A Shoestring Budget Trip to Walt Disney World For a Family of Four

AS OF JULY 2005

		Back in late 2003, a discussion with fellow Disney fans got me wondering if an "average" family of four (two adults, two kids) could actually go to Walt Disney World and visit all four theme parks for just $1000. After lots of calculating and juggling sample itineraries and budgets, I published an article called "How Low Can You Go?" explaining how a family could do just that, assuming they lived within driving distance. The article, published in January 2004, laid out a budget that included 3 nights' hotel (one night at a Disney hotel), 2 days of unlimited admission to the theme parks with early entry to the parks (and a schedule that allowed for visiting 2 parks per day), one fast-food meal on the road, 3 breakfasts, plus lunch, dinner and a snack each day in the theme parks. It even included an afternoon ice cream snack with live Disney characters and $80 for souvenirs. It also included $100 for gasoline. The following month, February 2004, my sister-in-law and her family tested out the "How Low Can You Go?" plan and wrote a report for MouseSavers.com. Their conclusion was that such a trip was completely possible but not ideal. As repeat visitors to Walt Disney World, they had a fun, but exhausting time on their 3-night/2-day vacation, but they felt such a plan would be pretty tough for first-time visitors who don't know their way around the theme parks. A lot has changed since then and frankly it is now very difficult to do a $1000 trip to Disney World. As of January 2005, Disney completely revamped its ticket structure. The Ultimate Park Hopper tickets used in the original scenario no longer exist, and the new Magic Your Way tickets are much more expensive for short visits, particularly if you want to hop between parks. Also, the strategies I worked out for getting the most park time out of a 2-day visit have changed. The inexpensive "ice cream social" with characters was discontinued. Hotel room rates have gone up quite a bit since this article was published. Fortunately meal prices at Disney's counter service restaurants have stayed pretty stable. In short, the time is long overdue for a rewrite of my original "How Low Can You Go?" plan. Here's a revamped version. Bear in mind that this is not even close to the ideal way to visit Walt Disney World. I would only recommend it if this is absolutely the only way you can afford a Disney vacation.

So, is it still possible in 2005 for a family of four (two adults, two kids) to vacation at Disney World and visit all four theme parks on a budget of just $1000? Well, just barely. In order to keep the budget to $1000, I had to eliminate a lot of the "extras" in the original January 2004 budget.

The big problem is tickets. In order to visit all four theme parks in just two days (and thus eliminate a lot of the hotel and meal expenses associated with a longer stay), you'll need to buy 2-day Magic Your Way tickets with the Park Hopper option. Unfortunately there really aren't any discounts on 2-day tickets. The cost of admission will eat up nearly 2/3 of your budget right off the top.

With very careful planning, a budget of $1000 covers $100 worth of gasoline, 3 hotel nights, 2 days of admission to the theme parks with "hopping" privileges (which will allow you to visit 2 parks per day), 3 breakfasts, plus lunch, dinner and a snack each day. The 2005 budget does not allow for meals on the road (pack your own groceries) or souvenirs. Unfortunately, unlike the 2004 budget, I could no longer work out a way to stay at a Disney hotel for even one night and thus take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours.

In all honesty I doubt I'd have the stamina to follow this plan. I definitely do not consider it an optimal way to tour Walt Disney World - just a cheap way! It would especially challenging if you have never been to Disney World before, because you'll have to cram so much into each day. If you don't know your way around already, you will have a tough time seeing many of the major attractions in such a short time. (Be sure to visit the Time is Money page for some hints on how to maximize your time in the parks.)

This would also be a difficult plan for anyone with preschool age children. Trying to drag kids under 6 years old through two parks a day would be very tough. Anyone trying to "do" Disney World in two days with small children would be smart to focus on just two parks. (I recommend Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, the two parks most appropriate for little ones.) This would also reduce your costs by nearly $150, because you wouldn't have to purchase the Park Hopper option.

The $1000 Disney World Vacation Budget

Gas	$100.00
3 nights at 2-star hotels using Priceline*	$111.00
Parking	$16.00
2-day Magic Your Way tickets with Park Hopper option
for 2 adults and 2 children (age 3-9)	$607.08
3 breakfasts in room and bottled water	$30.00
2 counter service lunches and 2 counter service dinners	$100.00
Afternoon snacks	$24.00
Total:	$988.08

The Plan

First Night

Depending on your driving time, you will need to bring a packed lunch and/or dinner (not included in budget) to eat during your drive to Walt Disney World.

Before you leave, stop at a supermarket and purchase groceries for three days' worth of breakfasts, and enough bottled water for your two days in the theme parks. The easiest approach is to buy breakfast foods that don't require refrigeration, such as peanut butter, bread, donuts, pastries, fruit, granola bars and/or cereal. If you have a cooler, you can bring a few refrigerated items to eat on the way, and possibly milk for your cereal. (You can use the hotel ice machine to restock the ice in your cooler during your vacation.) Your total grocery budget is $30.

Spend your first night at a hotel in Orlando, booked through Priceline. You can frequently get a 2-star hotel in the Disney World area for $30 or less per night plus Priceline fees and taxes, so figure $37 per night total. To learn more about using Priceline to book hotels near Walt Disney World, click here.

If you get to Orlando early enough on this first night, there are many things you can do for FREE that don't require park admission.

Day 1

Eat breakfast in your room. After breakfast, head over to Animal Kingdom, arriving in time for opening so that you can maximize your time in the park. Enjoy Animal Kingdom all morning and eat lunch in the park.

After lunch, drive to Epcot, where you'll spend the afternoon and evening. Be sure to stay for IllumiNations, the fireworks, music and light show in World Showcase!

Eat lunch and dinner at counter service restaurants. Your budget for breakfast and lunch is $50 total. Here are some examples of what you could buy for that much money:

• Lunch at Pizzafari in Animal Kingdom: 2 individual cheese pizzas @ $5.49, two soft drinks @ $1.99 each, two kids' meals w/drink @ $3.99 each. Total with tax: $24.43.

• Dinner at Lotus Blossom Café in Epcot's World Showcase: Family shares Orange Chicken Rice Bowl @ $6.59, Vegetable Lo Mein @ $4.59, Fried Rice with Beef @ $3.99 and Egg Rolls @ $3.19. Adults have Chinese Tea @ $1.59, kids have milk @ $.99 each. Total with tax: $25.05.

You also have a budget of $12 for snacks, which is sufficient to buy one ice cream or popcorn per person.

Take your prepurchased bottled water (which you can chill on ice in your hotel) with you into the parks, so that you won't have to buy it at $2.50 a bottle.

At park closing, head back to the hotel you booked through Priceline.

Day 2

Get up bright and early and eat breakfast in your room. After breakfast, head straight to Disney's Hollywood Studios and arrive in time for opening. Visit Disney's Hollywood Studios all morning, then take a lunch break in the park.

After lunch, drive to the Magic Kingdom, where you'll spend the afternoon and evening. Be sure to stay for the "Wishes" fireworks!

Your budget for counter service lunch and dinner today is $50 total. Sample menus:

• Lunch at Back Lot Express in Disney's Hollywood Studios: Grilled Turkey & Cheese Sandwich with fries or cranberry slaw @ $6.59; Sesame Chicken Salad @ $6.79; two soft drinks @ $1.99 each. Two kids' meals with sides and beverage @ $3.99 each. Total with tax: $25.34.

• Dinner at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café in Magic Kingdom: Buy one 1/2 lb. double bacon cheeseburger with fries @ $7.29. Get an extra bun for .80 and split the meat -- voila, two bacon cheeseburgers. (Load up on the extensive toppings bar at this restaurant!) For the second adult, get an extra order of fries @ $1.89. Two soft drinks @ $1.99 each. Two kids' meals with sides and beverage @ $3.99 each. Total with tax: $21.94.

You also have a budget of $12 for snacks, which is sufficient to buy one ice cream or popcorn per person.

Take your prepurchased bottled water (which you can chill on ice in your hotel) with you into the parks, so that you won't have to buy it at $2.50 a bottle.

At park closing, head back to the hotel you booked through Priceline.

Day 3

Eat breakfast in your room. Drive home. Cost of meals on the road is not included in budget.

Notes

Be aware that when you bid on Priceline for the three hotel nights, you'll be paying in full at the time of booking, and it's non-refundable.

This itinerary is designed to maximize the available theme park hours for your short visit. You'll want to enter the theme parks early, and stay late. I have deliberately scheduled you to enter Animal Kingdom early because the animals are most active in the morning. Also, Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios close earlier than the other two parks, so it makes sense to visit them early in the day.

Epcot's World Showcase stays open until 9:00 every night of the week, so it doesn't matter which night you go there. Magic Kingdom's hours vary greatly, but it is almost always open latest on Saturday nights, and the fireworks are almost always shown on Saturdays (but not always on other nights). The trade-off is that Saturday is the busiest day for the Magic Kingdom. Be prepared for crowds.

Is it possible to go even lower? Yes. For instance:

• If you are willing to visit only two parks (one per day), you can cut $149.12 out of the budget by eliminating the Park Hopper option on your tickets.

• If you skip soft drinks at meals and instead order a cup of ice water or drink bottled water you bring with you, you'll save around $2 per adult beverage.

• You could carry basic meals and snacks into the theme parks, instead of eating in the counter-service restaurants. (Technically Disney has a rule against bringing picnics into its parks, but the rule doesn't seem to be enforced, as long as you don't carry in glass bottles or make a big mess.) If you do this, be sure to pack things that won't spoil.

Will this plan work for everyone? Absolutely not. When it comes to vacations, people have very different needs and desires. As I mentioned above, this plan is far from the ideal way to visit Walt Disney World, and it's not recommended for first-time visitors or for those with preschool age children. But if the only way you can go to Disney World is on an absolute shoestring, this plan might work for you.

Most people will find this plan to be far too bare-bones. Personally I'd much rather save up my money and enjoy a few luxuries on vacation.

		If you can scrape together $1500, you can have a MUCH nicer vacation. On that budget you can afford 5 hotel nights, 5 full days in the theme parks, a character breakfast in addition to the other meals, and even a little money for souvenirs. Click here to see the $1500 plan.

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