My Family's tips on Saving $ at WDW!

[bom_noite]

Mermaid - here is another option on the fireworks I have not tried - but plan to the next time we go.

The fireworks from outside Epcot are good - but - not as good as being there. This is because in addition to fireworks they have lasers and such that you cannot see outside the park.

I understand you can reserve a boat for $120 that accomodates 12 folks. The boat actually takes you out in to the lake within Epcot.

Since we only have a family of 4 I was going to post here 2 months before we go and see if we can find other family's that would share in the expense. That makes it $10 a person - and probably makes it worth it.

Of course you would probably have to book the reservation on your card - so - you would have to demand payment up front.

I am sure you can probably do a similar thing at the Magic Kingdom - but not sure.

If anyone has info or experience with this I would love to hear it.

 

[NCRedding]

bom_noite: The DIS boards have already taken care of the Illuminations Cruise situation for you. If you check the planning and attractions board, under "Important-Illuminations Cruise.." it will give you info on how to book and how to share cruises. My family did it the night before our Wonder cruise--it was awesome.

 

[bom_noite]

Thanks for the info on the cruise - I will look that up. When I was there I tried to call from the room and get info on it and every CM I talked to was totally lost.

I finally got ahold of a CM who was going to go check with his supervisor and never came back after 10 minutes. I just assumed that it was a little known and little publicized option.

Good to know that the info is out there.

 

[Kirby]

Another neat place to watch the fireworks at MK is at the train station but then you have to pay to get in to do that.

 

[C.Ann]

$650 a night ????????????????

 

[Pa@okw95]

C. Ann-yes, $650 per night and with that should come exclusive rights to use the common areas for GF guests only. Unfortunately there are people that are always trying to get something for nothing. When I paid that for the room I had access to the concierge section of the hotel that the guests that paid for the regular room did not, but all guests of the hotel should have use of those areas for resort guests only- like the beach, pools, and the dock to watch the fireworks. This is not a caste system like someone has suggested but a system of paying for what you get, like so many other things at WDW there are people that will try to beat the system. By the way C. Ann what did you mean by $650 per night, there are more expensive rooms then that at GF. It is really great that someone that pays $79 per night to stay at the All-Stars or $49 a night to stay off campus somewhere can think they have some right to the common areas that should be for hotel guests only. This is why so many knew that once the value hotels were built by WDW the place would start to slide and it has for many more reasons beyond people trying to get something for nothing.

 

[Mermaid02]

Now who needs to let it go?

Deep cleansing breath- in through the nose.......... out through the mouth...........

 

[DEH3rd]

I think he just answered that question for you, Mermaid02.

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

My 2 cents on this issue:

First off, let me say that I will probably never be able to comfortably afford a room costing $650 or more per night. But I'm quite sure that if I ever did lay out that kind of cash, I would have certain expectations of exclusivity, and it would irritate me to see people enjoying for free parts of what I paid so dearly for.

BUT--Disney owns the hotel and makes the rules, and so long as their rules allow for non-guests to explore and utilize parts of the resort, there is no valid complaint. You knew before paying the $650 per night that this is the way it is, so why complain now? Disney will continue to allow non-guest visitors to explore for free in hopes that one day they too will pay to stay. As long as there are people who are willing to pay the big bucks for the rooms despite the visitors, then why on earth would Disney change the rules? This will happen only when guests with the $$$ take their $$$ elsewhere. JMHO

Sue

 

[lenshanem]

Pa@okw95,
I read your posts often over at the DVC board and I'm just starting to wonder...
You seem very negative about WDW and DVC in general. In fact, I think it was you and only you that tried to dissuade me from joining DVC when I mentioned we were concerned about the price, and I read recently another post by you trying to dissuade someone else from buying. They even picked up on it and brought that point into the thread.
So I'm wondering why you don't sell your DVC. If you bought in 95 then I would think you'd be able to get quite a bit more per point for it. I also find it odd you are on the boards so much when I have read even recently how you don't enjoy WDW and prefer to just hang out at OKW.
I believe you have even helped me before on numerous topics, so I just don't understand why you devote time and money to something that doesn't bring you any happiness?
Let's face it - Even at All-Star Resorts you have to have the money for tickets, food, travel, not to mention the souvenirs. It is not cheap anyway you look at it.
This reminds me of our trip last November. This extremely snotty family was on the boat going to GF from the MK. We were staying at BCV, but had ressies for the Pooh character dinner. Somehow it got mentioned that we were staying somewhere else and the attitude they had! Geez...makes me never want to stay there if this is the overall feeling of guests staying at the GF. Like they are better?!? (I know this isn't true, but it just seems I keep getting this vibe...) I think it is wonderful they built the values. It gives more people the opportunity to enjoy how wonderful it is to stay on property. Many save up for years to go to WDW. They deserve to enjoy the property, maybe even more so cause they probably wouldn't take it for granted as much as those who can throw money out into the wind. We've stayed at the mods and values, I hope those in DVC don't feel I shouldn't belong there because of this.

 

[shelle94]

Oh my. While I appreciate the effort put forth by the OP to help others, I fear this thread will soon be locked.

This is why so many knew that once the value hotels were built by WDW the place would start to slide

Well, I guess you can include me in this group that has brought WDW down a peg or two for others. I'm glad you can afford the more extravagant rooms. The only way I can afford to stay at WDW is in the value resorts. I had no idea that I was looked down upon because of that.

 

[Daxx]

OK - I am totally confused and maybe someone can help me out.

We are staying at ASSports. On our first night, we have PS for Chef Mickey for dinner at 8:30. When we were done eating, we thought we'd find seating to watch the water parade as it passes the Contemp. at approx. 10pm. Is it not cool to do that since we're not officially guests at the Contemp?! If that's the case, then we'll do something else. Don't want to step on any toes or get booted out. Please let me know proper protocol. TIA!

 

[crisi]

Note that this was orignally posted on the DVC board and the assumptions should be "you are staying at a DVC resort as a member and have access to a car." A lot of these things require neither, but some (pool hopping) are only available to DVC members.

Also, while these are great ideas for spending days without using expensive park admission, keep in mind your priorities and the "sunk costs" of the vacation. Airfare and hotel do not make for a cheap "zoo" trip or cheap swim. For DVC members, this equation is a little different than for regular resort guests, but for most people, you may be better off shortening your stay by a night, saving yourselves $100+ on your hotel, and swimming at home. (The Disney theming is great at the pool, but is it $100 great?).

 

[Pa@okw95]

Lenshanem --Sooner or later it always gets personal when you dare say anything negative about the mouse. The most common is why don't you sell DVC. I plan on spending the winters at OKW that is why? Now one thing is for sure I won't be staying at GF ever again because like the person on the boat you get tired of people trying to get for nothing what you paid for. I was very unhappy with GF for other reasons and it just is not worth the money. So like one suggested I take my money and play elsewhere. Now my suggest to anyone regarding WDW is that it is not the end of the world if you do not go ever. Also NOT going to WDW ever has nothing at all to do with being a good parent. I have read over the years on this site horror stories of people who could not afford to leave their house coming to WDW. I mean horror stories. When someone even suggests one way or another that they may not have the money to buy into DVC or go to WDW for that matter, I will suggest to them, that they do not go. Telling them as I already said in another way-having a complete life has nothing to do with going to WDW. Now, I like you said do not like what has happen to WDW for sometime, but WDW and OKW are two different things. OKW is still a nice place to stay, the bus service I do not use, and I do not eat dinner at Olivias, and on check in day I often have another place to stay (double booking) to avoid having to wait until 4 for my room. I have pretty much solved the negatives for me at OKW by taking action to avoid them, but I am affraid that is not possible at GF for more reasons then the situation with the fireworks.

 

[Leigha]

We had dinner at Chef Mickey's on our first night and then went out to watch the fireworks and had a great time. One "deck" had been rented for a party to insure a great view. No problem!

I think the thing about $650.00 is that for that amount of money, it should have included a room with a view of the fireworks. My family stayed at the GF a few years ago for half that price and that was one of my priorities - a view of the castle, fireworks and parade. Perhaps more careful planning would help.

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

Originally posted by shelle94
Oh my. While I appreciate the effort put forth by the OP to help others, I fear this thread will soon be locked.

You're absolutely right, Shelle. I'll do my part to get this threat back on topic. Here are ways we try to save money at WDW:

We're a large family (7) so we stay off-site in a nice 2 bdrm villa that we get for a great price (skyauction, time-share deal, etc.) for the majority of the trip, then splurge for on-site for a few nights.

Eat breakfast in the room or free hotel breakfast.

Fill our insulated water bottles and freeze overnight. They thaw slowly and provide nice cold water for at least half the day.

Never buy soft drinks with our restaurant meals. ALWAYS ice water. Better for you, and free!

We never buy souveniers, and the kids know this. Look for free souveniers (if you must have them) like kid's menus, cups your drink comes in, etc.

We drive rather than fly. No costly airfare, no rental car needed.

Our smaller kids share meals with each other or with mom and dad when possible. I just hate seeing expensive restaurant food go to waste.

We take one day of our vacation as a "exploring" day. Ride the monorail, visit and explore other resort hotels. It's so nice just sitting for a while in the lobbies of the GF, AKL, WL etc, and just people watching and taking in the atmosphere. Even our kids like to do this.

Walk around the Boardwalk area. Hold hands with your family and really go for an old-fashioned stroll! Splurge on an ice-cream cone BEFORE dinner, then eat a smaller (cheaper) dinner--oh come on, you're on vacation!

Sue

 

[Cinders]

When we were done eating, we thought we'd find seating to watch the water parade as it passes the Contemp. at approx. 10pm. Is it not cool to do that since we're not officially guests at the Contemp?!

As a resort guest (doent matter which WDW resort) you are welcome to watch the water parade there.

 

[lenshanem]

Pa@okw95 -
"Now one thing is for sure I won't be staying at GF ever again because like the person on the boat you get tired of people trying to get for nothing what you paid for."

I'm confused about this. Then you also feel that since we weren't staying at the GF then we shouldn't have been able to take the boat from MK to the GF and then eat at 1900 for the Pooh character dinner?
I must say that dinner was one of the most expensive ones of our trip! At least $100 as I recall and we're a family of 2 adults, 1 child and a toddler!

I'll let it go now, but I'm just confused on that way of thinking. I think the GF liked taking our money for that meal. LOL I don't think they cared if I was staying at BCV, which isn't that shabby of a place!

 

[Daxx]

Thank you for the information, Cinders. I appreciate your help. The whole talk about who belongs where and who doesn't confused the begeebies out of me!

 

[DEH3rd]

...gee, I was told by a moderator that my post was out of line....let's see, It is ok to be rude, elitist, and condescending in real life and voice your opinion, (the moderators won't bother you) but if I make a joke about being rude, elitist, and condescending, i get told to remove my post...makes sense. I also think that Pa@okw95 has proven out my point.

"This is why so many knew that once the value hotels were built by WDW the place would start to slide"....and he says it is not a caste system that he has in mind!