How much was your least expensive trip to Disney?

[tinkermommyof3]

Wow.. $4,900!! That's the least expensive trip?! How long did you guys stay at Disney, if you don't mind me asking. ...because that would be a luxurious trip for us!

The most budget trip we ever did was back in 2000 when we stayed at the ASMovies for $49 a night. We just drove there and I think our car rental was around $200 a week with a complimentary upgrade to a luxury car (Cadillac).
Our children were both under 3, so the tickets were free. Our meal didn't cost as much because the children were under 3. We had to do an overnight hotel for $100 on the way there and another $100 on the way back. I'm not sure the exact total for this trip, but it was the most inexpensive trip.. Thanks to the $49 room discount and the simple fact that our children were both under 3. Too bad we can't turn back time and do it all over again.

We are a family of 5. We always fly and the $4,900.00 included Round Trip Airfare for all 5 of us, park tickets, dining plan, room and travel insurance for 7 nights. It adds up quickly... We now stay 10 nights and Deluxe. The children are considered Disney Adults. However, they won't be children forever. Memories=priceless.

 

[Sparkly]

Probably our first holiday way back in 2003. We stayed at the Travelodge near Universal for 14 nights. Booked through Virgin Holidays but probably only around ~£2000/3000. I can't remember much because it was 9 years ago!

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Our cheapest weeklong stay was around $1500 for 7 nights! It was our first trip with our kids, we stayed off site in a two bedroom condo with extended family, and both our kids were still free! They were 2 years old and 9 months old. That $1500 covered everything, from gas, condo, tickets, food, MVMCP, one character meal, and souvenirs!

We've had shorter strips that were even cheaper. We once stayed at All Star Movies for 3 nights with a $49 military rate. We only got two day tickets. We probably got away with that trip under $1000, after gas and food and all. One of our children was still under 3 so he was free.

I think our cheapest weeklong stay on site was for Thanksgiving of 2007. We did 8 nights at Cornoado, with tickets and dining plan for $2200 for our family of 4. Total in all including gas, MVMCP, and souvenirs was probably close to $3000. Those were the days when a family of 4 could stay in a moderate, with tickets, and the dining plan (back when it included appitizer and tips), during a holiday week, for 8 nights for just over $2000!

 

[Karabee]

Cheapest trip for me was about $650 in 2009. I went with 3 other girls, and one worked for ESPN so we got 50% off hotel (picked GF), free park tickets and 15% off dining. I spent money on the room, food, flight and a few extras like renting a sea racer and food & wine festival. Pretty sure that's the last time I'll stay at GF for that price!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Not counting the ones I went on as a kid because who on earth remembers what those cost!!...

January 2011- $1850ish per person
10 days at OKW in a 1BR- I rented points from a friend, she gave me a ridiculously good deal
6 day park hopper - from Undercover Tourist
Regular Dining plan
Roundtrip air from Buffalo NY- found a good deal on southwest's site
Discovery Cove dolphin swim- got a $25 code per ticket
Garden grocer order- ate breakfast in the room and brought a couple things like a jar of peanut butter and a box of hot chocolate from home because it was cheaper
Tips- we set aside money for assorted tips within our total

September 2012-$1033
4 days at Pop
Deluxe dining - started with free QS and upgraded
4 day park hoppers
roundtrip air from Buffalo NY
MNSSHP

I was a compulsive upgrader planning this upcoming trip. I originally upgraded to basic dining and had all my ADRs made...then I decided deluxe wasn't THAT much more and I'll certain use it well so upgrade there. Then toying around with my park days I realized I'd be there on the first day of the halloween party and I thought "Oh if I do that, then I can almost treat it like really awesome EMH at MK and have more time in the park and it isn't that expensive and it's fun..." (I think in run on sentences)

This upcoming trip is my first solo trip, and since I'm staying for such a short time having a nicer room isn't a priority, it's really just a place to sleep and change. If I were going any longer, I would have rented points again. Honestly I think it about equals out because if I had rented points I wouldn't be getting free dining. I booked this upcoming trip entirely through Disney.

I

 

[momto2inKC]

I've got 2 fairly cheap ones-
9 nights @ Pop, free regular dining plan (when it included tips and aps!), 10 day base tickets, 1 adult, 2 kids $1,300

2 nights @ CBR pirate room $200, 1 night AkV $125, 1 day park tickets $160 (1 kid was free, it was his birthday), 4 day Disney Wonder cruise $600

 

[Disney-Kim]

2002 - paid $313 night for Poly CL Garden view - this was our honeymoon

in the old days we paid $129 a night at Mods for a King room.

but for US...cheapest was...

we owned DVC from 2003-2009

so in those years we bought AP every other year. so every 2 yrs our trip was basically
food $700 week
airfare $500
room $ 0
tix $ 0

so $1200 for a week in a deluxe resort...THOSE were the days.

of course now...

food for a week $1200
airfare for 2 $800
room $2600
tix $500

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

$3600 budgeted in cash for driving from Chicago to Orlando in 1998:

• 8 nights at Fort Wilderness (someone loaned us their camper)
• 5 Day Park Hoppers for 3 Disney "adults" and one child
• 1 Day at Universal Studios
• Horseback riding and pony rides at FW
• Water craft rental
• Dinner at Planet Hollywood, 50s Prime Time, Whispering Canyon, Cinderella's Royal Table, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare, ESPN Club, Biergarten, and two meals at Trail's End.
• Counter service at Restaurantosaurus, Diamond Horsehoe, Mexico pavilion, Pizza Planet, and a few others I am forgetting.
• Souvenirs from Arribas Brothers, autograph books, refrigerator magnets and 1 coffee mug

We got comped our last night there.

I came home with a lot of cash left over.

Next trip I'm expecting to pay that for DH, me and my granddaughter just at WDW never mind the cost of flying. (We are going DDP because it works best for our family, though.)

 

[carrie1626]

Post 9/11 in Oct that year:

ASMusic $60+ (with taxes)
airfare was $130+ each person
left over tickets from 2000 trip. didn't have to pay alot to cover our days
we used Mears bus for transportation to/from airport ?

I think I remember that trip for myself, 2 kids costing around $1500 for 6 nts. Food, sovouniers, tips, laundry, game room, hair wrap.

 

[mjplantz]

We did a 7 night trip a few years back at CBR when they started the DDP for around $1500. That include park hoppers and free dining (tips included!). We had enough points for free flights on SW for the four of us. So even after out of pocket expenses we were under $2,000 for a week.

 

[canopynut66]

In 1988 my Mother sister and I went and stayed at the CBR went to Hoop de do and to Spirt of Alhoa and also had dinner in Germany/Italy and France plus did chef Mickeys and Garden Grill was all included in this price as they had never went so I just arranged it all and had them pay me and stayed 8 days 7 nights with tickets and the total for all three of us was $997 and I have kept the billing and letter as it is now an antique. This year----------$2729 at POP (but we do like POP a lot) without any dining (unless they offer free dining before we go) our air back then was ATA and was $99 each round trip this 2012 trip is Air Tran $240 each round trip... BUT what can one do when addicted?

 

[Lori77]

I booked GF for $199 per night in 1998. I wish that was the price today!

Also, have done POP at $49 per night, and again, I wish I could get that deal now!

Lastly, ticket prices used to be less expensive, and one could afford to do the Park Hopper.

I used to do a trip more often, but alas, you add kids to the mix, and things definitely become more expensive. Unfortunately, you have to cut back on some things, just wish it didn't have to be Disney!

 

[*Fantasia*]

In 1988 my Mother sister and I went and stayed at the CBR went to Hoop de do and to Spirt of Alhoa and also had dinner in Germany/Italy and France plus did chef Mickeys and Garden Grill was all included in this price as they had never went so I just arranged it all and had them pay me and stayed 8 days 7 nights with tickets and the total for all three of us was $997 and I have kept the billing and letter as it is now an antique. This year----------$2729 at POP (but we do like POP a lot) without any dining (unless they offer free dining before we go) our air back then was ATA and was $99 each round trip this 2012 trip is Air Tran $240 each round trip... BUT what can one do when addicted?

Wow.. that's quite a bit of a difference there! Sigh.. I wish we could turn back the clock, just so we can get those prices back..

 

[KatieKat]

My cheapest trip was a Mommy-Son only trip in 2009. We stay just for 3 nights on a pin at POR and paid 600 total for the room, 300 for airfare, and another 100 for food and souvies.

We had 2 days left of non expiring park tickets, and did the DVC tour where they gave me a $100 gift card for doing it. Cheapest trip ever!

 

[java]

My best "deal" was the stay 4 nights get 3 for free. So we stayed CL at the BWI.

They screwed up our reservation and were trying to charge me $600 a night and I replied that I booked at $160 a night. They checked and corrected. (so we were on BWI CL for around $1200.

Those were also the good ol days when my kids were kids- and we had a freebie little one. Now 2 of the kids are disney adults.

but cheapest on was at CSR-7 nights We got tickets with free hopper upgrades somehow and the total was around $1500. We paid more than that for our tickets this trip.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Family of 4: Me, DH, DS (13), DD (11), Friday to Friday stay July 2010.

Condo: $554 (half maintenance fee $375 + $179 RCI exchange fee)
Vacation Village at Parkway (1000 sq ft 1 bedroom, 5 min from WDW gates)

WDW Tickets: $1119.80
Undercover Tourist 5 day plus Water Parks option, no hoppers (3, 4, 5 day tickets all cost the same)

Sea World 1 Day Pass: $0 (free - Dad on the DD's softball team works for Safeway. His suppliers also supply for SW so he gets great perks!)

Parking: $56

Photopass CD: $99.95 (prepaid discount)

Travel Cost: $450 (2 nights hotel w/ breakfast included $162.29 + gas/food for Virginia to Florida & back. We had to drive due to my DD's Southeast Regional Softball tournament in Altamonte Springs the week before the WDW trip. We would have spent the travel money even if we had not added on Disney)

Souveniers: $81.66

Food:
Groceries: $92.50
Friday: Included in travel costs
Saturday: Breakfast & late Lunch in condo, Sea World (free passes), husband threw away these receipts. We were only there for a few hours after DD's last softball game - had popcorn, 2 sodas, 4 ice cream bars and 4 beers.
Sunday: Breakfast in condo, Blizzard Beach lunch & dessert - $38.82, beer, $46, Dinner @ KFC - $27.60
Monday:Breakfast in condo, Epcot - Sunshine Seasons Lunch $50.57, Akershus Princess Storybook Dinner $228.41
Tuesday: AK - Chef Mickey's Breakfast $146.69, Pizzafari Lunch $42.63, snacks $13.75, Dinner in condo
Wednseday: Breakfast in condo, MK - Pecos Bill Lunch - $44.12, snacks $10, Hoop De Doo $225
Thursday: Breakfast in condo, DHS - snacked all day vs a real lunch $42, Chick-fil-a Dinner $21.16
Friday: Breakfast in condo, Typhoon Lagoon - packed lunch, huge sundae @ Happy Landings $10.50

Food Total: $1039.76

Total Trip: $3401.17

 

[Belle83]

In 2004, I went to CBR for 6 nights. For park tickets (including park hopper), 2 round-trip tickets from Seattle, the hotel, and shuttle (I think this was before Magic Express??), it was about $2000. I think the two of us spent another $400-500 on misc stuff while there (food, souvenirs, etc.). We were in college at the time and only went to WDW, no nearby parks. It was value season (January).

 

[drken93]

By Far the least expensive was 2 weeks after 9/11. ( Sept. 2001- Oct. 2001)
We had booked it 4 months before hand on the best deal Disney has ever offered. ( Disney- United airlines)

The deal was as follows:
4- Round trip airfares to WDW from any major city (United Airlines)
4- (Length of stay) Park hopper Plus water park passes for up to 7 nights/ eight days
7 night stay at any value resort.

All this for a grand total of $2000.00 for a family of 4. Plus the parks were EMPTY. No wait for anything. Never seen it before and may not ever again.

 

[drken93]

Actually, my DW told me that the offer was Kids Fly and stay free. Thats how it came down to $2000.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

My other inexpensive Disney trips were when just my husband and myself went. Less than 2 grand for a week each time including food and travel.

But this next time we go, November 2012, is going to be the cheapest by far.

7 night POR for 5 Disney adults with 2 day non-hopper tickets and the DDP. Preferred room. $2400

Of course we got it so cheap because we got a FREE DINING Pin code. Before the free dining PIN the package was $3900. After Pin $2200 but I upgraded to a preferred room and that made it $2400.

Now I am not including in this price the cost of what it is going to cost my family of 5 to go to Discovery Cove and do the Dolphin swim and Sea Venture excursion. With the Sea World season pass discount that one day is going to cost us $1200. But since that has nothing to do with our Disney package I didn't include that in the price.

We will also be spending about $350 buying the kids each a 1 day park to park ticket to Universal/IOA. DH and I have season passes to it)

But for just the Disney part, getting 5 ppl a week in a moderate with free dining for $2400 may be the cheapest we ever get.

Just an FYI...we only got a 2 day Disney ticket because on our other days we will be going to US, IOA, SW, DC and Aquatica. We don't have to pay for the SW or Aquatica tickets because that comes free with our Discovery Cove ticket.

Now if you want to know the MOST expensive trip, it was 10 days $7,000 last October. Best trip ever!! Worth every penny.