The planning has begun, help me save $$$

[beglluvr]

LAH,

We booked our towncar about 2 months ahead of our trip, but I would suggest that you book it as early as possible. I believe they took a credit card over the phone, but they did not charge the card... we just paid the driver in cash when they dropped us off at the hotel (they charged us the full amount for the return trip at that time less the coupon from the PassPorter, so we didn't have to worry about paying the driver on the return trip).

We tipped the driver $5.00 each way for DH and myself... he loaded and unloaded our luggage for us, opened our doors for us at all stops and the driver that picked us up at the airport even pulled over and stopped so we could get a picture of the gates of WDW. I think we could've tipped more, but I didn't have the right change at the time.

Hope you enjoy POR as much as we did!

 

[jann1033]

don't think this was mentioned..when you are checking out ticket prices, make sure to compare things like if it's before or after taxes, shipping and if they have any extras you might use (like food vouchers )thrown in. Disney prices do not include tax and I have read all disney stores charge florida tax so on a few hundred dollars that's quite a bit.

 

[bratdeb]

Good Luck on planning. I too think you are better doing it on your own!!!

 

[QJ411]

What I've done to "save money for Disney", I put up ALOT of my stuff that I don't use on eBay! And I've collected quite few dollars for my stuff and it helps me pay for my trip!

Just a thought...ENJOY!!!

PS, I do agree, I personally think you'll save ALOT more if you book the trip yourself rather than thru your travel agent. And I think booking room only instead of pkg deals saves u more $$. I'm a huge fan of MOUSESAVERS also.

Hope this helps! ENJOY!!!

 

[brisnamaw]

I seem to remember hearing different ones mention a Disney Outlet Mall close by where you can buy many Disney items cheaper than at Disney World. I don't know where it's located, but I'm sure others on the board can let you know where it is and how to get there!

 

[k_hase]

We don't even bother with the cooler for food. We bring granola bars for breakfast and buy the mugs for beverages. We either split a counter service meal (sometimes there is a lot of food) or order the kids meals for lunch and then have dinner out, sometimes counter, sometimes restaurant. At most nice sit down places we order to 2 apps and 1 entree to split or even 3 or 4 apps and no entree. Saves money, fills you up and lets you taste more things. If we go to a buffet we count that as all the meals that day (so stuffed!!!) and just have a snack at a counter (mickeybars!!)

Oh, and I vote for the town car. Mears sucks. You wait at the airport, you wait at the other people's resorts, you leave way earlier than you need to on you last day. Spend the money and call Tiffany, they are fast, friendly and there is no waiting. Time is money!!!

 

[lynn71092]

Before I leave the house in the morning I grab a bunch of pennies.Then if something is say, 43 cents I give them the 3 pennies and get all silver back.
This way, all my loose change is all silver and that adds up more.. My 5 gallon pickle jar held almost $500.00!
Also, if you book with a Disney room you can pay for it a little at a time and your room will be paid for before you even get there! Just send a certain amout with each paycheck.
If you can afford it I would get the 7 day Hopper Pass Plus. It will never expire and you KNOW you will be going back! Do you know anyone with a Disney Club card? Have them pick it up for you and you'll get a discount.
Another thing, when checking air fare, check it every day before actually booking it. When I started looking for our Chicago/Orlando on ATA it was over $200.00. I ended up paying $170.00 and at one point it even went to $128.00! It seems like the closer to your flight time the cheaper it will get. At least that was the case with ATA.
DO NOT use Star Taxi/Limo. One of the message board people got absolutely horrible service with it. If you're having a birthday before you go, drop hints that you'd like Disney Dollars for a birthday present. I see you're going in February. Disney Dollars for Christmas presents too!
I also agree, go with the children's meals. Unless you're built like a linebacker this will do fine and you're not stuffed when you go on one of the spinning rides.

 

[Disneycamper5]

Paramount International Tickets is the way to go for Tickets. We got our 5 day park hopper plus tickets from there for $235. There is a $15 order charge. It doesn't matter if you order 1 or 10 tickets the charge is the same. After calling they email you an agreement form which you sign and send back. They then send you your tickets. In our package also included some of the pamphlets from WDW. I will always use them over the Disney store. We also purchased a 5day park hopper pass and a 4 day park hopper from the Disney store. The problem is that they do not tell you which one is which. While at the counter write on them what they are so you don't run into the same problem that we had using the wrong pass and not having a ticket to get in.

 

[cyndibelle]

Hi there we are arriving the same time you are and staying at the same place....this is our first trip to walt disney world...the kids are soo excited... here is how we are saving money...cutting out some of our eating out nights...selling items we dont use anymore...ebay...i am up to 150 bucks and i still have 3 days left....we got the 5 day park hopper tickets not plus cause we figure we wont be going to the water parks ....we did get our shuttle service through mears cause my mom lives in florida and she is gonna meet us there and bring us our food that we will need..so that helps us out there...

well we can do the countdown dance together...

 

[armywife]

A great money saving idea is to take your old/unwanted "stuff" to a consignment shop. You make much more money than a garage sale. I get my closet cleaned out & save vacation money! HAVE A GREAT TIME! We were there last May & are ready to go back!

 

[dj2]

$61.60 per night is right (that's the rate i got from disney's CRO for pop century this january). hard to find much better than that--especially since it includes the extra magic hour (which is like saving money, since it gives you more park for your dollar).

souvenirs can take up a chunk of money, so depending upon your kids ages, you can come up with some strategies for saving. if they're really little, buy and bring some less expensive disney items from home to give them. they won't know you didn't pay top dollar.

if they're older, discuss limits in advance. also, explain how you'd really rather be spending time on rides and attractions than shopping, and then maybe go to downtown disney on your day for traveling home, when you might not be going into the parks anyway, for them to pick up that one special thing. if they see things during the week, just remind them to remember it for that last day. it also helps them to be sure that that was the one special thing they wanted and not just an impulse. and this way you don't have to say "no," just, "ok you can get it later when we shop." There are HUGE stores at downtown disney that have almost everything, but if there's something that is really only in a park, you can always use their mail order department to get it.

regarding food, my family eats A LOT, so we did several character meal buffets. (~$90 after tax/tip for my family size). on the last day we went to a buffet off-site and were SHOCKED to see that the total bill was about $30! we got so used to paying the big bucks that we forgot that there really are much cheaper eateries off world. if you'll have a car, you might want to take advantage. mousesavers has great links to good rates on cars, and once you subtract the price of getting your family to/from the airport via a shuttle or whatever, it might be worth your while to pay the extra to rent a car.

 

[greendoor678]

My tip is to be a member of AAA.
They offer discounts on rental cars, tickets, hotels.....
They even offer travel agency service.

You also get special reserved parking at the parks w/ your AAA card.

It's always good to shop around and compare prices...
and sometimes the discount is not much...but it's always nice to be able to get a AAA discount if you otherwise aren't receiving one (discount)

 

[westjones]

You can get the AAA if you call Disney reservations direct (the website doesn't have a place to put in the AAA rate).

Also, check out this discussion about the new Pop Century value priced resort:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=429817

We are very excited about staying here! It opens in December and it sounds like it it doing to be a fun place. It should be the same price as the All Star Resorts. This is Disney's newest resort to open up.

I can't help with transportation because we drive. Have you considered driving? For us it is an 18 hour drive, but it is so nice to have the van with us and we can bring all the supplies (food, etc.) we want. We have a travel fridge that can also plug in the room that we bring too.

Have fun planning!
DJ

 

[pjlla]

but I have heard the "Quick Silver" towncar name tossed around here a few times. But before you book it, make sure that it is the best way to go. Just a quick example..... let's say the town car is $100 rnd trip with a $10 tip each way. You make one quick stop for groceries ($20), but figure you will still need to eat bkfst out at least three days. Your total for four people at the end of the week, for transportation and bkfast will be around $215. Second scenario.... you find a cheap rental car for $150/week. You stop and buy groceries ($20). THen half way through the week, since the bkfst in the room thing is working out, you make another quick trip to Publix for more bagels/instant coffee, etc. which comes to $10 for groceries/gas. Your total for transportation and bkfst is $180. It is less $$ and you still have the option of using the car to eat other meals off-property if you want. And you have a car in case of emergency or whatever! If you stay on-site at WDW, you can use your car and park at the themeparks for free.

...ANYHOW... even though this may not be the best scenario for you, it is just to show that you have to do your homework!!

Work up all the prices for your trip, including everything you can think of. Then do a spread sheet and see where you stand.... I did a three page/seven scenario worksheet for our upcoming trip (I know... it sounds anal!!) The most expensive option we had considered (8 nights on-site at POR with the UPH and all meals eaten out) all the way down to the cheapest (8 nights off site at "cheapo" inn, 5 day Park hoppers, non-perishable foods kept in room for bkfst and snacks). The difference between #1 and #7 was a bit over $1000.00. We actually settled on option #6. Not the cheapest, but the best for us (8 nights at an off-site suite that includes free bkfast in the morning, 5 day PHP tix, 1 day at SW, rental car). I didn't really include airfare and other "constants" in the equation.... airfare didn't change no matter where we stayed!!

SORRY TO BE SO LONG.... just trying to be helpful!!.............P

 

[DisneyGal358]

Just a thought - I live not far away from you in Delaware. I have always found that airfare is cheaper (80% of the time) to fly out of BWI than Philly. It is about 45mins out of the way for me (not sure about you) but family and friends have always come through in driving us there to save about $50-$100!! Hope this can help you out!

 

[Kellibean]

Hello,

I'll be at All Star Music the same week you and
Cyndibelle will This is my first trip ever!!

Kelli