What is the cheapest way to take a disney vacation?

[proud_canadian]

I always assumed we would stay offiste as it would be cheaper. But then we'd have to pay for car rental, and parking, and deal with car seats, and if they have a dining plan again that could save money staying on site. If possible we'd like to have two rooms/suite, or at least a seperated sleeping area as I don't know how the kids will do if we are all in one room. What is the cheapest way to do it??

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

I think that if you are really intent on having two rooms or a suite, it will be cheaper to stay off-site.

 

[RangerPooh]

It would probably depend on when you go. Off season rates coupled with a AAA discount might be better than hoping for free dining during peak periods. This said, I don't know your family size, but the Value resorts would probably be your best bet, if you are a family of 4 or fewer. Or if you are a family of 5 I would try POR with a trundle bed. We have young ones and non-suites have worked out just fine for us.

 

[Justsyd2]

All Star Music has Family suites with a kitchenette for 5-6 people that are very affordable.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/asm-suite-review.html

 

[hrslvr142]

Depending on when you are planning on going you can sometimes rent points from a DVC member to get a nice 1/2 bedroom DVC timeshare. We did this and stayed at Boardwalk one time and just last month stayed at Saratoga Springs which I loved for the closeness to Downtown Disney. Check out the DVC part of this board for more info. When you are looking at $20-$30 a day between parking and a rental car, sometimes it can be just about even staying on site.

 

[squirrel]

Free Dining is the cheapest time for me to go to WDW. It is also my favorite time of year. Still warm but not too hot.

I have mostly stayed at the value resorts. I don't spend that much time in the room. I would rather stay at a value resort and go more often than stay at a moderate or deluxe. I haven't stayed off site when visiting WDW.

 

[Jessje]

Stay off-site and pick a hotel with suites and a shuttle bus to Disney. Or pick a hotel on the 192 and take public transportation (lynx bus) to the TTC. No need for a rental car and car seats.
Eat off-site, esp. nice when you stay at the 192, there are so many cheap restaurants there. breakfast is mostly included in the hotelprice, but to my experience it's a couple of donuts or cookies. Ponderosa has an all you can eat breakfast for 2.99$
If you really want to go cheap you can do this.

 

[eliza61]

I always assumed we would stay offiste as it would be cheaper. But then we'd have to pay for car rental, and parking, and deal with car seats, and if they have a dining plan again that could save money staying on site. If possible we'd like to have two rooms/suite, or at least a seperated sleeping area as I don't know how the kids will do if we are all in one room. What is the cheapest way to do it??

If you want a seperate sleeping area the cheapest way is off site. Even with the rental car, (which you can get great deals on) off site will be less expensive. Also unless you get the free dining, eating off site is a lot cheaper than on site.
For on site, I loved FT. Wilderness. You get a seperate bedroom with a full bed and bunk beds and you also get a full kitchen. We didn't cook alot but it was great in the morning having a good breakfast cheaply and we stocked up on soda and bottle water without having to pay ridiculous park prices for some thing to drink.

 

[Kay1]

You don't say how many days you want to visit the parks, but if just one of you buys an AP, you'll pay nothing for parking.

 

[DawnM]

How many are in your party?

Once we had over 2 kids it was much cheaper and easier to stay off-site in a condo.

Dawn

 

[wdwfan16]

Cheapest way is to drive, stay off-site, eat breakfast and dinner in your room, pack your lunch and buy nothing in the parks.

 

[HunnyPots]

Offsite is not only cheaper but you can get much more for the money. We were able to rent a 4 br home with a private pool for only $76 a night in mid June! We had tons of room, a pool all to ourselves, and we were literally ten minutes from the parks. There's no going back to onsite for us!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Off-site off-season is the cheapest way to go.

 

[mrsklamc]

Offsite is not only cheaper but you can get much more for the money. We were able to rent a 4 br home with a private pool for only $76 a night in mid June! We had tons of room, a pool all to ourselves, and we were literally ten minutes from the parks. There's no going back to onsite for us!

This is good to know. I have never stayed onsite, and it seems like I never see people who HAVE stayed onsite willing to give offsite a chance!

 

[katied]

I own DVC, but I've also stayed offsite. I consider DVC a luxury (not a deal). Staying offsite is the cheapest way to stay at Disney. Oct. 08 I was able to rent a 3 bedroom condo in a great resort for less than $70/nite. There was a good pool with a slide, a toddler water area, and also a great playground.

The rental car was through National - I used coupons and discounts - so that was less than $20/day will all taxes, etc. Yes, I did have a car seat, but not a big deal.

Also, I have an AP so I don't pay for parking.

Airfare down - I normally watch for Southwest Dings.

 

[SandrA9810]

It all depends on what standards you have. You can stay a cheapo motel for 30$ a night, drive down, and eat at McD's every day.

If you wanted to stay onsite, you could go for the DVC points, and then you could add the dining plan to your stay. But any of 1 bedrooms or larger have a kitchenette.

My aunt stays in a condo off 192 by the west end Cracker Barrel for 79$ a night every year. It's a huge 3 bedroom 3 bath condo. There's enough room for them, my mom, sister and 6 kids. Which is not something that could be done at Disney without spending a grand a night.

But they also don't do the parks. Occasionally, we'll take the kids to DTD or I'll take my aunt and grandmother to the parks for one day.

I don't think I'll ever do disney offsite. I love the resorts and staying there, but we generally don't visit the parks when we're staying at the resorts.

It's all possible, it just depends on your standards.