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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Saving for Disney
The Disney post got me thinking...if I were to save for say a 5 night stay in Disney, moderate priced everything how much do I need for a family of 3? I know there are a lot of variables, and since I'm not ready I'm not doing research on timeshares, hotels, packages, etc. Just want to know what the "average" price can be?
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Posted 9/24/12 9:07 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Saving for Disney
The best way I think is to pick a hotel and time of year (if you are looking in the future where dates haven't been released) you wish to go. Then price it out on their website. This way you will get the rack rate. It is easier for example if you are booking for dates already released because you can price tickets, hotel, dining etc and find out what the exact cost will be rack rate. Then you just have to hope for a discount. It is harder if you are looking for say spring of 2014. In that case I would price out a trip for that same week in 2013 or same holiday season (since easter/spring break dates change you want the same comparable week). Then I would add at least $500 to that amount. It won't give you an exact amount but roughly you would get an idea if you need 5k, 3k or 8k etc to get a rough idea and allow for price increases. Then you could always find ways to cut back or upgrade depending on your needs or budget.
You won't get an exact dollar amount if dates haven't been released but you can at least have a ballpark estimate. Make you compare apple to apples. If you price out the same category room/tickets/dining plan. That one week in value slow season with discounts might cost $3,500 but might be $5k during peak holiday season.
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| Posted 9/24/12 9:40 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Saving for Disney
I just researched this for months.
We are going Feb break because I'm a teacher and we have a child in school. I could give you info on the quotes I got and the prices I'm paying, but if you're not going at a peak time, the numbers will be too high and probably scare you off 
If you can post your time of year, we can help you more.
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| Posted 9/25/12 4:59 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Saving for Disney
Most states don't have Feb break, so the only thing that should be inflated is the airfare since they jack up the prices on days school is out.
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| Posted 9/25/12 4:40 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by BargainMama
Most states don't have Feb break, so the only thing that should be inflated is the airfare since they jack up the prices on days school is out.
It's true many states don't have Feb break but it will not seem so at Disney.In addiiton to the flight, your hotel stay will be more expensive. President's week is peak season and it may also be blacked out from discounts. You're also facing level 10 crowds all week.
I would say your very best bet at saving money will be to be flexible about dates. If you have to travel when kids are off school you're more limited though there are times that are still cheaper and less crowded than others. Even a few days matters. I've seen people save $700 by moving a trip a few days (SAME exact trip) and recently $1400 by moving it a week. What helps with this is working with someone who knows what they are doing (If you call Disney, they will NOT say "Hey if you come on the 17th instead of the 14th, you'll save $1000 on the exact same package", but a Disney specialist TA will) and to book early. Over the summer discounts for Free Dining and Percent Off Offers were announced. Some resorts dates and room types were completely booked before the public announcement went out. We're talking nothing at any Resort for a particular week by about 9am. if you book early and have everything set up with an agent you'll have someone to jump all over that deal for you and also, you'll be getting first crack at the deals that do come out. People who booked in June for October are saving up to 30% or getting Free Dining. Someone who tried to book that in August probably only found full price rooms left. You also want to book far enough in advance so you can get the dining you want, so booking at least 7 months ahead would be my recommendation.
You also want to compare discounts. If you are staying Deluxe and you only have 2 adults, then a percent off deal is going to be better than Free Dining, for example. Maximum savings takes some planning and knowledge.
I have a few other tricks up my sleeve for saving money, but I think being flexible about dates can save you money(as well as time waiting in line) and booking early with someone who understands discounts are key.
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| Posted 9/25/12 7:13 PM |
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NewlyMrs
Laugh-Live-Love LIFE!
Member since 10/06 14432 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Saving for Disney
So if you are flexible with dates, when is the cheapest time to go? (we drive, so no need to worry about airfare rates, unless we can find a greaaaaaat rate!).
I'm already thinking of our next trip!
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| Posted 9/25/12 9:02 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Saving for Disney
We went Presidents week and aside from the marathon people in the hotel, it was def. Not crowded. Not at all actually.
Oh, and I must luck out because we never book far in advance...3 months at most I would say, and usually manage to get some sort of discount. I don't book a bunch of dining though because we go so often, and we don't like to spend hours each day eating.
Message edited 9/25/2012 9:50:48 PM.
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| Posted 9/25/12 9:47 PM |
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Mouse Tales Travel
LIFamilies Business
Member since 7/08 417 total posts
Name:
Melissa Salinas
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by NewlyMrs
So if you are flexible with dates, when is the cheapest time to go? (we drive, so no need to worry about airfare rates, unless we can find a greaaaaaat rate!).
I'm already thinking of our next trip!
The actual dates will depend on the level of resort but in general, Jan/Feb (avoiding marathon and holidays) and mid-August to mid-September.
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008
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| Posted 9/25/12 10:50 PM |
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Serendipity
Summer!
Member since 4/07 7631 total posts
Name:
PrayingWishingHopingALOT
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Re: Saving for Disney
SO my question can using a TA get you a "better" deal than say booking directly through disney?
We are looking to possibly go in January.
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| Posted 9/26/12 8:44 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by Serendipity
SO my question can using a TA get you a "better" deal than say booking directly through disney?
We are looking to possibly go in January.
The prices are the same whether you book with Disney directly or use a TA. A TA will do the work for you and help you plan your itinerary, etc., and I'm sure the several on here will chime in.
I like to have 100% control of my reservation so I have never used a TA. I book my own travel and dining directly online on the WDW website. It's something I enjoy doing. Some people find it overwhelming, and use a TA, but I don't. Sometimes if there is a good deal coming out, you can only book by phone for a certain number of days before it goes live online. But www.mousesavers.com is a GREAT resource for planning your own vacation, and she lists all the discount dates, rumor dates, etc.
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| Posted 9/26/12 9:02 AM |
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Mouse Tales Travel
LIFamilies Business
Member since 7/08 417 total posts
Name:
Melissa Salinas
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by Serendipity
SO my question can using a TA get you a "better" deal than say booking directly through disney?
We are looking to possibly go in January.
That depends. If you're up on all of the current discounts and know what to ask for, then the prices a TA gets you and what you can get yourself from Disney is the same since we book your reservation directly with Disney ourselves.
On the phone and online, Disney doesn't automatically offer you the lowest price, they won't tell you that the fall room discount is only 5% for this resort on your dates but if you switch resorts or dates, you can have 25% off for the same category of room, etc. That's not what they're there for - they're order takers, not vacation planners.
At Mouse Tales, we also watch for upcoming discounts and will apply it to your reservation autoMAGICally, then let you know how much you saved. If the promotion doesn't exactly fit your vacation, we'll break down what you'd need to do to make it fit and if it's worth it or not. For the last promotion release, clients saved between $52 (hey, it's Mickey bar money!  and $1,742 and I sat on the phone for 4.5 hours to get it, not them.
If working on all of the details of your vacation is part of the fun for you - like for BargainMama - then working with a TA is most likely not for you. We do have some planners who book with us solely for the discount watch and they do everything else themselves but mostly, if you're a planner, you want to do it all yourself.
If you'd rather enjoy the fun without doing the work, then try a TA.
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008
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| Posted 9/26/12 9:30 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Saving for Disney
I have (almost) total flexibility in when I can go since I don't have kids and I'm not a teacher. I don' t necessarily look for the absolute cheapest times to go, but I do want a good deal and low crowds.
My favorite times:
Week after Thanksgiving through 2nd week of December - low crowds, generally good rates, great weather and Christmas decor.
Mid-October: Food and Wine festival, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, decent crowds, warm, but not roasting weather.
January (avoiding MLK day and marathon) - super low crowds, cool weather.
September is also a great time to go but it's one of the times I can't travel. It's also still HOT. I'd rather wait a month and go for Food and Wine. It all depends on what's important to you. I know some people who don't like January because you can get into a cold snap and no be able to swim. I will personally swim in 60 degree weather, but I don't really care if I get to swim or not, so it's not important to me, but if it important, then August or September would be better for you.
ETA: Many of you have seen the picture but when DH proposed it was one of the coldest weeks on record and our photos show us sporting matching ski jackets. I think we actually did swim once, at night, in the freezing cold on that trip, but in general the cold doesn't bother us. We went in June once and we were really struggling with heat, so it all depends on your priorities.
Message edited 9/26/2012 5:35:39 PM.
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| Posted 9/26/12 5:33 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Saving for Disney
Would only be school vacations. I would MAYBE take the kids out of school 1 day to get an cheaper rate.
But I'm still not getting if I'm looking at $3K, 5K, 7K, or 10K???
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| Posted 9/26/12 8:02 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by stinger
Would only be school vacations. I would MAYBE take the kids out of school 1 day to get an cheaper rate.
But I'm still not getting if I'm looking at $3K, 5K, 7K, or 10K???
It could be any of the above, depending on what options you're looking for.
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| Posted 9/26/12 9:23 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Saving for Disney
Just go on the Disney site and price it out. There are too many variables. I priced a trip thursday before thanksgiving coming home thanksgiving day, and it was around $2500 for moderate hotel, free dining for the week, and this was for 1 adult, a junior and a child. Add another adult and its the price of an adult park ticket since dining was free. Air was $869 on southwest.
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| Posted 9/26/12 9:29 PM |
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gdubs
This baby is awesome!
Member since 11/10 2467 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Saving for Disney
It's going to vary. I would just say go to the Disney site and price it out for the time of year you were thinking of going. As for the best times to go... for now crowds I would have to say FOR ME it's early October. It's still warm out and the weekends were a little crowded but during the week there were ZERO people. January is kind of dead as well until you go during Marathon weekend which we did this year since DH ran in it and the parks were packed. Not as bad as I've seen during the summer months but still a ton of people.
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| Posted 9/26/12 11:29 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by BargainMama
Just go on the Disney site and price it out. There are too many variables. I priced a trip thursday before thanksgiving coming home thanksgiving day, and it was around $2500 for moderate hotel, free dining for the week, and this was for 1 adult, a junior and a child. Add another adult and its the price of an adult park ticket since dining was free. Air was $869 on southwest.
Going to the Disney site and pricing it out will help you get an idea, but it won't necessarily get you the best price. The site won't tell you that if you check in a day earlier you'll be eligible for free dining, or that Port Orleans French Quarter has no discounted rooms left, but Riverside does, etc. It also defaults to the most expensive tickets.
I've done every kind of Disney trip, from Value resort and sharing quick service meals with my DH, to Deluxe resort and signature dining. It really runs the gamut.
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| Posted 9/27/12 7:37 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by BargainMama
Just go on the Disney site and price it out. There are too many variables. I priced a trip thursday before thanksgiving coming home thanksgiving day, and it was around $2500 for moderate hotel, free dining for the week, and this was for 1 adult, a junior and a child. Add another adult and its the price of an adult park ticket since dining was free. Air was $869 on southwest.
Going to the Disney site and pricing it out will help you get an idea, but it won't necessarily get you the best price. The site won't tell you that if you check in a day earlier you'll be eligible for free dining, or that Port Orleans French Quarter has no discounted rooms left, but Riverside does, etc. It also defaults to the most expensive tickets.
I've done every kind of Disney trip, from Value resort and sharing quick service meals with my DH, to Deluxe resort and signature dining. It really runs the gamut.
She is asking for a ballpark figure. The Disney site will give her a ballpark figure.
And the special offers such as free dining, room only discounts, etc. are ALL under the "Special Offers" link, with the dates. The site is actually quite user friendly. You really have to be completely inept to not be able to figure it out LOL. Oh, and yes it does tell you if the hotel is sold out, and another is available. If the one you want doesn't pop under their "suggested" ones, you just check off another hotel in the category that you want and search again. When *I* check it doesn't default to the most expensive tickets. It USED to automatically check off hopper and waterparks, but it doesn't do that anymore. It does go with the max. days though, but it's easy peasy to change!
I get that you are a TA and you make a living booking people's Disney trips, and that is GREAT! However, your posts always imply that it's difficult to get yourself the deals that Disney advertises unless you go through a TA, or that it's difficult to do this on your own (especially to JUST get a ballpark figure!) and that is just not the case at all.
Message edited 9/27/2012 11:30:11 AM.
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| Posted 9/27/12 11:18 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Saving for Disney
It's definitely not impossible. You're 100% correct. i don't mean to imply that you can't do it, but that it's more complicated than just clicking online.
If you're willing to keep up with the discounts, you can definitely do it all on your own. However, it's not super intuitive. For example, with the current discount some days are not discounted at some hotels and are at others. It may look like it, but it doesn't actually tell you what percent off you're getting. So you could be looking for a 30% off discounted room, and full rack rate will pop up.
I'm sure they get a lot of people getting water parks fun and more tickets who don't need them just bc that's what pops up. I know when Dh booked our first trip years ago we ended up paying for all of these features we didn't need because at the time we just didn't know.
No matter HOW you do it, a little research goes a LONG way.
I don't mean to be obnoxious. I've just heard so many people being negative about Disney saying it's so expensive, the lines are too long, etc etc and I always just want to say "You're not doing it right!"
ETA: Clearly I'm passionate about this. if someone has to spend more money than they need to, I'm offended by that. LOL
Message edited 9/27/2012 12:44:55 PM.
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| Posted 9/27/12 12:34 PM |
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JennP
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 3986 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by BargainMama
When *I* check it doesn't default to the most expensive tickets. It USED to automatically check off hopper and waterparks, but it doesn't do that anymore.
As recently as a couple of weeks ago it definitely was defaulting to the most expensive ticket for me.
I knew enough to change it, but I used to wonder how many people would get tripped up by that.
I have planned many trips and am savvy with bargain hunting but I have to echo the TAs here who say that there are layers of complications that many other trips don't entail.
Jenniferever's been very helpful to me in planning my own trip.
I wish I had the time to do more of the research on my own.
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| Posted 9/27/12 1:01 PM |
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Mouse Tales Travel
LIFamilies Business
Member since 7/08 417 total posts
Name:
Melissa Salinas
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by BargainMama
And the special offers such as free dining, room only discounts, etc. are ALL under the "Special Offers" link, with the dates. The site is actually quite user friendly. You really have to be completely inept to not be able to figure it out LOL. Oh, and yes it does tell you if the hotel is sold out, and another is available. If the one you want doesn't pop under their "suggested" ones, you just check off another hotel in the category that you want and search again. When *I* check it doesn't default to the most expensive tickets. It USED to automatically check off hopper and waterparks, but it doesn't do that anymore. It does go with the max. days though, but it's easy peasy to change!
I get that you are a TA and you make a living booking people's Disney trips, and that is GREAT! However, your posts always imply that it's difficult to get yourself the deals that Disney advertises unless you go through a TA, or that it's difficult to do this on your own (especially to JUST get a ballpark figure!) and that is just not the case at all.
My clients don't see the value in scouring the Internet for which day is the start of Value Season 1, and how much less that will cost them than a Friday night during Fall Season, and whether Beach Club - Club Level or Grand Floridian - Theme Park View has the best discount on a particular day with the two current promotions and the make-up of their family. They don't want to sit and play on the Disney site putting different dates and resort combinations in to find the best value. They also don't want to worry they'll miss a better promotion once they have made a reservation.
I get that some people enjoy that type of thing - I do or I wouldn't do what I do - but not everyone does. That doesn't make them inept for choosing not to book directly with Disney, it means they'd rather spend their time and energy differently.
- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008
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| Posted 9/27/12 11:13 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Saving for Disney
Posted by BargainMama
Just go on the Disney site and price it out. There are too many variables. I priced a trip thursday before thanksgiving coming home thanksgiving day, and it was around $2500 for moderate hotel, free dining for the week, and this was for 1 adult, a junior and a child. Add another adult and its the price of an adult park ticket since dining was free. Air was $869 on southwest.
What is the Disney site address??
I have to be honest it's extremely overwhelming seeing every post on here about Disney!
I'm thinking I'd like 5 nights, relaxing and easty like we feel like we are on vaca, however also on a budget and would save wherever I can. Don't mind a kitchette type room where we can save $$ on food. Don't mind driving a bit to get to the parks, but then we'd need to pay for the rental car.
I would let the kids miss a day or 2 most of school, maybe if it's around the Sept Jewish holiday break it woudl be less than other school breaks??
Message edited 11/29/2012 7:57:28 PM.
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| Posted 11/29/12 7:56 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Saving for Disney
September is definitely a great time to go. It's one of the least crowded months and there are often great deals.
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| Posted 11/29/12 8:50 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Saving for Disney
Disneyworld.com
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| Posted 11/29/12 9:07 PM |
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