What is the cheapest you would go?

[Mama Steph]

How much luxury would you be willing to give up for an extra trip to Disney? What is the cheapest hotel you would stay at? If you were able to spend $2000 for a trip in August, would you rather:
a) stay at an ultra cheap hotel, get 10 day base tix and only do 1 or 2 TS meals but be able to stay for 2 weeks
b) stay onsite at POR during FD, with 5 day base tix and stay for 5 nights.
c) skip the trip all together and save for a trip in April.

 

[elgerber]

How much luxury would you be willing to give up for an extra trip to Disney? What is the cheapest hotel you would stay at? If you were able to spend $2000 for a trip in August, would you rather:
a) stay at an ultra cheap hotel, get 10 day base tix and only do 1 or 2 TS meals but be able to stay for 2 weeks
b) stay onsite at POR during FD, with 5 day base tix and stay for 5 nights.
c) skip the trip all together and save for a trip in April.

I think I would prefer a variation on B, and say onsite at a value resort.

 

[Mama Steph]

Our problem with that is that we have 5 people and ASM was actually more than POR!!

 

[mom of 3G's]

I'd go with choice B.

 

[punkin]

I would go with B, but I guess it depends on the cheap hotel. I don't think I could manage a really nasty place for two weeks, but if I got a really good deal on priceline (someone here posted about a ice place they got for $30 per night) then I would definitely do A. C is out of the question, of course.

 

[Mama Steph]

Punkin, do you by any chance have the link to the great $30 hotel thread? I am having a hard time figuring out what is a decent hotel. I could definately do $30 a night!!

 

[punkin]

Sure. Here you go.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2184991&highlight=hyatt

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Have you looked for an inexpensive condo rental for the week? We got ours free courtesy of mom and dad's time share, but in the past, we've rented great 2 br condos with full kitchens for around $100/night. That enables us to cook a big breakfast at the condo before we leave. We can come back for a late lunch and/or early dinner, which really cuts down on food cost. We drive, so we save on airfare and have our own transport to groceries and other locations.

Now, this is the first time we've done this with WDW, but it sure makes for an inexpensive vacation at other places, and it's more relaxing to let the kids go to bed early and then we can stay up and read, relax or watch tv for an hour.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'd do choice B with a value resort (standard room) and the park tickets would be basic MYW (no add-ons).

ETA: I just read that you're a family of 5 so a value isn't an option. OK---I'd stick with POR OR I'd look at off-site places. I've heard that Windsor Hills has some nice rental properties. If you have a car you could easily stay off-site, but consider the daily parking fee when you do your budgeting.

 

[englishteacha]

Hmm...I think I'd do a variation of both...I'd do the cheap hotel, the basic tickets and cheap food, but only stay for 7 days. Then I'd be able to put some money away for my next trip!

Honestly, every WDW trip we've taken has been budget. We've rented a condo, which is very nice, rented the cheapest car we can find, and eaten as cheaply as we can, often offsite. However, if free dining were an option, I might be able to convince DH to try onsite, though we might want a car anyway because we hate relying on buses. There are only 2 of us, though, so a value would be cheaper. With a family of 5, I'd want the space of a condo or rental home.

 

[ajk912]

I will not stay off site, so I would either do POR or save for April.

 

[Momto3Girls&Max]

Several others have gotten the 3* Hyatt Place on Priceline recently for $30 too! There's a thread on the Orlando Hotels section of this board.

 

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

Do you have any children under 3 in your party?
Because if so you can still stay at a value with a max occupancy of 4 because they do not count towards the total!
I'm sure you already knew this, just thought I would toss it in in case you didnt.
But I would def. stay on property.

 

[goofydebi]

I would stay on property, I like the bus transportation. Once I park my car, we usually don't get back in until ready to come home. We always eat breakfast in the room and a late lunch, usually burgers or something back at the room with the refillable mug. I keep thinking I would like the FD offer but really don't want to be tied to reservations, would rather eat what we want when we want, plus me and ds are picky eaters, dh will eat anything. guess I would vote for option b though. have fun

 

[nicki.momof3]

We are also a family of five - we always stay at POR and love it. I would not stay ultra cheap - yuck - I could not do it for a week let alone 2. I would also not do 5 days - to short and I would feel rushed.

I love a TS every evening and I think 7 nights is perfect. I would save for April. Maybe they will have the great 4/3 deal again inteh spring and you will be able to get a GREAT 7 night vacation.

WDW is amazing and we LOVE going but ultra cheap is not our idea of fun. When always have a budget and don't go nuts but I also want to enjoy myself.

April is also 100% nicer than August. We have done both and August is TO HOT and rainy. April is PERFECT.

 

[Mickey527]

I would go budget anytime.
I don't mind a budget hotel as long as it is clean. I have done many budget trips in my lifetime just to be at WDW.
I also own a DVC and will go for the week and stay at a studio, eat cheap and cut down on stuff I buy just to be at WDW. I haven't bought anything at the parks in years, I do all my shopping at the Character Warehouse in the outlets. I have always found something I like.
I have never gone without a car, I either have driven down or rented a car. I have found some really good rates thanks to the transportation board. My most expensive trip was in April-May when I got a car for $238 for 16 days. Most of the time I have paid $8 a day or less.
I am not a bfst eater so I either skip bfst or have a bowl of cereal or tea and toast.
I like any food that I don't have to cook so CiCi's and McD's will do, although I prefer Chick-fil-A. but with a car I do have more options for meals than if I was staying on site with out a car.
I do have an AP but I get a good discount with my DVC.
Check into the price of an AP, it might be about what you will pay for that 10 day. But then you may have to book another cheap trip before the year is up so you can get more use from your AP. Hey sounds good to me!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I would either go for the trip to POR or save for another trip. To me, Disney isn't Disney if I'm eating sandwiches and staying at Motel 6. I go to Disney for the whole experience, food, resorts, etc.

 

[Mama Steph]

I love reading everybody's replies! Just goes to show how different all we DISers are. . Thanks for all the tips and opinions.

Ok, more info for you to chew on. We were at WDW Easter week this April for 7 days. We stayed offsite in a BEAUTIFUL 5 bedroom vacation home with a private pool/spa and gameroom. There were 9 of us including dh and I and our 5 kids ages 5-14 and my parents. We ate breakfast everyday at the house and took lunches or lots of snack to the parks. Most days we went back for a late afternoon break and had dinner. We bought an ice cream every day, had a couple of cs lunches and only ate out one night, at Boma.

Last year we did 1 day at the MK during spring break and stayed the nights before and after at Celebrity Resorts.

This years trip was wonderful and having the house seemed like a splurge. We have never stayed onsite and I am kind of afraid to do so since I think I will have a hard time ever staying offsite again!

We typically do not plan our trips too far ahead of time either so my options will be limited.

My parents live in Jacksonville and I take the kids down every year for spring break (dh usually stays home to work). Now that I'm becoming a Dis addict I will have to figure out how to work it in whenever I am there.

Lastly, if I go in August, it will only be me and the 4 younger kids (5-10) since ds has football and dh will be working. My mom will spend sometime with us which will work well when I want to do thrill rides with the 3 older kids.

I would LOVE to be able to upgrade to APs for the 5 of us since we'll most likely be there in April and I would sneak in another trip in the summer before the expire. I just don't know if there is any possible way to work that into the budget. I work in the school so I am almost done being paid for the year. If I put everything aside from that, I'll have about $1650 but I doubt dh will go for that. Lol

Anyway....so how's that for more info than you needed?