Low Budget Graduation Trip

[PrincessJasmine251]

My friends and I are planning to take a trip at the end of our senior year (summer '05) as our last time together before college. Thing is, being students, we're a bit low on the cash. A couple questions:

1) How much is it for the different park hoppers and which is the better deal? (I've never used the regular ones.... I, myself, have an annual... I'm checking for my friends)

2) What on property hotels do you recommend? What are the All Stars like?

3) Know any other ways to cut some corners for our budget problem? (like some nicer resturants that won't send us overboard and washing dishes to make up for the check balance lol)

Thanks

 

[Chuck-PA]

Just a suggestion, check with your high school counselor, some area high schools in Philadelphia, do have a package deal going to Disney World for Senior Week, this way you could get group rates.


Now, I will try to answer some questions for you.

1) Park hoppers - range in price from 200 - 350 depending on the amount of days that you would like 4 days to 7 days with or without plus options. (Plus options include water parks)

2) All Stars are the value hotels. During the summer, they run about $100 a night plus tax unless you are able to get a discount.
I have stayed at all four. They are fun to look at and walk around. Each building has a theme and each stairwell has a large icon. They have a large food court area with lots of options.

3) Regarding the restaurants, you can have meals with characters or without, you can look at their menus and decide what restaurant would be doable for you by going to www.wdwig.com and look at dining options. There are places in the resorts, at Epcot and at each of parks, also at Downtown Disney.

 

[mad4themouse]

Originally posted by PrincessJasmine251
My friends and I are planning to take a trip at the end of our senior year (summer '05) as our last time together before college. Thing is, being students, we're a bit low on the cash. A couple questions:

1) How much is it for the different park hoppers and which is the better deal? (I've never used the regular ones.... I, myself, have an annual... I'm checking for my friends)

Like Chuck-PA said, the prices are all over the place, depending on whether you want PHs or PHPs, how many days and where you purchase them. Hotwire Savings Club sells PHPs for the lowest prices I've seen:

• $208.96 (4 days)
• $248.27 (5 days)
• $276.07 (6 days)
• $302.90 (7 days)

PHs are the least expensive when purchased in advance directly from Disney:

• $215.13 (4 days)
• $244.95 (5 days)

As you can see, the PHPs are cheaper at Hotwire than the PHs are from Disney.

2) What on property hotels do you recommend? What are the All Stars like?

You can expect the rooms to be a little small and the ammenities to be minimal. No slide for the pool. No individual Mickey soaps and shampoos. Shared bus service with all the AllStar resorts. No sitdown restaurant, just a food court. If all you're looking for is a place to crash after a day in the parks, the AllStars will be fine.

Use your AP to get a room discount if you can. Don't forget that more than 2 adults in a room will incur an additional charge of $10 per extra person per night. If you're over 17, you're considered to be an adult.

3) Know any other ways to cut some corners for our budget problem? (like some nicer resturants that won't send us overboard and washing dishes to make up for the check balance lol)

Thanks

Some people swear by the vouchers for stretching their food budgets. You could get 1 voucher for every 2 people and split the meals between you, adding a soft drink and perhaps an extra sidedish to round out the meal.

You can also bring food with you to keep in your room. Breakfast foods are especially good for this. Fresh fruit or those little fruit cups, bagels, muffins or PopTarts all work well. Buy a case of water or bring Brita Fill & Go bottles so that you don't spend $$$$ on bottled water in the parks.

Good luck saving for your trip. If you start budgeting now, you should be able to handle the costs next summer.