Planning a trip for Mar. 2018

[Tink04]

We are trying to plan a trip for 4 (both kids under the age of 2) for March 2018. Right now, I have budgeted $8500. I would like to lower this if possible. It will be a 8 day trip. What are some ways Canadians have lowered their budget to travel to WDW.

 

[Debbie]

Ticket costs usually don't change (i.e. not much on sale), but if you can buy them early, you'll save on any price increase. And with the current Canadian 25% off price, you are going to really save on tickets if you can buy the 2 adult tickets now. Where are you leaving from and how will you travel? What type of lodging are you looking at? I look at food as being my grocery budget for the week (and then some). With little people I always had snacks on hand in the room, too.

 

[mjhtvchick]

We have also saved money on plane tickets by using AirMiles and other loyalty program points.

Accommodations and food are definitely the biggest places where you can save money - staying onsite and eating at Disney is going to cost more; staying offsite and eating in for at least some meals will save $$ but it is not for everyone (need to rent a car, etc.).

I have done it both ways and would be more than happy to help answer any questions you have!

 

[isabellea]

Driving saves us a few thousands since we go during Spring break ( first week of March for us) when flights cost a fortune even if we leave from Burlington, VT or Platrsburgh, NY (we live in Mtl). I always book our accomadations on sale and we eat breakfast in the room.

 

[bankr63]

Tink, not sure if you are checking back as we have only seen the one post from you. Hope you do, and

$8,500 is a HUGE budget for a Disney vacation. We travel with four most March breaks for roughly half of that.

Transportation. Airfare is going to hit $3,000 for 4. We drive for about $350 in gas and 2 nights hotel accommodation ($500 if we get two rooms as my kids are teens now).
Tickets can be a big cost, get the Disney 25% sale now, and focus just on Disney for now. We usually do multiple attractions, but have been using the same 10day NEWPFAM tickets for 4 years now (unfortunately can't get those anymore). Also check Undercovertourist.com as they usually have the best deal but not now that Disney has the price break - considering you are still 17 months out, buying tickets now is probably the best savings.
Stay offsite. We stay at luxury timeshare accommodations "just" offsite - 10 minutes to the parks. We get a 2BR villa with full kitchen, laundry, living and dining rooms for about $1000 for a week (all in, no resort or parking fees).
Meals. We eat light in Disney property, sticking to counter service snacks. Full meals at surrounding area restaurants are stupid cheap compared to Canadian dining. And we cook in a bit (not a lot) with simple breakfasts and dinners.
If you drive down you also get hit with $20 per day parking at Disney (or Universal), but compared to the savings it no worries.
And for those who say that you "must experience onsite at Disney to get the magic" I say, "I go twice as often as you as I can afford to, so I get MORE Disney magic than you do!"

Finally, check the Budget Board here for saving strategy. Considering you aren't going until 2018, you probably have the opportunity to take advantage of just about every tip they post there!

However you plan it out, have a MAGICAL trip!!!

 

[Frozen2014]

Tink, not sure if you are checking back as we have only seen the one post from you. Hope you do, and

$8,500 is a HUGE budget for a Disney vacation. We travel with four most March breaks for roughly half of that.

Transportation. Airfare is going to hit $3,000 for 4. We drive for about $350 in gas and 2 nights hotel accommodation ($500 if we get two rooms as my kids are teens now).
Tickets can be a big cost, get the Disney 25% sale now, and focus just on Disney for now. We usually do multiple attractions, but have been using the same 10day NEWPFAM tickets for 4 years now (unfortunately can't get those anymore). Also check Undercovertourist.com as they usually have the best deal but not now that Disney has the price break - considering you are still 17 months out, buying tickets now is probably the best savings.
Stay offsite

However you plan it out, have a MAGICAL trip!!!

We went 2 years ago (this very week in October) are a family of 4 as well for 6 days and our total cost was around $7500..so not do far off from OPs budget. This included airfare, staying on-site at Value resort (but in a suite room at Art of Animation so not as cheap as regular). I highly recommend staying on-site for WDW (unless I missed the post that OP is talking about Disneyland). So many benefits and in the bubble.

Now, we did extras...mid dining plan, Halloween party, memory makes, Bobbitt Bobbi boutique, rented a car, so we could have saved more but still it adds up quickly. And this is when our dollar wasn't as bad (hopefully will improve by March 2018).

 

[Frozen2014]

P.S. - If OP is looking at March 2018, then I don't think OP ca take advantage of current 25% discount as they expire end of 2017

 

[Scar1199]

P.S. - If OP is looking at March 2018, then I don't think OP ca take advantage of current 25% discount as they expire end of 2017

I'm pretty sure it says that the tickets don't expire but they have to be purchased by February 28, 2017. Driving could be an issue if you have 2 kids under the age of 2, no matter where you are in Canada, that's a long drive. We got the Westjet Mastercard that gives you a $99 flight once per year with the purchase of a regular ticket. Also, the more you use it you can build up travel dollars to be put towards the flight. Keep your fingers crossed that the Canadian dollar goes up, nothing you can control but makes a big difference. Yes, there is a good deal for Canadians on park tickets now, we bought 4 with this deal. The dollar would have to pretty much be at par if you wait, so if you can, I'd buy these now.

 

[Donald - my hero]

P.S. - If OP is looking at March 2018, then I don't think OP ca take advantage of current 25% discount as they expire end of 2017

The offer ends on Feb 28 but until you activate the tickets at a park they are non-expiring. Once you enter a park they expire in 14 days, just like any other ticket media. The 25% discount is huge and if you can couple it with a RO discount you will save a fair hunk of change!

 

[Sprockie]

Fly out of a US airport if possible. We fly for around $1000 for our family of 4 usually.

 

[Frozen2014]

The offer ends on Feb 28 but until you activate the tickets at a park they are non-expiring. Once you enter a park they expire in 14 days, just like any other ticket media. The 25% discount is huge and if you can couple it with a RO discount you will save a fair hunk of change!

I took a look again to see that I didn't misunderstand and now I see why you say that. The Disney World offer doesn't expire, but the Disneyland one does (with it needing to be activated by Dec 31 2017). We're looking at Disneyland and didn't realize the Disney world one is different.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I took a look again to see that I didn't misunderstand and now I see why you say that. The Disney World offer doesn't expire, but the Disneyland one does (with it needing to be activated by Dec 31 2017). We're looking at Disneyland and didn't realize the Disney world one is different.

My mistake if I missed the mention of the trip being to Disney Land ... those tickets do in fact expire -- same as the ones you can redeem AirMiles for, sorry for any confusion i created

 

[Frozen2014]

My mistake if I missed the mention of the trip being to Disney Land ... those tickets do in fact expire -- same as the ones you can redeem AirMiles for, sorry for any confusion i created

Oh np...and actually my mistake. OP is going to WDW and I didn't realise that the offer expiry terms are different. So your comment stands.

 

[bankr63]

We went 2 years ago (this very week in October) are a family of 4 as well for 6 days and our total cost was around $7500..so not do far off from OPs budget. This included airfare, staying on-site at Value resort (but in a suite room at Art of Animation so not as cheap as regular). I highly recommend staying on-site for WDW (unless I missed the post that OP is talking about Disneyland). So many benefits and in the bubble.

Now, we did extras...mid dining plan, Halloween party, memory makes, Bobbitt Bobbi boutique, rented a car, so we could have saved more but still it adds up quickly. And this is when our dollar wasn't as bad (hopefully will improve by March 2018).

Frozen, your signature line says it all for me; last went in 2014, hoping to go again sometime. Yes you CAN spend $7.5-8k on a Disney vacation, but you don't have to. You can have a great time with luxury accommodation for half that and when it gets that cheap, you tend to go very often instead of making it a special occasion thing. I might not live inside the bubble the whole time I'm there (and I prefer it that way), but I can afford to go back to the bubble every year if I choose as it is no more expensive than any other vacation. If Tink wants to save some significant $$ there are lots of ways to do it!

 

[mshanson3121]

We are trying to plan a trip for 4 (both kids under the age of 2) for March 2018. Right now, I have budgeted $8500. I would like to lower this if possible. It will be a 8 day trip. What are some ways Canadians have lowered their budget to travel to WDW.

Buy your tickets now - they are 25% off until February and are non-expiring.

But really, the biggest way you're going to save money is by staying off site - I have a contact I can give you. It's the rental home we stayed in - 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, private pool, games room, beautiful condition, 15 minute drive to the parks, only $100 CDN, taxes in, per night. (It's owned by a fellow Canadian). By staying off-site you can easily shave a large chunk of change off your budget since you'll be able to make your own meals. We made breakfast, packed snacks/lunches and made our own suppers. We were easily able to do afternoon breaks. Saving as much money as we did, we were able to splurge on a couple character meals.

Don't worry about the "bubble" - Disney is magical no matter where you lay your head (and I FAR prefer to lay my head in my own private bedroom which has sliding doors to my own private 24' pool, than in a small overpriced hotel room with my children's bed only 2' away from mine). The "perks" such as free parking and a 10% shopping discount will be non-existent with the amount you can save staying off site, and regardless, you can still get your 60 day FP+ booking, free Magic Bands and 2 days of free parking if you use a Throwaway room.

Depending on how far you're coming from, driving can also be cheaper. We saved around $500-600 by driving (from New Brunswick, 28 hours) instead of flying. We took 3 days/2 nights, used www.hotelcoupons.com and never paid more than $65 US a night for our hotel - which were clean, close to the highway, had a pool and included a full hot breakfast (which saves buying a meal). We took a cooler with us and packed picnic lunches that we ate at rest stops and then would eat out for supper.

 

[bankr63]

The "perks" such as free parking and a 10% shopping discount will be non-existent with the amount you can save staying off site, and regardless, you can still get your 60 day FP+ booking, free Magic Bands and 2 days of free parking if you use a Throwaway room.

Or, with all the money you're saving, plan to visit twice in a year and just buy an AP (annual pass) so you can have all of those benefits back again...

See, isn't this money saving fun!!

 

[mshanson3121]

Or, with all the money you're saving, plan to visit twice in a year and just buy an AP (annual pass) so you can have all of those benefits back again...

See, isn't this money saving fun!!

lol. You don't save that much.

 

[hcoker1]

Another way to save is to buy some groceries to have breakfast in your room. We've had Garden Grocer deliver food, water and pop and that saves us using a CS credit for breakfast or cash out of pocket. This last trip we drove down, I have a Prius which costs $38 Cnd to fill so we drove down for $80 in gas and a hotel night. AND I could buy what I wanted without worrying about my suitcase weight

 

[grantclaire]

Another vote for staying offsite. More room and you can find many with full kitchens!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would look at renting a house. You can rent a house for a week for as little at $400 Try VRBO.