Disney World Tickets Deals 2011

October 10th, 2008 · No Comments

Parents: anyone whos been to Disney world I have some questions?

We are planning a trip to Disney World in 2010 maybe 2011..We are thinking about going during thanksgiving week? maybe? I haven’t been there since I was a little girl so I don’t know anything about the hotels, tickets etc..

1. is that a good time of year to go? Thanksgiving week?
2. Would you reccomend us staying in a hotel in Disney World or not in Disney world?
3. I live in WV so it’ll be like a 24 hour trip (I think) so how much money should we take for a week there?
4. Do you know of any package deals for us to look about?
5. Do you pay for everything in adance or do you buy the tickets and things when you get there?

Any details you can think of PLEASE let me know (as much as possible)

Thank you everyone!

1) According to yourfirstvisit.net, the best time to go is the second week in December. The crowds are not as bad, and the Christmas decorations are up giving you a Disney experience available only one month of the year! Any long holiday weekend is incredibly busy at Disney.
2) I’ve done both. Staying on site is more expensive, but you are very near all of the parks. You are also immersed in the Disney experience 24/7. Staying off site will not cost as much. It sounds like you will have a car at your disposal, so staying off site might save you some money.
3) If you eat every meal in the park, count on $10 per person per meal, and that’s just for burger, fries, and drink. Sit down meals will be two to three times more. My family and I rarely ate in the park on our last visit. We stayed off Disney property and either ate in our condo cooking our own meals or ate in a restaurant off Disney property. You can spend as much or as little as you want for souvenirs. Expect to pay $20 for a T-shirt and hat, and $5-10 for little things like key chains and mugs.
4) Disney is always running deals on their website. Most of the time they are during off-peak vacation times. Check their website.
5) We paid for airfare 9 months in advance, then bought park tickets 6 months in advance, and saved a little here and there.

Here’s the cost breakdown from our most recent vacation. It was me, wife, and two sons, then ages 10 & 9:

Airfare from Kansas City and rental car using Travelocity: $1300.

7 day park tickets: $1100. We added the water park option, but did not get parkhoppers. Parkhoppers are overrated and not necessary if you have never been to Disney before. They will cost an extra $50 per ticket.

Lodging: $150. Yes, only $150. Explanation needed here: My wife’s aunt gave us her time share condo at The Fountains Resort as a wedding gift (we had been married the previous year and it was a honeymoon for us, and yes, we took my kids along!) The $150 was for 2 extra nights in an off Disney property budget hotel near the airport.

Food/Sovenirs/Gas/Misc.: $850. We didn’t go crazy for souvenirs. We all got T-shirts, mugs, DVDs of the boys at Cyberspace Mountain, hats, and so on. We saved A LOT of money because we shopped at a grocery store near our condo, and cooked breakfast and dinner in the condo’s kitchen. We bought snacks and gatorade and took them into the parks to tide us over during our park tours. We did eat a few meals in restaurants, but did so off Disney property where the prices are cheaper.

Total Cost: $3400

That condo runs $175 per night for guests not in the time share. While this is twice as much as what it would cost to stay in one of Disney’s value resorts, I really think it is worth it. We got 2 bedrooms, one with a king sized bed, the other with two double beds, 2 bathrooms, a living room, private balcony, and full kitchen. If you consider that a family of four could spend $100 per day in food alone at the parks, then you can make up the extra cost for the condo in food alone. Plus, you’ll be much more comfortable!

Another big tip: Go buy “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010″. This was the best $20 I spent for my family’s July 2008 vacation to Disney using the 2008 version of the book. The book contains reviews for restaurants, hotels, and attractions on and off Disney property. However, the best part of the book are the touring plans! The plans give you step by step instructions on where to go and when to go in order to avoid the longest lines.

For example: “Soarin” in EPCOT is one of the most popular rides in all of Disney. A 2-hour wait in line is not uncommon to partake in this awesome experience. However, using the touring plan in the book and maximizing Disney’s “Fast Pass” system, we were able to ride it twice in a row without waiting in line one time!

By the way, if you don’t know what the “Fast Pass” system is, then definitely get the book or ask us that are in the know at yahooanswers. It’s fast, easy, and one of the few FREE things in Disney. Yes, it is absolutely FREE!

Go out and buy the book today. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Have fun!