How can I plan a cheap trip to WDW?

[gr8tpanther]

First post... need LOTS of help!

I am planning a trip to WDW in 09/05, I know, I have time, BUT, I need to start planning cheap stuff.

Questions...

1) Is it cheaper to stay in a resort or in a regular hotel?

2) Where are some cheap places to eat?

3) AAA or somewhere online?

 

[tmli]

Hello and welcome. You're right you do have lots of time but since planning is half the fun, the sooner you start the better.

In order to answer your question regarding onsite or offsite, first we need to know about your situation. Ages and how many travelling, how long will you be staying, are you only doing Disney or are you seeing other attractions.

Definitely check out www.mousesavers.com this is an invaluable resource. Also try to figure out how much you want to spend a night on accomodations and then find something in that price range.

You will also have to decide if you are driving/flying etc.

Once you know where you would like to stay then we can help more with the where to book question and the cheap eats info.

Happy Planning!!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Originally posted by gr8tpanther
First post... need LOTS of help!

I am planning a trip to WDW in 09/05, I know, I have time, BUT, I need to start planning cheap stuff.

Questions...

1) Is it cheaper to stay in a resort or in a regular hotel?

2) Where are some cheap places to eat?

3) AAA or somewhere online?

First off....WELCOME TO THE DIS!!!

Let's see how I can be of service:

Is it cheaper to stay in a resort or in a regular hotel?
That depends on what you consider cheap. For me, the Allstar Resorts on Disney can't be beat for the value and since I'd much rather stay onsite than off, that is my choice.

Where are some cheap places to eat? Most if not all of the counterservice restaurants should fit your desire in the cheap category. I will leave you a link at the end of this post to look over.

AAA or somewhere online? Not sure what you're asking here, who to book your trip through or where to buy your tickets. Again, I will leave you a link.

Okey dokey, please visit the following links to get you started on your Disney vacation:

DISNEY RESORTS ---for codes and rates so you can see what works for you. If you have questions about codes just let me know.


DISNEY MENUS ---for ideas on prices throughout the different Disney restaurants

and finally

DREAMS UNLIMITED---for a free quote on what a resort stay may cost you. This agency is Disney based and runs this site, so it won't cost you anything extra to use them. Request Cathy Miller as your agent. If you any questions in this area, let me know again.

Oh yeah, here's one more link for ya:

TICKETMANIA
---for discounted Disney tickets.

Let me know if there is anything else you need.

Blessings,

Denise

 

[bearzabout]

I have learned to do Disney on the cheap and have many suggestions.

I stay in two bedroom condos with Skyauction for around $37/night for 7 nights. I use Priceline for shorter stays (around 42/night for a 3 star hotel). (See skyauction.com or biddingfortravel.com for more info). A value resort at $49/night (off season special rate) would be a better deal since you won't have to have a car.

I charge everything I can on Disney's credit card so I can get a free annual pass.

I buy quick and casual vouchers and dine well for around $11.50. Off site, I eat at places like NY China Buffet or Sweet Tomatos for around $7 for lunch. I hear CiCis pizza is about $4 per person. Earl of Sandwich, the takeout window at Bongos, the meal deal in AK, and many of the quick service places in the parks are good values.

A rental car usually costs between $15-20/day before taxes/fees with discounts listed on Mousesavers.com.

This budget board has a huge amount of tips.

 

[gr8tpanther]

Well, have 2 children ages 10 and 11, but not sure they are both going, the oldest says she doesn't want to go

So there we have... 2 adults (or children trapped in the aging process), and 2 kids.

We are driving. We live in PA and I want to see the in betweens....

Want to see ALL the parks... so will need a hopper for everyone of course...

And we are thinking of package deals? Do such things exist?

 

[gr8tpanther]

Oh yeah... trip length, well... I never want to come back


Not REAL sure yet how long we are staying... probably in the vacinity of 5-7 days.

 

[disneybella]

We live in PA also and my husband just booked us on a trip for August through Orbitz. We are staying at Wilderness Lodge for 7 days. It includes airfare from Philadelphia and parkhopper passes for the length of our stay. It's costing only a few hundred dollars more than it did for hubby and I on our honeymoon in May, when we stayed at the French Quarter. Don't know why, but couldn't resist that deal, so we decided go back and take my two daughters.
A money saving tip I learned is purchasing those refillable mugs from the Disney resorts. For $11.99 you buy the mug and can fill it in the food court at your resort the whole length of your stay!
Good luck booking your trip! Shop around for prices, the deals vary widely! Online seems to beat the travel agent though.

 

[gr8tpanther]

I stay in two bedroom condos with Skyauction for around $37/night for 7 nights

What is skyauction? Is that like ebay for condos? Got a LINK?


I don't get out much, this is HUGE for me, but severely looking forward to it!!!!

 

[mad4themouse]

Hi gr8tpanther and welcome to the DISboards!

Given that you'll have your own car, I think that staying offsite will be cheaper for you than an onsite room. However, it may not be as convenient and it will not have the added advantages of Extra Magic Hours or e-ride nights (if there are any in September). But, you'll get a comparable room for much less. It's really a matter of preference. There are those of us who prefer being onsite and are willing to sacrifice in other areas of the budget to make it happen. Then there are some of us who prefer the value of an offsite room. A great way to compromise would be to split your stay between the two, especially if you plan to visit Universal or any of the other attractions that Orlando has to offer.

There are package deals for both Disney and outside resorts. Most times, they are not as cost-effective as booking everything yourself. Once in a while a package deal like this summer's "7 for 5" promotion will come out. Those packages can be a better deal than booking all the parts separately. You really need to cost everything out yourself.

So far, I've been very happy with Dreams Unlimited, as a travel agent. They've been able to get me an AP discount on my room and helped make last-minute changes that could have meant hours on the phone (all long-distance). Getting a quote from them is easy and costs nothing. If you're considering using a travel agent, I would skip AAA or any of the online discounters like Expedia and go with DU.

As far as cheap eats are concerned, you may want to get a room with a small kitchenette in it. You would be able to fix a decent breakfast for your family before departing for the parks and you could even do some light cooking for evening meals, as well. Disney has "Home Away from Home" resorts that include kitchens in them but they are more pricey than the offsite resorts.

When eating in the parks, counterservice meals will be less expensive than sitdown restaurants (cheaper entrées, no tips). Carry your own water bottles and ask for ice water to refill them when you eat. Bring along some Crystal Light or a packet of Kool-Aid to flavor it up if water is too boring for you. Tuck a few snack items into your fannypack for when you get the munchies. A 50¢ packet of crackers can be every bit as good as a $2.50 box of popcorn. Read the
Everything You Wanted to Know About Connections Meal Vouchers Thread
at the top of this board to see if using vouchers might be a good way for your family to save money on dining. You would not be able to purchase vouchers now for 9/05 but it might be worth considering.

If you decide to book you hotel and passes separately, consider purchasing from an online ticket broker like Ticketmania.com or Paramount Travel . Their prices on PHPs will be much lower than Disney's. Or, if you're willing to join a buying club to get the discounts, Hotwire Savings Club has the best prices of any of them for PHPs.

Okay, this post has gotten to be too long already. Have fun planning your trip. With over a year to go, you'll be able to plan, revise and refine it many times.

 

[fam4jc]

Hi And Welcome! You've come to the right place for WDW planning!! I would suggest first reading all the sites mentioned in the previous posts, then listing your questions again when you have a little more information.

There are pros/cons for staying off site. If you can afford it, I would definately stay on site. I think September is Value season so the rates would be lowest (rack rates). There are many ways to get discounted rooms. Again, those sites referenced will be a huge help.

I always tell people, myself included , to plan for your dream trip, then trim it down if you can't make it work financially so you end up with a high-end and low-end trip plan. Start a notebook with just Disney information in it. You will refer back to it time and again while planning.

The hardest part is choosing a resort! Look at the pics on line and read some of the trip report threads here... lots of good informaiton.

Have a wonderful time planning! These wonderful people who have already posted are full of ideas and are very nice. They'll help you all they can. What a blessing

Shellie <><

 

[gr8tpanther]

My bf has been to disney 4 times, but he says that this is MY trip and I have to plan it, lol, he says that is half the fun.

Anyways, he said about staying at a resort and getting the package deals. So, I am supposing that is what I am looking for here, not sure.

All-Stars resorts seem to be the cheapest from what I am seeing. I have done some research (got the DVD, surfed disney.com to death) but I am learning ALOT more here

Soooooooo, now I am off to click on links and make some discoveries

But please, keep adding the DOs and DON'Ts to Disney!!!

 

[gr8tpanther]

Start a notebook with just Disney information in it

Good idea... started it already, hehehe

Dis be COOOOL!!!

 

[disneysteve]

Everyone's definition of cheap is different but here's my 2-cents (I hope its worth at least that much )

You will have your own car so ABSOLUTELY stay offsite. The accomodations are far more spacious and well equipped and also much cheaper. I've stayed at the All-Stars, Disney's budget option (and now Pop Century). The rooms are tiny and unless you get lucky you can be a pretty good distance from the main builiding with the food, arcade, front desk, etc.

Offsite, with 4 people going, I would definitely recommend renting a timeshare/condo type place with a kitchen. That will give you much more space and a full kitchen. Skyauction.com is a great way to go. We're going in October and booked through them for $261 for the week for a 2-bed, 2-bath unit about 3 miles from Disney. From there, its about a 10 minute drive to the Disney parks. It can take that long or longer to get to the parks from the onsite hotels. Also check closesttodisney.com and vrbo.com.

As for food, a few tips. Staying offsite with a kitchen, you can eat breakfast before you leave in the morning. Bring non-perishables if you have the space - cereal, pop-tarts, etc. and buy the milk, juice, yogurt and such when you arrive. You can also carry snacks into the parks. Also, bring a refillable water bottle. Freeze it partly filled each nite and top it off in the morning. During the day, just get a cup of ice from any of the park restaurants and refill the bottle. I'm always amazed how much some people will spend for bottled water.

Meals at most Disney restaurants are large and can easily be shared. For the 3 of us, we often get 2 meals and share. Or 1 of us will get a combo with sandwich, fries and soda and the other 2 just get a sandwich and we all share the fries and soda. Disney food prices really aren't all that bad when you share. On our last trip we were 3 adults and 1 child. We spent an average of $17 per person per day on food.

Avoid package deals. They are almost always more expensive plus they often include things that you won't use. Cheaper and better to book things yourself.

Disney doesn't have to cost a fortune if you know what you are doing. Keep posting the questions. Always happy to help.

 

[Taja]

Be sure to check where your travel dates fall on Disney's "season" calendar for 2005. September tends to be in the "value" (least expensive) season for rooms, but I've noticed that the value season was shorter this year than last year (2003), and is shorter still in 2005.

For park tickets, all of you will be "adults", and that will take a good chunk out of your budget. You might want to consider one Annual Pass (AP) for yourself or your BF. Although somewhat more expensive than multi-day tickets, it can be your ticket to WDW resort discounts.

Keep in mind that you don't need to have the AP ticket at the time you book, and if discounts are not available at the time you book, they can be applied when they become available. You may be required to produce an AP pass for a member of your group at check-in, so you can purchase it after arriving at WDW or a few weeks in advance if you decide to take that route.

The break-even cost of an AP for park entry is considered to be 8 days, but the room discount can more than offset the difference in price between an AP and 5 or 6 day park hopper.

I'm going on a budget trip in September, 2004 (waiting for AP codes to be released), and expect my PC (Pop Century) standard view room to be about $55 per night including tax. Since I already have my AP from last year (net savings of about $250 on that trip, when I purchased the AP), my primary costs will be my room and rental car, as I'm using a frequent-flyer round-trip voucher on Southwest. Add $400 for food and incidentals, and my out of pocket costs will be about $1100 for 7 days. I could easily cut another $200 to $300, but it's a budget trip rather than a bare bones trip!

Planning really is a lot of fun, and finding good value for your money is even more fun! Let us know if you have questions and how your plans are going!


__________________
Taja

 

[fam4jc]

Can someone explain skyauction.com? This is the first I have heard of it.

Thanks,
Shellie

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by fam4jc
Can someone explain skyauction.com? This is the first I have heard of it.

Thanks,
Shellie

Skyauction auctions timeshare units. They also do hotels though I'm not sure the deals are as good for those. They run several types of auctions. There are auctions for a week in a specific location, there are auctions that are per nite, and there are "Ready-Set-Go" auctions where you bid for a week stay but you don't have to decide where you are going until after you win. There is a very long list of places to choose from for those auctions.

The week-long auctions have a fee of $210 added to whatever the winning bid is. So, for example, I won a RSG auction for $51. My total paid was $51 + $210 or $261 for a 7 nite stay at a 2-bed condo in Kissimmee.

The site can be kind of overwhelming when you first check it out, but it really is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. They have very good help screens and are also great about answering questions by e-mail. I wrote to them a few times before bidding and always got a prompt and clear response.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

STAY ON DISNEY PROPERTY IT'S THE BEST. IT'S CLEAN AND SAFE.YOU CAN'T BEAT THE ALL STARS RESORTS.IF YOUR GOING TO DISNEY YOU WANT TO STAY ON DISNEY PROPERTY.BOOK IT YOURSELF.ANY QUESTIONS JUST E-MAIL.I CAN HELP YOU SAVE.

 

[gr8tpanther]

Well... POP Century looks to be the most appealing to me on the value side of things, so I think that is my chosen place to stay. Need a fridge, so that is extra.

I am a AAA member, do the resorts offer AAA discounts on rooms?

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by gr8tpanther
Well... POP Century looks to be the most appealing to me on the value side of things, so I think that is my chosen place to stay. Need a fridge, so that is extra.

Just keep in mind that for the cost of a room at Pop Century (or less probably), you could have a 2-bedroom condo just offsite with a full kitchen.

 

[powellrj]

Originally posted by gr8tpanther
Well... POP Century looks to be the most appealing to me on the value side of things, so I think that is my chosen place to stay. Need a fridge, so that is extra.

I am a AAA member, do the resorts offer AAA discounts on rooms?

yes, when you call just ask for the AAA rate. AAA also sells park hopper tickets at a discount so you might want to check the ticket prices with them. mousesavers.com has wonderful planning help if you haven't already been there. There are also some great books called the Passport and the Unofficial Guide. Most libraries have copies so you can check them out before you buy them. Just keep checking the different boards on the dis, because there is a lot of great information out here!!!