The Great 'Disney Cost Cutting' Hunt

sje_111

I went there in 2005 - I think this will still apply though.

Booked with First Choice after checking online for best prices (Travelocity and others) - FC managed to match the best price. After, I added 3, 14 day Disney passes at full price. I then checked online and found the same tickets at around 60% of the cost, so I contacted FC, told them this and that I was canceling the Disney tickets. They asked for the website and offered to match the price - the offer was so quick they either knew of the website or just took my word for it. I also did the same with travel insurance - found the price online was £30 less than FC's quote and they matched it. When I booked the hire car, I went for compact - about 4 weeks before the holiday I checked with FC how much an upgrade to the next size would be - only £2 (yes two) - that was worth it.

So 2 adults & 1 kid - 3 weeks in Orlando (hotel on I-Drive) with car, for the same cost as a friend paid the year after for 2 weeks in a Disney basic hotel with no car (also 2 adults and 1 kid).

The key thing is to remember to check the prices online before the balance is due - the threat of taking your spend elsewhere is a good motivator for the agent to match the price you find.

jkmum

If you don't want to rush around different parks every day, buy tickets direct at the gate (using a Nationwide card!). 10 days for $225, with no park hopping or water parks. Ideal if you have young children as you can just visit some of the park 1 day, leave when kids get too tired and come back another day to do another part. We rent a villa with a pool direct with the owner and spend a lot of time just chilling as a family there.

Take your own lunch, drinks and snacks. These can soon mount up over a 2 week holiday. Don't forget to inlcude cost of parking in your budget (about £5 per day).

Some other thoughts: nappies are not much cheaper there, so stuff your suitcase with them, then you've got extra room for the cheap shopping you're bringing back. Check prices of things on US shops websites, e.g. toysrus.com before you go to see if you should buy them here or there. Stock up presents: I bought various presents for 5 year old girls and boys and am now covered for parties for a while!

One thing we're considering in the future, when kids are older and family split up around the park to do different things is investing in walkie talkies. All Americans seem to use them rather than mobiles. We priced them last time we went, can't remember cost, but it was very reasonable. I've also noticed some villas now provide them in the rental. Much better than using your UK mobile.

symash

i went to florida a couple of years ago, i booked it all seperate which saved us a fortune to start with.

but the site i got my tickets from is americanattractions.co.uk
i cant remember what i paid, but there was a considerable saving compared to the travel agents ridiculous prices. i know they have an offer now called the florida funpass its £297 and gets you into
Magic Kingdom Park
Epcot
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney´s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Universal Studios
Universal´s Islands of Adventure
Wet´n Wild Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando
Aquatica
Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay
Pleasure Island in the Downtown Disney area
Disney´s Blizzard Beach Water Park
Disney´s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Disney´s Wide World of Sports Complex
DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Park


absolute bargain in my opinion

Mrs_Miggins_Pie_Shop

We have friends in the British Military who back in April were given free entry to Seaworld and Busch Gardens for a family of four on production of valid military ID. The guy that owns these parks is apparently very patriotic in these troubled times. Whether this is still available or not I wouldn't know but it is always worth asking the question. I do know that it isn't advertised.

Good Luck

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Disneyworld's a popular destination for Brits, but by the time you've bought tickets for the main parks, it's a significant extra cost on top of your hols.

So, this week I want to tap MoneySavers' collective ideas for cheap ways to get into Disneyworld, and other sights and attractions in Orlando. Did you buy a cheap ticket before you went? Did you find on offer for free tickets or money off? Did you wait until you got there to find the best bargains? Please reply and let us know.


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d.ylan

Can anyone expand on good resources they've used to find good direct villa owners previously? There are a few sites I've seen but some of them seem a little sketchy, and I have to wonder if the charges increase through using one of these sites if they're working as agents (or not if that's not the case)?

Quite a few of your posts mention booking villas direct so any tips on that front are greatly received!

kyh

If you are British Miltary try Forces Discount Directory and Forces Travel for military only discounts - although Eurodisney we managed to save £400 off a quoted £1250 trip. Also in the USA there are a lot of places that will give you a discount for being British Military so take your ID card and always ask - even the Greyhound buses will give you a massive 50% discount. If you don't ask you don't get!

Boppy_2

Rosani wrote: »

Every time I travel to Orlando I call up my local friends who work for Universal and Disney - free tickets every time!

I was going to say the same thing :rotfl: although i don't know anyone who works for Universal, it makes Disney trips cheaper.

Also if anyone who has any friends that work for the Disney company, if you persuade them to go with you they get perks for themselves and group by using their cast member card (do Disney still do them? I still have mine somewhere :rotfl: )

mamaduke

Hi if you book direct with Universal & are in the AA (or AAA as it is in USA) you can get discounted tickets. You need to qouate your AA number.
http://www.universalorlando.com/aaa/

The amount of discount is variable.

Also its handy to take the card with you as you can get hotel & car hire discounts too.

jkmum

d.ylan wrote: »

Can anyone expand on good resources they've used to find good direct villa owners previously? There are a few sites I've seen but some of them seem a little sketchy, and I have to wonder if the charges increase through using one of these sites if they're working as agents (or not if that's not the case)?

Quite a few of your posts mention booking villas direct so any tips on that front are greatly received!

If you google florida villas and look for sites with links that allow you to contact the owner direct or, even better, view the owner's website. www.vr360homes.co.uk and www.villas2000.com are two, but there are others.

nicolekyle

Just to confirm previous threads, all members of UK Armed Forces are entitled to free entry to Sea World, Orlando (and other parks).

I have used this before and it is quick and easy.

Managed to get my family of four in for free which is quite a saving! Just remember to take your Military ID card with you on holiday or you will be refused! I believe you will only be entitled to one free entry per annum though.

See the following link for more information:

http://www.herosalute.com/states/overview.html