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

[disneychrista]

Firs thing she has to find out is does she even have the money that she can save for a trip. She needs to take a serious look at her expenses to see if there is any thing that can be cut.

I know some like buy the tickets now but IMO this is risky for someone on a really tight budget. If they spend $100's on tickets then don't have the money to take the trip that money is gone.

 

[torinsmom]

If they don;t want to drive and flying is too expensive, the train might be a good fit for them. They could get a taxi from the station to a value resort.

Looking at August for this year, 5 round trip tickets from Baltimore, MD to Orlando would be around $650 with a military or AAA discount.

 

[KCMiller]

My best advice for your friend is for you to strongly suggest to her to log onto this website herself, set up a user account, and ask her own questions. It's a pretty good bet that she might misundersand what you're suggesting, or she'll have other questions that you might not have the answers to but that she could easily ask here. If she really wants to go to Disney, then she should really be on this site herself.

My experience with trying to help friends who are going to Disney but who are NOT on the DISBoards themselves hasn't been good - they either know everything already (not), or get annoyed because they don't 'get' the suggestions. So I've stopped making suggestions, and when I hear that someone is planning a WDW trip, the only thing I recommend is that they come here and educate themselves. That way, I can't be blamed when they 'miss' something, and don't turn into an unpaid travel agent.

Sigh.

KC

 

[eliza61]

The only way for them to go for $3K is to drive. She has two years to learn to drive.

thats what I was thinking.

Op, the problem I have with seriously, super tight budgets is that usually you are so stressed out over the budget that it becomes all encompassing. What happens if a kid asks for a mickey ice cream bar or some one wants a tee shirt?

I like the idea from a previous poster, can she make a little extra money? sell any thing on ebay? dog walk? anything?

 

[punkin]

My best advice for your friend is for you to strongly suggest to her to log onto this website herself, set up a user account, and ask her own questions. It's a pretty good bet that she might misundersand what you're suggesting, or she'll have other questions that you might not have the answers to but that she could easily ask here. If she really wants to go to Disney, then she should really be on this site herself.

My experience with trying to help friends who are going to Disney but who are NOT on the DISBoards themselves hasn't been good - they either know everything already (not), or get annoyed because they don't 'get' the suggestions. So I've stopped making suggestions, and when I hear that someone is planning a WDW trip, the only thing I recommend is that they come here and educate themselves. That way, I can't be blamed when they 'miss' something, and don't turn into an unpaid travel agent.

Sigh.

KC

You are soooo right.

My problem is that I just enjoy planning so much...my trips, other people's trips, random strangers on the street's trips.

 

[5forDiz]

Airfare can often be alot cheaper if you don't use NY metro area airports ( JFK, LaGuardia, Newark ). idk where in NY state your friend lives but she should look into MacArthur, White Plains, Westchester County, Atlantic City, Philadelphia airports. Granted it may be further than an airport closer to home but the savings can often be quite significant. To save long term parking fees at airport maybe they can work something out with a family member or friend who'd be willing to drive them to airport & back home when they return and then they'd reciprocate the favor for that family or friend when needed (such as taking them to/from airport, or pet sit or babysit their kids, etc.)

 

[MamaJessie]

Thought of this thread when I saw this story this morning

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ilies/?CMP=SOC-DLRUSENFY11Q3DLR_SocMedBFB0003

 

[Mickey527]

It's hard to predict airline prices and even gas prices this far in advance but driving with that many people will be the best since they will need a car to get around in order to save more money. but with the gas prices now figure from NJ 4-5 fillups each way and at least 2 fills in FL to get around. At $50 a fill that is around $600 for gas alone. Even with $100 each way flights would be $1000.
Of course booking during free food will be a plus for them if it is offered, again who knows if it will be offered when they can go.
Shades of green is for active or retired military. the key word is RETIRED. Retired military does not mean someone who served 4 years and got an honorable discharge. Retired means someone who put in their 20 or 25 years and retired. I doubt someone who has young children has done the 25 years needed to be retired from the military. So you might want to do more checking on this. I know Shades of Green does offer some rooms for those who have served, but that is in slow times like mid Sept to Oct.
I have gone down to FL on the very cheap. I usually drive but I remember way back when SW offered those $54 flights. I would go to FL 6 or more times a year, it was cheaper to fly there for the weekend than go somewhere else.
I always book my off site hotels through bookit.com. I got Holiday Inn Maingate East in Feb for $23 a night. But I don't rely on the hotel busses, I either have my own car or rent a car. I also know the area very well so I don't waste time driving around, you have to make sure to acclimate them to the routes they will need to get around.
I usually drive down non-stop by myself, but if your friend's husband can't drive the whole way alone you can get a cheaper room using the discount coupons found in books along I-95. They are called "I-95 discount guides" an can be found in rest areas and gas stations and places like I-hop and Waffle House. I got a hotel in SC for $45 a night because my grandson was so uncomfortable trying to sleep in his car seat and I had to stop for him to get a good night's rest. And the hotel we chose had a full bfst bar so we ate a great meal before leaving and didn't have to stop till around 4 for dinner.
A cooler in the car always helps, she can even stock up about 6 months before the trip on snacks like juice boxes, crackers, etc that are on sale. We never drove without a cooler.
A DVD player is also a must with kids. My boys are older and had coloring books etc, but the DVD player is a godsend now with my nephew and grandson. So much easier to travel when they are watching a movie. Seems they don't have to stop as often to go to the restroom when they are watching a good movie. Watch for sales on these, I bought mine for about $50 when it was on clearance at Target.
Food is cheaper off site. they can go to chick-Fil-A, CiCi,s and other family type fast food places and get meals for alot cheaper than on site. Coupons are always good too, but she and you can start stocking up on those as the time gets closer to the trip. Restaraunt.com coupons help but they tend to be for restaraunts that are in the mid to expensive range and not family oriented. Unless the kids will share meals you are still talking about feeding 3 adults and 2 children since the older child will eat an adult meal.
I won't get into cooking in the hotel, I personally think it is beyond cheap and disgusting. I wouldn't want to be next to someone who is making meals in the room with crock pots or electric skittles. Of course cereal doesn't count, but cooking doesn't save enough money to make it worth the effort.
YES tickets will help them if they are still available by then, but I think even Disney is getting more aware of those who are misusing these tickets and they might be cutting down on access to these. Tickets might be their big expense so they have to be aware of this expense.
Not sure if I helped at all but I would think they will need at least $3-4000 for a trip with 5 people in a few years, prices are going to go up, not down so calculate for more, not less.

 

[JENOS]

I will say this ( and mean no disrespect ) but if the money isn’t there then it isn’t there. You will not have a good time and will feel bad telling the kids “NO” all the time when they ask for something. I have said it before that I remember a trip we took and observed a parent tell their child “do you how much we spent on these FN tickets I’m not buying you sh*t” I’m sure that a magical trip for that child.

If she can’t save the money because their budget is too tight then maybe she needs to save for a longer period of time (2014 trip).

 

[lastminutemom]

You mentioned a Bar Mitzvah -- how do the costs associated with that figure into this? (Or are they not doing anything -- which is perfectly fine, just wondering.)

 

[MamaJessie]

You will not have a good time and will feel bad telling the kids “NO” all the time when they ask for something. I have said it before that I remember a trip we took and observed a parent tell their child “do you how much we spent on these FN tickets I’m not buying you sh*t” I’m sure that a magical trip for that child.

That is TERRIBLE that someone said that to their kids but I think you can go without buying the kids trinkets. The two times we went the kids have a small spending money budget and are fine with it. The kids know we aren't there to shop, we go to enjoy wdw.

 

[JENOS]

That is TERRIBLE that someone said that to their kids but I think you can go without buying the kids trinkets. The two times we went the kids have a small spending money budget and are fine with it. The kids know we aren't there to shop, we go to enjoy wdw.

Having a budget (regardless of size) for a trinket or two is my point exactly.

 

[angierae]

If your friend or her DH gets paid every other week, that means there'll be a month or two in the next year where they get three checks in a month. When I have those months I take out only the $ I need to get through the week (since my bills won't be any higher) and the balance of that paycheck goes directly into the Disney fund. That could be hundreds of extra dollars right there.

 

[deakam]

Just priced it out---7 nights--end of Aug--quick service dining at a Value resort for 2 adults and 3 kids is $2567.68. That is with no discounts no airfare. I would say closer to $3500.00 but....you never know what is coming. I always plan on no discounts and save for the highest amount.

I do not spend change. All change goes in a Disney princess teapot. After I book it is all cashed in a paid on the trip. Last time it was nearly half the trip.

She should have her children request Disney gift cards as gifts for whatever they celebrate where they recieve gifts. The first couple of times we went we only stayed 5 nights-Sunday through thursday nights---they are cheaper and you still have 4 full days---one for each park. If she is staying on property it is silly not to get a dining plan. The kids are like $12.00 a day though the 10 year old will be charged as an adult.

 

[deakam]

I will say this ( and mean no disrespect ) but if the money isn’t there then it isn’t there. You will not have a good time and will feel bad telling the kids “NO” all the time when they ask for something. I have said it before that I remember a trip we took and observed a parent tell their child “do you how much we spent on these FN tickets I’m not buying you sh*t” I’m sure that a magical trip for that child.

If she can’t save the money because their budget is too tight then maybe she needs to save for a longer period of time (2014 trip).

We have done Disney on a very tight budget. The little touches that made the trip magical was--believe it or not---little Disney trinkets that I purchased at home for nearly nothing. When we left to go to the parks I would make an excuse to return to the room. While everyone was walking to the bus I would put little gifts from Mickey on the kids pillows. They never asked for anything because they had already recieved something from Mickey. They were excited to see if Mickey remembered them the next time we went. I even put Disney clothing out for the nextday.

 

[woodkins]

Airfare can often be alot cheaper if you don't use NY metro area airports ( JFK, LaGuardia, Newark ). idk where in NY state your friend lives but she should look into MacArthur, White Plains, Westchester County, Atlantic City, Philadelphia airports. Granted it may be further than an airport closer to home but the savings can often be quite significant. To save long term parking fees at airport maybe they can work something out with a family member or friend who'd be willing to drive them to airport & back home when they return and then they'd reciprocate the favor for that family or friend when needed (such as taking them to/from airport, or pet sit or babysit their kids, etc.)

I can tell you from booking experience MacArthur Airport is typically NOT cheaper than the Metro airports. I just booked our Oct trip and it is $40 higher one way and $60 higher the other way...per person! We live 5 mins from MacArthur so for us the $$ we would spend driving into the city or getting a car service is a wash with the higher fares, as well as the convenience.

 

[chris31997]

I did not read all the replies, so if this is a repeat I am sorry

Have your friend get a see though container and start adding change to it. This is something the whole family can do. The kids can make a game of finding change. And this change can be the souviner fund. It is fun to watch it "grow".


The big draw back is rolling it, but her bank can provid the wrappers for it and sometimes a bank may even count it for you if you are depositing it.

 

[klacey1]

Airfare can often be alot cheaper if you don't use NY metro area airports ( JFK, LaGuardia, Newark ). idk where in NY state your friend lives but she should look into MacArthur, White Plains, Westchester County, Atlantic City, Philadelphia airports. Granted it may be further than an airport closer to home but the savings can often be quite significant. To save long term parking fees at airport maybe they can work something out with a family member or friend who'd be willing to drive them to airport & back home when they return and then they'd reciprocate the favor for that family or friend when needed (such as taking them to/from airport, or pet sit or babysit their kids, etc.)

LGA/JFK is cheaper for us 95% than the smaller airports. Also-- White Plains airport is the same as Westchester County.

 

[tripplanner2]

Okay...Did not read all of the posts but here is how we do it. Family of 5, 2 of the kids are adults, youngest will be 7 this trip. I sign up for the Disney Visa and pay for absolutely everything on it. We really only use it when they offer 3x rewards. I also signed up for the SW Visa. Got a great promo where they gave me gift cards for spending money on the card. $500 in gift cards after spending $5k in 3 months. We also got free dining. So with all our spending on credit cards (I am talking every single penny spent) we have $1400 in Disney Dollars. We are staying at POR (family of 5) regular dining plan for 2 weeks. Now we start our trip a couple of days before free dining officially starts so we booked the room discount for those days but are picking up our tickets 3 days prior to the package starting (all legal). Package came to $4k with room, dining, tickets for 2 full weeks. Subtract the $1400 and we are at $2600 for our package. As for air, we currently have 1 way tickets purchased with points and partically on gift card. I still have $275 in gift card credit and will have enough points after this months spending for 2 more 1 way tickets. So I am thinking MAYBE $100 out of pocket for transportation. Does it take a little work, of course, but it can be done!

 

[Bell30012]

I am also pretty cheap. I have purchased trading pins on eBay for next to nothing. Any counter service will give you a cup of water free.

We've done trips where we've spent whatever and stayed in Deluxe resorts, eating in the best restaurants on property. And other trips like the one we have coming in May. My DD8 and I are doing WDW. 4 days/3 nights for under $500 (including driving from Atlanta)