Possible unexpected trip - need help

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

I was just looking at Delta and got an unbelievable airfare. We had to select weird dates, but got 11/29-12/5. Only $370 for all 3 of us to fly!! Now I am looking for a hotel that would be reasonable. I really don't want to spend more than $450, so staying in the parks is highly unlikely. I need opinions of hotels close to the world (whether outside the gates or in DTD). Also, how about car rentals vs transportation options.
Eating options would be great too. We have never gone done on a tight budget, so this is a first for us. Also, we are doing cruise 12//03 and most money we save is going for that, so this will be quite a challenge to see how Cheap we can go for.

So for all you frugal, experienced savers.... let's see how you can do

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think if I was in that case, I would be very tempted to check out skyauction.com. Seems everyone has nothing but good to say about it!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Thanks - am going there now to check it out!

 

[poohsdoodle]

lovethatmouse...

i was on skyauctions last night, AWESOME deals!!!!!!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

how does skyauctions work?

 

[poohsdoodle]

like any other auction if you've done that. if not, you must register. your card will be billed immediately upon winning. the biggest piece of adise is READ THE FINE PRINT!!!!

sometimes you pay additional price per room per night (ex 32.00), sometimes per week(195.00). some auctions say you pay hotel taxes directly (5-15 per day).

i already have a house reserved for my trip in march, but thought i could possibly find a better deal, but most dates out there now end this year. not too many for my trip, YET. i'm definitely going to keep looking.

someone last night ended up paying 51.00 per nitght for amerisuites, typical per night rate is 99.00 and up!! that's one heck of a savings!!!!!!!

let me know if i can help!!

 

[bobcat]

I am assuming that the $450 is for hotel. That gives you $75 a night to spend. You may be able to get one of the All Stars for less than that. Another option would be the Mariott DTD then were running a $25/night special Sun. - Thurs with the weekend beeing around $65. I stayed here one night last month and was very pleases with the property. Only used their transportation to DTD but have heard its ok.

As for food I always budget $50/ day for one adult and two kids and we always have enough. That includes a couple of character meals and ice cream as well. We always eat breakfast in our room, (cereal, milk, poptarts, etc.) and have snacks and peanut butter for those days we want to have a super quick lunch and move onto other activities. You can buy milk and bread in the gift shop but everything else we bring from home. I even have a collapsable cooler for when we fly.

When we fly I use a car service since I stay onsite. For three people it is about the same amount of money as Mears, and a lot more relaxing. I would rather spend $80 to be picked up and dropped off than $150+ for a car rental when I won't use it.

WDW can be done on a budget!

 

[Boots]

Can't help you out, but that sounds like a wonderful unexpected vacation! Have fun planning!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Thanks for all the advice. I am checking out Marriot at DTD and also Buena Vista Suites (?). $450 for the week, but it has a fridge, micro, coffee maker and full american breakfast everymorning (not just a continental). I also am going to check out All Stars. Got a rate of $69/nite. How is the transportation from there? How small are the rooms? I am going to try expedia too - anyone ever use them?

 

[Luv2Roam]

We stayed at ASMo last January. It was off season, but even with that there were lots of guests all heading to the parks at the same time in the morning. The bus service was exceptional there.
I really enjoyed ASMo. Everything met/exceeded my expectations, except the laundry facility. It's too small for such a large resort with so many families staying there.
But that was the ONLY downside I found to ASMo.
I am really looking forward to a return visit.
We stayed at POR in May and the bus service was just the oppisite as ASMo. And while waiting (and waiting) in the parks for our POR bus, we saw bus after bus from the AS passing us by. They had many more busses running than POR. And their lines were always much shorter than POR (as were all the resort lines ).

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I think ASMo is perfect for a budget trip! We got a AAA discount of 60.61 this past January.With out AAA is was still less that 70.00. That would be within your budget and put you onsite! Bus service was awsome for ASMo. We never moved our car the would trip. Not needing a car would save money too. I don't think I would stay at a DD hotel without a car. The rooms are a little small but were fine for our family of three. Don't expect delux, but rather fun Disney and you will be fine. The food court at ASMo is pretty good deal too. Better that park food but more expensive that off site fast food. Quality is pretty good too. We also have saved money by eating breakfast in the room and using the food court at night for dinner. We did a nice sit down for lunch most days.Enjoy the planning and the trip.

Jordan's mom