Help me Please! Going CRAZY!!!

[kcb]

I currently have a 4night reservation at wdw, But I have found that by staying offsite I can dramatically cut my cost.
We have the dream maker silver plan but don't know that we can use the perks in 4 days. Cirque de soleil is closed and we would like to see as much of the parks as possible in the total of 5 days.
We love the idea of being able to go to the resort and rest ( taking a 2 1/2 year old.) but just don't know that the extra cost is worth it.
By staying offsite we can do the 5 days and 2 days at universal
for less than just the 4 nights I currently have.
I don't even know if we can enjoy universal with such a young child
We are planning magical Gathering with other members of the family in 2006, should we wait till then.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Why not drop the Dream Maker Silver Plan?

Spend the 4 nights at a WDW resort and get 4 day park hopper tickets.

That should cut your cost some.

 

[kcb]

Have 6 people in my party.
And like the thought af the 1 meal per day being provided from what I have heard eating is an expensive habit at WDW. although the cabin has a kitchen. Hmmmm.............

 

[Bonnie40]

kcb...

When are you going? Alot depends on whether you're going during a busy season. We have done both on-site and off-site and there are pros and cons to both. My husband likes to be able to just park the car and not worry about driving around. You would find it much easier with a 2 1/2 year old to just run back to the resort for a quiet afternoon. I would suggest pricing a regular package with ultimate park hoppers for length of stay and see how that shakes out. I couldn't imagine taking a toddler to La Nouba anyway. You could save the 'extras' for your trip in 2006. Universal is a toss up re the toddler and things to do. We go every year and love it but my kids are much older. Suess Landing is cute, but honestly there wouldn't be a whole lot that you all could do. JMHO but I thought it worth mentioning....

 

[Baloo]

WELCOME to the DIS kcb!

Since you're concerned with being able to get the full bang for your buck with the Silver Plan it might be a big waste of money for you to go ahead with it. I stayed off site for years on trips to WDW and had just as magical time then as I do now staying onsite.

As far as going to Universal.If you're just going to the Studios there isn't a heck of a lot there for a 2 and half year old.IOA does have the Dr Suess area that the little one should enjoy.

IMHO since you've planning another trip to WDW in the future ,and spending the money now might just make you feel not so good about your vacation when you get home (the buyers remorse thing) you might just want to go with your second plan of offsite etc.

Let us know what you decide!

 

[debbiemomto4]

I just got back from DW and I have to agree about how easy staying on-sight is. Sometimes my dh would take our 4 yr old and 10 yr old back to the hotel early and I would stay w/ my 12yo and 9 yo. Since we didn't have to worry about a car and who's driving this was possible. We were into sharing our meals and I was really tried to economize on the food. I only spent on the average about $90- $100 a day on food and snacks. That was w/ feeding a 12, 10, 9, and 4 yr old.
As far as Universal we liked it but.... not too many rides for a 2 1/2 yr old. How old are the other people in your group? Maybe about 3-4 in each park for 2 1/2 yr. old.I would say hold off until a bit older. Magic Kingdom& MGM are great for this age group.

My opinion only.
Debbie

So sad we're back....

 

[hyzdufan]

I'm not a big fan of the packages as they have an included convenience fee actually making it more expensive. Try using a discount code to get a room only reservation. Buy your tickets from a reputable ticket broker. You'll be surprised how much money you'll save.

 

[jcemom]

I agree that food at WDW can be expensive, however, when I priced the packages I found that unless you usually eat a full meal, including appetizers and desserts, the package charge for your meals is even MORE expensive than just paying for what you want. With a toddler the chances that you'll be dining at the most expensive restaurants is slim. The package may include meals, but you're still paying for them, and quite possibly paying more than you would without the package. I say drop the package, book room only, and buy park hopper tickets.

 

[jcemom]

This may help: Mousesavers it's a page from Mousavers.com explaining the ins and outs of packages. Essentially, you will be paying and extra $68 per person per day for your silver plan "wishes." Check out the Menus from allears.net to see the cost of food. That should help you to decide if the cost of the package is worth it for you.

As far as the UPH tickets go, will you go to the parks every day of your stay, including arrival and departure days?

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

If it's the six of you for such a short period, lose the silver plan. I'm doing it in 5 days/4 nights but have a couple of teenaged girls. It makes it much easier when you have to keep up with the kids rather than being slowed down by them.

Also you mentioned a cabin with a full kitchen. I've priced these rooms. The prices are insane! It might not be too late to get out of it although they will charge you unless you spend more money.

My advice: Drop the room for something in a moderate. You'll need two rooms but it will still cost much less. Put the cost savings into extra nights. If you're there let's say 7-8 nights then do the silver plan. You may even be able to afford longer by losing the cabin. If you want to go to Universal, and there are things there that children love, then save it for last. You can check out of your rooms on your plan and check back in with the room only. Cool thing about this is your park passes are still good until midnight.

And as for the silver plan it is not one meal a day. It is two wishes a day per person that can be used on meals. Most meals are one wish. But the only way to get your money's worth is to have sit down restaurant meals. A nice meal ($40 a head) at the Hollywood Brown Derby at MGM and a quick meal from a counter service each cost one wish. You need to plan your meals out and make priority seating arrangements 90 days out for summer visits or plan on waiting many hours to get tables. Also don't be afraid to share meals (they are usually enough for two and the plan includes an appetizer) and save wishes for cool things like watercraft rental, parasailing, and spa treatments.

When I got my plan and started asking questions the CM told me that it was up to me to find these things out and to "uses my wishes wisely."

 

[hygienejean]

Have you looked into renting a DVC property? They are more than reasonable and if you get a 1 or 2 bedroom you'll have a full kitchen and laundry right in your room. You can save $$ by cooking a meal or two in your room. PLUS you can stay at the BWV's, BCV's, OKW, or VWL...all deluxe properties. I would get a park hopper too......a much better value than the package. Good luck and have a great time!!!

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

I don't consider it a vacation if there's cooking involved. And I disagree with anyone who makes a blanket statement about the plans just because they don't think it's worth it. It is a judgement call that only you can make. I know I'll be getting my money's worth out of it. It just takes a lot of planning to do.

Part of my problem too is that we only have 5 days. Making it a longer vacation, which you'd have to if you're wasting so much of your day traveling to and from off property locations, is worth it for many people. We're getting convenience and paying for it. We tried staying off property our last visit and found that we weren't able to do nearly as much in the same amount of time. It didn't help that we were relying on the hotel's transportation and wound up sitting in a parking lot for over two hours after the park closed one night waiting with 50 other people for the bus.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

And one thing that makes a really big difference in all this wonderful advice you're getting that you didn't share - When are you going?

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by CharlesandCamilla
And one thing that makes a really big difference in all this wonderful advice you're getting that you didn't share - When are you going?

The OP's countdown is at 55 days, so I just assumed that was the trip they were asking about.

I too think they will be happier staying on site, I just think if cost is an issue that they may be able to stay an extra day by dropping the package, though it would have been better to book a room-only with the available discounts, and I think they're no longer available. I don't know that they have much time for all the activities and many of those still are less expensive paid for on your own than they are at $34/wish, with the exception of Cirque. I personally don't eat $34 worth of food twice every day, so that would be WAY over my normal budget. We (a family of five) spent on average $100/day for food and didn't deny ourselves anything. It just depends on what and how much and where you want to eat. And do you want to do it twice a day?

With cost as big a concern as it sounds, I think they are better off without the package, and as suggested, with two rooms in a mod rather than the cabin, unless they really plan to cook which I know I would never do on vacation.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

if i had a little one , i would def. stay ON SITE. it is so nice, just hop a bus when you want to back to rest,swim, eat. also just grab the mugs and you can have tonic,tea for the time you are there. the food court at all stars is decent, something for everyone, really you will love being on site. ....... we had fun off site years ago, but its easier on you to stay on. oh yeaH, IM BAD i do not want to see a KITCHEN on vacation....lol

 

[kcb]

Well
we are going june 20 to ? depends upon if we can jumble things around a bit

 

[Chica650]

We have a time-share package in the Orlando area and we've always stayed off-site w/little ones. It IS much cheaper and it's nice to be able to do your laundry while you're there and cook a few meals in. ( Unless you don't want to do these things, I just don't mind) We're staying at the Sheraton Vistana resort this time which is about 9 minutes away from the WDW gate. Our daughter is 4 this time, but I probably will still go back some during the day. We stayed at Star Island both times prior and it was about 15 minutes away. Went back to the room during those trips as well. It was not any harder than if we had been staying on-site. It's really just a matter of personal preference, and if it saves money to stay off-site....I say go for it! I'm a cheapo though so I do as much as possible to save money.

 

[bobcat]

As you see you will get a lot of different views on this topic. It all boils down to what is most important to you.

IMHO staying on site is the most relaxing way to vacation at WDW. The kids get tired the hotel is only a short ride away. You get tired the hotel is only a short ride away. You don't have to battle traffic to get from your hotel to the parks. You are in the magic of WDW from the time you enter the gates until the time you leave. You can have anything you purchase in the parks sent back to the hotel instead of carrying them around. Early entry days are heaven with little ones at MK.

I also don't think packages are the way to go if you are trying to save money. If you want to live it up and money is no object then packages are great. I would have a hard time getting my money's worth from a package. Price things out individually and see how it all adds up. Check out mousesavers for great comparisons and available deals.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

Think hard and call asap. You don't have a lot of time to make changes. Make sure you save some bucks because it will cost you to just make the changes.

If everyone agrees that a kitchen isn't a must moderates will provide a small fridge for a small fee. We aren't really breakfast people. But for those hot breakfasts I'm considering bringing a small cheap toaster for toaster strudel and pop tarts. We'll keep milk and OJ in the room so we can swap off eating and getting ready for the parks.

We got a couple of rooms - requested connecting - at the Caribbean Beach for just around $144 each. Our entire package for 5 days, 4 nights on the silver plan is $3475. They haven't posted the codes for the rest of July yet, but I was told there would be no problem applying the discount at a later date. And we will be taking advantage of the PHP's. We get in at 2 the first day and don't leave for the airport until 5 on the last.

Don't be afraid to ask for what you need and then describe what you'd like. The first CM I talked to when I called was very good about listening to me when I explained my desires and what I value. It helped that I had spent an hour studying the web site first and then stayed on it while we talked so that I could see the resorts and packages we were discussing.

Seems like you just got someone who asked what you wanted and set you up for it without mentioning cheaper routes. Problem is that some people actually call and ask specifically for what you got and go on a regular basis. I've known a few. It must be nice to be so rich.

Call soon, make tentative plans, work on your PS's (you're too late for the prime seating but at least you'll know when you're eating without waiting), if you're still on the silver set up your priority viewings for illuminations 45 days out.

If you aren't arriving early and leaving late you should drop the silver plan. The PHP's will be a waste.

 

[Teaching in NV]

Just my 2 cents ...

Staying onsite is great - we have a time share and so we don't stay onsite and I have "resort envy" whenever I get there - there are so many perks if you stay at a Disney resort ... everything from refillable soda cups to extra magic hours in the parks (you get extra hours in the parks - only resort guests are allowed in) You don't have to have a car (big savings if you are staying for more than a few days - but the fare for the taxi ride to WDW is huge!) and best of all, you are surrounded with all the magic that makes Disney what it is.

As for the Silver Plan - it is actually MUCH more expensive to purchase the plan than it would be to just go and buy your meals as you go. I have no idea why this is true, but it is. If you want to save on tickets, check out Hotwire and Connections123 - they have awesome deals on Park Hopper tickets and are reliable.

Also - if you have not done so yet, if you apply for the Disney Visa card, there are all sorts of perks for new users. You just might luck out and get even better deals on your rooms than you have now.