Hello Susan,
Thanks so much for coming to see us here at planDisney!
While I don't know the details of all that's included in the trip quotes you received, I can share some approaches to planning and budgeting for your trip that I hope will be helpful.
If you haven't already, you might want to seek out the services of an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner by doing a quick web search for this term. Travel agencies who earned this special distinction offer fee-free services and lots of expertise in planning Disney destination vacations.
I think there are likely three big budget items for a trip: your Resort hotel accommodations, your theme park tickets, and your dining. Let's take a quick look at each.
One big factor in your Resort hotel accommodations will be
how your travel party is made up. If you're all staying together as a family unit, you'll likely want to consider staying in a
Deluxe Villa where many 2 Bedroom Villas can sleep up to 8 adults. The advantage of a Deluxe Villa is that you'll have a fully equipped kitchen, and eating in can be one way to lower your dining expenses. You'll also have a comfy space with separate bedrooms, a living room and dining room area, and a washer and dryer.
If your travel party could stay in multiple Resort hotel rooms, you might want to consider one of the Disney Resorts Collection hotels in the
Value category. You could also look at
Resort hotel rooms in the
Disney Springs Resort Area, Bonnet Creek Area, or rooms outside the Disney Resorts Collection.
Once you have a good idea of which type of Resort accommodation is a good fit, you can use the
"Book your Walt Disney World Vacation today" tools to book your stay and add your theme park tickets. One nice feature with the online booking tool is that you can save up to three different packages so you can compare pricing.
For theme park tickets, you could consider the standard 1 Park Per Day ticket, and skip the options like the Park Hopper Option that would be an add-on to the ticket cost. Another note to keep in mind about theme park tickets is that pricing is date-based. When you see
the calendar where you select when you're visiting, you'll see that prices vary by the month and the day. If you have flexibility, you could consider a visit when ticket prices are a bit lower. Another way to spend less on tickets is to add in one or two Resort play days and enjoy a relaxing break from the theme parks.
One popular approach to budgeting for meals is to add a
Disney Dining Plan. Many families love the convenience of the pre-paid meals. Though dining plans are not currently available, the Walt Disney World Resort is planning to bring back this offering.
One additional suggestion, Susan, is to
take a look at all the budget-themed questions and answers here on planDisney. I think you'll find lots of information -- big ideas and simple tips -- for how to make the most of a budget-minded magical stay.
Here's wishing you a wonderful Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
Jerry