How to do Disney on the cheap???

[preschoolmom]

This is the budget board - can we talk about how to get to Disney as cheaply as possible?

What are your tricks and secrets?

On site or off? Tricks to either!

Do you pack food or snacks? Fly or drive? What works for YOUR family?

I realize everyone has a different budget, different vacation style, different family - but what do you do to make your trips as affordable as possible?

Thanks!

 

[purpletiger]

We went to Disney in July on a very tight budget. I got our resort through Smart Circle when they were advertising in Sam's club.

Offsite only 1 block from DTD 5days/4nights for $298.
drove from Texas-gas $300
park tickets purchased 6 mths in advance $350
park tickets-Universal studios/IOA around $400
Food (including 2 character) $1000
misc $500
no tolls because my Garmin lead us around them.

I purchased everything in advance with a paycheck with the exception of the food, gas and misc which was purchased while there.

We packed snacks for the car ride down. Had a cooler for drinks.

Not bad I thought on a tight budget.

We only did Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios, IOA, and drove to Cocoa beach for a day. My kids had a blast. They were worn out and if we had done I think it would have been too much for them. My DH said he had fun and wouldn't mind going back next summer.

 

[shelemm]

I've gotten the BW Lake View for about $35 per night on Priceline. I think you could do that with a cot for your son. But you don't know exactly where they will put you until your bid is accepted.

Eating can be very cheap offsite as well. The kids ate breakfast free at the BW Lake View. Plenty of other cheap options as well. Denitely bring in some water to drink. I'm not sure exactly what else Disney allows in the parks.

Some of the CS meals in the parks are too large for one person. For example, the default adult size burger is a big double burger. The child's burger is a normal adult portion. Or just share.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

What I do:

• We stay onsite because we can use DME and don't need to rent a car.
• We never pay the rack rate. There's almost always a discount code of some type and if not, there's AAA.
• We go during Value Season.
• We get 10-day no-expiry passes and use them over multiple trips.
• I p]ack breakfast bars and snacks in the suitcase and we grab a quick breakfast in the room before hitting the parks.
• I use my Disney VISA for just about everything I can. The rewards dollars add up over time and help to pay for some of the trip's extras.
• DH is a small business owner and he uses his corporate Diner's Club card to pay for the overhead. The rewards points can be converted to FF miles to cover our airfare.
• I do a couple of GTP rewards programs (see the Disney Rewards Board for details) and use the rewards to pay for some restaurant meals and souvenirs.
• I carry a refillable, filtered water bottle and add ice from the CS locations to it. Beats paying $2.50 apiece for bottled water.

What I don't do:

• We don't drive there. I hate the drive and that's a bad way to start a vacation. Besides, every day spent driving is one less day in Disney. Since DH doesn't collect a paycheck when he doesn't work, we really need to make the most of each day.
• I don't stay offsite. I've done it twice and it just wasn't the same for me. I know that others do it all of the time and love it. It's just not a trip to WDW for me if I'm somewhere on I-Drive instead of right in the middle of the magic.
• I don't carry a cooler into the parks. I don't have young kids in a stroller to stash it and I don't want to have to lug it around or rent a locker. For me it's just too much work for too little benefit.
• I won't share a double cheeseburger. Mostly because my guys want a whole burger for themselves. And also because my DD19 is a vegetarian.
• I refuse to cook in my room. I don't want to smell my dinner the next morning and neither should my neighbors.
• I won't base my dining selection based on the price. If I want steak and shrimp instead of an edamame salad, that's what I'm getting. I don't care how many extras that salad comes with or how many times I can split it with another family member.
• I won't misrepresent on my kids' ages. Yeah, it stinks when they turn 3, or 10 or 18 and they cost you more. We just deal with it. Next year they will both be over 18 and we will have to pay the "extra adult" room charge each night. We'll probably switch to renting DVC points or getting 2 rooms at a lower level resort or room type.

 

[jenseib]

Look for deals from Disny. Last March, which is prime season we did the stay 4 nights and get 3 free, only we only used 2 of those nights. It also included park tickets in the deal. We also did the dining plan. Our trip with ins and flight was about $2000 staying at a Value. We also got a $200 gift card with the deal. I also colected gift card when I had extra money to pay for extras. We did rent a car, only because that was DH's choice. He said he just had to have one, though we really didn't, but I think he likes to be able to just drive if he wants. We used very little cash once there. DH paid all the tips in cash, probably about 100sh? (for the week for 3 of us) Maybe less or more depending on the meal prices, I can't remember off the top of my head, but it seems like most dinners were about 15- 20 in tips, we had two dinners that had the tip already included in the price and we did one breakfast. We did CRT out of pocket, only becuase we were lucky to get it last minute and had all our other ADR's booked. All Souveigners were paid with gift cards. And DH did the Richard Petty experience. But that again was a last minute decision. You can go and be on the dining plan and pay very little out of pocket once there if you chose not to do any extras. I highly recomend getting a gift card here and there when you have extra money. It really is nice once that time comes.

 

[caribear]

I live 35 minute from the parks and the only way my DH will let me justify a stay at a Disney resort is if I can get a good deal. That being said I have rented DVC point from the Rent/Trade board on this site many times. I have only stayed in a studio as we are a family of 4...so I am not too sure about the value of the 1-bedroom/2 bedroom units, but I have gotten some really great deals! We just got back this evening from a 1 night stay in a savannah view room at AKL. We did not go to the parks, but stayed at the resort and enjoyed the pools and kids activities.