Still spending a boat load of dough

[Anal Annie]

LOL. Disney has never been a budget trip but what I always try to factor in is "Value" or most bang for the buck and this is where IMO disney rocks.
Last summer we went to Ocean city Md. room was 238.00/night (1 bedroom condo) and still 1 block from the ocean. Food at restuarants was just as expensive (although I will give them better marks for quality. but they have the advantage of being privately owned) and movies and broadwalk activities were crazy expensive (10.00 movie tickets)

Our total one week at the shore ~3000 bucks. easily what we spend at the world and not nearly as much to do.

Exactly why we don't go to OC any more! If I'm gonna spend $3K on a vacation it's gonna be to someplace with palm trees, tropical breezes & warm water!! That's one reason DVC works out to be a good deal for us!

 

[johde]

This year is my year to spend big money. I've been buying longer tickets and spreading them accross several vacations. I'm just now purchase my first MYW ticket. I've been using my old PHP up until now. So, I'm going to purchase a 10 day PH, WPAM, No expiration option ticket and split it across 3 vacations. After this trip though the next 2 will be fairly cheap.

 

[rutgers1]

We went to Cape Cod last year and rented a HOUSE for $900/week. We ate at local restaurants and never felt like we got ripped off. Each day at the beach was free. We drove there, so the cost was minimal, as opposed to what we spend to fly to Disney.

For us, we don't want to take TOO much time away from Disney, but I think a year off here and there, followed by two trips within one AP year (10 or 11 months apart), works out best. Between airfare, transportation to and from airport, AP's, food, and other expenses, we easily spend 2X what we'd spend at Cape Cod.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We would spend almost 5 figures on a vacation every year for the two of us, with DVC, we are well under that, so although we still spend a lot, the savings are very real.

 

[stopher1]

Not cheap, definitely. But well worth it IMO.

I remember so well my mother and grandmother saving their coins and extra earnings each year for our multi-generational family trip to Mammoth Lakes each summer, and the yearly complaint about the rising cost of the cabins (and those were in 1970's and '80s dollars) - and am so very thankful that even though the food and entertainment costs may go up for us at WDW and DL - our lodging is taken care of (and we don't have to cram into a value family suite or anything like that just to be able to go).

 

[ssawka]

There are plenty of ways to make the trip more affordable:

1. DME
2. DDP
3. CC - Use a credit card throughout the year that pays back rewards. We have a AAA card that gives us gift certificates that we use for park tickets. Saved $250 last year.

 

[skoi]

Thank you for the sacrafice you and your family are making for our Country. I hope your DH gets to join you in October.

Janis

Thanks from us too! Dh just returned from a year long deployment to Afghanistan and we ended up going on a trip to the parks and a long-planned Disney cruise without him. The kids felt so bad about going without him, but obviously not bad enough to cancel. Or to refuse an extra trip before Christmas.

For the OP: we're also suffering sticker shock from the price of he park vacation, and wouldn't be going if it weren' for he military ticket deal. We had been planning to go to Hilton Head or Vero instead on points. We've been o HH and loved it, and would definitely go back again.

Julie

 

[jlewisinsyr]

1. CC - Use a credit card throughout the year that pays back rewards. We have a AAA card that gives us gift certificates that we use for park tickets. Saved $250 last year.

This is a big one for us, we charge everything and rack up a lot of cash awards/cash back items.

 

[Donna M]

We don't go into the parks every day, maybe only half the week. Eating most of the meals in our room helps too. I wouldn't want to forgo a trip each year.

 

[ssawka]

We don't go into the parks every day, maybe only half the week. Eating most of the meals in our room helps too. I wouldn't want to forgo a trip each year.

With the MYW tickets, you won't save a significant amount of $$ by not going to the park everyday since each additional day only adds about $3 after 3 days.

 

[ldo]

We buy the 7 or 10 day no-expire and no DDP. We add WP&M, so we get extra WP and DQ days--a 10 day ticket lasts us for 5+ trips. One a typical week's stay, we do not get the dining plan and only go to parks 2 days, DQ 1 day and 1 WP day. We eat a few CS while in the parks and usually have one fancy and/or character meal (LE Cellier this year). We grill out or make a few simple meals for other times. Since we come every year, or more, I actually like to only do 2 parks days and alternate---that way, it does not get boring or "same old thing" for the kids.
WE also have done HB riding at FtW, younger kids-pony rides, roasted hot dogs over bon fire at FtW, watched Disney movies at pool or FtW, archery at Ft W, Everyone always has a great time without breaking the bank. Elaine

 

[Fatalbie]

My AO trip in Oct is shaping up to be the cheapest trip to Disney ever.
My older brother, who flies everywhere for business, jsut gave me 80,000 miles for two round trip tix from BOS to MCO.
DW and I have the same b-day on 10/30 and will take advantage of the "what will you celebrate" for a free parks day.
We have about $800 in rewards dollars on the Disney Visa for meals etc...
The studio is already paid for.

I know this is an exception, but if you have rewards dollars and utilize AP or non expire MYW, you can significantly reduce the cost. Add the ME, meals in the villa possibility, and non park days and you get a pretty great vacation for short $$ IMO.

ssawka-I think the savings with the MYW and non parks days is realized when you purchase non expire. We have used the 10 w/waterparks and more for three trips. we get three parks days, a wp day and and off day or two for pool, golf etc....

Jim

 

[Laurabearz]

We bought no expiring 10 day MYW passes with Water Parks and More over the years and have amassed over 30 tickets with a day or two of parks left of them and all the water park days.

Our next few trips will take advantage of the plus's and do water parks and disney quest, then jump over to Universal for rides

 

[DVCJones]

This year is my year to spend big money. I've been buying longer tickets and spreading them accross several vacations. I'm just now purchase my first MYW ticket. I've been using my old PHP up until now. So, I'm going to purchase a 10 day PH, WPAM, No expiration option ticket and split it across 3 vacations. After this trip though the next 2 will be fairly cheap.

We do the same thing. It really helps keep the price down. I have even staggered the tickets so I am not buying 4 tickets on any given year. As my kids turned 3yo I bought their first ticket. Now I only have to buy one ticket at a time when someone needs a new one.

With DVC my family of four can go to WDW for a week with DDP for about $1600. We keep the cost down by driving from MA. and usually have about 200 Disney reward points from Visa each year.

WE LOVE DVC!!!!

 

[starbox]

We spend as much on vacations as we did when we were on a 7-day MYW dining-inclusive package pre-DVC.

Of course, that's for a TWO week vacation, and with two kids over the magical age of ten - when childhood at Disney officially ENDS - we're paying for four adults to dine now instead of two.

We can't stagger APs since I am a teacher and trips are spring break and summer.

The nice thing is, with our AP's, we worked in a long-weekend trip at Christmas staying offsite and with the pricelined DTD Hilton room (180$ total for 3 nights) and the APs - we did the whole trip for less than 500$.

 

[jfinke]

There are some crazy cheap cruise deals going on right now. But, you have to shop around. If you live near a port, you are golden.

 

[SLM]

If you haven't tried HH yet, I highly recommend spending some time there one year. The beach is beautiful, there's lots to do and eating breakfast in the villa and packing lunch for the beach can save you alot of money. We ate out every night and we both thought the restaurants were less expensive than places near us in Ocean City, Md. We have a place there and love it, but if you only go for a week and it rains that would be awful. At the HH resort there seems to be plenty to do and nearby sightseeing even if the weather didn't cooperate..

 

[DisneyWalker44]

With the MYW tickets, you won't save a significant amount of $$ by not going to the park everyday since each additional day only adds about $3 after 3 days.

It does if you get 10-day non-expires and spread them over several trips.

 

[disney4metoo]

You want expensive? Look at the cost of a trailer: tow vehicle, gas, tolls, campground fees, excise taxes, insurance, maintenance... and that's after the initial purchase price which is at least $3K for a fixer-upper!
... Oh, and you need a place to park it when not in use.

I think the only "cheap" vacations you can take anymore involve crashing in on relatives or tenting in a state forest. Hm. No indoor plumbing, heat or AC.

I'll take Disney & my DVC any day. Simple, magical & perfect.
It's your choice if you want to pay for park passes, I believe DVC can be enjoyed unto itself as a retreat. Combine that with driving (I realize most of us don't have this option) and it's even less expensive.

I just got a price per night from a RV park in Monterey, California $75.00 per night for a full hook-up!

 

[Micca]

We bought no expiring 10 day MYW passes with Water Parks and More over the years and have amassed over 30 tickets with a day or two of parks left of them and all the water park days.

Our next few trips will take advantage of the plus's and do water parks and disney quest, then jump over to Universal for rides

This is intriguing Laura. We don't do water parks, but the idea of saving 10 non-expiring tickets and saving a few days here and there is interesting.
Does that make more sense than using the few days remaining on a 10day pass from one trip and upgrading to a 10 day pass on the next trip?