$10,000 budget - plan me a trip!

[rmjkharrisfam]

I've been given $10,000 to plan a week at WDW. I'm not kidding! HELP!!!!!

I posted last week to get opinions on which trip was a better deal. That trip was going to me our immediate family. Since then, my parents decided that they would like to take our entire family and PAY FOR IT!

So - here's what I've now got to plan and I need YOUR help!!!

Requirements:
- Onsite - Probably 3 rooms although we may be able to get my parents and my brother to share
- 9 people:
Me, my DH, our kids (DS7, DD5, DD1)
My brother and his wife
My mom and dad
- Park hopper tickets
- Meal plan for me, DH & kids for sure - it's not worth it for my parents - they just share meals anyway

Dates: April 13th - 20th, 2010

Budget: $10,000 - that has to include airfare from Wi (currently running about $200/person)

Ok.....GO....PLAN ME A TRIP!!!!!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I would NOT plan to have (or even ask) your parents and your brother and his wife to share a room. Each couple deserves some privacy and with the budget you are working with, a room for each should not be a problem.

 

[dmank]

You are so lucky!! Just start by calling Disney reservations and ask about a few places - even some of the Villas.

See what you can get for the money!! And remember the 45% pin code offer they have too.

Have fun planning.

 

[bettymae1121]

I would NOT ask your parents and your brother and his wife to share a room. Each couple deserves some privacy and with the budget you are planning, a room for each should not be a problem.

Ditto. Plus three rooms means three bathrooms = faster "getting ready" in the mornings, so more park time!

If where you stay onsite isn't that important to you, what I would do is figure out all the activities you want to do (grand gatherings, park tours, fancy sit down restaurant meals, etc.) and total up that cost, then subtract that along with the airfare and park tickets and see what you have left. That will be your hotel budget and you can fit the hotel to your budget, rather than selecting your hotel and trying to fit in what you want to do with the money you have left. I hope that makes sense!

 

[minnie1928]

Another thing to consider, since money isn't a big issue, is where will you be spending most of your time. Will you be spending equal days at each park or will you spend most of it around Magic Kingdom? We tend to go to MK more than the others, so for us it's better to be at a hotel that's closer to MK. That way it's less time to/from the hotel. I'd agree with the others, get either 3 separate rooms or look into a villa. Bathroom space will matter with that many people.

 

[Smile4Me]

You didn't mention whether your brother and his wife would want to be on the dining plan, but if they did share a room with your parents I believe they'd all have to be on the same ticket/plan.

 

[thop529]

I would see about renting DVC points for Old Key West or Saratoga Springs for a Garnd Villa. That way everyone could have your own room, but be together in the same villa. They are nice and roomy.

 

[MissMichelle]

I've been given $10,000 to plan a week at WDW. I'm not kidding! HELP!!!!!

I posted last week to get opinions on which trip was a better deal. That trip was going to me our immediate family. Since then, my parents decided that they would like to take our entire family and PAY FOR IT!

So - here's what I've now got to plan and I need YOUR help!!!

Requirements:
- Onsite - Probably 3 rooms although we may be able to get my parents and my brother to share
- 9 people:
Me, my DH, our kids (DS7, DD5, DD1)
My brother and his wife
My mom and dad
- Park hopper tickets
- Meal plan for me, DH & kids for sure - it's not worth it for my parents - they just share meals anyway

Dates: April 13th - 20th, 2010

Budget: $10,000 - that has to include airfare from Wi (currently running about $200/person)

Ok.....GO....PLAN ME A TRIP!!!!!

I agree with everyone on having plenty of rooms---This is what I came up with:
Package Offer

Disney's Old Key West Resort

Check InApril 13, 2010Check OutApril 20, 2010Staying for7 nights, 8 days
Adults6Children3
Room Type2 Bedroom VillaTickets8-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper®PackageMagic Your Way Package Plus DiningPackage includes
2010 Package Inclusions

Special RateWinter - Spring Magic Your Way Plus Dining 5+ Nights

Total: $7,213.02

Villas offer views of water, woodlands or fairways. The 2-bedroom, 2-bath Villa has a fully-equipped kitchen, dining area with table and chairs, full-size washer and dryer and balcony or patio. The master bedroom suite includes a king-size bed and bathroom with whirlpool tub. The second bedroom area has 2 queen-size beds and a bathroom. The living area has a queen-size sleeper sofa. Amenities include DVD player, in-room safe, voice mail, high-speed Internet access (additional fee), hairdryer, iron, ironing board, microwave, refrigerator, coffeemaker and Pack 'n Play® playard. All Studios and Villas are non-smoking. Wheelchair-accessible Villas may be available through the Special Needs Department.

This doe not include your flight---It is only letting me check flights for 6 people, but you'll get the idea---not sure which airport so I chose MKE. Flight for 6 people comes to $ 995.40....I wish I could get April fares like that!!!

So it is MORE then doable for $10,000 budget.

Happy Planning!

 

[branv]

I would definitely turn this over to a TA like Dreams Unlimited. Just tell them your parameters and ask for a quote (I would ask for rates at all 3 levels with the best codes they can find rather than tell them your $10K budget). It will save you a lot of time and you'll get a lot more options.

 

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

This is what I live for planning trips its so much.
I will probably be giving you 10 different options in the next hour so bear with me.
I will start will value and work our way up

Option 1
Pop Century
3 preferred rooms
7 day park hoppers for everyone
Dining plan only for your room.
$6080.72
plus each room will get a $300 girft card

Option 2
All Star Music
2 preferred rooms and one family suite
7 day park hoppers for everyone
Dining plan only for your room.
$7024.28
plus each room will get a $300 girft card

 

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

I am obviously doing the giftcard option for all of these options I will do the % off next.

Option 3
Port Orleans Riverside
3 Water view rooms
7 Day Park hoppers for everyone
Reg. Dining Plan for your room only
$7809.50
Plus each room would get a $500 girft card

 

[Pakey]

I would get 3 separate rooms. I would not do a 2 bedroom villa. We have done a 2 bedroom villa with 6 people and found it lacked privacy; I can't imagine doing it with 6 adults and 3 children because some of those adults are not going to have any privacy.

We have done 3 large group trips (we take our adult children and our grandson) and every one needs some space to themselves. Our 09 trip we had 5 rooms at the Beach Club and it was so nice that we all had our own space to run to at night!

We also do not plan to tour together 24-7. We did that on the first trip and found we didn't enjoy it. Now we try to limit our together time to just a portion of each day rather than the entire day.

 

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

Keep in mind that none of the options I am laying out include airfare


Option 4
Animal Kindom Lodge
3 Pool View Rooms
7 day park Hoppers for everyone
Reg. Dining plan only for your room
$10590.20
But since I am doing the gift card option you would get 3 $750 gift cards so really you would be getting back $2250 Disney money of course.
Just one to consider
I tried doing it with your parents and brother and his wife all staying together and it said it wasnt an options for the dates and/or size of group.
Doesn't mean that wouldn't be different an another Deluxe Resort

 

[loveysbydesign]

What type of lodging are you looking for? Value or Moderate??
Also you could ax the dining plan and use the gift cards towards your food!

 

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

I don't think a 2 bedroom would give you guys enough room but your trip your choice.

Option 5
Disney SSR Deluxe 2 bedroom Villa
7 day park hopper for everyone
reg dining for everyone
you will get 1 $750 gift card
$9543.64


Now remember none of my options have flights included so paln accordingly.

Now I will do a few options with the other offer.

 

[ashleyd725@hotmail.c]

SSR
2 bedroom Villa
7 day park hopper
dining for all
$7187.44

Boardalk Deluxe Resort
3 Standard rooms
7 day park hopper
Dining plan just for your room
$8740.12

Coronado Springs
3 Standard Rooms
7 day park hopper
Dining plan just for your room
$5884.71

Pop Century
3 Preferred Rooms
7 day park hopper
Dining plan just for your room
$5208.64


Help these options were a help
if you need me to tweak anything or if you need more options let me know

 

[ajh88]

You are planning almost the exact trip I am - except we are going at the end of May and not for as many nights (5 nights). My budget wasn't dictated to me - rather it was just see what I could come up with and the money range. For 5 adults and 3 kids, my budget projections came out to $8670 to $12894, depending on where we stayed, etc. and that included transportation down and back.

For your trip, I looked at 2 options (which I had done for my trip also) - Saratoga Springs (or any deluxe villa resort) and a moderate resort (Port Orleans Riverside - because some rooms have the trundle). You can do Pack'N'Plays at both too. I did *not* factor any airfare, but here is what I came up with for room/tickets +/- dining:

Option 1:
Saratoga Springs
8 day park hopper tickets
Studio (2A/3C) + Regular DDP = $3350.44
2 BR villa (4A) + No DDP = $4116.12
TOTAL = $7466.56 - you'd have to add extra food for the other 4A plus airfare, but I still think this one comes in under $10K total. I also didn't do any souvenir/extras in the budget since that's so individualized.

Option 2:
Port Orleans Riverside
8 day park hopper tickets
1 Room (2A) + No DDP = $1509.94
1 Room (2A/3C) + Regular DDP = $2813.24
1 Room (2A) + Regular DDP = $2097.80
TOTAL = $6420.98 - this would get you 3 rooms and all the adults except your mom and dad on the dining plan. Of course, you'd still have to budget for their food, plus airfare.

I used the Winter discount for 5+ nights instead of the gift card promo - the gift card only starts being a really good deal at the value resorts (based on my calculations). You would end up ahead by about $60 ($20 per room) if you opted for the $500 gift card per room but paid rack rate for POR. It's not even CLOSE for Saratoga Springs (to the gift card being a better deal than 45% off the room). I suppose you could opt to go with the gift card and get rid of the dining plan, instead using the gift cards to pay for food - I guess I'll add that as a 3rd option:

Option 3:
Port Orleans Riverside
8 day park hopper tickets
2 Rooms(2A) + No DDP = $1990.32 x 2 = $3980.64
1 Room (2A/3C) + No DDP = $2537.90
TOTAL = $6518.54 - So, you'd still get 3 rooms (but at rack rate), then get $1500 worth of gift cards, which could be used toward food (and then it wouldn't matter so much who is on the dining plan and who isn't). You notice the total isn't very much more than above, but again, the DDP is gone from this calculation. If you think everyone could eat for $1500 for the duration of the trip (or for the most part), then I'd venture that this could possibly be your best deal. If you prefer having pre-paid expenses and not wondering about how much the food will really cost, maybe stick with the DDP as above.

Obviously, it'd be less if you went with QS dining instead, or if you started changing a bunch of other variables.

Have fun with the planning!

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

Whew - ok - it's going to take me a little to get through all of these. I think I need a spreadsheet!!!

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

I would NOT plan to have (or even ask) your parents and your brother and his wife to share a room. Each couple deserves some privacy and with the budget you are working with, a room for each should not be a problem.

I agree - plus they are just married - they should DEFINETLY have their own room!

 

[rmjkharrisfam]

What type of lodging are you looking for? Value or Moderate??
Also you could ax the dining plan and use the gift cards towards your food!

Actually it sounds like they want to stay Deluxe...which may change the budget slightly. I have NO idea what has gotten into them......

As for dining plan - I love the dining plan and definetly want it because my kids LOVE character meals. It won't be worth it to my parents as they will eat smaller meals. I think my brother will go for it though.