Where to start...have $1000 in disney rewards

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

And want to head to WDW about the 3rd week of May. My husband wants to do this a cheaply as possible, he is basicly hoping to see as much as we can on just this $1000.(not including airfare and car rental) HA

Now we have a place to stay offsite, if we want to but I am wondering if it wouldn't be better to try to stay onsite, take advantage of disney dining if they have it, magic hours, that new gift card special, package discounts etc.

The only time we went my sister planned it for us and we just paid what she told and went along for the ride. It was a lot of fun, I am sure she got good deals and it was amazing.

So now I have come to the experts, how cheaply can I do this vacation, is onsite going to be a better deal than off?

Any help you can give would be appreciated.

 

[Derby4me]

How long do you want to stay and specifically what dates are you looking at?

 

[NOLA_Tink]

When possible, we always prefer to stay onsite b/c we like being able to utilize Disney's extra magic hours. If I were you, I'd play around w/ your date on the Disney's easy-to-use website to see what you can get for your money. If you do the giftcard deal, you can use that for all of your meals if you only eat at the Disney-owned counter service & table service restaurants.

 

[GoofyFairie]

If you stay on site you won't need to rent a car. Disney can transport you to and from the airport as well as to all the parks. That can save you money. Also, how you eat will change the cost. Table service meals are more expensive than counter service.

 

[mrsklamc]

How many of you are there?

 

[cglaura]

If you really want to save money, skip the dining plan and share meals. They are huge! Check out the dining menus and threads for ideas of prices. TS places are very accommodating, they usually bring it to the table already split for you. If it didn't quite fill you up you can get dessert or a late night snack.

For CS meals, go with one and maybe an extra side or salad/fruit. You can always buy something extra afterwards if it didn't fill you up, but Disney is not going to give you a refund if you can't finish what you bought

Check out Disney's site for current offers:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/

Or if you have AAA, you can usually get 10-20% off room only rates.

Join Mousesavers Newsletter, they have links to special prices from Undercovertourist for MYW tickets (not a ginormous amount, but every bit helps...we saved $22).

 

[JamieW]

This is probably a "duh" post, but you can use your Rewards to pay for your room and tickets (I think). Depending on the number of people in your party, the rewards might pay for most of that if you stayed at a value resort.

You can then use the gift card you get with that promotion and pay for your meals.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I would suggest booking your room on Disney property. Lets say Pop Century to be the most budget conscious.

I priced the new gift card offer for May 15-22 with 2 kids under 10 and it came up $1795....now remember that includes:

7 nights in room
4 7 day park tickets (not hoppers)
and a $300 gift card to spend on food

so you would be paying about $800 out of pocket for room/tix and get $300 back towards spending....that puts you out of pocket just $500 at this point...for food and souvies.

and remember Magical Express is free from airport to hotel and back. So that saves you money too. That seems like an awesome deal for a family of 4 (I guessed...didn't know how many were going

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

OMgosh, you guys are so awesome, even with that limited information I gave you... yes we are a family of 4, we are looking at maybe the 18th - 24th of May... probably a Tuesday to Tuesday... because I hear that is cheaper??? So we would be looking at 7 days.

But I did forget to mention that the offsite place is free... would that make a differance in your recomendation? A family friend owns a place that is about 10 minutes away from wdw (they say), is fully furnished, pool ... but the magic of the world isn't there...

 

[mrsklamc]

Would it bother you to do light cooking on vacation? Throw a frozen pizza in the microwave, run the dishwasher, things like that? If not the free place to stay can also save you a ton of $$ on food.

 

[minnie1928]

OMgosh, you guys are so awesome, even with that limited information I gave you... yes we are a family of 4, we are looking at maybe the 18th - 24th of May... probably a Tuesday to Tuesday... because I hear that is cheaper??? So we would be looking at 7 days.

But I did forget to mention that the offsite place is free... would that make a differance in your recomendation? A family friend owns a place that is about 10 minutes away from wdw (they say), is fully furnished, pool ... but the magic of the world isn't there...

Free lodging...hmmm. That certainly adds a little something extra to things. Ok, so if you stay there then you'll need to rent a car. If you rent a car, you'll need to pay for parking at the parks. I haven't rented a car in WDW in ages, same with paying for parking so I can't quantify the costs (but I'm sure someone will). That would negate some of the money savings, but I'm sure it will still be cheaper than staying at POP. Then you need to figure out how much extra magic hours and other on-site perks are worth to you.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

but the magic of the world isn't there...

Magic is nice, but if it is considerably cheaper, you'd be on your way to returning another time. I'd compare the cost of the room rental at a value to the cost of the rental car, gas, and parking. Also, remember your food budget will be different for your two options, so consider that as well.

If you stay offsite, you may want to check into one AP to get free parking (particularly if you might be back within a year). Also with either option, you can do the "Give a Day, Get a Day" volunteer project to get a one day ticket (worth about $75) that you can then upgrade to the longer ticket you would need (and you can spend your Disney Dollars on tickets). If you are doing the package at a value, you still need to buy a one day ticket. You can save the one day ticket you have to buy with the package and use and upgrade the volunteer ticket instead. The volunteer ticket will expire, so make sure you use it instead of the one you paid for with your package.

 

[Disney-Kim]

edited...I just checked disney website:
4 passes for 2 adulst and 2 kids under 10 yrs for 5 days = $846 , 7 days $870
so your $1000 would about cover passes....and that doesn't even inlcude the car...which could be $500ish....not sure.

I say since you have $1000 Disney money go for the Disney property. It will save you driving, tolls, gas, parking fees, and you will miss the freedom of not having to drive yourself anywhere. I really believe the Disney transportation makes life soooo much easier on vacation. and if you went the way of my prev post....you are only about $500 out of pocket so far...and on Disney property

just my opinion...I feel you lose a lot of the magic staying offsite AND I personally would not look forward to cooking, cleaning up, and making beds all week

 

[Disney-Kim]

oh I wanted to add...Tues to Tues wouldn't be any cheaper for Disney....your still there on Fri/Sat night....which in 2010 is more...but...
airfare would prob be cheaper

 

[DawnM]

I would stay off site any day and save the $$ if it is free. That will free up more $$ for souvies, food, tickets, and more. For us, we would get the water parks and more option tacked on for more fun.

$1,000 is not that much at Disney! Tickets will run you more than half of that alone!

You can also use your Disney dollars at DTD for stores and dining.....we had $150 in Disney rewards and allowed the kids to get a lego set each ($50 each) with it.

Dawn

PS: If you are going during a non-busy season anyway, I wouldn't worry about extra magic hours.

OMgosh, you guys are so awesome, even with that limited information I gave you... yes we are a family of 4, we are looking at maybe the 18th - 24th of May... probably a Tuesday to Tuesday... because I hear that is cheaper??? So we would be looking at 7 days.

But I did forget to mention that the offsite place is free... would that make a differance in your recomendation? A family friend owns a place that is about 10 minutes away from wdw (they say), is fully furnished, pool ... but the magic of the world isn't there...

 

[omghidanielle]

Can you use reward dollars towards the hotel?

 

[mistee]

WHY NOT WAIT AND GO FOR FREE DINING!!! WE WENT LAST SEPT AND HAD A BLAST... WE STAYED AT ALL STAR SPORTS AND GOT TO EAT AT ALL THE FUN CHARACTER MEALS WHICH IS ALWAYS THE HIGHTLIGHT FOR THE KIDS,, FOOD AND CHARACTERS..

FOR US ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EXPENSES IS FOOD SO THIS WAS A MASSIVE MONEY SAVER!!

I AM CRYING CAUSE I WANT TO GO BACK AGAIN FOR FREE DINING BUT I TOLD MY NON WDW LOVER HUBBY THAT THIS YEAR WE WOULD DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO..... SOOOO GOING TO NH TO FISH FOR A WEEK IN A CABIN ON THE LAKE,,, OOOOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!! HE IS ALL EXCITED CAUSE THEY HAVE A BOAT AND KAYAKS TO USE.... WE HAVE A BOAT AND 2 KAYAKS OF OUR OWN

I HAVE STAYED BOTH ON AND OFF PROPERTY AND I LIKE TO BE ON SITE.. I LIKE TO BE IN THE MAGIC 24/7 WHILE THERE...