MommyBryn
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 26, 2006
- Messages
- 1,053
Yes, I've run all the numbers for different options, and staying at the Wyndham Garden (?) was definitely the most affordable for them. No QSDP fit into their budget anywhere.
We chose not to add Park Hoppers to save the money since they will only be there 4 days. As I mentioned, coming from the other side of the US, the flights are pretty much the entire day. We generally don't get to MCO until around 5-6pm, and to resorts about 1.5-2 hours later. So not worth paying for an extra day of tickets. But being so close to Downtown Disney (I just can't call it anything else...) they'll have that to do that first night, and the morning before they leave if they want to. Plus, this is their first trip to ANY Disney park so we all figured they'll find plenty to do all day in one park at a time, and especially to make the most of the short time they have.
There are 3 Wyndham resorts right around Disney, 1 at Bonnet Creek and 2 located on Hotel blvd, they have the same address but one has a B at the end of the numbers for the address. There also is a Wyndham Garden and its located on I-drive so make sure to check the address's. None of these provides free transportation to and from airport, so they will have to taxi ( around 60 to 85 plus tip for a family of 4 from airport that's just one way so you have to times that by 2) or rent a car which is another cost, and at some resorts there is a fee for parking at resorts not on property anywhere from 20 to 35 a night. So that needs to be added into the mix, also some of these resort add in a resort fee per night ( which is around 20 to 35 depending on the resort) on top of the per night cost, so add in another cost, also wifi is another thing that most people want, is it free or another cost. Plus if they drive to the parks there is a parking fee at the parks anywhere between 20 to 30 dollars depending on time of year, if the resort offers transportation is it free or a fee, normal it will be per person per day.
As I said before my friends thought that they were getting a better deal staying offsite, here was the break down and how quickly things started to add up.
They booked the Hilton at DTD for 150.00 a night standard room 2 beds (from a hotel website site) x 7 nights - so - 1050.00
resort fee was around 30 per night X 7 nights . 210.00
Rental car - 150.00 ( not including gas or insurance)
Parking at resort per night was 27.00 X 7 - 189.00
They drove to the parks, it was 20 X 5 for parking 100.00
Total 1699.00
There was a charge for wifi but she could not remember what it was so I did not add it in.
This is what they spent and had not even gotten tickets, or anything to eat yet. Also her husband could not get over all the driving, sitting in traffic, parking, traming back and forth to the parking lots and parks
With this being their first trip, staying in the magic and being able to use extra magic hours, might be well worth it. It is much easier to ride a WDW bus back to the resort if you forget something, or someone doesn't feel well, then schlepping all the way back to the resort off site.
Time is money especially when its your first trip. Keep checking for free dinning, and the packages, something will turn up. There are lots of ways to add to the budget, garage sales, take the kids clothing and any toys they have outgrown to a kid to kids, or sell on ebay, lots of other ways ask family for Disney gift cards for birthdays, Christmas, eat at home more and take your lunch to work, lots of ideas to add to the budget.
Yes, we did factor in a taxi to/from MCO, but that $100 total didn't offset the cost enough to make it not worth it (and there would be no parking fees). We also considered the resort fees, but again, we are basing it on them going during the lowest rate time, so that would still keep them under other costs. (and they wouldn't use wi-fi, we did talk about that one! LOL) As I said though, if there is a great discount out for the time when they are able to go, we'll absolutely try to get them on-site!! These initial, early plans are just based on getting them there as cheaply as possible, and without specific dates or being able to know the discounts for next year, this looks like the currently most affordable option for them to rely on as far as an idea of what they need to save.