Newly obsessed with WDW, need help planning

[SennottFamily]

Hello there!

I had never been to the World until 2012. We went twice, day trips only, while staying in Oviedo,Fl with family. Since last year I am near tears everyday missing the beauty of WDW and the FLA weather. We always have the option to stay with family, but my DH and I want the full WDW vacation and stay on site, most likely in a value. We are aiming for April of 2014. We will have a then 3 year old (DS) and an infant (he/she would be 6 months). I believe we would rent a car, saving time on transportation plus it would be easier than folding up a double stroller, balancing bags, and waiting in lines.

I am looking for some of your budgeting tips. It seems so expensive for so many people in the economy to go to WDW, especially with a family. What do you guys, the PROS, do to save all year and book your trips.

Quick side note: It truly amazes me of how many of you get to vacation at the World multiple times a year. I hope that will be my family and I some day!

Thanks for all the tips and ideas!

 

[ZiPaD3doDAH]

Hello!

There are several ways people save on this board, I have 2 tips:

1. Rewards/Survey sites. Many people do this as a way to earn extra $ to put towards their vacations or cash in points for gift cards they can use for gas, food, etc. I like to use Swagbucks

2. I make sure to shop at Winn-dixie so I can take advantage of their reward system with Shell (gas station) (for every $50 spent in store, you get 5 cents off of gas, earn 10 cents off of gas for every $50 spent on their online mall, etc)

 

[Shmily1]

Hello there!

I had never been to the World until 2012. We went twice, day trips only, while staying in Oviedo,Fl with family. Since last year I am near tears everyday missing the beauty of WDW and the FLA weather. We always have the option to stay with family, but my DH and I want the full WDW vacation and stay on site, most likely in a value. We are aiming for April of 2014. We will have a then 3 year old (DS) and an infant (he/she would be 6 months). I believe we would rent a car, saving time on transportation plus it would be easier than folding up a double stroller, balancing bags, and waiting in lines.

I am looking for some of your budgeting tips. It seems so expensive for so many people in the economy to go to WDW, especially with a family. What do you guys, the PROS, do to save all year and book your trips.

Quick side note: It truly amazes me of how many of you get to vacation at the World multiple times a year. I hope that will be my family and I some day!

Thanks for all the tips and ideas!

My best advice would be to book it early using the $200 deposit and pay on the rest as you go. The total doesn't have to paid until 45 days before you go if you are doing a package with room and tickets (or with dining). I would add dining so that is paid for too, especially if you are wanting to do character meals.

If you book it yourself, you should watch for discounts to come out so you can call back and have them applied to save you some money. If you use a travel agent, be sure they will automatically apply any discounts that come out in the future.

Also, order the latest Disney DVD. It will give you something to help you plan and look forward too.

 

[CopperWife]

Hello there!

I had never been to the World until 2012. We went twice, day trips only, while staying in Oviedo,Fl with family. Since last year I am near tears everyday missing the beauty of WDW and the FLA weather. We always have the option to stay with family, but my DH and I want the full WDW vacation and stay on site, most likely in a value. We are aiming for April of 2014. We will have a then 3 year old (DS) and an infant (he/she would be 6 months). I believe we would rent a car, saving time on transportation plus it would be easier than folding up a double stroller, balancing bags, and waiting in lines.

I am looking for some of your budgeting tips. It seems so expensive for so many people in the economy to go to WDW, especially with a family. What do you guys, the PROS, do to save all year and book your trips.

Quick side note: It truly amazes me of how many of you get to vacation at the World multiple times a year. I hope that will be my family and I some day!

Thanks for all the tips and ideas!

Hi

Well, our budget is pretty tight so we have been saving pretty hard to go in the fall. I decided in January 2012 that I wanted to get back to Disney with just my family and if we were going to go, we had to go before December 2013 because my DD turns 10 and then she's considered an adult on the dining plan So I went to Disney.com and priced out a rack-rate vacation for September 2012 so I could get an idea of a budget.

Once I figured how much a full price vacation was going to cost us, I sat down and figured out how to make it happen. Last February, I went to my back and set up a Build-a-Buck account - it automatically withdraws money from my checking account on a certain day (payday!) and puts it in a CD. Some banks call it a Christmas Club. I started small, because I wasn't sure if we were going to miss that money (last February, DD6 had pneumonia and spent the night in the hospital and in March DD9 had a type 3 supracondylar fracture of her humerus - she broke her elbow and she broke it good! surgery, a night in the hospital, and 12 weeks of PT!) Anyway, I sat down and figured out how many paydays we had between now and a month before we planned to go, then just divided the amount we needed by the number of paydays. I even made a little chart of all the paydays and the amounts so I could check each one off as I went. Then, in addition to the automatic Build a Buck account, I pulled out the money we needed on payday and stuck it in out savings.

To save money, we are also driving. It's cheaper for us, as a family of 4, to drive straight through than it is to fly. Not everyone likes to drive and not everyone likes to drive straight through, but we've done it and it's not bad (in our experience). Plus, we have our car down there which saves us some money (yes, I know we can use Disney transportation since we stay on site, but we like having the car).

We're also bringing a bunch of easy breakfast items to eat so we can save money on that meal.

Lastly, any "found money" goes towards our Disney fund. Birthday money, Christmas gift money, work bonuses, credit card bonus checks, etc all goes toward our trip.

Now, we are just keeping our fingers crossed for some pixie dust in the form of free dining or a room discount for when we are there!

Good luck!

 

[homerjay316]

Hello, hello. I am by no means an expert on WDW, but I am always glad to share opinions with people when they ask.

DH and I want the full WDW vacation and stay on site, most likely in a value.

Perfect. I have only once done a moderate resort. Otherwise, its always been value resorts. I've always found them to be clean. If all you need is a bed and a bathroom, the value resorts will more than fit the bill.

We are aiming for April of 2014. We will have a then 3 year old (DS) and an infant (he/she would be 6 months).

Another good call. Anytime you can go while the majority of families have kids in school, you are doing well. Remember that rates vary at different times of the year. You might get a better price in Jan/Feb or Oct/Nov, but I expect April would be good, too, and warmer. If you are flexible, keep an eye on WDW's website for a good special and go when that special is available.

I believe we would rent a car, saving time on transportation plus it would be easier than folding up a double stroller, balancing bags, and waiting in lines.

I would encourage you to reconsider this. First; some people complain about long waits for buses. Over the course of a week, I've only ever waited for what seemed like an unreasonable time once or twice. If you can handle a few small inconveniences, you can use Disney's Magical Express to and from Orlando Int'l, and save the full amount of the rental car. I do not have children of my own, but I understand most people at WDW do. I have never been bothered by people juggling children and strollers on the buses unless they are being really inconsiderate about it. I will always offer up my seat to families and have seen several other adults do likewise. If you feel better with a rental car, its your call, but this is one place you can save $$$.

I am looking for some of your budgeting tips.

I always tell people going to WDW and going to Orlando are two different things. If you are going to WDW, STAY on WDW property. If you start renting cars or taking taxis to Sea World and Universal Studios, or making a day trip to the beach your expenses are going to add up quickly. The more days on your theme park tickets, the lower the average cost/day. Disney offers ground transportation to and from the airport. There can be value found in the Disney Dining Plan depending on your family's dining habits. These are all incentives Disney gives you to keep you on their property. If you are OK with that, be sure to take advantage of them.

Your choice to stay at a value resort is a good one. Everybody's park tickets cost the same. Your choice of resorts is one area you have some input in what you spend.

Speaking of tickets; if you plan to stay a week or longer skip the park hopping option. You save about $50 per person and you can still see every park at least once as well as repeat a few favorites.

Watch your airfares. I have found traveling on Tues/Wed/Thurs tends to be cheaper. You might also watch for sales. I know last year Southwest Airlines did a big Black Friday sale on select travel dates.

Lastly, be sure to enjoy yourself. Set your family a very loose agenda to help keep you on track and ensure you hit some "must see" attractions, but don't be afraid to deviate from it either. If you are slave to a schedule and stop having fun, its no longer a vacation.

 

[Buckimom]

First off it is nice to know I am not the only adult in the world that gets emotional and "home sick" at the sight of a Disney commercial. We have 2 Disney related trips planned this year..we are doing the World in June and a Cruise in October..

We have been 5 times in the last 4 years..I disagree respectfully with other posters in regards to renting a car. We have either driven down or flew down and rented a car..and I only have one DD10..it is nice to be able to get into your car and not have to stay with the masses! It is also nice to have the option to drive off sight to go to McDonalds or Walmart if you need to..Our trip in June I was considering relying on Disney Transportation but I got an awesome deal with MouseSaver at almost half the price for a weeks rental..if you subscribe to MouseSaver Newsletter you receive it on the 15th of each month and it includes many discounts for Disney related travel.

 

[graceesmom]

If I recall correctly, Easter is April 14th next year. The week before and after Easter are some of the busiest and most expensive weeks to visit.

If you can plan your trip for the end of April, you will likely save some on the room (even at rack rate). Then just hope for a discount.

The dining (both dining plan or when you pay out of pocket) is also a little less when you are not in "peak" season.

We use our medical spending account reimbursement and dependent care spending account reimbursement for vacation money. I just pay those expenses as they come, then get one check at the end to use for a vacation.

 

[sherreis]

Greetings from Oviedo! We just moved here 3 months ago from Maryland.

If I had non-school aged children, the first thing I would try for is to plan for a time when the rates are less expensive. April, especially, around spring break is more crowded and more expensive. Think about when schools are in session and the parks won't be as crowded.

Staying at values are fun, especially with young children. My kids are older and prefer the pools at the moderates or the deluxes cause they enjoyed the water slides. If they were younger, the value pools would be perfect for them.

As for transportation, we use Disney busses when we stay on property, even when we have a car with us - most of the time. The limitation then is you cannot get off site. We normally would rent a car for a couple of days so we could visit some family members who were too ill to come to visit us at the resorts.

Have fun planning!

 

[KELLY]

Good luck with saving for your trip . We have been fortunate to go every year. But it is a lot of savings on our part. We hardly ever eat out and all that stuff. To be able to go on vacation. So I feel like we sacrifice things to go but once we are there I don't regret any of it.

 

[Marionnette]

If I recall correctly, Easter is April 14th next year. The week before and after Easter are some of the busiest and most expensive weeks to visit.

If you can plan your trip for the end of April, you will likely save some on the room (even at rack rate). Then just hope for a discount.

The dining (both dining plan or when you pay out of pocket) is also a little less when you are not in "peak" season.

We use our medical spending account reimbursement and dependent care spending account reimbursement for vacation money. I just pay those expenses as they come, then get one check at the end to use for a vacation.

Most Christians will celebrate Easter on April 20 in 2014. Eastern Rite sects will celebrate on the same day. April 14, 2014 isn't even a Sunday.

But you're correct that the OP should try to avoid the week leading up to Easter and the week following it.

OP, my biggest budgeting tip is to break it down into chunks (room, tickets, rental car, flights, food, souvenirs, etc.). Figure out what each chunk is going to cost you and cross each one off your list when you have the money set aside to cover it. It can keep you motivated as you see each chunk get paid off.

The other money saver is to rent your car at the Car Care Center, the Swan/Dolphin or one of the DtD locations. Then take ME to/from the airport. You save on the airport surcharges when you do this and often the price is lower. You can call them from your resort and they will pick you up to get your car or you can easily walk to the S/D from Epcot's International Gateway.

 

[Buckimom]

Thank you Marrionette - I had been trying to find the info to rent somewhere on or close to property and I just rebooked by car reservation saving $90 picking up from Double Tree and still being able to drop off at airport!