Need a little help from my friends...

[tinkermell]

In the parks at DLR it is $3.50. I was just there on Thursday and can verify this. That alone saves me huge amounts of money since I don't like carrying ANYTHING into the parks. . .but that's me. . .

Yikes! Looks like they need to update the prices.

 

[tinkermell]

Patti, I have seen those before. Unfortunately, they are never when I wanna go (An absolute must for me is a warmer month when I can enjoy pools and water parks) and before anyone says they are heated and you can go in the winter, I can't!! I am used to Vegas weather and it's WAY TOO cold for me to swim in December regardless.

The only time I find those great prices for my months (May, etc) is if you have an annual pass (which would delete my savings) or Florida Resident!!


Andrea

Andrea, Do you mean to tell me that you have never been to DL at Christmas????? Unbelievable! If I had only one time to go in the year, I would always pick Christmas!!!! That is how beautiful it is. What say you to this?????????????????????????????????

 

[MATTERHORN]

Andrea, Do you mean to tell me that you have never been to DL at Christmas????? Unbelievable! If I had only one time to go in the year, I would always pick Christmas!!!! That is how beautiful it is. What say you to this?????????????????????????????????

No no no!! I was just there in December!! I meant I don't want my first trip to WDW to be at Christmas, I want warmer months since I love water parks!!!
GASP!! What kind of person do you think I am???


Andrea

 

[momlady]

I will start out by saying "I am cheap" but I found that *everything* seems to be more expensive in California than in FL or at home. Our regular Subway order for 4 people that we get at home was 5 bucks more in Calif. The groceries and sundries we bought were more expensive. The only thing cheaper was the gas, and that was marginally less expensive than at home.

Hard to compare the 2 resorts though -- for us, each was a "destination" trip. We don't go to FLorida in the summer as we find it too hot, and can only get away at Christmas or March Break (hubby is a teacher). Both trips (DL just came back, and WDW in '04) were for a week, we rented a car both times and stayed offsite in FL; in CA we spent a day in San Diego and 1& 1/2 in Vegas as well as our 3 full days at DL/CA. So while we stayed at HOJO we still wanted a car to do other things and to get us to and from the airport.

Strangely enough, it was cheaper for us to fly from central Canada to California than it would have been to fly to Orlando, in March. Go figure!!

 

[Zoemakes5]

I have priced out both before and the answer is, it depends.
For us, flying to FL is much less money. Shuttles to and from WDW area are cheaper. (For that matter, rental cars have looked cheaper, too.) Most hotels that have shuttle service from the hotel to the parks are complimentary, instead of having to pay for it. When you stay onsite, it's cheaper. I've seen onsite value hotels at WDW cheaper than offsite at WDW and offsite at DLR, especially if you add in the savings of not having to pay for shuttles to and from the airport (WDW's shuttles "Magic Express" is free to WDW resort guests). The cost of food IN the WDW park is much less expensive for kids than DLR. Just an example, most children's meals in DLR are right around $6, while many of them all over WDW are closer to $3 or $4. Adult food is about the same for CS. I think overall, table services options are more varried and you can get meals for less than at DLR, but that's making particular choices. I think the Dining Plan at WDW is pheonemenal, at $39 a day for adults (that includes a TS, CS and snack each day) and $11 for kids.
The tickets are generally more expensive at WDW, but end up averaging about the same when you start to add days. At DLR, the most you can get is a 5 day pass. Going rate for that is 189 online, if not during the special right now (that's still discounted rate, though). If you want to do 7 days at DLR, you'd have to add passes. The cheapest way I found was to add a 5 day and a 2 day for a total of $311 for adults and 261 for child. At Undercover tourist a 7 day hopper is 259/226. Even adding the water park and more option to the 7 day hopper takes you to less than what the DLR 7 days cost for an adult at DLR, $304 for the park hopper w/waterparks.
In my "playing" I think WDW can be the better deal for longer stays, but shorter trips DLR ends up being a better deal most of the time. Once again, depends upon a number of factors.

 

[AllJackedUp]

I think the critical thing is to establish your priorities about what you want out of your Disney experience. I am so glad we went to WDW when my son was young. He loved the character meals, interacting with characters on the streets of MGM, loved all the activities around the resort, including staying at The Neverland Club while Mom and Dad had a night out to themselves!

That said, now that he's a teen, he wants to ride, ride, ride! He was the one that suggested APs for DL because we can take advantage of cheap airfares and be there in an hour. Florida is an all-day trip for us (and I hate flying!).

DH and I will probably go back to WDW for our 25th Anniversary but for now, we can do 3 trips to DL for the price of 1 WDW. I don't miss the characters, and when I want to pay for an overpriced meal, I just go to BB!

But if you have small children, I think WDW offers a lot more of the "total" experience at a better price than DL.

So, make your list, check it twice and decide which is best for your pocketbook and mental health!

 

[MATTERHORN]

I have priced out both before and the answer is, it depends.
For us, flying to FL is much less money. Shuttles to and from WDW area are cheaper. (For that matter, rental cars have looked cheaper, too.) Most hotels that have shuttle service from the hotel to the parks are complimentary, instead of having to pay for it. When you stay onsite, it's cheaper. I've seen onsite value hotels at WDW cheaper than offsite at WDW and offsite at DLR, especially if you add in the savings of not having to pay for shuttles to and from the airport (WDW's shuttles "Magic Express" is free to WDW resort guests). The cost of food IN the WDW park is much less expensive for kids than DLR. Just an example, most children's meals in DLR are right around $6, while many of them all over WDW are closer to $3 or $4. Adult food is about the same for CS. I think overall, table services options are more varried and you can get meals for less than at DLR, but that's making particular choices. I think the Dining Plan at WDW is pheonemenal, at $39 a day for adults (that includes a TS, CS and snack each day) and $11 for kids.
The tickets are generally more expensive at WDW, but end up averaging about the same when you start to add days. At DLR, the most you can get is a 5 day pass. Going rate for that is 189 online, if not during the special right now (that's still discounted rate, though). If you want to do 7 days at DLR, you'd have to add passes. The cheapest way I found was to add a 5 day and a 2 day for a total of $311 for adults and 261 for child. At Undercover tourist a 7 day hopper is 259/226. Even adding the water park and more option to the 7 day hopper takes you to less than what the DLR 7 days cost for an adult at DLR, $304 for the park hopper w/waterparks.
In my "playing" I think WDW can be the better deal for longer stays, but shorter trips DLR ends up being a better deal most of the time. Once again, depends upon a number of factors.

You can buy 8 day passes to DL, go to getawaytoday.com!! Actually a 7 and 8 day are the same price!!!

Plus after that you would just get an AP for $239 and not buy both tickets anyways!!

Andrea

 

[MATTERHORN]

Zoemakes5, I hope you never paid that $311, that would be a crime when you could have had AP's!!! Even adding two blockout day tickets wouldn't take you to $311!!


Andrea

 

[Zoemakes5]

Zoemakes5, I hope you never paid that $311, that would be a crime when you could have had AP's!!! Even adding two blockout day tickets wouldn't take you to $311!!


Andrea

Nope, never been to DL for that many days, just playing with numbers.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Nope, never been to DL for that many days, just playing with numbers.

Oh good!! Yes there are tickets for up to 9 days, after that an AP makes more sense!!

Andrea

 

[rosiep]

Thanks so much to everyone who responded. I really appreciate the support that exists on this boards. My DD just emailed me from NY to say she's having a terrible day. She has a plane ticket to visit with us this weekend..but work is being difficult (she bought the ticket ages ago). Anyhow, I joked she was just looking for sympathy to try and get me to go to WDW...she emailed back: "Is it working???" And I told her about all the imput you guys have given and how it's beginning to look like a possibility.

Made her happy.

It just goes to show you how a simple act of kindness (responding to a stranger's query) can impact someone so positively. Thanks guys!!!!

PS. First one who says I'm strange not a stranger gets a kick in the shins.

 

[tinkermell]

Thanks so much to everyone who responded. I really appreciate the support that exists on this boards. My DD just emailed me from NY to say she's having a terrible day. She has a plane ticket to visit with us this weekend..but work is being difficult (she bought the ticket ages ago). Anyhow, I joked she was just looking for sympathy to try and get me to go to WDW...she emailed back: "Is it working???" And I told her about all the imput you guys have given and how it's beginning to look like a possibility.

Made her happy.

It just goes to show you how a simple act of kindness (responding to a stranger's query) can impact someone so positively. Thanks guys!!!!

PS. First one who says I'm strange not a stranger gets a kick in the shins.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Thanks so much to everyone who responded. I really appreciate the support that exists on this boards. My DD just emailed me from NY to say she's having a terrible day. She has a plane ticket to visit with us this weekend..but work is being difficult (she bought the ticket ages ago). Anyhow, I joked she was just looking for sympathy to try and get me to go to WDW...she emailed back: "Is it working???" And I told her about all the imput you guys have given and how it's beginning to look like a possibility.

Made her happy.

It just goes to show you how a simple act of kindness (responding to a stranger's query) can impact someone so positively. Thanks guys!!!!

PS. First one who says I'm strange not a stranger gets a kick in the shins.

Darn it, take all the fun out of it why don't you??

Andrea

 

[rosiep]

UGH!!!!!!

DD had to cancel her trip! I'll see her again in May..but her sister is on Spring Break and was really looking forward to her visit..they are really close and haven't seen each other for a while. I feel blue....

 

[rosiep]

Darn it, take all the fun out of it why don't you??

Andrea

If you want I'll kick you just the same

 

[kimis]

Howdy All,

I am in the early stages of planning my next Disney trip. I want to go back to DL, but DD wants to return to WDW. I think WDW is a more expensive trip (excluding airfare). I posted on the WDW side of these boards...and not one person responded! So here's my question to all of you who have done both parks: Can WDW be done as cheaply as DL???? Our one consideration is I will not be renting a car so the hotel must have it's own transportation....

Thanks Guys

My dh and I do both WDW and DL. WHile we like both places our favorite is by far WDW. I actually think it might be a little cheaper. Here is what I am basing that on. We will be attending a wedding at DL this summer and the discounted room rate at Paradise Pier is $189.00 a night. For the fun of it I called WDW and asked the room rate for POR during the exact same time and the regular rate was $190.00 without our AAA discount. Plus the dining plan at WDW is so much better and easier to use than at DL. You know there is so much more to do at WDW than at DL so if you can my vote would be for WDW. I know you will have a good time no matter which park you are at it is still disney!

 

[HydroGuy]

My dh and I do both WDW and DL. WHile we like both places our favorite is by far WDW. I actually think it might be a little cheaper. Here is what I am basing that on. We will be attending a wedding at DL this summer and the discounted room rate at Paradise Pier is $189.00 a night. For the fun of it I called WDW and asked the room rate for POR during the exact same time and the regular rate was $190.00 without our AAA discount. Plus the dining plan at WDW is so much better and easier to use than at DL. You know there is so much more to do at WDW than at DL so if you can my vote would be for WDW. I know you will have a good time no matter which park you are at it is still disney!

FWIW, summer at DLR is definitely peak season. At WDW it is not. Summer is called "Summer Season", and has rates less then "peak season" and "holiday season".

Hotels may be more expensive at DLR than WDW, but comparing summer vs. summer is not a fair way to decide this. Probably a more fair method is to compare the absolute highest and lowest rates for each hotel for any season.

 

[PattiPB]

Hi Patti....

It's still anyone's guess where we'll go.....maybe I'll be horribly decadent and try to save for both!!!!!

Now you're speaking my language, sister!!!!!

I'm shopping hotels for May, June and September at DL online, and I was on hold with DVC for August room requests and December ressies in Florida!!! All the while I was at work!!!

I love my life!

 

[PattiPB]

UGH!!!!!! DD had to cancel her trip! I'll see her again in May..but her sister is on Spring Break and was really looking forward to her visit..they are really close and haven't seen each other for a while. I feel blue....

Well, well, well...sounds like you need to include the other daughter in the newly-formed plan to visit WDW!!!

Aren't we helpful!!! (Sorry your plans got messed up---I know that's disappointing)

 

[rosiep]

Well, well, well...sounds like you need to include the other daughter in the newly-formed plan to visit WDW!!!

Aren't we helpful!!! (Sorry your plans got messed up---I know that's disappointing)

Top Secret DD #2 does not like Disney