Low on money....but a promise

disney forever

disney forever

New Member
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
 
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SteamboatStitch

SteamboatStitch

Active Member
6 Days may be p.ushing it, but it also depends on when you go because of the changes in price for the rooms. When were you planning on your trip? Also where you are from would come into it, if you live within close driving distance, this is vastly different than booking a flight.

I'll edit this post with a general idea of costs.

EDIT: Since December 13th is your proposed check-in date (with check-out on the 18th driving home in the evening, unless you wanted to add an extra night to leave in the morning), you are looking at roughly $950 for the cheapest value at the All-Star Music Resort. This does not include tickets. If adding 7-day parkhopper tickets, it comes out to almost $2,150. I'll check and see if Passes would actually be cheaper.

EDIT 2: Electric Boogaloo: Scratch that, as it comes out to roughly $2,500.

So, Assuming you have All-Star Music Resort rooms, and 7-Day Parhopper tickets, it comes out to $2,150. This would leave you about $1,350 for cost of arrival (gas or flight), food, and any other expenses you would want to cover. Can you do it? Yes, if you are driving and are close. Will it be tight? Depends on your willingness to spend.

My advice would be to bring something to eat for breakfast in the room (The resort I chose in your scenario does not come with a mini-fridge, so plan ahead) and perhaps the occasional lunch. You have a young child and may need to stop back at the resort to rest mid-day anyway, so you can also bring things for this.

My other advice would be for souvenirs. If your grand-kids want something, think before you buy! Is it something that you could only get here? Is it something they will keep interest in past 5 minutes? That sort of thing. I hope I helped in any regard.
 
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cw1982

cw1982

Well-Known Member
When would the trip be?

Definitely look at staying at one of the value resorts.

You can cut a lot of the food costs by bringing food in to the parks with you. They're probably going to want the typical treats that are Disney specific, so plan for some of that, but you can still save a lot if you don't have to spend as much on meals.

Encourage drinking water instead of sodas as often as possible. Not only is water healthier, but all counter service food locations will give you as much water as you ask for, free of charge, no food purchase required.

Buy ponchos ahead of time at the dollar store. That way you won't end up paying ten bucks or more each when the unexpected downpour happens.

I'll add more if I think of anything else.
 
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Nemo14

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
disney forever said:
December 13th 2014, thanks u
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That's peak season, so a room at a value resort will cost about $150 per night, 6-day tickets wold be about $335 each with no park hopping, food is very expensive, but you can cut corners by bringing your own. It's doable, assuming you're not including the cost of flights, but very tight. Is staying on site a must?
 
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kasey1988

kasey1988

Well-Known Member
I don't think it could stretch that far at a disney resort.. The website is quoting around $2790 for three ppl, for 5 nights, with tickets and dining plan... But that dosnt include transportation for 3 people..
 
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PoppinsFan

PoppinsFan

Active Member
You should be able to go for $3500, I priced out a vacation with 1 adult, 2 children, value resort, checking in on 12/13 for 6 nights, 6 day tickets, quick service dining included and price was $1782. You could upgrade the dining plan to include 1 sit down meal a day and your price increases by $200. If you had 2 adults, 2 children the cost would go up to $2119. The dining plan should take care of most of your food costs. I would book quickly though, there are only so many packages available. They will require a $200 deposit at the time of booking. Good Luck!! and Have fun :)
 
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PoppinsFan

PoppinsFan

Active Member
I forgot to mention what we have done the last couple trips to help with souvenir spending. We purchase a Disney gift card for each of our children and let them be responsible for their spending. The past trips we have given them $100, and told them they can buy whatever they want but when their gift card is empty there isn't anymore. This has helped them stop and think before they buy something. And I don't constantly hear "I want this"......
 
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cw1982

cw1982

Well-Known Member
disney forever said:
I think they have a special on the meal plan that week if not mistaken it's free with a disney package
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I just looked at the Pop, and there were no more rooms available with free dining. Adding the quick service dining plan makes a package with 6 days worth of park hoppers $3442.02. That's with a check in on 12/13 and check out on 12/19.

They do currently have the free dining package at All Stars Sports and Music. Music is under refurbishment right now though, so you probably want Sports. 6 day park hoppers and the standard dining plan would come to $2881.68.

Those prices include everything but travel, souvenirs, and gratuity at table service restaurants for the standard dining plan (qs plan does not include table service meals at all).
 
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Much-Pixie-Dust

Much-Pixie-Dust

Well-Known Member
You could go room only and forgo the need to buy trip insurance since you can cancel up to 5 days prior to arrival day without a penalty. You will need to pay for first night up front, but it is 100% refundable as long as you cancel 5 days prior to start date of reservation.

If driving, you go eat out of the park. US192 has great options of most fast food and sit down restaurants.

There is also a super Target where you can buy Disney merchandise much cheaper than in the parks. You can also buy snacks and bottled water (although you won't need extra water since you are going in Dec) to go into the parks. Buy cereal bars and fruit.

I would opt for no park hopper and just do one park a day. You are going at the time of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, so look at the dates of those events, so you can go to the Magic Kingdom on days that don't include the party. Otherwise, you have to leave by 7:00 p.m. and you don't get the evening parade or fireworks.

It can totally be done. I hope it happens for you:)
 
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C

CheshireCat12

Well-Known Member
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!
 
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backinaction

backinaction

Well-Known Member
consider staying outside of disney on 192. you can find a cheap hotel between 30-40 a night and you can save a ton of $ because your not eating disney's overpriced food. There are gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores every 2 feet on 192 so it's very convenient. Yes, you will have to rent a car if your not driving, but the savings on the hotel and food alone will double at-least what you pay for the car for the week you are down there. Plus having a car gives you alot more freedom and it will get you to the park alot faster then waiting for a bus all the time. Disney buses are often late and super crowded around park closing. plan on waiting 30-60 minutes at the end of the night for allstar hotels (plus the fact that all 3 all-star hotels share buses for the most part so you will have to make multiple stops both to and from the parks, which can kind of get annoying at the end of a long day.) Staying on property is overpriced and over rated
 
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rob0519

rob0519

Well-Known Member
backinaction said:
consider staying outside of disney on 192. you can find a cheap hotel between 30-40 a night and you can save a ton of $ because your not eating disney's overpriced food. There are gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores every 2 feet on 192 so it's very convenient. Yes, you will have to rent a car if your not driving, but the savings on the hotel and food alone will double at-least what you pay for the car for the week you are down there. Plus having a car gives you alot more freedom and it will get you to the park alot faster then waiting for a bus all the time. Disney buses are often late and super crowded around park closing. plan on waiting 30-60 minutes at the end of the night for allstar hotels (plus the fact that all 3 all-star hotels share buses for the most part so you will have to make multiple stops both to and from the parks, which can kind of get annoying at the end of a long day.) Staying on property is overpriced and over rated
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Keep in mind, if you're driving your own car or renting, staying offsite will cost $17 per day in parking fees.
 
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