In need of lots of help and advice as complete Disney novice

[Mamaofdragons]

Hello everyone,
You probably get these messages quite a bit but I’m wondering if anyone can help.
We haven’t been to Disney before but want to take our little boy in 2020 when he is around 5 years old.
We have a LOT to understand about how Disney works but the main issue we have it how much it’s going to cost.
Friends of ours are going this July for 2 weeks, they have free accommodation and yet it’s still going to cost £7000 + for two adults and two kids.
So I guess any advice (as specific as you can be) on how to keep the cost down would be massively appreciated. Or maybe I am just completely underestimating how much this trip is going to cost!?

Some info.
There will be 4 adults and 1 child and we would like a villa off site with a pool. Will be happy to hire a car to get to the parks.
Main points of interest are the Disney kingdom parks (I’m probably calling this the wrong thing ha) and universal studios.
Time of year wise, any really as I highly doubt we will be able to afford it in school holidays but would like it to be nice weather.
Flying from the midlands.
Thinking 10-14 days.
Thank you in advance 😀

[Chris7cc]

Hi Mamaofdragons,

Really you can do 2 weeks for a little as £5000/£6000 for everything in my opinion staying off site and you do a big shop, you have a couple of things that are garenteed price wise so to speak.

These being, Park Tickets for Disney and Universal for all of you - £3445, Car Parking at the parks -£16pd.

From pricing up our own holiday you can make it as expensive or as reasonable as you like, you say 4 adults are you paying for everyone? is it 2 families?

[Shani]

Park tickets will be your main cost, followed by flights.

Disney £429pp
Universal £270pp
Flights £500pp (ballpark)

That's a ballpark of £6k already.

You then need a villa and car hire, so lets say you get those for £2k. You're up to £8k.

Then you need parking / fuel / spends - and you're over £10k.

Can you do it cheaper? Well, yes, but it would involve compromising.

* Wait until last minute and book to go April/May with someone like TUI
* Less park days = less flexibility. So maybe buying 3 or 4 days non-hopper Disney tickets, and non-hopper Universal tickets
* Stay in a condo/suite hotel rather than villa
* Cook / make all your own food
* Fly indirect (but if you can go in the cheaper months this may not save anything anyway)


I'd suggest to get reading some trip reports, watch some vlogs on you tube, have a good read around the forums, figure out what you will or will not compromise on, work out your budget and then try to get it to fit

[WDWfangirl]

You've already got some great advice above including the hidden charges such a car parking at the parks.

If you are already accepting of the fact that you can't go during school holidays then that doesn't have to mean that you have to go June/July time for it to be nice weather. It depends what you mean by nice but average temperatures in February for example are around 17 degree celsius which is not far off the average temperature for London in July and August (according to a google search). Just something else to consider if you are really trying to keep costs down.

[mickeyspal]

No matter how you do it, onsite with free dining ,offsite with no food and car, if you want to do all the main parks ,ballpark figure 2k pp

[Procrastinator]

June / July just before your kid goes to school is the ideal time. With a bit of searching and flexibility i reckon you could get flights for more like £350pp at that time. Maybe even less. We bagged some in feb for £998 for 2a 2c. Any term time will have bargains.

Othe big cost saving is to just do Disney. First visit - 4 parks and 2 waterparks will easily be plenty to do. Every park is at least 2 days on the first visit and with a 5 yr old you will be going slow.

[berlin]

Unless one of the adults is working for or in a school I would avoid school holidays for a start to save £. The weather can be hot but pleasant around spring and autumn but avoid Easter. You could easily relax and soak up the rays around the pool. Remember going to parks involves crowds, and queuing, not so great to handle in 40 degrees which it can be July August.

[Mamaofdragons]

Thank you so much everyone for your advice and time. You’ve given me a lot to think about!
There will be myself my husband and our little boy and my husbands parents so they will be paying for their parts.
I like the idea of may time but will need to look when spring break is and any other holidays.
In terms of booking flights do these usually come out nearer to the time you will be going?
I guess another thing I was going to ask was is it worth trying to book everything through an agent or each thing separately.
I will keep an eye out this month for any offers that appear for the next few months this year as it may help us decide whether booking in advance or last minute makes more sense.
I’ll get reading as suggested.
Thank you again

[Procrastinator]

TA vs DIY gets debated often. I prefer DIY. I think i can get a more tailored and better priced holiday.

Flights are released about 11 months before. My suggestion would be start looking end of May. Be flexible on your departure and arrival airport. Try to be flexible on dates. Consider indirect. And have a price in mind. If it is a great price then book it and don't wait. The best deals go fast.

[anneeb]

You can look at the price of flights on Thomas Cook airlines and also TUI. Thomas Cook is always cheaper for us, we fly from Manchester, direct, during the summer holidays. We've already booked for next summer.