Epcot Only Trip - Need Budget Ideas

[Nztara]

Hi All! I have been out of the Disney loop for about six years. Last summer I dusted off my Disney Visa and started earning reward dollars because I want to visit Epcot. It's the one park we didn't get to fully experience when we took my son years ago.

By fall, I will have the reward points to purchase two 2-day Epcot tickets for January. My son and I plan to drive down on a Saturday, spend Sunday, Monday at Epcot and drive back on Tuesday.

My biggest question is where to stay on site and the best way to pay. I don't want to stay at a value resort. Moderate is okay. Deluxe is okay. Do you suggest renting DVC points, waiting to see what discounts are offered in the fall or should I change my thinking and stay off site since I will have a car?

Will Disney typically offer larger discounts on resorts with major refurbishments happening? I saw that the main pool at CBR will be under refurbishment when we are there.

Any tips are appreciated! If I am not renting DVC points, I want to start buying discounted gift cards to save a few more $$ on our stay.

 

[firefly_ris]

CBR would be a good choice for a Moderate since it's on the Skyliner. As far as discounts with the main pool being down I wouldn't count on it -- I don't think there were discounts offered when the main hub area (food court, check in, pool bar etc) were under a heavy refurb back in 2018. I could be wrong but I don't think there were. With the main feature pool being down they still have all the "quiet pools" in each area to offer.

Other Epcot area choices would be Beach, Yacht, Boardwalk, Dolphin and Swan. Dolphin sometimes has good rates but I've noticed lately some really drastic swings in room prices depending on the date. Maybe has something to do with conventions as well. For DVC, I have not personally rented points but have looked into it a lot -- sometimes you can get an even cheaper deal if you grab an already confirmed reservation, however that can make the dates less flexible.

Lots of off site choices too since you have a vehicle, you just have to factor in cost for parking at the parks each day. But you're only doing 2 park days so it wouldn't really be crazy.

 

[melissalovesfigment]

If you are only planning on going to Epcot, I would check the prices of the Dolphin. And check and check and check. Their algorithms aren't great and their prices change pretty regularly. There are also discounts associated with Marriott. I know there is a Nurses and First Responders discount among many.

We have rented DVC points through Davids DVC Rental. If you are already locked in on dates and can still get a reservation at Beach Club Villas or Boardwalk Villas, I would try to go for one of those depending on price. One problem with Caribbean Beach is that the line for the Skyliner can get very long depending on time of day. Being able to walk home at night is a huge benefit for us.

 

[Her Dotness]

Festival of the Arts typically begins around the 3rd week of January.

We've seen some wonderful videos of artists doing sidewalk character portraits as well as offering works for sale.

You could do a bunch of wandering and watching for little or no money.

 

[princesscinderella]

Happy trip planning! If you are able maybe get park hopper tickets, so you can spend a lot of time at Epcot but can hop over the MK for the fireworks and Tron or HS to check out the SW area since you haven’t been there for 6 years. You didn’t say how old your son is to be able to give more detailed advice. If he’s tween-teen he might get bored of two days at just Epcot. One of the resorts on the skyliner would be perfect or the swan/dolphin are so easy to walk into world showcase. If you son is older and you plan to enjoy drinks around the world these locations can’t be beat as you don’t need to worry about drinking and driving.

Having a car makes it easier since you don’t have to rely on Disney transportation and if you stay at any Disney property you can park at the theme parks for free too. I hope some of the middle construction zone of Epcot is complete by the time you trip is scheduled, it’s been a hot mess of construction walls for what seems like forever.
To keep food costs down we usually just have a protein bar for breakfast, have our biggest sit down meal at lunch and then split something at a quick service. At Epcot depending if it’s festival time you can spend a lot or a little depending on how many booths you hit. I find that two food plates and I’m full. So you could plan lunch and dinner around the world.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’d look at Swolphin, if there aren’t conventions it prices between Disney mods and deluxes (don’t forget Swolphin does resort fees!) and would be walking distance or a boat ride away to EP.

If you rent points get insurance. Life happens and you don’t want to flush that cash down the drain. (Similarly I would not book nonrefundable at Swolphin- Refundable is flexible for travel plans and would allow you to rebook if the price drops.)

ETA: I would not expect a bigger discount at CBR due to refurbishment of a pool. Disney does not have a history of that. Also, isn’t Jan when Skyliner usually gets is annual maintenance done taking the whole system down for a few days? I’d watch out for that too.

 

[Nztara]

Festival of the Arts typically begins around the 3rd week of January.

We've seen some wonderful videos of artists doing sidewalk character portraits as well as offering works for sale.

You could do a bunch of wandering and watching for little or no money.

That's why I picked the later January time frame for the trip. My son has an extra day off of school on a non-holiday weekend. We both love artsy activities and want to enjoy the festival.

 

[Her Dotness]

That's why I picked the later January time frame for the trip. My son has an extra day off of school on a non-holiday weekend. We both love artsy activities and want to enjoy the festival.

Ah, well. Nothing like preaching to the choir, huh?

 

[Nztara]

I’d look at Swolphin, if there aren’t conventions it prices between Disney mods and deluxes (don’t forget Swolphin does resort fees!) and would be walking distance or a boat ride away to EP.

If you rent points get insurance. Life happens and you don’t want to flush that cash down the drain. (Similarly I would not book nonrefundable at Swolphin- Refundable is flexible for travel plans and would allow you to rebook if the price drops.)

ETA: I would not expect a bigger discount at CBR due to refurbishment of a pool. Disney does not have a history of that. Also, isn’t Jan when Skyliner usually gets is annual maintenance done taking the whole system down for a few days? I’d watch out for that too.

Thanks for the tip about the Skyliner,! I had no idea it may be down. Do they usually give advanced notice?

Insurance is something I hadn't thought about. I will definitely do that if we do David's.

 

[Nztara]

Happy trip planning! If you are able maybe get park hopper tickets, so you can spend a lot of time at Epcot but can hop over the MK for the fireworks and Tron or HS to check out the SW area since you haven’t been there for 6 years. You didn’t say how old your son is to be able to give more detailed advice. If he’s tween-teen he might get bored of two days at just Epcot. One of the resorts on the skyliner would be perfect or the swan/dolphin are so easy to walk into world showcase. If you son is older and you plan to enjoy drinks around the world these locations can’t be beat as you don’t need to worry about drinking and driving.

Having a car makes it easier since you don’t have to rely on Disney transportation and if you stay at any Disney property you can park at the theme parks for free too. I hope some of the middle construction zone of Epcot is complete by the time you trip is scheduled, it’s been a hot mess of construction walls for what seems like forever.
To keep food costs down we usually just have a protein bar for breakfast, have our biggest sit down meal at lunch and then split something at a quick service. At Epcot depending if it’s festival time you can spend a lot or a little depending on how many booths you hit. I find that two food plates and I’m full. So you could plan lunch and dinner around the world.

My son is 11. He would be happy to play at a pool all day, so if we get tired of Epcot, we will explore elsewhere, swim, etc. My Disney Visa points have been building, but not enough for room and tickets. I am thinking they will be tickets and meals inside the park with a little left over for souvenirs. If I see I can add the park hopper with Visa points, I will look into that option. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks for the tip about the Skyliner,! I had no idea it may be down. Do they usually give advanced notice?

Insurance is something I hadn't thought about. I will definitely do that if we do David's.

Looks like they announced it in Aug last year. Google Skyliner refurbishment [year] and you can see when they’ve happened before.

 

[dwiz]

Ditch the disney visa (a terrible product nobody should be using) and get a real credit card. You can get a chase card, spend $4000 in the first 3 months (renting your points) and get 80,000 points for the sign up bonus. You can redeem that 80,000 in the worst possible way (taking the cash option) and get $800 in your bank account, which would take what, like decades on the crappy disney card?

 

[SL6827]

Thanks for the tip about the Skyliner,! I had no idea it may be down. Do they usually give advanced notice?

Insurance is something I hadn't thought about. I will definitely do that if we do David's.

I have heard of only one poster that had insurance pay off for a DVC rental. Be aware.

 

[jtopp]

Epcot only, I would seriously consider Dolphin or Swan. January is s slow time, and both offer various discounts. Also consider Boardwalk, as all three are walking distance from the park