Is this really possible...

[PreciousSadies]

I'm off to Orlando for our Spring break, from Calgary, cashed in some airmiles for our 6 flights (4 free ones, and have a timeshare).
I have a friend who is a single mom and is interested too, and has never gone this far away by herself with her children. I've been researching, and wondering, can you really do WDW for the first week of April, for $3,000 Canadian or under (flight, 5 day passes, hotel (off site) and food, for a single mom of two (ages 13, 10)) I've found a flight for $1200, hotels range from 500-1,000, try not to rent a car, by using towncar from airport, and shuttles to parks, and food. If she relies on shuttles, is it worth getting a park hopper, I just remember how long it took to get in the park, even when I drove! By the way, she has some 4100 airmiles, to almost get 2, 5 day base passes.
Thanks in advance!

 

[drag n' fly]

I'm off to Orlando for our Spring break, from Calgary, cashed in some airmiles for our 6 flights (4 free ones, and have a timeshare).
I have a friend who is a single mom and is interested too, and has never gone this far away by herself with her children. I've been researching, and wondering, can you really do WDW for the first week of April, for $3,000 Canadian or under (flight, 5 day passes, hotel (off site) and food, for a single mom of two (ages 13, 10)) I've found a flight for $1200, hotels range from 500-1,000, try not to rent a car, by using towncar from airport, and shuttles to parks, and food. If she relies on shuttles, is it worth getting a park hopper, I just remember how long it took to get in the park, even when I drove! By the way, she has some 4100 airmiles, to almost get 2, 5 day base passes.
Thanks in advance!

I have no idea~ Since you want to stay offsite I know you can probably go much cheaper. To me unless you have a car rental it is not worth the hassle as you become a slave to the shuttle schedule. The advantage to ph passes is you are not stuck in one park all day. If the crowds are too bad or rides are down or you want to eat at a certain place you can move to another park. We are staying at POR for 10 days with park hopper passes and the ddp. Including flights, passes, room, ddp and trip insurance it comes to 7200 CAD for the five of us(dh, me, ds12, dd10 and ds4). We are taking 1500 for spending money. My only advice is make sure she has passports and all court related documents in regards to being able to take the children out of the country and book an adr for all your ts meals even if you are not on the ddp.hth

 

[PreciousSadies]

book an adr for all your ts meals even if you are not on the ddp.

 

[drag n' fly]

book an adr for all your ts meals even if you are not on the ddp.

Adr is an advanced dining resrvation. It basically gets you a table at a ts(table service) restaurant in wdw. It technically is not a ressie. You will be seated at the next available table before any walk ups. Since the ddp(disney dining plan) It is very difficult to get a table without one. You will end up eating most of your meals at cs(counter service) restaurants if you dont. hth(hope that helps)

 

[PreciousSadies]

We went a few years ago, with 2 of our 4 children, and even though we bought tons of food to share with another family of 6 we were travelling with, and we both were staying at a timeshare, we never seemed to get back for dinner!

 

[drag n' fly]

We went a few years ago, with 2 of our 4 children, and even though we bought tons of food to share with another family of 6 we were travelling with, and we both were staying at a timeshare, we never seemed to get back for dinner!

It is definitely time consuming leaving the park to eat. You have to figure that all in when staying offsite plus rentals. It is actually cheaper and much more convenient to stay at a value resort than staying at a lot of offsite places. You can then get the ddp and stay right onsite and also take advantage of Disney transportation ME(magical express) from the airport and do EMH(extra magic hours in the parks). Plus if your bushed you can go back to your room easily and rest or let the kids swim and head back for your evening adr. The only advantage I can see to staying offsite is renting a house or villa and having more room. You then also have clean and that is no holiday for the MOM!