? How can I do WDW under 1 grand for 3

[bearloch]

ok can disney be done for under a thousand dollars not including transportation???


trying to plan a spur of the moment trip for MArch and would have to be on a very tight budget can it be done???


thanks

 

[summerrluvv]

How many days did you plan on staying and how old are the people in your party?

 

[CajunDixie]

Including passes? wow!! We'd need way more information.

1. Is one of the 3 a child? If so, what age?

2. How many days of parks...3, 4, 5 day hoppers?

3. Are you bringing food for any meals?

4. Where would you be staying...onsite value or offsite?

5. How many nights for the accomodations.

6. Have you thought about selling some stuff on Ebay, thus taking more money?

 

[AspiringCindy]

Originally posted by bearloch
ok can disney be done for under a thousand dollars not including transportation???


trying to plan a spur of the moment trip for MArch and would have to be on a very tight budget can it be done???


thanks

I say yes! Disney gives sooo many options in which to choose! If you are on a tight budget, then book a value resort! Allow a certain amount for food, then make it work!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Don't stay on property if you can help it and consider using Priceline or Hotwire for a package deal. We got airfare/hotel for two for $618 staying in a Marriott for four nights using Hotwire (the room ended up costing $40/nite), Pricelined our car for about $130 and bought Parkhoppers using TicketMania for about $350. Spending money not included, of course. Good luck!

Please let me know if I can help...I love spending other people's money planning trips! LOL!!!

 

[tiberius]

This is a great question. You can currently get an adult 3 day park hopper plus through the Alamo Renal Car Company for $169.35. There is a special number to Disney on their web site. You might try a package deal through AAA if you are a member--I believe their packages are discounted off of Disney's prices.
You might consider renting Disney Vacation Club points from a member--see the DVC boards on DIS--where you might be able to pick up a studio room at a good price.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

You've come to the right place to find a way to get to WDW on a budget!
There will be three of us going to Orlando Thanksgiving Week 2004 (crossing my fingers) and my total budget so far is $2800 - which includes a day each at Sea World, Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure. We are planning an 8 night stay (one day for each park), and the expense of driving from Pennsylvania, meals and anything else I could think we would incur is included in that total.

Right now we are planning to stay off-site. I think I've found a great rate for Courtyard by Marriott through www.orlandoinfo.com, but I'm still reasearching. If our situation changes we will try to stay at All-Stars or Pop Century.

Theme park tickets by far are the biggest portion of our budget. Our current schedule allows a full day at each park. If the purse-strings get pulled tighter, we will share a park with AK one day.

Accomodations (5 nights, off-site)
$55/night = $275 + tax/tips (less expense rooms can be found, if you are willing to give up some conveniences)
WDW 4-day Park Hoppers (3 adults)
$192/each = $576 + tax *buy passes in advance at your local Disney Store or AAA if you're a member
Meals (I have budgeted 4 character meals and the Cape May Clam Bake, which are $$)
$528 + tax/tips
I can always cut out the more expensive meals to save money if the budget comes up short. Or, we can survive on two large meals per day instead of three everyday (we usually skip BF at home anyway).


Our total for WDW only is $1379 w/o transportation and souvenirs.

Many tips on www.mousesavers.com to help save money on meals. Menus are available at http://allearsnet.com/index.html. to help you budget meals.

 

[ceecee]

Yes, you can do it. Price line wouldbe an opition if you don't care where you stay. Or stay on site at AS and maybe go with 4 day hoppers. Plan on counter serve for most meals, maybe some in room breakfasts?

 

[bearloch]

Sorry, I thought I had posted more info,

2 adults and one child ( 4), willing to stay anywhere cheap, we aloready have a voucher for plane tickets but they expire in the fall so thats why I'm trying to put together a trip, But Money is very tight so it has to be cheap!!


thanks for the priceline tip i'm heading there next!


carrie

 

[Cindy B]

My first trip in 1999 was for four people two adults two kids but one under 3, for five days was about $900 including tickets, room (onsite All Stars), and all food, and transportaion expenses.

It can be done!

 

[disneysteve]

You can easily find a nice room offsite for under $40/nite even without Priceline. You don't mention how long you want to stay, but assuming 7 nites, that's $280 plus tax.

On our last trip in November, our food spending for 3 adults and 1 child averaged under $17/person/day. For you, that would work out to under $400 for a week.

I would never consider staying offsite without a car, so count that in, unless you are willing to deal with the shuttles.

Only other big expense is park admission and cost of that depends on type of passes and how many days.

I think you could come close to the $1000 mark depending on length of stay. Obviously, the shorter the trip the easier it will be to stay within that budget.

Good luck.

Steve

 

[maggiew]

Another thing to consider is that you do not HAVE to do a park each day. Buy a 4 day Park hopper Plus ($197 at Connections for adults, less for kids) which will give you 5 days of activity. Then spend one day resort hopping or swimming at the pool. Do the free campfire at the Fort Wilderness with Disney Movie. You can plan this "free" day in the middle of the week as a chance to rest.

Granted you will not see EVERYTHING that Disney Parks have to offer, but you can't really do that anyway.

Stay at value resorts or one of the Downtown Disney Resorts. If you stay elsewhere, you will need a car.

You could eat all counter service. Probably about $10 each per meal. Your DD could either share with you (if you are light eater) or get a kids meal (approx. $4) which is a total of about $50 per day. This is provided you eat breakfast in the room.

ESTIMATE:
Tickets_ $197x2 + approx. $150 = $550
Hotel _ $50 x 6 = $300
Food _ $50 X7 = 350

That's a little over $1000, but not much.

Maggie

 

[CajunDixie]

You have several great answers but don't forget the cost of transportation from the airport to WDW if you stay onsite or a rental car if you stay offsite. A rental car could possibly be around $109-119 depending on the size you want. Dont forget to have toll money ready if you have a rental.

If you do stay offsite then I'd recommend bringing a collapsible cooler and stopping at a grocery to pick up a few food items. I know there is no way my family could do a whole week of counter service. Even for weekend roadtrips we'll pick up a veggie platter with dip and a chicken. You'll most likely want to bring your own drinks too or get a Brita water bottle. Don't forget to add the costs of these food items into your food budget.

For offsite hotels try Hotel Kingdom

For a cheap day you could do the putt putt golf and Downtown Disney. The 4 year old might like LegoLand. If you want to check out Port Orleans you can take the boat shuttle from DD and back for a bit of quiet time. You could also take a bus to any of the resorts to check them out...the FW campground has some great things for kids.

Look at Dollar Tree, WalMart or Target for inexpensive WDW items to give the 4 year old when they see all the gift shops at WDW. The first year we went I wrapped some of these items in Bday paper and had them stashed in my bag. Saved us quite a bit of money and no whining about buying all kinds of stuff.

Good Luck!!

 

[maggiew]

Actually, there is some good, healthier stuff you can get at counter service. For example, my DH got a salad at Columbia Harbor House that had grilled chicken and madarin oranges. Kids can get carrots instead of fries at Cosmic Rays. ( I think at other places too, but we tried at Cosmic Rays). They also have a rotisserie chicken family meal at Cosmic Rays. Many places have wraps, etc. MGM has a great fruit stand over by ToT and RnR. There is also a great fruit stand in AK. There are healthier alternatives if you look for them. You don't have to just get burgers and chicken nuggets at Counter Service.

Maggie

 

[mbb]

if you're willing to give up some time to a timeshare presentation, say no thank you where are my tickets , there have been people who have rec'd good accomodation plus tkts...just a suggestion...

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[jcemom]

I would think that it's just not possible...but others here say they have done it...Wow! Maybe I should be banned from the Budget Board...LOL

 

[disneysteve]

maggiew mentioned this briefly - sharing meals is a must at WDW. The portions at most of the restaurants are HUGE. Food prices seem expensive at first glance until you realize that a family of 3 or 4 people only needs 1 order of french fries. At some places like Wolfgang Puck's Express, we will only order 2 or 3 meals for 4 people, and usually still not finish everything. We also don't generally bother with character meals. My daughter is perfectly happy to see the characters in the parks so we don't need to spend a small fortune to have them walking around the restaurant. The only exception is Crystal Palace where we always have lunch one day because we love their food - we would go whether the characters were there or not.

Steve

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Watch Mousesavers for codes to stay on site. Sometimes the All Stars can be as low as $69 and on site you will not need a car. For a fun inexpensive Character meal try the Ice Cream Social at the Garden Grill in Epcot. Or replace a park day with a Character meal at Chef Mickey's and then a monorail ride or swim. A fun down day for mid week.

 

[tiberius]

Originally posted by bearloch


thanks for the priceline tip i'm heading there next!


carrie

If you decide to use Priceline, also look at the website www.biddingfortravel.com for advice on reducing costs through Priceline.

Good luck!!

 

[maggiew]

I think sharing is a great idea. My DH and I shared almost every meal - even sit down places (not buffets, or character meals, of course). We let our two girls get a kids meal each (usually) and then DH could "clean up" whatever the girls didn't eat. We did this for many reasons: we don't usually feel like eating as much at WDW; save money; what do you do with leftovers, etc. We were ALWAYS full. Most of the time when we shared we were comfortably full but not overstuffed. We didn't just eat up all the food so it wouldn't be wasted.

One place we really liked to share was at EPCOT. We got a kids meal at many different countries and then all 4 of us shared. For instance, we would start with the kids meal in Mexico (nachos w/cheese, beef burrito (small) and drink + we'd order a churro). Then a little later we would get egg rolls in China. Then later the kids meal in Japan (chicken yakitori - on a stick -, rice, drink). We'd get dessert in France! Yum! This allowed us to enjoy all the countries and their atmosphere and their food! Kids meals are only about $3.50 and usually come with a drink. (We had bottled water we brought with us.) So we could get 2 kids meals total, egg rolls at China and dessert in France and would be set for the day!

We also used Connections vouchers some which saved us money.

Maggie