Planning a Disney trip with a $800 budget

[Spyells]

Hello! I'm interested in planning my first solo trip to Disney for December 2020. How can I plan a week-long trip on an $800 budget? A hotel with a shuttle to Disney World would be preferred.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is that $800 budget all in? Food, tickets, lodging?

 

[brockash]

Hello! I'm interested in planning my first solo trip to Disney for December 2020. How can I plan a week-long trip on an $800 budget? A hotel with a shuttle to Disney World would be preferred.

Honestly, I don't think it's possible...even a 1/2 week trip would be pushing it.

 

[MissionMouse]

Park tickets alone will consume your budget
5 days of tickets ~ $97 per day, if 7 days of tickets ~ $74 per day (standard rate)

 

[nekonekoneko]

My DD had a sorority national convention a couple of years ago outside of Disney Springs, and 4 days in the convention hotel, a 1 day ticket, food and airfare was about $1000.

A 5-day ticket will cost roughly $490. I don't know where you live, so pricing transportation to get from where you are to Disney is difficult, but even the low end estimate (unless you live in Florida or possibly Southern Georgia) is about $150.

That leaves $160 left. The cheapest room I could find for a random week in December is $161, which means you're already out of money, and can't eat.

The hotel I found didn't look like a winner. Any decent hotel would be at least $50/night, and I wouldn't be comfortable in anything less than $70/night. Then food is easily $25/day for a quick meal in the park, and something like McDonald's at night. And if you're flying, how will you get to and from the airport?

Barest minimum is like $1200, and that's pushing a lot of things as low as it should go.

 

[Darthbane2007]

Yeah, we need a little more Info. Is this $800 including transportation, like airfare or gas to get here, assuming you are driving? Food? Tickets?

Hotels: Around MCO you could probably find a whole bunch of decent hotels $100 or less. I assume that most of them will provide a shuttle to WDW, but the frequency may be less. You also may have to pay a fee, say like $10-$15.00 for a roundtrip ticket to and from, so take that into consideration.

Tickets: at $109.00 ( unless surge pricing is in effect) you are looking at spending $763 for a week, with no park hopping at the moment.

Food: Like the other person said, look to spend at the minimum $25.00 per day on food. Now if you Hotel provides a complimentary Breakfast, that's a plus..

Anyway, bare minimum, for a week, $800 is not gonna cut it if that is supposed to cover your whole trip

 

[Elle23]

I blow $800 just thinking about going to Disney.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

That is a really tight budget for a week at WDW. Are you driving? Some hotels have parking fees. Are you bringing your own food? A hot dog at MK is pricey let alone the ticket price to get into the park. I wish you luck.

 

[shu24]

The very cheapest I have been able to do it is about $920 per person for a 4 day trip and that was based on dividing the cost across 2 people. The stay was at a WDW All Star resort, free dining plan, with park hoppers. I felt I really did well that year though, airfare was incredibly cheap. This year's trip, which is a 7 day trip is about $1500 per person (again, across 2 people) and that is without food costs. Stay is based on All Star pricing (though we will be in POP), no dining, no hoppers of course.

 

[JediBonas]

Hello! I'm interested in planning my first solo trip to Disney for December 2020. How can I plan a week-long trip on an $800 budget? A hotel with a shuttle to Disney World would be preferred.

I don't think that's possible. December isn't exactly a slow time at Disney where you'd be able to find good (if any) discounts/deals. Tickets alone would eat up the majority of your budget if you were getting 7 day park hoppers.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't think that's possible. December isn't exactly a slow time at Disney where you'd be able to find good (if any) discounts/deals. Tickets alone would eat up the majority of your budget if you were getting 7 day park hoppers.

Well, no hoppers this year at least, but the tickets will still be 75% or more of that budget.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

You could take your lunch, we took lunchables and just bought a few snacks.
you can find hotels for $25 on priceline but after they put on resort charges and taxes they are more like $40-50.
So the most expensive thing you are going to face is park tickets.
I still think it's better to take $200 book a Disney pop room for now... unless you feel like camping.
Start paying on your package... then if you dont have enough to pay it off you can cancel and buy tickets you can afford.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Realistically it will be very difficult to do!!
Even if you find a cheap place to rest your head every night that includes transportation, that transportation isn't going to be all that great.
They'll have limited pick up and drop off times and those pick up/drop off areas can be very far from the park entrances That means a lot of wasted time getting there on time (actually early so you don't miss a pick up)
The park ticket will take up much of your budget.
Do you plan on having food in your motel room and bringing snacks with you each day? On your budget, eating in WDW would be almost impossible except for snacks.
Best of luck to you. If you're set on going, I hope you can do it!

 

[gottalovepluto]

And since you’re going in 2020 remember the tickets may cost the same but you get limited hours, barely any entertainment, no parades & no nighttime entertainment. If you want any of that I would save the $800 this year and put it towards a trip next year where (hopefully) you’ll get better bang for your ticket buck.

 

[AlohaNow]

Umm....build a time machine and go back to 1982?
But seriously, if you are successful in your $800 endeavor, please come back and update us. I love any and all stories of budget travel success!

 

[Heather07438]

One challenge to the budget is that you're going solo so you can't split the room cost. You'll need to get creative here, maybe find a bed or couch to sleep on a lodge sharing app. Or try a campsite.
Beware of prices listed on apps like Hoteltonite etc where you may find a room for $22/nite but those pricces mostly do not include resort fees/taxes. I think $50/night is near the lowest complete cost you'll find and that'll be $300 of your budget right there.

Tickets are where there is very little alternative to downscale cost. For a while WDW had a 4 day ticket for around $300, one park each day. If you found something like that, you could visit each park once and alternate the days in between with resort tours, Disney Springs, etc to stay in the Disney bubble.

Food. Best would probably be stopping at a grocery and buying stuff to pack sandwiches and snacks.

Travel cost. I've heard of some car rental companies that have cheap rentals if you bring the car from point A to B.

It may be a possible long shot to squeek out an $800 week long solo trip but you'll need to invest some time to find viable lower cost alternatives that work with your needs. Good luck!

 

[Marionnette]

Hello! I'm interested in planning my first solo trip to Disney for December 2020. How can I plan a week-long trip on an $800 budget? A hotel with a shuttle to Disney World would be preferred.

It’s not happening on $800. You’re talking just over $100 per day for transportation, lodging, food and park admission. Tickets alone are going to run about $500 for a 7-day base ticket, and that would be by purchasing thru a discount broker.

I guess if you get cheap airfare there, get a CM friend to allow you to crash on their couch for a week and use their main gate pass to get you in, there’s a chance that you can swing it for under $800.

 

[Sarahslay]

December is one of the most expensive times to visit Disney. Rooms are more expensive, and tickets cost more, I would have to at least double that budget to salvage a trip. Just a room for a week in December is going to blow most of your budget, as many have already stated, that doesn't leave you for much to eat and get in the parks. I go on a lot of solo trips and have an AP so I don't have to buy tickets for each trip, and for a week I'd even blow that budget on just the room at a value for a week in December.

 

[Heather07438]

If it turns out you cant swing it in December, all hope is not lost.

A change in plan might work, I'd advise looking for good deals from WDW in 2021 as they try to rebuild. One of the best bangs for the WDW buck is going on a slower week during a 'free food' offer. We had an end of August '20 eight day free food trip planned at Pop Century for 4 ppl that included the regular DDP and 8 day hoppers for well under $4k. After adding airfare and incidentals like getting to airport and breakfast on the road, it was still under $5k total. That $1250pp included the full WDW experience... 1 Table Service and 1 Quick Service plus 2 snacks each day, hopping, staying in the bubble, etc. Your Magic Band is all you'll need!

We could have saved about $170 each by switching to 2 QS meals/day instead and moving to AllStar Movies. Would have put our budget under $1100 each but we felt that extra $170 was money well spent with skyliner access and enjoying a sit down meal everyday (they can be crazy expensive at WDW out of pocket, especially character buffets at $60/head).

Personally, I'd save a bit more cash in the meantime and find people to share a room. You'll get much more for the money spent. And if splitting the room scares you, lay down some ground rules. Schedule quiet time (say 11p-7a) and bathroom schedule (who showers at night/morning). Also plan how your group will tour the parks... solo time or go off in pairs and meet for meal here and there. Mentioning that stuff during planning can prevent upsets

 

[Naomeri]

I managed to plan a 5 day, 4 night solo onsite trip for $1000 for the last week of October. $150 for airfare (w/bags), $480 for 4 day tix, and $370 Hotwire hot rate for Pop Century. I have $250 in free gift cards through my work that I’ll use for food. I’m not sure if you can get a whole week for $800, but good luck!!