Trying to optimize cost for my next trip to Disney

[Sorcerak]

Hello fellow canucks,

I received a pin for free dining in october and november that I plan to use. I browsed the different places and would stay in Coronado Springs, 2 rooms with 3 adults 4 kids. Meals are a big ticket item with my family size and I really did enjoy the restaurants on site last time. It's a big part of the experience for us.

Both rooms for 8 nights and 8 days tickets (regular ones) x 7 people , free regular dining plan (1 counter service + 1 table service a day) will cost about $5.5k + Airplane Tickets. I'll probably pay out of my pocket as well to do Blizzard Beach with 3 of the kids for a day, the other 2 adults are not interested and the other kid is too young.

Looked to see if there was any cashback sites for disney vacations but haven't found any, nor was I able to find an offer for free dining on top of a rebate on rooms or tickets. Already got good airfare price through Orbitz I think ($213.60pp Burlington BTV -> MCO)

Can I do better? I do want to be on site and have the dining plan.

Thanks.

 

[Disneylover99]

If you want to save a few dollars, I would suggest shaving off a few days of park tickets. Maybe cut your 8 day tickets to 6 or 7 at the most.

Typically, we don't go to the parks on travel or departure days. We go to DTD instead. Plus you want to go to a waterpark for a day.

 

[Zife]

I agree with Disneylover completely, cut off a couple of days of tickets. It won't save you a huge amount, but chances are if you're there for 8 nights, thats 9 days, minus arrival and departure, minus waterpark day = 6 days, so tose extra two days are wasted money.

Secondly, for flights, maybe look at FlightNetwork.com. If you book, and the price goes down, you can get a website credit for the difference that can be used for future flights, hotels, cars, etc(it's a one time thing, so if the price goes down and you get the credit, you can't get it again if the price goes down further). That way, you don't have to worry as much if you got the best price. The credit might not help for this trip, but you'll have it for any future trips.

The only other thing I could suggest, if you're desperate, is to downgrade to a Value Resort. Or see if any of the other Moderates are cheaper than Coronado Springs.

 

[My 2 princesses]

I agree with Disneylover completely, cut off a couple of days of tickets. It won't save you a huge amount, but chances are if you're there for 8 nights, thats 9 days, minus arrival and departure, minus waterpark day = 6 days, so tose extra two days are wasted money.

Secondly, for flights, maybe look at FlightNetwork.com. If you book, and the price goes down, you can get a website credit for the difference that can be used for future flights, hotels, cars, etc(it's a one time thing, so if the price goes down and you get the credit, you can't get it again if the price goes down further). That way, you don't have to worry as much if you got the best price. The credit might not help for this trip, but you'll have it for any future trips.

The only other thing I could suggest, if you're desperate, is to downgrade to a Value Resort. Or see if any of the other Moderates are cheaper than Coronado Springs.

One thing about Flight Network, sometimes the specials you see on-line, is better than why they see, so you need to do your research first. This I noticed for flights out of Buffalo, my not be the same for flights origination from Canada. Just wanted to point that out. Having said that, if flying from the US, it might be better to do your own booking so you can get multiple credits!

 

[mckelvey72]

One thing in line with shaving off the tickets....lets say you go from 9 days down to 6 and then it just happens that 2 people of the group want to hit the parks for an extra day...they can just go add a day for the same price as if you bought 7 days now. So you can shave it off and decided later. We are going in December and i have 4 day ticket plus an evening of MVMCP. that is what our tentative schedule has us doing...but if we decide to hit another park on a 5th day I will just add it down there. You won't have to pay for a 1 day ticket...you pay the cost of the 5th day.

Not sure if that helps!!

 

[Sorcerak]

Reducing park tickets and upgrading on site as needed is a smart advice. Thanks everyone.

Secondly, for flights, maybe look at FlightNetwork.com. If you book, and the price goes down, you can get a website credit for the difference that can be used for future flights, hotels, cars, etc(it's a one time thing, so if the price goes down and you get the credit, you can't get it again if the price goes down further). That way, you don't have to worry as much if you got the best price. The credit might not help for this trip, but you'll have it for any future trips.

I'll check it out - thanks. Best alternative I had found was having a kickback of $2-3 per airplane ticket.

The only other thing I could suggest, if you're desperate, is to downgrade to a Value Resort. Or see if any of the other Moderates are cheaper than Coronado Springs.

Values have QS Dining meals and not the Reg one with my pin. Upgrading to it ends up costing more (especially with 2 of the kids qualifying as adults). All moderates are very close in price and Coronado has more appeal to me. I already visited Port Orleans as well in the past.

 

[Disneylover99]

One thing in line with shaving off the tickets....lets say you go from 9 days down to 6 and then it just happens that 2 people of the group want to hit the parks for an extra day...they can just go add a day for the same price as if you bought 7 days now. So you can shave it off and decided later. We are going in December and i have 4 day ticket plus an evening of MVMCP. that is what our tentative schedule has us doing...but if we decide to hit another park on a 5th day I will just add it down there. You won't have to pay for a 1 day ticket...you pay the cost of the 5th day.

Not sure if that helps!!

Well, that helps me! I didn't know this! Thanks!