Disney world budget questions!

[rlh75]

Remember only the three older resorts at Universal have the front of the line Perk, the new value one does not.

If I were you I would most likely rent 2 rooms at a value. We did that when there were 6 of us going and it worked out well.

If you have your heart set on Universal in a day I would go there first and spend arrival night at whichever hotel you can get a deal on(most likely Royal Pacific) They have rollaways so 5 is not a problem. Spend that first full day at Universal and move to Disney that night.

Unless you are planning many table service meals I would not get a dining plan. No matter what plan I get we always have many points left over. There are many ways that you can budget for meals. I remember one person saying that on the first day she put money in an envelope to take to the park. At the end of the day she would leave the leftover money in the envelope and add the next days portion.

Thank you for this! Validates what I was thinking!

If we do leave on 3/29 I want to do universal first so as it being ODS's bday gift of sorts. So I am trying to run numbers for one day. Staying offsite and universal is going to be the cheaper option....just have to give up the FOTL pass. But...it should still be a good time!

The envelope thing is a great idea!

I am sold on not getting the dining plan....we can definitely budget our money better there.

I am figuring in having about $1000 cash to take with us for food etc.

 

[rlh75]

Just a couple of thoughts:
There is "cheap", and then there is getting the best price for what you want to do. When you are talking about a trip as infrequent and as special as WDW seems to be for you, you want the later.

What I mostly do is to call the WDW ticket agent and talk to them. I ask about any unadvertised specials and what would be my best rate on a certain hotel. We found our favorite resort when CSR had a discounted rate I would have never know about. Ask about AAA rates as well if you have that.

Compare accurately. While staying on site at Universal may be cheaper and give you front of the line passes , remember you will only be there one day. Off site from WDW add 15.00/day parking and the loss of making your FP+ ahead of time and not having magic bands and no extra magic hours. These things may not matter to you, but are worth pointing out. Bonnet Creek is not considered an on site WDW resort and Im pretty sure offers none of these either but Im not 100% sure.

Oh, forgot- Would choose the 1st week of May. Lowest crowds, lowest rates, and lower temps!

Consider if you are all ok in a typical room...yes??? POR is going to be the cheapest. No? Two rooms at a value, the cabins, or look into renting DVC points.

Tickets- We like to get them though WDW so they can be linked to our rooms and on our magic bands.

Food- We have done both DDP and out of pocket and while we may come out a bit cheaper, we really do like the DDP because it lets us feel like we are on vacation and not have to watch what we order....DS wants the biggest steak- sure! Dessert every night-why not. We did not use the DDP last trip and I missed it and not sure we saved much if anything at all.


Have a wonderful trip!

Thank you for your help!
And you are right I want to get the best price on what we need so that we can have more "cash" for things the kids want to do while there. ie...character dining etc.

I think I am going to get my tix from Disney....I could be wrong but if I stay on site but not book through disney I can link them eventually right?

And the DDP...that is exactly why I was hoping to get FD or a better price then what I would budget for food that way we could eat more freely...feel like we are on vacation more! Exactly as you put it!

And I think we would be ok. in a regular room. The suite just gives us more space (4 and 11 big age difference...they need their space sometimes!! LOL!!) and give us more options for food in the room too.

I am going to call WDW today. I figured it won't hurt to ask questions right? never know when you might get a little pixie dust!!!

 

[rlh75]

You mentioned you live in PA. If you are near a Giant Eagle, they have Disney Gift Cards where you can earn fuelperks. If they are running a 20 cents off a gallon of gas for every $50 in gift card purchases, then you can save up to 12% off (buy 30 galllons of gas) - that's tickets, dining, souvenirs, or anything else bought at the resorts and theme parks. It's better than any of the other discounts available for park tickets that I have found.

Last year, Giant Eagle ran a special for double fuelperks on Disney Gift Cards the end of February/beginning of March. I am hoping they do the same this year!

No giant eagle. But that is a great deal....that would save us money where I wouldn't have thought to.

I think our Weis does give gas points for GC as well....so Gonna have to work that out....might be better then Target.

 

[rlh75]

The only way to check those prices is to open windows on your computer and write down you options.... hotel+food+tix=
for various options.

You should see my desk calendar....and my legal pad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thus why I just want to throw my hands up and book all through Disney....

if only I could win the lottery!!!!!! Then none of this would matter!!!

 

[rlh75]

Have you thought about renting a camper. Companies will set it up and everything for you at Fort Wilderness. I have not used this company but was thinking about it. greenbergrvflorida has photos of their campers and they look really nice. I am not the camping type but thought Fort Wilderness looks like so much fun. Renting a camper means you have heat/AC and a bed to sleep on. You can also cook breakfast each morning and a few other meals to help with the budget.

This has been mentioned several times. My kids love to camp....I am going to check this out!
Thanks!

 

[jimandami]

Another thought regarding Universal...last year, my DS9 was dying do go see the WWOHP. We had an 8 night Disney trip at AoA. For all of us to go to US, it would have been around $700-800 dollars just for the day, so we split up. I took DS to US with the Dreams Unlimited deal where you get Mears transport including, and it was still pretty expensive ($275ish), and everyone else stayed at WDW. DH and DD had a father/daughter day, and DM had pool time. It was a bit cheaper and everyone was happy. I am not sure how old your younger is but maybe that would be an option for your family? Would save a bit on tix.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I think this is the right place for my questions.

After all....this is the place where people like me talk about our budgeting addictions right?

So I am trying to get in an orlando vacation. Primarily for my 4 year old's fist visit to Disney world.

My oldest has been before, probably at about the same age as my youngest....so he is 11 now...so that was probably about eight years ago.

My MIL was amazing enough to pay for just about everything on that trip...so I want to repay the favor this year.

I am hunting the net...reading all the boards and running dates and numbers constantly to try and get the best deal.

Details of my trip.
Traveling with 3 adults, 1 disney adult, and 1 child.

Looking at dates in the first three weeks of may.
Or possibly the last week of march first week of april.

(Travel Dates Flexible. Just was trying to avoid the high crowd times. I know that march can be higher prices in disney, however, I am getting overly excited and would loved to go ASAP....and oldest's bday is on march 29th so how cool to surprise him by leaving on his bday!)

Anyways....

I would really love to stay onsite at disney. We promised a visit to Universal to the oldest as he is a Harry potter fan. (ok so am I )

Before my post gets to long....and scares everyone away....
My questions are:
Where is the cheapest place to book onsite Disney stay? I have seen posts about Cheaptickets...wondering if anyone used and the advantages/disadvantages of that?

Is it cheaper to book seperate....say hotel on a discount site, and the tickets on a discount site?

I am a couponer...so I am not above skipping around sites and booking things wherever they need done.

At first I was going to bite the bullet, book it all through Disney and live the magic and be done with it.....
but the Budgeter (is that a word?) in me just CAN NOT DO IT!!! LOL!!!

Any help at all is appreciated.

I can give more details if needed, and I am sure I will have more questions!!!

Thank you!!!

Check out the Doubletree DTD. It is walking distance to DTD and they run their own buses. The suites are roomy and your mother in law can have her own space. You will have a larger fridge and a microwave. I've stayed here several times and highly recommend it.

 

[eliza61]

I think the AoA suites are cheaper for a few dates as well.

I'm also going to second the suites. I know you say you won't be in the room all that much and you didn't say how long your trip was for but just from my experience, 5 folks squeezed into a tight room for 7 nights can make the best of familys a little loco. You say your going to have breakfast in the room? what type of breakfast? lol we tried eating cereal with milk on beds and dresser tops, interesting to say the least.

I guess I just want to advise against the thinking "we can tolerate" any thing to save a buck. We tried it and we did find out that there are certain "minimum" standards that must be achieved so the vacation is enjoyable.

After 3 nights of stepping over little children I was ready to commit homicide just ot get extra floor space.

some thing to consider.

 

[Higginsgirls]

I have purchased my room (Pop) on Cheaptickets (actually purchased, cancelled and repurchased there to get an even better price) and have received our tickets from Undercover Tourist and all of it is already linked to the Magicbands order and have been setting up our FP+.

I've always been attracted to the dining plan but can not make it fit the budget when I know I won't eat enough.

Next trip:
Driving from Michigan
First night is free at Hampton Inn - HiltonHHonor points!
April 6-12 at Pop Century

 

[sturowski]

I have purchased my room (Pop) on Cheaptickets (actually purchased, cancelled and repurchased there to get an even better price) and have received our tickets from Undercover Tourist and all of it is already linked to the Magicbands order and have been setting up our FP+.

I've always been attracted to the dining plan but can not make it fit the budget when I know I won't eat enough.

Next trip:
Driving from Michigan
First night is free at Hampton Inn - HiltonHHonor points!
April 6-12 at Pop Century

So you were able to link your park tickets from under cover tourist? I was thinking of ordering thru them if I could link it all to the magic bands...

 

[reginaastralis]

I apologize, because I didn't read the entire thread, but my two cents would be to go in Oct/November. I think the expansion at Universal is going to be well worth it, and I would much rather see it in slightly cooler temps than hoping to see it WITH the summer crowds and heat of May, and that's even if it's open.

I think, to save the most money, you should look at renting a condo. If you sit down and price out the places you'd possibly like to eat (check out allears.net) you'll find that it's not always cheaper to get the dining plan.

 

[rlh75]

In case anyone is following....I wanted to Update my post.

We got some bad family news this past weekend....and I am forced to head to Disney ASAP.

So it is officially going to be the week of 3/29 - 4/5.
We are going to stay offsite to get a bigger suite and save a little money.

Thank you for all of your help!

Now off to reread the posts and search the threads for which hotel/resort to book!

There were some great suggestions here! Thank you for being so helpful and friendly!

 

[Higginsgirls]

So you were able to link your park tickets from under cover tourist? I was thinking of ordering thru them if I could link it all to the magic bands...

Yes!!!!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

In case anyone is following....I wanted to Update my post.

We got some bad family news this past weekend....and I am forced to head to Disney ASAP.

So it is officially going to be the week of 3/29 - 4/5.
We are going to stay offsite to get a bigger suite and save a little money.

Thank you for all of your help!

Now off to reread the posts and search the threads for which hotel/resort to book!

There were some great suggestions here! Thank you for being so helpful and friendly!

Sorry for your bad news.

www.VacationCentralFlorida.com has a 3 bedroom condo (Unit 404) at Windsor Hills for $753.55 for your dates including all taxes and fees. We've stayed in their units several times and they've always been great. The units include a full kitchen and washer and dryer which really come in handy for us when on vacation. Check it out if you're so inclined.