Some advice for a friend (doing Disney on a seriously tight budget)

[PrincessSuzanne]

Based on you saying he is prior military, check out the Shades of Green website. The rooms are almost 2 times larger than the Value resort rooms and a standard room sleeps 5, and there is the ability to purchase tickets there and bus transportation to and from the parks and some of the same priviledges as Disney resort guests, ie EMH and package delivery. It is also in the MK resort area and a short walk to the Poly and TTC.

The rooms are reasonably priced in Aug, Sept, Oct for some class of Veterans (check out the Eligibility Section) and they offer a Stars and Stripes ticket that includes park hopper and water park fun and more options for a good bit less than Disney sells the basic MYW tickets. Oh, and BTW, they won't pay the tax on the room or tickets, and I am finding out that is a huge savings. There are also other ticket options available as well. Everything you need to know is on the website.

There is also the Armed Forces Vacation Club, where, if eligible, they can stay for 7 days for $369 and there are some really nice places in the Orlando area.

Shades has been offering some great prices and packages that are affordable for anyone. I would be happy to help you figure out something for them, just PM me.

Suzanne

 

[EMHDad]

Im not sure i saw/understood the reasons driving was out. However, driving is really the best option economically. My suggestion is this...

driving - $400-450
stay offsite - at Priceline you can find a hotel suite or even like 2 bedroom condo within 20 minutes of Disney. I know people like staying onsite and being close, but you can get one of these for about $100 a night - $500
food - staying in a place with a kitchen//kitchenette hows home cooking - $200
tickets - (If YES tickets)(I am assuming 3 tickets) $525 (No Yes Program) - $800ish

Total cost (estimated) - $1700-$2000

We are going in Jan. and this is our plan.

 

[KyleeB]

Is she website savvy? You should check out http://www.couponingtodisney.com

She has a lot of great ideas for saving for a Disney vacation It can be done.

 

[punkin]

Thank you for all the really great ideas (particularly about shades of green. I never thought of that option). I will let her know and she can decide what she wants to do. Maybe I'll read her some of the responses.

 

[nunzia]

How about taking the train? I know someone mentioned the auto train, but I don't know if that is more than the regular train. We find train travel to be VERY economical. $226 round trip from Albuquerque to Disneyland for 2 adults..kids tickets are half of what adults are. You can buy the tickets 11 months out to lock in a lower price. How about renting DVC points and staying in a studio? Then she'd have a microwave and toaster as well as little frig to help out with food. I agree...ask everyone to give gift cards for gifts and she can spend the next 2 years doing survey sites, etc. I've gotten $300 in Disney gift cards from Sunshine Rewards in about that time with not much effort..can she ebay a bit and be sure and put all extra money in a fund? Doesn't Getaway Today offer payment plans? That could help. It can be done..it just takes a lot of dedication and sacrifice on daily living little splurges.

 

[prncess674]

It sounds like your friends wants to go, but isn't really interested in saving up for such an expense. I want to take a cruise down the Nile River, but I am not willing to save up the $10K it would take to get there. You mention the oldest is getting ready to have a Batmitzvah. How much are they spending on that party? Where else are they not budgeting appropriately. Ways to save on the Disney vacation are great and the DIS folks here have given some great options, but I think realistically this family needs to look at how they are spending money on day to day things to figure out where to get the money.

Has your friend done any research on Disney? Is she prepared to do frugal Disney such as breakfast in room and a PB&J packed in knap sack or is she one of those who is going to get down there and see the vast of array of food and souvenir choices and just blow the budget.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If the husband is retired military that puts major changes to the picture.

He would be eligible for stay at Shades of Green. The rooms there are much larger than value and easily sleep five. He can check with them to see what it would cost (pricing rank-based) and also when they have promotional rates, which they do from time to time.

Likewise, there may be special military promotional ticket prices. Even if not, tickets bought at SoG are discounted but also are not subject to the 6.5% Sales Tax.

And also there is the possibility of AmTrak. There are often very good deals on trains between New York and Orlando (or Kissimmee). Much less than air fare it is possible to sleep on long-haul trains.

 

[punkin]

It sounds like your friends wants to go, but isn't really interested in saving up for such an expense. I want to take a cruise down the Nile River, but I am not willing to save up the $10K it would take to get there. You know, I'm beginning to think you are right. Everything I mentioned to her (straight from this thread), seems to be undoable. She says she's dying to go, but I guess it's not the same kind of "dying" that a Disney-freak is used to.You mention the oldest is getting ready to have a Batmitzvah. How much are they spending on that party? Where else are they not budgeting appropriately. Ways to save on the Disney vacation are great and the DIS folks here have given some great options, but I think realistically this family needs to look at how they are spending money on day to day things to figure out where to get the money.I really don't think this is something I can ask. It's really none of my business. I can give her the numbers and suggestions for saving, but anything beyond that is IMO rude and intrusive.

Has your friend done any research on Disney? Is she prepared to do frugal Disney such as breakfast in room and a PB&J packed in knap sack or is she one of those who is going to get down there and see the vast of array of food and souvenir choices and just blow the budget.Actually, she really is pretty frugal and this is something she would be willing to do.

I think the price of airfare and tickets (when I priced it out for her) really terrifies her.

 

[prncess674]

I think you have done enough for your friend. Based on the responses here she is going to need a minimum of $3K if she is unwilling to drive. So until she has made a personal pledge to herself to save and budget for this trip you are really just spitting in the wind.

 

[DawnM]

I don't know about Shades of Green, but don't you have to be ACTIVE military to get the ticket discount? And, if her DH isn't even going, neither the lodging nor the tickets will be discounted anyway will they? I thought the active military family member had to be there to get the discount.

Dawn

 

[punkin]

I don't know about Shades of Green, but don't you have to be ACTIVE military to get the ticket discount? And, if her DH isn't even going, neither the lodging nor the tickets will be discounted anyway will they? I thought the active military family member had to be there to get the discount.

Dawn

He will be going. I am pricing out a trip for 5. My friend, her DH, and 3 children.

 

[DawnM]

Do you know if he has to be active duty to get the Shades of Green?

Dawn

He will be going. I am pricing out a trip for 5. My friend, her DH, and 3 children.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The transportation situation is the wife does not drive and the husband does not want to do the 1,000+ mile each way drive.

SoG is for active or retired military, and even DoD civilians.

And as far as the Armed Forces Salute Tickets, they are for active or retired, and, if the service member cannot attend, a person with a military spouse ID card can but them. If you go to the locked sticky Everything About WDW Tickets in the TPA&S Forum, especially Post #17, you can get a lot more information. An easy way to get to the sticky is by clicking on the link in my signature.

 

[growinupdisney]

We manage to spend right at $3000 for our trips and that is with 4 adult tickets and 1 child ticket and stay on site.

But we don't fly! If they really want to go someone really needs to drive it can be split up. We actaully enjoy the drive and for us its atleast 12hr. and we drive straight thru and head straight to the park when we get there.

I would also have her ask family members give Disney GC for presents this helps us especially with our souviner $.

I save in a jar all year change and this what we use for gas $.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I don't know about Shades of Green, but don't you have to be ACTIVE military to get the ticket discount? And, if her DH isn't even going, neither the lodging nor the tickets will be discounted anyway will they? I thought the active military family member had to be there to get the discount.

Dawn

No, Shades of Green is for Active, Retired, Reserve, DoD employees, unremarried widows of service members and other Gov't employees. There is a long list, that is why I recommended they check out the Eligibility portion of the website first. Veterans without an ID have certain times they are elig to stay at Shades.

As long as the spouse has an ID card, she can purchase tickets for the family, some MWR/ITT offices on post have tickets, that can be purchased prior to the trip.

My DH is an Active Reservist and I can go to SoG without him to stay and purchase tickets without him with me, because I have an ID card and/or LES.

Suzanne

 

[ilovemk76]

Could your friend take in a child to watch or maybe a few in before and after school. If she saved $100 each week she would have enough to go next summer and have money left over.

 

[elainesj]

If the baby is under 2, flying could come in around $1000 -$1200, depending on how good she is with watching for sales (or maybe a good budget airline nearby?)

food: this could be all over the map. But if she's willing to just do quick service, say $60 a day x 7 days = $420. (Can be cut in half if she's more careful)

tickets: $1000 (YES tix could make it cheaper)

hotel: under $100 a night for Value x 6 = $600 (or offsite)

Total: $3200

So about 3K is a good estimate. Mind you, it can be done for less if she's willing. The two fairly fixed costs are tix and flights. If she gets free dining, that shaves $400 from her costs. Going in late August would be value season and so, cheaper. That could shave another $100 or so.

I did my 10 day trip for $2500 incl tips and $50 in souvies for a family of 4 (free QSDP upgraded to DDP). Granted this did not include plane tix. We got those for essentially free for applying for various credit cards. Plane tix averages abt $300pp in my area so I could have spent $1200 in plane tix.

 

[MamaJessie]

Your friend needs to evaluate how badly she wants to go, Flying bumps the price way up and if her family really wants to go, they can drive. She seriously has two years to learn how to drive if she wants to do her part, or talk to her husband about how much this trip means to her.

Once she has driven that also opens up off site and affordable meals/dining.

I agree that they should ask for gift cards for holidays and birthdays, for the kids spending money, for their own spending money and for any wdw meals. What about what they buy their own children for christmas/chanukah? They can give the children spending money, buy a character meal, pirate league etc. and give that as a gift.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-military.htm#tickets This lists a 4 day park hopper water park and more for 138 each. No tax if they buy it at Shades of Green.

Sunshine rewards is ok, I belong to a survey site that pays out in citibank cards so I can use them on vacation, and I earn the rewards quicker than sunshine rewards.

All said I think your friend can do this if she is willing to put some work into it.

ETA The ticket is 138 for 4 days of hopper OR water park fun and more. 165 for both. Although on a budget trip I would skip the hopping and use the water park fun and more!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Your friend needs to evaluate how badly she wants to go, Flying bumps the price way up and if her family really wants to go, they can drive. She seriously has two years to learn how to drive if she wants to do her part, or talk to her husband about how much this trip means to her.

Once she has driven that also opens up off site and affordable meals/dining.

I agree that they should ask for gift cards for holidays and birthdays, for the kids spending money, for their own spending money and for any wdw meals. What about what they buy their own children for christmas/chanukah? They can give the children spending money, buy a character meal, pirate league etc. and give that as a gift.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-military.htm#tickets This lists a 4 day park hopper water park and more for 138 each. No tax if they buy it at Shades of Green.

Sunshine rewards is ok, I belong to a survey site that pays out in citibank cards so I can use them on vacation, and I earn the rewards quicker than sunshine rewards.

All said I think your friend can do this if she is willing to put some work into it.

ETA The ticket is 138 for 4 days of hopper OR water park fun and more. 165 for both. Although on a budget trip I would skip the hopping and use the water park fun and more!

These are only good until Sept 2011. And there is no guarantee there will be any offer this year and/or if it will be as good.

Suzanne

 

[MamaJessie]

These are only good until Sept 2011. And there is no guarantee there will be any offer this year and/or if it will be as good.

Suzanne

Ooops sorry! Never though to look for an expiration date!