Cheapest trip you ever had...

G

GatorDi

Member
My cheapest would be when my extended family (my parents, 2 sisters & their kids and my family -- 12 of us all told) rented a 5 bedroom house with a pool for a week just off of 192. Beautiful home with lots of space. Beat the heck out of 4 hotel rooms for 7 nights. We brought pre-prepared meals (huge ham, big pot of spaghetti, etc.) that we could snack on during the week after we got back from the parks without cooking. We ate breakfast before we left every morning so that the only meal we had to eat at the parks was lunch. (Not saying that we ate every night at the house). It was so easy and relaxing. I already had my annual pass so it only costs my family $280 for the room (for the week) plus any meals we ate in the park. :)
 
sbkline

sbkline

Well-Known Member
Next year will be our most expensive trip, as it will be our first time staying on property. In 2003 and 2004, we went for about a week and a half or so, and stayed in a Super 8 in Kissimmee, paying around 40 dollars a night. We got 4 day parkhopper passes for Disney, as well as visiting Sea World, Bush Gardens, the beach, etc.
 
barnum42

barnum42

New Member
I had a valid year pass from a previous visit (so no further charge to get into the parks), when I discovered an offer of return flights from UK to Sanford AND two weeks hotel on 192 that included free breakfast for £350 - about $600.
Edit - this was in May 2004
 
bjlc57

bjlc57

Well-Known Member
I can't get there on what you call the cheap...

We have done two four day trips to WDW and two three day trips.. but because we are from Wisconsin, we usually spend 10 days to two weeks on the trip..

we used to stay at a best western that had first opened 15 years ago.. we got a suite and free gas for less then $30 per night..

This last trip was to Holiday Inn main gate east.. (saralargo) and it was close to 50 bucks per night but I got a deal on the 3 day park hopper pass from Alamo..

Still we spend for a family of 4 adults close to $3000 per trip.. and thats cutting it close.. VERY CLOSE..

even if I took my own car.. I couldn't do WDW on less then $1500 with the price of gas..


3000 miles at 15 miles per gallon.. 200 gallons x $3 = $600
six nights of lodging $50 x 6 $300
Eight days of food.. $35 x 8 $280
four day passes $195 x 2 $390


$1570

and we havn't bought a tee shirt..


some one show me a better way..
 
bjlc57

bjlc57

Well-Known Member
I was hoping for a response...

I am bumping this toward the front in hopes of garnering a response..


can any one help me. I posted what I believe are just my basic costs for two of us from Wisconsin.. The costs of food go up to $50 per day if we take the four of us.. and then the costs of the tickets.. :brick: if one of you has any advice I am listening..
 
zjer

zjer

Active Member
This September will be my cheapest. I did a remodel on my house and put it all on my AmEx before I paid it off with a home loan. So two free airline tickets from Southern Utah to Orlando. I am going in September so I am getting free dining and I am staying at Pop. So the grand total for me and my wife (Airline, Hotel, Food and Park Passes) for 11 days is......$1300! Hooplah!
 
CoffeeJedi

CoffeeJedi

Active Member
bjlc57 said:
I am bumping this toward the front in hopes of garnering a response..


can any one help me. I posted what I believe are just my basic costs for two of us from Wisconsin.. The costs of food go up to $50 per day if we take the four of us.. and then the costs of the tickets.. :brick: if one of you has any advice I am listening..
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don't book it yourself!
use http://www.kingdomkonsultants.com/ (the official travel agent of WDWMagic!) or http://www.dreamcometruevacations.com/ (the one i used, the official agent of Inside the Magic podcast) they will absolutely save you money! not to mention things are just so much less stressfull when you have an expert on your side. yes, we all consider ourselves experts, but when it comes to putting pricing together, these services know so much more, and can tap into special rates as well. they're free too! (tho i think disney gives them a kickback)
 
sbkline

sbkline

Well-Known Member
bjlc57 said:
I am bumping this toward the front in hopes of garnering a response..


can any one help me. I posted what I believe are just my basic costs for two of us from Wisconsin.. The costs of food go up to $50 per day if we take the four of us.. and then the costs of the tickets.. :brick: if one of you has any advice I am listening..
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I've never flown, so I don't know much about the cost of flying, but have you looked into whether or not it would be cheaper to fly down?

Other than that, I really don't know of any other way to cut costs. The only thing I can think of is to buy 10 day parkhopper passes with the no expiration option, so that way, if you use 4 days on one trip, at least your tickets are all paid for for the next trip, and it really wouldn't cost that much extra I don't think. But otherwise, depending on when you go, you may get cheaper lodging by staying at a Super 8. We stayed in the one on Vine Street in Kissimmee for between 30 and 40 dollars a night, but that depends on when you go. Food is gonna be pretty much the same no matter what, as well.
 
a2grafix

a2grafix

Well-Known Member
My family won a radio contest in 1980 for a trip in January/February 1981 for WDW's 10 year anniversary. Then in fall of 1981 we won another radio trip from the same radio station for the opening of Epcot in January/February 1982. Free hotel and airfare roundtrip and tickets to the park (and then Epcot) and free meals.

Then a handful of years pass and my family won another radio contest trip in 1990 and we went in August 1990, the D!ck Tracy movie hype timeframe. We stayed at the former Disney Inn (now Shades of Green) and then extended our stay at The Swan for four more days. Two weeks in Disney, loved it.

The first two trips I was 10 and 11 so I had no real concept of money, but in 1990 I understood the concept of money. But all three trips were mainly free and had a great time.

I hope to save the next time I go down to WDW soon because I am a military veteran and current National Guard troop. Shades of Green has some great deals.
 
tink81

tink81

New Member
bjlc57 said:
I am bumping this toward the front in hopes of garnering a response..


can any one help me. I posted what I believe are just my basic costs for two of us from Wisconsin.. The costs of food go up to $50 per day if we take the four of us.. and then the costs of the tickets.. :brick: if one of you has any advice I am listening..
Click to expand...

You most certainly can get to Disney cheaper than what you are paying now! Have you looked into a low cost carrier like Southwest or AirTran? Southwest flies out of Midway and AirTran flies out of Minniapolis (not sure where you live in Wisconsin). It may be a drive to get to the airport but their fares are cheap and direct. If you stay on property at a value resort you will pay between 79-110 a night (depending on the season) and you won't need ot rent a car AND you are eligible for the Dining pkg which can REALLY save you some money. These are all things I am sure Kingodm Konsultants can help you with. Keep an eye out for Disney promotions, they have offered things like kids stay free, free dining, special packages rates. I would say the one thing you can't really shop around for are the theme park tickets, but everything else (airfare, car, hotel food) can be priced out.

I really hope this help!

EDIT: AirTran also flies out of Milwaukee, Moline/Quad Cities, and Bloomington/Normal but again, i don't know where you live in Wisconsin
 
sbkline

sbkline

Well-Known Member
I just did some checking on the tickets and here is what I came up with. If you buy a 4 day parkhopper pass without the no expiration option, it comes up to $215, plus tax, based on 2006 prices. That comes up to $53.75 a day. Now, if you get the 10 day parkhopper pass WITH the no expiration option, it is $343, plus tax, which comes up to $34.3 a day. So you're saving about $20 a day that way. So, if you have the money, you might invest in a 10 day parkhopper pass with the no expiration option, and use it for one trip and then hold onto it for the next one. When the next trip rolls around, you already have the tickets paid for and at about $20 cheaper to boot.

As far as the dining plan, that may or may not save you some money. The cost of the dining plan comes up to $38 a day, roughly, but it only includes two actual meals and then one snack. So it depends on how much eating you do, but either way, I doubt that the money you would save on eating by using the dining plan, would offset the amount extra you would spend by staying on resort property.

Actually, after looking over your original estimates, I see that you are estimating $35 a day on food anyway, so the Disney Dining plan would not save you any money...at least not if your estimates are accurate. And you'd be paying $30 or $40 more a night even at the cheapest resorts.
 
Nemo14

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
a2grafix said:
My family won a radio contest in 1980 for a trip in January/February 1981 for WDW's 10 year anniversary. Then in fall of 1981 we won another radio trip from the same radio station for the opening of Epcot in January/February 1982. Free hotel and airfare roundtrip and tickets to the park (and then Epcot) and free meals.

Then a handful of years pass and my family won another radio contest trip in 1990 and we went in August 1990, the D!ck Tracy movie hype timeframe. We stayed at the former Disney Inn (now Shades of Green) and then extended our stay at The Swan for four more days. Two weeks in Disney, loved it.

The first two trips I was 10 and 11 so I had no real concept of money, but in 1990 I understood the concept of money. But all three trips were mainly free and had a great time.

I hope to save the next time I go down to WDW soon because I am a military veteran and current National Guard troop. Shades of Green has some great deals.
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Didn't that radio station have any other listeners? :lol:
 
sbkline

sbkline

Well-Known Member
Here are the ticket prices for a base ticket without parkhopper option. Make sure to add $35 if you want the parkhopper option.

1 Day: $59.75 No expiration option not available.

2 Day: $119 Add $10 if you want no expiration option

3 Day: $171 Add $10 for no expiration option

4 Day: $185 Add $15 for no expiration option

5 Day: $193 Add $35 for no expiration option

6 Day: $196 Add $45 for no expiration option

7 Day: $199 Add $55 for no expiration option

8 Day: $202 Add $100 for no expiration on 8, 9 and 10 day tickets

9 Day: $205

10 Day: $208
 
sbkline

sbkline

Well-Known Member
The above prices were for adults (age 10 and up). For children 3-9, the prices for the base tickets are as follows:

1 Day: $48
1 Day: $96
3 Day: $137
4 Day: $148
5 Day: $155
6 Day: $157
7 Day: $160
8 Day: $162
9 Day: $164
10 Day: $167

Prices for parkhopping and no expiration are the same as with adult tickets and all prices I just quoted are before tax. And all prices are 2006 prices and will probably go up in 2007. If you buy them now, you will get them at the 2006 price, so you will save not only by buying a multiday ticket, but also by buying your days in advance at this year's prices as opposed to following years' prices. If you buy a 10 day parkhopper pass with no expiration now, and take a trip down and use 4 days, you will have 6 days left to use on your next trip, which will save you on the cost of tickets for that trip, as they will all be paid for in advance. :)
 
Nut4Disney

Nut4Disney

New Member
I once rode my bike to WDW from Kentucky dining on only a bag of M&M's (peanut) and a 2 litre of Fresca for the week, and sleeping in the woods near Ft. Wilderness on a blow up raft that I brought with me. I already had my annual pass that I had purchased the previous year from giving plasma. So I figure that trip costs me about $1.89 ;)
 
CoffeeJedi

CoffeeJedi

Active Member
Nut4Disney said:
I once rode my bike to WDW from Kentucky dining on only a bag of M&M's (peanut) and a 2 litre of Fresca for the week, and sleeping in the woods near Ft. Wilderness on a blow up raft that I brought with me. I already had my annual pass that I had purchased the previous year from giving plasma. So I figure that trip costs me about $1.89 ;)
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pfffffft, amateur
 

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