Help! 1 or 2 days in March?

[One Lil Spark]

Okay, I need help!

I'm in college and on a TIGHT budget. My bf and I want to try to go to WDW for one or two days over our spring break in early March this year. Neither of us have lots of $, but I am getting bday money at the end of Feb. and we both have part time jobs.

How much do you guys think it will cost us? Can we get park hoppers or will we have to buy individual park tickets? Do you think we can afford a hotel room since it's not peak season? Most of all, are there any discount codes (Pam, that's a question for YOU!)

All your input is VERY much appriciated. If you could try to respond asap. I just need ball park figures to show him so he's convinced to go. (He's not been since he was 8 and he's almost 22 now.)

THANKS EVERYONE! :wave:

 

[Glasgow]

I don't know how much the codes will help unless you stay at Disney in an All Star hotel. However, for the budget minded traveler (as I have been before) you can :

Stay off property for $50-$75 per night
Buy single day tickets $200 (2 days)
Food $100
Misc $50 (there's always misc)
Total approx $400

Not too shabby (2 days, 1 night)

 

[One Lil Spark]

*taps mic* Hello, is this thing on?? :lookaroun

I am thinking we need to stay off property, but somewhere with a free shuttle to wdw.

I know you all are really smart about this stuff. Pam, where are you?? I just need a rough estimate of cost so we can decide by the weekend whether or not to go or if we can afford it.

Thanks for the info Glasgow. I need to factor in gas also for the drive from NC to O-Town. Hmmm...

 

[TIGGER-FAN]

If you only plan on doing one park a day and not park hopping, it is cheaper to buy either a 1 or 2 day one park ticket. Check the rooms at the all stars which are the cheapest on property, if not check some of the budget hotels off property. Only draw back to that is you will have to drive to the parks. Figure any where between $100.00 to $150.00 per day per person if you plan it right. That does not count souveniers. Check the Downtown Disney hotels also. Good Luck

 

[TIGGER-FAN]

If you are looking for free shuttle service, all of the downtown disney hotels have them along with alot of hotels in Kissimee.

 

[RPMdfw]

Originally posted by One Lil Spark
*taps mic* Hello, is this thing on?? :lookaroun

I am thinking we need to stay off property, but somewhere with a free shuttle to wdw.

I know you all are really smart about this stuff. Pam, where are you?? I just need a rough estimate of cost so we can decide by the weekend whether or not to go or if we can afford it.

Thanks for the info Glasgow. I need to factor in gas also for the drive from NC to O-Town. Hmmm...

If you're looking off property, check orbitz.com for kissimmee. I've got a one night reserveation at a Travelodge for $19.96 plus tax (it's my arrival night, then we check into a vacation villa for 7 days when the whole family joins me the next day). Anyway, I've seen some March rates that are in the $20 per night range in Kissimmee. They're not the ritziest of hotels, but in my experience Cendant Corporation (Which owns Days Inn, TraveLodge, Howard Johnson's etc) provides a clean no-frills room (I've stayed at Days Inn in Kissimmee before and it was quite pleasant)

Hope this helps.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

According to what I'm finding, Peak Season is Feb 13 to April 26.

Rack rates at All Stars are $109. You best bet is definitely off-site.

If you're driving from NC, you will have a car, so shuttle service shouldn't be a huge factor in your decision. (Plus, I've heard that non-Disney shuttles aren't the best)

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Sparky...you might wanna try out the DD hotels...walking distance to Downtown and they have free shuttle service to all parks. (Disney parks) (At max...it's about a 10minute walk from the furthest hotel to Downtown).

http://www.downtowndisneyhotels.com/

Have fun :wave: (I might be down there too...hmmm...that might be awkward :lol: )

 

[One Lil Spark]

Originally posted by WDWFREAK53
Sparky...you might wanna try out the DD hotels...walking distance to Downtown and they have free shuttle service to all parks. (Disney parks) (At max...it's about a 10minute walk from the furthest hotel to Downtown).

http://www.downtowndisneyhotels.com/

Have fun :wave: (I might be down there too...hmmm...that might be awkward :lol: )

Nah! That wouldn't be akward! lol: )! I think it would be kinda cool. That way Jason would not have to wonder about what we did when we met b/c he'd be there!! Make sense??

I am leaning towards staying on International Dr. for 50 bucks a night... still looking for cheaper. Is this too far away for just one or two days??

Now, all I need to do is convince my dad to let his 20 year old daughter stay in a hotel room with her bf who is 22 for a few nights a few states away. Not gonna happen I believe. Too bad he doesn't realize that we're in college and if I wanted to spend the night with him, I could any night of the week... ugh... nevermind, no need to vent!!

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hey One Lil Spark, not to totally stick up for your Dad but if you are in college the appearance is one thing. If you are actually going away with and staying in a hotel room with a guy, parents tend to get very antsy. There is no way they can ignore that!! I know what you are saying though, but parents always have a hard time when the kids grow up!!! Think of it as growing pains for your parents!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:
As an alternate and maybe cheaper plan for you, why dont you invite the families to go with you? My Mom is usually into a trip to Disney and she is a good roommate. If the families go maybe the parents will pay for some of the hotel cost, or offer to pay for onsite? Belle

 

[One Lil Spark]

Originally posted by wannabeBelle
Hey One Lil Spark, not to totally stick up for your Dad but if you are in college the appearance is one thing. If you are actually going away with and staying in a hotel room with a guy, parents tend to get very antsy. There is no way they can ignore that!! I know what you are saying though, but parents always have a hard time when the kids grow up!!! Think of it as growing pains for your parents!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:
As an alternate and maybe cheaper plan for you, why dont you invite the families to go with you? My Mom is usually into a trip to Disney and she is a good roommate. If the families go maybe the parents will pay for some of the hotel cost, or offer to pay for onsite? Belle

Well, the whole family is going in June. We have 4 kids in our family and I am the oldest. The one closest to me is only 13, so they all are kinda still in that childhood "egoscentric" phase. If I invite a parent to go, they'll throw a FIT saying they should go too! Maybe if we bring more people... I'll have to look into that. Like some friends or his sister or something.

I see what you are saying totally though! My dad is like my best friend, but he still wants to believe I'm his young, naive baby.

 

[Lhriangel]

Dads tend to do that. Last june my now ex wanted to take me somewhere for my bday but we sorta decided against that because I was afraid of my parents since I know what they would think.

Trying to get more people to go is the best idea!

 

[One Lil Spark]

I've invited his sister who is my age to go. She'll tell me tomorrow if she can go. It's looking better and better!! :sohappy:

 

[katilsu]

I'm in college too and therefore did Disney for relatively cheap. We went in December (best time by far to go is after finals in December, crowds are nonexistant). Anyhow, 7 of us stayed in 2 rooms at the Comfort Inn LBV on Palm Parkway- which is right by Crossroads (where there are all kinds of restaurants, hotels, etc), and right off property (and excellent location). Comfort Inn LBV has rooms for $35.95 a night. We drove from Louisiana in two cars. Gas plus hotel for each of us was about $80 per person. Check internet rates if booking online and you may save a few dollars per night.

Also, this hotel (as do many) has a free shuttle to the park, which will save you $7/day on parking. If the shuttle only goes to the MK, you can take the bus or monorail to the other parks.

We got single day passes because we were only going to Disney parks for 3 days (plus I had two complimentary passes left over from my college program.) Anyway, it was cheaper that way because we didn't want to hop.

We bought snacks like granola bars and peanut butter crackers and brought them with us to save money on the food in the parks, and made sure to eat a good breakfast in the hotel room each morning.

Your souvenir money allotment is up to you, but what we did to save money was buy the trading pins that are at the Disney Store (you can always find some on sale for like $3) and traded those with cast members so we wouldn't have to spend upwards of $6 per pin, and we got some nice pins as souvenirs.


Anyway, I think that entire trip cost me personally probably a little under $400.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by One Lil Spark
I've invited his sister who is my age to go. She'll tell me tomorrow if she can go. It's looking better and better!! :sohappy:

WOOHOO! I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya

 

[wannabeBelle]

Lil I think that is a great idea!!!! First off the more people that go, the more people to help pay for the trip thereby saving you a few bucks!! Ask a bunch of friends also. And most importantly have a wonderful time!!! You show a great deal of understanding and maturity!! Those are awesome qualities in a young lady!!! You sound like your Dad did an amazing job of raising a very special person! Belle

 

[Lhriangel]

My only concern is that if there is 3 of you that's an odd number and since you and your bf are a couple his sister might feel left out..

(although I can always find someone in FL to set her up with.. I'd just have to talk to my contacts hehe)

 

[wannabeBelle]

hhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm and what about me Angelique?? :lol: :lol: :lol: Belle

 

[Lhriangel]

Originally posted by wannabeBelle
hhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm and what about me Angelique?? :lol: :lol: :lol: Belle

Unfortunately the only single male I know in Staten Island is like 15 and the son of my friend's lol...

but *thinks* I do know a cute guy in Manhattan but haven't talked to him for awhile... the rest are gay heheheh *loves NY though*

Did I ever tell you about the guy who hit on me in central park.. hehehehe... :lookaroun

 

[wannabeBelle]

Thansk for the offer on the 15 year old but 15 will get me 20!!!! I Am a bit old for him at 37!!! No you didnt tell me the story of the Central Park guy!!! Belle:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: