Tons of Disney Trips

[kellydisney]

I just have a question... many of you have been to Disney a zillion times. Some of you have mentioned lately that you have gone in June and are going again in July... how do you afford these huge vacations? If you have tips, share them with us poorer folks who only go once a year (and stay offsite or at the All Stars! haha)

Yay for as many trips in a year as possible! :sohappy:

Thanks!

 

[bandman]

Well, I am sure there are about as many different answers to your question as there are people on these boards, but here is ours:

For us(me, dw,dd,ds), Traveling is our thing. It's what we do. We don't go out to eat or to the movies all the time, we don't go shopping for new clothes every weekend. We don't build a larger deck or buy new drapes to go with the new sofa. As a matter of fact we moved into our new house 2 years ago and still only have blinds(no curtains) in over half the house. We would rather be on the road somewhere.

We spend almost all our extra cash travelling. We love everything about it. From the planning to taking the trip itself. It is a hobby we can all enjoy together.

 

[Becky]

Annual Pass At eight days it has paid for itself Then you in effect get in "free" for the rest of your 365 day period.

Use discounts for hotels, such as AP, return guest (sometimes they hang something on your door giving you 40% off if you book your next trip from your room) and others you can find on Mousesavers.

By the by, the AP can pay for itself in fewer than eight days. For example if it gives you a lot off your room. You get discounts at many sit down restaurants, DTD etc.

Drive or like me live in a city that is not a airline hub. One with Jet Blue, SWA etc.

Or move to Orlando and buy a resident pass

Or go to work for the Mouse

 

[ISTCrew20]

I go pretty much every other day, and I just take 6 or 7 bucks with me every time (unluss im going to load up on MS merch):lol: ....I usually get a Diet Coke and a Soft Pretzel

 

[kellydisney]

Smart ideas! We are going to the World in December and right now are booked for the regular 10 day Dreammaker package at All Star Music... sounds like you suggest getting an AP. I think it would make sense since we plan on taking our next trip in Sept. 2004. But our travel agent thinks we should wait to see if either the Fairy Tale Package is extended or if there are other rates that come out. I'm getting a little nervous because what if we wait "too long" and we are stuck paying for a change in reservation. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

[leeocean]

Everyone is so correct about the AP. I have the PAP and love it! It makes WDW so much more reasonable. Use the discount for the room (up to 45% off rack rates). The PAP cost usually pays for itself in no time even if you pay alot up front (usually around 11 use days it will pay for itself in just park attendance - never mind all the other discounts).

 

[LouDisney]

I wish I could go every year.
I need to be like Bandman and his family and not shop, then maybe I could.

 

[kennyj29]

Kellydisney

I have the same problem..........we are leaving Nov. 29th and the girl at Mousesavers told me to hang on until we know for sure about the fairytale package being extended. We want to get the AP however we are probably going next December also so it would run out. I'm stuck right now wondering if it would be better to get the annual pass and go for the 40% rack rates or hang on until we find out if the package would be extended. THey should at least extend it till the end of the year! It doesn't make sense not to. I can understand taking it away from Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks but the rest of the time should get the package. We have the room booked so that if the package is extended she will just put it through to the room we have now. Anyway, I trust Vickie wholeheartidly and I know she won't screw us (she's a sweetheart). So me and my DH and DS and DD and my mother are hanging in to see what happens!

 

[kellydisney]

Who is your travel agent company? We are using mouseearvacations.com. It is recommended on wdwig.com. Our travel agent is also really nice. I just hope we are doing the right thing in waiting. If you are going again next December... I wonder how much your savings would be this year with the AP since you can't use it next year... but then AGAIN... once you are an AP passholder, renewing the pass is like $100 less than buying it again.. So that's a savings right there! We figure we will never be APless again! Keep me posted with how your vaca progresses. We are going Dec. 17 so maybe... since it's not TECHNICALLY Christmas week, the fairytale package will be cheaper... BUT we are still going next year in Sept. So am I right in assuming Disney would give us whatever package was the cheapest? Or is the Fairytale package ONLY if you get the "package" and not just for the room? I have a headache now.. lol Good luck with your planning!

 

[imagineersrock]

<------ ! lol (just come move to florida!) [other than being the training site for several 9/11 terrorists, and being the cause of the biggest election disaster ever; we're not that bad, really!]:lookaroun

haha seriously though, have always been a floridian (born in miami) and that was always around a 4-hour drive to orlando. then about 4 years ago we moved to tampa; now just a little over an hour away from WDW! -so thats why we have the ability to go so often; we can make day trips just up and down for the day! heh its reeling me in.... i give it a few more years until i find myself living minutes from the front gates..!

-alex

 

[SnowWhite5669]

Cast member!! I might as well enjoy the perks while Disney still owns Disney Store!! We average about 3 trips a year! 2 days and counting....:sohappy:

 

[EmeraldDolphin]

for the past few years, we've only gone once a year... a couple years back I was working at Disney Store, and so I got our room at Caribbean Beach Resort at the CM's discount... last summer we rented a house, and this summer we're staying at All Star's Music with the Fairytale pkg. My husband & sons don't come with us anymore either... so it's just myself, and my daughter, and it's kind of our "girl" thing. (the guys get to do their thing in Jan. when they go to Bahamas for a superbowl party)

 

[Chris]

Here is how we do it:

1) Buy and annual pass. This allows you to go several times during a year and can really save you money on rooms too.

2) Watch for room specials. Stay at one of the All Star Resorts and get the lowest rate possible. Sometimes these rooms can be gotten for $59 a night.

3) When you go a lot, you don't need junk. Stay out of the shops

4) Limit the number of "sit down" meals. Eat counter service when possible. Visit the grocery store and get quick breakfast items. Carry an electric ice chest. Igloo sells them for about $45.

5) Drive! Save the airfare money. WDW is about 1,000 miles from my home but we can drive it straight through in about 18 hours.

We did WDW over spring break using annual passes we already had and spent $1000 for an entire week. Hotel, food, gas, etc for four of us.

 

[LivefortheMouse]

well im lucky enough to live in florida we get great deals, like right now were staying at wilderness lodge resort for just 114 a night thats a great deal. we also get seasonal or anual passes which are actually less than buying a park hoper cause if u go again its free.

 

[kennyj29]

Imagineersrock

We are planning on moving outside the Tampa area. We are Hockey freaks so we can't move far from a hockey stadium....lol. We don't know where yet but we are such disney freaks that we plan to do the annual pass when we are there. My husband would move tomorrow if we could. I say two years and we'll be down there. Anyway when we go, we'll probably see ya either in Tampa or Disney! :lol: :lol: