Need to cut costs

[havaneselover]

I'd drop WDW before I'd drop a cruise.
Just keep in mind a 3-night cruise is actually 2.5 days onboard. It goes by in the blink of an eye. That's probably why OP wants a 5-nighter.

Me too! I did a 4 night and loved it but I doubt we would do another one that short. Three days is a tease. I love DCL because it's relaxing but a 3 day won't be relaxing imo.

 

[crisi]

Me too! I did a 4 night and loved it but I doubt we would do another one that short. Three days is a tease. I love DCL because it's relaxing but a 3 day won't be relaxing imo.

For me, seven is too long, three too short. Four or five feels about right. But I wouldn't cruise DCL without making room in the budget for excursions on Castaway Cay (at least snorkel rental), a massage, a rainforest room pass, dinner and drinks at Palo, and at least a drink for the sail away party and another while sitting at the adult pool while the kids are in the kids clubs - plus something in the budget for photos. And right there is an easy $300+, not including the tips.

 

[ohionola]

I would stay at a value resort. I have stayed at deluxe resorts and I have stayed at values and I can't justify an extra $2-3,000 just for the type of room I am in.

 

[LovesTimone]

I'm planning our March Break trip and am blown away at the prices. I really want to do 2 weeks - a 5 day cruise and a week at Disney. We've gone 2x before, but never stayed on site, so I really, really want to do it this time and have a fun, splurgy trip. I know we will probably never get to splurge like this again. I also have my heart set on a dining plan. There are 5 of us (3 kids under 9) and we do a lot of character meals. I want guilt free dining. Also, I'd like to stay at a monorail resort just for the ease of getting to and from the parks. Lugging 3 kids and a stroller around on buses just doesn't float my boat. We normally vacation as cheap as possible, but like I said, I want to get everything I want this time, just looking for ways not to break the bank.

Here's what I've got..

Depart Feb 25
Total flights- $2800
Spend night at MCO hotel - $150
morning transport to Miami - $150
5 Day Cruise Feb 26-March 2 - $4500
Extras on Cruise/Excursions - $300
transport back to disney - $150
6 nights at Poly, 6 day hopper pass, disney dining plan, memory maker- $7500
Souvenirs/extras - $1000

Total- $16550!

Ugh. Have I mentioned I'm Canadian.?? so that's like a million dollars Canadian.

I could stay in value or moderate and save 3-4k, but I really have my heart set on being close to the parks with easy transportation. How much better are the deluxe resorts?
I'm sure a package will come up and save me maybe 1k, but still.. so MUCH MONEY!

I really would pick one or the other and build your trip around that.

WDW - I would look into renting points from someone but with that time of year, I don't see it happening ( If you are thinking this, I would jump on it right now.), Or a week at the a deluxe resort, and a week at a rental home, Or you could look into a family suite at AoA, or a week at Deluxe and week at a moderate, or Just go with the moderate for the whole trip or Bonnet Creek but no dinning plan.

If you just head for WDW you could use DME, and that would take care of the transportation and the night at MCO - You could rent a car, they offer rental car service at doubletree resort at DTD, This way you could plan some day trips, Cocoa beach, Cape Canaveral space museum, the other theme parks, some really great outlet shopping. The eye over Orlando is now open, lots of stuff to do here.

DH and I were out on the Magic in May 7 nights, we are empty nesters, so no kiddos,... tips, excursion's, adult beverages, couples massage on Castaway Cay, Palo etc... we were at
1500.00 + when the kids were younger and went, the extra on the cruise were almost double... ....so the 300.00 is not realistic at all that won't even cover the tips.

 

[McKelly]

Holy Smokes - that is expensive! I don't know much about DVC, but with that amount, maybe you could receive enough points to do some/if not all of this. Don't they offer some great sign-on bonuses?

Or, stay at a mod. Yes, you will have to use buses, but you have to use them for 2 out of the 4 parks at deluxes too. Plus, to go to Epcot, you have to exit one monorail and get on another. For a little inconvenience, you could save thousands of dollars. I don't think February is that busy, so the buses shouldn't be too bad. When you close your eyes to sleep, all the rooms look the same anyway.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm planning our March Break trip and am blown away at the prices. I really want to do 2 weeks - a 5 day cruise and a week at Disney. We've gone 2x before, but never stayed on site, so I really, really want to do it this time and have a fun, splurgy trip. I know we will probably never get to splurge like this again. I also have my heart set on a dining plan. There are 5 of us (3 kids under 9) and we do a lot of character meals. I want guilt free dining. Also, I'd like to stay at a monorail resort just for the ease of getting to and from the parks. Lugging 3 kids and a stroller around on buses just doesn't float my boat. We normally vacation as cheap as possible, but like I said, I want to get everything I want this time, just looking for ways not to break the bank.

Here's what I've got..

Depart Feb 25
Total flights- $2800
Spend night at MCO hotel - $150
morning transport to Miami - $150
5 Day Cruise Feb 26-March 2 - $4500
Extras on Cruise/Excursions - $300
transport back to disney - $150
6 nights at Poly, 6 day hopper pass, disney dining plan, memory maker- $7500
Souvenirs/extras - $1000

Total- $16550!

Ugh. Have I mentioned I'm Canadian.?? so that's like a million dollars Canadian.

I could stay in value or moderate and save 3-4k, but I really have my heart set on being close to the parks with easy transportation. How much better are the deluxe resorts?
I'm sure a package will come up and save me maybe 1k, but still.. so MUCH MONEY!

I've done Land/Sea trips and here are my thoughts:

• Fly into Miami instead of MCO. Save the cost of the MCO hotel and ground transportation from MCO to the port in Miami.
• Book two, connecting interior cabins instead of one veranda cabin for 5 people. You will get a little more privacy and two full bathrooms. Cost will probably be about the same.
• Increase your cruise budget for extras. It's not enough, especially if you want to do a dinner at the specialty dining room, adult beverages and also need to cover tips and any shore excursions or ground transportation in port.
  
• Change the 6 nights at the Poly to 6 nights at CR Garden Wing. You can walk to the MK from CR. Better yet, rent a DVC studio at Bay Lake. Both would be less expensive than staying at the Poly.

 

[BabyHabs]

Thanks everyone for your tips.. definitely given me a lot to think about. I think the way I need to go is pick either the cruise or DW and build around that. I want to look into renting points too, but need to nail down my dates first..

 

[crisi]

Understand that renting points is a plan ahead thing or you won't have much choice in resort - and you may not find a room available at all. for March of next year, you should be finding an owner now.

 

[havaneselover]

Don't forget to budget for insurance if you do the cruise. It's generally pretty reasonable but I wouldn't cruise without it.