Got plane, need lodging, car and ticket help!

[kellia]

Hi! I am new to the boards! We are going to Disney Feb 7-13, we just got our plane tickets today for $98 on US Air!

We were really not planning this this year, so we really need some good budget tips!

There are 5 of us, 2 adults 3 kids (11 yo and 4 yo twins), so most places we would need 2 adjoining rooms. Any suggestions on what to get, where to look, etc? Should we get hotel, rent a condo or house? By the time we pay for a car and parking, is it worth the savings? Of course we would have the kitchen.. I am so undecided!

Are there some non-Disney hotels on the property? I thought I read that, but couldn't tell which ones they were. Also, how does the time-share buying thing work?

Also, any good places to get tickets? I checked out Ticket Mania and looks like it will be $1150/$968 for 5 days (figuring we'd take a couple days to 'relax', depending on if Hoppers or not. Any cheaper? Also, is Hopping really worth it?

Thanks so much!

 

[atisikitabasket]

you could rent a house or Condo for less than staying on property or your could stay off site at a hotel. The good thing about a house or Condo you can save money by eating there. Alot of these also have their own private pool. But you would need to rent a car or you could stay at the resort in a value use the Magical express and not a rent a car and use the bus system for transportation and eat out while you are there or get the dining plan. It is all about what works best for your family. I have stayed in hotels and rented houses and the renting houses always ended up being cheaper for us but you still can't beat staying on site.

 

[svalencia1]

I usually stay onsite. Look out for discounts on rooms, but if they come out they won't be released untill later. Also, tickets are pretty set in price, all the discounts I have been able to find aren't worth a whole lot. Also, if you don't already you should subscribe to the mousesavers newsletter. There are links in there for cheaper tickets and rooms that are only available to the newsletter subscribers.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

...There are 5 of us, 2 adults 3 kids (11 yo and 4 yo twins), so most places we would need 2 adjoining rooms. Any suggestions on what to get, where to look, etc? Should we get hotel, rent a condo or house? By the time we pay for a car and parking, is it worth the savings? Of course we would have the kitchen.. I am so undecided!

Staying onsite can be worth it when it comes to paying for a rental car and parking. The car can cost you $100-$300 for the week, depending on what you're renting and who you are renting from. Parking at the theme parks will run $10/day, but you only have to pay once per day, even if you move your vehicle. However, you will get more space for your money in an offsite location. And you can have a few meals in your room if you've got a kitchenette. With a family of 5, that's something that you'll want to consider.

Are there some non-Disney hotels on the property? I thought I read that, but couldn't tell which ones they were. Also, how does the time-share buying thing work?

The non-Disney hotels that are on-property are the Swan & Dolphin. They are considered to be "deluxe" level resorts and they are within walking distance of MGM and EPCOT's International Gateway. They offer discounts to military/government employees, teachers, nursing professionals, the Entertainment Book, AARP and AAA.

The are also several non-Disney hotels located near the Downtown Disney area. They include :Best Western
Courtyard
Doubletree
Grosvenor
Hilton
Hotel Royal Plaza
Buena Vista Palace

The Disney timeshare is called the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). Owners can rent their points out and you can generally get them for about $10-$11/point. The number of points that you would need depends on the resort, season and type of room that you'll need. With 5 people, you would have to get at least a 2-bedroom villa. For your dates your would need anywhere from 236 for OKW to 280 for BCV. You can learn more about renting DVC points on the DVC Rent/Trade Board

Also, any good places to get tickets? I checked out Ticket Mania and looks like it will be $1150/$968 for 5 days (figuring we'd take a couple days to 'relax', depending on if Hoppers or not. Any cheaper? Also, is Hopping really worth it?

Thanks so much!

To save on tickets, try using one of the online ticketbrokers:
The Official Ticket Center
Dreams Unlimited Tickets
Ticketmania
Undercover Tourist
Discount Orlando Vacation
Maple Leaf Tickets

Compare their prices, including tax and shipping charges. And if you sign up for the MouseSavers.com Newsletter (which comes out on the 15th of every month), you'll find links in it for even lower ticket prices at one or more of the above ticketbrokers.

Some sites are currently offering 4-day tickets with 2-3 free days, so check all the sites to see who has the best deal for you. You might find that a 4-day w/ 3 free days is actually cheaper or the same price as that 5-day pass you were considering. You could still take a couple of "down" days, but wouldn't it be nice to know that you could pop in to EPCOT for some shopping or to MK for the parade.

The value of hopping is up to the individual. Certainly, if it means the difference between going to WDW or staying home, I'd drop hopping. But we do include it in our tickets b/c we like to move from one park to another during the day. When a park closes early (like the AK does), you can still hop over to EPCOT for IllumiNations. Or you can catch Fantasmic! at MGM after a day in the MK.

Okay, I've been very long with my answers but I hope they helped a little. Good luck with your planning. BTW, that $98 airfare was an awesome deal. WTG!