How to visit WDW on $2000 budget??

[saimore]

I am new to the board. This will be our first trip to WDW. Our budget is $2000. We will be driving a rental van so gas and van cost will be $758.00. That leaves us $1242. I would love for us to stay on premise and dine. Does anyone have any suggestions. I really don't want to cook or worry about finding cheap places for us to eat.
Thanks

 

[happily single]

We need more information!!! How many people, what are the ages and how long do you plan on staying?

 

[Aliceacc]

Also: Are you AAA members?

What's your time frame-- when do you plan to travel? And how long to you plan to stay?

 

[puffkin]

If you stay on site, you probably won't need the van.....is there a particular reason you need it?

My DH and I can easily go for under $2000 a trip staying on site (value or mod) with rental car, all meals on site (1 sitdown a day) airfare and even souvenirs. We have done it plenty of times now.

 

[tzolkin]

If you stay on site, you probably won't need the van.....is there a particular reason you need it?

i think she meant that they were driving to FL instead of flying, so that would be a needed expense.

you can go on the disney website to get an idea of the cost of a room during the time you plan to go. we are spending about $1800 for room and tickets for 9days/8nights for 4 (well, 5 but one is an infant). if you had a few less hotel nights to pay for that would leave some extra money for food.

 

[DawnM]

YES! We have done it many times for our family of 5.

Our last trip:

Tickets: $750
SkyAuction condo: $179/7 nights including tax
Gas to get there and back and around town: $233
Parking at the parks for 5 days: $55
CS meal once a day: $30/day, but used rewards card, so $0
Food in condo and cooler: $75
Dog sitter: $100

Total package: $1,392

We have to do it this way or we will not get to enjoy Disney nearly as often!

Dawn

 

[Aliceacc]

Let's assume you're a family of 4, with 2 kids under 10, traveling in August:

6 nights @ a value: $82
minus 15% AAA discount $70 x6 nights=.................. $420

7 day park pass: 2 adults @ $233.24 = $466.48
2 kids @ 192.77= $385.54
total tickets...............................................................$855.02

meal plan: 2 adults @ $40 x 6 nights= $480
2 kids @ $10 x 6 nights= $120
total meal plan...........................................................$600


TOTAL (aside from travel)............................................ $1875.02

Of course, you could probably do it cheaper if you skip the meal plan and do a lot of counter service meals; it's just harder for me to calculate. But there are tons of places to dine.

 

[mickeyfan1226]

where do you get the discount codes????

 

[Aliceacc]

For AAA, simply join. It costs something in the neighborhood of $50 per year. You can save anywhere from 10-20% off your accomodations.

As for the PIN, it was largely a matter of luck. I did sign up for the trip planning DVD and visited the trip planning site to price out some options. So my name was in the Disney system. Somehow I lucked into a 40% off PIN code. I would be happy to share it, but they're not transferable.

 

[saimore]

My family includes, me, husband, four children ages 8, 3, 5, 1. We were thinking going in June, but that is very flexible. Dreams Unlimited gave a quote of 1600 which includes on site hotel, dining and 2 day passes for all. That leaves me with 400 for travel. I can't find air for 5 for $400. Air is coming up a little over $1000 with Southwest. Driving by rental van looks to be $358 for van rental and gas about 400 from Oklahoma City. We are not AAA members.
Tamiko

 

[Aliceacc]

For a family of 6, that sounds like a good price.

But here's what I would do: Go back to Dreams Unlimited. Change the dates to August and ask about the AAA discount. That should save you some money--money you could either apply to fitting the vacation into your budget or getting more park days.

Or play with the dining option-- go to www.allears.net and look at the menus. See whether you can do better by skipping the meal plan.

 

[Cloudwatcher]

Also if you are wanting to stay on site think of this. Rent from someone that has rentals in FL too. This way you can rent the van for a day or two drive it to FL return it to the rental place and then pick up a different one for your trip back. No sense in paying for a rental you aren't going to use.

 

[ldo]

here's what I would do---fly on SWA one way, then drive back in minivan with "drive out of Florida" special. I put in date of 6/12 pick up at MCO and return to Oklahoma City on 6/16---daily price is $16.99 at Alamo (the only car rental offering minvans for the deal). We have done this "drive out" deal tons--they have it every year, from after EAster thru end of June. Catch is that you have to drop car out of Florida before 6/30/08.
Then, I would do the Dreams Unlimited or similar package--but make tickets for at least 4 days--fyi--after 3rd day, the price is almost the same for 5+ days as 3--and it is worth the extra $$$ (even if you have to eat beans for a month) to have more than just 2 day at WDW when you have come so far.
You might go a bit over your budget---but flying 1 way and having more WDW days is worth it.

Also, you can get the van earlier in your trip and stay off-site--thus saving more $$$. Or you could split your stay---3-4 might onsite with meals and tickets, then a few days offsite after you pick up the van with no meal plan--your WDW tickets are still good for 14 days, plus, you can add more days to them than the # of days you are staying onsite. Good Luck. Elaine

 

[eeyoremum]

If you are travelling all that way I would imagine you would want to be in the parks more than 2 days. I would look at not getting the meal plan and adding some days for park visits.

You never know, they may offer free dinning again this year then you may get the meal plan for free but then you would not get a room discount.

 

[HelenePA]

If you are travelling all that way I would imagine you would want to be in the parks more than 2 days. I would look at not getting the meal plan and adding some days for park visits.

You never know, they may offer free dinning again this year then you may get the meal plan for free but then you would not get a room discount.

How many days are you staying for? 2 days? if your staying for more your going to have the meal plan added on to those days anyway and you wont be at the parks that alone will save you money if you skip the dinning plan.

 

[Sheaboys]

Ok, we did a 6night 7 day MYW Package in 2005. It was October and it was FREE Dining. We paid $1968 for 7 Day Hopper Passes, 6 Nights at Port Orleans Riverside, with Free Dining. That was 2 adult and 3 children ages 7, 5 and 3, all included.

This year was are a family of 6. I am looking about $2,300 for Port Orleans Riverside again, 7 Day Hopper, for 6 nights, hopefully Free dining, at the first week of September. This include 3 adults and 2 children (10, 8, 6 and 2 yr old)

We drive also, but we use our own van, so the cost to drive from Massachusetts is about
$230 in gas, give or take (each way) and food about $100 each way. Probably a little less on the food, since we have a cooler as well.

So, I would look into the Value Season, and cross fingers for Free Dining.

 

[Rylee]

My family includes, me, husband, four children ages 8, 3, 5, 1. We were thinking going in June, but that is very flexible. Dreams Unlimited gave a quote of 1600 which includes on site hotel, dining and 2 day passes for all. That leaves me with 400 for travel. I can't find air for 5 for $400. Air is coming up a little over $1000 with Southwest. Driving by rental van looks to be $358 for van rental and gas about 400 from Oklahoma City. We are not AAA members.
Tamiko

Some thoughts and tips...

Since your budget won't allow you to stay for more than a few days, you should really travel during "Disney's Value Seasons." Value Season...
1) Has the lowest resort rates all year.
2) Is usually the least crowded times of the year... your family will be able to see and do more of the attractions. (Less people = shorter lines and wait times.)

Your 1 year old will not count towards room occupancy, will not need a ticket and will not be charged for dining if he/she eats from your plate.

Your cheapest room/resort option is Port Orleans Riverside. You will be crowded, but you can make-do, and Hey... you'll be on site at Disney!

I DO NOT recommend buying only 2-day tickets! You are traveling quite a distance and spending a good chunk of $$$. Tickets are a big expense, but necessary to see the park attractions... the reason for the trip. Cut expenses elsewhere if you need to, so you'll have more than 2 days in the parks.

The Dining Plan will cost you about $106 times (X) the number of nights you stay. This is an especially good value for children.

Read menus and prices at the allears site. Bring breakfast and snack items from home... granola bars, pop-tarts, fruit snacks, water, etc.

Portions are large and your children are young, consider sharing some items.

You can usually get a AAA discount on the "room portion" of your package. *You do not need AAA at the time of booking, but will need it at check-in. If you don't already have AAA, before purchasing it... call first to see if a AAA discount is available for your dates and resort. Being flexible with the dates will increase your chances.*

Watch this site and the mousesavers site for other discount codes to become available.

Free dining has been offered for the last few years. Know one knows for sure if it will be offered to the general public this year. If it is offered, usually for the end of August and most of September, you will need to check daily for the codes. There is NO guarantee if will be offered to the general public or available for your dates or resort choice.

Consider opening a Disney Visa account... sometimes there are codes available to card holders, and/or sometimes discount are offered to card holders a few days before the general public.

Order the free Disney Planning DVD... this sometimes triggers a discount pin code.

If you travel during a value season...

*prices do not include tax*

a standard room at POR...
$149 per night. (Sometimes weekends are higher.)
$127 per night, with a 15% discount
$120 per night, with a 20% discount

Magic Your Way base tickets for 2 adult & 3 children...
4 days = $958
3 days = $919

The Dining Plan would be about $106 per night -
2 nights = $212
3 nights = $318

I recommend purchasing 4-day tickets with a 3 night stay. (I would not buy less than 3 day tickets.) Before cutting the number of days you'll have in the parks, consider not purchasing the dining plan and paying out-of-pocket for meals at counter service restaurants. If you decide against the dining plan, which requres you to purchase at least a 1 day ticket for your package, look at undercover tourist for a slight discount on the tickets. I always recommend staying on site... convenient, lots of perks and very magical, but if the difference means not being able to go, consider staying off-site, which also means... no dining plan. Check the tripadvisor site for the cheapest hotel with the best reviews.

Good luck, I hope you'll be able to go.

 

[HelenePA]

dont forget to add on tips with the dinning plan, since they are no longer included, also mousekeeping tips.

 

[jodifla]

I think this budget is too tight for a decent Disney trip, frankly. I wouldn't bother going all that way for two days.

 

[daveswife]

Would you consider staying off-site, at perhaps an all-suites hotel? I'm thinking that where you can really save your money is on the food. I can honestly say that I wish we hadn't done the dining plan on our trip last June, as it would have saved us quite a bit of money. I agree that you should go for more days on your tickets, as the price barely increases with the number of days.