Affordable Ways to Walt Disney World

[kennygman]

You can do what my dirt-poor family did in the late 80s to 90s: Sleep in the covered back of a pickup truck in the sweltering heat! My parents really could not afford the trip, but they HAD to get me and my sister down there while we were kids...

I purchased a Vacation Ownership plan so that my family would never have to go through that.

Refer to the thread on skipping school here. :lol:

 

[kennygman]

Are you a AAA member? If so, you can save around $100 on booking a package (includes hotel, ticket and dining plan if you choose).

Do you have a Disney Visa Card? I know, I know, it's a credit card and credit cards are the root of evil, BUT you can accumulate Disney Dream Reward Dollars on purchases each month and the Reward Dollars can be used at restaurants and shops all over WDW. If you are approved, they usually give you 20-25 Reward Dollars right off the bat, as a 'Thanks.' You can also book certain Disney packages with your Disney Card with NO interest. I would reccommend talking to a travel agent to find out which packages apply.

oooh, and I would also reccomend downloading DING! from Southwest's website, they run special fare sales on seleceted locations weekly. You can also sign up to get their newsletter which has more fare specials.

Hope this helps!

We saved $163 off our trip with Disney Visa. They don't give you 20-25 in rewards in your first purchase though, they give you a gift card that can't be used for resort but can at disney shopping.

Ding! is a great tool if you have Southwest to Orlando where you live. Wright ammendment:fork: got us so we have to fly AA.

 

[pintraderpayee]

I don't know your situation, but if you are crazy...um, I mean brave, like my husband and I you could sponsor a school/church group of teenagers and go for "free." Check out Disney's Youth Education Series for details. We usually take a group of our high school students (approx.25) every Easter break and for every 10 students one adult chaperone is free! For around $400 per student we stayed off-site for 4 nights and 5 days with 4 day parkhoppers passes and a one day pass to the park-that-shall-not-named! The money also covered the cost of diesel for the school bus (husband as driver) for the 930 mile trip from North Louisiana to Orlando. This may not be your cup of tea, but we've done 6 trips so far and it has been wonderful!

 

[WDWPrnces02]

Im in the same boat......Trying to plan a 25th bday in december....

Ive stayed offsite many times...but id prefer on site.....(free bus service, the disney atmosphere...ect)....If your wanting to stick with a smaller budget..stay at one of the value resorts...look into packages!!! it'll include your passes to the parks/water/fun.......Plan one breakfast or dinner with the characters....for the rest of the time..bring munchies (granola bars, bottles of water(can fill them back up at a fountain). Have your kids pick out one big toy/stuffed animal.....or a bunch of lil' nick nacks.....

Or keep taking those special moments with the family/characters on film....bring a autograph book for them to sign.....when you get home make a personal scrapbook of the most magical vacation on earth.....get creative!!!


Good luck...and have a Magical Vacation

 

[kcnole]

1.) Move to Florida. It's much cheaper for Florida residents to do anything in the parks than others unless they have the annual passes.

2.) Go during the value season. It's much cheaper to stay on site during value season, plus the crowds are much smaller by then so you enjoy the parks much more.

3.) If all you're doing is going to Disney then stay at one of the value resorts. They aren't much more expensive than staying off site (About 59 dollars in the value season) and it makes it up when you realize you don't have to either rent a car, or pay for gas and parking.

I went for a week in January. It cost around 800 dollars for my wife and I, but that included everything. We bought the 3 day magic your way tickets and added park hopper on them. We stayed for 5 nights, ate breakfast at the Pop Century every morning and ate in the parks or DTD. I personally didn't find it too bad for a week long vacation and it was well worth it.

 

[prberk]

You can do what my dirt-poor family did in the late 80s to 90s: Sleep in the covered back of a pickup truck in the sweltering heat! My parents really could not afford the trip, but they HAD to get me and my sister down there while we were kids...

I purchased a Vacation Ownership plan so that my family would never have to go through that.

Hey '76. Not the best situation, but I have to say that something about what your parents did must have had an influence. I would like to hear more about what made you love Disney so much.

For me, we grew up going to WDW and staying in campgrounds near the property, until one year we could stay at Fort Wilderness in our camper (late '70s I think). I grew up riding the monorail through the Contemporary, looking down upon those diners that I wanted to join one day. It was nice later when, as an adult, I could finally stay at the Contemporary! Now usually when I go back with family or friends, I bring along kids or friends from church who would not likely get to go, if there is room.

I have to wonder whether it made a difference to me that we did not grow up with that available to us. I guess I will never know; but it is interesting to look back. Either way, I appreciate trying to visit WDW on the cheap!

Paul

 

[disneytati]

I'm surprised no one jumped on this, but this is a point of much debate on the boards from what I've seen. First off, while you can get away with this, it is very frowned upon. I mean, if everyone did it then they would either start charging for hotel parking or just up their room rates that much more.

And second, Downtown Disney no longer has buses that go directly to the parks for this very reason, so if you wanted to try and work this system, you'd have to take a bus from Downtown Disney to a resort, and then transport from the resort to a park. Again, frowned upon plus somewhat time-consuming.

Sorry, I know it's not good... But I just can't afford it.... I also know you have to go to a resort from Downtown Disney and yeah, it's time consuming.. but I just can't pay for that. I usually find the cheapest ways possible, to be able to go up there once a year. And that's the way it has to be. Sorry again, but nobody is perfect.