More for Less: A Theme Park Planning Strategy

[Laketravis]

Fuzzy, let's get back to basics for a moment.

(A) Stay on-site, eat on-site, play on-site. For clarity, let's sleep for 8 hours, eat three meals a day, and reserve 3 FP's in the parks.

(B) Stay off-site, eat off-site, play on-site at twice as many or more park systems and entertainment venues. Still sleeping 8 hours a night, still eating three meals a day, and still reserving 3 FP's in the parks.

Now, I don't think we need to rehash what I'm able to get done in a couple or three hours at a WDW park now because of the ability to hard-schedule those items, include FP-Passive entertainment, and "get in-get out" so we can also accomplish more in the Orlando area. You yourself referred to that component as being cram-packed with activities throughout the day and that is because we are able to incorporate multiple park systems. So in this case, MORE. And the more days we do that without spending money in those parks, the cheaper it gets. LESS.

That leaves us with eating and sleeping. We will still sleep for 8 hours so no change there. Accommodations are better both square footage and amenity wise. MORE. They cost less. LESS.

What's left? Oh, eating. I can buy more food offsite (MORE) for less money (LESS) than onsite. Period.

What part of More for Less do you still not understand? Is it rocket science? Of course not. Is it headline news? No. But it could be a game changer for many people who have conditioned themselves that they had to stay on-site in order to take advantage of EMH and Rope Drop and whatever else they were told were advantages to being onsite because now they can accomplish in a few hours in a WDW park what might have taken longer before. Which opens up new windows of time opportunities for them. Followed by significant savings. And I was one of "them".

 

[cakebaker]

I don't believe the OP regularly purchased the DDP, he's stated before that he's booked Free Dining for all his trips since 2010.

Perhaps, but he was including the cost of a dining plan in his original thread:

"Two weeks early June at CSR, buy AP's and DDP for 3: $7,039
Two weeks over Thanksgiving at CSR and DDP (already have AP's) for 3: $5,711"

 

[MrInfinity]

Honestly, after all the posts back and forth today, I truly don't know whether this is serious or sarcastic.

Taking it as a serious response - honestly, we just have no interest in the dining plan at all. We've always found we spend less paying OOP. But we have not ever done a lot of character meals, nor do I see that really changing..not til DD is a bit older anyway. Maybe then we'll re-evaluate, but for right now I'd honestly have no critique as I have no experience with the DDP at all.

Oh, I get it. And yes, of course it was serious. But as you see from my sig, we have little kids. Character meals are up there on our list of to-dos. It makes a difference. If we were going kidless, we would definitely be much less into the buffets and have 0 interest in characters.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I've got a SunPass. And I agree with you about Rosen - I'm not a big fan of it either. It just happened to play into this trip because I'm being comped as a speaker for a convention. Otherwise there's no way I would pay the $250+ a night to stay there even if it is less for comparable accommodations than on-site. As noted in my original post, this trip has some cost components that regardless of whether I am having to pay for them or not I'm counting as actual expenses, and they are higher than what I would have chosen. That's why I said it's a warm up for my June trip, which won't involve a rental car and accommodations that are a fraction of this trip's cost.

In reality, the options available to me on the June trip are more in line with general availability than what I'm getting next month. I agree much of what I'm doing is a no-brainer but are things that never would have occurred to the brain conditioned to staying on-site all these times and years. It's the new found ability to reserve those hardly-a-wait items in the parks at times that can be planned around that I think make these time-tested tips a reality for more people.

Fair enough.

Though I have been on for several years and the budget boards are well versed in the off site cost savings.

I think your report will help folks think outside of the box--but it isn't all that new is all I am saying.

I will add that I am persistently shocked at folks who must do all things all on site and then complain it is expensive. Yes it is and it has been that way for a long long time.

Your trip sounds fun.

We do prefer on site. Our last vacation was off site and it was enjoyable. But when you get a condo for <$500 for a week. How could it it not be?

 

[Laketravis]

Perhaps, but he was including the cost of a dining plan in his original thread:

"Two weeks early June at CSR, buy AP's and DDP for 3: $7,039
Two weeks over Thanksgiving at CSR and DDP (already have AP's) for 3: $5,711"

Correct, I included it because the cost is easily verified. If that doesn't work for you as an example, pull it out and substitute three meals a day on-site. But list all menu items of choice along with their corresponding cost for purposes of accuracy, please.

 

[SmithSmith]

Perhaps, but he was including the cost of a dining plan in his original thread:

"Two weeks early June at CSR, buy AP's and DDP for 3: $7,039
Two weeks over Thanksgiving at CSR and DDP (already have AP's) for 3: $5,711"

Oh I'm aware. I was just pointing out that he usually doesn't pay for the dining plan. I find it curious that he's decided to purchase now... even if it's just hypothetically.

 

[Laketravis]

Fair enough.

Though I have been on for several years and the budget boards are well versed in the off site cost savings.

I think your report will help folks think outside of the box--but it isn't all that new is all I am saying.

I will add that I am persistently shocked at folks who must do all things all on site and then complain it is expensive. Yes it is and it has been that way for a long long time.

Your trip sounds fun.

We do prefer on site. Our last vacation was off site and it was enjoyable. But when you get a condo for <$500 for a week. How could it it not be?

Agreed. Like I explained above, the only new revelation is how to use FP+ to ones advantage by being able to pre-plan the entire day. That's what compelled me to look at it in that sense as a benefit and then substantiate how much that will save us in terms of dollars and provide us with the opportunity to do more each day. Even if Fuzzy is doing his darndest to talk me out of it.

 

[cakebaker]

Oh I'm aware. I was just pointing out that he usually doesn't pay for the dining plan. I find it curious that he's decided to purchase now... even if it's just hypothetically.

As am I.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Oh, I get it. And yes, of course it was serious. But as you see from my sig, we have little kids. Character meals are up there on our list of to-dos. It makes a difference. If we were going kidless, we would definitely be much less into the buffets and have 0 interest in characters.

DD is 2.5 - she knows Mickey (her nursery is Mickey Mouse themed), the clubhouse gang, and Sofia but not really any of the other characters yet. She enjoys meeting the characters, but TBH w/the 4 day AFS tickets we have so little time in the park as it is, that we don't want to take up park time with character meals. When she knows more characters and is more interested in character meeting, we may do more of it, but so far we just don't have that history with them One character meal/trip is usually enough right now, combined with M&Gs in the park. Even when we go with my nephews, they are more interested in Mickey and the gang than any other character set at character meals (definitely *not* interested in any princess meals) so one character meal like Chef Mickey's - again, combined with misc M&Gs in the park - is usually enough.

I love dressing DD up like a princess, so as she gets older I do expect more character meals to come into play..maybe then we'll look into the DDP a bit more

ETA: and thank you for clarifying that it was a serious post. I thought it was, but the thread's tone is taking a bit of a turn tonight and I just wasn't sure. I'm glad it was

 

[Laketravis]

Why? You aren't eating 3 meals a day off site. Why would you eat 3 on site?

Because you indicated that wasn't realistic. All that I am suggesting is that if my example doesn't make sense to you, use your own.

 

[Laketravis]

DD is 2.5 - she knows Mickey (her nursery is Mickey Mouse themed), the clubhouse gang, and Sofia but not really any of the other characters yet. She enjoys meeting the characters, but TBH w/the 4 day AFS tickets we have so little time in the park as it is, that we don't want to take up park time with character meals. When she knows more characters and is more interested in character meeting, we may do more of it, but so far we just don't have that history with them One character meal/trip is usually enough right now, combined with M&Gs in the park. Even when we go with my nephews, they are more interested in Mickey and the gang than any other character set at character meals (definitely *not* interested in any princess meals) so one character meal like Chef Mickey's - again, combined with misc M&Gs in the park - is usually enough.

I love dressing DD up like a princess, so as she gets older I do expect more character meals to come into play..maybe then we'll look into the DDP a bit more

A character meal for us with one kid is over $100. I'm sure with Fuzzy and company it has to be over $200. I could save that dude some serious money.

 

[cakebaker]

Because you indicated that wasn't realistic. All that I am suggesting is that if my example doesn't make sense to you, use your own.

And all I'm saying is don't include a pricey DDP in your original costs, then go down to 1 meal a day off site and claim you got more for less. You got less for less.

 

[SmithSmith]

And all I'm saying is don't include a pricey DDP in your original costs, then go down to 1 meal a day off site and claim you got more for less. You got less for less.

You'd think this would be obvious.

 

[Laketravis]

Oh I'm aware. I was just pointing out that he usually doesn't pay for the dining plan. I find it curious that he's decided to purchase now... even if it's just hypothetically.

As am I.

And all I'm saying is don't include a pricey DDP in your original costs, then go down to 1 meal a day off site and claim you got more for less. You got less for less.

You'd think this would be obvious.

Then quit harping on it and give me some meal examples of what you purchase on-site and I'll be happy to compose the equivalent off-site. Drop the DDP if you want and compare to one meal. Or two. Or three. Your choice.

Then compare. More for less or less for more?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Agreed. Like I explained above, the only new revelation is how to use FP+ to ones advantage by being able to pre-plan the entire day. That's what compelled me to look at it in that sense as a benefit and then substantiate how much that will save us in terms of dollars and provide us with the opportunity to do more each day. Even if Fuzzy is doing his darndest to talk me out of it.

Kinda sounds like you are following some
Tips and suggestions that were rebutted as negatives and turning them into positives to maximize your trip experience.

But my memory could be fuzzy.

 

[SmithSmith]

Then quit harping on it and give me some meal examples of what you purchase on-site and I'll be happy to compose the equivalent off-site. Drop the DDP if you want and compare to one meal. Or two. Or three. Your choice.

Then compare. More for less or less for more?

Why do we have to do your work for you? This is your comparison. We just expect you to be honest about it, instead of comparing bloated dining costs to budget dining costs.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Then quit harping on it and give me some meal examples of what you purchase on-site and I'll be happy to compose the equivalent off-site. Drop the DDP if you want and compare to one meal. Or two. Or three. Your choice.

Then compare. More for less or less for more?

To be fair, you cannot really replicate certain experiences off site.

Example: I wanted BOG. There is no comparable off site experience.

Nor is there with character dining. I realize some off site hotels have them. We did not care for them the times we tried.

That said--we are Breakfast in our room eaters, do only 1 TS per trip max, and CS otherwise typically. While we can save money off site and have certainly done so, there are other factors that weigh in and then you get a whole time value of money thing. CS for is on site is $50-$60 while comparable on amount of food off site is about $40. So do I want to save $20 but spend 2 hours going back to the car to an off site CS, eat and return. Not really. Our time is Worth more than $10 an hour.

Now--if I was splitting my day and traveling to or from Disney to an off site activity , well then hitting a drive through on the way to save $20 would be reasonable.

For TS--we have venues we wish to try. We have places we will not return. But again, we seek experience and that isn't replicated off site.

This isn't to say there aren't better options that are better worth what you pay off site that even yield cost savings for better food...
But if I am wanting to try a specific on site restaurant, well that cannot be replicated. And often that is a good thing.

Al that babble to say--sometimes "more for less" takes more into account than quantifiable consumption for the money spent. For our larger party -- we get around more slowly than your party of three. So even by party comparison, we would likely be doing less than you for logistical reasons.

But back to our December trip, we did end some days early and that facilitated off site dining which allowed for cost savings with no time wasted in transit. The days were early due to my stamina. If we had planned open to close days every day, we would have unlikely left just to have a cheaper meal.

The beauty if all this is that there are all sorts of things that can be done to mitigate costs.

Folks are free to pick and choose what works for them. They just need to realize that the more things they insist upon, the less savings may occur.

 

[ArmchairDetective]

Here is a budget report from a 5 night stay in October at Pop Century. It was a last minute trip and we also had military tickets so saved money there. In the first image the bottom half was our price at Pop and the top half was our vacation spending. The numbers in parentheses are our budgets that we cannot go over. Note, I budget $100/day in food for two adults. We do not do the DDP as I don't think it's a good fit for our family. We always order a Prime Pantry box to the resort, buy a 1/2 gallon of milk and rarely eat breakfast out of the room. The food costs include meals at the airport, Downtown Disney, an Epcot F&W breakfast at Chefs de France ($78), and a Cane Garden lunch out at The Villages on our last day. Misc is tolls, the Prime Box, a mug, and chip in for gas for rental.

Either way, you can see our average for two adults was $60/day in food. We had a blast, but we only stay at Pop if the trip is "on the cheap." I will be keeping the same record at POFQ in 4 weeks, with 2A and 2K not on the DDP. I can report back if you like! Laketravis, good luck. I think you may find that your vacation is going to be "different" and less immersive, but if that's ok with you then alrighty!

It should also be notes that my wife was pregnant on the trip and ate a lot of ice cream.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Why do we have to do your work for you? This is your comparison. We just expect you to be honest about it, instead of comparing bloated dining costs to budget dining costs.

I think this is simply answers by Travis stating the budget of his comparable on site trip.
Hotel
Food
Admission


And then folks can draw conclusions.

I think what you are getting at is tantamount to DVCers listing room costs as $0 or the dues cost while failing to amortize the original purchase price. So it makes it appear the savings are more than what they are. Eventually the savings will be substantial as the cost per use decreases with each trip. But the actual costs are never actually $0.

 

[Laketravis]

Why do we have to do your work for you? This is your comparison. We just expect you to be honest about it, instead of comparing bloated dining costs to budget dining costs.

If this were work I'd be getting paid.

You expect me to be honest about it, and I expect that when I'm accused of not being honest and I respond "Okay, then give me your examples and let's use them" that you would provide those examples rather than additional accusations. I suppose it's so much easier to accuse than it is to prove.

Regardless, this thread was opened under "Theme Park Attractions and Strategies" as a strategy to derive more (Theme Park Attractions) for less (Strategy). To keep it on topic and relative to this board, the definition of "more" is being able to do "more" in more parks each day for "less" cost.

If you want to debate whether or not it's cheaper to eat comparably off-site versus on-site and whether those savings are real or imagined, let's open that thread on the food boards rather than derail this one.