Money Saving Tips for a Solo Traveler

[Disne]

I last ventured to WDW two years ago (in September 2009) with a relative and had a fine time. For two people, the package (seven-day stay at a value resort with five park tickets (each) and the deluxe dining package) cost about $1,300 - ~$650 per person. That was a tremendous deal.

In looking at a similar package for this year – for the same time frame (end of September), an identical package for one traveler costs $1,370 (for two, $1,870). Such a price increase seems extreme.

So, I ask, what tricks do veteran solo travelers have for WDW that can reduce costs? The regular dining plan costs $320 (while the deluxe is $470) – those costs seem reasonable for a week-long stay (including seven snacks and fourteen meals). I don’t reside anywhere near Orlando, so staying on-site is necessary (and convenient). Any chance Disney will bring back the “free dining” plan promotion for the fall?

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Even with the free dining plan, at a value its only the quick service dining plan. You would then need to upgrade to the DxDP out of pocket. It does save money but not as much as you would like. My personal preference is to take the room only discounts that show up every now and then. I don't eat the amount of food on the DxDP that is offered so a room savings is always a better bet for me.

Good luck with finding discounts. Have Dreams Unlimited Travel check into discounts for you. They might have an inside link. Also, if you have AAA you can save money. . .

 

[spiceycat]

you can rent a reservation thru a DVC member and save a little money on the room.

you can also then go get your tickets at ticketmaina or another ticket discount - you can ask (BEFORE YOU BUY) if it is trustworth or not.

you can get DDP with a DVC reservation - you don't need to buy your tickets (like you do if you go straight with Disney)

BWV, BLT, BCV, AKV, VWL - have the inside halls - which some think are safer for single travelers.

SSR, OKW - are more like a community with outside halls and separate building.

like them all. love the studios - they are great - they come with a kitchennett so you can fix your own meals if you want.

 

[Terk-1]

Here are some of my solo trip tips:

1. If you have AAA, check with a local agent to see what the AAA discount is for when you want to go. It may be anywhere from $100-$300 savings, depending on the package you choose, where you are staying, etc.

2. If you don't plan on spending much time in your resort room, than a value resort would be more economical. The rooms are fine and the grounds are fun. Plenty of pools to cool off in. Have stayed in all of them and would recommend the All Star Sports. Although it may share it's buses to the parks with the Music & Movies, it always picks up & drops off at the Sports first. Stayed here in 2009 and enjoyed it. Was hardly in the room except to sleep & shower. When I went in 2009, the difference between the value & moderates was $400. Again, was not in the room or resort enough to justify that.

3. There is a quick service dining plan (the cheapest one) or the regular dining plan. I like the regular one as it offers 1 table service, 1 counter service and 1 snack per night. This gives me the chance to dine at some of my favorite table services. Prior to picking this package, I went online and looked at the menus for the restaurants I was interested in dining at. I added up what each meal would possibly cost and found out that most of the just the table service meals would exceed what I would pay for the meal plan. QS is fine, but not for more than one meal a day for me. I stayed at the Sports and was booked with the regular dining plan, not the QS. I had a reservation at the Sports for the first part of my vacation and had the regular dining plan (not the deluxe), instead of the QS plan.

4. If you are staying on-site, then make sure to take advantage of the free transportation to & from the airport, as well as to all of the parks & DTD. I don't go off-site, so I find I can save quite a bit by not renting a car.

5. As we have all gone to WDW many times, I don't buy many souvies. I take a ton of pictures, which is my best souvie and it's free!!! If you have AAA, you can save $$ at World of Disney with your AAA card.

 

[sam_001]

if you stick to the counter service your meal will cost about $12.00 a meal and about $3.00 for bottle water if you are not on a meal plan i have not tried the meal plan yet so i spent little over $300.00 on meals which consist of table and counter services

 

[macraven]

we all have different ways to save when we stay onsite.

the last 8 years i have gone solo and stayed at sports.
i have found the best discounts there for late sept/early oct on the rooms.

i have also realized that it is cheaper for me to book room only.
my 7 night room at sports is $481 total.
if i did the package that includes the meals and tickets, my cost could be as high as what you quoted.


i have done the dining plan package 7 times. did the QS last year.
i'm tired of it.
in order for me to really come out ahead, i need to order the more expensive items on the menus.
there are days i just want to get a grilled cheese sandwich and call it dinner.

i bought everything separate for this trip.
tickets from UT at the old prices, took notes from the thread,"eat for under $40 a day", and booked with a room only discount.

check out mousesavers site for their advise on money saving suggestions.
write out what your expenses will be either with a package or a la cart.
compare the two. see where you can save money.

if you are more of a snacker, you might not need the dining plan added on.
i don't remember what the cost of it this year would be, maybe $42 for the sports resort/higher tax there.

look at the menus at wdwinfo, allears, mousesavers and other boards.
go to the places that you want due to the food.
try not to be tied down to an adr that requires you leave one park for another.
you would need to add on the park hoppers if you hopped parks.
that is an additional $52 cost on your ticket pass.

since i go solo, i eat solo.
i have no issues of seating by myself at any of the restaurants in the parks or at the hotels.

if you do not have anyone to share a meal with, don't let that stop you from making adr's for table service.

 

[macraven]

if you stick to the counter service your meal will cost about $12.00 a meal and about $3.00 for bottle water if you are not on a meal plan i have not tried the meal plan yet so i spent little over $300.00 on meals which consist of table and counter services

i think that $300 is a good savings over the meal packages..


you can spend $12 for a lunch at some of the TS places.
i get the reuben sandwich (it comes with chips or coleslaw)at the Plaza for $10.95 and a glass of free water.

same aset up at sci fi in dhs. reuben and chips and that free water....


i've been searching the menus and have found quite a few things i have over looked in years past.
(mainly because i ordered the $$ when i was on the meal plan..)

if the pp has the time to look at all the menus, she could save money by purchasing her food ala carte instead of the meal plan.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've often wondered about ordering appetizers at resturants instead of entrees. There's always talk of saving money by sharing entrees, but when you're solo, that's not an option. I find myself throwing away so much food. So how about appetizers. And most importantly, any suggestiions for some good appetizers to eat as entrees?