Disney for cheap??When, Where, How???

[firsttimer2007]

With prices so high we are trying to decide if we can afford to go to Disney. I figured you budgeters could help.

What is the cheapest, nice, home we can rent? My DH does not sleep well in hotel rooms so I figured we could save money making some of our own meals. If we had a home with a pool then when we had off park days the kids could swim. So what is the least expensive --nice--close--pool home.

We can go ANYTIME.

Also, can we park for free at DTC. $11.00 per day for 10 days = $77.00. It would be nice to save that money.

If we got a 10 day park hopper (w/o water parks --since we will probably have to go in Jan/Feb) would it be more beneficial to get a AP? What are the benefits of the AP? We will probably not use any of the discounts on food since we are on a budget and my kids are very picky.

Our drive is about 19 hours. So is there a cheap hotel to sleep in close to DW that also has breakfast? That way we can hit the parks running the first day.

If there is anything I forgot please answer that too. I have only been to DW once and we flew and stayed onsite. That was very simple but the airfare cost now is more that our whole trip last year. So we are going to plan B.

 

[Karlzmom]

With prices so high we are trying to decide if we can afford to go to Disney. I figured you budgeters could help.

What is the cheapest, nice, home we can rent? My DH does not sleep well in hotel rooms so I figured we could save money making some of our own meals. If we had a home with a pool then when we had off park days the kids could swim. So what is the least expensive --nice--close--pool home.

We can go ANYTIME.

Also, can we park for free at DTC. $11.00 per day for 10 days = $77.00. It would be nice to save that money.

If we got a 10 day park hopper (w/o water parks --since we will probably have to go in Jan/Feb) would it be more beneficial to get a AP? What are the benefits of the AP? We will probably not use any of the discounts on food since we are on a budget and my kids are very picky.

Our drive is about 19 hours. So is there a cheap hotel to sleep in close to DW that also has breakfast? That way we can hit the parks running the first day.

If there is anything I forgot please answer that too. I have only been to DW once and we flew and stayed onsite. That was very simple but the airfare cost now is more that our whole trip last year. So we are going to plan B.

19 hours....from where? Does Amtrak run from your area (or can you get to it from where you are in less than 19 hours?) Fares can be very resonable [particularly with AAA] I know some people don't like amount of time the train takes, but given that you can travel while you sleep, walk around at will, eat and potty with out stopping, it can be a life-saver.

Do you have a banner at the top of the page for hotels near DW? If not, try mousesavers as she usually has a good handle on what out and cheap near DW. Travelzoo sometimes has some good specials as well...here are the options they are currently showing. G/L

$75 -- Orlando Hotel in Disney incl. Weekends, 40% OFF
Rooms have furnished balconies; complimentary parks shuttle
Stay Aug. 17 - Sept. 25; +$14 through Aug. 16
Click here!
This Week's Top Pick from Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa

$99 -- Orlando Hotel in Disney w/Breakfast, 60% OFF
Complimentary upgrade to Water View or Disney View room
Stay through Oct. 31; book by July 25


$70 & up -- Orlando Hotels on Sale, Incl. Extras
$10-$50 instant rebate, dining credits & more

Latest Sales & Specials Travel Dates
$49 -- Orlando Hotel near Downtown Disney w/Breakfast
Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista Aug. 1-31
$69 -- Newly Renovated Resort in Downtown Disney, Half-OFF
July 25 - September 30
$229 -- Family Villa Package Incl. Disney Passes
The Fountains Through Aug. 16
$89 & up -- Best Western Disney w/Pleasure Island Passes
Through Sept. 4
$149 -- Orlando 2-Bedroom Family Suite w/3rd Night FREE
Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn Sunday-Thursday Aug. 1-31
$75 & up -- Stay Inside Disney, plus 1/2 Price Gas
Through Sept. 25
$76 -- Save 20% OFF Universal-Area Hotel
Through Aug. 31
$45 & up -- 3-Star Orlando Hotels
Through July 31
$49 -- Half-Price Hotel, 1 Mile to Disney
Through July 31

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

With prices so high we are trying to decide if we can afford to go to Disney. I figured you budgeters could help.

Q: What is the cheapest, nice, home we can rent? My DH does not sleep well in hotel rooms so I figured we could save money making some of our own meals. If we had a home with a pool then when we had off park days the kids could swim. So what is the least expensive --nice--close--pool home.
A: Try FRBO, SkyAuction or check the Dreams Villas.

q: We can go ANYTIME.
A: The least expensive time to visit Orlando is during Dinsey's Value Seasons. January (after New Year's), February (not President's weekend or during Spring Break), late August and September and early December.

q: Also, can we park for free at DTC. $11.00 per day for 10 days = $77.00. It would be nice to save that money.
A: If you intend to park at Downtown Disney in order to save the parking fees, forget it. Disney buses do not run between DtD and the parks due to a large number of people who used to do this. DtD buses only run to the resorts. You would have to take a bus to a resort and get one to the park of your choice. You will spend a lot of time riding buses in order to save a few dollars. You'd be better off paying to park each day or look for a resort that offers free transportation to the parks.

Q: If we got a 10 day park hopper (w/o water parks --since we will probably have to go in Jan/Feb) would it be more beneficial to get a AP? What are the benefits of the AP? We will probably not use any of the discounts on food since we are on a budget and my kids are very picky.
A: A 10-day hopper is still cheaper than an AP. AP benefits include some dining discounts, room-only discounts and free parking at the parks. There are also some shopping discounts for DtD. But the major savings comes from using the AP for multiple trips and for more than 10 days.

Q: Our drive is about 19 hours. So is there a cheap hotel to sleep in close to DW that also has breakfast? That way we can hit the parks running the first day.
A: You might just be better off going directly to the home that you rent instead of having to check into/ out of the hotel after just sleeping there. But if you're just looking for a hotel instead of a house, consider using Hotwire or Priceline to get a place near Disney for a low price.

If there is anything I forgot please answer that too. I have only been to DW once and we flew and stayed onsite. That was very simple but the airfare cost now is more that our whole trip last year. So we are going to plan B.
You can eat for less if you plan ahead. Do breakfast in the rental house. Bring some snacks and bottled water with you into the parks. Skip the buffets and stick to counterservice meals in the parks. Buy only what you will eat. Anything that is part of a platter can be ordered a la carte. Ask for a cup of ice water instead of a soda. Do dinner back at the rental. Even a frozen lasagna, bagged salad and a loaf of bakery bread is cheaper than eating a pizza out.

Have a good time planning. I think that it's half of the fun of a WDW vacation.

 

[zoie101]

we drive 19 hours as well from PA
it is doable, cheaper to drive than buy 5 air line tixs.....
We stayed at a value last year, was ok, kinda cramped
this year we got a code for 40% so we went POLY

 

[bigdisneygroup]

We are heading down in less than two weeks We rented homes thru Lee and Paulette Herron. We stayed with them last time we went down. Their homes are about ten min. from Disney, but very reasonably priced and since they own them, they are very well maintained. Lee and Paulette are also super sweet to deal with. We're driving 16 hours out of Central Pa. and are staying over at a Microtel Inn. Fairly basic, but normally clean hotel. We got a suite for $71 for the night. Normally they are a pretty good deal since they include a continental breakfast most places. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN PLANNING!!

 

[bigdisneygroup]

Oh, I almost forgot. You can get discount Disney tickets thru Lee and Paulette as well, if you book a home with them.

 

[firsttimer2007]

Oh, I almost forgot. You can get discount Disney tickets thru Lee and Paulette as well, if you book a home with them.

Do they have a website??? How do I find them?

 

[firsttimer2007]

Thank you for all the replys! Keep them coming. I LOVE all the suggestions from all you tight people, who love to vacation!

 

[englishteacha]

I agree with Mad4theMouse.

Do you plan on driving straight through to Florida or stopping overnight halfway there? Do you have friends or family who live part way where you could stay? That could save some money, and provide you with a nice visit, too.

We've rented a condo from Vacationrentals.com for an amazing price in the Grand Palms resort. The condos and houses in the Lindfields development in Kissimmee tend to be very reasonably priced. I've posted a review over on the Orlando/offsite boards.

 

[firsttimer2007]

We plan on driving straight through.

I went to expedia (to see when rooms were available) and they are sold out on all the room for the

first two weeks in November, December and the middle two in January.

When is the slow season???

 

[chrisann]

Depending on size of your family, a 1 or 2 bdrm would be plenty. This way, you could stay close to parks. We've done this the last few years, and I don't think we could ever stay in a hotel room for more than two nights. Good Luck!!

 

[bigdisneygroup]

Sorry about that. The link is vacationears.com. I hope that something works out for you.

 

[firsttimer2007]

Depending on size of your family, a 1 or 2 bdrm would be plenty. This way, you could stay close to parks. We've done this the last few years, and I don't think we could ever stay in a hotel room for more than two nights. Good Luck!!

How much are the timeshare rentals? How do you find timeshare owners? There are 4 of us. 2 adults, 2 kids

 

[firsttimer2007]

We rented homes thru Lee and Paulette Herron

How do you find the homes Lee and Paulette have?

 

[EthansMom]

You might want to try the Orlando Hotel Board for advice about a place to stay: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15.

I've stayed the first week of Dec. and the first week of Jan (just after New Years) and both were nice times of year to be at WDW... very low crowds!!!! Given the choice, I would go back in early Dec. again in a heartbeat -- all of the Christmas decorations are up and the Christmas music is playing everywhere.

Sign up at http://www.mousesavers.com for her newsletter. The emailed newsletter has links to some of the best deals on discount tickets.

One of the best ways to save $$$ if you are going during a less busy time of year is to buy the base tickets instead of getting park hopping. If absolutely necessary, you could add park hopping later, though you'll pay the full price difference even if you've used some of the days on the tickets. Let's say you buy the base tickets and plan accordingly. You may have no problems the whole trip and will save some serious $$$ by going with the base tickets. Or let's say you get half way through your vacation and end up one day at a park that suddenly gets so packed that you can't hardly move. If you bought the base tickets (even if purchased through a reputable discounter), then you can take your tickets to Guest Services and pay the extra to have park hopping added. IMO, getting the base tickets is a win-win.

Enjoy your planning!

 

[leahjade]

http://www.vacationtimesharerentals.com/
We used them for a trip to Arizona recently and were very pleased with the transaction and the prices.

 

[BrettS]

If we got a 10 day park hopper (w/o water parks --since we will probably have to go in Jan/Feb) would it be more beneficial to get a AP? What are the benefits of the AP? We will probably not use any of the discounts on food since we are on a budget and my kids are very picky.

An adult 10 day expiring park hopper ticket is $270 and an adult annual pass is $448, so unless you plan on coming back within the next year, you're definitely better off with the regular park hopper tickets. One advantage of an annual pass, however, is that it does get you free parking.

It's not enough to make it worthwhile to get an annual pass just for this trip, but if you are planning to come back within the next year then it might be helpful.

Brett

 

[BrettS]

One of the best ways to save $$$ if you are going during a less busy time of year is to buy the base tickets instead of getting park hopping. If absolutely necessary, you could add park hopping later, though you'll pay the full price difference even if you've used some of the days on the tickets.

Not park hopping isn't a bad way to save money, but this statement is somewhat inaccurate... the park hopping option is a flat $45 no matter how many days your ticket is for or how many days you've used. If you have a 1 day ticket, a 10 day ticket, or a 8 day ticket with 3 days left it will be $45 to add park hopping.

That said, though, the idea has merit and a family of four will save $180 by not park hopping... and if you're looking at 10 days in the parks you should be able to do pretty much everything you want to without doing any hopping. Like EthansMom said, you can always skip it for now and if you change your mind during your trip, just add it at that time

HTH,
Brett

 

[crisi]

Ten days in January or Feburary is a LOT of days. You can save a lot by going seven - food, lodging and tickets will all go down.

 

[lukenick1]

Is there any discounts available for park tickets?? They are so expensive!!!!!