It is definitely possible to do Disney World on a tight budget. My tricks for saving $ include:
Timing:
- Try to go during value season. This saves on the cost of the rooms. Value Resort value season dates this year are: 1/1/08 – 2/13/08, 8/3-10/1, & 11/30 – 12/18.
Hotel:
- The cheapest place to stay is to camp at Ft. Wilderness, but not sure that is an option for your family. Assuming you want a hotel room, a WDW Value Resort would be your best option. Other options: off-site hotels, rental of an off-site townhouse.
Tickets:
- Get the simple Base tickets. Don’t buy more days than you absolutely need (assume you will have at least one rest day). You can add days and options later, if needed.
- Stay more days to save more $ per day. After five days, it only costs about $2 more per day per person to go to a park.
Transportation:
- From Georgia, I assume you would drive to WDW. It will save you in airfare, and provide you flexibility to get off-site to save $ at times (groceries, souvenirs, etc.).
Food:
-Bring a cooler to the hotel so you can keep some refrigerated items cold, to help make simple meals in the room and/or to take to the parks
-Consider eating some meals off-site, especially on a rest day
-Skip the park’s table service meals, since they are more expensive. At counter service meals, you might be able to split some meals, as serving sizes are large
-Bring a water bottle to the parks. You can refill it with free ice water at any counter service restaurants.
Souvenirs:
-Buy some in advance, or at some of the discount stores off-site
-Give the kids their own budgets, so they make better choices during the trip, and aren’t bugging you about buying everything they see
-Try to only buy souvenirs towards the end of the trip, so you spend less and the kids have had a better chance to see all of the options