Disney on a Budget for 6

[hpscole]

Ok everyone. 4 yrs ago we did the Disney Land/Sea and it rocked. However, we really want to go back to Disney but are on a strict budget

Suggestions PLEASE for a family of 6. 3 adults (yes, we bring G'ma everywhere), 3 children, 2yrs, 6 yrs and 10yrs.

Where to stay?? Any great deals out there? It does not have to be Disney property although that is always nice.


We have got to get warmed up from this cold weather we have had in New England. We miss you Mickey!

Thank you!

 

[blessedby3]

We have traveled with gmom too. Last Jan we went and got 2 connecting rooms at POP. We had a total of 8 in our party. Gmom had 3 of the kids in her room and DH and I had the other 2 (dd brought a friend). We also split a lot of meals and ordered pizza twice to be delivered to the room from Dominos. Better and cheaper than POPs pizza. Also, eat breakfast in the room and stop at a grocery to stock up on snacks, water and breakfast foods. Take snacks and water into the park with you.
I think there is a room only code. We booked our March trip on the buy4get3 deal, but I think the booking window ended on 1/24.

 

[hpscole]

We have traveled with gmom too. Last Jan we went and got 2 connecting rooms at POP. We had a total of 8 in our party. Gmom had 3 of the kids in her room and DH and I had the other 2 (dd brought a friend). We also split a lot of meals and ordered pizza twice to be delivered to the room from Dominos. Better and cheaper than POPs pizza. Also, eat breakfast in the room and stop at a grocery to stock up on snacks, water and breakfast foods. Take snacks and water into the park with you.
I think there is a room only code. We booked our March trip on the buy4get3 deal, but I think the booking window ended on 1/24.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Faldred]

If you have a friend who is a member (or if you yourself are) of a timeshare group like RCI or II, they may be able to get you an off-site condo pretty cheaply (in an off-peak season, I could book a place for as little as $400/week for a 3BR, including "guest fees" for my sister and her family to use) from their timeshare company's "cash" inventory of excess units.

You'd need transportation to the parks (and parking, if applicable), of course.

 

[Rylee]

Ok everyone. 4 yrs ago we did the Disney Land/Sea and it rocked. However, we really want to go back to Disney but are on a strict budget

Suggestions PLEASE for a family of 6. 3 adults (yes, we bring G'ma everywhere), 3 children, 2yrs, 6 yrs and 10yrs.

Where to stay?? Any great deals out there? It does not have to be Disney property although that is always nice.


We have got to get warmed up from this cold weather we have had in New England. We miss you Mickey!

Thank you!

Hi,

I think Disney extended the 4 + 3 offer. Must book by sometime in March and travel by the end of June.

If your youngest won't be 3 before you travel, that child won't count for room occupancy, so you could stay in any room for 5... (would be crowded, decide what's best for your family.)

If you decide to book 2 rooms, the 4 + 3 offer would be a great savings, since the biggest savings is on the room portion of the package, (X 2 rooms.)

Options for families of 5+, lowest going up in cost -

1. Port Orleans Riverside - 1 room w/trundle bed, plus a crib.
2. Value Resort - 2 rooms.
3. All-Star Music - 1 Family Suite, includes fridge and microwave. (no extra charge for the extra adult)
4. Fort Wilderness Cabin, includes full kitchen, can help with the cost of eating. (not sure about extra charge for the extra adult)
5. Deluxe Resort - most Deluxe Resorts have rooms for 5, 1 room.

Beyond those options, it gets costly.

Are you driving or flying? If flying, order ahead of time, and have some items delivered to your room... bottled water, juice boxes, breakfast items... granola bars, fruit snacks, etc.)

• Eat breakfast in your room each morning.
• Share some Counter Service meals... order 2 sandwiches, plus 3 or 4 combo meals and share the fries and/or salad.
• If you want to book a Table Service meal, schedule for lunch, lunch is cheaper than dinner.
• If staying at a Value, no need to rent a fridge... if driving, bring a cooler, if flying, place order for snacks and drinks and order 1 or 2 styrofoam cooers (about $5 each.)
• Don't purchase Hopper passes, or Water Park option (enjoy the pools.)

That's all I can think of for now... have a great trip.

*I hear ya about the cold... Syracuse, NY.

 

[Heluvsme]

The 4/3 offer has been extended, if you book by March 29 and travel by the end of June, it can save you a lot of money!

The other things that save us a lot of money are buying our own water and taking a bottle each into the parks each day and refilling them. We buy oatmeal or breakfast bars and eat those in our room each morning before we go out. **hint** In the stores, Entenmann donuts are pre-priced and therefore aren't subject to being raised in price at the stores. You can get a box of donuts for under $4 and eat in the room each morning.

We also split counter service lunches. Most times, it's so hot our appetite is not huge, and the meals are so large we don't finish a whole one for each of us anyways.

There are townhomes that you can rent that can be very economical. We have looked into it and there were some great deals to be had! Also, Virtual Tourist has some good listings of off-site hotels, their ratings, and customer reviews....and there are links you can click on to compare prices through Hotels dot com, priceline, etc. Alpha Rooms is another site that has GREAT deals!!!

Good luck, I hope it works out and you get to go!

 

[nessz79]

If you don't have to stay onsite, look into Windsor Hills. They rent condos for very cheap. You might want to compare the costs with a Disney hotel with the 4/3 option. I think the condo might still be cheaper. Only problem then is that you will need a car to get around in. If you're not bringing your own car, that option might be more expensive than a hotel.

 

[candielips]

What about staying in a value & booking when WDW usually offers the Free Dining?

 

[jstbcuz]

We are a family of 5 and just rented 2 rooms at the ASMovies for 778. at the end of Nov/Dec. We have always stayed at POP, but we are looking forward to the extra room (not to mention each of the kids get their own bed) and maybe even more the extra bathroom (our kids are 16,13,3)

 

[daleswife]

YOu can do the family suite at ASMu. They are very nice. Since your youngest is 2 then she wont count in the room. BUT I have done some research and it is cheaper to do 2 adjoining rooms at any value resort than it is to get the family suite at Music. The suite is $174 a night and the standard rooms are $82 ($164 for two and saves $10 a night ).

 

[cheerforchelsea]

We normally travel with 5 or 6 so I feel your pain....we book 2 rooms at a value or moderate resort. I have a "plug-in" cooler that we take along if staying in a value resort so we don't have to rent a fridge. Eat breakfast in your room - take sandwich fixings for 1 meal in the room each day - and eat 1 meal out. We do this everytime and it works out great!!

 

[mahend0]

First, definitely check out everyone's suggestions on places to stay, because you never know until you check them all out what comes in cheapest. I think I saw on Mousesavers $49/night at value resorts if you book before 2/4/09. Think I saw moderate for around a $100/night.

We try to save most of our money on the food. We always eat breakfast in the room, and pack a lunch. Disney allows you to bring food and beverages in the park now. We pack our own waters, but they offer free ice water now at all the stands (at least I know they do in Magic Kingdom just assume it is everywhere). Also, we have the kids earn their souvenier money before they go by doing chores, even my DS who is almost 2. They can only spend what they earned, which also keeps us from falling into all the other little extras people often come home with. Remember the little things add up.

Good Luck!