[Paul S]

OK, the May super-duper-budget trip is being pushed back to September. We're debating about whether or not to retain the WDW lifestyle to which we've grown accustomed or, to try one of the value resorts.

Any comments? Main concerns are, are they pleasant to kick around at and enjoy "pool days"; and how is the transportation?

Paul

[BDavis932]

My top budget tips:

1) Stay at a value (they are very nice....REALLY....give it a try! All Stars Movies is really fun!)
2) Bring your own breakfast foods (can easily save you $25/day)
3) drive to WDW (We always drive. It costs about $200 in gas and $200 in hotel. Since there are four of us, we could never fly that cheap and it's 1150 miles, which works out to about 14 full length videos...I mean about 20 hours!! If you leave early on a Saturday Morning, you should arrive Sunday afternoon, you could stay Sun night through Saturday morning, and be back home by Sunday night!)
4) Use the new magic your way tickets. don't add on any of the "extras" and you can get yourself quite a deal!
5) Start saving for souvineers now...give your kids disney dollars for their allowance and when they get there, they will use their own money for the stuff they want.

Good Luck! Hope all your plans come together!

[Jen]

great tips, betty!

I found that not getting the park hopper option with our 7 day base tickets saved us $180! That's quite a savings. And, not once durning our trip did I think ~ oh, I can't hop.


Jen

[BDavis932]

Thanks, but Who's Betty???

I'm actually Heather (used hubbies login once cause I couldn't find mine and used it ever since!!!)

[missy H]

We stayed at PC last July and had a great time. We had interconnecting rooms and this worked out cheaper than a deluxe resort. The pools at PC are great the only thing that was missing was a water slide for my DD's but we went to AKL and the girls had a ball in the pool there. Just because you are staying at a value resort it doesn't mean that you can't use the other hotels for "pool days"!

[chiasgirl]

Originally Posted by missy H

We stayed at PC last July and had a great time. We had interconnecting rooms and this worked out cheaper than a deluxe resort. The pools at PC are great the only thing that was missing was a water slide for my DD's but we went to AKL and the girls had a ball in the pool there. Just because you are staying at a value resort it doesn't mean that you can't use the other hotels for "pool days"!

Officially guests are not allowed to pool hop unless they are DVC members.
I know they enforce the no pool hopping rule at Stormalong Bay...
It may be worth a try but be aware that you might not be allowed to use another resort's pool.

[chiasgirl]

Originally Posted by BDavis932

Thanks, but Who's Betty???

I'm actually Heather (used hubbies login once cause I couldn't find mine and used it ever since!!!)

I know when I see your login I always think of Bette Davis...Do you have Bette Davis eyes?

[missy H]

Originally Posted by chiasgirl

Officially guests are not allowed to pool hop unless they are DVC members.
I know they enforce the no pool hopping rule at Stormalong Bay...
It may be worth a try but be aware that you might not be allowed to use another resort's pool.

We checked before we used the pool at AKL both with the CM at PC and AKL and we were told that we could use all the facilities at any resort as long as we were staying on site. This was in June/July 2004

[mickaholic4077]

Missy,I asked the same thing in Sept.2002,and was booted out of Stormalong Bay along with my mother,and not very nicely,I might add. We were able to use the pool at AKL,at least,no one approached us and asked us if we were AKL resort guests.

Disneyboy,please weigh in on this one.

[gcbdad]

Originally Posted by stusbabydoll

great tips, betty!

I found that not getting the park hopper option with our 7 day base tickets saved us $180! That's quite a savings. And, not once durning our trip did I think ~ oh, I can't hop.


Jen

The only time this became an issue for us is on the day we went to AK. Since it closes at 5:00 we decided to go to EPCOT since we could Hop. With the new ticketing is it possible to buy the Park Hopper option for a day or 2 durign your stay or is it every day or nothing?