Priced out :(

[Jake&IzzyLand]

11K for a theme park vacation. I would never, but there are so many that do and many even spend more. It's crazy!

11K would mean out of the country for me for sure or a two week vacation in an ocean front home.

I love WDW, but I would never spend that much to go. I know that's just me and many people love to and don't mind the cost a bit.

I would say price out renting points versus offsite. Reinvent how you do Disney! I think it's possible to do it differently and still have an amazing time.

I'm in the same boat, trying to figure out how to execute our next visit. I want to incorporate US for my older two, I know the Harry Potter stuff will blow their minds!

 

[Ava]

We're planning for spring 2017 and my goal is to save enough cash to rent DVC at either Beach Club or Boardwalk. After two trips using Disney buses, the thought of being able to walk to Epcot and DHS is wonderful. (I know we'd still be stuck with buses to MK & AK, but 2/4 is not bad!) I'd love to stay at the Contemporary just to be able to walk to MK (not a big fan of the non-theme theme), but it's a good bit pricier.

 

[KimBean]

Look into renting DVC points for a 1 bedroom studio at Animal Kingdom.

I've looked into this before and can't figure it out. Cheat sheet anywhere or DVC points for dummies? Sorry not trying to derail thread just thought it might be helpful to you too.

 

[eliza61]

I've looked into this before and can't figure it out. Cheat sheet anywhere or DVC points for dummies? Sorry not trying to derail thread just thought it might be helpful to you too.

The easiest place to start is right here on the dis. go down to the DVC boards and simply post a question. many of the members there, like myself rent out points.

DVC rent/trade board is a great place to start.

 

[Marionnette]

I've looked into this before and can't figure it out. Cheat sheet anywhere or DVC points for dummies? Sorry not trying to derail thread just thought it might be helpful to you too.

In addition to the DVC boards here on the disboards, I find David's explanation on his website to be very easy to understand. Renting from an individual (like eliza) is slightly more complicated, but the right owner will walk you through the rental process. Each owner will do things slightly different.

 

[katyjeka]

11K for a theme park vacation. I would never, but there are so many that do and many even spend more. It's crazy!

11K would mean out of the country for me for sure or a two week vacation in an ocean front home.

I love WDW, but I would never spend that much to go. I know that's just me and many people love to and don't mind the cost a bit.

I would say price out renting points versus offsite. Reinvent how you do Disney! I think it's possible to do it differently and still have an amazing time.

I'm in the same boat, trying to figure out how to execute our next visit. I want to incorporate US for my older two, I know the Harry Potter stuff will blow their minds!

I agree!!! 11K can buy a pretty amazing trip. We have been Disney fans for so many years that I felt guilty when we got on our plane to Oahu. By the evening of our first night the guilt had disappeared. Watching the sunset from our balcony was amazing! It was soooo relaxing and our girls had a great time. We have slowly been opening our eyes to some of the amazing sites to be seen away from the "world". Its surprising where you can go for a lot less money than WDW. I know I'm sounding like we are Disney bashing but I'm not. We've made some amazing memories there, and will go back this year. I'm just beginning to see outside the Disney bubble! We discovered Bonnet Creek years ago, what a great deal. Our girls loved our trip to US and IOA. They fell in love with the Grinch.(He was fantastic, our favorite of any park)

 

[gottalovepluto]

When I stayed at AKL (twice in 2001), the standard room price we paid was $145 a night or close to it.

I dare say that's the best we'll ever see. Wasn't that when it first opened? From what I've seen that was the time period people got the best deals at AKL. The tech bubble burst of 2000 whacked Disney just as they needed to drive traffic to recoup costs and that trouble became much worse after 9/11.

And as a fellow family of 5 I feel your pain OP. I hope it works out for you one day!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hmm... This thread has me thinking about renting DVC points if we ever try to take the whole fam to WDW. (DL vet here, we have looked but never leaped with all 5 of us as prices scared us stiff. I did a girls trip for Epcot F&W once but that's it.) Nothing in the works now but I'm bookmarking that place to check out for a future trip! Thanks all!

 

[Minniesgal]

Before we bought DVC I refused to pay onsite prices and we stayed at the Lake Buena Vista resort and spa.

Our next trip we are using our DVC points staying at SSR/AKV and GFV and my 12 year old was upset last night as all he wants to do is go back to Lake Buena Vista Resort and Spa.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Renting points is a great idea, but I'd probably go for WBC for a family of 5! Such a wonderful resort.

 

[mom2my3kids]

All of the PP have been spot on for your time frame. I will suggest something a little different. Once your family reaches "5"...your options are more limited. For me, I spaced out the trips to a more affordable level. Instead of an annual trip on site, maybe do every couple of years on site and do other vacations in the interim. Just a thought. It makes the WDW trips more precious and the kids appreciated them more.

I agree as a family of five its harder to get rooms are a reasonable rate..I have a lady I rent points off of we trust each other and its worked out great...

 

[MommaBerd]

I know it's been said before, but looking at $11K for your Disney trip is like looking at the full price on a Kohl's item. The smart consumer isn't going to pay that. We have gone in the past with 6 people for 7 days - 3 Disney adults - for about half of that. It is all about trade-offs. I am planning our next trip for 10 days. This time it will be just for 5 (oldest DS will be at college), but with FOUR Disney adults. My plan is to do a split stay at WBC and POR. We'll stay at WBC for the first half so that we can spread out and have breathing room and then we'll cram in to POR so that we can enjoy some fun of the resorts and early FP+ bookings. Who knows? We might luck out on free dining! Granted, we're going in November and we can drive. But, I am budgeting $5K on the HIGH end.

Now, would I love to stay at a DVC for the entire time, but at this point, we aren't willing to pay the premium when WBC is just as nice and just as close. I would love to stay in a BC Resort room instead of POR, but again I have to ask myself if the additional cost is really justified.

I think my point is that we all have our "dream" vacation. We can choose to save up for the dream, or we can make the vacation fit our reality. And being "priced out" is a matter of priorities. Everyone on this budget board is finding ways to reprioritize their dollars or to squeeze everything out of a dollar they can! I must admit that I am in awe over the people who sacrifice eating out or buying new things or a number of other sacrifices to make a Disney vacation a reality. My hat is certainly off to them!

But, I know it feels better to vent - especially here to people who feel your pain.

ETA: I went back and re-read your original post. My DH wants the exact same thing - a room to ourselves. BUT, he's willing to compromise this time since we'll be at WBC for the first half of the trip. And, it helps that our kids are older now...

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Yes, renting points is a great option, but I think staying off property is the best option. Windsor Hills is a stones throw from AK. Beautiful houses with private pools around $200 a night, condos can be found for $99.

We stayed in a condo last December. I did the throwaway room trick with a night's stay at a tent site at Fort Winderness. We kept the reservation which gave us ADR abilities, magicbands, and parking for two days.

Worked well!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Be bought our Animal Kingdom DVC on the resale market for less than the 11K vacation cost. We do a 1 br savannah view every other year, and we still have points for a studio stay on the off years. Tickets are the killer, food we have delivered by wegoshop.com. No need for a car or parking. Our last Oct trip came in right around $3,200, including flights, tickets, food, etc. We don't do many extras like fancy hairdos and character meals. It's a blast, and it was a very good investment for our family.

 

[maxiesmom]

A family suite at the All Star Music will get you your own bedroom with a queen sized be in it. Plus a kitchenette and 2 bathrooms and 2 tvs.

I would love to stay deluxe every trip, but I'm not made of money. But I don't consider not affording deluxe to be priced out of a trip to WDW. Just priced out of their most expensive resorts.

 

[kallanach]

I also recommend not getting a savannah view, but calling to make your reservation and asking if they can put a note on your reservation to give you a room with a view of the animals. The way the cast member who booked my reservation explained it to me was that a savannah view was a guaranteed 180 degree view of the "savannah." However there are quite a few standard rooms at AKL that still have a view of the animals. Ours was on Kudu Trail and we had zebras, a warthog, and many deer outside our window every morning, and the giraffes were let into our paddock area at about 10 AM every morning. It's not a guarantee you'll get one of those rooms, but there were many rooms overlooking that view where we were.

I will second this and add that you can see animals from many places at AKL. Not just your room. From the hallway, observation deck, etc. AKL is my favorite.