Tips for Cheap Trips?

[twinnstar]

Hey, Im editing what I wrote because I think I perhaps wasnt clear.

I am hoping to go on a trip in 2014 with 4 people, including myself. We would like to stay at a resort along the Monorail, with the dining plan, and stay for about 6 days. I realize this is by definition expensive. My family has made these "rules" growing up. Its just the way we like to experience disney, thats all. We dont go every year, so we save up. I am not looking for a cheap solution, but instead any tips for booking for cheap-ER. If the trip turns out costing $7k, saving $300 would be a big deal to me, for example. I am not very savvy on booking the trips - I usually always book via disney.com. If anyone has any advice on how to book, when to book, etc, it would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[luv]

The best ways to save money are to stay in non-WDW hotels, eat non-Disney meals and not shop in Disney gift shops.

If your rule is that you have to stay in the more expensive Disney hotels and buy the expensive Disney food, then my best advice is to not shop.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

I have stayed off site (Embassy Suites which was awesome, a two room suite, outstanding breakfast buffet every day, manager's reception) for a sliver of what I have paid at Disney... however that was before discounts and free dining. The value resorts up to deluxes are wonderful at Disney, and in my personal opinion, you can't beat the perks!! You have some time, weigh out your options, then decide. Best of luck

 

[twinnstar]

Thanks! I realize that I am choosing the most expensive options - I guess I am looking for a way to make those expensive options cheaper. I know a lot of people book trips, my only experience is booking through the Disney site, I always book a package, etc. I was wondering if perhaps there was a more affordable way to go about it that i am not aware of, ya know? hmm...

 

[DisneyJoe]

I know a lot of people book trips, my only experience is booking through the Disney site, I always book a package, etc. I was wondering if perhaps there was a more affordable way to go about it that i am not aware of, ya know? hmm...

If you want the dining plan, you must book a package.

Your "rules" make it tough to make things "cheap". You can look for discounts such as AAA or other offers that may be offered, but I don't know if I would call a monorail resort stay "cheap".

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

Thanks! I realize that I am choosing the most expensive options - I guess I am looking for a way to make those expensive options cheaper. I know a lot of people book trips, my only experience is booking through the Disney site, I always book a package, etc. I was wondering if perhaps there was a more affordable way to go about it that i am not aware of, ya know? hmm...

I say this from personal experience, if you have any questions, other than booking through Disney directly, contact Kingdom Konsultants. www.kingdomkonsultants.com. One of their many qualified agents, will help you book a fabulous vacation for you and your family within your budget. Have a great time planning!!

 

[twinnstar]

I say this from personal experience, if you have any questions, other than booking through Disney directly, contact Kingdom Konsultants. www.kingdomkonsultants.com. One of their many qualified agents, will help you book a fabulous vacation for you and your family within your budget. Have a great time planning!!

Thanks!! I will definitely check them out!

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

One of the best things you can do is research the times of year when Disney offers the bes discounts. Below is a greta website for that type of information:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

Another thing you can try to do is score one of the elusive Disney Dicount Pin codes. These are special discounts that Disney sends directly to individuals. There is no rhyme or reason to try and get one but there are some things you can do to improve your chances (suggestions from another site):

1. Head over to the Disney World or Disneyland site and create an account. My suggestion would be create and account for yourself and then one for your spouse, partner, kids, etc. Just so long as you can get to the email account. I did one for my work email and one for my gmail account.
2. Order a Disney Planning DVD. If you goto the links about you will see a graphic where you can order one. I do this every year. It’s free and doesn’t cost you a thing.
3. Play around on the Disney sites. Create a vacation and save it. Browse deals and offers. Just make sure your logged in. Disney monitors all the things you do on their site so believe they are watching you.
4. Enter for Disney Giveaways.
5. Book your vacation through Disney. In the past I booked our vacation online on the Disney World website myself. Not sure if this works but I would imagine you would be in their database somewhere.
6. Photopass. Make sure you have an account there as well.
7. Be patient. While you may not get one right away just keep plugging away. Eventually you might get one. Be sure to check your spam e-mail. If you get the Pin it will come from Disney Destinations.
8. If all else fails, find your favorite Disney stuffed character, get a chicken, and make a sacrifice to the Pin gods. By the way make sure you have the cloaks and candles because they like that kind of thing. Just kidding off course, or maybe I'm not.

FYI...I booked our trip last August for this upcoming November and since then my wife and I have received 3 different Pin offers. In all we have saved close to $800. It takes a little work but it could be well worth it in the end. Good luck.

 

[bethymouse]

Well, Grand Floridian is most expensive of course, then Polynesian, and it depends on what type of room/view you'd like at Contemporary! Why not try Wilderness Lodge? There's a boat to the MK, and it's still a deluxe resort, just a bit cheaper?

 

[Mukta]

With 4 people, you should rent points and stay at BLT. For example, 6 nights in Sept 2013 is $186 a night when you rent points.

Since you will know your dates so far ahead of time, you should have no issue getting a room 8-11 months ahead of time.

Check out http://www.dvcrequest.com/

 

[disneygirl76]

Hey, Im editing what I wrote because I think I perhaps wasnt clear.

I am hoping to go on a trip in 2014 with 4 people, including myself. We would like to stay at a resort along the Monorail, with the dining plan, and stay for about 6 days. I realize this is by definition expensive. My family has made these "rules" growing up. Its just the way we like to experience disney, thats all. We dont go every year, so we save up. I am not looking for a cheap solution, but instead any tips for booking for cheap-ER. If the trip turns out costing $7k, saving $300 would be a big deal to me, for example. I am not very savvy on booking the trips - I usually always book via disney.com. If anyone has any advice on how to book, when to book, etc, it would be appreciated. Thanks.

Well you for sure want to check and see if there is free dining. If you are flexible on your timing, then this would be away to save. Also, go when it is not peak season if again, you are flexible with your travel time. Those are the two biggest things to look for. There is mousesavers.com which has codes. Sometimes, it is cheaper to go with one of these codes and add in tickets and dining plan. My DH and I did this once. It was like 40% of deluxe rooms or something like that. We have also stayed with mysterious pin code. This however is not something you can bank on. Every time my DH and I have traveled to WDW, it is during a special offer. We still book through waltdisneyworld.com but we do our homework and run the numbers first with other codes in other ways.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I know it is fun and cool to stay on the monorail but you might want to look into a value or a moderate. They are nice too and offer the same Disney perks just a different mode of transportation. Or if you are positive you want a deluxe but are willing to sacrifice the monorail Wilderness Lodge would be a great option it is a beautiful resort and a tad cheaper than the monorail ones. Also if you book a cheaper resort, maybe there would be a bounceback offer in your room and then you can afford to go again!

 

[onesandzeros]

I’ve had great success in working with an agent from Small World Vacations. They are Disney experts
and I believe they only do Disney trips. The agent will find you the best current price and then
monitor your reservation for offers that may become available that saves you $$$$.
http://www.smallworldvacations.com/

 

[twinnstar]

Wow everyone, thanks so much, this is exactly what I was lOoking for. I never even knew about this mysterious pin, and you guys have great advice to keep in mind

 

[Weather_Lady]

You might consider renting DVC points to stay at Bay Lake Towers (along the monorail route). Check rates for your dates here, but you'll likely find that a DVC studio will be far less expensive than a standard room: http://www.dvcrequest.com/

 

[Zummi Gummi]

You might consider renting DVC points to stay at Bay Lake Towers (along the monorail route). Check rates for your dates here, but you'll likely find that a DVC studio will be far less expensive than a standard room: http://www.dvcrequest.com/

This is going to be by far the cheapest way to stay at a monorail resort.

 

[bmarkelon]

Yup, you've got all the best suggestions here. Everything was covered...you can't go wrong booking with a Disney Travel Agent it costs you nothing but you have the benefit of using their knowledge, they will get you the best offer out there. Make sure you follow all those steps in the above post for getting a Disney pin code; I had a client do this and received a pin code for a summer trip within a few weeks. And renting BLT points is brilliant as well, it's our second home...we are members there and just love the location! Best wishes, happy planning and be sure to spend lots of time on these boards for the best help!!

 

[twinnstar]

Thanks! Im def going to look into renting DVC points, didnt realize that could be a way to save! A question about the "mystery discount code" - would the title of the email give away that there was a code inside? I get a lot of Disney emails that I sometimes just delete, I wonder if I need to open them all and graze through?

 

[sgtmgd]

Well by going in 2014 you have alot of time to save..you can book 499 days out from the last day of your proposed stay..however renting points at any DVC is not available until 11 months out from the last day of your proposded trip and often could be 7 months...this poses a problem if no points are available..its never a garuntee that they will be available..my point is follow all the good advice above there are great points in several of the responses..if it were me Id book my room standard type to save money..plan the trip during non peak times..you only have to pay a 200.00 deposit up front..and you have well over a year to pay it off...IF a special deal free dining etc..or room discount..you can call Disney and they will make the adjustments..for that matter since you are looking at 2014 Id set up a savings account now and start putting aside some money monthly towards the trip..

 

[dopeylover]

I agree with everyone...you need to either hope for a PIN code or book during a room only discount time or free dining to get the best value. I grew up staying only at the Contemporary and never leaving property myself. We were not rich by any means, but WDW was literally the only vacations we took growing up, and my family saved to be able to do it.

Not that I have a family of my own and my own bills, I do things a bit differently. My husband and I LOVE to travel (WDW over everything, of course! ), but we still like to do yearly camping trips and visit other places along the way. Also, we are saving up for a long European trip in the future! So needless to say we do WDW a bit differently than when I grew up. I live by the rule that I never buy anything at retail price, and I do the same for vacations. We stay at Mods, which I think are just as nice as the Deluxes (although I do miss the monorail), and I don't book without a deal or PIN code. Sometimes it restricts the times of year you go, but it's worth saving the money. I have also found that logging into my WDW account and searching vacation packages with the dates I had in mind will usually lead to a PIN code being e-mailed to me in the near future. Order that DVD too! I think the easiest way to save money is with the actual park tickets. When you book a package, you are obligated to buy at least a 1 day park ticket, so that's what I do. My mother gets buy 2 get 1 free tickets through her job, so I buy the rest through there, but you could also go to AAA or Undercover Tourist and purchase tickets at a discount there as well.

Have a great time!!!!