Cheapest Way to go

[annie2871]

My kids and I are wanting to go on a 4 day cruise/3 day land package next summer, but money will be tight. What is the best/least expensive way to book the trip? I know our rooms may be small and not have a window, but you know, you can't miss what you never have and since this is our first cruise, we won't know the difference. I will go cheap on our rooms, but I still want all the aminities of the rest of the cruise ship. Any help would be greatly apreciated! Thanks!

 

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

See if you can get a secret porthole room for your dates. They have an obstructed view, but you only pay for a category 10 and still have natural light to wake up with and can still see quite a bit! I wish I'd known about them before booking my first cruise.
They are listed with pictures on Barbs site ... http://www.castawayclub.com/ Also, bring on soda (and booze, if you partake). Now with all of the money you have saved... you can afford some pictures, T-shirts and the tips!

 

[Lisa F]

The cheapest way to go is generally to NOT do a package. There are so many discounts out there for WDW right now that you would probably do better booking separately. Parkhoppers seem to be a better deal (especially for shorter stays) than the unlimited magic pass that you will get with a package. Check otu the budget boards for ways to save on the land portion of your trip. It looks like booking EARLY is the best way to save $$ for the sea portion of your trip. If you travel during the fall there are some great savings on cruising, but you are also in hurricane season so you run the risk of bad weather.

I would choose to cruise inside over not crusing at all. In fact, We did choose that for our upcoming 7 day cruise and recently were able to snag the cat 10 secret porthole room. Cat 10's are nice because they have the split bath. Disney's staterooms are larger than most other cruiselines and you will find that even cat 11 and 12 are larger than what you'd expect for the lowest category. cat 10 through cat 5 (which includes a verandah) are all the same size!

Lisa

 

[pal2pluto]

I agree w/not booking a package. Book WDW separately from the cruise.

Also, book your own airfare. Get quotes from a TA, AAA, Dreams Unlimited.

Other places to save.....buy your trip insurance from someone other than Disney (theirs tends to be expensive).

As far as transfers go, you can rent a car from Avis cheaper for the drive to the port, and then another rental from the port cheaper than Disney Transfers. Disney transfers cost about $50 per person round trip where you can rent a car from avis for the day for $50 w/discounts from Mousesavers.com

Cat. 11 rooms are quite comfortable.....the 4 of us enjoyed cat. 11 twice in order to save $.

 

[annie2871]

Bumping it up!

 

[nezy]

Disney often has deals for low travel times -such as Fall. But you said you will be traveling in the summer, so forget that, Sometimes the end of August is cheaper because many schools are back in session. Ours do not return until after Labor Day.

I have gotten some great tips from www.affordabledisney.com
I have also read on some of these posts that flying into Jacksonville is cheaper than Orlando, if you are flying.

I have also rented a car one-way and it was definately cheaper than all 5 of us paying for transfers thru DCL. We rented in Orlando airport, dropped off in cocoa bch. Picked-up in CB after we returned and drove to West Palm Beach for a few days and returned the car to West Palm airport.

Another option that came by luck for me was that I rented someones DVC points from the DVC posts on this board. He was in a bind and needed to get rid of them. If you can get the points for $8 or less per point it might work out. (You would have to calculate the difference.)
GOOD LUCK!! It is all well worth it.

 

[daltonsdodisney]

We went during the Springtime Magic discount, the week after school was out. We did the 4 day cruise and stayed in a cat. 11. We also drove from Indiana and split a room at the Holiday Inn Express at the port with my parents. I didn't book any tours or excursions and kept souvenirs to a budgeted minimum. My oldest daughter and I snorkeled, husband and I ate at Palo, spent maybe $5 at the Atlantis casino and won $7.50 back, paid for cab fare to and from Atlantis, bought 2 daquiris at CC in souvenir mugs,bought a $50 picture package, and gave the recommended tips. We had a ball! There is so much to do on the ship, you really wouldn't have to spend any more than what we did. That also gave us some room to drive over to WDW and spend 2 nights at the PO-R, with a day at MK after the cruise!
Good Luck!