Going to DisneyWorld...how much can I save? (Part 1)
Posted 05-04-2009 at 01:01:47 PM by imhzgrlnotu
So we decided a few weeks ago that we're going to Disneyworld!
Wait let me rephrase that...Mark asked me to look up prices for DW. The first time he asked I didn't. He asked again so I started looking. Found out that in August they have a free dining promotion! Checked prices and told him what they were. He says "OK" which normally means sounds good, let your planning begin!
Here's a breakdown of the costs (at the time, more about that in a minute):
5 nights/6 days Fort Wilderness Cabin (has a seperate bedroom with full bed and bunk beds, plus a murphy bed [the kind that folds out of the wall] in the living room, AND a full kitchen, 500sf, plus parking right outside your cabin.), 4 days of park passes (since there's 4 parks), and with the free dining plan - 1 table meal, 1 counter service meal, and 1 snack per person per day.
Total for everything: $2688
Figuring for gas [yes, we're driving from Houston with 4 kids. Sounds like a BLAST doesn't it? lol]: $400
Extras while we're there including souvenirs, extra meals, gratuity for the free meals, and 2 hotel stays for on the way down and back: $1000
Rounding it out: $4000
Got everything planned, got a travel agent that was suggested here, we've been working together to get things done.
Going great right??
Well I found a Disney forum and I've spent pretty much every waking moment since reading stuff, writing everything down that I need to know or might need to know.
After seeing many peoples' opinions, suggestions, money saving tips, etc...I decided to price TWO rooms at one of the value resorts.
That's when the plans changed....
(see part 2 for more)
Wait let me rephrase that...Mark asked me to look up prices for DW. The first time he asked I didn't. He asked again so I started looking. Found out that in August they have a free dining promotion! Checked prices and told him what they were. He says "OK" which normally means sounds good, let your planning begin!
Here's a breakdown of the costs (at the time, more about that in a minute):
5 nights/6 days Fort Wilderness Cabin (has a seperate bedroom with full bed and bunk beds, plus a murphy bed [the kind that folds out of the wall] in the living room, AND a full kitchen, 500sf, plus parking right outside your cabin.), 4 days of park passes (since there's 4 parks), and with the free dining plan - 1 table meal, 1 counter service meal, and 1 snack per person per day.
Total for everything: $2688
Figuring for gas [yes, we're driving from Houston with 4 kids. Sounds like a BLAST doesn't it? lol]: $400
Extras while we're there including souvenirs, extra meals, gratuity for the free meals, and 2 hotel stays for on the way down and back: $1000
Rounding it out: $4000
Got everything planned, got a travel agent that was suggested here, we've been working together to get things done.
Going great right??
Well I found a Disney forum and I've spent pretty much every waking moment since reading stuff, writing everything down that I need to know or might need to know.
After seeing many peoples' opinions, suggestions, money saving tips, etc...I decided to price TWO rooms at one of the value resorts.
That's when the plans changed....
(see part 2 for more)
Total Comments 6
Comments
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My hubby and I are contemplating a Disney trip ourselves. We will be driving down too.... from TN. We are doing just a quick trip. 4 nights @ a value resort with 3 day base tickets & dining plan (not free at this time).
My DD will be vacationing with her BF. It will just be me, hubby, and the two boys. We aren't much on souveniers. I am thinking about $300 for gas (which is excessive but better safe than sorry). We make the drive straight so no hotels back & forth. We've used the dining plan in the past and found it was plenty of food. We will take a cooler for drinks and will have breakfast in the room.
We just decided to do this so .... we have ( should say had) NO $$ saved.
I decided to sell some things we don't need. Totals so far:
junk sales = $550
penny jar = $100
survey = $10
rebate = $5
totals = $665
Need = $2500
9 weeks left = need to earn extra $200/week towards goalPosted 05-05-2009 at 07:08:51 AM by ELLE-TN
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We went a few years back and used mouse savers . com to research our trip.
Don't know how good it is now, but we saved 1/2 on everything we did.Posted 05-05-2009 at 07:14:52 AM by thickbluebug -
good luck with your saving ELLE! we just decided to do this too, so we didnt really have any money saved either. although i had some money in my bank account still from my tax refund, and i always save my change for when i want something big (this qualifies lol) so thats a start. we have to have the balance of the rooms paid off by 7/2 ($2250) then we need to have the rest of the money by the time we leave 8/15. im hoping to make at least $1000 with a couple garage sales so that will help tremendously! i also have some model cars and stuff that was my dads that i just dont have room for so i plan on selling some of that. im sure hed rather it go to a fun trip for the kids than to just sit in my garage lol.Posted 05-05-2009 at 08:06:17 AM by imhzgrlnotu - thick, thanks for that site. theres so many i cant keep track lol. the main one i go on is disboards but i like checking out other sites too.Posted 05-05-2009 at 08:07:09 AM by imhzgrlnotu
- disboards is a great site.Posted 05-05-2009 at 10:00:34 AM by ELLE-TN
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Ft. Wilderness is a BLAST!!! they have campfire songs and outdoor movies that are all included in the price of going there. We took an RV from houston to there many years ago.
I am actually taking the girls to Disney Land next month...can't waitPosted 05-05-2009 at 07:57:44 PM by JANE4girls
