Economical Summer Trip

[tmli]

My DS(6) and I are heading back to WDW this summer (5th visit in 4 yrs). We just got back 3 weeks ago and have a 7 day cruise booked for Jan'04 so this trip has to be cheap!!!

It looks like the last week of Aug is value season again and the crowds are lighter, staying on site is a must! I'm thinking 7nt stay and only buying 4 day hoppers......therefore I'd like to stay at a property that has lots of stuff to do so we're not bored. Stayed ASMO last year, would stay again except not enough to keep us busy there. Thinking studio at BWV with rental points?

What would your most economical trip be? Suggestions on things to do outside the parks that are cheap or free? Please share your best money saving tips!

 

[Mickey Mom]

We like to visit the other resorts. We usually like to have dinner at one of the restaurants and then walk around the resort. If you go to Port Orleans there is a boat that takes you over to Downtown Disney, then get a bus to go back to your resort. We ate at Wilderness Lodge (Whispering Canyon Rest was a fun place to eat) and looked around the resort last year. I think that you can take a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom, and then get a bus to your resort. You do have to watch that the resort restaurants aren't too expensive. We were thinking of visiting the Epcot resorts this year. I undersatnd that the Boardwalk is fun in the evening. We also enjoy using our resort pool---the main pool and the quiet pools are nice at all of the moderate resorts. Hope this helps.

 

[tmli]

Some great ideas, thanks! My son's favorite thing to do is take the disney transportation, monorail, boat, bus.....he loves it all! Last trip we rented a condo off site and he complained because we couldn't take the bus anywhere!

Any other ideas?

 

[disneysteve]

I also vote for touring the other Disney resorts. We like to start at Beach Club, eat at Beaches and Cream, then walk the path around the water to Boardwalk and back.

We always spend a couple of evenings at Downtown Disney Marketplace - dinner at Wolfgang Puck Exress or sandwiches from Gourmet Pantry.

If you haven't seen Animal Kingdom Lodge (or even if you have) get over there to tour the hotel and watch the animals. That's a great way to spend some time.

If you will have a car (or a taxi is within budget), we love Old Town. My DD(7) loves going on the rides, especially the go-karts. Prices are reasonable and its a fun place to wander around for an hour or two. Flippers has darn good pizza there.

Steve

 

[patsal]

Don't forget to check out the campground. With the petting zoo, pony rides, hayrides, campfire and movies it is really a great way to have a relaxed fun time very inexpensively. (pony rides, hayrides are a few bucks, and smore kits are as well--the other things are free). You can take the bus or use the boat from the MK or WL.

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says........................................ Stay at the All Stars, this is a budget trip remember! Head over to the resorts it will take all day just to get a glimpse of them, and grab lunch at a couple of them. Kona Cafe at the Poly is good and reasonable. Do the boardwalk, ride the monorail, go to DD. Catch a movie at AMC. Catch MK fireworks from the Contemporary.
Hey, late lunch at Kona Cafe, explore the Poly, monorail to the Grand Floridian and explore.Chef Mickeys for dinner at the Contemporary, and up to the observation deck for MK fireworks!
These are all inexpensive, except for Chef Mickey, but hey ya gotta eat somewhere, and even a budget trip should include a couple of nice meals.

 

[RobinMarie]

I think I would buy tickets with plus options and spend a day or two at a water park or Disney Quest. We enjoyed spending the day at Typhoon Lagoon the last week in August. We arrived at opening and brought in sandwiches/drinks for lunch. We had a great time, and it was inexpensive.

 

[tmli]

Again all wonderful ideas, so glad I asked. I'm renting DVC points for the boardwalk for 4nts of my stay. Only 11 pts/nt for a studio, I figure there's lots of free stuff to do near the boardwalk and the pool looks great. Nightly cost isn't much more than ASMO and we will do the other 3nts there or I'm seriously considering HIFS for a couple of non disney days. The Boardwalk includes a fridge so I can bring some of our own drinks and snacks in to save money. HIFS has a pretty good meal program so we'll hardly pay for food there.

While no trip to Disney is "Cheap", you can certainly spend as little or as much as you want and still have a magical time!

 

[hockey mom]

We rented points last year and it worked out great. You have made a great choice. My 6yr old son also loved to spend alot of time at the lego store in DD. Last year they were building cars outside and then racing them. Zreo cost and lots of fun.