Saved $$ On Our Dec Disney Vaca Today

[Disneybuckeye]

we are going to Florida for Xmas this year. We are doing Universal, Disney, and ending up at my parents near Naples. I booked our airfare earlier this week as I get an extra paycheck in June (due to being paid bi-weekly) that will cover it. I paid $264 and the same flights are now $308. That wasn't my savings, but it made me feel good. Now I won't look again in case they go down.

My savings was on the rental car. Since we are staying on property at Universal, moving to VWL, and then driving to my parents we have to have a rental car and are keeping it for the full 10 days. I booked a mid-size earlier this week for $276 total. Today I found the same car at the same place for $253. I will keep checking to see if I can get it down further, but $23 is a start. Over the holidays you never know what is going to happen with car rental rates, so I always book one early and just keep watching.

I know my budget boards friends would appreciate this.

 

[Kat&Dom]

we are going to Florida for Xmas this year. We are doing Universal, Disney, and ending up at my parents near Naples. I booked our airfare earlier this week as I get an extra paycheck in June (due to being paid bi-weekly) that will cover it. I paid $264 and the same flights are now $308. That wasn't my savings, but it made me feel good. Now I won't look again in case they go down.

My savings was on the rental car. Since we are staying on property at Universal, moving to VWL, and then driving to my parents we have to have a rental car and are keeping it for the full 10 days. I booked a mid-size earlier this week for $276 total. Today I found the same car at the same place for $253. I will keep checking to see if I can get it down further, but $23 is a start. Over the holidays you never know what is going to happen with car rental rates, so I always book one early and just keep watching.

I know my budget boards friends would appreciate this.

 

[CarolAnnB]

I do that on rental cars too - book early and keep looking for lower rates. Keep an eye on mousesavers as your trip gets closer too, they update with more codes with dates further out.

 

[dickyrader]

Way to go!!!!

By the way, I love your avatar! Go Bucks!!

 

[arthur06]

Nice job on saving the money...

BUT as a Hawkeye fan I gotta say it (especially today)...

A thread about a Buckeye and cars??? hmmmmmm

 

[dunningdisney]

I just double checked our rate for on the way home, called hotel and saved $14!!!!

 

[JCMHutch]

I booked my flights for my fall trip about a month ago - glad I did. The flights have gone up $100 in about 3 weeks. If the prices go down, I'll switch our flights around and get a credit to use for early next year. I'm so glad I booked them early!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I just double checked our rate for on the way home, called hotel and saved $14!!!!

Congrats on the savings! Lets hope we all find more!

 

[jgates]

Keep checking every few days & also check out any other codes you can find.

With National you have to start from scratch in order to find any discounts - they no longer 'drop' if you edit your reservation & cost has gone down. You actually need to start again to see the new rates.

We started at $400+ in February (never bothered), booked at around $186 around 2nd week of April. It's been dropping like a rock ever since. Now down to $80.02 including all taxes for 7d/6n for mid-size. (I was able to up it to a full-size because National Executive at same cost). I was thinking they might pay me to rent it......... but now prices have started climbing again so we are good to go at 80.02.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Keep checking every few days & also check out any other codes you can find.

With National you have to start from scratch in order to find any discounts - they no longer 'drop' if you edit your reservation & cost has gone down. You actually need to start again to see the new rates.

We started at $400+ in February (never bothered), booked at around $186 around 2nd week of April. It's been dropping like a rock ever since. Now down to $80.02 including all taxes for 7d/6n for mid-size. (I was able to up it to a full-size because National Executive at same cost). I was thinking they might pay me to rent it......... but now prices have started climbing again so we are good to go at 80.02.

Score!!!!!!! I would love to get down close to that. I will keep looking and watching for discounts. Avis and Buget with a discount code were at or over $1000 for this time period. Amazing the difference.

I do feel good having the big things booked at a decent rate and the airfare will be paid in full next month when the CC bill comes in. Our Disney Reward dollars will pay for most of our food at VWL. I still need to buy our Universal tickets which I plan on doing from UC in July as tickets tend to go up in August.

 

[torinsmom]

How do you get rates so low? Is this only National? I will be renting for 10 days in August, and wondering when I should book. I can use anywhere from an economy to a mid-size. Any advice? I am getting $300+ for 10 days.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

How do you get rates so low? Is this only National? I will be renting for 10 days in August, and wondering when I should book. I can use anywhere from an economy to a mid-size. Any advice? I am getting $300+ for 10 days.

i started on Expedia to see who was the lowest and booked one (Dollar). I then went straight to Dollar's website and found it for even less. We belong to RCI and I checked Avis & Budget using their discount codes, but they were way higher. My husband has some codes through his work I still have to check.

Rates tend to be lower right before you leave, but I still recommend having one booked at a rate you can stomach ahead of time just in case. You just need to be dilligent and keep checking. Good Luck!