Planning a solo, cheap trip

[Mukta]

I am thinking of going to WDW by myself for Xmas time in 2010 and I am looking for some advice.
Since I will be alone, I will go for 5 days and skip the park hopper and water park option.
I will stay at a value resort for the first time. Which one is the cheapest?
Assuming they don't offer free dining next year, any cheap eating tips?
I will take DME and Disney transportation. I will be flexible with my dates so that my flight is cheap.
Any other ideas on making this cost effective? Thanks

 

[krankenstein]

I travel solo a lot. Believe me, you will LOVE it.

Value resorts will all cost the same. It's a personal decision between the 4.

As far as dining, the cheapest option is, of course, counter service. If you're looking for ways to stretch your dollar further, bring a water bottle into the park and use the water fountains to refill it. Also, bring in snacks as well. Another trick I do sometimes is bringing bottles of Vitamin Water into the parks. I do not mind drinking it hot, so I throw a couple in my backpack and drink them with my lunch and dinner. Lastly, eat breakfast in your room (Pop Tarts, breakfast bars, etc).

You'll have to determine how/where you can save money personally. It's very individual, but think about your preferences and where exactly you think you can save.

 

[JustInTime]

Well, when I have planned my trips, I always noticed that the value resorts were priced differently for the same days. I have notice the following resorts in order from most pricey to least pricey:

Pop
All-Star Movies
Sports
Music

We went with music because everytime we had the movies selected, it was a couple hundred dollars more.

 

[krankenstein]

Well, when I have planned my trips, I always noticed that the value resorts were priced differently for the same days. I have notice the following resorts in order from most pricey to least pricey:

Pop
All-Star Movies
Sports
Music

We went with music because everytime we had the movies selected, it was a couple hundred dollars more.

:shrug:

I have never found that to be the case, or heard of it being. The only difference in prices are standard V preferred location. I've never seen it mentioned anywhere online either.

I'm sure one of our resident Kingdom Konsultants will step in and clarify the issue.

 

[JustInTime]

:shrug:

I have never found that to be the case, or heard of it being. The only difference in prices are standard V preferred location. I've never seen it mentioned anywhere online either.

I'm sure one of our resident Kingdom Konsultants will step in and clarify the issue.

I hope. I would have rather stayed in POP but it was way more. I even just checked the Disney site. The resorts are priced differently for the same day! I thought it was really dumb that they did that anyway. :shrug:

And who knows, I could have been looking at it wrong.

 

[krankenstein]

I hope. I would have rather stayed in POP but it was way more. I even just checked the Disney site. The resorts are priced differently for the same day! I thought it was really dumb that they did that anyway. :shrug:

And who knows, I could have been looking at it wrong.

As did I, and they came up the same price. Are you sure you weren't looking under a package rate?

 

[KC82271]

FYI -- Pop is a bit cheaper due to the tax. See below quote from another website. "Rates do not include 13% tax at All-Star Sports, Music and Movies Resorts, or 12.5% tax at Pop Century Resort."

This is due to the Pop being located in a different county which has a lesser "resort" tax.

 

[JustInTime]

As did I, and they came up the same price. Are you sure you weren't looking under a package rate?

It could have happened! lol

 

[krankenstein]

FYI -- Pop is a bit cheaper due to the tax. See below quote from another website. "Rates do not include 13% tax at All-Star Sports, Music and Movies Resorts, or 12.5% tax at Pop Century Resort."

This is due to the Pop being located in a different county which has a lesser "resort" tax.

This is true, but the rack rates are the same. :lol:

 

[Mukta]

Is it cheaper without a package? Should I do room and tickets separately? Do I still get DME that way?

I do love traveling alone, krankenstein. I just went to Europe alone for a month. DLP alone was a lot faster than it would have been with others.

I also don't mind drinking hot water, so carrying my own is a great idea.

 

[krankenstein]

Is it cheaper without a package? Should I do room and tickets separately? Do I still get DME that way?

Contact someone from Kingdom Konsultants, they will work with you and help you figure out which one is the best option for you based on discounts that may be available to you. Once you trip is booked, they will continue to check for more discounts that you are eligible for and automatically apply them to your reservation.

I cannot recommend them enough. :wave:

 

[foreverbelle]

A solo trip sounds so much fun....especially around the holidays when most people get lonely! Have a great time.

 

[disneytopdog]

Let me throw my 2 cents in on this: I did a solo trip 3 years ago, I cannot imagine NOT having the "park hopper" option. In doing a solo trip you can move faster through the parks and I just cant see staying in one park from open to close even if you take it a slower pace. I know that the hopper option is more, but for me its money well spent that benefits you in the long run.

 

[a2grafix]

Let me throw my 2 cents in on this: I did a solo trip 3 years ago, I cannot imagine NOT having the "park hopper" option. In doing a solo trip you can move faster through the parks and I just cant see staying in one park from open to close even if you take it a slower pace. I know that the hopper option is more, but for me its money well spent that benefits you in the long run.

Yeah, what Top Dog said. This December is my third straight solo trip to WDW and the past two years I have used the park hopper option. My second-last day at WDW, I did all 4 parks (Animal, MGM, Epcot and Magic Kingdom) and then closed the night out at the (shuttered) Adventuers Club. The next morning, checked out early, and did three parks (MGM, Epcot and MK), plus did some quick shopping at the Village Marketplace before catching my flight back home.

I highly reccommend investing in the park hopper or park hopper and more. Doing WDW solo at your own pace, you might be surprised at how much you can see and accomplish, as opposed if you had a family or friend in tow.

 

[Rob562]

Let me throw my 2 cents in on this: I did a solo trip 3 years ago, I cannot imagine NOT having the "park hopper" option. In doing a solo trip you can move faster through the parks and I just cant see staying in one park from open to close even if you take it a slower pace. I know that the hopper option is more, but for me its money well spent that benefits you in the long run.

A better suggestion (at least IMO): if you're unsure about whether or not you'll use Park Hopper and money is tight, purchase your tickets *without* the Park Hopper option. PH can be added onto your ticket at any time, even after you've started using your ticket (well, up until 14 days from first use when the ticket would expire, obviously).

If you go your entire trip without needing to park-hop, you've saved the $50. But if on day 3 you'd *really* like to hop from Animal Kingdom over to Epcot, it takes about 3 minutes at Guest Relations to add it onto your ticket.

-Rob

 

[heliumalias]

If you're staying in a disney resort you get DME. It's not related to packages or anything.

Another thing that could save you money on food is to know that some of the extra stuff on the menu basically constitutes a meal (for example figaro fries at Pinocchio's village Haus). Having that with a drink cost about half what it would have been if I'd ordered an entree.

 

[fosse76]

I always go alone. I don't even think I'd ever be able to enjoy myself if other people were with me. The Value resorts should all be about the same price...but as was mentioned earlier Pop Century has a slightly lower tax rate and will be a little cheaper. DME is dependent on staying at a resort, so you don't even have to a ticket to any of the parks to use it, you just need to be staying in a Disney resort.

As has also been mentioned above, as a solo-traveler you will be moving at a quicker pace than people traveling with others. This means even on crowded days you will get most of the attractions done in relatively a few hours. The only thing that will slow you down are the stage shows, which are only at specified times. There have been times were it took me longer to experience Disney's Animal Kingdom than The Magic Kingom because of that! I would STRONGLY encourage you to get the park-hopper...but as was mentioned before, you can add it at anytime, so go without it and buy it when you decide you need it. If you are going during the holidays, the parks are open later, so you'll find that you may want to visit another park. Crowds will slow you down...but judicious use of the FastPass System will still help you get through the park faster than the average visitor.