Disney on a Budget

[Goofyernmost]

I am not sure what your point about the bike is, but I would not recommend trying to bike around WDW, the roads are really not suitable for it.

I don't even think they would let you use a bike. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Goofyernmost]

Keep the trip short and sweet.
Stay at a value resort.
Share a room/beds
Split the price of the room equally.
Opt for base tickets.
Only get tickets for full park days. (meaning if you're arriving on a Sunday and leaving on a Friday only get a 4 day ticket not a 6 day ticket).
Do not get a dining plan.
Eat at quick service locations only.
Get 1 snack per day instead of the 5 you really want lol.
Limit how much you spend on souvenirs.
Do not do anything extra like a dessert party.
Basically go bare bones.

I will make a couple of short adjustments to your list.

Keep the trip short and sweet.
Stay at a value resort. Stay offsite where everything including meals is much less expensive.
If flying there pool money and rent a car, it isn't all that expensive to do that.
Share a room/beds
Split the price of the room equally.
Opt for base tickets.
Only get tickets for full park days. (meaning if you're arriving on a Sunday and leaving on a Friday only get a 4 day ticket not a 6 day ticket).
Do not get a dining plan. If staying offsite it is not available anyway.
Eat at quick service locations only.
Get 1 snack per day instead of the 5 you really want lol.
Limit how much you spend on souvenirs. Don't buy any onsite, every store offsite has legitimate Disney, less then half price.
All they ever do is collect dust anyway.
Do not do anything extra like a dessert party.
Basically go bare bones.

The original list is quite good, however, to go bare bones and still have a great time do not lock yourself onsite. Unless you don't eat, nothing, and I mean nothing, in WDW is inexpensive. Nothing!

 

[Trackmaster]

I am not sure what your point about the bike is, but I would not recommend trying to bike around WDW, the roads are really not suitable for it.

Disney is firmly against biking... unfortunately. There are no bike racks, and they'll remove the bike if its tied to anything. I really wish that the Disney would create a bike sharing program and equip the resort with bike lanes (maybe not allow you to bring your own, but all the bike-share type bikes that you see in cities). They could call them Magic Bikes. It would sure beat waiting for buses.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I will make a couple of short adjustments to your list.

Keep the trip short and sweet.
Stay at a value resort. Stay offsite where everything including meals is much less expensive.
If flying there pool money and rent a car, it isn't all that expensive to do that.
Share a room/beds
Split the price of the room equally.
Opt for base tickets.
Only get tickets for full park days. (meaning if you're arriving on a Sunday and leaving on a Friday only get a 4 day ticket not a 6 day ticket).
Do not get a dining plan. If staying offsite it is not available anyway.
Eat at quick service locations only.
Get 1 snack per day instead of the 5 you really want lol.
Limit how much you spend on souvenirs. Don't buy any onsite, every store offsite has legitimate Disney, less then half price.
All they ever do is collect dust anyway.
Do not do anything extra like a dessert party.
Basically go bare bones.

The original list is quite good, however, to go bare bones and still have a great time do not lock yourself onsite. Unless you don't eat, nothing, and I mean nothing, in WDW is inexpensive. Nothing!

I suggest that you just make your own list as we do not agree on several factors.
Also they are in college and may not even be able to rent a car. Many places require you to be 25 or if you can rent younger there are massive fees.
You also failed to mention that there would be parking fees.
If you are going to suggest offsite it should be because they already have cars and planned to drive from home not fly.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I didn't read all of the previous responses, so I apologize to the extent this repeats others' suggestions:

1 - HOTEL/TRANSPORTATION: Save on hotel and/or rental car (or parking) expenses: If you are driving yourself and have the equipment and inclination, put up a tent at Fort Wilderness Campground. It's cheap, the comfort stations are clean and well-appointed, and you'll have all the perks of staying onsite, including Disney's Magical Express, for your free airport transfers. Otherwise, if it's in the budget, share a value resort room with your friends (and after you've booked, keep watching the WDW "Special Offers" web page for room discounts that could be retroactively applied). Failing that, find an inexpensive hotel that is just off-property and that has decently-rated shuttle service to/from the parks (or a vacation home rental, if you have your own vehicle(s)), and factor in extra money for airport transfers (if needed) and/or hotel parking charges or parking at the parks (if applicable) to see if going offsite is really going to save you money in the long run. (Also, consider whether the onsite perks like earlier Fastpass access and Extra Magic Hours have sufficient value that they're worth any added cost, particularly since you're visiting during a crowded time of year. For me, if I'm going to spend extra money on any area of a Disney vacation, it's this one: I'd rather pay a little more to spend less time in lines, even if I have to cut corners elsewhere to afford being onsite.)

2 - TICKETS: Purchase magic-your-way (non-hopper) tickets from an authorized reseller like Undercover Tourist, which will save you a few bucks over the gate price. You can link them to your My Disney Experience account and proceed as usual.

3 - SOUVENIRS: Don't buy souvenirs in the parks. If you want a memento of the trip, buy a clearance T-shirt from the Disney Store website or at your local Box Lunch and pack it to wear in the parks. If you plan to meet characters, bring a blank journal book (you can find them at the Dollar Store) and a Sharpie and get some autographs -- instant, super-cheap souvenir!

4 - FOOD: You don't need to spend a dime on food inside the parks if you don't want to. Pack your own food and bring a refillable water bottle with you. (In all the trips to WDW my family made during my childhood, we never bought any food in the parks. We stayed at Fort Wilderness in a pop-up camper and ate things like fresh fruit, granola bars, canned soup, Spaghetti-Os, pasta salad, peanut butter sandwiches, hot dogs, cereal, etc. -- whatever my Mom could freeze and pack in coolers for the 20+-hour drive and then stick in a tiny electric cooler in the camper after we arrived, supplemented with a little milk and bread from the Campground general store.) If you do opt to buy food in the parks, stick to counter service or some of the better-priced table service places. (Just Google around for some lists of the best-value table service restaurants; new ones get released by several bloggers every year.) If you or anyone in your party has a Disney VISA, check out which onsite restaurants offer a 10% discount when you pay with the card. (It's not much, but it's something.) If you have a car, venture offsite to "real world" restaurants with typical pricing.

5 - GENERAL ADVICE: Do you have any birthdays coming up? How about Christmas or another gifting holiday? When people ask you what you want, simply reply, "Disney gift cards, please!" You'll never miss those extra mittens and scarves you'd otherwise have received when you're able to use gift card funds to splurge on a round of Dole Whips or help pay for your park tickets.

 

[Vacationeer]

Oh yea, I forgot about the tent camping option.

Lol, thats pretty hard core.

I've considered it myself, lol. I wonder how many guests WDW is tracking that have gone from AKL and BWV to campsite tents? I'm next.

 

[michmickey]

Thank you all for your help! It is extremely helpful!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Thank you all for your help! It is extremely helpful!

I think it would help to get you the best info if you clear up a few things like where do you live compared to WDW? Close enough that driving is a real possibility? And do you have your own car or does anyone in the group have their own car?
If so then offsite could definitely be a viable option.
If you plan on flying then I definitely stick to my suggestion of value resort.

 

[michmickey]

I don't live super close but almost every year prior my family has driven so we would probably drive down. We would have access to car. Also, I am fortunate enough for my parents to pay for my tickets so I don't have to worry about that so the bulk of cost would be food, gas, and lodgings. We will definitely pack our own food and steer clear of souvenirs.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I don't live super close but almost every year prior my family has driven so we would probably drive down. We would have access to car. Also, I am fortunate enough for my parents to pay for my tickets so I don't have to worry about that so the bulk of cost would be food, gas, and lodgings. We will definitely pack our own food and steer clear of souvenirs.

So really you pretty much have it covered to take a budget trip.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I suggest that you just make your own list as we do not agree on several factors.
Also they are in college and may not even be able to rent a car. Many places require you to be 25 or if you can rent younger there are massive fees.
You also failed to mention that there would be parking fees.
If you are going to suggest offsite it should be because they already have cars and planned to drive from home not fly.

Sorry if I offended you, my Queen, but it was because just about everything you said was right on. Sorry to have disagreed with you on the offsite thing. However, just about every hotel surrounding WDW has shuttles. So if they can't get a car then then should look for alternate transportation. I will never be convinced that it is cheaper to stay onsite in the long haul as it is to stay offsite and pay for alternate transportation. It was not a question of convenience it was a question of money and doing it bare bones. Everything is less expensive offsite. Good meals, college student approved hotel accommodations and even city buses that go right to Disney. It can be done and it can be done a lot cheaper then staying on the Mouse Trap and paying premiums for whatever they eat. If that isn't possible then yours will have to do. I wasn't saying it was out of the question I was just saying that there are other options which some believe (me for one) is much less expensive then being confined on property.

There would be parking fees onsite if a vehicle is involved as well. No vehicle no parking charge same as offsite no vehicle to parking charge. It is all factored in and for the most part is still a whole lot less expensive to stay out of the grasp of Disney. Uber is reasonable especially if the cost is split between a number of riders.

Disney is firmly against biking... unfortunately. There are no bike racks, and they'll remove the bike if its tied to anything. I really wish that the Disney would create a bike sharing program and equip the resort with bike lanes (maybe not allow you to bring your own, but all the bike-share type bikes that you see in cities). They could call them Magic Bikes. It would sure beat waiting for buses.

They are far more worried about someone getting killed riding a bike on property. Come to think of it, didn't that happen recently. Seems familiar!

Found it....
Quote from Wikipedia:

On April 1, 2010, a 9-year-old boy was crushed to death by a Disney transportation bus at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground while he was riding his bicycle with an 11-year-old girl.[5] A report from the Florida Highway Patrol says that the victim appeared to turn his bike into the road and ran into the side of the bus, subsequently being dragged under the bus's right-rear tire.[5] The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

@Goofyernmost its clear that you take personal offense to my user name for some reason.
I take personal offense to you constantly mocking my username and belittling my post mostly based on my username.
I believe the most mature thing would be for us to no longer interact in that way and perhaps if we disagree with each other just post what we want and not quote the other person.
I'm hoping that by doing so we can move past our issues with each other.

 

[Goofyernmost]

@Goofyernmost its clear that you take personal offense to my user name for some reason.
I take personal offense to you constantly mocking my username and belittling my post mostly based on my username.
I believe the most mature thing would be for us to no longer interact in that way and perhaps if we disagree with each other just post what we want and not quote the other person.
I'm hoping that by doing so we can move past our issues with each other.

I have never knowingly even responded to one of your posts before nor do I care what you think. I disagreed with two minor areas and reinforced the other ten, I'm not sure how anyone can be more supportive. The purpose of the discussion boards is discussion, that doesn't mean that we are going to agree on every aspect. I responded the way I did because of you coming across like you own the internet. Thus the Queen part, which I know is part of your screen name. It just seems to fit. There is a quote feature in this board because it tells people what it is in reference too. That is a very commonly used and expected aspect of the board and all boards for that matter. So lets just get on with our day. I have no issues with you, this is the very first time I remember even seeing your name, so lets not blow this up into "fake news". I respectfully suggest that you put me on ignore and that way we both can be calm.

 

[NormC]

@Goofyernmost its clear that you take personal offense to my user name for some reason.

Why is screen spellled wrong?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Why is screen spellled wrong?

Because it's an inside joke. Why do you care?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I have never knowingly even responded to one of your posts before nor do I care what you think. I disagreed with two minor areas and reinforced the other ten, I'm not sure how anyone can be more supportive. The purpose of the discussion boards is discussion, that doesn't mean that we are going to agree on every aspect. I responded the way I did because of you coming across like you own the internet. Thus the Queen part, which I know is part of your screen name. It just seems to fit. There is a quote feature in this board because it tells people what it is in reference too. That is a very commonly used and expected aspect of the board and all boards for that matter. So lets just get on with our day. I have no issues with you, this is the very first time I remember even seeing your name, so lets not blow this up into "fake news". I respectfully suggest that you put me on ignore and that way we both can be calm.

Clearly you do not want to be mature. Alright then I see where you stand. Have a nice day.
Yiu thibk I own the internet so I must own you then.
I'm all good I do not ignore people.

 

[Hank Hill]

I've considered it myself, lol. I wonder how many guests WDW is tracking that have gone from AKL and BWV to campsite tents? I'm next.

Camping at FW is not a good option for going cheap IMO, you are still talking $150 a night or more in spring break time for a basic site, no kitchen or place to store food. And if not driving, you would need to rent equipment. I love camping there, but it is not something I do for budget reasons. All stars is $180 or so a night during spring break and would be a much better option for onsite stay for only a little more.

If you really want to think outside the bubble, there is Bill Frederick park at Turkey lake in Orlando, they rent cabins for $50 a night with AC/heat and a grill in front. Up to 10 people per cabin. The bathrooms and showers are clean, just not in or attached to the cabin. Not that far of a drive to Disney either. But I don't see that being great if you have to rent a car though. But if I was driving in with a group and needed to do it cheap, that would be a good option. Ge to sleep to the soothing sound of the turnpike every night too.

 

[NormC]

Because it's an inside joke. Why do you care?

Just curious. Sometimes people have interesting stories.

 

[Vacationeer]

Camping at FW is not a good option for going cheap IMO, you are still talking $150 a night or more in spring break time for a basic site, no kitchen or place to store food. And if not driving, you would need to rent equipment. I love camping there, but it is not something I do for budget reasons. All stars is $180 or so a night during spring break and would be a much better option for onsite stay for only a little more.

If you really want to think outside the bubble, there is Bill Frederick park at Turkey lake in Orlando, they rent cabins for $50 a night with AC/heat and a grill in front. Up to 10 people per cabin. The bathrooms and showers are clean, just not in or attached to the cabin. Not that far of a drive to Disney either. But I don't see that being great if you have to rent a car though. But if I was driving in with a group and needed to do it cheap, that would be a good option. Ge to sleep to the soothing sound of the turnpike every night too.

I forgot the price had been increased so rapidly for campsites. iirc it was only $58 not too long ago.

Thank you for the info for Bill Frederick. We do a couple tent trips every year in NY/NJ and a couple cabins over the years. We have all the supplies but to only save $30/nite it doesn't seem worth it, unless I bring all my friends kids with us and pack our tent site with 10 ppl

 

[Hank Hill]

I forgot the price had been increased so rapidly for campsites. iirc it was only $58 not too long ago.

Thank you for the info for Bill Frederick. We do a couple tent trips every year in NY/NJ and a couple cabins over the years. We have all the supplies but to only save $30/nite it doesn't seem worth it, unless I bring all my friends kids with us and pack our tent site with 10 ppl

The cheapest I see is $91 a night for a tent site, in summer, with no weekend days. But you can fit up to 10 a site. I couldn't see going to the park all day and then coming back to stay in a tent overnight. After all that walking I need a place to sit and rest in some AC.