How much has the information from these board saved you?

[PrincessMommy2]

I was just wondering how much everyone has saved on their trips using the information found on these boards. Without them, I never would have known to look for room discount codes, split reservation stays, etc. I would have just called Disney World and told them when I wanted to come and where I wanted to stay and how much do I owe you!

I am traveling with a total of four families, so I really wanted to get them the best price on everything without skimping since this will probably be the only trip like this together. I priced out the same nights at the WL with the Dream Maker package Prince/Princess option on Disney's site. The least we saved was $1074.80 and the most we saved was $1150.06!

Not too bad!!

So, how have all you done?!?!

 

[Princess Steph]

I want to thank everyone for all the valuable info I have received from these boards. We are traveling with the grandparents and another family. We saved with the 5+2, Fall dreammaker and FL room rate codes which I got from these sites. Also, breakfast vouchers and Q&C vouchers, and rental car codes. I fiqure about $600 total saved. Not too bad for a few hours of fun research!!

 

[StephMK]

Tons, in what we will save in time and gain in experience as well as saving money! The tips here have helped me get a CRT ressie, plan our days, save on rental car, vouchers, Disney VISA, find a reasonable price to fly instead of drive, etc. I only wish I had found this place before we exchanged SIL's timeshare or we might be staying somewhere different.

 

[ncbyrne]

There's no way to give a definitive monetary account of savings, but it has been extremely substantial over the past few years. One year we saved over $200 just on the Orlando Entertainment book discounts. I would have never known about it without the DIS budget boards. Discount codes for car rental and resorts, great flight info, and lots of neat money saving ideas, like splitting meals, and shopping off site, were all found right here on the DIS! For our trip coming up in Nov. you have told me how to get the best PHP prices with Hotwire Savings Club - and even the tip to cancel to avoid further unnecessary spend. Thanks guys - you are all great!

 

[jann1033]

do not have a $$$ figure but it would be hundreds for sure...never knew about the ap rates, vouchers , got reduced disney quest & cirque so lots! plus just helped with planning which i always have done but not so easily.

 

[chilis]

I also don't know exactly how much we have saved, but I know this board has definitely helped me!!

Lisa

 

[Disneysnel]

From what I have learned from these boards I have saved a TON of money over what I would pay just going straight through Disney. Not only have I saved $$$$ but also precious vacation time and my sanity too boot!

**Edited because I forgot to say - Thanks SO much!! After my honeymoon in 1995 (when I knew nothing and paid MEGA bucks) I thought I would not be able to go again until our 10th anniversary and then I found the DIS! I have been back 3 times since and I owe that ALL to you guys! And my 5th trip will be my 10th anniversary.
YOU GUYS ROCK!!
:thewave:

 

[Misty89]

i agree, saved alot of my time and my headaches finding all the great tips on here and the friendly people willing to answer all of my silly ( and alot of time repeat questions)
i did put a $$ value together some time ago, between the codes, finding out about value season, dining and so much more....if i rember right, the DIS shaved close to $634 off my total! VERY happy AND thankful about that!

LOVE this place and the people that share here


THANK YOU!!!!!

Tina

 

[mad4themouse]

I have to say that I've saved well over $1,000 from info on these boards. From using an AP to get room discounts, where to buy passes for the best prices, car rental strategies and voucher hints (and, yes, I'm one of those people for whom vouchers DO work), I was able to shave so much off the cost of my last trip. I think that we stayed in nicer accomodations and ate better meals for the same price we would have paid for a Disney package. Keeping up with the Budget Board has been a way for me to make to most of my vacation $$$$. Thank You to everyone who participates and posts.

 

[ctsnowfall]

I saved at least $500 on our trip for this December. I learned about renting DVC points, which passes are which, where the good places are to eat, etc. These boards are the best becuase the people who post here have been there and done that and know what works and what doesn't. They know how to have a great veaction without spending a fortune. Guidebooks are a place to start but these boards are the real deal, pun intended!

 

[disneysnowflake]

When I first decided to go to WDW in Dec 2004 it was January 2004. I looked on the WDW website and was going to book my vacation through them.

I was under the understanding that if I booked a package all I had to do was pay a $200 deposit to hold everything and then pay regular payments to WDW until right before our vacation.

When I tried to do this I was told I needed $1450 up front for the airfare!! WDW would only let me fly with US Air. No other options. I even called WDW and was told that this overpriced US Air flight was the only one I could use, and it had to paid up front in full at time of booking. Since I needed a commuter flight to get to the main airport this was how expensive it would be, and US Air wanted their non-refundable tickets paid up front.

That's when I decided to look around at my options and found DIS!! One kind lady from PA pm'd me and told me how I could book everything separately.

I found a quicker flight with commuter to D.C. and then to Orlando for only $225 per person on United. That alone saved me $550 just on the airfare. I was so excited.

Then when I told them the times I was arriving in Orlando and when my departure flight was others told me it would be better to buy my 5 day PHP through AAA than to buy a package from WDW. If something happened and we were unable to use our PHP bought at AAA they won't expire like the ones I'd buy in my package from WDW. We went on Valentine's Day to buy our 5 day PHPs at AAA. Again, saving us money.

We booked our room only package at POFQ. I booked with a AAA rate of $118. Thanks to the folks posting about the BAT code a little bit back, I saved somewhere around $200 on my resort.

I also wanted to say that originally I was going to take a Mears shuttle to POFQ. I didn't understand what it was and thought it was a quick ride to the resort. ha ha. I have since learned because of DIS that I should book a towncar, and so I have.

I chose my resort because of what I've read on DIS.
I've chosen my priority seatings because of what I've read on DIS.
If it wasn't for DIS and all the wonderful people who really now WDW I think I'd be lost. Now I'm more than excited about going, and it's all because of DIS.

 

[bear74]

I have not saved any as yet. Not going till 2007. Though I thanks to all of you wonderful people here and mousesavers. I now know about AP discounts, Car rental codes where to look for the best airline rates, meal vouchers and so much more. So that when I start booking our trip we will save tons of money. Which is a good thing as since the number of people going has trippled. It's now me, DH, DD, my parents, His parents, my brother and possibly his GF and her kids if their still together, and my cousin her DH, and 2 DD.

 

[grlpwrd]

I've been a member for a while, but even if I lurk and read more than post I have saved $1000s, I think. The savings aren't just for Disney trips, but in other things as well, like how to save on trips in general, overall budgeting, and stuff like that.

I'm forever grateful...

 

[NotTooGoofy]

Over the past 4-5 years, I've saved at least $700, much of which came when reward programs were going strong before the bubble burst.

 

[Robinrs]

THOUSANDS of dollars!! And I mean that!

My first trip to Orlando was in 1999 and I literally knew NOTHING about how to book a vacation or where to go. I spent TOO much money on a package deal that was a package but NOT a deal!!

The day after I came back I found this site. It was all on one page back then with the trip reports on the same board. I was SHOCKED at the prices people were quoting so I thought it was time to do some research.

Since then I've been back at least 20 times, no way would I have been able to do that without the deals I found on this board!

The rest is history...

 

[MELSMICE]

No monetary amount, but I have saved on resort rates with AP codes & also on small things just from some of the tips off of these boards.

Although, as my sister-in-law says - "I don't consider it saving money, just redirecting it somewhere else for the trip"!! LOL!

 

[MelodyMack]

Beyond monetary value, these boards have saved me hours of research, and tons of money on things that I was considering purchasing that good solid advice steeered me clear of.

Looking beyong how much money I've actually saved, I am astounded by how much money these boards have prevented me from WASTING!

Thanks again DIS friends, you are my heroes, the wind beneath my Disney wings....

Mel

NOTE to TF's - that last line was brilliant...I know you can smell the desperation!!!

 

[Nickimouse]

I would estimate about $1300. We paid the same price for AKL Sav. view plus tickets as the rack rate price for just the room.
Gotta love these boards!

 

[PrincessDadx2]

Quite a bit. My Upromise account is at $210, Ing refferals of $70, Hotwire savings of $300 plus vouchers, etc.

Now if I would only stop spending on the sales at the Disney Store everyone posts about

 

[TonyS20]

I learned about DVC through these boards and will have upgraded accommodations for the next 50 years!

I learned about the FITS passes which are the best for long trips! I also learned about the vouchers and the hotwire savings club. The wealth of knowledge here is unbelievable!