Where are your accommodations? The only thing I can think of right now is getting a Copper Mountain Season Pass for $799. If you are staying in Vail, it would take about 30 minutes to get there, which isn't bad, but isn't ski in/out. Copper is really a nice mountain that is frequented more by locals than by tourists.
http://www.coppercolorado.com/winter.../season_passes
As for the prices, yes Vail and Beaver Creek are crazy expensive, mainly because they can get away with it. We have some of the best snow every this year and they have been very busy. They know they can charge it and do