round trip flight Boston to MCO for 450 or less, I grab it and never have I regretted it (and I do check the flights periodically through the year).

Hotels: We always stay at the value resorts... saves a ton compared to a deluxe. My kids are 6 and 8 and happy with a basic pool and we aren't in the room much. It's a big step down from WL, but you still are onsite and probably will save an easy 1000 depending how long you go for.

 

[Nancyg56]

We could do summer but I'm not sure that we could stand the heat!

I have done summer trips and it's hot. The trips are manageable but I think that they require more planning. For instance, I think early mornings and evenings after sunset work best, with afternoon breaks. I also think scheduling a cool break for lunch is important. To be honest, I am no big fan of a summer trip but sometimes for my family it makes sense.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

@Tattylou - is that $450 per person or total?

I'm in Michigan and I try to keep flights under $200pp!

 

[Tattylou]

@Tattylou - is that $450 per person or total?

I'm in Michigan and I try to keep flights under $200pp!

I wish total!! Sadly, that is per person. Generally, 375-425 is best I've ever found on an April vacation per person round trip that was at decent times and we've gone the last few April vacations. I rarely see 200 round trip Boston to MCO (except in maybe summer). I think everyone in Massachusetts goes to Florida on spring break and the airlines know it. We did DL one April vacation bc the round trip direct flight from Boston to LAX was significantly cheaper than a flight to Orlando.

 

[loves to dive]

If you are brave you might could drive down, I know it's a long drive but if you have two driver's it's not impossible. Value or moderate resorts are going to be much less than WL. If you go in April you will there during F&G so you might could save some food costs by sampling from the booths instead of spending on actual meals. You could eat a kid's meal, not sure of DH could. I do it all the time because I'm not a big eater. I also often get them without sides or dessert because really there is too much food even in a kid's meal for me. If you drive down, that would give you opportunity to bring some of your own food so you could do breakfast in the room and certainly could bring snacks or even sandwich stuff for lunch. I'm not a big fan of bringing my lunch into the parks, just too lazy, but it would be easy enough to go back to the room to eat. Most adult meals are easily shared, my adult son and I do it often and he's a big eater.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

@Tattylou - ahh! Yeah, the April flights are generally $300-375 here, which is part of the reason we do summer instead. Generally the heat is bearable (although Epcot sucks because it's mostly metal buildings and pavement).

Right now the flights for our July trip are closer to $300 instead of $200, so I'm not too happy. I plan to price-stalk for the next 3-4 months.

 

[powellrj]

Look into Bonnet Creek, its very close to WDW, and is beautiful!

 

[lolobug]

Look into Bonnet Creek, its very close to WDW, and is beautiful!

I was wondering if it would be cheaper to stay offsite and rent a car or stay at WDW. We traveled to Disney last April vacation (I purchased tickets a few months out) and I spent $1600 for four of us. I think that we are April vacationers, rather than summer people. I also don't think that driving would be our best option but it's something to consider

 

[Tattylou]

Look into Bonnet Creek, its very close to WDW, and is beautiful!

My neighbor just did Bonnet Creek - had a great deal and loved it. They had a rental car too.

 

[Tattylou]

@ChasingLeslie, keep stalking the airfare. Florida isn't as popular in summer as it is in winter/spring when ppl are trying to escape the cold. You might luck out.

 

[SweetMissy]

We're from NY and have driven to FL 5 times, 3 of which were disney trips. It saved us a ton. We also stay at value resorts...that definitely saves a ton. I can never justify paying more money to sleep. There's so many other resorts to choose from. We've always found it's cheaper to stay onsite then offsite. You have the added expense of renting a vehicle, parking, stocking your rental with food/snacks...plus driving back and forth to the parks. Anyway....just price out all the different options there are. Unfortunately being a teacher limits your options of when you can go, but you can also check out nearby airports if you don't want to take the drive. If you do fly into another airport...you can't utilize DME, so you would have to factor that in too. It's all so stressful (yet fun) to plan....I wish you luck!

 

[ChasingLeslie]

@ChasingLeslie, keep stalking the airfare. Florida isn't as popular in summer as it is in winter/spring when ppl are trying to escape the cold. You might luck out.

Fingers crossed! Last year I paid $189 in January for our July trip and right now it's $289. Ugh!

 

[Tattylou]

I know driving saves money, but I just can't bring myself to do it. It's sooooo far from Massachusetts - it's basically 2 days down and 2 days back if you take a break to sleep, which we would need bc we have kids and as drivers we would want rest. My friends who have done it say the ride down is ok bc you're excited, but the ride back is not so pretty, feels longer, is exhausting, etc. I think I just accept the cost of the airfare bc i want to be there in 3 hours not 24+hours and balance it by staying at the value resorts. If we lived closer (8-10 hour drive or less) then I'd drive and splurge on a more expensive hotel.

 

[TinaLala]

I'd say look at Riverside or AOA instead of WL. That might save you some money

 

[MudQueen22]

We are teachers, and we drive. We take our minivan. It is comfortable, and we can pack just about as much as we want for a comfortable trip--no baggage fees. lol Although we could make it in one day (it's a 15 hour drive if you don't stop at all), we make it a two-day trip. We leave super early the first day, drive all day, and sleep for the night. The next day only involves a half day of driving, and we get to play at the resort or explore once we arrive.
On departure day, we have a departing breakfast, play or explore, and leave about mid-day. We drive until night, and then make a long trip home the following day.

We also stay value. We were at the Pop last time. It was clean and comfortable. Although I'm not a fan of the double beds, we made it work, considering the savings.

Honestly, the only thing I felt I was sacrificing at the Pop was a larger bed. We don't drink coffee, and they have mini-fridges in the rooms for sodas.

 

[Macprincess]

Have you considered an off site condo? The added space is wonderful. Love the washer and dryer in the unit! If you don't mind cooking some meals that can save you a ton of cash. We stayed at Windsor Hills in a three bedroom/two bath condo. Mid July for just under a thousand for the week. Booked through Florida Vacation Central. We drove our own car so no car rental for us. We did have to pay for parking at the parks. We saved a bundle compared to staying on site. Admittedly, this was a different experience. Not that one is better then the other. Both have pros and cons. Just go in knowing that it won't be like an onsite stay. Yet, for us it was the only way we could make it work so we went with it. Honestly, we have not gone back to onsite since unless it's a quick weekend trip. Anything more and we want the space a condo provided.

I'm usually the one in my family that gets stuck with all the domestic stuff. I admit I was not happy about making the switch from on site resort to a condo at first. To me this was just taking what I do at home on the road. I priced everything out at first. I then had a honest talk with my husband about the fact that we would not have daily maid service in a condo. I told him straight out that I would not be happy living in a mess for a week or cleaning & cooking on my vacation. We ended up compromising a plan that worked for both of us. We planed out some meals on site and off site, came up with easy to prepare meals (brought my crock pot from home), and before we left knew who was responsible for the meals we ate in the condo. He took the kids to the pool after check in our first day so I could go to the market alone. Worked out well for us. All family members helped keep the condo picked up. Even our three teen prefer this kind of a stay to hotel room living now.