Doing Disney as Cheap as possible

[Bugsmom73]

We are looking to head to Disney from 11/28-12/3. We will be driving down from the Chicago area and leavng on the 27th. We have a room reserved at the All Star Movies from sun-friday morning. We have a 1yr old and a 3yr old. We are planning on doing sandwiches etc for lunch driving down and back and doing breakfast in our room(dd usually likes only yogurt anyway). I am thinking that the kids can share a meal and DH and I can share part of a meal. Any other options to cut corners. We are thing of joining AAA for discounts on Tickets and for hotels benefits on the way down. We are looking to cut corners as much as possible and still have a good time. We have the Disney Visa so it will be a 0% APR for 6mos after we pay.

This is my 8th trip and I really want to go, I just need a way to do this the most economical way possible.

Thanks,
Carrie

 

[mad4themouse]

You may want to check that 0% APR for 6 months offer. It was my understanding that this was for packages booked and paid for completely with the Disney VISA. Your room-only ressie wouldn't qualify under that rule. Call BankOne to make sure.

 

[mad4themouse]

Regarding the meals, your two kids should easily be able to share a single kid's meal. For you and your DH, a single combo meal with an additional entrée or side dish (depending on your appetites) should be fine.

Check the menus on AllEarsNet.com - Menus From Around the World to get an idea of prices and what is included in each platter.

For the tickets, you may want to do a little price comparison before you buy. AAA offers some great deals on passes but you may be able to get them for less at one of the online ticketbrokers. They also offer some passes that are not generally available to the public.

 

[maxie]

Make sure to check out www.mousesavers.com

 

[momofbuzzfan]

We are going during that time also! We too like to try to do disney for cheap, but still have fun, too. What rate did you get your room at? We started out with a AAA rate on the room ($69 incl tax) at the PC. Then we got a postcard for $49/night (it came out to around $55 inc tax) so we changed to that. I just saw on the disney world website that they are offering rooms for that time for $55/a night.
We live in WI so close to the Chicago area. We got our airline tickets out of Milwaukee for a pretty good rate, although I have seen much better since, especially for Chicago. I have seen as low as $49/one way! So you may consider flying, you wouldn't have to pay for the 1yo yet (I know some are against lap babies, but that is the way we fly).
I am not sure if it would be worth getting a AAA membership if you only wanted to save money on this trip (just not sure you would save more then the membership). I have found that ordering your ticket in advance through disney is a pretty good price. Also we usually never get the ultimate hopper passes. It is alot cheaper to just get hopper passes especially if you won't be going to the parks EVERY day of your trip.
In the past we have also packed and done breakfast in the room. We also have packed a lot of bottled water. We then usually eat a mid afternoon(still lunch prices) meal (a few character meals) and then a light snack/sandwich for dinner. I bring PB&J for the kids (its their favorite anyway). Your 1yo is free at any buffet/character meal.
We are looking foward to going to MVMCP this year, you may want to consider splurging for that event. We won't be going to a park that day and from what I read they let you into the MK at around 4pm for the event. Remember your 1 yo is almost completely free this trip.
I would also recommend bringing your own stroller. I think a double stroller rental is $15/day, that adds up. Plus it is nice to have your own stroller.
Hope this helps some, have a great trip!

 

[Bugsmom73]

WE got a rate of 65 per night for preferred choice room selection. DS is 25+ lb at about 1 year and carrying him a long long way is not my idea of fun. we have a double stroller and we will be bringing that. I have called the Disney Visa place 3 times and they said that was okay for the hotels too as long as you pay with the VISA.

I am looking into air and have found nothing cheaper than about 117 per person plus I am thinking we would want rental car plus we would need to pay for parking of our car too, so I am thinking about 500 for all of that vs 278 for gas and hotel down and back.

 

[tar heel]

Double post, and I'm not being allowed to delete.

 

[tar heel]

You don't pay for parking if you're staying on site.

Don't forget to bring snacks, juice, sodas, water, etc., with you if you drive. Watch for sales and try to get everything at a discount.

You could also save about half by using priceline.com for your hotels on the trip down and back. The drawback is that it means you have to decide before you leave where you're staying instead of just driving until everyone is tired.

 

[simonmunro]

Tar Heel: I tried to delete a double also and was not able. I think maybe it's just for mods. I have only been able to edit.

 

[captJack88]

You can always take a small crock-pot with you. We got this idea from these boards for our trip in April, and it worked out great. My DW made up some taco meat, sausage gravy, ect, we even took a small roast with us,I think we had 3 or 4 meals planned as crock-pot meals for our 7 day trip. She froze it all in ziplock bags and we threw it in a cooler packed with ice. Before we'd go to a park, we'd throw what we wanted in the crock-pot and let it heat up while we were having fun, by the time we came back for our mid-day break, we had lunch. It worked out well for us, and no one said anything, which I was sort of worried about. We had no problems at all with it, and saved on 3 lunches, 2 dinners from leftovers, and 1 breakfast. Good luck and have fun!

 

[jcemom]

I would consider doing without the "preferred" room location to save another $10/night.

We also did breakfast in our room. Not only was it less expensive, as we aren't big breakfast eaters, but it was SO MUCH more convenient and faster for us! I'll never do it any other way now! We used an inexpensive foam cooler from Wal Mart and just replenished the ice once or twice a day.

I also don't think you'll save anything by joining AAA. You've already got the lowest price available on your room. I think you'll find your best ticket prices on Mousesavers and what little, if any, savings on tickets that you would get from AAA wouldn't be enough to cover the membership cost.

I also would try to do a MVMCP if I were going to be there at that time. If you plan non-park activities for that morning (great to have a break from the parks with little ones anyway), then just use your MVMCP ticket in the evening it will actually be a deal--the MVMCP ticket costs less than a regular Park Hopper day!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Have you considered joining the Hotwire Savings Club to save on tickets? The first month is free, and then it's only 7.95/month thereafter.

We joined to buy our tickets and a couple of meal vouchers, and ended up also buying their discounted movie tickets (love those!) and the discounted Target and Linens-n-Things gift cards. We've been really pleased with it so far and will probably stick with it for a while.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Originally posted by captJack88
You can always take a small crock-pot with you. ...

Please don't cook in the rooms. They aren't meant for food preparation that requires cooking. Sandwiches, hot water for tea/coffee, no big deal. But please leave the cooking appliances at home and keep the resort safe for all the guests.

 

[Mic]

bugsmom73-
If driving to WDW from Chicago, I would definitely reccommend joining AAA. We originally joined for the room discounts a few years ago, but I feel better knowing I have access to a tow truck should I ever need it. We now own 2 new cars, both with roadside assistance for x amount of miles(one until 50,000 miles and the Suburban until 36,000 miles). I will still renew my AAA this year, as I may need it in a few years when the warranties expire. But I do agree with other posters about the ticket discounts not being the best.

 

[Alicia Gist]

We're going for that time and staying in the Pop Century. Did you know the tax is cheaper on the Pop Century than the All Stars? Every little thing adds up!!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Make sure you take water bottles and even powdered lemonaide or tea if you don't care much for the water taste there. Also the biggest savings for us is to stop at Sams Club or Costco and buy small snacks such as granola bars or crackers etc. to carry with you and eat. We find the snacks in the parks can eat up lots of a budget if you aren't careful. We also find that a big breakfast is the best for holding us over and the cheapest meal to eat a lot at. Since you are driving, you might find it cheaper to eat dinner outside of the park, depending on the types of meals you prefer. Have a great time.

 

[jann1033]

2 ways we save on the road is www.restaurant.com and www.roomsavers.com..( they also have free books in most rest areas with coupons for the state) we got a really nice room via roomsavers book a few weeks ago for under $50 ( in Pittsburgh) when we had to stop unexpectedly..the only draw backs are for rest. you have to have a general idea of where you will be at lunch/dinner time. they do have maps on the rst. pages so youcansee if it's close to the interstate or not( most are not but we found 2 that were). at roomsavers you have to hope they have a room but we used our cell and just called when we were getting close to see who had available rooms at the price...i did read in consumer guide that one of the best sources for rooms is to directly call the front desk of the actual hotel you want to stay in( not the 800 #) and ask for their best rate & that way you know you have a room reserved ...got 2 for a little under $50 each ( including tax) last trip that way, neither had the same prices at the 800#