Family of 8 traveling 18 hrs to Disney, Reasonable places to Stay? How to save ?

[OverRunWithSons]

Yeah, go back and recheck the dates for FD, they are there through next fall. There are blackout dates, but some of May is available and you just need to check in by the last day of FD to get it for your whole trip.

I dont quite understand what you mean by this - checking in by the LAST day to get it for your whole trip. Does this mean if My trips ENDS on May 27th (or whatever that 1st day was for the special, that I could get the deal ??)

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Quick run of the numbers, for a value resort from June 2-9 with 5 day tickets and free dining would run you $1994.31 for a room for 1 adult and 3 kids ages 14, 13 and 9 and $1716.25 for a room with 1 adult and 2 kids ages 7 and 4 for a total for a week, 2 rooms, 5 day tickets and all your meals is $3710.56. Now, you can rearrange dates for a more cost effective time of year, you can add or take away days and save or spend a bit more. But this gives you an idea.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I dont quite understand what you mean by this - checking in by the LAST day to get it for your whole trip. Does this mean if My trips ENDS on May 27th (or whatever that 1st day was for the special, that I could get the deal ??)

If your trips starts during FD it is good for your whole stay. So, for example. We were supposed to check in on Nov 20, but free dining ended on the 18th so we added 2 days and saved $700.

 

[erinmomof2]

I didn't read all the replies, but we're staying at Orange Lake Resort in October in a 2 bedroom suite that sleeps 8, and for the week we're paying $560. We're renting someone's timeshare, we found it on ebay. They have a water park, gatorland show, ect.

 

[Belle5]

The last set of free dining dates would allow you a little longer to save. You can even make weekly or monthly payments online, if you wish, until it is paid off. Those dates are Aug 19 - Sept 29. If your kids won't be back in school until near Labor Day then perhaps some time next August(after the 18th)?? If you do go during those dates, you might want to consider getting the water park option.

 

[pennymom]

Also keep in mind that if you stay on Disney property, your whole family will be able to use Disney's transportation to go to any of the four parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom) for no charge, and you and DH won't have to drive anywhere. At the lowest-priced Value resorts (All Star Movies, Pop Century, All Star Music, All Star Sports) there is a bus stop outside for each park, and there is no cost for Disney transportation for resort guests. So your teenagers could take a bus to go to a park of their choice, but you and your husband could take the little ones to a different park better for younger kids, or bring them back for a rest/swim while the older ones stay in the parks. For me, vacation is extra nice when you don't have to drive everywhere!

During the Free Dining promotion, the Quick Service Dining Plan is great for your budget. As a PP said, you each get two (large) counter-service meals each day, two snacks, and a refillable mug to use at your resort in the food court. If you use one of those snack credits to get a bagel or muffin, a snack becomes a small breakfast. So it can be a very good deal.

 

[mrsklamc]

During the Free Dining promotion, the Quick Service Dining Plan is great for your budget. As a PP said, you each get two (large) counter-service meals each day, two snacks, and a refillable mug to use at your resort in the food court. If you use one of those snack credits to get a bagel or muffin, a snack becomes a small breakfast. So it can be a very good deal.

It can be, but it doesn't sound like it's going to work for the OP. If she can do lodging for $450, add $100 or so for parking because I'm too lazy to do the math right now-- she can easily feed her family for cheaper than the what, $3200 or something she'll have left over vs. 2 value rooms with free dining?

Oh wait, I forgot tickets...but even factoring those in, she can eat offsite (or possibly on) for much cheaper.

 

[Sparkleshine]

How much does it cost to drive in and park on Disney property? That is something to take into consideration.

 

[mrsklamc]

How much does it cost to drive in and park on Disney property? That is something to take into consideration.

$14 a day- or $28 if they take two vehicles. Even if you add gas, not going to touch her savings from staying offsite.

 

[OverRunWithSons]

$14 a day- or $28 if they take two vehicles. Even if you add gas, not going to touch her savings from staying offsite.

I will only have one vehicle, but I have to admit, I think it is absolutely insane, even nasty- to charge extra for parking over what their regular prices are at Disney-even with the food plan.
I happen to agree with Mrsklamc, I think I will get away much cheaper not staying on the property. Also I am not willing to go to Disney in August-Sept because of the HEAT factor in Florida. Here in PA it is a heatwave, I think my family would feel like DEATH and have no energy to enjoy anything with the heat being in the 100's on those months. Why again, they are offering deals probably & the beginning of school.

Not worth a free food plan to me, rather go when temps are around 70ish.

Now waiting until Novemberish 2011 and getting a free food plan, but seeing I have to factor extra charges in for parking, just kinda teeeees me off in even thinking about choosing them.

 

[8gr8mouseketeers]

I haven't read any of the replies, but wanted to say I like your username. You're family sounds similar to mine. We have booked 2 rooms at POP with free dining. The free dining was the biggest discount for a family our size.

 

[OverRunWithSons]

Can someone tell me if : We can leave the park in the middle of the day, find a nice reasonable restaurant to eat (maybe a smorgesboard type) then go back to the Park, can we do this ?? Will we have to pay for Disney parking twice? If you leave the park, will you have to pay full price again to get back in ? That way , we can eat breakfast at our campground, eat a big meal maybe around 3pm somewhere, then go back to the park around 5:00ish and stay till closing.

Now that sounds like a good plan to me -if we can do it ???


ARE you allowed to bring food/cooler into the parks ??? We do that when we go to Idlewild park in our area and Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, saves us a bundle. That is even a better option if we are allowed.

 

[mrsklamc]

Can someone tell me if : We can leave the park in the middle of the day, find a nice reasonable restaurant to eat (maybe a smorgesboard type) then go back to the Park, can we do this ?? Will we have to pay for Disney parking twice? If you leave the park, will you have to pay full price again to get back in ? That way , we can eat breakfast at our campground, eat a big meal maybe around 3pm somewhere, then go back to the park around 5:00ish and stay till closing.

Now that sounds like a good plan to me -if we can do it ???

No, you only pay for parking 1x per day. Just save the parking pass.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I haven't read any of the replies, but wanted to say I like your username. You're family sounds similar to mine. We have booked 2 rooms at POP with free dining. The free dining was the biggest discount for a family our size.

We are traveling as a family of 6 (7th is away at school) and we booked two rooms at Pop, with free dining,and 5-day tix (not hoppers) for next Feb. We really have to travel on the kids' school break (which is the week before Pres day) and I think we are checking in one day before free dining ends.

I priced out 5 nights at Fort Wilderness, 6 5-day tickets (not hoppers) and a budget for food (not wishing to cook on this, my vacation ) and actually had booked it-then when free dining came out, I ended up getting the Pop deal for nearly the same price!!!


Just the idea of not having to move all of us from the parks to a restaurant/condo every meal is worth $$$ to me...plus I know everyone has meals paid for and I don't have to dig up cash if say, the 6 of us want to eat at 4 different restaurants You have to decide if the extra stress of moving the 8 of you around repeatdly each day is worth it-it might be, I'm just saying

 

[KELLY]

I will only have one vehicle, but I have to admit, I think it is absolutely insane, even nasty- to charge extra for parking over what their regular prices are at Disney-even with the food plan.
I happen to agree with Mrsklamc, I think I will get away much cheaper not staying on the property. Also I am not willing to go to Disney in August-Sept because of the HEAT factor in Florida. Here in PA it is a heatwave, I think my family would feel like DEATH and have no energy to enjoy anything with the heat being in the 100's on those months. Why again, they are offering deals probably & the beginning of school.

Not worth a free food plan to me, rather go when temps are around 70ish.

Now waiting until Novemberish 2011 and getting a free food plan, but seeing I have to factor extra charges in for parking, just kinda teeeees me off in even thinking about choosing them.

If you stay on sight with the free dining. IT is free to park it is one of the perks. OR it use to be.

 

[mrsklamc]

ARE you allowed to bring food/cooler into the parks ??? We do that when we go to Idlewild park in our area and Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, saves us a bundle. That is even a better option if we are allowed.

Yes you can bring a small, soft-sided cooler. Hard sided coolers are not allowed.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Also I am not willing to go to Disney in August-Sept because of the HEAT factor in Florida. Here in PA it is a heatwave, I think my family would feel like DEATH and have no energy to enjoy anything with the heat being in the 100's on those months. Why again, they are offering deals probably & the beginning of school.

Not worth a free food plan to me, rather go when temps are around 70ish.

Now waiting until Novemberish 2011 and getting a free food plan, but seeing I have to factor extra charges in for parking, just kinda teeeees me off in even thinking about choosing them.

I agree with you on this ~ we visited WDW last early Oct. ~ it was way too hot! I'd rather visit a theme park when I'm cool enough to want to wear a jacket/sweatshirt then be hot and sticky. We had free dining for our trip and it was wonderful!

 

[OverRunWithSons]

I just talked to a Triple A agent (we belong to AAA) , I think I was misunderstanding something, SHe said you do not have to pay to park IF you leave your vehcle at the Disney Resort, just if you drive it to the Park (which we would not do - if we stayed at Disney), I thought someone was saying that you have to pay PER DAY $14 at the Resort itself !!! I misunderstood. So inaccuality, I will save money in parking if we stay at Disney.

The Agent said sometimes they offer a Buy 4 nights, get 3 free offer, and sometimes extend the Free Dining. It sounds to me, with her doing the math, IF i can get either of those deals, I would take it -if I was happy with the time frame . April -May and Oct- Nov into Dec will work for us. Her prices were $1,450 for 1 room, $1,340 for second room at POP Century(?) for 6 nights - and 5 parks -base tickets not Hopper for MAY 2011. But no food plan with this.

Nobody ever mentioned AAA deals on here, I wonder why!?

 

[mrsklamc]

I just talked to a Triple A agent (we belong to AAA) , I think I was misunderstanding something, SHe said you do not have to pay to park IF you leave your vehcle at the Disney Resort, just if you drive it to the Park (which we would not do - if we stayed at Disney), I thought someone was saying that you have to pay PER DAY $14 at the Resort itself !!! I misunderstood. So inaccuality, I will save money in parking if we stay at Disney.

The Agent said sometimes they offer a Buy 4 nights, get 3 free offer, and sometimes extend the Free Dining. It sounds to me, with her doing the math, IF i can get either of those deals, I would take it -if I was happy with the time frame . April -May and Oct- Nov into Dec will work for us. Her prices were $1,450 for 1 room, $1,340 for second room at POP Century(?) for 6 nights - and 5 parks -base tickets not Hopper for MAY 2011. But no food plan with this.

Nobody ever mentioned AAA deals on here, I wonder why!?

Actually, if you do stay onsite, you can still choose to drive to the park from your on-property hotel (if you wanted to) and still not pay for parking.

 

[bcinohio]

Those deals are not just for AAA members. They are open to the public. You don't have to book with AAA to get them.

Disney does offer a small AAA discount for room only certain time of the year. I just booked for end of March 2011 and I received 10% off my room only reservations. I'm hoping for a better deal but at least it is something.