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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Disney Is this unrealistic?
Can 3 people spend 5 days on a budget of $3000?
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Posted 5/2/17 4:59 PM  |
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Pumpkin1
LIF Adult
Member since 12/05 3715 total posts
Name:
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Disney Is this unrealistic?
Yes, if you can get free dining and stay in a value. Last year, we did 5 of us with Free Dining and park tickets for 4 days, total trip was 6 days/5 nights, for a little under $4k.
Message edited 5/2/2017 5:28:38 PM.
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| Posted 5/2/17 5:28 PM |
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ANewDayHasCome
Love multiplies, not divides
Member since 11/12 14481 total posts
Name:
Me
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Disney Is this unrealistic?
Yes. Free dining at a value resort. Free dining will give you quick service, no table service, but you can pay to upgrade. What are your dates?
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| Posted 5/2/17 5:51 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Disney Is this unrealistic?
I am doing 6 days for just over 3k at a moderate but it's only 2 days at the parks because I am running 2 races while I am there. It does include dining.
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| Posted 5/2/17 6:37 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
What are must sees for an 11 and 14yo in 3-4 days?
This would be end of august
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| Posted 5/2/17 6:43 PM |
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Lauren82
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 4580 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
We were 5 people (2 adults, 2 kids and 1 kid was still under 3) and we stayed 6 nights at a value resort for $2900...we upgraded to a table service meal plan from free dining and had a 5 day parkhopper ticket. Our airfare was $1500 for 5 tickets on Southwest. I think you could probably do it for close to $3000 if you stayed in a value (which I personally didn't have any issue with!). If you don't have a free dining promotion, there are definitely ways to eat for less too.
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| Posted 5/2/17 6:51 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Did you go on the website and punch in your dates? That's the easiest way to see. Click on special offers, then go through that way. Don't do a park hopper, just get one park per day tickets. Price out value hotels.
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| Posted 5/2/17 9:35 PM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Look off site too.
Pricing out a week in September (sat-sat), I can get a total trip cost of $1500 for a week stay for 3 including airfare, hotel (Radisson) and car rental. Lots of hotels will offer FREE parks transportation if you are flexible. Most will include a breakfast (take a fruit with you to the parks). Do some grocery shopping for snacks & waters or drink & you save a ton of $. There are also decent hotels that are cheaper. Tickets for 5 days for parks will run you just over $1000. That leaves a $500 food budget... which may work especially if you can eat offsite.
Another real option is if you are feeling adventurous, DRIVE. Take 2 days in the way down... esp if you have time. You save airfare and car rental... and you can do some beach sightseeing on the way down (myrtle beach and Virginia Beach). It essentially pays for your park tickets!!! We used to do Disney on the cheap all the time when I was young. It can really be done on an extreme budget. Not everyone has $$$ to fork out on Disney and if you drive through Kissimmee, it's full of vacationers. The hotels can be nicer than the Disney resort ones and one third the price (I've done both). Time and convenience equals money... but if you have time and are short on money... there are ways (and the inconvenience isn't that bad).
Message edited 5/3/2017 7:59:54 AM.
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| Posted 5/2/17 10:09 PM |
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ChristinaM128
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 4043 total posts
Name:
Christina
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
I'd highly encourage looking into stopping at a grocery store down there or doing grocery delivery. We were shocked at how much money we spent on water and little snacks (and we had groceries delivered with these items! - we still kept treating ourselves). Even if you do a meal plan.
Also think about getting Disney gift cards for souvenirs so keep in budget. Another shock when at the end of each day we realized what we spent on pidly little things.
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| Posted 5/3/17 6:49 AM |
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ANewDayHasCome
Love multiplies, not divides
Member since 11/12 14481 total posts
Name:
Me
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Disney Is this unrealistic?
I also know people buy Disney gift cards at target using they're red cards so they're discounted.
Garden grocer delivery for snacks, food, water...
Plug your dates in the WDW website to get an idea. Offsite is an option too.
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| Posted 5/3/17 7:29 AM |
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Salason
♥
Member since 6/05 9878 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
I spent $4k for 5 days with 3 people but we stayed at a deluxe (WL which tends to be one of the cheaper deluxes). We only did two days at the park and enjoyed the pool/boardwalk/downtown Disney the other days. So I think you could probably do a value or possibly even a moderate off peak for $3k.
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| Posted 5/3/17 8:57 AM |
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lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Stay at a value resort and look at "off peak" dates to save money.
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| Posted 5/3/17 8:59 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Disney Is this unrealistic?
I wouldn't stay off site to be honest. You can get a value resort for not much more than staying off site. Staying off site, you have to rent a car, and know if you don't, their shuttles only run certain times and usually only go to certain parks, then you have to use Disney transportation to transfer. PLUS if you did rely only on the hotel shuttles, you still need transportation to/from the airport. IF you rented a car, then you have that expense, and the parking expense of $18 a day. Not to mention the inconvenience.
Food at Disney isn't expensive...at least counter service. I mean, not anymore expensive than going to say Five Guys for lunch. We like to bring breakfast items and eat in the room. And eat lunch/dinner counter service. Sit down character meals are too expensive at Disney...$100 at least for your kids ages, and not worth it. We go to Disney a few times a year, and sometimes spend very little, and sometimes spend too much. You can definitely do it for your price though.
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| Posted 5/3/17 9:26 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by nycgirl
Look off site too.
Pricing out a week in September (sat-sat), I can get a total trip cost of $1500 for a week stay for 3 including airfare, hotel (Radisson) and car rental. Lots of hotels will offer FREE parks transportation if you are flexible. Most will include a breakfast (take a fruit with you to the parks). Do some grocery shopping for snacks & waters or drink & you save a ton of $. There are also decent hotels that are cheaper. Tickets for 5 days for parks will run you just over $1000. That leaves a $500 food budget... which may work especially if you can eat offsite.
Another real option is if you are feeling adventurous, DRIVE. Take 2 days in the way down... esp if you have time. You save airfare and car rental... and you can do some beach sightseeing on the way down (myrtle beach and Virginia Beach). It essentially pays for your park tickets!!! We used to do Disney on the cheap all the time when I was young. It can really be done on an extreme budget. Not everyone has $$$ to fork out on Disney and if you drive through Kissimmee, it's full of vacationers. The hotels can be nicer than the Disney resort ones and one third the price (I've done both). Time and convenience equals money... but if you have time and are short on money... there are ways (and the inconvenience isn't that bad).
I have always stayed offsite and love it. We are only staying onsite due to the logistics with having to be at the park for the race at 4am.
Definitely look offsite. There are great resorts that will have so many activities that you don't have to do parks the entire time. I stayed at Orange Lake in a 2 bed unit with a full kitchen. You are able to cook to save money and they have 3 or more pools, water slides, lazy river, their own characters etc.
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| Posted 5/3/17 9:27 AM |
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jamnmore
LIF Adult
Member since 6/16 989 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by BargainMama
I wouldn't stay off site to be honest. You can get a value resort for not much more than staying off site. Staying off site, you have to rent a car, and know if you don't, their shuttles only run certain times and usually only go to certain parks, then you have to use Disney transportation to transfer. PLUS if you did rely only on the hotel shuttles, you still need transportation to/from the airport. IF you rented a car, then you have that expense, and the parking expense of $18 a day. Not to mention the inconvenience.
Food at Disney isn't expensive...at least counter service. I mean, not anymore expensive than going to say Five Guys for lunch. We like to bring breakfast items and eat in the room. And eat lunch/dinner counter service. Sit down character meals are too expensive at Disney...$100 at least for your kids ages, and not worth it. We go to Disney a few times a year, and sometimes spend very little, and sometimes spend too much. You can definitely do it for your price though.
When we went we stayed offsite. We had a 2 br/2 BA apartment with full kitchen and W/D. We rented a car for the week and paid for parking at Disney. We still saved money over staying onsite. We ate local to where we were staying and saved money that way as well. We went to the market and filled the room with snacks and beverages to eat while we were there and I made breakfast every morning. One night I even made dinner. It was nice.
Message edited 5/3/2017 9:54:03 AM.
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| Posted 5/3/17 9:53 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by jamnmore
Posted by BargainMama
I wouldn't stay off site to be honest. You can get a value resort for not much more than staying off site. Staying off site, you have to rent a car, and know if you don't, their shuttles only run certain times and usually only go to certain parks, then you have to use Disney transportation to transfer. PLUS if you did rely only on the hotel shuttles, you still need transportation to/from the airport. IF you rented a car, then you have that expense, and the parking expense of $18 a day. Not to mention the inconvenience.
Food at Disney isn't expensive...at least counter service. I mean, not anymore expensive than going to say Five Guys for lunch. We like to bring breakfast items and eat in the room. And eat lunch/dinner counter service. Sit down character meals are too expensive at Disney...$100 at least for your kids ages, and not worth it. We go to Disney a few times a year, and sometimes spend very little, and sometimes spend too much. You can definitely do it for your price though.
When we went we stayed offsite. We had a 2 br/2 BA apartment with full kitchen and W/D. We rented a car for the week and paid for parking at Disney. We still saved money over staying onsite. We ate local to where we were staying and saved money that way as well. We went to the market and filled the room with snacks and beverages to eat while we were there and I made breakfast every morning. One night I even made dinner. It was nice.
Eh, time is money to me. If you are paying $$$ for tickets, and wasting time leaving the parks to eat offsite, and then dealing with the whole parking fiasco at the MK (park, take tram, then take boat or monorail to park), that isn't worth it to me. Now if you are in Florida and doing Disney as a "side" trip, and have time to lounge around, different story. I'm under the impression that the OP is just doing Disney though, and 5 days isn't long, so schlepping offsite isn't worth it. At least not to me. We've done both BTW. And in August, value hotels are like $115 a night or something. So it's cheap. And free transportation.
Message edited 5/3/2017 9:58:44 AM.
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| Posted 5/3/17 9:57 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
For the package, tickets, level of resort and time of year you go it's possible. But just remember, unless you get free dining, eating while on vacation will add a substantial amount to your vacation even after paying for the package itself.
Just to give you an idea...........................We're leaving on Friday for 10 days, family of 4 (2 kids and 2 adults), staying at POR which is a moderate resort, with 7 day (non-hopper) park passes, and the memory maker added and our vacation cost us about $4100. We anticipate adding at least another $1K while we are down there in food and extras. My kids are little (4 and 8) and the food portions are pretty huge, even in a kids meal, so to save money my kids will likely split meals most of the time..........they aren't big eaters anyway. I think that's a pretty good price for a 10 day Disney vacation!
Basically, if you plan right you can easily do this within your budget. Just my two cents, I HIGHLY recommend staying on property, even if it's a value resort. There is nothing like being on Disney property, I feel like the magic never ends plus you don't have to rent a car or pay for parking, the Disney transportation is great, you can take advantage of EMH, anything you buy within the parks will be delivered to your resort so you don't need to carry anything, and I just think it's more fun overall to stay on property.
Have a great time planning!
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| Posted 5/3/17 11:16 AM |
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Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
Name:
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Disney Is this unrealistic?
yes - if you are going the end of August get a quote from MAGICAL VACATIONS TRAVEL... they have an agency exclusive deal at that time and has saved me a lot!
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| Posted 5/3/17 11:18 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by Hofstra26
For the package, tickets, level of resort and time of year you go it's possible. But just remember, unless you get free dining, eating while on vacation will add a substantial amount to your vacation even after paying for the package itself.
Just to give you an idea...........................We're leaving on Friday for 10 days, family of 4 (2 kids and 2 adults), staying at POR which is a moderate resort, with 7 day (non-hopper) park passes, and the memory maker added and our vacation cost us about $4100. We anticipate adding at least another $1K while we are down there in food and extras. My kids are little (4 and 8) and the food portions are pretty huge, even in a kids meal, so to save money my kids will likely split meals most of the time..........they aren't big eaters anyway. I think that's a pretty good price for a 10 day Disney vacation!
Basically, if you plan right you can easily do this within your budget. Just my two cents, I HIGHLY recommend staying on property, even if it's a value resort. There is nothing like being on Disney property, I feel like the magic never ends plus you don't have to rent a car or pay for parking, the Disney transportation is great, you can take advantage of EMH, anything you buy within the parks will be delivered to your resort so you don't need to carry anything, and I just think it's more fun overall to stay on property.
Have a great time planning!
I think that is pretty great for 10 days also!
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| Posted 5/3/17 11:41 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by Hofstra26
For the package, tickets, level of resort and time of year you go it's possible. But just remember, unless you get free dining, eating while on vacation will add a substantial amount to your vacation even after paying for the package itself.
Just to give you an idea...........................We're leaving on Friday for 10 days, family of 4 (2 kids and 2 adults), staying at POR which is a moderate resort, with 7 day (non-hopper) park passes, and the memory maker added and our vacation cost us about $4100. We anticipate adding at least another $1K while we are down there in food and extras. My kids are little (4 and 8) and the food portions are pretty huge, even in a kids meal, so to save money my kids will likely split meals most of the time..........they aren't big eaters anyway. I think that's a pretty good price for a 10 day Disney vacation!
Basically, if you plan right you can easily do this within your budget. Just my two cents, I HIGHLY recommend staying on property, even if it's a value resort. There is nothing like being on Disney property, I feel like the magic never ends plus you don't have to rent a car or pay for parking, the Disney transportation is great, you can take advantage of EMH, anything you buy within the parks will be delivered to your resort so you don't need to carry anything, and I just think it's more fun overall to stay on property.
Have a great time planning!
I think that is pretty great for 10 days also!
Thanks! We were fortunate to score a room discount promotion. I booked last June, when they released the discounts at the end of December I called right away to have the promotion applied to my reservation and I ended up saving $1000 on our vacation. 
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| Posted 5/3/17 5:44 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by Aries14
yes - if you are going the end of August get a quote from MAGICAL VACATIONS TRAVEL... they have an agency exclusive deal at that time and has saved me a lot!
HAHA i sent her an FM this afternoon saying the same thing!! We got an awesome deal with MVT last August-- at the Polynesian 
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| Posted 5/3/17 9:01 PM |
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luckysmom
Yes it is! Going as planned:)
Member since 6/07 5339 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by Pumpkin1
Yes, if you can get free dining and stay in a value. Last year, we did 5 of us with Free Dining and park tickets for 4 days, total trip was 6 days/5 nights, for a little under $4k.
For 5 of you???? How? We are a family of 5 and thinking of going again!
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| Posted 5/4/17 9:33 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by luckysmom
Posted by Pumpkin1
Yes, if you can get free dining and stay in a value. Last year, we did 5 of us with Free Dining and park tickets for 4 days, total trip was 6 days/5 nights, for a little under $4k.
For 5 of you???? How? We are a family of 5 and thinking of going again!
It's all about the time of year, the resort you pick, and the promotions they are running.
Like I mentioned above, it is costing me $4100 for our upcoming trip, 2 kids and 2 adults, and that's 10 days at a moderate resort (POR), 7 day non-hopper park passes, and memory maker.
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| Posted 5/4/17 9:50 AM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Is this unrealistic?
Posted by ml110
Posted by Aries14
yes - if you are going the end of August get a quote from MAGICAL VACATIONS TRAVEL... they have an agency exclusive deal at that time and has saved me a lot!
HAHA i sent her an FM this afternoon saying the same thing!! We got an awesome deal with MVT last August-- at the Polynesian
Is she a poster on here? I left a VM yesterday and havent heard back
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| Posted 5/4/17 7:42 PM |
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