Making it count: Tips on saving on an extended stay WDW vacation?

[norjack]

Ok, ok. I can hear some people now: Saving? On an extended stay (2-3 weeks) on Disney property? Is this some typical rich person 'dilemma'? Well, stay with me for a second...

My family and I love to visit WDW (fam: husband, wife, 3 small kids). We are what you may consider a typical middle class family. We have a monthly budget, and try our best to make our dollar (scratch that, Norwegian kroner) stretch as much as the next guy. The immersive, family-friendly Disney-themed environment that appeals to all of us at WDW is a rare thing...as many of you here already know.

If it were up to us, we would take a trip each year. However, due to living in Europe (Norway), this makes physically getting there a bit of a challenge. Air travel alone from Norway to Florida will typically start at around $3,800 to $4,700 for the fam of 5 roundtrip. Because of the prohibitive travel costs, as well as trying to maxamize our time (shuttle services, taking advantage of fastpass+, etc), balancing ease of use and overall expenses...So far, it has been either the same price, or actually cheaper staying on Disney property during our stay. This is only some of why we have found that staying off property a general "no go". (And, no, Disneyland Paris is not the same --size, service, pricing, overall experience...And the price of getting and staying there is equal or greater than that of WDW.)

That being said: Our goal is to get to WDW every 3 years or so. Instead of being there annually for a week, our goal is to make our stay an extended one, at 2-3 weeks. Here are a few things that came to mind for us:

-value or moderate resort (avoiding more expensive suites: cheaper rooms that house 5 people)
-take advantage of special European discounts (ie buy 1 week of park tickets, get 1 free, free quick service dining)
-using some days around the resort / Disney Springs, instead of having park tickets each day
-ordering groceries ahead of time to resort (breakfast and snacks---family eats cereal in the morning)

Travel really adds to the expenses of our getting to WDW, so we like to be there a little while when we finally get there. For a lot of foreign travellers, this is a common dilemma. Do you have any other tips on how a family can save here and there on their on-property, extended WDW vacation?

 

[DisneyHardin]

I don't have a lot to add, but I do know if you have 5 people, but don't want a suite, you will not be able to stay in a Value. You will have to pick one of the Moderates that has the Murphy bed and is designated for 5 people.

I think it would be fantastic to stay at Disney for 3 weeks. I am jealous that you are planning this

 

[twinsmama]

One thing to consider is just how small value/moderate rooms are when you have 5 people in them for 2 whole weeks. For this I would strongly suggest you look into the Cabins at fort wilderness and see if they fit your budget. Also, the cabins give off a really cool double-vacation vibe. Then you have a full kitchen and can save tons of money by ordering groceries and preparing most of your meals at the cabins.

Try and book when the rooms are discounted to also save money.

I think it's definitely smart to plan a longer trip when flights alone are so high. I am jealous!! I want to be at Disney for 2+ weeks!

 

[norjack]

I don't have a lot to add, but I do know if you have 5 people, but don't want a suite, you will not be able to stay in a Value. You will have to pick one of the Moderates that has the Murphy bed and is designated for 5 people.

I think it would be fantastic to stay at Disney for 3 weeks. I am jealous that you are planning this

Thanks But I would gladly give it up for 1 week each year.

Actually, it's kind of weird. I have found that if you book a WDW vacation through the Disney Travel Co UK, you can book rooms from some of the All Star resorts with 5 people. But when I try this on the American website, it is not an option. Weird, huh? Of course, they also have a lot of different advertised discounts when booking through Europe, for example the UK. Historically, you also have to pay most of your vacation within a few weeks of booking as well, with penalties for changing or cancelling a reservation.

Personally, I think all of the selective discounts and options based on where you are booking from are a bit ridiculous, but hey: I don't know the system. Probably a good reason, right? Or maybe an outdated system?

 

[mickeygirl78]

My family goes for two weeks each year. We find the longer you go the more cost effective. We go in sept and have used free dining for the last several years. We buy 10 day tickets (the max in the US) and buy park hoppers and water park options. On our "non park" days we visit the waterparks and then a nice dinner at a resort or DTD. Ticket prices per day decrease the longer you go so it makes sense for us to go longer. Then airfare is still only once. We also find we have a more enjoyable trip because we take our time and don't feel rushed to squeeze everything in.

There are seven in our party so we always book two rooms either value or moderate. With a party of five I would recommend a moderate (CBR or POR) if you wanted only one room or two connecting value rooms. A suite (AOA/All Star) is more expensive then two value standard rooms. Ordering groceries can help. Since we typically have free dining we do not order groceries. We find the meal portions are large so we share meals which give us extra CS for breakfast. One bounty platter with one snack item can feed four in our party (2A2K). We rarely need to buy extra food out of pocket.

Not sure if a Disney visa is an option in Norway, but I use mine for purchases throughout the year and then use the rewards dollars for spending money on the trip.

 

[TDS533]

I too would recommend you look into Ft. Wilderness cabins. We have stayed there several times, ( once for 17 days).
It is truly a vacation within a vacation. You have a full kitchen a large deck with picnic table and your own charcoal grill. The resort is very large and you will need to use the busses to get round the resort. But they run frequently and it's easy to navigate. You can have groceries delivered before you arrive from a grocery delivery service, we have also done this several times. We have used "we go shop" and "garden grocer". Both worked well. Anything that needs to be kept cold, Disney will keep in a fridge til you get there. The nice thing about the cabins is you feel more like you are in a "home". You have ample space between you and the next cabin. There are also a multitude of activities to do at Ft. Wilderness. But, the best part is the the laid back, relaxed atmosphere. It's a great place to come back to after a crazy day at the parks. Have fun deciding.

 

[lovethattink]

I'd suggest a mod that sleeps 5. Several now have Murphy Beds.

If you can rent a car there are many restaurants outside of WDW where you can eat much cheaper. Also can make a grocery run.

Eat breakfast in the room. Eat lunch at parks. Dinner offsite.

 

[norjack]

Lots of great tips already. Awesome.. Thank you!!

I sooooo wish they had a Disney visa over here. And Disney resorts will refrigerate cold groceries ordered right before a stay? Awesome!

 

[Ensusieasm]

Ok, ok. I can hear some people now: Saving? On an extended stay (2-3 weeks) on Disney property? Is this some typical rich person 'dilemma'? Well, stay with me for a second...

My family and I love to visit WDW (fam: husband, wife, 3 small kids). We are what you may consider a typical middle class family. We have a monthly budget, and try our best to make our dollar (scratch that, Norwegian kroner) stretch as much as the next guy. The immersive, family-friendly Disney-themed environment that appeals to all of us at WDW is a rare thing...as many of you here already know.

If it were up to us, we would take a trip each year. However, due to living in Europe (Norway), this makes physically getting there a bit of a challenge. Air travel alone from Norway to Florida will typically start at around $3,800 to $4,700 for the fam of 5 roundtrip. Because of the prohibitive travel costs, as well as trying to maxamize our time (shuttle services, taking advantage of fastpass+, etc), balancing ease of use and overall expenses...So far, it has been either the same price, or actually cheaper staying on Disney property during our stay. This is only some of why we have found that staying off property a general "no go". (And, no, Disneyland Paris is not the same --size, service, pricing, overall experience...And the price of getting and staying there is equal or greater than that of WDW.)

That being said: Our goal is to get to WDW every 3 years or so. Instead of being there annually for a week, our goal is to make our stay an extended one, at 2-3 weeks. Here are a few things that came to mind for us:

-value or moderate resort (avoiding more expensive suites: cheaper rooms that house 5 people)
-take advantage of special European discounts (ie buy 1 week of park tickets, get 1 free, free quick service dining)
-using some days around the resort / Disney Springs, instead of having park tickets each day
-ordering groceries ahead of time to resort (breakfast and snacks---family eats cereal in the morning)

Travel really adds to the expenses of our getting to WDW, so we like to be there a little while when we finally get there. For a lot of foreign travellers, this is a common dilemma. Do you have any other tips on how a family can save here and there on their on-property, extended WDW vacation?

Do your Buy One Week get One Week Free tickets expire after 14 days, or would they be useable for your entire 3 week stay? Because if they last the whole trip it would be good to mix in your non park days among your park going days. If they are like USA tickets that's too bad because your non park days are all together at the beginning or end of your trip. Either way, to save money I wouldn't buy more tickets. There are so many free things to do without going to parks. One of my favorite things is visiting Animal Kingdom Lodge to view the animals outside including the free use of night vision goggles. Then of course there is the splendor of the Grand Floridian Lobby with its live music including an orchestra or Pianist. The Wilderness Lodge for its National Park feel. Disney Springs, the Boardwalk.... well I could go on and on...so plenty of free stuff to do on your non park days. But, I really think that staying at Port Orleans Riverside is worth the extra money over a Value. Also, look into a cabin at Wilderness. Of course only you know what your budget is. Perhaps you might book a split stay and try it out for a few days. In any case, have fun and enjoy your trip.

 

[Thing 1]

Have you considered annual passes? May cost more but you could spend as many days as you want in the parks. I also agree with the FW cabins. More room and a place to cook. Having groceries delivered, maybe more than once, would save a lot of money in food cost.

 

[Alesia]

I'm really not sure where you've been looking that gives you the idea that staying offsite is anywhere near the cost of staying onsite. Staying offsite can save you thousands of dollars. You can get a 3 bedroom/3 bathroom house for less than $100 per night. That's less than the cost of a tiny value room. Even when you factor in the cost of a rental car and parking it's still a huge savings.

Also having a washer and dryer is a god-send on longer trips. Considering the fact that laundry costs about $6 per load at an onsite resort, it can add up quickly. And being able to do laundry while you're sleeping is a huge plus.

 

[ellie05]

Op as many people have said here I would consider a cabin or renting dvc. Value rooms are really small and moderates aren't much bigger. If it was a week trip I would say maybe, but 3 weeks in a small space would definitely make things harder. Specially trying to make breakfast in the room. Even an suite at the all starts would be a better choice and you get two bathrooms.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm curious how you are getting onsite to be the same price as offsite for the same type of room/unit/size. You can get some great house or condo rentals, even timeshare rentals that would be within a resort atmosphere for so much less in many cases and some aren't much farther than some of the Disney resorts. One thing that jumps out at me is if you did stay offsite with a kitchen, you could also cook some dinners there (easy stuff) and stretch your budget along with getting to eat homemade food for a change (there is only so long I can eat restaurant food for!)

 

[norjack]

I'm curious how you are getting onsite to be the same price as offsite for the same type of room/unit/size. You can get some great house or condo rentals, even timeshare rentals that would be within a resort atmosphere for so much less in many cases and some aren't much farther than some of the Disney resorts. One thing that jumps out at me is if you did stay offsite with a kitchen, you could also cook some dinners there (easy stuff) and stretch your budget along with getting to eat homemade food for a change (there is only so long I can eat restaurant food for!)

If we get a 2bed + Murphey bed room, then prices are about the same. Once you start entering suite territory, there starts to be bigger differences. If that were the case, then I would probably be forced to consider it. The reasons we are reluctant to stay off property are several: shuttle availability (small kids need mid day break) and times, lack of fastpass booking selection ahead of time, lack of extra magic hours, etc. In the end we feel we would lose a lot of benefits, while losing more time and adding increased effort, which takes away from other things we could be doing and gives the vacation more "working parts" to deal with. If we are going to make the long trip, especially with young kids, it's important our time is optimized and flexible for them, especially if price is even roughly the same.

Speaking of which, when I order a 2 week Park hopper, we can break up their use over 3 weeks, no problem. And we love the idea of exploring Disney property.

But back to the room...we would
spen
d most of our time inside the room napping or watching a movie while we take a break. Yeah, it's a little tight, but our family is very active, and the little ones just want to play and interact all the time. Spending much time in a room of any size is not an option for them ,

 

[ArwenMarie]

If we get a 2bed + Murphey bed room, then prices are about the same. Once you start entering suite territory, there starts to be bigger differences. If that were the case, then I would probably be forced to consider it. The reasons we are reluctant to stay off property are several: shuttle availability (small kids need mid day break) and times, lack of fastpass booking selection ahead of time, lack of extra magic hours, etc. In the end we feel we would lose a lot of benefits, while losing more time and adding increased effort, which takes away from other things we could be doing and gives the vacation more "working parts" to deal with. If we are going to make the long trip, especially with young kids, it's important our time is optimized and flexible for them, especially if price is even roughly the same.

Speaking of which, when I order a 2 week Park hopper, we can break up their use over 3 weeks, no problem. And we love the idea of exploring Disney property.

But back to the room...we would
spen
d most of our time inside the room napping or watching a movie while we take a break. Yeah, it's a little tight, but our family is very active, and the little ones just want to play and interact all the time. Spending much time in a room of any size is not an option for them ,

I agree, if you aren't keen on renting a car, then onsite is the way to go for sure.

 

[ellie05]

@norjack just out of curiosity have you stayed at a value before ?

 

[norjack]

@norjack just out of curiosity have you stayed at a value before ?

Yeah. Last time the 5 of us stayed at a mermaid room at Art of Animation. My wife and I have also stayed at all star sports and all star music in the past.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I have done longer stays in orlando, but not on property. I refuse to pay that much money for a motel 6 type room. We stay offsite in a townhouse cheaper than a value would cost.

 

[MissouriPrincess]

I would consider renting a two-bedroom at a DVC resort. When we took our first trip with my parents, the cost came to about the same as two moderate rooms rack rate. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge--Kidani Village in a standard view. We had a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. It was wonderful to pop in a load of laundry while we napped during the heat of the day. For some meals, we fixed something in the kitchen before heading back out, but we ate at plenty of table service places, too. Plus we had a great pool and got to see animals around the resort all the time! We felt like we were are able to have plenty of space. My parents could go into their "studio" part and close the door away from us. My teen slept in the living room on the hide-a-bed, and my husband, toddler and I had the king bed in the one-bedroom part. We had three bathrooms. We have another trip planned for July, and we're still renting points for DVC. We're just trying new resorts.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We always use our snack credits to get pastries from France or a bakery then we have them for breakfast the next morning. Also, at some of the stores if you get a quick lunch they are huge so 2 people can split them (at least). I think 2 QS credits get you a whole pizza.