Most Expensive trip ever
 

Just got back from 6 days at BCV (our longest vacation ever) and boy was it an eye opener.

BCV was fine - no significant room issues (420) other than a broken drawer which was repaired, and had a great view of the EPCOT fireworks every night. However we had a person across the hall that kept dumping their towels and garbage out in the hallway every night. Very discusting.

We brought my brothers son for the 2nd time in 8 years and he and my son (both 17) were able to go off on their own every day. DW and I were a bit shocked at the early empty nest syndrome we experienced - they both go off to college next year.

But the costs were shocking - We had to buy a 5 day pass for my nephew - $350 which was expected but then went to Universal for a day - ($750 all in - bus, food, multipark passes for 4) in addition to all the food, water park tickets, etc we did. Then our annual passes ran out the last day and I needed to buy a one day park hopper for the three of us for about $400. Total cost was about $2500, excluding the airfare and obvious cost of maintenance for the points. Factor that in and its a $5000 week.

So while I was thinking about all the costs, we met a couple from the UK who told us it was their first and absolutlely last trip there. With three daughters, their 14 day trip cost them about $10,000 - $5000 for airfare (we need a train tunnel under the Pond), a few thousand for the house they rented and the park tickets . Suddenly I felt better.

So its all perspective. Already planning our next trip (sans nephew) for April break and not buying annual passes anymore since we want to do other things than just going to parks. Still has the magic though. Also had the best burger in my life at ESPN called a Cuban. Really great - get one if you go there.

Just curious why you didn't just renew your annual passes on that last day since you are returning in April instead of buying the 3 one day hoppers??? Thanks for sharing and I will have to check out that burger at ESPN. :)

Disney is expensive. Maybe change up your plan if you have to buy a one day pass for Disney. Do a water park that day or do your "field trip" off site that day. Any time you venture off site for just one day or cough up the cost of a Disney park for one day the cost of another park is very expensive. "Field Trips" away from Disney to other attractions for a day are just crazy expensive like Disney is for one day.

Though expensive, I wonder if your costs could have been pared down some with a bit better planning.

BTW we had DD 17 along with us and we were feeling the same early pangs. She will be off to college next year and I don't know that she will want to vacation with us so I just made the absolute most of it! So glad we have had DVC since she was 6 so we have had many wonderful vacations and I am kind of looking at all the new and exciting ways I can use DVC just with the two of us.

I think a little bit of planning would have cut your costs significantly.

1. Leaving Disney to go to Universal for one day is always going to be an expensive venture. I tend to pick one or the other for my trips.
2. You should have been aware of when your annual passes where going to expire and planned accordingly. You could have saved the day at Universal for when your pass expired and avoided needing to buy an extra set of passes all together.

While I agree that Disney is expensive but it's not like we all don't know that going in. With a bit of planning you can make your money go a lot farther.

Just curious why you didn't do Universal on your last day instead. That would have saved you the cost of the hoppers. Also, next time you might want to look into a one-day car rental instead of the bus to Universal. You can usually get them for $40-50 and can pick up at the Dolphin.

That's a great question.

We had 1160 Disney reward dollars that were to cover the cost of the annual tickets but after blowing all that money at Universal just so they could go on a few edgy rides, and then wanting to go to a water park, that was about $1000 right there. And they texted me at about 12pm saying they were bored and what else could they do? I told them to go back on the rides again. Its difficult at this age because we rarely see teenage boys in Disney - mostly teenage girls.

Then they went to Downtown Disney several nights to go to the movies. I had expected U, which we visited on Saturday, to cost about $500 and we actually ran out on our annual passes on Sunday so we went to a Water Park that day.

I know we have 30 days to renew the passes, but the economy is still tough and I have about $250,000 in potential college costs facing me. So I'm getting a little gun shy regarding expenses.

Tried that - They were going to charge us for two days for the car since we needed it at 7am to get to U by 8am and were not returning till after 8pm, we go to Margaritaville for dinner and were meeting friends there.

Medium car was going to cost $60 for one day - $120 for two and the bus was $80.

That car center does not open till 8 and closes at 4pm so they confirmed it would be a two day charge.

Our tickets ran out three days prior to leaving Disney so after they ran out, we did one day at a Water park, one day at U and one day at Disney. No matter how we arranged it, we would have to pay for an extra day at Disney. The only way I could have avoided the cost was going a few days earlier - but DW had already scheduled her days off with the hospital which she could not change.

Agree - we have been going since he was 4 and staying initially at value or moderate resorts. He still likes it, just does not want to hang with us. But I was told this all changes two months after they enter college. At that point, they run out of money, realize what a cash cow we are and call saying I love you Mom and Dad and .... I need money.

For DW and I, I just looked at going to Bermuda next year for our anniversary. We have stayed at a place called The Reefs. Hotel Cost - $745 per night including dinner. More than double the cost when we got married. Maybe we just stay home and work in the yard.

All of this. I thought using Universal on the last day as well.

That being said. I know it was an expensive trip, and it was very nice of you to take your nephew along. With your son going off to college soon, you will look back at this trip fondly.

One thing we've learned to do: we either do "only Disney", or we do "only Not-Disney". If we are going to WDW, we don't also go to Universal, and vice-versa. We have now take a couple of "Not-Disney" trips---most recently this past June---and they are every bit as enjoyable as a WDW visit. In some ways, more so, as our kids have come to prefer the attractions in the other Orlando parks.

This was not your most expensive trip ever. Your kids college education is your most expensive trip ever!

If he is lucky you will not saddle him with enough debt, he will be paying until he is 40. Remember college loans don't go away in a bankruptcy.

And in a thread full of unasked for advice, we have a winner

Everyone draw up your soapbox:rotfl::surfweb:

My niece (on my wife's side) just graduated from Medical school two years ago. The day after graduation, the finance office called her in, and advised her she owed $160,000 to the school and they arranged a payoff where she will be debt free at age 61. She is in residency, making $55K working 70 hours a week. Soon however she will move onto a specialty and hopefully make a lot more to pay off the loan. Her parents refused to pay for Med school, saying that was her choice and her burden.

I wont do that - In my family we do not burden the kids with a mountain of debt regardless of what we have to sacrifice. I will simply work till 70 - no big deal.

I paid for all my education and my wife paid for all her private education. My kids can look forward to paying their own way. i will do what my mom did witch was come pay for groceries and pay for me to take a vacation, and send cash in a hallmark card to help them get by. I may look down the road to change this but not likely. As for med school, I work with a large amount of physicians and very few have gotten help from their parents, most are on their own.