Christmas 2013 (way in advance, but need a great deal!)

[LivingLearningEating]

Hi!

I took my family of five (4 adults, one kid - she'll be 8 next time) to Disney for a little over a week (over Christmas) the Christmas before last. We stayed for the first half at the Nick Hotel and the second half at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, in two rooms. We loved it so much and I *really* want to do it again - next Christmas! It's still over a year until then, but I need to get an amazing deal to be able to be able to afford it (I'm just a student).

We definitely want to stay at the AKL again, and in two rooms again, but we're willing to do a split stay (at the Nick Hotel, a cheaper Disney resort, or maybe even off-site) to keep the budget under control. I want to travel over Christmas (which I know is the most expensive) and ideally be there over New Year's too. I also want to go for at least around a week and we don't want a dining plan. We only need 2 or 3 days of basic (no hopper option) park tickets. Any tips?

Thanks so much!

 

[disneybound31]

We are going then too! But we are planning to stay the week after Christmas into NYears...

We love AKL, but to keep cost down we are going to try the new Art of Animation resort- non-suite...

 

[LovesTimone]

You have to run the numbers, when I say this I mean everything in the pool so to speak.

1)When staying off site alot of people forget to add parking at off site resorts, parks, car rental and gas

2) Wifi is another item that most people don't add into there stay.

3) What is the tax and resort tax added on at the end? What is the complete total, sometimes that great rate is not so great when you start adding up.

4)The cost for food is another big item that most people think well I will just get the cheapest thing, for us we like the Dinning plan, knowing that it is paid for up front and can enjoy whatever they want, with out worrying about the price, make it more enjoyable for us. Also if you go before the weeks before christmas you might be able to getin on Free Dining

5) Check out family suite at the values they sleep 6 and, are cheaper than 2 rooms. And they have a kitchenette, frig and micro-wave. Super cute theming.

6) As far as traveling during Christmas this is the most costly time of year in Florida, I know you want Christmas but is it the most important? The rate is much better the 2 and 3rd week. Food cost are more this time of year as well. But Only you can be the judge of what is most important to your family.

7) Plan on Breakfast in the room while everyoneis getting dressed works great, and getting food into a kid in room seems easier. Make sure to bring water, soda, snacks, granola, pop tarts, fruit,chips, crackers, rolled meat and cheese even adult beverages, we always bring our own, for pool side or late night, just remember to bring something plastic to pour it in for saftey.

8) You could ask for gift cards, Disney or resturant, gas, for birthday, christmas this year. I have a friend that buys a Disney gift card every pay day, some times it only 10 dollars some times it's 50, She also use some of her income tax return for vacation.

9) Have you tired doing surveys on line for points to earn for some of these things. I do My points and My survey, let my points add up all year then I cash them in, for Cracker barrel, Darden or Landry's cards. Which we use traveling to and from.

10) Have a garage sale and take all the money and buy disney gift cards, that way you won't spend it on something else.

Have fun planning.

Oh yeah save your change, it adds up fast.