Quick trip - cutting cost tips?

[kseg95]

Hi all!
Thinking about doing a quick 4-5 trip to WDW as my bf graduates college this year! I was looking for dates in late August and had the trip plus tickets JUST under a 2k$. I did have the simple dining plan, and no park hopper. Any suggestions on how we could cut down costs further? Driving isn't an option for us because of time and car costs. Any help would be sooooo appreciated! Thanks.

 

[OhMari]

Stay out of the stores, which it is hard to do because lots of rides dump you out into a store after the ride. You get a drink with your meal, but ask for ice water also or ice and bring a water bottle. Transfer the water and ice over for later into your water container. Bring ponchos from home, it will rain.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi all!
Thinking about doing a quick 4-5 trip to WDW as my bf graduates college this year! I was looking for dates in late August and had the trip plus tickets JUST under a 2k$. I did have the simple dining plan, and no park hopper. Any suggestions on how we could cut down costs further? Driving isn't an option for us because of time and car costs. Any help would be sooooo appreciated! Thanks.

Get a Target debit card. It attached to your regular bank account and you do not have to give up your bank's debit card when you get. It's only for Target purchases. Sign up for their Pharmacy Rewards program and then sign up to manage it online. They will send you a one-time use 5%-off coupon and then another one for every 5 prescriptions that you fill. Stack the debit card and the Pharm5 coupon for a total of 9.75% off the purchase of Disney gift cards. Pay for your package with the GCs.

Use an airfare tracking program like Kayak to help decide when to purchase your airfare. They have an airfare predictor which will tell you whether to purchase now or to wait. Unfortunately, airfare is going to be expensive for 2 people. I'm guessing somewhere in the range of $600 RT, at its very best price. Check nearby airports to see if they have cheaper fares.

 

[j-me]

In years past, WDW has offered FREE dining late Aug, sept and into the fall. Watch for it.. They will not adjust your reservation you have to call. So if they offer it call and they will apply it..

 

[kseg95]

Thanks everyone! It's time to start saving I guess! Does anyone have any opinions on Royal Caribbean vs Carnival cruises?

 

[Lisa71]

Royal Caribbean has a better reputation...less chaos and better food.

 

[worm761]

You can eat cheaper than the dining plan. Look at menus on All Ears Net. It has a complete menu with prices and when the prices were updated. compare the out of pocket costs to the cost of what the dining plan covers. Remember only two meals and a snack per night. We are a three meal a day family so I have to remember to compare total cost of food to total cost of food and not just the dining plan.

Pack snacks to take into the park with you. though budget for at least a few.

Don't count on free dining for August. It was not offered last year for August and I doubt that it will be this year.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Hi all!
Thinking about doing a quick 4-5 trip to WDW as my bf graduates college this year! I was looking for dates in late August and had the trip plus tickets JUST under a 2k$. I did have the simple dining plan, and no park hopper. Any suggestions on how we could cut down costs further? Driving isn't an option for us because of time and car costs. Any help would be sooooo appreciated! Thanks.

I would not recommend the dining plan unless it is free. You may or may not like or want all that is included or you may want something that is not included and will incur additional costs. In addition your money is tied up in food, guaranteed.

The best deal unless free is to get the Disney gift cards at Target with the red card and that instantly gives you a 5% savings on anything you purchase with those cards. We buy Disney cards to cover any known expenses. Apply them to your room anytime before midnight the night before checkout to clear up your account or as your account reaches its limits (depending upon the class of your resort this varies) easy peasy and your money is not tied up in food.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[dpswift]

Thanks everyone! It's time to start saving I guess! Does anyone have any opinions on Royal Caribbean vs Carnival cruises?

What are you looking for? How many days? Both of these cruise lines tend to have a good amount of people drinking heavily on their shorter, cheaper cruises.

Carnival has better food and a better assortment of food.

We have had good times on both lines. The bigger ships have more to offer than the smaller ones.

 

[Momof1redhead]

Another vote for skipping the dining plan. Do quick breakfast in room, pack a cooler for lunch (sandwiches, fruit, chips, drinks, etc.) and stow it in a locker at the gate of any park (about $7 to rent the locker). Splurge on dinner in the park and pat yourself on the back for saving so much money!

 

[brymolmom]

Agree on skipping the dining plan if budget is a big concern - you CAN eat for less.

If you have Southwest as an option at your airport - fly with them if possible (they already have August dates open so might want to start stalking the website to watch for sales) - and then use your '2 bags free' to pack a checked-bag FULL of food - bagels, bread, granola bars, cereal, bowls, peanut butter, instant mac n cheese, some 'goodies' like cookies and/or chips. Then, as a carry-on bring a good small cooler (make sure it's small enough for the airline's regulations) - and pack some frozen things in it - like lunch meat, cheese, I also pack my fruit like apples and oranges (so they don't get beat up in the checked bag). I also put my meal for the travel day in there for eating on the plane...Sandwiches, chips and a cheese stick.

You can eat as much or as little out of the above as your budget determines...You could buy NO disney food in 4 or 5 days with this option OR, if you want to splurge - you could do one or two sit down meals OR one or two counter service meals. Or buy a large pizza from the food court in your resort one night and use leftovers for lunch the next day.

With two adults no need, IMO, for a locker (to save the $$) - Just each wear a backpack and put a water bottle plus your food/snacks for the day in them. Bring rubbermaid containers so the sandwiches don't get squashed on the rides.

Agree with pp...Water only at all meals is the way to go for saving $$.

 

[Deb123]

I am going to agree with all the others that said Skip The Dining Plan! We ditched it once we started putting the same amount of money as the DP on Disney gift cards and ordering what we wanted, not according to a DP. Do you really need all that soda? Do you really need all those desserts? I like the idea of having my meals prepaid which is why I put the money on GC's. We ALWAYS have had money left over.
If you REALLY want to save some major money, skip the TS meals...that adds up to some $$ after factoring tips. Eat breakfast in the room. Everywhere serves water for free. And at your resort, just use the soda machine 's water choice to fill up your cup. The water is filtered and tastes great from it. The CS meals are more than enough to fill you up. And definitely bring snacks from home!

 

[Deb123]

Also, most every resort sells loaves of bread. There are complimentary jelly packets, and some (not all) have free sandwich fixings as well.

 

[Marionnette]

Also, most every resort sells loaves of bread. There are complimentary jelly packets, and some (not all) have free sandwich fixings as well.

The jelly packets and "sandwich fixings" are meant to be consumed by the people who purchased items in the food court such as slices of bread for toast or a burger that one might want to add lettuce and tomato to. They are not meant for people to help themselves as they pass by on their way to their room just because they want to eat on the cheap at Disney. The more that people abuse things like that, the more Disney has to take measures to prevent losses. It's not unusual now to have to request things like tea bags, honey, and peanut butter packets from food court CMs because so many people did as you are suggesting.

 

[Deb123]

The jelly packets and "sandwich fixings" are meant to be consumed by the people who purchased items in the food court such as slices of bread for toast or a burger that one might want to add lettuce and tomato to. They are not meant for people to help themselves as they pass by on their way to their room just because they want to eat on the cheap at Disney. The more that people abuse things like that, the more Disney has to take measures to prevent losses. It's not unusual now to have to request things like tea bags, honey, and peanut butter packets from food court CMs because so many people did as you are suggesting.

Um, I just suggested the buying a loaf of bread....I think that may entitle her to some packets of jelly. Also, there is almost always packets of ham or turkey in the resort store to buy. I would think if she bought these things, it would be ok to use the condiments...Good grief. I see your point about some people abusing this, but there is also ways to use this "the right way."

 

[Marionnette]

Um, I just suggested the buying a loaf of bread....I think that may entitle her to some packets of jelly. Also, there is almost always packets of ham or turkey in the resort store to buy. I would think if she bought these things, it would be ok to use the condiments...Good grief. I see your point about some people abusing this, but there is also ways to use this "the right way."

Does buying a loaf of bread and a package of bologna in Winn Dixie entitle you to walk into Arby's and load up with lettuce and tomatoes?

The resort gift shops are not an extension of the food court. Purchasing a loaf of bread at the gift shop doesn't "entitle" you to anything more than a loaf of bread.

I really don't understand the entitlement attitude that since you paid for something at one location, you are granted some sort of absolution for just taking things from another.

 

[Deb123]

Does buying a loaf of bread and a package of bologna in Winn Dixie entitle you to walk into Arby's and load up with lettuce and tomatoes?

The resort gift shops are not an extension of the food court. Purchasing a loaf of bread at the gift shop doesn't "entitle" you to anything more than a loaf of bread.

I really don't understand the entitlement attitude that since you paid for something at one location, you are granted some sort of absolution for just taking things from another.

At the value resorts, you actually get the loaf of bread FROM the food court...they bring it to you from the back....just saying. I can see this is a sensitive subject, honestly not trying to ruffle any feathers here.