Families show Disney deals can still be found

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

With thanks to Gretchen for finding and passing this article along.  :)

 

 

Families show Disney deals can still be found
 

 

Passholders Lynn and Dan Wiltse, back, stayed at All-Star Music Resort with their kids, from left, Carter, 9, Carolina, 3, and Corbin, 11.

 

The LaCour family visited Disney from Ohio. Back row, from left, are mom Kim LaCour, grandfather Robert Boal and dad Blair LaCour. Front row, from left, are Linda LaCour, 9; Hunter Boal, 6; and Brett LaCour, 7.

 

( Photos by Joe Burbank/Staff Photographer )

By Sandra Pedicini
Staff Writer

Can you still get a deal on a Disney vacation?

Three families who traveled to Walt Disney World last month tracked their spending, reporting it to the Orlando Sentinel and sharing their thoughts. Their accommodations ranged from the budget All-Star Music Resort to the top-of-the-line Polynesian Village Resort.

This year, prices for one day at the Magic Kingdom went past $100, and annual pass costs increased by triple digits. Joe DeFazio, a travel agent who worked with one family, says that hasn't slowed interest in Disney. However, “I think what you're seeing is people evaluating where they may stay or how they may approach their vacation a little differently,” he said. “It may be moving from a moderate to a value [hotel], that type of thing; 10 days to seven days.”

November is generally considered one of Disney's less expensive months, although prices tend to increase during the week of Thanksgiving. The three families who visited last month are:

Lynn and Daniel Wiltse of Bluffton, S.C., passholders who try to keep costs down because they visit a few times a year. Daniel, 38, is a fire marshal. Lynn, 34, works as a receptionist. They have three kids, ages 3 to 11.

Elaine and Michael Carpenter of Pearl River, N,Y., who made their first trip to Disney. Michael, 50, works in construction. Elaine, 41, is a senior caregiver. They have two children, ages 7 and 5.

Kim and Blair LaCour of Avon Lake, Ohio, who have taken several Disney trips and cruises during the past few years. Blair, 42, is a computer consulting manager, and Kim, 36, is a stay-at-home mom who plans Disney-focused vacations for family and friends. They have three children, 5 to 9 years old.

One thing the families had in common: They visited during a time when they could get the Disney Dining Plan for free. That deal — often offered during the slower fall months — erases hundreds or potentiallymore than$1,000 from a trip's cost. Quick-service or regular dining plans, each providing two meals, a snack and a refillable mug, cost $42 or $60 per day for adults, $16 or $19 for children. The Carpenters shifted their vacation time to qualify for the deal.

The Wiltses

The Wiltses' seven-day stay ended on Thanksgiving. They estimated their cost as $6,052 — $1,210 a person — including five annual passes.

They bought a package costing $3,990 that included a stay in a family suite at the All-Star Music Resort, two park hopper tickets and the dining plan. They paid extra to upgrade their quick-service dining plan that was offered for free at budget resorts to one that included sit-down meals, DeFazio said.

The family then used a $1,260 credit from the two park hopper tickets toward five annual passes.

The Wiltses were able to renew four annual passes at the old rates, paying $590 apiece for four people. A brand-new pass for their 3-year-old daughter cost $797. “It definitely can be frustrating when you see the price increase,” said Lynn Wiltse, who blogs about Disney but received no discounts. “I try to look at it bigger picture, of what you get in the Disney experience with your annual pass and how many times we come a year.”

The family limited extra purchases, just a $15 stuffed animal, and kept travel costs to a minimum. They paid $150 for two tanks of gas and two meals, one on the way down and one on the way home.

The dining plan the Wiltses used ordinarily would have cost $1,530. A less-expensive one was included for free in their package, though DeFazio estimated the family paid $423 extra to upgrade to one that included table-service restaurants.

This time, the Wiltses chose to forgo the extras such as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Between seeing the parks decked out for the holidays and a last viewing of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Wiltse said, “I don't think we missed out.”

The Carpenters

For the Carpenters, the trip from Nov. 13 to 20 was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. They signed up for credit cards that provided them with a perk: $400 in gift cards that offset their cost.

Once in the parks, “we really didn't spend a whole lot of money there,” Elaine Carpenter said. “Everything was obviously very overpriced.”

The Carpenters reported their total cost at $5,200, or $1,300 a person. That included the gift cards they applied and $1,070 for plane fare.

Lodging at the moderate Caribbean Beach Resort and theme-park admission cost $3,085. To avoid buying extra food in the parks, the family spent $90 for extra food delivered from a service called Garden Grocer.

Gifts and souvenirs came to $145, including a $17 autograph book for 7-year-old Calum and a $20 stuffed animal for 5-year-old Eden. The Carpenters also sprang for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets, another $300.

“No regrets; no need to rush back,” Elaine Carpenter said of the trip. “The free dining was a huge factor for us … so we felt we got a good enough deal.”

The standard dining plan would have cost the Carpenters about $1,110 for their weeklong stay.

The LaCours

Kim LaCour does not try to do Disney on a budget. “It's not an inexpensive trip to begin with,” she said. “When we do it, we want to do it right. … We like to be right by the monorail and have that top-notch service and special touches.”

The LaCours spent $7,250 — $1,450 a person during their stay that ended the day before Thanksgiving. The bulk of that cost was a $5,257.58 package that included six nights of a standard room at the Polynesian and five days of theme-park admission. LaCour said she received no discounts but earned a booking commission of $477.20.

The LaCours spent $300 on tips, alcohol, sodas and coffee, and a few extra quick-service meals.

Expenses included $34 for boat rental at the Polynesian, $55 for stroller rental and $169 for advance purchase of a Memory Maker package of digital photos taken on rides and by Disney's photographers (advance purchase since has dropped to $149).

The standard dining plan the LaCours got as part of their package ordinarily would have cost about $1,066 for their six-night stay.

LaCour tallied the costs for herself, her husband and kids. Her father and nephew traveled with them but stayed in a separate hotel room.

“It's a supply and demand thing,” LaCour said of the increasing expense of a Disney vacation. “For the experience that Disney gives, it does cost and also really in order to maintain the crowds … they have to make sure they price it appropriately. That means the prices do go up.”

spedicini@orlando sentinel.com or 407-420-5240
- See more at: http://digitaledition.orlandosentinel.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=a506818c-c053-48d4-be9b-65ad810892cf&t=1450740602209#sthash.FwAjMnka.v7QXAstR.dpuf

 

[Travisma 1,317]

$5200 to over $7000 for a weeks stay.  Pretty expensive to me.

[parrothead7368 aka Norm 101]

Yea, where's the deal? The $400 in gift cards??

 

Best Regards,

Norm

[swimmarz 72]

Yea, where's the deal? The $400 in gift cards??

 

Best Regards,

Norm

I got $200 statement credit when i signed up for the Disney Visa, I could be wrong but you earn 2-3% cash back on purchases

so 200 to open the account and then 3% of $7000 is $210 so there would be over $400   

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Jeez, that article is stupid.  And useless.

 

There are a lot better deals to be had than "free" dining.

 

And good for the travel agent who got a commission for booking at the Polynesian.  But, that's not exactly a strategy that everyone can use.  Unless we all become travel agents.

 

TCD

[parrothead7368 aka Norm 101]

Yea, where's the deal? The $400 in gift cards??   Best Regards, Norm

I got $200 statement credit when i signed up for the Disney Visa, I could be wrong but you earn 2-3% cash back on purchases so 200 to open the account and then 3% of $7000 is $210 so there would be over $400   

I have the Disney card too, I received a $200 gift card after I spent and paid a certain amount in a month. You also get a $1 for every $100 spent, but that to me isn't part of a "deal". That's just trying to save money, don't get me wrong every cent helps. You also have to make sure you pay off your balances each month so you don't accrue interest charges etc.

On our latest trip, we spent $3700 for tickets, premium spot at the Fort for 8 nights, 5 day tickets and dining plan.

$400 for gas round trip and approximately $1000 on souvenirs, and all other expenses. Divide that by 5 people and we are looking at $1020 per person.

Personally to go to Disney, you need to know a little and you will save money. I learned stuff in 2011 and I learned stuff this year which I'll apply to our next trip.

My buddy didn't have a clue and called Disney and got taken for $8000 for a four day trip for 4 adults and 1 child. When he told me that, I could have killed him. LOL  He had fun, but he overpaid by a lot.

 

Best Regards,

Norm

[WannaBeImagineer 98]

Jeez, that article is stupid.  And useless.

 

There are a lot better deals to be had than "free" dining.

 

And good for the travel agent who got a commission for booking at the Polynesian.  But, that's not exactly a strategy that everyone can use.  Unless we all become travel agents.

 

TCD

 

 

Once I got to the part of the article that talked about the "free" dining I lost interest. 

 

Like you said there are way more ways to save money than just the "free" dining.

 

What was the point of this article other than showing how much different trips can cost?  

 

 

 

 

Personally to go to Disney, you need to know a little and you will save money. I learned stuff in 2011 and I learned stuff this year which I'll apply to our next trip.

My buddy didn't have a clue and called Disney and got taken for $8000 for a four day trip for 4 adults and 1 child. When he told me that, I could have killed him. LOL  He had fun, but he overpaid by a lot.

 

Best Regards,

Norm

 

 

I agree but honestly a lot of people won't listen.  I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that get bad advice from one person and never check any other opinions and then waste a ton of money and don't enjoy their trip as much because of it.

 

WBI

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

On our October/November trip we spent 28 days at the fort.  Our expenses for the two of us averaged $125 per person per day, and that includes travel expenses and buying APs and TIW.

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

$5200 to over $7000 for a weeks stay. Pretty expensive to me.

I agree. Our total for 18 nights (including 4 APs, food and gas) came to $4800.

[swimmarz 72]

My last trip we purchased 3 AP, stayed 3 nights, did the MVMCP( but didnt pay for it,gift from mom)

we had $1857 in expenses, the bulk (over $1100) was the AP's

$425 for 3 nights in a preferred site

$80 at Via Napoli

$40 at T-rex

$30 in souvenirs 

$40 in gas

and $125 in groceries

comes out to $116/person/ day

 

Our next trip is in February

I have 2 nights booked at $210

we already have tickets

I anticipate

$120  for Disney meals

$40 for gas

$125 in groceries and

$30 again in souvenirs  

That puts us at $535 for the weekend trip Or $44.58/ person/ day

I alternate my shopping between Publix and WinnDixie, Publix will run a deal for a $50 gas card for $40, and then Ill shop at WinnDixie to get Fuel Perks

I then use the $50 gas card that cost me $40 at Shell and typically get 20-40 cents off per gallon due to fuel perks

so at $2/ gallon I get it for $1.70 average and for the  $50 card that's 29.4 gallons or after my discounts $1.36 per gallon

 

the Groceries and stay are put on my Disney Visa so I get 2-3% back on those

 

The first trip is always the most expensive as we buy the AP's but after that its all down hill

 

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

My last trip we purchased 3 AP, stayed 3 nights, did the MVMCP( but didnt pay for it,gift from mom)

we had $1857 in expenses, the bulk (over $1100) was the AP's

$425 for 3 nights in a preferred site

$80 at Via Napoli

$40 at T-rex

$30 in souvenirs 

$40 in gas

and $125 in groceries

comes out to $116/person/ day

 

Our next trip is in February

I have 2 nights booked at $210

we already have tickets

I anticipate

$120  for Disney meals

$40 for gas

$125 in groceries and

$30 again in souvenirs  

That puts us at $535 for the weekend trip Or $44.58/ person/ day

I alternate my shopping between Publix and WinnDixie, Publix will run a deal for a $50 gas card for $40, and then Ill shop at WinnDixie to get Fuel Perks

I then use the $50 gas card that cost me $40 at Shell and typically get 20-40 cents off per gallon due to fuel perks

so at $2/ gallon I get it for $1.70 average and for the  $50 card that's 29.4 gallons or after my discounts $1.36 per gallon

 

the Groceries and stay are put on my Disney Visa so I get 2-3% back on those

 

The first trip is always the most expensive as we buy the AP's but after that its all down hill

 

 

Good job.

 

The idiot reporter from the Orlando Sentinel should write an article about you.

 

I wonder if the Disney PR department spoon-fed that article to the Orlando Sentinel (and/of slipped the reporter some money) as a way to promote the "free" dining scam?

 

TCD

[swimmarz 72]

Good job.

 

The idiot reporter from the Orlando Sentinel should write an article about you.

 

I wonder if the Disney PR department spoon-fed that article to the Orlando Sentinel (and/of slipped the reporter some money) as a way to promote the "free" dining scam?

 

TCD

I actually forgot to include the $200 statement credit on the first trip, but after the Annual fee for the Disney card it worked out to $150

so it was really $106.68/person per day for the first trip

[CJHokie 43]

Yeah, that article just made me appreciate being able to come back to my own camper for eating and drinking. We did not spend nearly that much.

[FEARtheEERS 18]

Our Disney Visa just got paid off and is getting cancelled and cut up.  We have AP and on our last vacation, I called ahead of time to be sure that we could put our accommodations on the card with the interest free period.  They said of course and that we could also include our son's new AP as interest free because its a ticket.  Long story short, to get the interest free deal you have to put on a package.  We will never actually have a package since we do Annual Pass.  We had to complain and they went back and reviewed the call and we won our case for interest free for this particular trip, but now we know it is useless to us.  Thousands of dollars for maybe 40.00 in disney dream dollars.  I dont think so.