Need budget guru/Disney help...family of five.

[lmhall2000]

It has been 8 years since we visited the World (actually cheaper for family of five to do a 7-10 night cruise!!) Kids sail free and we used all our ff miles to get there (Los Angeles, Barcelona, drove to Port Canaveral)..but we have been able to take 5-7 on cruises for less than $4000 each sailing. But, we really miss the World and a lot has been added since we went.

I was in sticker shock seeing the price changes since we last traveled! Gone are the days of $119 a night at AKL, staying at the Poly or Contemporary for under $2500 for five with free dining and park hoppers..

Just priced (no discount) a stay at Contemporary with Plus Dining and park tickets and it is $5700!!

I feel I have looked at all the angles, Value Resorts have suites now, but I 'hear' that they only offer 10-15% off on those and if they offer free dining it is only counter service for Value Reorts. Contemporary Wing rooms are the cheapest option for a family of five and if they offer free dining, that will save our family of five $1700..bringing the cost down to $4000...Even if they offer35% off on Deluxe, it only saves us about $900...what I need is 35% off AND free dining!

If we stay offsite and buy tickets....is that going to work out less? With all the parking fees/dining? We like to eat at 4-5 restaurants while we're there and afraid we can't book dining early or will not get the restaurants we want if we do not stay at park resorts...we plan on travelling 2nd week of September, a bit slower time than summer...but what am I missing? Are there budget routes I have not considered? Staying 7 nights...thanks!!

Oh, and all our children are over 10 now, so I'm sure that affects the pricing as well Port Orleans is not an option as the kid sleeping on the extra bed is 6'4!

 

[amomma23]

You could rent DVC Points to save on the room. If you still need to cut costs, you could make meals in your room and get tix from undercover tourist.

 

[lmhall2000]

You could rent DVC Points to save on the room. If you still need to cut costs, you could make meals in your room and get tix from undercover tourist.

Is Undercover tourist legitimate? Never heard of them, I thought you could only buy tickets from Disney. If we rent DVC points, do we still have the option of reserving restaurants ahead of time? Thanks!!

 

[Marionnette]

It has been 8 years since we visited the World (actually cheaper for family of five to do a 7-10 night cruise!!) Kids sail free and we used all our ff miles to get there (Los Angeles, Barcelona, drove to Port Canaveral)..but we have been able to take 5-7 on cruises for less than $4000 each sailing. But, we really miss the World and a lot has been added since we went.

I was in sticker shock seeing the price changes since we last traveled! Gone are the days of $119 a night at AKL, staying at the Poly or Contemporary for under $2500 for five with free dining and park hoppers..

Just priced (no discount) a stay at Contemporary with Plus Dining and park tickets and it is $5700!!

I feel I have looked at all the angles, Value Resorts have suites now, but I 'hear' that they only offer 10-15% off on those and if they offer free dining it is only counter service for Value Reorts. Contemporary Wing rooms are the cheapest option for a family of five and if they offer free dining, that will save our family of five $1700..bringing the cost down to $4000...Even if they offer35% off on Deluxe, it only saves us about $900...what I need is 35% off AND free dining!

If we stay offsite and buy tickets....is that going to work out less? With all the parking fees/dining? We like to eat at 4-5 restaurants while we're there and afraid we can't book dining early or will not get the restaurants we want if we do not stay at park resorts...we plan on travelling 2nd week of September, a bit slower time than summer...but what am I missing? Are there budget routes I have not considered? Staying 7 nights...thanks!!

Oh, and all our children are over 10 now, so I'm sure that affects the pricing as well Port Orleans is not an option as the kid sleeping on the extra bed is 6'4!

You're never going to see a room discount AND free dining. You get "free" dining because you pay the rack rate for the room.

I have a feeling that staying offsite, buying tickets from some place like Undercovertourist.com and paying OOP for your meals is going to be more affordable for you than staying onsite. This would be especially true if you rent a car regardless of where you stay.

There's also the possibility of renting DVC points if you're not picky about what resort you stay at and feel that you absolutely need to stay onsite . A week at OKW in a 1-bedroom would run 157 points in Sept. At $13/pt., that's about $2040 (under $300/night)...and I'm not even sure there's availability. Five 7-day MYW base tickets would run about $1500 and the dining plan (if you feel you need it) would cost just under $2000. Total cost without transportation, and the other miscellaneous expenses that go with a vacation, would still run you in the range of $5500.

As someone else put it in another thread, cheap and Disney just don't go together.

 

[ManyMinnie]

It has been 8 years since we visited the World (actually cheaper for family of five to do a 7-10 night cruise!!) Kids sail free and we used all our ff miles to get there (Los Angeles, Barcelona, drove to Port Canaveral)..but we have been able to take 5-7 on cruises for less than $4000 each sailing. But, we really miss the World and a lot has been added since we went.

I was in sticker shock seeing the price changes since we last traveled! Gone are the days of $119 a night at AKL, staying at the Poly or Contemporary for under $2500 for five with free dining and park hoppers..

Just priced (no discount) a stay at Contemporary with Plus Dining and park tickets and it is $5700!!

I feel I have looked at all the angles, Value Resorts have suites now, but I 'hear' that they only offer 10-15% off on those and if they offer free dining it is only counter service for Value Reorts. Contemporary Wing rooms are the cheapest option for a family of five and if they offer free dining, that will save our family of five $1700..bringing the cost down to $4000...Even if they offer35% off on Deluxe, it only saves us about $900...what I need is 35% off AND free dining!

If we stay offsite and buy tickets....is that going to work out less? With all the parking fees/dining? We like to eat at 4-5 restaurants while we're there and afraid we can't book dining early or will not get the restaurants we want if we do not stay at park resorts...we plan on travelling 2nd week of September, a bit slower time than summer...but what am I missing? Are there budget routes I have not considered? Staying 7 nights...thanks!!

Oh, and all our children are over 10 now, so I'm sure that affects the pricing as well Port Orleans is not an option as the kid sleeping on the extra bed is 6'4!

You only get one discount ~ either for the room or free dining.

If budget is a concern, your best bet is to stay offsite in a 3 bed condo and pay out of pocket for food.

 

[Marionnette]

Is Undercover tourist legitimate? Never heard of them, I thought you could only buy tickets from Disney. If we rent DVC points, do we still have the option of reserving restaurants ahead of time? Thanks!!

Yes, UT is legitimate. They have very good customer service.

If you rent DVC points, you can still make your dining reservations ahead of time. You don't even need to be staying onsite to do that.

 

[NJdadof2]

Is Undercover tourist legitimate? Never heard of them, I thought you could only buy tickets from Disney. If we rent DVC points, do we still have the option of reserving restaurants ahead of time? Thanks!!

Undercover Tourist is legitimate, the savings isn't huge, but cheaper is cheaper.
And yes, if you rent DVC points, you'll be able to make reservations ahead of time.

Renting DVC is the way to go to save on the room.

Good Luck!

 

[wdw4rfam]

We are a fam of 5, and stay at POR. I think with the spring discount we got 25% off and a discount on tix, and we paid $3200 for 10 nights with 7 day tix. Thats with 4/5 of us being "adult". I know the price has increased sooooo much in the last few years. I lloked back at our 2006 FD trip and we paid $1400 with room and tix.
we have bought tix from undercover tourist. They are great, give you a tracking number and a live person # to call.

 

[tina.tina]

You could try 2 rooms at a Value resort. That will give you 2 bathrooms & 4 beds. If they offer free dining, you can pay to upgrade to the regular or deluxe dining plans.

You can make dining reservations at 180 days without a disney hotel reservation.

Check mousesavers.com for info/discounts on undercover tourist.

Disney is not cheap but you can save money if you're willing to do the research.

 

[adamellis]

Just rented DVC points for the first time and saved about $1100 on a studio at Beach Club for a 5 night stay.


If you have ff miles, I'm guessing you may also have hotel points at one of the major chains. I'd consider staying off site and using those if available.

 

[Disney Princess]

Several ways to save.

1) As mentioned you could rent DVC points. The 1-BRs at Kidani and BLT have two bathrooms and sleeping spaces for 5, so those would be extra convenient. The 1 BRs at OKW have sleeping spaces for 5, lots of space, but only one bathroom. The kitchen alone could save you money on AT LEAST breakfasts and snacks. You could also do a few lunches/dinners in the room before/after a break.

2) Off site condos will also save you. You can still make ADRs 180 days out, you just can't do the +10 if you are off site.

3) If one adult gets an AP, this gives you free parking. This comes in handy if staying off site.

4) If one adult gets an AP, you could also purchase the Tables in Wonderland card. This card saves you 20% at MANY table services restaurants. We find we save more using this card instead of using a dining plan. Everyone can order what they want, you can share meals, etc. The card costs $100 for an AP holder (I think that is the new price), but with 5 Disney "adults" you could easily save more than that with smart planning.

5) The AP also gives you a shopping discount of 10% if you plan to buy souvenirs.

6) Undercover tourist is completely legit. If you sign up for the mousesavers.com newsletter, you will get an email on the 15th of the month with a code that could save you more.

Play around with the numbers. I'm sure you could get the price where you want/need it. Good luck!

 

[Marionnette]

Several ways to save.

1) As mentioned you could rent DVC points. The 1-BRs at Kidani and BLT have two bathrooms and sleeping spaces for 5, so those would be extra convenient. The 1 BRs at OKW have sleeping spaces for 5, lots of space, but only one bathroom. The kitchen alone could save you money on AT LEAST breakfasts and snacks. You could also do a few lunches/dinners in the room before/after a break.

2) Off site condos will also save you. You can still make ADRs 180 days out, you just can't do the +10 if you are off site.

3) If one adult gets an AP, this gives you free parking. This comes in handy if staying off site.

4) If one adult gets an AP, you could also purchase the Tables in Wonderland card. This card saves you 20% at MANY table services restaurants. We find we save more using this card instead of using a dining plan. Everyone can order what they want, you can share meals, etc. The card costs $100 for an AP holder (I think that is the new price), but with 5 Disney "adults" you could easily save more than that with smart planning.

5) The AP also gives you a shopping discount of 10% if you plan to buy souvenirs.

6) Undercover tourist is completely legit. If you sign up for the mousesavers.com newsletter, you will get an email on the 15th of the month with a code that could save you more.

Play around with the numbers. I'm sure you could get the price where you want/need it. Good luck!

The AP sounds like a good idea and it's one that I didn't even think to mention. But the OP would really need to do some math to see if it will save any money in the long run.

1. The AP would cost nearly $300 more than a 7-day base ticket.
2. Parking is $14/day, so free parking for a 1-week trip is not enough to make up for the cost.
3. The TiW card will save 20% but only at TS restaurants (with a few exceptions - resort QS where there is no TS restaurant).
4. The cost of the TiW to AP holders is an additional $100. You need to spend $500 at TS locations just to break even.
5. TiW automatically adds an 18% tip, which is not a problem if that's how much you normally tip but can add up if you generally tip in the range of 15%.

 

[HeatherC]

I am going to suggest...gasp....staying offsite. HOWEVER..I am sugggesting Bonnet Creek Resort which is right next to the Caribbean Beach Resort...so it is onsite after all...but not owned by Disney.

We rent a two or three bedroom villa for about $100 a night including all taxes. We eat breakfast in our jammies and can be at the parks at the same time as other onsite guest. BUt..no extra magic hours.

The benefit to us is all the extra space....full kitchen, two bedrooms or more, mutiple tvs, two bathrooms.

And...we save SO much that we can eat all the meals we want at Disney.

Forgot to mention...they also have a free shuttle to the parks soyou don't have to payto park. But even if you drive, you still save way more than the fifteen dollars to park. And...we also stay longer...ten nights average...for $1000 for lodging.

Check out the Bonnet Creek thread on the hotels board. Beautiful resort and best value at Disney in our opinion.

 

[Teacher03]

I am going to suggest...gasp....staying offsite. HOWEVER..I am sugggesting Bonnet Creek Resort which is right next to the Caribbean Beach Resort...so it is onsite after all...but not owned by Disney.

We rent a two or three bedroom villa for about $100 a night including all taxes. We eat breakfast in our jammies and can be at the parks at the same time as other onsite guest. BUt..no extra magic hours.

The benefit to us is all the extra space....full kitchen, two bedrooms or more, mutiple tvs, two bathrooms.

And...we save SO much that we can eat all the meals we want at Disney.

Forgot to mention...they also have a free shuttle to the parks soyou don't have to payto park. But even if you drive, you still save way more than the fifteen dollars to park. And...we also stay longer...ten nights average...for $1000 for lodging.

Check out the Bonnet Creek thread on the hotels board. Beautiful resort and best value at Disney in our opinion.

I agree, we love Bonnet Creek for all the reasons you mentioned. I just wanted to point out that the shuttle is no longer free. It is now $5.00 per person round trip. It wasn't an issue for us because we drive, but for some it could really add onto the cost.

 

[khaoskat]

Going to chime in on this, as you are staying so long, consider doing the YES: Individual Enrollment series.

The biggest reason is your kids are treated as children taking the experiences (Youth 3-17) and tickets are way cheaper then for the kids than even UnderCover Tourist. While the tickets for you and your wife would be about $5 more than Undercover Tourist, you will save about $150 per child. Just make sure you sign up for at least 2 different education experiences, so you can go to one and your wife can go to one. By this mean, sign 1 child up for X class and the other 2 up for Y. You go to X and your wife goes to Y.

I think I priced as follows:
Kids 7 day park hopper water fun n more for like $250'ish; Adults were $375ish. On Undercover Tourist you were looking at like $370ish per ticket for your 3 youth and the 3 of you.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Whenever we go and take the whole family we are also a family of 5. We have stayed in a family suite at All Star Music for about $230 a night then paid the $20 per person to upgrade from free QSDP to DDP.

The family suite gives you a bedroom with a Queen for mom and dad, 3 different sleepers in the living room so nobody has to share a bed with anybody else, 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette.

Now I will say this...those value resort beds just aren't that great. I have a pillow top mattress at home and that is what my body is use to so at the values I wake up with a pain in my back and neck. If you are use to or like very firm beds it shouldn't be a problem for you.

The kids loved the pool are at ASMu because they have a Ping Pong table down right next to the pool and they go down and watch the movies out by the pool every night. The kids like the over the top theme of the value.

The 2 times DH and I have gone without the kids we stayed off site in a one bedroom suite at Quality suites Lake Buena Vista for around $100 a night. It sleeps 6 and has a full kitchen and free breakfast for everyone in the room. They also have 2 bedroom suites there for about $140 a night if you join their (free) Choice privileges program and book and pay online.

Next time DH and I go without the kids this November we are renting DVC points and staying in a studio at OKW for around $130 a night.

We have never bought the dining plan. We have only ever gotten it free and paid to upgrade. If you have to pay for it you can usually eat paying OOP for much cheaper than what the DDP will cost you.

Just remember, if you buy your tickets through Undercover Tourist you will not be eligible for free dining because you have to buy a 2 day ticket per person to get free dining. But if you are staying off site I would definitely buy the tickets through UT because for 5 ppl you can save about $75 on your 7 day tickets. ($75 total, not per person)

You can also rent a 4 bedroom vacation rental home through Villa Direct or VRBO for around $100 a night and these homes have private pools and game rooms and are just 3 or 4 miles from Disney.

Another way to save is to book your rental car through Priceline. I got a full sized car through Priceline last October for $13 a day. With all taxes and fees it was $200 for 10 days. About half what everybody else charges. And the company we used through Priceline was Advantage rental cars. They are the very first car rental counter you come to on the lower level at MCO.

 

[lmhall2000]

Going to chime in on this, as you are staying so long, consider doing the YES: Individual Enrollment series.

The biggest reason is your kids are treated as children taking the experiences (Youth 3-17) and tickets are way cheaper then for the kids than even UnderCover Tourist. While the tickets for you and your wife would be about $5 more than Undercover Tourist, you will save about $150 per child. Just make sure you sign up for at least 2 different education experiences, so you can go to one and your wife can go to one. By this mean, sign 1 child up for X class and the other 2 up for Y. You go to X and your wife goes to Y.

I think I priced as follows:
Kids 7 day park hopper water fun n more for like $250'ish; Adults were $375ish. On Undercover Tourist you were looking at like $370ish per ticket for your 3 youth and the 3 of you.

Wow!! YOU guys are great!! Never heard of YES, but 2 of our kids would qualify, we do homeschool and I had heard of groups of homeschoolers doing some sort of educational discount, but since it was just our family figured nothing we could qualify for. Will definitely check that out!

Word out is they are not offering free dining but definitely offering discounts on rooms, for the family suite at Value..we'd save 10% off $230 a night or 35% off $400 a night for Contemporary...so essentially $210 v. $260..I think we'd rather pay the extra $50 for Contemporary..

Now if we can rent DVC points for $100 or so a night, that would be saving us $160 a day...if we get free dining instead we'd be saving $300 a day by staying at DVC..would we spend $300 a day eating? Possibly at their prices..maybe not, more like $200 a day, so let me chew on this..

$100 a day DVC
$200 a day food budget
(would we have to pay for parking if we stay at DVC?)
YES Tickets $1000 for 5 day park tickets?

$700
$1400
$1000

$3100...YES!! That fits into our budget!! Now am I adding this up correctly? And how do I go about renting DVC for September? Is there a plan for that? Thanks everyone!! I might just make this work!!!

 

[rdsx28]

In my experience if you have AAA the ticket prices are cheaper than undercover. I priced 7 day tickets (Basic) today and they were for 3 adults 881.43 and undercover were 902.25 so just check you may save a little more with AAA.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Our AAA sells WDW tickets for the same price as buying direct from Disney :-( no discount at all

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Wow!! YOU guys are great!! Never heard of YES, but 2 of our kids would qualify, we do homeschool and I had heard of groups of homeschoolers doing some sort of educational discount, but since it was just our family figured nothing we could qualify for. Will definitely check that out!

Word out is they are not offering free dining but definitely offering discounts on rooms, for the family suite at Value..we'd save 10% off $230 a night or 35% off $400 a night for Contemporary...so essentially $210 v. $260..I think we'd rather pay the extra $50 for Contemporary..

Now if we can rent DVC points for $100 or so a night, that would be saving us $160 a day...if we get free dining instead we'd be saving $300 a day by staying at DVC..would we spend $300 a day eating? Possibly at their prices..maybe not, more like $200 a day, so let me chew on this..

$100 a day DVC
$200 a day food budget
(would we have to pay for parking if we stay at DVC?)
YES Tickets $1000 for 5 day park tickets?

$700
$1400
$1000

$3100...YES!! That fits into our budget!! Now am I adding this up correctly? And how do I go about renting DVC for September? Is there a plan for that? Thanks everyone!! I might just make this work!!!

I rented DVC for 3 of the last 4 years for our family of 5. One bedroom at OKW is the way to go. Points are cheaper and the rooms are HUGE!!!!!!! I mean HUGE! Couple the DVC discount with the YES program (which we did for 2 of those 3 years) and then add dining plan. You can rent from David's (Which I think is a sponsor here on the boards) for I think $13 a point. Or there is a rent/trade board here on the DIS. You cannot take advantage of Free Dining on points (which is why we stayed POR last year), but you do get free internet (which some places are including now anyway) and you still park for free. Plus the accommodations are much larger, plenty of room to spread out. King size bed in a separate master suite, two couches (one is a pullout) and a pullout chair. The balcony is large enough to be another room. Full kitchen and OKW has the divided baths. Toilet, vanity, shower in one half and huge jacuzzi and vanity in the other. So you can get ready while the kids get ready without bumping into each other.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!!