I have been challenged!

[Snoopymom]

How about a rental villa? We stayed in a fantastic 4 bedroom with a private pool for 7 nights for exactly $688 ($98 a night)including tax! They can save on food that way too and the teenagers will have some space! Good Luck!

 

[pamluvsdisney]

I didn't see your dates posted. And you may have already checked this.

For June there is a GA resident code listed on mousesavers.com
AllStars are $59/night with proof of residency.
Will this work for you? Have to go in June though.
Your budget looks good.

 

[mickeysaver]

The trip is tentatively scheduled for July 18th arrival and July 22 departure. We knew about the June discount code, but her hubby can't get out of work that month.

As for the gas, that AAA gas link rocks! The estimate that it gave at current prices for her van is only $86, but I rounded it up to $100 to allow for the difference in milage from her home in the boonies to Atlanta. So, we saved $200 right there!

As for the change in hotels to offsite, that is among the last options for change. They really want to stay onsite. Patty's DD is over 18, but the boys are 14 and 15. This trip would also be serving as a trip to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Thanks for everyone's input. I think we can do a little tweaking of the food budget and make up the difference. Woo Hoo! Patty's going to WDW. Maggie

 

[sweet maxine]

Have I missed something, or have you tried the Georgia res. rate for the values? I was trying to see if the room rate included any discount.

 

[tmli]

If staying on site is important could they get a moderate for less than the two rooms at the value resort. I believe their is a moderate that accomodates 5. Would be a little cramped but may be an option as opposed to staying offsite.

Also keep in mind once you go off site you are adding parking costs of $8 per day.

 

[beansmom]

One thing we do is pack a cooler with sandwiches and drinks so that we spend very little while traveling and we eat out of it the first night there. Saves us about $100 since we have a two day drive.

I know they want to stay onsite but HIFS would be a great option for them. Enough room for everyone in one suite and the price is about the same.

 

[brandip22]

I was about to say what tmli said. Most people have reported being able to get the moderate discount rate even with the all-stars postcard. At POFQ, you can put 5 ina room, so that should save even more.

 

[autumnblue]

Can she check to see if she could get a discounted rate for a standard room at the AKL? She could probably sleep five in there with the day bed but she will lose a bathroom. But you did mention this was partly an anniversary trip so maybe two rroms is still the best option

Autumnblue

 

[tar heel]

FYI, you can't book PO-R for five people unless one of them is 9 or under and you can't book a standard at AKL for more than four -- the standard rooms do not have daybeds and the deluxe rooms are much more expensive. I'm an expert on this since I have three older kids.

With only one kid over 18, your hotel figure is definitely high. That and the gas difference alone gets you almost where you need to be.

 

[HappyLawyer]

that is a lot of money for food, they need to eat offsite or take or ship food for the room,

 

[maximom]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
they don't have 2 day park hoppers.

Yes, Virginia there ARE 2 day park hoppers, however just like the 3-days you just have to figure out how to get them.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mad4themouse
Your friend could probably stay offsite at a suites-type hotel for less than she would pay for 2 AllStar rooms. Perhaps she could consider doing that.

The ticket prices are pretty much the lowest you'll be able to do unless she can find a convention or meeting to attend while in Orlando. Disney sells a 3-day convention ticket that runs about $155/pass and includes one visit to PI or DQ. If she qualifies for those passes, it would save her about $45.

For meals, she should consider doing breakfast at her resort. If there's a free breakfast buffet, that's great. Otherwise, she could have juice, milk, cereal and coffee on hand in the room for everyone.

For meals at WDW, give everyone 2 Q&C vouchers each day. Total cost per person = $23.00/day X 5 people = $115/day. For 5 days that would be a total of $575 for food. That alone would knock another $425 off the grand total.

I'm not sure about the cost of driving from where you are but here's a nifty online calculator that can give you an idea of what the RT would cost. Trip Gas Price Calculator . Don't forget to factor in tolls and parking ($8/day) into the total cost for the car.

Knowing what their dates are for their trip would help. Could you post them and maybe someone could help find a good offsite hotel at an acceptable rate.

If she is onsite, parking is free.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by maximom
Yes, Virginia there ARE 2 day park hoppers, however just like the 3-days you just have to figure out how to get them.

Thanks for the info, can you provide a link to them and share the info with others?

 

[mc97]

I think your best bet for 2-3 day hoppers is eBay...I've never heard of Disney selling them directly to the public. Travel agents and wholesale brokers can somehow get them, sometimes you can buy them after taking a local timeshare sales tour, and conferences usually sell them to attendees. They're a good deal if you can get them...especially if it's a shorter trip!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by mc97
I think your best bet for 2-3 day hoppers is eBay...I've never heard of Disney selling them directly to the public. Travel agents and wholesale brokers can somehow get them, sometimes you can buy them after taking a local timeshare sales tour, and conferences usually sell them to attendees. They're a good deal if you can get them...especially if it's a shorter trip!

You can get the three day hoppers at a few of the legit ticket vendors, but, I am specifically interested in a link that shows them for two days. Not time share presentations, not used ones on ebay, but a legit, for the public link.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
You can get the three day hoppers at a few of the legit ticket vendors, but, I am specifically interested in a link that shows them for two days. Not time share presentations, not used ones on ebay, but a legit, for the public link.

Gail You know this but for others following this thread:

If you're staying in a Disney hotel you purchase purchase a 2 day UPH pass. If you are eligible to buy convention tickets (disney convention tickets 2004 as a google search will find them) you can buy a 2 day hopper pass.

Three day hoppers are sometimes available (Alamo offer, good neighbor hotels some other promotions) but I'm not aware of any other sources for 2 day HOPPER tickets. Some people use/buy the remaining days of partially used tickets. Dangerous to buy from E-Bay since there is no way to know how many days are left until you get to Disney.

Although they are more expensive than regular convention tickets the gay day tickets aren't really linked to a "real" convention. No membership in an organization and no formal convention registration. Basically available to the public.


http://shop.gaydays.com/tickets/themepark.php

 

[Doesney]

Originally posted by Doesney
They could buy the 2 day park hopper + 1 DQ visit = $510.00 so theres $300.00 savings right there.

Like maximom says, Yes Virginia these tickets are available. A little searching and voila!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Doesney
Like maximom says, Yes Virginia these tickets are available. A little searching and voila!

I agree they're available (per my previous post) BUT they're not available to the general public.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Lewisc
I agree they're available (per my previous post) BUT they're not available to the general public.

That was my exact point!!! They are not available to the general public, like the 3 day hoppers via some agents, they are available if you wish to say you are attending a convention or another event . I prefer not to lie to get them (unless of course I was really attending the convention or function). To those that are attending the function or convention, go for it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Doesney
Like maximom says, Yes Virginia these tickets are available. A little searching and voila!

Again, where are they getting these passes? By saying they are attending a convention, a function? Not exactly honest.