What is the most expensive part of your Disney vacation?

[PrincessAli]

My husband is addicted to Disney pins, and I seriously believe that he spends more on that then the cost of our airfare, resort accomdations and meals. What seems to drain your wallet while there.

[epcotfan]

I generally our meals and snacks cost the most.

[Eeyore2U]

Food, food, food and more food!!!

http://www.smilies.nl/party/cheeburga.gif http://www.smilies.nl/party/drink.gif

[Tess]

Our lodging is the big expense for us. Then airfare with food/beverages running third.

[Geri]

The resort is definitely the most expensive.

Although, last summer we went to DL & pins were definitely a very expensive obsession (which I had to make a conscious decision to stop buying!).

Geri

[WhispyPixie]

With 6 in the family...FOOD...SNACKS...TRINKETS...FOOD....SNACKS ..TRINKETS....not to mention those wonderful Mexican Margs in the WS..and Mickey Bars!

[dahess]

I think park hopper tickets:)

[susy]

FOOD!!!!


Transportation- cheap! 1 tank of gas there and 1 back. About $20-$30 in tolls.

Lodging-
Our trips this year-
Courtyard DTD- $25
ASMo- $49
CBR-$84
AKL!!!!- $119

Passes- FL RES Season pass with DC discount (about $170 each) and got back $100 in Giftcards from Disney Store (special promo)

So, it's those sit-down meals and character meals!!!!!

The funniest part is that we are not big eaters!!!

[DianeS]

Tickets. We spent more on 4 adult hoppers than we did on our POR room for a week.

[Disneyfun1]

I think the passports! We spent almost $2000 on annual passes last year. Granted, we are now getting 2 trips out of it this time, which in the long run save us money, put paying 2000 at one time when we arrive seems like a lot!! The resort i dont mind, because i budget it to pay a night a month, so it makes it easy!!We generally book 1 year out and just pay a little every month. We have our resort all paid for, and PAP from last year so we are ready to go!!

[LeeB]

Definately food

[Magic2000]

That's a hard one for us!! We're a family of 5, so lodging can be a little high, and then paying for the passes for five, and the sit down meals can be costly too! And now, the Disney pins... thankfully, I'm the only one who collects, but my 6 yr old is running a close second!

But DH and I think its money well spent for some great quality family time! It is so much fun picking a hotel, deciding on the restaurants (I always let everybody pick at least one restaurant to eat at during our trip), having the kids get excited as the trip gets closer!! (126 more days for our next trip!)

[jldriscoll]

My husband would say all the "stuff" I have to get BEFORE we leave for the trip:rolleyes:

[soccer mom]

Oh my gosh---Food! Four teenagers, three of them boys! Food, food, and more food!!!

[AKbabe]

Souvenirs! I typically spend $1000-1200 on them. My DH really hates that, but I save for it all year! We do eat at the nice restaurants, and enjoy them. But seeing as I have nothing to show for spending lots of money on expensive meals other than some extra weight, I would rather buy jewelry, blankets, tote bags, etc. I already have a list of things I am getting this year. Thank goodness for the DC discount at the WOD!:p

[Disneylvr]

Probably accomodations as DH and I can usually get by with $100 or less a day for food/snacks. We always stay in a WDW resort but try to get the best discount as possible. Food would be a close second and third would be pins and transportation.

[Hollymom1229]

Most definitely food, my fiancee and I like to eat and eat well. :p

[jennymouse]

Food/Souvies are the most expensive items in my budget this year. Running a close second is accomodations. Tied for third is park hoppers and air travel....followed by Discovery Cove, then lastly ground transportation.

[cinmell]

For us it would be the resort.

[Kevs mom]

Definetly the park tickets - I get a great deal on the room from skyauction and we drive to Florida so the tickets for all 5 of us is what cost us the most!!!

[ZerasPride]

I'd have to say for us its food.

We're DVC members so our accommodations are paid for painlessly :rolleyes: out of our checking account each month. This trip I've planned a nice dinner for DH and I for our anniversary at 'Ohanas, plus we're doing the new princess breakfast and a couple of other sit down dinners. I thought that by purchasing DVC we'd cook more in the villa with a full kitchen but I'm discovering as I get older I really don't like to cook so that's not an "excuse" on the plus side for DVC anymore (lol). Anyway, a close second would be admission tix. Boy can they be expensive! The two areas I feel we've got under control this trip is transportation (we're driving instead of flying and using a towncar service) and souveniers (we vacation at Disney pretty regularly so I usually limit myself to one or two items).

[patsal]

For this family of four it is PAP's, Food and then transportation (we never seem to get any "deals" on airfare and rental car). Although with the number of days we use them, the PAP's are not that much since they cost us about $15.00 per day of use! Maybe we spend too much time at Disney? Naw... what was I thinking, I'd live there if I could! ;) LOL

[KFISCHER]

We do a lot of sitdown for quality and to relax......usually hit a few of the more expensive ones.

No complaints! We're on vacation............in WDW !!!

[miko]

I can't seem to get past The Art of Disney- in EPCOT, Downtown, Pleasure Island or at the Studios. It is getting a little better now, they can't keep us with us, I have (almost) all the artwork I have wanted (I get notice of new arrivals, lets see that's because they like me or just good marketting?). Some of the one-of cells I have bought cost more than the rest of the trip combined but I have them all hanging throughout the house and enjoy them very much!

[Disney-Kim]

Definately the resorts, then food is a close 2nd.

[disneychic]

Well, since we're DVC members and that takes care of our lodging, and we purchased annual passes in March and have used them 3 times, plus we'll still be able to use them this upcoming trip in September, that was $$ well spent, so I guess our biggest expense is our food. DVC or not we ALWAYS eat out and barely ever cook in our room -- maybe we'll have breakfast in the room but that's about it! So, definately our food!

[gibbys1]

Food, definately this trip as we got the cko rate at WL for Christmas week. We will be driving down this trip from Pa.

[taylor1293]

Without a doubt, for us it's the lodging! Followed closely by food and drinks :)!

Teresa

[grimgrinnin]

Our (my Wife and I) experience mirrors disneychic's. Our annual passes amortized over 25 park days is less than $15 a day (Not to mention the AP discount we got for the All-Stars our first trip). We are now DVC members, so our rooms are taken care of.

By far our biggest expense is food. It's about $60 everytime we go to a sit-down restaurant, which we like to do once a day, not to mention breakfast, lunch and Mickey Head ice cream bars! It adds up quick!

Airfare is a close second at around $400 for the both of us.

[eeyore0062]

That is a toss up between our meals and snacks and my pin fetish. You see, now I have also gotten into the limited edition framed pin sets, and they are no longer available at the Disney Store... so that will probably push it over to the souvenier bracket.

[disneyjunkie]

Park passes

Air fare

Food

When we took our first trip to disney last summer, I was able to get the $49 rate for the whole stay. This November I got the $49 AP rate for 3 nights and rack rate for 3 nights:( .

[Wendy_Darling_2001]

We have florida resident seasonal passes that cost around $175 each so passes aren't too bad. Only takes us about $25 in gas to drive to WDW and back.

So, I guess I have to say that FOOD costs us the most. Even with using the Disney Dining Experience membership (for Florida residents, gives us 20% off most sit down restaurants) our food budget is pretty big.

Next trip is our first concierge stay. I am hoping to save "some" money on food by snacking in the lounge. That is the only was I can justify the price ($234 for Polynesian GV Concierge vs. last year at All Star Movies for $49 during the same time!)

[luv2nascar]

FOOD definitely the most expensive part of the trip
We like to eat & character meals are great
there are 3 of us (myself, dh, & 7 yr old dd)
tixs & resorts run about even
souviners including pins will probably be almost as resorts/tix
if we are short on money souviners will be first thing cut out of budget.

[GEM]

Food! We really look forward to some great meals at WDW. We usually eat two really yummy sit-down meals a day. We love Spoodles, Flying Fish, California Grill, Artist Point, Jiko, the World Showcase restaurants, etc. A dinner with appetizers, main course, desserts, wine, etc. comes close to $100 at lots of places. We don't skimp on nice meals at WDW because we live in the middle of nowhere and around here Sonic counts as a fine dining experience! We usually do a small breakfast on the go, a medium priced lunch (like at Rainforest Cafe, Tony's, or someplace like that), and a big splurge for dinner. Our food budget is always pretty big. We never eat counter service or fast food type stuff at WDW because we eat too much of that junk at home. Since we've been lots of times, we don't feel like we are missing out on stuff by spending time in restaurants. It's part of the fun for us. We also spend a lot on snacks and that is part of our food budget, too. I never deny myself a Mickey Ice Cream bar and my husband loves to get popcorn. There is no way we could skimp and much on crackers or pretzels brought from home. I'd never have the willpower to pass up all the yummy stuff in the parks!

[supercarrie]

Usually it is airfare flying from LAX. However, our last trip it was the park tickets, as we got plane tickets after 9/11 for $99 roundtrip from LA! And then we stayed at the HIFS on a buy one get one night free deal.

[MarcoS]

For us it is the food. We have AP's and live 15 minutes away from Disney, but we still can't resist eating at the parks.

[melomouse]

Good question!

Would have to be the passes. Can relate to the wieird fact of tix being more than the roomstay - saw that when we checked into POFQ last year.

Thinking of biting the bullet and going for the AP's!!!:

Pinkbounc 10 days to Go!

[dansyr]

for me....shopping...I need to have new clothes for the trip :smooth:

for my boyfriend....eating...I swear he ate about 6 times a day when we were there. He also can't help buying all the cool snacks like those little tins of disney mints :p :p

[Tony-NJ]

We tend to eat at sit down's for Breakfast and Diner each day. We feel it's our VACATION. We work hard and deserve it LOL!

[Ms. WDW]

Oh without a doubt; FOOD and SNACKS!!!!!!!! :) :)

We'll do one good sit-down meal a day. I don't try and "budget" for food because this is part of our vacation and we do have our favorite places to eat! Spoodles, Chef Mickey's, Prime Time 50's Cafe, Cindy's, Ohana's....you get the picture. Big Bucks!!! :) Then add on the charges for "little things" like bottled water...what is it now? $2.25 or $2.50 per bottle???? ;)

For us that's where the $$ go; in our tummy's!!


:cool:

[DVC Grandpa]

Lodging normally would be the most expensive but if you have time to work at it, you can find resort discounts. However, you can never find a good deal on an Annual Pass Rate. I would have to say that overall a family paying for Annual Passes would consider that to be highest fixed cost part of the trip.

[Spectro is #1]

Food! we eat mostly at sitdowns!
Then I would say Park Passes.
wait would the cost of DVC count? is so, that would be it.

[Reflection]

In order from greatest to least:

lodging (especially WDW lodging)
admission media (we buy annual passes)
air fare

[Jen D]

On our last six night trip (two adults, one child) the biggest expense was park hoppers, but just by a hair. Our food expenses, room cost (rented dvc @ $9 per point) and park hoppers all fell somwhere around the $750-800 mark. food might have been a little less- we averaged a little over a hundred a day- we had a few very nice, spurgy sitdown meals, but balanced those out with penny-pinching counter service.

Plane tickets aren't bad for us- from NY you can often get tix for three for $400. Souvineers-- we aren't big on these-- in fact, I can be reflexively cheap ("Mom, can I have-- " "No!") I actually forced myself to spend money on goodie like that our last trip so I wouldn't feel like such a penny-pincher,

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says..............................Every trip is different. First trip air fare beat out rooms by $50. Second trip rooms beat airfare by $250. Third trip AP's beat out air by $300, and rooms by $200. Fourth trip will be air again, as we have AP's and great rooms rates and only 8 days. Oh, wait, beer, now I have to start all over!! LOL

[Pig Pen]

Estimated expenses for upcoming trip (8 days at the World)

2 annual passes with DC discount = $720 ish

lodging = $1100 (2 nights CSR AP rate, 6 nights Dolphin gov't rate)

transportation (driving down, making a side trip along the way, one overnight) = $400 for gas, lodging, food roundtrip

FOOD = We are budgeting only $50 per day = $400

Souveniers = $50

So lodging is most, then passes, then food and transportation tie for 3rd.

We justify the APs because we are moving to FL, one hour from WDW, by the end of the year - WOO HOO. Then our trips will be really cheap!

[Mickey76]

:D

Without a doubt, it is souvenirs for Piglet203 and I. I would tell you how much we spent on our trip to WDW this past May/June, but it would only further indicate our infatuation for Disney.

Mickey76 :D

[Clover9990]

For us, without a doubt- FOOD!! And we eat at counter service restaurants- not full service. It makes me want to cry to have to fork over over $20 for a fast food type of meal for our family!

[Poohbear123]

I would have to say, room. About 330.00 for MOST expensive. This was for 4 nights at ASSP! :o Nov. trip I need a Seasonal Pass which will cost me 179.00. Than, PINS!:rolleyes: ;)

[PrincessAli]

Asking this again-Ü

[3stooges]

Flight from ABE is $133 RT for 4 = $532
Room at CBM in DTD for 7 nights=$258
4 adult-30 day Fun in Sun tickets=$1255
4 adult-2 day US/IOA tickets = $328
8 day car rental = $238
Food= $ 400-600
Souveneirs= $200
Total=$3411
Usually our costs for 8 days are over $4,000
Got some really dood deals this time around.
:Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce:

[beattyfamily]

For us (a family of 4; 2 adults, 2 DD's ages 4 & 7) this year, in this order:

1. AP's $1,395. (so next year too!)
2. Spending money/meals (combined) $1,300 approx.
3. DVC for our resort... $1,200 approx.
4. Airfare $724.
5. Dog expenses--kennel and shots (we have 5 poodles) $530.
6. Universal passes $344.
7. Universal HR Hotel $288. (2 nights)
8. Rental car $111. total (7 days)

What's left is tips, parking, MVMCP tickets and other incidentals...

[cdpa4d]

Here are our expenditures for Myself, Wife and Daughter who is 2 until next week. (Thank God)

Lodging - We own Vistana Timeshare (Paid-in-full). No cost this trip or future trips.
5 Day Park Hoppers for me and Wife - $440
Airfair for all 3 - $125 each from Indianapolis - $375
Food and Souvenier allowance 7 Days - $1600

ADP

[disneyuk]

I'd have to say our flight ...
Unfortunately for us we have to fly a very long way.
Flight, accom (POR) and Disney pass came in at £2200 each (that's about $3300).

Still, there's no where else in the world like it !!:crazy:

[grinningghost]

I think the park passes and the food are tied for most expensive.

[Pirate Mickey]

Buying the APs for 6 is the worst!!! But, they pay off in the end.

The following trips for that year are much easier to handle financially having already purchased the tix.

[kimmar067]

F
O
O
D

[photobob]

PHP+ passes-$1000
Lodging-$800
Food and Souvenirs-$600

Wonderful memories...priceless....

[AirForceRocks]

Definitely food!!

We drive down there, so that isn't a big expense, and we stay at the moderate resorts with AP discounts, so that isn't too bad. FL Resident seasonal passes for myself and the kids, and a Stars & Stripes pass for DH, so that isn't so bad.

But we like to have at least one sit down meal everyday, and sometimes we add a character breakfast. Plus with fruit, drinks and other snacks during the day, we end up spending anywhere between $125 and $175 per day on food.

[slp87]

Food & Airfare for our family of 3.

[jnl]

This year it's the Park Hopper Passes!!!
We are paying for my dh parents to come with us.
Airfare for myself, dh,ds8,ds5,mil,fil $810.00
Hotel-staying in 2bdrm condo
(off site 5/24-5/31) $480.48
Minivan rental $245.58
5 day hoppers(2k&2a with plus options) $1,373.02 yikes!!!!
food plan on AUCE cheep breakfast or eating in room.
snacks in the park
& lots of Charcter dinner buffets.
Thank god inlaws are paying for the own food.

[LMHB]

Probably tickets, they are SO expensive. You can tweak this and that but for the most part tickets are a fixed cost. And I have to say (someone else mentioned this), the stocking up beforehand is another big cost. I usually buy everyone in the family some new clothing, socks, shoes, odds and ends (bought an umbrella for the baby's stroller this time, an organizer for the car). The good thing about those costs is that after the trip is said and done you have some new things to keep! Food is not too big of an expense...we eat breakfast and dinner at the condo and lunch in the parks. but Soccer Mom, with three teenage boys, is scaring me a little. My three boys are little, but people keep telling me how much they will eat someday! :)

[Deah]

Well since the resort stay is always free I would have to say

food and ticket!!!!!!

Definately!!

[JulesMom]

Lodging

[Chloesmom]

This time hotel costs will most likely be our biggest expense but Dh is a serious Goofy fan. Any large, expensive ( and usually ugly:rolleyes: ) thing he can find to ship home he does. Add that to the entire new Goofy wardrobe ( my mom said she has never seen him NOT in something Goofy...she's probably right) he picks up and we are talking easily in the $1000 and up range. thank goodness it's only every other year!
I collect Flower items and they are few and far between so I get off cheap.

[funhouse8]

I agree park hopper tickets are the biggest expense. No way to cut prices here.

[FreshTressa]

TICKETS! By far!

We usually only spend about $10 more a day than usual for food....about $40 a day average. But we aren't real food people. I don't like to feel too full when going around the park in the heat. And I am just to cheap to pay much for food.

We usually use priceline, and have gotten nice places.... I think the MOWC for 50 a night and Sheraton Safari for 35, the HOJO for 19, so lodging isn't much.

Airfare usually goes for around 150-200 per person, so not too much there.

Hmmm, I think I am beginning to sound like a Cheapskate!!!:eek:

Oh well, I guess that is why we have been able to afford to go every year!! (Disney World and Disneyland)

[mickeysaver]

Food/Beverages/Snacks and Collectable Pieces run about neck and neck. We sleep cheap and play hard. lol Mickey

[Vlahakis2001]

We tend to dine at the nicer WS restaurants so I would say that is the priciest while there, but the GF room-rate is costly as well.

[*Fantasia*]

Food/Snacks/Beverages are very expensive at WDW!! We have to eat...so we don't have any choice. This is where most of my money was going. I think I was spending about $150 per day at Universal parks and Royal Pacific. And at Disney park and ASSp I was paying about $100 per day for 3 people

I think I pay too much on the airfare too! Our airfare this past trip (april) was $340 per person and it's not even non-stop trip! Times X 3 people.

I'm heading back in June...I am going to find some ways on how to save money!