AA Mom And Kids Mickey Ice Cream Bar; DinoLand U.S.A.; animal kingdom
  • On Jan 16, 2008
    Dusty from OH Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I am a single (and not rich) mom planning a trip for my 8yo and I March 24-31. I want to save money, but I want to get the most out of the trip. Driving or flying? Staying in a hotel in or out of the park? Which food package? Where do I begin?

    Dusty,

    That is a very long drive, especially for you to make by yourself.  When we drove from Louisville, KY it took us about 13 hours with minimal stops.  We drove through the night to make the drive easier for our young girls, but it was NOT easy on us!  Your drive would be even longer, so I strongly recommend you fly.  I'm not sure which airport you would be leaving from, but definitely check out the budget-minded airlines.  If Southwest flies out of your airport, download the Ding! program and watch for sales.  We've gotten tickets for $59 each way  At prices like that I'm not sure you could drive for any less money.

    The dining packages are only available to Disney resort guests, so if you want the dining plan that will make your lodging decision for you.  In my experience you can get off-site accommodations for less, but there are definite trade-offs that you need to weigh.  For example, depending on that hotel's bus system if you decide to fly, since you won't have a car to drive yourself to the parks at will.  Not being able to use the Extra Magic Hours reserved for resort guests, not being able to purchase the dining plan, etc.  We stayed off-property once and decided that our family is better suited for ON-property.  That said, the value resorts are very affordable ways to stay on-property but not break the bank. 

    Just for a general idea, I ran a check on those dates and I'm coming up with around $1700 including the dining plan.  Without dining it was around $1400.  Prices are not exact and always subject to change so be sure to double-check this yourself when you book.

    I recommend checking out www.mousesavers.com and www.themouseforless.com as well.  These are both budget-minded Disney vacation planning sites that will have lots of useful tips and information to help you every step of the way.
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Meet the Panelist: Heather, Kentucky

I'm a member of the original 2008 Moms Panel and am happy to be back again to help you plan! We are DVC members who visit 2-3 times per year with our 3 young daughters, and I am only one visit away from being able to say I've stayed in every Disney resort! Learn More About Heather

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