please help me plan disney vacation on a budget.

[khealey21]

June 26- june 30th 2013 --2 adults 2 kids... ages 8 and 7

 

[rabeck]

Just getting the big things organized:

1. Transportation: How will you get there? Fly? Drive?

2. Hotel: On site? Off site?

3. Tickets: Will you get park hopper option? Water parks?

4. Food: Dining plan? paying out of pocket?

5. Magical Extras: will you want to do photopass? Will you want to do Pirates League or the B-B Boutique? Souvenirs?

 

[khealey21]

Do u recommend staying on property no passes.. hotel only...

trying to see if its cheaping staying at all-stars resorts or off site..

 

[marriedtodonald]

If you are on a budget, I would say to stay at Pop Century and get the dining plan. With the regular dining plan, you get 1 table service meal per person, 1 quick service meal per person and 1 snack per person for each night of your stay. Plus you get one refillable mug per person to use at your resort. Each quick service meal comes with a beverage and a dessert. Since you would already have your refillable mugs, try to eat your QS meals at the resort so that you can use them. Get juice or milk for your included beverage and take it back to your room. Place it in the fridge for breakfast the next morning. This will cut down on out of pocket expenses for breakfast! Trust me, it adds up! The breakfast platters are a pretty good size and can easily be split between 2 people if you aren't huge morning eaters. Since the dining plan only gives you two meals per day each, you will need to pay out of pocket for the third meal...breakfast is always the cheapest even when you are going to a character buffet. (they serve food....not characters!)

You can bring water into the parks, so I would buy a few cases of water to keep in your room. Bring a few bottles into the parks and fill them up at the fountains to save money. You can always grab up a few crystal light packs or tea packs to add a little flavor!

Buy your spritzer fans at your local dollar store instead of waiting to get them at the parks. You'll pay three times as much if you wait! The same goes for rain ponchos!

If you decide to pay out of pocket for all of your food instead of getting the dining plan ahead of time, I would still grab those refillable mugs. In the long run you will still save money. Quite a few of the quick service meals around the parks are big enough to share...at AK go to Flame Tree BBQ and get the chicken and ribs platter. Plenty to split!! For the kids, you could always order a double cheeseburger wherever you end up and ask for an extra bun (not sure if they are charging for that now...you may want to ask). Also, alot of your meals come with a side salad. If you don't really want it, ask them to leave it off. Should be a difference of a few dollars! If you are at downtown disney, go to Earl of Sandwich for a quick bite. They have really good sandwiches and it won't break the bank!

All in all, have a good time and don't sweat the small stuff!

 

[khealey21]

We have military discounts and teacher discounts. how much is it a night at the all stars..

 

[Mickfarland4]

We have military discounts and teacher discounts. how much is it a night at the all stars..

You can check all this out yourself on the site or call. There is an area when you click vacation packages to click for special offers and get all the info for at least for the military discount. It is fun to play around with this stuff!

 

[rabeck]

If your trip is in June, I would be wary of the disney dining plan and I would choose the Quick Service plan... Here's why:

You need to get your ADRs now (or should have months ago for the best restaurants). Do you have them already? If not, you will have a very difficult time getting use out of your table service meals. I would go with the QS dining plan in your case, especially with kids. They will want to go go go and QS allows you to go with the flow more than being locked into reservations (more bang for your buck in the parks).

 

[rabeck]

Do u recommend staying on property no passes.. hotel only...

trying to see if its cheaping staying at all-stars resorts or off site..

I love staying on site. I feel more of the magic. Worth the cost IMO. Even the Values get the magic, plus you get the free transportation to/from the parks. I've been to Sports and Music and I will be staying at POP this Aug.

You can get great deals with a room only, but I'm not sure you can get the dining plan without getting the tickets. I've never bought separately before.

 

[Metro West]

Welcome all!

 

[GaBelle]

WELCOME!!!

I highly recommend staying onsite. The transportation alone is worth it!