Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

What do you think is a reasonable amount to spend per person at a Disney property/resort?

A friend just told me she's spending under 9k on a week-long trip down to Disney for her family of 5. Of course she's staying at a Disney monorail resort during peak time, but that's just mind boggling!

Another friend is somehow able to cut down her pp. cost for a week long trip to $1000/pp by staying at a Disney value resort.

The difference in cost for these two Disney vacations is so extreme. What's your tip for saving on your Disney vacation and what's your pp budget for a Disney resort vs. nonDisney resort?

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

Go when they offer free dining. Stay on a property with water access - it might take a few minutes longer, but you will save money. See if you can rent a timeshare from someone you know. Don't go at peak times. Use a Disney specific travel agent.

ETA: I think 250 per person is a good figure including luggage for transportation. Use the magic bus from the airport so you don't need a car.

The room I would want to spend 250 a night and if food is included then it will cost less.

Do they still offer discount tickets from the regular disney store?

mousesavers

Message edited 5/15/2012 11:06:28 AM.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

was your first friend staying at one of the higher end resorts? that could be why it would cost so much more.
when DH & I went back in 2009 for 1 week, including flights (no car rental) and we stayed at the All Star Sports Resort, and all of our tickets, we paid about $1,000.00 for both of us. Obviously, this didn't include food, although breakfast was included in the hotel.

Every time I buy Disney tickets I always get them from this website (below) They have great deals and you can pick the ticket combo you want and add water park tickets for really cheap. So worth it!

http://orlando.hotelscorp.com/#

Staying at one of the All Star Resorts is family friendly and is considered one of their best value hotels. They all used to be a Days Inn years ago and were transformed into what you see today. The rooms are all clean and the grounds are impeccable, but its not a fancy room, just a bed and bathroom and fridge. Once you start looking at the higher priced hotels, you get more for your money but you pay a heck of a lot more too!

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

I thought Disney was a cheap vacation. We stayed off at the Sheraton Vistana Villages. I didn't think it was a big deal at all to drive to the parks. We went off peak (late April after all the spring breaks were over). The total cost of our vacation was probably around $3k. Both our kids were free this time. I could see it being at least double or triple that during peak times. In the future, we'd have to buy double everything too when the kids are older.

I'm still undecided if we would stay on a Disney property the next time. I liked having a kitchen. I liked being able to drive to dunkin doughnuts in the morning to pick up coffee and breakfast. We drove to 7Eleven to buy milk. We took a trip to the grocery store to buy fruit. I thought it was convenient to have a car.

Message edited 5/15/2012 2:02:38 PM.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

The monorail resorts are $$$, and she is probably paying rack rates. I would never spend that much!

The great thing about Disney World is that there are resorts for EVERY budget! Our value resort (Pop Century) is costing $850 for 8 nights in August. Can't beat that!

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

just be aware that when Disney offers "free dining" it's because you're paying full rack rate for the room.

Sometimes the "free dining" promotion isn't a bargain.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

Message edited 5/16/2012 12:44:16 PM.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

9K I would say she probably was in a club level (concierge class room) room with deluxe dining plan. I don't even get to 9k if you put in 3 kids (under 10) with club level and deluxe dining thanksgiving week. So I would say your friend is probably going all out.

I think you can definitely do a week at WDW for a lot less. The problem though is when you have 3 kids (unless one of them is under 3 you have to stay in a room for 5 and there aren't many of them unless you go family suite at values, POR with trundles or some of the deluxes). The values are only for 4 unless you get one of the family suites. But how much really depends on your personal interests. Those same 5 people could stay at Port Orleans Riverside (they have trundles so 5 can stay in a room) garden view, with the dining plan, and basic tickets (no park hopper or extras for 8 days) and get that for 4K. A family suite at a value would cost more than a moderate room and would run you $4,700.

I disagree though that disney is a cheap vacation. You can take a nice week long cruise on a nice line and pay the same or even less depending on the category etc.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

We did Disney for a family of 3 the first week of December 2011 and stayed at a monorail resort. We are headed back October 2012 and are staying at a value resort. We are spending @ $3K less.

I think it really depends on so many factors. Trip one included a park hopper ticket, trip 2 does not. Trip one had free dining, trip two does not. Trip one was 7 days, 6 nights. Trip two is 5 days, 4 nights.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

i went in january last year for 3 nights/4 days. deluxe dining package (they were doing free dining, so we just paid more for deluxe). stayed at a value resort. with park hopper pass for all 4 days.

total with air came out to be ~$1300.

Message edited 5/16/2012 10:51:28 AM.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

It totally depends on the experience you want AND the size/age of your family.

I can do a family of 4 with 2 kids under 10 staying on Disney property with Free Dining for 6 nights for less than $1,700.

I have a family who's staying 6 nights and spending just under $17,000 - that's including a discount and NOT including flights.

Disney has a little something for everyone!

- Kimberly Hill
Mouse Tales® Travel
LIFamilies Vendor
Creating Magical Vacations for LIFamilies since 2008

Did you book your vacation through Disney and now you’re overwhelmed? We can help!

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

The difference with UT tickets is that the proices they quote include tax vs the Disney prices online which don't include tax. I don't think it's a big enough difference to lose the advantages of a package or booking with a TA. But, every dollar counts.

Disney has such a wide range of experiences for everyone. DH and I have done it both ways. When we were in college we'd stay at the Value resorts on deep discounts, we'd split counter service meals and graze all day, only doing 1 or 2 table service meals for the week.

We've also stayed at Deluxe resorts, gotten Premium Annual Passes, and eaten 1-2 sit down meals per day.

We've had amazing trips every single time.

If you're trying to save money or get the most value for your money, I definitely suggest going in the off-season. The prices are cheaper to start with and you are more likely to get a discount. Food can get pretty expensive, so the Dining Plan can help you to pre-pay and maange those costs. With a larger family, Free Dining is often a good deal (but always check it against room only discounts).

Other ideas/things I have done:

Bring/have delivered water, pop tarts, granola bars, etc etc to have breakfast,possibly lunch and snacks covered. ifyou're driving it's easy.Otherwise you can order from garden grocer or take a taxi. You can also have water, granola, etc delivered from Costco or Staples. if you're flying down, fill a suitcase with snacks. On the way back, it will leave you plenty of room for souvenirs.

On that note, limit souvenirs.Know that anything you miss in the parks can be ordered later. I think the trap I used to fall into was "this canonly be gotten here and I have to buy it now". Now i got so often I actually plan out my purchases for my next trip. I saw a jacket I wanted and saved my Disney rewards points for it on the next trip a year later. I think sometimes knowing you can still get it from home gives you time to think about it and limits impulse buys.

Any counter service restaurant will give you a free cup of ice water. use this to fill a water bottle. Because of the contract with Coca Cola, this water is highly filtered, so it tastes better than the drinking fountain water. You can also bring crystal light packets or Mio to flavor it.

If you're in the Dining Plan- be judicious with your credits. If you're not going to eat dessert, save it in your fridge for a snack or breakfast the next day. Learn which snacks are large and filling and can substitute for meals. If you're going to have more meals than the dining plan allows for,choose the cheapest meals to pay out of pocket.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

Time of year matters a lot.

I was helping one of my friends from church with their trip, and by moving the trip a few days later they saved $700. No effort, just change the date. $700 in their pockets.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

Thanks Jennifer, great tips on disney dining.

Is it really possible to split a disney meal plan? You're not forced to buy based on the # in your party?

I'm wondering if it's a quick meal plans to buy 2 quick plans for me, DS and DH. Not a fan of standard since I hear you have to really reserve months in advance to get into restaurants...

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

Thanks for clarifying.

I think I'll skip the dining plan then. The quick service dining plan will cost about $575 for 2 adults and 1 child for the week. I can't justify spending $575 for fastfood-like food for one week when my weekly food budget at home is only $150.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

Message edited 5/18/2012 7:05:26 AM.

Re: Per Person Cost for Week-long Disney World Vacation?

GOing to disney for 9 nights, 8 days in park. Inclusing airfare, the Dolphin hotel, and park tickets, it is costing us $3600 for a family of four. But that does not yet include our food expenses, as well as any extras....

So for 9 nights I am estimating:

1200 per person (if I count kids same as adults.)