Help me convince hubby for trip #2!

[CaroM8]

In Septemer 2024 we (hubby, myself and our 6yr old daughter) took our very first WDW trip and it was just magical! We stayed for 7 nights at CBR with the free DDP promotion – and took full advantage of that perk! We treated this trip like once in a lifetime thing for us. We did some character dining (CRT, Topolino’s, Crytal Palace and O’hana) which was awesome! Some of those places we would never even think of going if we had to pay out of pocket so super glad we got to experience them this way.

We did so much in the parks - our daughter really surprised us and was a total champ even in the sweltering heat! Our package also had the Park Hopper which we did use a couple of times. Excluding flights, our whole vacation was about $5500 (hotel, tickets, DDP, souvenirs, LLMP etc.)

I’ve got to say though, I think I am hooked! I cannot stop thinking about going back. I want to present hubby with a plan to go back maybe late 2025 or early 2026. But I need to make it way more budget friendly this time. We sort of went all out (within our means) last September but in order to get this approved, I’ll have to trim it down. This is where I need your help!

I know for sure we would stay at a value resort this time (we want to be on site, no questions about that) to save on hotel cost – we did not spend enough time at the hotel to justify a high cost. We would probably not get the DDP – we just found it was way too much food for us and we could do it for way less, especially now that we have already experienced the ones we really wanted. Hopper is not a necessity either. We would do just 4 park days (we had 5 last time). Also maybe bring it down to 5 nights. I really liked using LLMP so not sure we could cut that, but I am open to it.

Anything I am missing that could help bring the cost down? Thanks

 

[cedricandsophie]

Don’t buy souvenirs, drive if possible, no lightening lane, make meals in room if possible or at least do breakfasts,no character meals, cut parks down to 2 or 3 instead of 4 and hang out at pool on day s off .

 

[Nancyg56]

One thing I would do is look at current discounts offered. I ran a quick query for August and the discounts for All Star Sports is pretty nice. For a 7 night trip with 4 day standard park passes, the subtotal is 2423 without a dining plan, and 3282 with the QS plan.

I then would find a Disney travel agent because those folks look for discounts, and can figure how to help you stay within a budget.

I would skip hoppers. I really dont think that they are really necessary.

I would look realistically at what my family eats, and then study menus. If the difference is about $800 to get the plan, figure out how you want to dine, and what OOP would cost. Do you want breakfast items or snacks delivered to your room? Do you order cocktails with pizza or is water or soft beverages the way you go?

I would look at ticket prices and then decide how many days you want to be in the parks. The cost per day decreases as the # of days increases, so maybe you prefer to go in more often for shorter period of time (That is us) or you go for broke 4 days, and rest and enjoy the pool, visit the resorts, and maybe tour Ft Wilderness the remaining days.

 

[Nancyg56]

One thing I would do is look at current discounts offered. I ran a quick query for August and the discounts for All Star Sports is pretty nice. For a 7 night trip with 4 day standard park passes, the subtotal is 2423 without a dining plan, and 3282 with the QS plan.

I then would find a Disney travel agent because those folks look for discounts, and can figure how to help you stay within a budget.

I would skip hoppers. I really dont think that they are really necessary.

I would look realistically at what my family eats, and then study menus. If the difference is about $800 to get the plan, figure out how you want to dine, and what OOP would cost. Do you want breakfast items or snacks delivered to your room? Do you order cocktails with pizza or is water or soft beverages the way you go?

I would look at ticket prices and then decide how many days you want to be in the parks. The cost per day decreases as the # of days increases, so maybe you prefer to go in more often for shorter period of time (That is us) or you go for broke 4 days, and rest and enjoy the pool, visit the resorts, and maybe tour Ft Wilderness the remaining days.

The number of nights is where discounts matter.

 

[Nancyg56]

Don’t buy souvenirs, drive if possible, no lightening lane, make meals in room if possible or at least do breakfasts,no character meals, cut parks down to 2 or 3 instead of 4 and hang out at pool on day s off .

Souvenirs are a huge money drain indeed. Alcohol is as well.

 

[CaroM8]

Souvenirs are a huge money drain indeed. Alcohol is as well.

Thanks for all your input! We had alcoholic drinks on our last trip with almost every TS meal because it was included but we normally would not do that as it adds up really quickly!

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Having less park days really saves a lot of money.....and driving

 

[wabbott]

1.) Stay at the value resorts - Art of Animation or Pop Century. The Skyliner is just as convenient there as it is at the Caribbean Beach Resort. We've stayed at a value and the CBR, and the extra money for the CBR isn't worth it, to us.

2.) Forget about the dining plans - any of them. I've never been able to make them work out on paper, unless you spend all your time eating instead of going to the parks.

3.) Bring your own booze and have a drink (or two) before you go out to dine, then you don't feel like you have to have a cocktail at dinner.

4.) Watch the various Disney websites, and subscribe to Disney's website to catch any promotions for tickets or hotels. We just scored a 30% discount at a Disneyland Hotel for this fall.

5.) Don't pay for lightning lane, instead hit rope drop every morning and you'll get to do most all the attractions without paying twice.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for all your input! We had alcoholic drinks on our last trip with almost every TS meal because it was included but we normally would not do that as it adds up really quickly!

Thats why i asked. We enjoy cocktails so I even have them with my CS meal. My granddaughters usually ordered soft beverages, so it was not always cost effective for them

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

If a lower budget is your prime concern stay away from the Skyliner values (Pop and AOA). Standard rooms at Pop versus one of the All Stars could be as much as $50/night more for basically the same room and even more for AOA. Preferred rooms at any of the values will also add at least $30 or so per night versus a standard room.

 

[Sarahh1027]

I agree with the above poster to check out an All-Star resort to save the absolute most money. You’re still in the Disney bubble and the theming is so fun at any of them!
One way I save money for spending money (food while at Disney and the occasional souvenir) is to buy a $25 Disney gift card when I went grocery shopping. I don’t do it every week or anywhere near that but it adds up! Also we have a BJs membership and we got an amazing black Friday deal on a $500 Disney gift card. We ended up paying like $475 for it or something like that.
Paying for the gift cards here and there vs charging everything while on vacation helps us anyways.
I agree with others to skip park hopper (which I know you said you were doing before anyone mentioned it) and one park per day is what I would plan too
Maybe you could try getting discounted tickets from undercovertourist.com? Then you just link the tickets on the app. I’m not sure how much you could save but maybe worth a peek.
May is a great time to visit, and you may be able to find room discounts because its a “slower” season. I find that the discounts are often for more expensive rooms though. Your cheapest bet will probably still be a standard room at an All-Star.
Best of luck!
Ooo edited to add that try to stay midweek as hotel prices are cheaper.

 

[eliseisawkward]

No idea if anyone has mentioned, but if you have a target red card, you can get Disney gift cards with 5% off and use that to pay for everything! That’s what we did and saved over $200.

 

[5stljayhawks]

Do you own or have access to RV camper or like tent camping? Is so, then look at Fort wilderness. Checkout forums on this site for more details. Sites are lower cost $100-$200 a night, you can cook in camper lowering cost. Tip - come back mid afternoon, take nap, have dinner and head back for hours.

When I figured out FW after 1st visit, (2 day drive, 5 day @ 100% all parks, 2 day drive back) I was like never again. Started booking 7 - 14 nights @ campsite with 4-6 days in the parks. way more relaxing and enjoying other aspects of what WDW/Orlando/beach has to offer.

Towing camper also means you have car onsite to got and explore rest of orlando. Gator land is awesome!!

What are hubbys fun hobbies? Golf, Fishing, ?????