[ddoll]

I agree with the renting DVC points and eliminating the hopper option. Those two things alone will save you a bundle. I think it can be done.

I know you don't want to cook, but with DVC you can easily have cold breakfast foods there in the room and save another big chunk of cash.

[lscjamouse]

Great ideas for saving money.

[iluvwdw]

Originally Posted by ddoll

I agree with the renting DVC points and eliminating the hopper option. Those two things alone will save you a bundle. I think it can be done.

I know you don't want to cook, but with DVC you can easily have cold breakfast foods there in the room and save another big chunk of cash.

You are so right! We have rented DVC points MANY times in the past and had Deluxe Accomodations, for Value/Moderate prices (before we bought into DVC). We were able to purchase the Dining Plan WITHOUT having to buy park tickets! We bought tickets from an authorized dealer and saved more there. We also get the no expiration option and we use a 10 day hopper over 2-3 trips (and the PLUS options seem to last forever!)

There are DEFINITELY ways to take a budget trip, trust me. I went last year for 2 weeks...10 days onsite, 7 days offsite at our timeshare. I stayed at POP during FREE DINING. We paid $84 a night for the room and we had to buy a 1 day MYW base ticket for each of us.

I also agree with having breakfast foods and snacks in your room. Bagels, pop tarts, donuts, cereal, cereal bars, etc. It will save you a bundle on breakfast at your resort or at the parks!

GOOD LUCK...and if you decide to skip a year, next year's trip will be that much better.

[Remy]

Thank you for all the advice and I am looking into renting DVC points. That sounds like a good idea. Also, like Dana said, I will look into buying the tickets at a place like mousesavers and see if I can get a better deal.

Does anyone have a online spot to check out for really good rates on tickets?

Thanks in Advance.
-Marygrace

[ddoll]

Originally Posted by Remy

Thank you for all the advice and I am looking into renting DVC points. That sounds like a good idea. Also, like Dana said, I will look into buying the tickets at a place like mousesavers and see if I can get a better deal.

Does anyone have a online spot to check out for really good rates on tickets?

Thanks in Advance.
-Marygrace

There are several reputable online brokers right now. One is mapleleaftickets, another is undercovertourist, and the other is floridaorlandotickets

And once you decide on the best type of ticket for you and the best price, then go check out your local AAA to see if they can beat it. Sometimes they can.

[bribren]

Rent DVC might be a way to go.

Stay off-site. Ive found 3 BDR condos for about $150 a night.

Skip the Dining plan and split entrees.

Do you belong to a union or assoc. that has tickets? We get 7 day hoppers w/waterparks for 284 each.

[disneycouple30]

We (2 adults) are going down this december for 6 nights and 7 days. The cost so far is $1600.16 for the room at Riverside(Dixie Landing), $386 for flying down and back. (Baltimore to orlando) Approximately $800 for food and drinks. $300 for other items. The $1100 is what has been the average for our stay there. So it totals just a hair over $3000.

[Remy]

Originally Posted by bribren

Rent DVC might be a way to go.

Stay off-site. Ive found 3 BDR condos for about $150 a night.

Skip the Dining plan and split entrees.

Do you belong to a union or assoc. that has tickets? We get 7 day hoppers w/waterparks for 284 each.

Unfortunatlly I don't belong to any orgs or unions. What a great price you got.

[gingles]

The 4 nights get three free is extended to throught August 15, but some quick checking on the WDW site tells me the only hotels still available for that are Deluxes. However, since you have 7 nights (at two resorts) why not call WDW reservations and get them to convert you to that offer? It's worth a try, they might give you three nights at the CBR (and three days tickets) for free.

[Remy]

Originally Posted by disneycouple30

We (2 adults) are going down this december for 6 nights and 7 days. The cost so far is $1600.16 for the room at Riverside(Dixie Landing), $386 for flying down and back. (Baltimore to orlando) Approximately $800 for food and drinks. $300 for other items. The $1100 is what has been the average for our stay there. So it totals just a hair over $3000.

What a great price to include airfare.

[Remy]

Originally Posted by gingles

The 4 nights get three free is extended to throught August 15, but some quick checking on the WDW site tells me the only hotels still available for that are Deluxes. However, since you have 7 nights (at two resorts) why not call WDW reservations and get them to convert you to that offer? It's worth a try, they might give you three nights at the CBR (and three days tickets) for free.

I did take advantage of the 3/4 deal and we are staying (DRUMROLL PLEASE...) at WL (courtyard bunk beds) for 7 nights MYW with dinning for a hair over 3,000 for the four of us. I wanted to keep it under 2,500 this year but this deal was too great to give up especially when I saved well over 1,000. AND booking it through AAA saved us another $400.

Our trip last year at AKL concierge MYW plus dinning 6 nights just a hair under $5,000. WOW what was I thinking???? But it was my DH very first trip to WDW so I wanted to make it extra magical for him.

[hanwill]

Remy... I love your countdown...

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by Remy

I did take advantage of the 3/4 deal and we are staying (DRUMROLL PLEASE...) at WL (courtyard bunk beds) for 7 nights MYW with dinning for a hair over 3,000 for the four of us. I wanted to keep it under 2,500 this year but this deal was too great to give up especially when I saved well over 1,000. AND booking it through AAA saved us another $400.

Our trip last year at AKL concierge MYW plus dinning 6 nights just a hair under $5,000. WOW what was I thinking???? But it was my DH very first trip to WDW so I wanted to make it extra magical for him.

I'm so happy that you found a way to go!

[TaraRae82]

My recommendations have already been stated. My fave way to do budget and still feel like you're splurging is to make sure to travel on days where flights are cheapest. For us, we can get $79 one way from Southwest if we travel on Wednesdays. Also, cut the Deluxe resort altogether. I'd rather do my whole trip at one resort anyway. I don't want to interrupt the vacation by having to move. I hate packing! It makes it feel like the trip is over! No good. I always unpack entirely when we get there and hide the suitcases (as if we were staying forever). As far as saving with food costs, we do the dining plan and use our snack credits for bfast. We use our counter service for lunch and then the TS for dinner. We don't always eat bfast depending on ADR times and where we'll be so those unused QS credits go to things like Dole Whip and School House Bread or wine if we're there for the F&W Festival! YUM. This way we get the most for our buck and never have to buy food OOP.

I sure hope you find a way to make it work! GL!
I'm trying to talk DH into going with our baby girl in the fall (she'll be almost 1). My best friend and her family are going then and their youngest is the same age as DD and we want them to get their first haircuts on Main Street together. :) He hasn't said no when I talk about it! That's almost yes! Ha!

ETA: I see you did get it figured out! HOORAY! Have a wonderful trip!