Two-day Solo Blitz Trip - how cheap could it be?

[dwheaton]

Hi. I've been throwing the idea of a solo trip around in my head for a while, and I'm curious about your thoughts. I'm not sure if this will ever happen, but I can always dream.

I'm trying to figure out what the best route would be to do a very short blitz of the Disney parks. Here are the main budget items:

2-Day Park Hopper: $216
Flight from STL on Southwest: $180 (est.)
Hotel: Value Resort (off-peak deal): $130 ($65 * 2 nights)
Food: $100 (est)
Sub-Total - $626

The food budget is probably too low, but it would be all counter-service and snacks. I could get a hotel on Priceline for $30 a night, but then I'd have to rent a car, which would cost more. I also would want to use extra magic hours and not have to pay for parking. Being solo, I might also save time by walking from Epcot to MGM and doing other quick tricks.

Does this budget sound doable? Are there other ways to cut the budget? The killer is the tickets, as you can't find deals on Undercover Tourist on a two-day pass.

I'm thinking that I may need a 3rd night, or i'd be flying out very early the first morning and going right the parks. That's probably the better move, as it leads to two nights. But it kills the benefit of arriving at the park at the start of the day. So I think it might be worth arriving at night and staying three nights, but that goes against the idea of quickly blitzing the parks.

 

[staxia]

well, I don't have all the answers for you... but I am doing a quick blitz trip next month.

I'm flying in Monday night, parks T/W (all day) and up and out early Th, back home to Nashville before noon, and able to work an evening shift at work.. (I might be able to work monday before I leave if it's a half shift, and I'm willing for more spending money...)

I've got my tix covered for both the parks and airfare so that's not a concern... But you're right on the room cost and car rentals. It's cheaper in Orlando to stay at a value and use the magical express than it is to rent cars and get a cheap room someplace. I was looking at that for my trip b/c I also have room points I could have used to stay off property, but the car rental isn't cheap enough to balance losing the magic! lol.

My plan is to take snacks with me, (crackers, nuts, etc) and snack around the world, probably with one full meal for the day (either lunch or dinner) -- and I don't know if it will be TS or counter, I haven't figured that out yet. But $100 sounds good if you know what you're doin'! lol..

Truthfully, my only place of concern for your budget is the 65 for the room b/c that's not taking into account taxes and what not.. PLUS, everything I've seen on pricing, (Mouse Savers rate rack chart) for rack rates on a value resorts during value season have things at about 85/night... that might be where you want to start unless you've got those fancy fandangled codes or pins or whatever to get a better rate!

Good luck! Have fun!

 

[PictureJumpr]

You might look into doing the quick-service dining plan for your two nights - that would freeze your expenses on meals at about $70 and yield four counter service meals and four snacks, plus a souvenir (a refillable mug). If you do the math, it's really a good deal on counter-service dining, especially if you go places like Cosmic Ray's or Sunshine Seasons where you can get 'bigger' counter meals for the same credits.

I had a friend join me for a 'quickie' trip about a month ago, and she got her tickets through the florida children's hospital - didn't save any money on the tickets (it cost her the same as a regular 2-day pass to get 2, 1-day passes) but she did get a $20 voucher for Planet Hollywood with her tickets which she used for dinner. Of course, these were not parkhoppers and so your four-park two-day blitz would preclude your being able to use them, but it was a good way for her to save, in the end, about $20 (she would have spent at least $20 on dinner that night anyway).

Packing things like granola bars and dried fruit/trail mix has always been part of my regular routine, and it can really help shave off money spent on snacks. So can carrying a reusable water/filter bottle - over the years I have learned where the 'best' (coldest/highest pressure) water fountains are refilling my bottles.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

You might want to consider a longer no-expire ticket to add hopping and perhaps water parks. A ten day no expire ticket is $531 at Undercover tourist or $580 for one with both hopping and waterparks. If you split that into five trips, you are paying about $120 per trip for tickets. You would also have the waterpark visits to save for other trips.

It is a bigger out of pocket expense now, but it could pave the way for more fun side trips

 

[dis_guy]

You might want to consider a longer no-expire ticket to add hopping and perhaps water parks. A ten day no expire ticket is $531 at Undercover tourist or $580 for one with both hopping and waterparks. If you split that into five trips, you are paying about $120 per trip for tickets. You would also have the waterpark visits to save for other trips.

It is a bigger out of pocket expense now, but it could pave the way for more fun side trips

And further to this, if you're thinking of several of these short trips, an annual pass may make sense.

 

[sam_001]

hi before became a dvc member i use to buy my tickets first if you do not use them they will not expire. then i will book room only reservation you can always get a refund up to 5 days of arrival then book the flight the flght is non refundable the down side of this plan is if disney has a discount offer you will not get that discount and on the food you will spend about $12.00 per meal at the c/s

 

[DisneyDee27]

And further to this, if you're thinking of several of these short trips, an annual pass may make sense.

It may blow the budget but it will pay for itself in the long run with AP discounts and food discounts.

Honorary Diva
Dee