Solo Travelers...How do you afford Disney?

So - I don't make great money - but I definitely like going to Disney solo. I tend to "focus" my trips - I did 5 trips in my last annual pass year. But I'm waiting at least a full year to go to Disney again. I stay at the value resorts to save money, though I have rented points for DVC stays, too. Annual pass discounts on rooms are nice. I've stayed solo at a moderate - but I probably won't do that again as I didn't use any of the step up amenities! I typically eat one TS meal per day - but most of those are "lower priced" TS - I typically only have one "higher end" meal per trip. I also tend to NOT pay for any drinks - soda or alcoholic - though I often get one alcoholic drink per stay. I buy a couple bottles of water on-site - and then re-use those water bottles for the trip. Some trips I rent a car, others I don't. If I rent a car - I go to the grocery store and that saves me a ton of money on food that trip. If I'm not renting a car - I still try to bring some food in my suitcase with me. If creative, there's alot of good meals you can create from non-perishables from home. If it's a longer stay - I even bring my 4-cup coffeemaker with me in my suitcase since values don't have those!

I don't buy snacks in the parks - though I do occasionally pay for a bottle of water when I have to get away from the horrible taste of Orlando water. My souvenirs each trip tend to be 1-3 pins. Maybe a magnet. Maybe a new glass from Arribas Brothers. I did buy a beach towel last trip - and did the "two for x price" game and gave the other one to my niece. Every few trips - maybe a new clothing item or bag or travel mug. But each trip - I spend probably only $20 - $100 total on gifts/souvenirs. (Though - I did spend alot on one trip this past year..... ouch.... but I do love the jacket and baseball hat!!!)

In general - I like to spend my "extra" money on travel. While a professional - I avoid clothes that require dry cleaning - and I buy mid-priced classic stuff - so I don't need to buy a lot of clothes for work. I have like three pairs of work shoes. While I splurged on a nice espresso machine for home - I don't buy coffee or alcohol out. My gym membership is free as it is the outdoors. I take my lunch nearly every day. If I see a movie - it's a matinee. Basic TV/internet package. Basically - I live well within my means at home. Now - I've admittedly had a bit of luck with that. I was hired with a great retirement plan and bought a small townhouse early on before the housing market skyrocketed around me. And my car is 10 years old now - so no car payment for years. I'm not looking forward to the day I have to budget that back in..... that will definitely eat up a lot of my current travel budget.

My secret has always been short trips/2 star max hotels

Seriously; I will stay in the biggest rat palaces, but that's fine, because I don't do anything in the hotel other than sleep, really

Also, since land is my main park (I am slowly learning this a forum for World specifically, but hey, this applies here too), I don't usually have to go longer than 2-3 days to get the full experience

Going solo is already a major savings. If compared against traveling with two, the cost is half as much for everything except lodging. If the group is bigger multiply your single expense by the number of people in your group.

I put cash aside from each paycheck into a separate bank account that acts as a goof off fund. I'm in Florida, so I have the benefit of not having to fly, which cuts out a big expense. I eat one big meal a day most of the time and keep the fridge at the resort stocked with drinks and quick meals for the morning. I have the annual pass which gives some good discounts on the resorts, but I also check in with a travel agent to see if any deals are floating around. Last year I managed to stay at Poly for a really good rate. This year, I've managed to get a room at Grand Floridian for a fair amount less than $300 a night. I try to travel on the less busy times of year, like January/February or just after Labor Day or Thanksgiving. Crowds are less and the resorts tend to have pretty decent discounts as well. I don't drink alcohol at Disney. I don't drink in general, but I just don't see the point in spending a meals worth of money for one mediocre drink. I don't get souvenirs, but that's less about saving money and more about not really having any kind of emotional attachment to souvenirs in general. I cut my budget at home big time about a month to a month and a half before my trip to save up my just in case money, so I'll do a lot of cheap meals at home and try to just clear out my cabinets of everything I have food-wise to not spend money elsewhere. Admittedly, the biggest thing going in my favor is just living in Florida and being about a two hour drive away, but doing a solo trip allows me more control of where my money ultimately goes.

I have a generous husband who thinks it's high time I just go already! We just budget for it like we would any other vacation.

But seriously - use credit cards to pay bills and earn air miles. We never fly to MCO unless it's on miles.

Find a group rate on WDW hotels. The DISUnplugged is doing an event in July with some great rates. There are magical rates out there at other times if you search for them.

Staying onsite with indoor hallways is an important factor for safety for me as a solo traveler. Magical Express also presents a value for similar reasons. So I justify some extra expense that way. Not sure I would always stay deluxe, but location is dictating that for this trip.

Many people find that APs pay for themselves and bring down the per-trip price.

Shock13 said:

Okay, I'm not going to start whining about their prices or anything and I really don't care to hear "well Disney is a business" but seriously, how do you do it? I'm not married or have kids and my family and friends can't usually do Disney as much as I want to or they're just not into it as I am. Which is fine since I can handle going solo and still have a good time. I've done DLR solo and also USO and WDW solo. I have my first DCL cruise booked next year. I'm currently planning another trip to WDW this fall and even though I'm booked at POFQ and may do a couple of nights at the Swan (using a discount), I find myself still contemplating just staying at POP since it saves so much more money! My dream resort is the Contemporary but there is no way I would pay $500+ a night! And that's just for the Garden Wing! I read on here about some of you staying at Deluxe resorts and I'm like "how do they do it?!" Do all of you have great paying jobs? Do you plan years in advance? I admit I don't make a lot of money but I also don't have the usual bills (mortgage/car) but still...
If it came down to it, I could stay a week at the Contemporary and it wouldn't put me in the poor house but I would have a hard time justifying the cost.

Thoughts?

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I'm very fortunate to have great job with a great salary but I also purchased DVC at Bay Lake Tower (BLT) many years ago so that allows me to stay exclusively at only deluxe resorts and I also enjoy planning my trips at least a year or more in advance to try and get a better deal on airfare. When I cruise solo I also leave a deposit for a future cruise to save some $ as well.
I would suggest that if staying at Contemporary or BLT is a dream look of your you should looks for deals or even people selling aftermarket DVC points which might also be a way for you to stay at deluxe resorts at a reasonable cost. Good luck with your search. If you have questions about cruising solo on DCL please asks because I've done that multiple times as well.

I love all the responses! It's nice to see that I'm not the only counting my pennies to afford Disney. It's also nice to read how many people have different priorities when it comes to their Disney trips. By curiosity, I checked the AP prices and found it hilarious really that a DLR AP is higher than a WDW one. I would buy a WDW in a second if it wasn't for the airfare that eats up a lot of my budget.

I go solo twice a year for F&G and F&W (sometimes my grown son will join me but now that he is back in school those trips are further apart). My honey hates to travel unless it's a dive trip so if I want to go anywhere, it's solo. We are a two income household so that helps, although I do own a home I pay a mortgage on. My Mom and Dad used to live there but one of my brother's moved here to help with my Mom and after she died, he stayed in the house. He and his family do not pay me rent, so there is a mortgage payment just not where I live. My honey pays all the expenses at our house except for the trash pickup, I pay my own car payment (didn't have one until December when he convinced me I needed a new car) my own cell phone payment, my own credit card bills and help my son when he needs it. I don't make a huge salary and I pay for all my trips, to Disney or elsewhere myself. First I have an AP, which helps since the renewal cost is less than buying one outright. I rarely use the AP discounts for rooms, I've found the general discounts stacked with an Orbitz discount gives me a better deal. I do normally stay in a deluxe but I've started doing split stays recently, the first two nights in a moderate then moving to a deluxe. I drive down so it's just the cost of gas (new car = better gas mileage) and tolls. I started doing the split stays since I don't normally arrive until at the earliest around 2:30 or 3 and always go to a park immediately and it just seemed silly to pay for a deluxe for that first night, I normally go to AK the first full day I'm there and since you have to ride a bus no matter where you stay (yes I have a car, no I don't drive it on property) I tack on that second night at the moderate for that. I discovered the Swan my trip in March and fell in love so my upcoming trip in Sept. I'll be doing 2 nights at CS (at a silly cheap rate) and 3 nights at Swan. I actually could have stayed at BW for the same rate at Swan (about $290 a night after you add in the nightly resort fee and the parking fee) but I seriously don't like BW. Had it been YC I would have been all over it. I'll keep checking the Swan website between now and when I actually go looking for discounts and switch if any come out, last trip I changed my ressie 4 times but ended up saving about $100 per night when it was all said and done. I do eat in the parks but normally for breakfast and lunch I eat a kid's QS meal, I'm not a big eater so that is more than enough food for me. I'll do a couple of TS meals normally during a trip but again not a big eater so it's normally an appetizer and a salad. I do enjoy a refreshing adult beverage, let's face it I'm there during F&W. I get cash back from my credit card, so I normally get at least one $100 prepaid visa from that for every trip. I also buy WDW gift cards from Target with my red card, which saves 5%, not much but every little bit helps and it is paid before I go. I don't spend a lot on personal items at home, I'm not required to dress up for work and I'm a well known thrifty soul in our house. I bring my lunch to work and actually re-use the ziplock bag until it's to torn to use again.

This is going to sound horrible, but I don't have kids, and I'm not married. I have normal bills (car, rent, utilities) but I can make all my choices around trips and kind of be as selfish as I want to be about it. Most of the time if I'm going solo I'll stay at Pop, but I do love the moderates.

Having an AP helps a lot as well. It's more upfront but not buying tickets each time, having the discount on mech, and being able to get tables in wonderland really helps keep costs down when you take a lot of trips. Normally paying for the flight is the worst part for me.

Shock13 said:

Okay, I'm not going to start whining about their prices or anything and I really don't care to hear "well Disney is a business" but seriously, how do you do it? I'm not married or have kids and my family and friends can't usually do Disney as much as I want to or they're just not into it as I am. Which is fine since I can handle going solo and still have a good time. I've done DLR solo and also USO and WDW solo. I have my first DCL cruise booked next year. I'm currently planning another trip to WDW this fall and even though I'm booked at POFQ and may do a couple of nights at the Swan (using a discount), I find myself still contemplating just staying at POP since it saves so much more money! My dream resort is the Contemporary but there is no way I would pay $500+ a night! And that's just for the Garden Wing! I read on here about some of you staying at Deluxe resorts and I'm like "how do they do it?!" Do all of you have great paying jobs? Do you plan years in advance? I admit I don't make a lot of money but I also don't have the usual bills (mortgage/car) but still...
If it came down to it, I could stay a week at the Contemporary and it wouldn't put me in the poor house but I would have a hard time justifying the cost.

Thoughts?

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I haven't stayed at a deluxe resort yet either, but I might have to on my next trip because I think my favorite moderate resort might already be booked up. Just because I have the money doesn't mean I want to splurge unnecessarily on an expensive resort, but I usually spread my Disney expenses (park pass, hotel, airfare) out over the year so I don't pay for everything at the same time. That definitely makes it easier.

q

Try booking your resort on Orbitz instead of directly through Disney. You can use their 15% off promo code and literally save hundreds on a week at just about any resort.

I use my Disney chase visa for everything. Even at 1 or 2% it adds up quickly.. I dedicate myself to pay no fees or interest. sambuster

Shock13 said:

Okay, I'm not going to start whining about their prices or anything and I really don't care to hear "well Disney is a business" but seriously, how do you do it? I'm not married or have kids and my family and friends can't usually do Disney as much as I want to or they're just not into it as I am. Which is fine since I can handle going solo and still have a good time. I've done DLR solo and also USO and WDW solo. I have my first DCL cruise booked next year. I'm currently planning another trip to WDW this fall and even though I'm booked at POFQ and may do a couple of nights at the Swan (using a discount), I find myself still contemplating just staying at POP since it saves so much more money! My dream resort is the Contemporary but there is no way I would pay $500+ a night! And that's just for the Garden Wing! I read on here about some of you staying at Deluxe resorts and I'm like "how do they do it?!" Do all of you have great paying jobs? Do you plan years in advance? I admit I don't make a lot of money but I also don't have the usual bills (mortgage/car) but still...
If it came down to it, I could stay a week at the Contemporary and it wouldn't put me in the poor house but I would have a hard time justifying the cost.

Thoughts?

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I'm confused by your post and thread title. You ask, "Solo travelers, How do you afford Disney?" And then in your own message, you say "If it came down to it, I could stay a week at the Contemporary and it wouldn't put me in the poor house but I would have a hard time justifying the cost." So you're not married, no kids, and make enough cash to stay at the Contemporary for a week so clearly you're able to travel to Disney in style. So I guess I'm missing what the problem is?

It's funny. As I read the OP's post, my question is "Big Families, How Do You Afford Disney?"

It's easier for me than many young families I see at the resort. Hotels are probably the main expense that you can't split as a solo, but there are other options. Not having kids yet means I save more than enough money on day-to-day costs like food, tuition, backpacks, activities, etc to spend on vacationing.

bryanb said:

It's funny. As I read the OP's post, my question is "Big Families, How Do You Afford Disney?"

It's easier for me than many young families I see at the resort. Hotels are probably the main expense that you can't split as a solo, but there are other options. Not having kids yet means I save more than enough money on day-to-day costs like food, tuition, backpacks, activities, etc to spend on vacationing.

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Bingo. If you can't afford Disney as a solo single person with no kids, how the heck will you be able to do it once you're married with kids?

LaughinPlace289 said:

Try booking your resort on Orbitz instead of directly through Disney. You can use their 15% off promo code and literally save hundreds on a week at just about any resort.

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I always loved using Orbitz, but since the $25 cancellation charge they added this year, not sure we'll book thru them for our next trip. I don't cancel, but I need the ability to change dates at least once if necessary (the past 2 trips I changed due to last min WDW scheduling changes.). With Orbitz, there are no changes - only cancellations and rebooking. For longer trips, it's probably worth it, but $25 feels too steep on a $100/night POP ressie for just a 3-4 day trip.

For everyone who books through Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc., remember to go through a cash back portal first like ebates or befrugal. At times, they offer an extra 10% (paid once the hotel reservation is completed).

I always try and go at the lowest priced weeks during the timeframe I'm considering. I've stayed at a mod, a number of deluxe, and a villa. I am always looking for resort or package discounts--always, always, always--whether through Disney, or some other website, or my Disney Visa. I book and rebook so many times, it's not funny. I try to get my airfare way, way, way in advance to get the absolutely cheapest price. Traveling on my own, I don't need a lot of TS meals and if I do, I almost always do lunch instead of dinner. I don't rent a car anymore and use Magical Express unless I want to go to Universal--and even then I may only rent it for the day instead of the whole week. I don't purposefully save money for these trips--I just don't spend a lot normally in my everyday life and I definitely do okay in the salary department. In the end, there's no way around it, Disney isn't a cheap vacation and you can go far with alternatives if that's what you want--I like Disney, so I make the sacrifice, including paying more.

Not to mention, a Southwest Credit Card. They currently have a card offering 50,000 rapid rewards points. That is good for at least 2 roundtrip flights to Orlando. I could go on and on about the miles & points game but I haven't paid for airfare in 2+ years and that includes international first and business class.