Disney on a tight budget

[DizneyBlonde]

Have promised the kids that i WILL take them back to Disney.
However as a single parent i have to pay full adult fare for DD and of course with the new job i have to go in the school holidays.
Have looked on the Virgin site and done some pricings and also at TCD.
Virgin seems very expensive and TCD will only quote with a car which i don't want.
What is the quietest and most reasonable time of year to go within the school holidays and are there any other tips on doing Disney 'on the cheap'?
We won't be going in the very near future as it will take me ages to save but as we always say planning is half the fun.

Any advice and recommendations on hotels would be good.
Thanks in advance.

[tb2830]

hiya
when i phoned up tcd for a quote i told them i wanted transfers from airport and they still gave me a price if it comes to it just tell them you cant drive

[tb2830]

hi
my friend had a price from tcd it was for 2 adults i child staying at the enclave suites going 25th feb 06 from manchester the price was 1431

[Chris/Lisa]

Book yourself - cant stress this enough. Book flights first then book the rooms - you will save a fortune on the virgin book prices.

we saved over a thousand pounds on our January trip that way.

Even goes for DLP - our 4 day break in april booked ourselves - £750 - booked through travel agent best price £1100 (!)

[tb2830]

virgin prices were shocking we saved nearly 2000 by booking with tcd and there was 10 of us ..........the money we saved will go towards our park tickets etc

[Melfuzz]

I agree try and do it yourself to save money.

Also stay on the i-drive. Its cheaper and there are hotels that do shuttles to Disney. I am staying at the Sheraton Studio City that was very resonable and does shuttles to the parks.

Also maybe look at a stop over flight instead of direct. Its more expensive but you save between £50-£100 per person.

[ukwdwnut]

i flew virgin last year but did not book direct with them as the take the mickey on prices, they wanted nearly, i think it was £600, i got for £435 same flight :)

with regards to tcd, when i want to go can never give me a decent quote, i've always save 100's on what they quote me their villa prices are way to high :D

[Meezers]

Boy...I keep forgetting about the flight fare for you guys! We drive so I can't help with the plane fare stuff...but MickeyMac helped with our December trip and we got a room at Pop for a great rate. Then we got tickets without the hopper options cause we don't do the water parks...plus we arrive later in the day so we get tickets where we don't get park admittance on the day we arrive and the day we leave...that says a few bucks.

Hope some of this helps....I personally have bunches of fun planning!

[Kitten]

I would look at booking everything seperetly... and if you book a hotel on i-drive, find out if they have a shuttle to Disney, and the times of the shuttles. The shuttle on our last trip really let us down......

[mrs t]

We stayed at Best western plaza on I Drive in march 04, we booked the room direct with them and it cost £516 for the two weeks, flights were with virgin, they were 501 Ads and 301 for kids, but this time it worked out cheaper for us to book the package with virgin (Oct 05) because two of our kids will be over 12 and classed as adults on flights only, whereas with the package hol they have teen prices.
When we rang virgin for a price, it was expensive but we got quotes from various travel agents and saved another £560, so it pays to shop around and play the travel agents at their own game :whistle:

[mrs t]

Another thing that makes it slightly cheaper is to book it in the school hols but rather than two weeks of school hols try taking them out of school for a week that saves another £800ish. We always do that and have never had a problem, we just write a nice letter to the head teacher and we only do it for orlando hols

[Goofy Girl]

I agree with the advice on booking it yourself. Think of all the extra spending money you will have! :D By staying on I-Drive, as well as having the free shuttle to WDW & US, you're also in the heart of other attractions / shops, and the I-Ride trolley is the perfect (cheap) way to get around!

[ukwdwnut]

if you are gonna go with another family, get a villa and a van and split the cost its much cheaper :D

[Goofy Girl]

My personal view about sharing a villa/van with another family is that you'd need to be *really* good friends to be in each others pockets 24/7 for a couple of weeks. :shrug: We went with another family last time and we did our own thing some of the time - e.g. some days we wanted to do the parks and they wanted to shop, etc. - we always met up for dinner/drinks to compare notes on our day.

[ukwdwnut]

i agree gg, also chose the right family :d

but you agree to be flexible before you go or as we did one family chose what to do that day then the other chose the next day soon and so forth it really does work, it has twice with us :D

[Goofy Girl]

Yes ukwdwnut - I agree everyone has to be flexible. Also, at the parks you don't *have* to do everything together - e.g. you can split for a couple of hours and meet for lunch.

[ukwdwnut]

yep you can

we were all together ALL of the time at the parks, after, in the villa the whole tiime :D we had the best times ever on hols would defo do it again, i would not like to stay in a hotel for 2 weeks after doing it that way, even if we were on our own :)

[Goofy Girl]

Wow - you were lucky with the people you travelled with! Sounds like you had a fantastic time with them. :thumbs:

[ukwdwnut]

the first trip in 00 was with a couple from glasgow we met on holiday in cornwall in 95, and went back there with them till 99 then asked if they fancied wdw for both our first trips there, the only downer on that one was the the guy wanted to go watch rangers play in the champs league and meet us at ak later which we manged to bump into him as we were walking round, million to one chance there i think, and the rest of the family got real upset and were all crying that he had to go watch, but other than that we had the best of times

second time in 02 we went with a friend and his 2 girls, his wife would not come, she wont fly and had a great time too, even better :D

[Goofy Girl]

his wife would not come, she wont fly and had a great time too, even better :D
I hate flying too :( but it won't stop me going to WDW! :D

[OKWTink]

Wow, you'll have to do some careful planning and cost comparison. First, I do agree to book yourself. Your dear friend Whitequeen will be invaluable help to you. :D

It will be a close call as to whether you will have a better cash outlay for staying in a villa (will need to factor in transport then) or on site with a good rate and no transport costs.

Staying offsite (not considering transport) is nearly always less expensive, and if you have a suite or villa with a kitchen, you can really save big bucks. I did that for my first long term visit to WDW and was quite able to afford it. Not that I splashed out by any means, but I did thoroughly enjoy the stay.

You know all the cost saving devices of getting a cooler and using ice to keep drinks and some snacks like cheese and pepperoni, and those sorts of things cool. Milk and cereal, or bagels and the like for breakfast, instead of eating in an restaurant, although breakfast at WDW is one of the cheaper meals. Carry your lunches. And really carry the snacks and drinks! That's the stuff that adds up fast.

Use the outlets for souveniers.

Dine in places like Puck's express where you can get 1/2 a chicken, and then a really nice salad from the Earl of Sandwich and fashion a dinner for three from that.

Food courts at the All Stars are still going to be your best value for food. Remember you can eat there even if you are not staying there.

Make the budget a challenge and a fun game for the kiddos. :yes: Get them involved in the savings for the trip, and again in the daily budget. They will be learning some wicked valuable skills and appreciate the trip much more.

All the best to you! :hug:

[ukwdwnut]

as usual you come up with some great sound advise tink :D

[OKWTink]

Thank you! :hug: I've been doing Disney on a very limited budget for years. :blush: Now it's sort of a challenge for me, to see how much I can make the dollars stretch.

I will say, that WDW makes it tougher with each passing year though. Each time they lose (or replace) something that offered a "bargain" I wonder what families do? Surely not everyone is born to the silver spoon? :unsure:

[ukwdwnut]

well it costs us about £4500 thats about $8500 each time, not going nuts either, not many visits to a restaurant, which does not bother us in the least :) and we are out most evening too somewhere or the other :D

[Goofy Girl]

I wonder what families do? Surely not everyone is born to the silver spoon? :unsure:
My spoon is more brass than silver I'm afraid! :rolleyes:

[OKWTink]

Brass, a good sturdy metal that shines nicely when polished! :D

I, however, was born to the plastic picnic variety. :D

[Goofy Girl]

I, however, was born to the plastic picnic variety. :D
:lol: That's why you're lucky to live in Orlando - you don't have to pay for flights to get to the happiest place on earth! :wink:

[ukwdwnut]

:lol: That's why you're lucky to live in Orlando - you don't have to pay for flights to get to the happiest place on earth! :wink:


its helps doesnt it :lol:

[OKWTink]

Absolutely! :eek:

[ukwdwnut]

Absolutely! :eek:

want a lodger for 6 months of the year :D

[Goofy Girl]

Ooh, ooh, take me :overhere: - I bags the winter months! :cold:

[ukwdwnut]

Ooh, ooh, take me :overhere: - I bags the winter months! :cold:

:rotfl:

[DizneyBlonde]

Another thing that makes it slightly cheaper is to book it in the school hols but rather than two weeks of school hols try taking them out of school for a week that saves another £800ish. We always do that and have never had a problem, we just write a nice letter to the head teacher and we only do it for orlando hols

Be ok if i didn't work in the school too!
I could take my kids out but if i go there's no-one left to teach the other kids!!!

[OKWTink]

Severely limits you to holidays only, then. But as you are seeing, it can be done! I used to be able to go only during school holidays, spring breaks that sort of thing. I found it festive for the most part! (Did keep me budgeting for each penny though, that's true).

Well ukwdwnut, and Goofy Girl, I do have two guest rooms. :D You'd have to share the guest bath though. :wink:

[ukwdwnut]

Well ukwdwnut, and Goofy Girl, I do have two guest rooms. :D You'd have to share the guest bath though. :wink:

booking flights now, wheres that credit card gone to :rolleyes: :D

[ukwdwnut]

Be ok if i didn't work in the school too!
I could take my kids out but if i go there's no-one left to teach the other kids!!!


as if your the only one in the school DB :hehe:

we can only go in school hols too as den work in a school too, so its oct everytime

sussed out when your goin yet?

[Fran]

I have the same problem, even now DD's at University I can't take time off in term time. Last year we booked a trip of the internet in July at 10 days notice. I think they were called holidays direct. we paid £336 each for 7 days (14 days wasn't much dearer). We just stipulated Lake buena Vista and ended up in the Comfort Inn which was OK for the price

[ukwdwnut]

i take that price fran was hotel and flight, if it is, blimey thats well cheap :D

[Goofy Girl]

Well ukwdwnut, and Goofy Girl, I do have two guest rooms. :D You'd have to share the guest bath though. :wink:
As long as ukwdwnut cleans the shower after use, I'm game! :wink: Is December good for you?

[ukwdwnut]

As long as ukwdwnut cleans the shower after use, I'm game! :wink: Is December good for you?

can share the chores GG :D

[DizneyBlonde]

Can't decide anything yet until details are available for next August and we know when the school hols fall.

There are lots of others in the school Nut but only a few Teaching assistants and they won't pay for cover for us as we get enough time off already.Believe me i've asked!!!!It causes enough trouble when someone is off sick as there are only just enough of us to cover the special needs kids and their classes.

[ukwdwnut]

Can't decide anything yet until details are available for next August and we know when the school hols fall.

There are lots of others in the school Nut but only a few Teaching assistants and they won't pay for cover for us as we get enough time off already.Believe me i've asked!!!!It causes enough trouble when someone is off sick as there are only just enough of us to cover the special needs kids and their classes.

you dont have to explain to me DB i was pulling your leg, i know wht its like as den works as the schools head cook and its hard enough for her, but as its private she does get more hols than state schools :D

i booked well reserved flights with virgin 18 months in advance with usairtours, what happens they get your booking and as soon as the flights/seats are released they book em for ya :D

[DizneyBlonde]

My biggest problem is i really need to know how much it's all going to cost before i book it.It's a lot of money for me to commit to so far in advance.I really am thinking of forgetting the whole idea because it scares the life out of me but i've promised the kids we will get there.
I know you were only teasing cos you know i'd get you back in August if you weren't!!!!
I'm hoping that we might be allowed to come back a couple of days late so that we can get cheaper booking later in August.The girl i'm hoping to go with works with me you see.
It might take a while but we WILL get back!!!

[ukwdwnut]

My biggest problem is i really need to know how much it's all going to cost before i book it.It's a lot of money for me to commit to so far in advance.I really am thinking of forgetting the whole idea because it scares the life out of me but i've promised the kids we will get there.
I know you were only teasing cos you know i'd get you back in August if you weren't!!!!
I'm hoping that we might be allowed to come back a couple of days late so that we can get cheaper booking later in August.The girl i'm hoping to go with works with me you see.
It might take a while but we WILL get back!!!

of course they let you know how much they are letting you have the seats for, i did not end up going with them tho as i found seats cheaper with who i ended up going with and saved £100 per seat by moving it 1 week later as well

you on half term already over there T?

[windbag]

Pricewise it depends on where you want to stay and how much you will spend on food/souveniers. October is probably cheaper than July/August (and of course not so hot) so how about the half term then? I am on my own with two teenagers and weve booked with virgin for idrive (9 days) and POR (5 days). With 7 day Disney pass for all and 5 park flexes, insurance, spending money (based on £150 per day), overnight stay in hotel at Gatwick, transport costs to and fro airport its all come to £5000. Actual holiday cost £1740 excluding entry tickets. Im going on a quiet time so I would assume your costs would be higher. However I am going to a Disney site which costs more than 14 days on IDrive. I agree that if your brave (and with all the help you get on here) it would be cheaper to DIY. How about doing it the other way round - work out how much a month you can save for x amount of months (eg if you plan to go August 2006 work it out for March 05 - July 06 excluding Nov/Dec as its costly at Christmas for presents - that gives you 15 months at x amount saved each month) and once youve reached a figure, take off what you will use for spending money and whatevers left is what youll need for flights, hotel, insurance and entry tickets. Does that make any sense???? (ie if you save £300/month x 15 = £4,500 for holiday) Oh, and the advice about the idrive souvenier shops saves tons!

[Vikki]

You only get 1 week in October half term though. Well, most places do, we're on the 6 term year and get 2 weeks in October, but I don't think we'd go then, you need a bit of a break during half term. Although it is expensive, we'd only ever go in August....

[PaulaK]

My brother got a good deal with MyTravel last summer. he said the plane was excellent (new airbus with seatback TV's, downstairs loos etc). If you're not bothered about flying on a scheduled airline, charters often do better deals for kids. Another cheaper option is to fly indirect on a scheduled flight. :)

[Gwendolyn]

Where you're from DizneyBlonde? In the netherlands you have Tui and is really cheap to go to WDW for 9 days. It cost around 700 euro's per adult for flight and hotel. Maybe you have a Tui travelagent too in your country?