Please help, our trip might not work out

[lolobug]

Hello dis-lovers!
Long story short, we had to wait until now to try and plan an April vacation. We would LOVE to go but are limited to a set week due to my job (teacher). We are available to travel April 15- April 24; flights are astronomical ($2000-$4000!) We were planning on staying at the Wilderness Lodge BUT if I can come up with a way to save $$$ at a great resort with a car than we will do it.
Suggestions, please! (Resorts/ car deals)
Wilderness Lodge w tickets for 7 days: $3777
Flight: $1800 (not yet booked... Any deals out there??)

 

[sk8jdgca]

Where are you flying from

 

[lolobug]

Where are you flying from

Albany, NY or Hartford, CT

 

[DanenRox]

I've never traveled during school vacations so maybe I'm off the mark but I assure you there are many, many accommodations outside of WDW that you should look at in an effort to save money on lodging. Wilderness Lodge is obviously a beautiful resort but take a minute to look at Wyndham Bonnet Creek (very close, almost inside of WDW) or Sheraton Vistana Resort (not Villages, those are a bit further away). Both of these resort are well appointed, large, with full kitchens and often multiple bathrooms. With a car, grocery shopping and eating off-site become possible and are money saving options. Yes, it's a bit less "magical" but offer wonderful experiences and create memories of their own. Both properties mentioned above are timeshares but access to them is pretty easy and safe. Car deals require regular checks of www.carrentalsavers.com and www.mousesavers.com (will post discounts). Dollar's "city specials" have been hard to beat lately. Ticket prices are pretty static...they are what they are but maybe you're open to skipping the park hopper option which may make sense particularly if you're staying off site. Just some ideas, keeping in mind that again, I don't travel during school vacations. If you'd like more info from me, just ask. Good luck!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Albany, NY or Hartford, CT

There are Southwest flights from New Albany on the 18th for $107 per person. Returning flights on the 25th are the same price. A few days makes a lot of difference!

 

[lolobug]

I've never traveled during school vacations so maybe I'm off the mark but I assure you there are many, many accommodations outside of WDW that you should look at in an effort to save money on lodging. Wilderness Lodge is obviously a beautiful resort but take a minute to look at Wyndham Bonnet Creek (very close, almost inside of WDW) or Sheraton Vistana Resort (not Villages, those are a bit further away). Both of these resort are well appointed, large, with full kitchens and often multiple bathrooms. With a car, grocery shopping and eating off-site become possible and are money saving options. Yes, it's a bit less "magical" but offer wonderful experiences and create memories of their own. Both properties mentioned above are timeshares but access to them is pretty easy and safe. Keeping in mind that again, I don't travel during school vacations. If you'd like more info from me, just ask. Good luck!

Thank you! Where do I look into booking these resorts?

 

[DanenRox]

My first choice would be Wyndham Bonnet Creek and we've booked twice through Vacation Stratergy. For Sheraton Vistana Resort (also nice just not as close to WDW), there are links to specials listed on www.mousesavers.com If you're unfamiliar with www.mousesavers.com, check it out. There is also a site called www.vrbo.com which is a place where timeshare owners make their timeshares available for rent and in the Orlando area, there are so many, sometimes they are quite cheap. We've used this too...but be prudent with finding out about the resort offered and the owner.

 

[DanenRox]

By edit, I added some additional notes to my first post so you may want to revisit that one too.

 

[lolobug]

There are Southwest flights from New Albany on the 18th for $107 per person. Returning flights on the 25th are the same price. A few days makes a lot of difference!

This would be wonderful but I have no wiggle room with our dates

 

[lolobug]

By edit, I added some additional notes to my first post so you may want to revisit that one too.

Thank you, SO MUCH!

 

[DanenRox]

We go often, I've got some tricks, feel free to reach out.

 

[cmarsh31]

April 17th-23rd (Sun-Sat), ALB to MCO - not nonstop, but you can get them for $319 per person round-trip. 23rd flight back is late, so you'd have both a full day on Saturday in Disney and Sunday at home to recover. Same price Mon-Sun.

 

[lolobug]

We go often, I've got some tricks, feel free to reach out.

Thank you! Do you always stay off site?

 

[lolobug]

April 17th-23rd (Sun-Sat), ALB to MCO - not nonstop, but you can get them for $319 per person round-trip. 23rd flight back is late, so you'd have both a full day on Saturday in Disney and Sunday at home to recover. Same price Mon-Sun.

What airline? Where did you see this? Thanks!

 

[DanenRox]

Thank you! Do you always stay off site?

We ended up buying into DVC and have never regretted it. Prior to that, we looked for options and found plenty. Separately, I do a girls trip and we stay in Orlando but not Disney. We started using vrbo.com when we were looking for lodging in St Pete Beach - found a great place, a great owner and continue to use her. Off site is a great option particularly if you've already been at least once.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Hello dis-lovers!
Long story short, we had to wait until now to try and plan an April vacation. We would LOVE to go but are limited to a set week due to my job (teacher). We are available to travel April 15- April 24; flights are astronomical ($2000-$4000!) We were planning on staying at the Wilderness Lodge BUT if I can come up with a way to save $$$ at a great resort with a car than we will do it.
Suggestions, please! (Resorts/ car deals)
Wilderness Lodge w tickets for 7 days: $3777
Flight: $1800 (not yet booked... Any deals out there??)

Think about driving. How many in your party?

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

We found a place over the summer through vrbo.com for about $1000/week. The owner is really responsive and his unit has a lot of good reviews (something I look for in vrbo). https://www.vrbo.com/552651

I feel your pain with the prime time travel time!

 

[Chelley00]

We almost always stay at WBC anymore. It's a great place and right next door to Caribbean Beach so you are essentially inside the Disney bubble. They do have shuttles though we rarely use them. Just make sure to budget in parking if you stay offsite ($20/day) We eat breakfast in the condo and take an off day to grill out by the lake and eat at the picnic tables and it saves us money on food.

 

[lolobug]

Think about driving. How many in your party?

There are 4- we live in MA, it would be a VERY long drive. However, we are considering that as an option, too.

 

[lolobug]

We almost always stay at WBC anymore. It's a great place and right next door to Caribbean Beach so you are essentially inside the Disney bubble. They do have shuttles though we rarely use them. Just make sure to budget in parking if you stay offsite ($20/day) We eat breakfast in the condo and take an off day to grill out by the lake and eat at the picnic tables and it saves us money on food.

Great ideas!