WDW on my budget -- can it be done?

[julirina]

I'm trying to figure out if I can get the cost of a one-week WDW vacation under $4000 (including transportation). I'd like to go in Sept 2012. We're a family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids ages 12, 7, 3 and 15mos at time of travel) and we'd be coming from Pennsylvania, approx 950mi/18 hours' drive each way. What can I do to get the cost down? Staying on property or off? Hotel vs rental home? Flying (from any airport in PA, MD, even DC) vs driving our 22mpg minivan? I would prefer to NOT drive it straight through, so the added hotel cost for one night each direction is a consideration. DDP vs no DDP vs the faint possibility of free DDP? We do not need anything fancy, no bells and whistles -- just a place to lay our heads, a means of getting from one place to another and something to eat each day. If anyone wants to crunch numbers for me and see if I'm missing something, I'd love the help!!

 

[deuceswild10]

If you drive, and won't need to rent a car, you can find some really great off-site deals. Look at Windsor Hills Resort for condo/home rentals. You might need more than 2 bedroom for the 6 of you (but maybe not) and we found some 2 bedrooms there for around $60-$80 per night, depending on time of year. You would also have a full kitchen, which would let you save a ton. Even if you still eat out a lot, being able to do breakfast and some quick meals would be handy. And I don't know for certian, but for all of you to fly, I think driving, even with a stop-over, would be cheaper.

Good luck! I'm sure you can figure this out!

 

[deuceswild10]

I just wanted to add that you metioned driving to DC and then maybe flying . . . There can be some good southwest deals out of Baltimore to Orlando, if you really don't want to do the drive down. If that's the case, and you won't have car, I would look into staying onsite at a value resort.

 

[tzolkin]

You definitely can do it with $4000. We have always stayed on property for 10-12 days and spent less than that including everything (gas, food, etc)

You are a larger family, so your onsite options are more limited.

You could technically stay in one room at POR. It sleeps 5 + baby. But I don't know if you will be comfortable with 6 people in one room. We've never had an issue with our 5, but some people prefer more space.

Your next option would be two rooms at a value or a family suite at ASMusic. We have not yet done two rooms, so that may be cutting your budget pretty close. However, if you're going in September free dining will most likely be offered so staying onsite you would have no (if staying at a value and getting the quick service plan) or little (if staying at POR and needing to just pay for tips) food costs.

Offsite you can get a 3br house for much less than staying onsite. You will need to have a vehicle to get to/from the parks and you will need to pay for food. (You are allowed to bring snacks/food/drinks into the parks, so that is definitely a budget help with little kids.)

We always drive. It just seems like the plane tickets would be half our budget so it's never worth it to us. We drive straight through (about 23 hours). It's much easier for us because our kids will sleep for half the trip. We would rather book an extra night at Disney than stop along the way. DH can rest while the kids and I enjoy the resort and go grocery shopping (if we're not doing the Dining Plan). Then the next morning we're all well rested and ready to hit the parks for rope drop. We also don't do any parks our last day. We usually sleep in a bit, load up the van, and head home. We do always plan to leave on a Thurs or Friday so if we were really tired and felt that we needed to stop somewhere it would not be an issue for getting back to work/school on Monday.

 

[wgeo]

You're missing tickets - which is one of the biggest costs. Check out the thread on this board about YES groups. You enroll your kids in a 3 hour class, which are pretty fun, and my doing so get a HUGE discount on your park tickets.

FWIW - we stayed offsite at Windsor Hills, got a great rate, and for us it saved us money over free dining. With the dining plan, a lot of it depends on your eating styles. For us having a kitchen was a money saver.

Good luck! I think that with a little effort, $4000 is very possible.

 

[HeatherC]

You could probably get an offsite condo VERY cheap. If anyone in your family works for the govt....teacher, town, state, city or federal employee, you can rent condos through govarm.com and getravelop.com for about $300 a week including all taxes.

If anyone is military, try afvc.com.

Otherwise, check out the vacation rentals part of skyauction.com. Auctions start at $1 and the fees are about $200 a week. So about $300 also. Just read the fees first and check the resorts out before on tripadvisor.com.

Another option is to rent from an owner at Regal Palms Resort. It is a great place but a little further drive than some other places....maybe 20 min.? We have rented four bedroom townhouses there for about $450 a week including taxes.

You could also try Ebay.

Sign up for travelzoo.com newsletter. Each week they have best deals on i ternet and Orlando is always on there.

Maybe also price onsite at the AllStar Suites or two value rooms.

For tickets use mousesavers.com newsletter link to undercover tourist for tickets if you don't stay onsite.

If you drive, we have stayed at the Comfort Inn in Lu,berton, NC. They have suites that sleep six with free breakfast. We will be there next month and are paying $82 AAA rate.

Also..if you don't get hopper yickets you can save money. We prefer not hopping because we waste time getting from park to park.

Hope this helps!

 

[cajunbaby1]

I've never rented a house before; but if you go to AllEars.net and i think go under accomadations. There is usually many offers for hotel rooms off property. Also there you wil find the info on the Houses to rent with a link so that u can look at homes/or condo and all that comes with renting. Some even have pools!

 

[lisam427]

would you qualify for a miliarty discount? i would see if you qualify for a military discount or wait for free dining. that would save you a ton. i usually book with dreams unlimited. they are very good at finding discounts so that you can go to disney the cheapest way poosible. a friend of mine last year got a military discount on her room, a discount on her park tickets, and paid for quick service dining. she was able to stay at portorleans riverside for a week for under $2000 and she has a family of five. i usually book with free dining and save a bundle also. have an agent that can check into discounts and see what they can do for you.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm trying to figure out if I can get the cost of a one-week WDW vacation under $4000 (including transportation). I'd like to go in Sept 2012. We're a family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids ages 12, 7, 3 and 15mos at time of travel) and we'd be coming from Pennsylvania, approx 950mi/18 hours' drive each way. What can I do to get the cost down? Staying on property or off? Hotel vs rental home? Flying (from any airport in PA, MD, even DC) vs driving our 22mpg minivan? I would prefer to NOT drive it straight through, so the added hotel cost for one night each direction is a consideration. DDP vs no DDP vs the faint possibility of free DDP? We do not need anything fancy, no bells and whistles -- just a place to lay our heads, a means of getting from one place to another and something to eat each day. If anyone wants to crunch numbers for me and see if I'm missing something, I'd love the help!!

Just for fun, I went to the Disney website and put in a random week in September for a family of your size.

6 nights @POR w/ 5-day MYW base tickets would run $2425.75 at the rack rate. Add a QS dining package and it jumps to $3199.45 But if you can this room with free dining, you will only pay the $2425 price. Even if it's cramped, I would say that the trundle bed room at POR during free dining might be the cheapest option for your family.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'd vote for the room at POR,since it's onsite (awesome) and you mentioned you're not worried about 'frills'...... it might be tight, but you;d have a blast!
don't buy a dining plan, it's way too much money,and you'll do better by keeping a jug of milk in your fridge at POR,and feeding the kids cereal in the a.m.- but counter service meals on your own,letting the smaller kids,share,etc,and you will get by for MUCH less.....
Driving is probably your cheapest option for that many people- plus you'll have the car if you decide to drive to a park,and avoid bus lines.... but you can always use the buses too,if you prefer!
I 2nd the idea of yes tickets for the family- check for homeschool days dates -they sometimes have open enrollment in Sept. and the tix are discounted (a lot) or you can set up a class thru the YES program yourself and recruit a few more kids to join here on disboards- (be aware that the class offerings age groups are quite 'loose' older,younger together usually works pretty well,and the kids have fun)
I think it's do-able- we've done trips like this before,and staying onsite,for us was priceless in terms of memories!

 

[julirina]

Thank you all SO MUCH for the input. I knew there were DIS'ers who could help! We are not military so there's no help there. I'll talk to DH about driving -- I think he really would prefer to fly so we may need to cut costs in other areas. tzolkin, your driving tips were very helpful and might help me convince him that driving is the way to go. Personally, I dread the thought of wrestling a huge double stroller and tired kids onto the buses, and would gladly spend 18 hrs in the car just to avoid that drama!

I was under the impression that the POR rooms with trundle were really, really tight. Is there any way a pack & play will fit too?

I really appreciate all the help and I'm going to start looking at some of the options mentioned. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[ValpoCory]

Thank you all SO MUCH for the input. I knew there were DIS'ers who could help! We are not military so there's no help there. I'll talk to DH about driving -- I think he really would prefer to fly so we may need to cut costs in other areas. tzolkin, your driving tips were very helpful and might help me convince him that driving is the way to go. Personally, I dread the thought of wrestling a huge double stroller and tired kids onto the buses, and would gladly spend 18 hrs in the car just to avoid that drama!

I was under the impression that the POR rooms with trundle were really, really tight. Is there any way a pack & play will fit too?

I really appreciate all the help and I'm going to start looking at some of the options mentioned. Keep the ideas coming!

I would look into the suites at the new Art of Animation Resort. September would be the "cheap" season, so ~$250 per night. But for that price, you could rent a 1-bedroom suite at a DVC resort. $4,000 for everything is pushing it for a week unless you drive.

 

[bear_mom]

I would try and stay on site if possible, that way you have more options regarding transportation - if your little ones need to take a nap then one parent could stay with the older ones while the other went back to the resort for a nap. I like the idea of POR if you can, it would be tight space wise but if you know going in, and plan a little I think it would be doable.

If free dining is offered, that would be the best, but if not I would aviod the dining plan. I would share meals whenever possible - we are a family of 4 and can often eat 2 kids and 1 adult meal at a CS location (especially if you look for the bigger adult meals). Eat breakfast in your room. Bring snack foods down (I usually ship a box of food down in advance).

Travel - I would plan on driving unless you can find a good deal on flights. I usually find the best prices for our flights about 2 days after Airtran releases their dates - they are usually really high for the first day or two then go down. I got our flights for just over $200 each round trip, non-stop.

Emily

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We did POR once with 5 plus an infant. It was tight, but so are our living quarters at home so it made no difference to us. We also spent almost no time in our room other than to sleep and shower. It was a wonderful trip and free DDP made it even more wonderful. I would think that a pack n play would fit even better between the beds now that the trundle bed is being moved to the wall.

 

[ValpoCory]

If free dining is offered, that would be the best, but if not I would aviod the dining plan. I would share meals whenever possible - we are a family of 4 and can often eat 2 kids and 1 adult meal at a CS location (especially if you look for the bigger adult meals). Eat breakfast in your room.

Agreed on the Dining plan. And also on the breakfast, with one caveat. The first morning is when folks are the most energetic and might handle a Crystal Palace 8/8:30am breakfast. Getting great pictures of the family in front of the castle with a near empty main street is a great way to start a Disney vacation.

 

[ekatiel]

I'm voting for the room at POR, also. I priced it out, too for 6 nights from 9/11 to 9/17 with 7 day base MYW tickets (we've been twice and actually preferred NOT hopping!). It's $2527.83. If you can get free dining (good chance b/c that time period is smack in the middle of usual free dining rates), you'll get the regular plan for your party, rather than the quick service plan that is offered free at the Value resorts-- that's 6 table service meals, which can be character meals, etc! IMO, it's worth the crunch in space. I've never been in a POR room, but instead of using the trundle, you could stick the three year old on the floor in between the two beds in a sleeping bag. Then, you should have plenty of room for the pack n' play. You won't be the room very much anyways! Your flights will likely eat up the rest of your budget, though. For 5 tickets, you'd have $294 left in your budget per ticket-- that also leaves things out of your budget like tips at the table service restaurants (we budget $5 pp per meal, so that's $150 in tips), souvenirs, etc. You might need to look into driving. If you're set on flying, you will probably need to stay off-site. --Katie

 

[Crystal824]

Just keep in mind that POR using the trundle and Pack n Play will be very tight. We stayed at POR last time...just DH, myself, and a baby. It was fine. If we had had more kids, it would have been too tight for us.

 

[mrsklamc]

People's vacation styles vary greatly. I am quoting below a poster with the username "Brian Noble" that about sums it up for me:

I've said this elsewhere, but ultimately, when it comes to WDW lodging, there are three things you might want:

1: To be onsite.
2: To have a reasonable amount of space.
3: To spend a reasonable amount of money.

In general, you can have two of those three, but most people can't get all three at the same time. So, you have to decide which of these you are willing to live without, and which is most important to you. Over time, my family has found that the difference between onsite and offsite is pretty modest for us, but having space to spread out is important. Different families will weigh the facets differently.

 

[mrsklamc]

We prefer offsite for space and find the biggest cost savings to be food. $10 Pizza Hut pizza, canned ravioli, PB&J for lunch in the parks. Giordano's pizza- yum! Some don't want to do any kind of cooking on vacation. Also some love the "magic" of onsite transportation. For me a crowded bus at the end of a day is NOT relaxing, and I am not like some Disney visitors who feel they lose some of the magic by leaving the Disney bubble. We can hop in our nice rental car and be in a spacious pool home @ windsor hills faster than a bus can get an onsite visitor back to their resort. (It has actually been timed.) We also like the washer dryer being available so we can pack less - again some people hate doing laundry at all on vacation, but for us it's no big deal to toss a load in the washer & dryer. (my sister and I would then put all the clean clothes on the home's pool table for people to claim in the morning, and it would be ready for a game in the evening. We go in Jan. so there's time for that in the evening cause the parks are closed.)

 

[ekatiel]

People's vacation styles vary greatly. I am quoting below a poster with the username "Brian Noble" that about sums it up for me:

I've said this elsewhere, but ultimately, when it comes to WDW lodging, there are three things you might want:

1: To be onsite.
2: To have a reasonable amount of space.
3: To spend a reasonable amount of money.

In general, you can have two of those three, but most people can't get all three at the same time. So, you have to decide which of these you are willing to live without, and which is most important to you. Over time, my family has found that the difference between onsite and offsite is pretty modest for us, but having space to spread out is important. Different families will weigh the facets differently.

That's a great way to put it!! Our family chooses #1 and #3 as the most important. --Katie