WDW on $1600

[Brancaneve]

Did anyone see the Travel Channel show WDW on $1600? They showed 3 different families at 3 different resorts and what they could essentially get for that same amount. Did it seem realistic to you? We have DVC so we can't comment on our experiences but my sister in law said there is no way her family could have come close to that amount!

 

[NHdisneylover]

We have done it for less a bit less than that with free dining staying at both value and moderate resorts in off season (with water park option tickets but not park hoppers). Not including arifare.
I recently priced a week in September for our family of four "adults" (DD12 and DS10 plus us parents). We bought non expiring 10 day tickets on our last trip so if we were to do it we would only buy a one day tickets to get the plan and be able to do free dining. It came to not quite $1300 for 7 nights.
I know from past experience that with the dining plan we tend to only spend about $50 extra all week. This is for two mugs, towels and a mug sticker at the waterparks and a hair wrap for DS. We truly do not get any other extras. So, yeah I'd say it is possible.

ETA we also have about $25 a day for tips. I forgot that but it is essential to budget for. That is almost another $200 so it puts us pretty darn close to $1600. We could do it for less at a value (which are nice resorts).

 

[Miss Ang]

Not a chance that my family could do Disney, on-site for $1600.

 

[palavra]

Yes, I priced a free dining trip this year and for 6nights/7 days staying at avlue, it came to about $1400.00. I live in Georgia and can drive down, so we don't have airfare expenses. So, if we went for like 4 night/5days, we would prbably come in under $1600.00 even with gas prices, souvenirs and tips.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I have a small family, just son and I. We've never been able to do a WDW trip that cheap. The only way I would be able to make it work would be to cut out the things we enjoy doing.

For example, we would have to get pass on the water parks, Disney Quest, deluxe dining plan, extra snacks, ride photos, cut the trip from 10 nights to about 7...

 

[I'mAlittleBitGoofy]

Not a chance that my family could do Disney, on-site for $1600.

I beg to differ. We are a family of 4 and we are going for 7 nights staying at ASMo, (preffered room) with 4 day park pass (no hoppers), and free dining and we're paying almost $1,600. So it can be done at certain times of the year.

 

[noahdove]

If it's the same program that I saw, they aren't there for even 5 days. I thought it was over-priced when I saw it, knowing that I wouldn't spend too much over that for 6 nights...

 

[natnelliesmom]

I beg to differ. We are a family of 4 and we are going for 7 nights staying at ASMo, (preffered room) with 4 day park pass (no hoppers), and free dining and we're paying almost $1,600. So it can be done at certain times of the year.

7 nights, but only 4 days in the park??

 

[natnelliesmom]

I think we could probably do it- but it would be a TOTALLY different trip for us! We always rent DVC points, stay in a 1-BR villa, at least 7 nights. Even with a free meal plan, the bottom line with airfare has never been less than $3200.

If we cut it to 4 nights, stayed at a value and ate CS meals only... or packed food in, we could maybe do it for $1600. That would be really budget crunching.

I don't think it would be much fun at all. I am very glad we can do it differently.
But if it meant sticking to that budget- or not being able to do WDW??? I'd make it work!
-Sarah

 

[disneyjunkie]

I beg to differ. We are a family of 4 and we are going for 7 nights staying at ASMo, (preffered room) with 4 day park pass (no hoppers), and free dining and we're paying almost $1,600. So it can be done at certain times of the year.

It would kill us not to enter a major park each day. There are days we only enter a park to catch the fireworks or a parade (on a water park or Disney Quest day).

 

[disneyfan97]

I'm sure it can be done....during certain times of the year and depending on the age of the kids. We booked a 5 night stay, during free dining for this year and it will only be about $850 - including MNSSHP tickets. Right now, my son is only 2.5, so he's a free ticket to the parks. We also have annual passes, but we are buying a 1-Day ticket to get the free dining. I think with the tickets it was just over $1000 + MNSSHP.

But, all that said, we rarely do a Disney trip for less than $1500 (2 adults, 1 infant) even with our DVC points, airline miles, Dining Plan (not free) and no rental car.

 

[braydensmom]

It is just me and my 2 year old son, who is essentially free (except for resort), and we are staying for 9 days, on rented points. Total for room, QSDP and Park (base ticket) is $1600, and I thought this price was great, but apparently not

 

[PatricenPete]

Our family of 5 (Me, DH, DS - 4, DD - 3, and DS - infant) are staying in POP for 10 days/9 nights with free dining, no park hopping, for only $1733. So I'd say it's DEFINITELY do-able!!!!!

 

[CLR4321]

I did the 4/3 deal at POR for me, my boyfriend and 4 year old DS for $1550 for room and tickets. Airfare for all 3 of us from Kansas City was $550 and we spent $700 on food, souvenirs and extra activities. So I guess if they are just considering room and tickets, we did it for under $1600.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

All three families were doing Disney differently from how I would do it.

First, NONE of them were there for a week. One family flew in and spent either 2 or 3 nights at a moderate. One family was there for 5 nights at a budget. One family (5, not 4) was there for 5 nights at a cabin in Wilderness. They were the closest to what we would want to do, but they did not spend much time at the parks, they were biking and doing the free activities at the resort and nearby.

None of those options really fits what I want to do at Disney.

I do think you can do a budget friendly time at WDW with a family of 4 for a week. I expect we will spend less than $2000 this trip (TONIGHT!!!). BUT, we are driving from KY ($350, including parking), my parents gave us a week at their timeshare (1 week lodging free), and I expect to cook about half our meals. Our only big expense was tickets, and we didn't get park hoppers. If we'd had to pay for lodging, I'd have to add another $700 or more to our budget.

I also think it very much depends on what you want to do. Park hoppers for a family of 4 is $200. I don't need that, but a lot of people do. We WILL spend money on food and drink, not just take sandwiches to the park. We WILL spend money on souvies, though not as much as some people I know. We WON'T do things like BBB, b/c that's not us (and we have boys, but I wouldn't do it even with girls).

I don't think the show adequately addressed any of the above issues. They concentrated on what you could get on a Disney package, and it was at 2007 or 2008 prices - NOT current.

 

[princess momma]

In my experience it's impossible to do Disney for $1600.

It costs the 4 of us over $1000 to fly to WDW. I'm not sure they figure travel expenses into that $1600, but heck I can't flap my wings and get to Florida. If we manage to keep it under $3500 I feel we've done good. I've never gone during free dining, so eating is a big expense. We get snacks if we're hungry - lots of Mickey ice cream bars. The kids get a souvenir or two. I don't want to scrimp on vacation, I'll do that when I'm at home if I have to. If I can't afford a decent vacation I'll wait until I can.

 

[PatricenPete]

In my experience it's impossible to do Disney for $1600.

It costs the 4 of us over $1000 to fly to WDW. I'm not sure they figure travel expenses into that $1600, but heck I can't flap my wings and get to Florida. If we manage to keep it under $3500 I feel we've done good. I've never gone during free dining, so eating is a big expense. We get snacks if we're hungry - lots of Mickey ice cream bars. The kids get a souvenir or two. I don't want to scrimp on vacation, I'll do that when I'm at home if I have to. If I can't afford a decent vacation I'll wait until I can.

We are the exact opposite! We would rather go to Disney as often as possible so even if that means staying in a value, not park hopping, and having to make PBJ sandwiches in the room - WHO CARES! We're in DISNEY!!!!

 

[carj]

It isn't possible for us, unless we can teleport there! Even driving would cost us $400-$500 plus hotels along the way.

Also, I think that it is fine to spend your vacation doing whatever you please, but hiking and doing the free activities isn't going to go over well with my family, or most first time visitors. We don't mind staying at a value hotel or bringing snacks. I don't think that we would consider doing meals in our room because if things were that tight for us, then it is likely that the entire trip is a stretch. Not being critical of anyone else, maybe if we lived closer, I would feel differently.

We spent $3700 last summer for 7 nights during late June. I think that considering the time of year, we did pretty well.

I also wouldn't travel all the way to Florida for 3 or 4 days. I would rather save up and take a longer trip.

Also, we are not ever going to be there during off-season or free dining. My husband works for a school district, I am a teacher and we have 2 children in school. We prefer not to travel during breaks as we find it too exhausting to have to jump right back into school or work. I know that other people do it, but we just don't take the kids out of school unless they are sick. To each his own...

I suppose it CAN be done for $1600 but it probably WON'T ever be done by this family!

 

[trennr]

Haven't seen the show...but I'd say it's doable.

In 2007 my family of 4 stayed in an OFFSITE House for 10 Days...had 7-Day Ticket, 1 set of single day Blizzard Beach Tickets, we even saw LaNouba. For $1,800.

Assuming the show was probably based off of a 4-7 day trip I'd say it is doable.

 

[I'mAlittleBitGoofy]

7 nights, but only 4 days in the park??

Well I didn't include MNSSHP in that. So 5 days in the parks. We're not doing AK this year the kids voted no, lol.