Those Whove Gone Solo... how much did it cost?

[DisneyObsessive]

I'm planning a trip with a friend to New Orleans for Jan. but i have no idea if he'll be able to get the money together. If thats the case, i might instead put the money toward going to Disney solo (though i havnt run the idea by my parents yet but come on, ill be 19 then, its disney, and its safer than NO im sure!).

Just wanted to know how much it cost you guys, what was the best deal you got, where you booked through, etc.

 

[reedycreek]

it cost me about $2000 solo my last trip, i stayed at the POLY for 5 nights, and that figure includes air from NY, food, and souveniers. i have an AP, so i didnt have to buy park tix. i am sure you can do it for a lot lot less than that, but i wanted to stay at POLY badly so i forked out the extra money. i think my rate was 300 a night or something.

air out of NY was only $179 on song.

good luck.

 

[Simba's Mom]

It can really vary so much. Main factors are airfare, hotel, park passes, and food. Before I joined DVC, it was roughly $1000 for 4 days, staying at a moderate. But my next trip is $190+food. No hotel costs, and now I have an annual pass. So this next trip will be real inexpensive!

 

[Taja]

There are so many variables in planning a WDW holiday that it isn't funny! Disney season (value, regular, holiday), type of resort (value, moderate, deluxe), tickets, transportation, food and other costs vary a great deal.

My trip to WDW last year was November 30 - December 10th (2004). This was during value season and I stayed at a value resort (Pop Century). I also had an AP (from previous trip), and with the old booking system, my room was $55 per night with tax (slightly less, but it's easier to calculate with this number!).

Room: $550
Airfare: $220 (Phoenix AZ to MCO)
Park Ticket: $ 0 (already broke even on the previous trip)
MVMCP (2) $ 80
F&B $250
Car Rental: $137 (compact)
Other: $200

TOTAL $1,437 approximate

I didn't keep receipts for F&B and other expenditures, and the cost for MVMCP is estimated--it's close! My "other" expenditures were significantly higher than usual, as I purchased a new camera--left mine sitting on the breakfast room table!

My F&B costs tend to be on the high side, as I purchase 2 or 3 bottles of water in the parks daily--more during warmer weather! I graze throughout the day, so I purchase produce and rolls offsite for breakfast and snacks in the room, as well as bottled water. I'm there to enjoy myself, not act as a pack mule, so the trade-off is to spend more on bottled water in the parks (I take the first bottle with me and have one in the car for later). I try to eat most of a full meal every couple of days or so, but mostly I graze, which is what I do at home. My body refuses to cope with large quantities of food (normal for most people) at one time, so I just don't go there!

I just purchased a RT ticket PHX to MCO for November this year, and it was $396! Quite a bit higher than last year. I was expecting closer to $300 than $400. I'll be watching to see if a better fare is offered (SWA doesn't charge for changes unless it's a fare increase).

AP room-only rates are blacked out over Thanksgiving weekend (when I'll be there this year), and with the new booking requirements, I wasn't willing to forfeit a deposit if my trip disintegrated during the four months between booking and arrival. So I'm using an AAA rate that is about $94 per night (includes tax) for 8 nights and one night at about $64 (including tax). The reservation spans regular and value seasons.

I still need to purchase my park tickets. The new MouseSavers newsletter came out today, so I want to check to see what is available. I'm planning 10-day non-expiring hoppers, which I'll be able to use on future visits.

The rental car is about double what I paid last year. I'll be keeping an eye out for discounts on that, as well. But everything is booked, so I have transportation and a place to stay. Just hope some of it will be a little less expensive with discount codes!

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I have a trip booked for 5 nights @ POP starting November 28th (this is value season). My total for the airfare and hotel/passes (with park hopping) is $872 (including tax). $200 of that is my airfare. FYI - I booked this with Dreams Unlimited. Food will be extra...

Good luck planning!

 

[lonegungirl]

I just had a solo trip of 7 days mid-June, with a rough total of about $1000. The hotel was around $77, the car was $105, the air from LAX was about $200, and the food and sundries were about $200. I thought food was the painful part, as the portions are so big, you could generally split them (and the cost) with someone else...

As far as the tickets, I had an AP so that was covered. I also had thought I would switch to the 10-day nonexpiring tickets, but I just looked at the prices, and it's about a $9-35 difference between that and the AP renewal price (depending on where you buy the tickets) so I'll have to think on it...

 

[disneyfav4ever]

My trip is in Oct, and this is my budget

Airfare - $200, (@ Travelocity.com)

Room (ASMU) - $800 (Value Season)

Park Tickets - $300 (10 Day Park Hopper Plus)

Food - I'm budgeting $1,000 which I know is insane, but I want to have plenty saved, and I'm doing meals like Jiko, Le Cellier, and Artist Point, and I have two TS meals a day. If you do 1 TS a day or none, and just stick with CS, $500 should be plenty.

Souveniers - Really varies, for me $500, but I'm a big shopper.

Misc - $200 (MNSSHP Tickets, and Party for the Senses - both irrelevant for a Jan trip.)

So I have a $3000 budget, but half of that is for food and gifts, so more like $2,000 for someone who shops less.

 

[jenelope]

In general, my 5-8 day trips have been around $1000-1500 per trip. I'd say that the AP makes a difference in a subsequent trip, but I always end up spending any amount saved on things like food, tours and souvenirs.

This trip is a bit different. I'll have had over a year to plan and save and I am taking full advantage. I'm budgeting $100 per day for food, even though I know I probably won't spend it all ($800- eight nights, half days at either end). I bought enough miles to make up the difference between what I had and what I needed to get my air ($110). I got an AP rate room at Pop ($526.32). I didn't go last year, so I needed to buy an AP (420.68). I'm (hopefully!) going on the Segway tour ($80). I'm planning to go to Typhoon Lagoon ($36.21), doing MNSSHP ($34.90), and renting a car for the first seven days ($189.33).

So, just about $2043.01 not including souvenirs this trip. For the next trip, I'm anticipating a budget of about $1200 for a 7 day trip, but I may do a shorter trip/more expensive hotel thing.

 

[spiceycat]

I stay at my DVC generally.

so that is paid for - or I who charge myself my maintence fees per point $3.01.

I generally stay at OKW - although I have stayed at all the DVC resorts. OKW is home.

Food is a big one for me. I buy groceries they generally are $60 to $100 depending upon what i buy. then I will eat out occasionally. I like the character breakfast. but then I also will buy sourveniors. That can get expensive!!! I always buy the refillable mug at whatever resort I am at.

 

[Tinkerbelles]

for me, I went for 7 nights. I like to do the deluxe being solo, I feel safer

so for me:

Beach Club with AP rate $1824 for 7 nights
airfare $127
renewal of AP $378
spending $1000

and I came home with $100 bucks

 

[DisneyObsessive]

hmmm well being a semi poor college student, im all about the cheapest way possible. And ive never done more than 7 days at disney even with other people, but i dont think id do more than maaaybe 5 days 4 nights. even 4 days 3 nights, if i can pull it off, to cut cost. And id stay at a value resort. and being its in january, it'll be value season which is even cheaper. as for food goes, i pretty much run on one meal a day (dinner!) so those costs wouldnt be so bad!

I'd get a park hopper ticket but i wouldnt add anything else on. Id rather bring extra money and if i decide to go to those extra places, spend it when i decide to. But id hate to spend the extra money on adding them to a ticket and find i dont go to disney quest or the water parks or what have you (i would go water parks anyway, i cant swim! and so they freak me out!).

I'm really trying to see how cheap i can pull this off!

 

[lynn71092]

Doing my 1st solo and this is what I have so far.
3 nights at Pop $257.58 (Hoping for a code to bring it down)
Air fare from Chicago Midway on Southwest $115.40
Hopper Pass (I already have one)
Segway Tour $62.00 (Discounted with Chase Disney card)
I don't need a rental car because of Disney Magical Express, they'll pick me up at the airport, I'll use all the free busses and free transportation back to the airport. Food I'll be getting at the Food and Wine Festival so I'm not sure about that, I'll probably plan $100.00/day just to be safe.

 

[dznyntnh]

It's usually more expensive for me when I go solo, not just because I pay for everything, but because I tend to go more deluxe on those trips.

However, you may be better off doing four or five days rather than seven, cuz when you are solo, you can cover more ground and get more accomplished then when you are with other people. The first time I went solo, I was fine for the first few days, but then found that I was repeating activities and making extra visits to parks. My last trip was a quick M-F trip and it was great.

this time I'm going for seven, but taking advantage of other activities, like the spa.

You should be able to do this fairly 'cheap'if you stay in a value, go at a slower time, eat mainly food court vs. more sit downs.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

hmmm well being a semi poor college student, im all about the cheapest way possible. And ive never done more than 7 days at disney even with other people, but i dont think id do more than maaaybe 5 days 4 nights. even 4 days 3 nights, if i can pull it off, to cut cost. And id stay at a value resort. and being its in january, it'll be value season which is even cheaper. as for food goes, i pretty much run on one meal a day (dinner!) so those costs wouldnt be so bad!

I'd get a park hopper ticket but i wouldnt add anything else on. Id rather bring extra money and if i decide to go to those extra places, spend it when i decide to. But id hate to spend the extra money on adding them to a ticket and find i dont go to disney quest or the water parks or what have you (i would go water parks anyway, i cant swim! and so they freak me out!).

I'm really trying to see how cheap i can pull this off!

It sounds like you and I are on the same page here. I'm not a college student, but I am trying to buy a house, so I'm all about being frugal. All DISers say "do your research" so get out there and get some quotes from TAs or AAA. You never know the actual cost until you start getting some quotes.

 

[spiceycat]

I forgot to give you prices - you should be able to do it for $1,000 to $5,000 depending upon your hotel and if you fly or drive

I can do if for around $240 - but I own DVC (accomodations) and I have an annual pass. - $90 for gas, and $130 for food. this is for a week.

 

[Keebles]

I've never gone solo, but on the last trip I did have a room by myself. The room rates are based on double occupancy, whether it's double occupied or not...just thought you ought to know. You can buy single passes, single meals, single airfare, but another person could stay in the room with you and the price would be the same. But I think that's standard at most hotels, so that may not be a surprise to ya!

Good luck and make sure to give us a trip report! I'm thinking about a solo for next year!

 

[CarolynNC]

I'm doing my first solo trip next month. I really need to escape work and home for a few days and what better place than Disney. The week I started thinking about taking this trip I received email about Southwest Florida Sale and spotted the Swan/Dolphin $99 special. I booked them both. Then they reopened the free dining so I switched to Pop.

$ 96.90 airfare
$322.43 room at POP (3 nights) + dining + one day pass (leftover passes for other 3 days) + airport transportation
$25.00 Garden View Tea @ Grand Floridian
$12.00 refillable mug
$25.00 other dining (I don't think I'm going to need that much but just budgeting in case since I'll arrive at 9am my 1st day and fly out at 8pm my last day.)
$30.00 tshirt for my son - I might spend some on other souveniers but there isn't anything I want or need. Probably should bring something back for my staff but not sure what it would be.

Grand Total = $511.33

 

[Forevryoung]

Hay! You stole my post! This was my question exactly.

I am also a college student. I can't find anyone to go to Disney with me so I will go solo

I was starting to figure on approximately $1,500 for the week (6 nights) during value season. Is this reasonable? Any ideas anyone?
Preliminary Budget:
$100-$140 Airfare (BWI-->MCO or ISP-->MCO on SWA) depends if I leave from school or home
$500 or so for Hotel (value resort with AAA discount)
$380 Park Ticket (should probably go with 10 day plus no expiry if I can come up with the money)
$300 For food (mainly CS)
$50 for Souvies (the trip is enough and I consider KTTK and La Nouba special enough)
$130 for KTTK and La Nouba

Since I am going solo I want to do more "extras" like KTTK and La Nouba (really want to see it). I dont know how long it will take me to "find" the money but once I see how quickly I can save I can book something. I have to go before I start grad school in fall '06 (then I really wont have any time to go).