Please Help! Our totals on our WD trip for a family of 7

[Darcy03231]

Im trying to cut down trust me... Where did u get your car rentals from? Did you look for discounts everyday? Im checking out the house

I used my VISA card and got them through the VISA site (www.visa.com). I went to Personal, then discounts, then car rentals. There was a code there. I've also used codes in past from www.mousesavers.com.

When I originally booked the minivan it was around $650 for the 16 days. I kept checking different codes and a couple of months before our trip I was able to get it down to $200/wk. We booked the second car at around $500 for the 16 days and were able to get that one down to $200/wk too, just by checking the codes frequently.

I've also used Hotwire and Priceline to book rental cars. I've found I do best by waiting until about 2 weeks to 10 days before the trip. If I get a better deal I just cancel the reservation I had.

 

[Lisa_M]

thx.... I have to do the food budget...Im going over to my aprents for dinner tomorrow and they want some figures...Im so glad Im on Spring Break from school i have been on this comuter since Monday back and forth w/ advice from DISers...Great advice I may say and CafeMom as well...Ok ADR"s are Garden Grove @ Swan for the evening..We arrive at about 10am so plenty of time to settle and shop for groceries etc.
Fri 8/12 50's Prime Time for my parents,
Mon. 8/15 T-rex Rest. for Jeremy our 8yr old
I want to something for my 19 yr old and niece 17 maybe Cinderella not sure yet..I know they are older but I dont want them to feel left out..

I'm not sure if you do Mypoints or not, but it's a site where you get points for buying things online or clicking through emails/surveys they send you. Anyway, I've redeemed for T-Rex before as they are the same company as Rainforest Cafe, so the gift cards are good at both. Mypoints is the reason why everytime we go down there we go to rainforest cafe or t-rex.

 

[vicki_c]

Aside from the sheer overwhelmingness of doing SeaWorld, Universal & Disney in 10 days, that is costing you a ton of additional money. If nothing else, that is the #1 reason to keep to one set of parks for a trip.

You have close to $4000 in park tickets for the 7 of you. If you switched those 4 days of Universal and Seaworld with additional Disney days ...

10 day (so even an extra day from your plan) park hoppers for 6 adults and 1 child would be $2209, saving you $1700 over your current plan for tickets.

Drop the hoppers if you want and that $2209 drops to $1850, or $2000 less than your current plan.

If you really don't want 10 day tickets, get 8 day tickets (through Undercover Tourist/Mousesavers) and add a day while you are there - that will be about $5.50 per person for an additional day. But doing that only saves you $5.50 per person over getting a 10 day ticket.

 

[Cjmuma]

Another possibility to save on parking at the airport is to book a park and fly hotel. Usually, you pay for a room for ine night and can usually park a week or so for free.

We did this a couple years ago out of White Plains Ny. They charged us one nights room and $10 a day for anything over a week.

Even if a room is $150, you could cut that cost in half.

Hope this helps.

I second this one! I booked a room for 70.00, and they will keep my car for the 10 days I will be gone!

 

[deniseallen411]

I just purchased an Entertainment Book...but so far the total for a mini van is still in the $752-1,000+ range...Now my DH is telling me he rather take a train although I knew he rather not fly I figured he will not think about it and just get on the plane...I checked Amtrak for all 7 of us it was a little over $1000 and it will take 21 hrs from NJ but too late I purchased airfare already

 

[deniseallen411]

I used my VISA card and got them through the VISA site (www.visa.com). I went to Personal, then discounts, then car rentals. There was a code there. I've also used codes in past from www.mousesavers.com.

When I originally booked the minivan it was around $650 for the 16 days. I kept checking different codes and a couple of months before our trip I was able to get it down to $200/wk. We booked the second car at around $500 for the 16 days and were able to get that one down to $200/wk too, just by checking the codes frequently.

I've also used Hotwire and Priceline to book rental cars. I've found I do best by waiting until about 2 weeks to 10 days before the trip. If I get a better deal I just cancel the reservation I had.

I actually have 2 Visas one through my bank and the Disney Rewards card..I wonder if CapitalOne has rental special too...Going on their website to check...

 

[JennSaint]

Did you happen to call Disney or get any emails with the free dining? I just checked your dates and there are still value rooms available with the free dining. It would be quite a savings for your group. You wouldn't need a car rental which is taking up quite a bit of your budget.

 

[torinsmom]

I still think you would get off cheaper staying offsite, just not at a $200/night house. Have you looked at other places close to WH? Emerald Island is nice. This 4 bedroom is a good price and right beside the clubhouse(pool).http://www.vrbo.com/66164

And this 5 bedroom pool house at Emerald Island is $120/night at its highest.
http://www.vrbo.com/266487

I think onsite would be crowded with three adults in each room. If you decide to go that way, there is a special discount for 8/14 through October. It varies according to what level of resort you book. Value rooms would be 25% off. You would have to book for 2 different visits, since the first part of your trip is not in the special dates. From how I figured, each room would cost $865 for the 10 days using the special for the second half, so $1530 total. The dining plan would be extremely expensive for 7 people. My figures put it around $2950 for the regular dining plan. I guess that isn't too bad for 7 people for 10 days though(does not include gratuities).

If you stayed onsite, you would be looking at around $8600, so not much savings and you would be very cramped IMHO.

If you rented a house that was about $1000 and got 10 day hoppers(I would keep the hopping since you have some teens) for $2215, then rented the van for $750 and added in the $1934 airfare and $150 for parking, you would be at $6051 without dining. I think you could eat for less than $2749(difference between the "deal" onsite and offsite at a cheaper house) especially with a kitchen to cook in.

Just my two cents of course...

 

[Kellydelly]

I wouldn't skip Universal. My family loves US and IOA! You can get 4 day park to park passes for around $1050. Seaworld is skipable, though (for the money involved). Don't you want to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at IOA? It's pretty neat . I think the older kids will appreciate Universal more than Disney.

 

[deniseallen411]

I still think you would get off cheaper staying offsite, just not at a $200/night house. Have you looked at other places close to WH? Emerald Island is nice. This 4 bedroom is a good price and right beside the clubhouse(pool).http://www.vrbo.com/66164

And this 5 bedroom pool house at Emerald Island is $120/night at its highest.
http://www.vrbo.com/266487

I think onsite would be crowded with three adults in each room. If you decide to go that way, there is a special discount for 8/14 through October. It varies according to what level of resort you book. Value rooms would be 25% off. You would have to book for 2 different visits, since the first part of your trip is not in the special dates. From how I figured, each room would cost $865 for the 10 days using the special for the second half, so $1530 total. The dining plan would be extremely expensive for 7 people. My figures put it around $2950 for the regular dining plan. I guess that isn't too bad for 7 people for 10 days though(does not include gratuities).

If you stayed onsite, you would be looking at around $8600, so not much savings and you would be very cramped IMHO.

If you rented a house that was about $1000 and got 10 day hoppers(I would keep the hopping since you have some teens) for $2215, then rented the van for $750 and added in the $1934 airfare and $150 for parking, you would be at $6051 without dining. I think you could eat for less than $2749(difference between the "deal" onsite and offsite at a cheaper house) especially with a kitchen to cook in.

Just my two cents of course...

the house actually is $189 a nite and w/taxes and cleaning fee it came out to $2000.If I cancel I loose my deposit ($400)...so flights and home is no cutting back on it..I just went thru my Bj's club monthly magazine and they have car rental coupons and other coupons in the Visit Florida book I sent for. As far as eating im shopping at Walmart/Target...My ADR's are for Garden Grove the evening we arrive 8/9,
50's Prime 8/12 for an early dinner @ T-rex 8/15... I dont know the totals yet and would like to go to Wolgang Express as will...My parents Im sure will pay for themselves and niece or we will just split it..

 

[deniseallen411]

this is where we are staying if anyone wishes to check it out...
www.mickeysclubhousevilla.com

 

[bumbershoot]

...I didnt schedule any ADR's for breakfast mainly dinners....I think breakf. I rather do at the home rental. I also saw some restaurants outside Disney i want to try...

A thought...instead of dinners onsite, what about lunches? Su re go offsite for dinner (Sweet Tomatoes was really tasty and EXCELLENT for groups, and if you sign up on their website you can get coupons when you're close to your trip), but having a lunch while at the parks breaks up the day, gives you a break from the heat, and often the lunch menus are less expensive for just about the same food.

As far as car rental I have been trying w/ National I believe Im going to register my DH for their Emerald Membership since he is the only driver.

Mousesavers has a link to get the Emerald Club membership for free, by the way! I just did it the other day. Hubby had a membership already, and spouses are a free second driver, but I have a trip coming up where he won't be there, so I needed my own.

no you just enter code after code. I needed to only use 3 to get my low quote-

Really? So a contract ID, then two, or three?, coupon codes one after another?




OP, even if you do the Emerald Club thing, you won't want to play the Emerald Aisle game, b/c that only guarantees a mid-sized car (with the possiblity of bigger vehicles). You'd want to book the size you need, then go to that size aisle and pick from the aisle.


I'm bummed you're giving up Universal! Especially since you're concerned about the teens...we found a ton to do there and our DS is only 6, but I think it would be just ideal for a teenager.

But yes, you can buy tickets from undercover, both Universal and WDW tix, and it will save money.

 

[deniseallen411]

I did calculations using the Pop Resort,airfare and Dining plus plan and 10day base tix for almost $5000 family of 4...Im still trying to crunch numbers...but thx for your help im extremely grateful to all...

 

[3boymthr]

this is where we are staying if anyone wishes to check it out...
www.mickeysclubhousevilla.com

The house is great! The disney themeing is very tastefully done. For what you are getting I think it's a very good deal.

I second Bumbershoot. Since you'll be paying out of pocket try lunches for your ADRs. Then you can head back to the house late afternoon hit the pool, shower (I loved a late afternoon shower when we were there to wash off the morning's sweat), eat dinner at your house and then after if you feel up to it then go back to the parks when it's cooler, your rested and the parks are a little less crowded.

Are you willing to try priceline for the rental car? They say you can save up to 40%. Or, what about 2 cars. Since you'll have 4 drivers over the age of 25 that might be the way to go. On priceline Thrifty and Dollar (in terminal at MCO) have economy cars for $244/ea which would only be $488 total or you could get a Full Size for $379 and an economy car for $244 or $623 total. You might even be able to get some discounts on those. You'd have to pay extra for parking, but that way if the teens wanted to go somewhere different such as Downtown Disney instead of the parks you'd have the freedom to allow them to do so. Also, check you're cc some of them allow you to waive the fees on your rental cars.

 

[torinsmom]

I'm surprised they will not give you your deposit back this early on if you canceled. Mine have always had the option to cancel up until 90 days before with no fee. After 90 days, the deposit is non-refundable. I know the $200/night is after taxes; I was just saying you can get the same type of house in the same area for about half that WITH TAXES. I understand if you are set on that one though.

You can definitely eat cheaper offsite. We always ate breakfast at the house, then went to the parks. We'd have lunch in the parks and then head back to the house for a rest, swim, etc. Then we'd have an early dinner offsite and head back to the parks around 6:30(when it starts to cool down a little)

Don't forget you can get free ice water at the CS restaurants and the kiosks just by asking. We took the flavor packs and added them in. With 7 people, the savings will really add up, especially in August.

I second Priceline for rental cars and getting 2 instead of 1. That way, if some of you are ready to go back to the house, but some want to stay at a park(or go shopping), you are covered. You will have to pay two parking fees, though, which might eat up the PL savings.

As for character meals, breakfast is even cheaper than lunch. We would always schedule the last breakfast seating(I believe 10:45) and consider it brunch. It saved us money for sure.

Marsha

 

[JennSaint]

I did calculations using the Pop Resort,airfare and Dining plus plan and 10day base tix for almost $5000 family of 4...Im still trying to crunch numbers...but thx for your help im extremely grateful to all...

But did you call Disney Reservations to see if you having a free dining discount pin attached to your name? With this discount for your dates your family of four would be around $2500.00 for all 10 nights which includes, room, park tickets and disney quick service dining plan.

 

[hsmamato2]

Denise- there are SO many options, I bet your head is spinning! I've been like a million times here's my advice-
Your airfare is set,don't even look at trains,just hold Dh's hand that day
If you can't get out of the home without losing $400,I'd try to work around that too, tho you should double check that policy,it seems very strict so far out....
Try to stick with either just Disney,or maybe a day or 2 at US- but understand that extra disney days are FAR cheaper than going to another theme park-
You could probably do 10 day non hopper and your family would still have a blast- plus there a whole world of hotels and temed places to explore in Disney,even before you hit an actual park!(yes you can visit)
parking at any theme park is about 14.00 per day-

Why are trying to rent only with National? We've rented cars numerous times in Orlando,using whichever company gave us a deal. Have you checked the mousesavers site,for rental car discounts,etc? We had fine rentals from all different places-
You have a house, use it for your breakfasts- eat a lunch in the parks somewhere (always cheaper than dinner) and then use that car to find a decent inexpensive place outside the gates! Sweet Tomatoes, Steak and Shake, Giordanos,or a million other places.....even if you eat a late dinner after the parks....

 

[deniseallen411]

My DH is the only driver....My parents will probably stay more at the resort so tickets will definitely go down in totals....My DD and Niece will probably stay w/ my parents on some of the days and enjoy the resort as well...So Im sure I can get down to $7000 and less...Would It be cheaper if we take a taxi or I believe Windsor Hills has shuttles to the resort and rent a car from Alamo inside WDW..Perhaps I can use our Disney Rewards Card and get a bigger discounted rate? Just a thought....

 

[deniseallen411]

Denise- there are SO many options, I bet your head is spinning! I've been like a million times here's my advice-
Your airfare is set,don't even look at trains,just hold Dh's hand that day
If you can't get out of the home without losing $400,I'd try to work around that too, tho you should double check that policy,it seems very strict so far out....
Try to stick with either just Disney,or maybe a day or 2 at US- but understand that extra disney days are FAR cheaper than going to another theme park-
You could probably do 10 day non hopper and your family would still have a blast- plus there a whole world of hotels and temed places to explore in Disney,even before you hit an actual park!(yes you can visit)
parking at any theme park is about 14.00 per day-

Why are trying to rent only with National? We've rented cars numerous times in Orlando,using whichever company gave us a deal. Have you checked the mousesavers site,for rental car discounts,etc? We had fine rentals from all different places-
You have a house, use it for your breakfasts- eat a lunch in the parks somewhere (always cheaper than dinner) and then use that car to find a decent inexpensive place outside the gates! Sweet Tomatoes, Steak and Shake, Giordanos,or a million other places.....even if you eat a late dinner after the parks....

Spinning is not the word... Im overwhelmed rt now, trying to please 6 people and myself. 4get me!!!...when will I have a chance to enjoy my favorite cartoon character of all time?...Maybe If i travel alone!!!....Now my DH is still w/ taking the train I todl him Im not forcing him to do anything but he better get to Orlando b4 us and he will need to book his rm for the nite until we fly in....I cant accomodate everyone as they please...Im trying... I know I can find a cheaper home but I really love this one...So Im willing to sacrifice w/ other things..Thx for your advice and pls continue with any tips/suggestions..

 

[loveysbydesign]

You could stay in a home at Indian Creek(1/2 mile from WH) for half the money! We've stayed at WH and Indian Creek and love them both!