Low on money....but a promise

[disney forever]

Is a promise !!!! Here is my dilemma i want to take my 2 grand kids 8 and 13 yrs old to Disney but cash is kinda short and was wondering if I can go with 3500.00 and that includes spending money for at 6 days and staying on disney property ,any advise I would appreciate thanks and a promise is a promise

 

[loriloughs]

Is a promise !!!! Here is my dilemma i want to take my 2 grand kids 8 and 13 yrs old to Disney but cash is kinda short and was wondering if I can go with 3500.00 and that includes spending money for at 6 days and staying on disney property ,any advise I would appreciate thanks and a promise is a promise

We have been to Disney many times and stayed both on property and off. With the new magic band system definitely better to stay on property. You can book fastpasses 60 days ahead. We have a Disney VISA card that can be used for certain perks. You can get discounted rooms and a free souvenir pic at Epcot among other things. You can even get Disney points to cash in for use at Disney or Disney store. And if you use your card to book Disney they give you a certain number of months with no interest. My suggestion-stay on property at a value resort and get passes for fewer days than you are staying. My daughter used to love just hanging out at Downtown Disney. You can rent a small fridge (or try to get them to sprinkle some pixie dust and give it to you free) and take a cab to a Publix and get things like snacks, cereal and water. (At $2.50 a bottle you can save yourself a ton.) if you are frugal and do research ahead of time you can definitely do Disney with that budget. Have a great time!

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

We don't park hop and have an amazing time.
I checked..
Dec 13th to Dec 19th, All Star Sports, 6 day base ticket, Quick Service Dining plan (2 QS, 1 snack per day) = $1,935.33
Dec 13th to Dec 19th, All Star Sports, 6 day base ticket, Upgraded Dining plan (1 QS, 1 TS, 1 snack per day) = $2,178.33

The more expensive option would leave you with $1321.67 for spending money, transportation, and tips (if you choose to upgrade to the dining plan with table service meals)

 

[HollyAD]

My family went to WDW for many years when I was growing up without much money. You can def do it for 3500 and be on property! Choose a value. Besides a lower price, they have food courts with some cost saving options. Pizza delivery, market area, etc. Can you drive instead of fly? We live in MD and usually drive every time we go. Then you will have a car if you want to slip off property for food to save a few bucks. Do your research! Find places where you get more for your money. Earl of Sandwich at downtown disney is delicious and an excellent value. Go ahead and treat them to one fun sit down meal for the experience! We still usually just pick one. Don't go crazy on souvenirs or $15 balloons.Take advantage of the "free" things to do. We usually take a day to sight see other resorts where there are activities. Hop over to Animal Kingdom Lodge to see the animals and talk to the animal experts. Catch a "movie under the stars" on night on the beach. This is free and located somewhere different each night. Happy planning!

 

[HollyAD]

We don't park hop and have an amazing time.
I checked..
Dec 13th to Dec 19th, All Star Sports, 6 day base ticket, Quick Service Dining plan (2 QS, 1 snack per day) = $1,935.33
Dec 13th to Dec 19th, All Star Sports, 6 day base ticket, Upgraded Dining plan (1 QS, 1 TS, 1 snack per day) = $2,178.33

The more expensive option would leave you with $1321.67 for spending money, transportation, and tips (if you choose to upgrade to the dining plan with table service meals)

I agree with you. No park hopping for us on our next trip. I never realized it would save us so much money.

 

[belledream]

I agree with you. No park hopping for us on our next trip. I never realized it would save us so much money.

Money and TIME!

 

[rob0519]

On OP' s stated budget, I don't see him buying APs at this time. As for the "free" parking via you tube. It's only free if you don't get caught. It's highly unlikely one will get caught with all those cars, but do you really want to teach your grandchildren that theft of services is an ok thing to do? It's no different than sneaking into any type of venue without paying.

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

You could also maybe get them some Disney gifts (maybe $50 - $100) and tell them that they are to be used on souvenirs. That way you do go over your spending limit by buying them things and that would still leave you with plenty of money to drive down and back and cover tips for any table service meals.
Be aware that you need to book reservations via Disney's website as soon as possible. I would also book the trip as soon as possible (you only need to put $200 down now and pay it off 45 days in advance)

Also, isn't parking free to onsite guest?

 

[cw1982]

You could also maybe get them some Disney gifts (maybe $50 - $100) and tell them that they are to be used on souvenirs. That way you do go over your spending limit by buying them things and that would still leave you with plenty of money to drive down and back and cover tips for any table service meals.
Be aware that you need to book reservations via Disney's website as soon as possible. I would also book the trip as soon as possible (you only need to put $200 down now and pay it off 45 days in advance)

Also, isn't parking free to onsite guest?

Yes. Parking is free to on site guests.

 

[HollyAD]

Money and TIME!

Yes lots of wasted time getting from one park to the next. Never thought of it that way!

 

[Much-Pixie-Dust]

If you go room only and a discount is not made available, you get can a AAA discount if you are a member. It equates to 10-15% off room, which could go towards cost of food.

 

[pixiesteno]

Go with a value resort and they all now have a very small fridge in the room where you can keep milk and juice for breakfast time. I agree with leaving the park hopping for another time, it can really eat up a great deal of your time. You could take refillable water bottles for in the park or as others have said a cup of water is free at QS dining. However, you must request a cup of water, if you just say water you will end up paying for bottled water. Even though you are looking at December and cooler temps you will still need to hydrate in the parks. I would do the gift card with a set amount for the kids for trinkets, this will give them a chance to work on what is their priority for something to take home and it can help them learn to budget. Pack a light pair of gloves for everyone in the party as it can get nippy at night and buying gloves in the parks is very expensive. Take at least part of one day to visit the other resorts as everything will be decorated for Christmas and Disney really knows how to decorate!!! Enjoy your trip.

 

[wendysue]

I've never spent more than that on a trip- I recommend doing this:
1. Book ROOM-ONLY at an All-Star
2. No dining plan- simple breakfast grab and go (in the room is cheapest) and no TS meal ADR's- that will bust the budget quickly- inexpensive QS and shared meals is the way to go, free ice water at QS places that sell fountain soda
3. Cheap flights if you are flying
4. Do you have to give the kids their spending money? What about asking their parents or finding out if they have their own saved up?
5. Don't get park tickets for the entire trip- if you only have 1/2 day (arrival or departure) go to DTD or hang by the pool if it's warm, or resort hopping to see the holiday decorations (free fun!)- don't waste a park admission day on a partial day if you don't have to- I recommend you get 4-5 day tickets only with NO hoppers or water park option addons.
Good luck!

Also, if you don't mind fast food, McDonalds is across the street from All-Star Resort. Much cheaper than most meals in the parks or food courts. (just an option to save a bit)

 

[backinaction]

On OP' s stated budget, I don't see him buying APs at this time. As for the "free" parking via you tube. It's only free if you don't get caught. It's highly unlikely one will get caught with all those cars, but do you really want to teach your grandchildren that theft of services is an ok thing to do? It's no different than sneaking into any type of venue without paying.

parking at downtown disney and taking the bus is theft of services?

 

[stevehousse]

U can park at DTD if u want, but remember there is no direct bus to take u to a park. U must go to a resort and then take that resorts bus to a park. You could always wait for a monorail resort bus to come by and then just hop on the monorail to get to MK or Epcot, but it will eat up ur time...

 

[rob0519]

parking at downtown disney and taking the bus is theft of services?

No, of course not. If you search you tube for free parking at WDW you get a selection of videos that show you how to try and scam free parking at the resorts and then go to the parks . The Free parking at DTD is a perfectly legal, but time consuming option.

 

[crispy]

Drive, do the free dining option (see PrincessNelly's post), and don't buy a lot of souvenirs, and you should have more than enough. Frankly, my family of 4 has never spent more than 3K on a Disney vacation. We always drive which saves a ton. I give my girls a souvenir budget so they can pick out and buy what they want within reason. That way, they don't spend the whole trip asking me to buy them things. We usually do a quick breakfast in the room - cereal, granola bars, etc., so we don't have to spend a lot of money or time on breakfast. If you upgrade to the regular dining plan, you will have plenty of food - too much probably. You will also need to budget for tips for any sitdown meals with the dining plan.

 

[nharned]

Personally I would not get parkhoppers because my family spends a whole day at each park and the ones we don't it is nice to be able to use the swimming pool at night or other free resort ammentites

 

[nharned]

And we go grocery shopping for snacks, breakfasts, and dinners. We pack snacks for the parks so we don't spend $10 on something small. We eat a small but filling breakfast and have a easy to make dinner.. it is a lot cheaper if you plan on eating in the room.