13 Days, Family O' 7 $2642 Budget!

[Homer Simpson]

Tink - I'm impressed with your trips plans and your ability to stay positive about your plan despite some of the negative posters popping up here.

With that attitude you are guaranteed to have a great time!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Hi, it was the get away weeks one and you can add a week when you pay and guess what? You only have to pay the $20 fee once!! Before we have used www.getravelop.com but this was a better deal.

Ohhhh! Thanks!

eta: You bid for two to start, right...? I know, braindead this morning!

 

[HeatherC]

That sounds like a great budget trip!

We are a family of five and I cannot even fathom the idea of spending $75 a week for food. HELP ME PLEASE!!! (Only kidding)

Just milk and bread alone and I am around $20. Guess I could get a cow and bake my own bread...but that ain't happening here. LOL! . My kids are now at the age where they eat constantly. And with our house being a "hang out" house I can only imagine what the food will cost for the summer. So whatever you are doing must be working for you so congratulations! I wonder if where we are in the country also comes into play? (Massachusetts)

When did you book your SkyAuction condos? With all their new fees, I have not been seeing the same deals that they used to have. What were the fees when you booked?

I also second the flying part if you can find a good deal. The kids would love it and it is so nice to be there in a "couple" hours. It would make your vacation that much more relaxing and longer and you may find yourself saving quite a bit. We are flying in June for $44 each way from Hartford. With prices that low, it would make no sense for us to drive.

Will you miss not going to the other parks?

Also...check out your zoo membership. We were members of Boston's Science Museum which also had reciprocity with both zoos and musuems across the country. Orlando's Science Center was included. Maybe yours includes this too.

Not sure if you like seafood, but Amex also has Red Lobster gift cards you can redeem points for. There are a couple in the area. One being not too far from Summer Bay.

They also have SeaWorld passes if you have enough points. Just an FYI. Plus...SeaWorld will give you the second day free. Quite a budget deal!

Lastly...Sept. is a great time to go. Wish we could but the school schedule just doesn't allow for it? Do you homeschool?

Have a wonderful trip! Isn't half the fun of a trip in the planning?

HEatherC

 

[Debbie]

HMMM... I'll look into it, although I admit our family feels that half the adventure is in the journey. We learn so much about each other and it feels so exciting and rewarding to reach our destination. But the kids have never been on an airplane, so that would be an adventure too... HMMMM

That is exactly how my kids used to feel about it, too. The older ones are out of the house, and we flew last year with just the youngest two-12/15. I forgot to tell them that we were flying, and when they found out I got: "What about Waffle House? And Cracker Barrel?" It's not a trip to Disney without that!" (they lived). We always did side trips-e.g. craft shops, picnics, Museum of Appalachia, Lost Sea, too

I think that if someone's family isn't the same type as mine-you know, when an ice cream cone is a treat, where the kids pay for their own treats (I remember paying for a small pop....kids bought their own if they wanted the large), then people don't understand that the trip to the beach is just as rewarding to the family as 7 days in the parks! Heck, in my house, if I happen to pick up KFC, I get "Whose birthday?" Treats are just that....not expected.

I remember your first trip, and all the discussions around food. Keep on track TNKBell! We'll be watching! Thanks for sharing! Did you see the post requesting your first trip report on here last week? What timing, girl!

 

[WeRblam]

Also...check out your zoo membership. We were members of Boston's Science Museum which also had reciprocity with both zoos and musuems across the country. Orlando's Science Center was included. Maybe yours includes this too.

That is a great idea! What about your local library - perhaps they offer some sort of reciprocity for Out of State.

I third the idea of taking a plane! You have enough time to spend with each other doing different things.

I did not realize that you did not need a seperate admission for the MNSSHP. That was another great idea to get the park in for less!

Have a wonderful time and I can't wait to read your trip report (especially how you feed a family of 7 for $75 a week!)

 

[mommiepoppins]

Tnk you were the one who inspired me to drive for our last year trip. we had a blast and I felt it brought us closer This year we are flying because we did not have enough vaction time and also we are going Thanksgiving week..Can you list some of the foods you will be makeing in the condo.
I would like to only spend 50$ for my family for the wek on food for the condo.( I have been horting tons of snacks to bring with us also). I am a family of 6 and I need you to show me the budget way

 

[hsmamato2]

YAY_ Tinkbell the queen of budgets is back!!!
Whenever anyone says "I just can't afford a Disney trip" I think of you and your great ideas!
I'll be waiting for that report too!

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Not to be a downer here, but how can you feed 7 people on so little money? Do you only have to go to the places that offer free meals for kids, etc.? Doesn't this limit your choices. If I'm understanding this correctly, you will be eating out once a day. So, if you break this down you would have $11 per meal. How can you feed 7 people on $11? Just curious to see how you do this.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I was a huge skeptic of TNKBELL's back in 2005. I admit that I was 100% wrong. She is the QUEEN of the budget Florida vacation! Her family doesn't spend days and days at WDW, but you know what? Her kids don't miss a thing .

I was also a skeptic. She was able to pull it off and everyone had a great time. It's not my idea of a vacation. But it can be done and those doing it can have an awesome trip.

You know, I'm trying to do a budget trip this summer and I only have 5 people to pay for and I am only going for a week. I originally budgeted $2100. It has crept up since. Now I am at $2500.

Of course my kids are older and want to do more stuff.

I am trying and I have already blown the budget .. we are a family of 6 and our air fair was1,200 and car rental was 385. Our tickets for one day a family of 6= 393. our Universal was 450= ....2429 for basics and my dad is paying 700 for our condo for the week

I have a small family, just my son and I. There's no way I'd be able to pull off a WDW vacation for less than $2500.00. Between airfare, resort (MUST STAY ON SITE), park passes and meals (free dining this time). We love all the extras, so they are a must.

 

[grlpwrd]

I would love to know your plans for your meals, especially since you are staying off-site and only doing some WDW meals.

I am a frugalista and we have 5 kids, too, but I am open to learn new things and ideas. Thanks for sharing your plans with us once again!

 

[MEM]

Welcome Back TNKBELL! I wondered what happened to you, but I see a new person in your Christmas card photo and that answers the question.

BTW, I was sorting papers over the weekend and came across the report of your previous trip and re-read for inspiration. Imagine my delight when I see you are planning another trip. Even though I don't have the self-discipline and energy to follow your vacationing style, I do admire you and how easy you make it sound.

Looking forward to reading your report in October.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Do you home school? Asking due to the number of school days the older kids are missing.

 

[dis-happy]

Sounds like a fun family trip! Heads up: We got back last week, driving from Charlotte to Orlando. Gas cost us a bit over $300. for the week. With the way prices keep going up you may need to add to that category.

 

[madge]

The spending details from the last trip can be found here, in post #387:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=824539&page=26

the last trip was a little bit different - longer, I think?

As far as the meals, I notice that the OP does the same thing we do when we drive & stay in a condo: bring some food staples from home. I'm already thinking ahead to what I can stockpile in my weekly grocery shopping and easily transport from KY to Florida. That saves on the food spending

 

[mickeyfan2]

The spending details from the last trip can be found here, in post #387:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=824539&page=26

the last trip was a little bit different - longer, I think?

As far as the meals, I notice that the OP does the same thing we do when we drive & stay in a condo: bring some food staples from home. I'm already thinking ahead to what I can stockpile in my weekly grocery shopping and easily transport from KY to Florida. That saves on the food spending

How?

I have not found the grocery store food in FL to be that much more than at home. If I buy a box of M&C at home or in FL and I eat it in FL it cost the same. I just spent the money before the trip and hid if from the actual cost of the trip

 

[formernyer]

The spending details from the last trip can be found here, in post #387:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=824539&page=26

the last trip was a little bit different - longer, I think?

As far as the meals, I notice that the OP does the same thing we do when we drive & stay in a condo: bring some food staples from home. I'm already thinking ahead to what I can stockpile in my weekly grocery shopping and easily transport from KY to Florida. That saves on the food spending

Ok, I understand how she can feed the family for so little now. It's not that she is actually staying within the budget indicated in the first post...just padding it with money (food) that she purchaed in advance. Makes more sense now.

This actually could be a money-saver if she got the items "free" via couponing and took them with her, rather than it being hit or miss on the sales in FL grocery stores. Plus, there are no double coupons in FL, so if the OP is a couponer she can get food a lot cheaper at home.

 

[madge]

How?

I have not found the grocery store food in FL to be that much more than at home. If I buy a box of M&C at home or in FL and I eat it in FL it cost the same. I just spent the money before the trip and hid if from the actual cost of the trip

I don't go to the grocery to shop for food items to bring to Florida- I'm shopping from my own personal pantry/stockpile.

In Florida, I would buy an entire box of pancake mix to feed my family one or two pancake breakfasts. The unused mix would be thrown away. By bringing it from home, I portion out what I need for the trip with the remaining mix left at home, to use later. I've got a zillion bottles of pancake syrup in the pantry that I've gotten for free or very cheap, so I'll grab a bottle and add to the box. My son eats easy mac, so we always have a box of the packets here - I throw in one or two of the packs for him. I'll bring a bag of 4-5 potatoes to use when we grill out, so I won't have to buy a 5lb. bag or potatoes at Publix, When we drive, we bring a cooler, so I'll pack some steaks from our freezer, and if I've gotten a good deal on lunch meat, I'll throw that in the cooler, too. Those are just some things I can think of from our last trip. We've also thrown in packages of microwave popcorn, pop tarts, peanut butter, etc.

With all that said, I also do what the OP does. I use my weekly grocery budget as part of food spending for the trip. I check the Publix website before we leave, and read the sale ad and plan my shopping accordingly. If I have time, I'll go through my coupon stash

 

[TNKBELL]

Wow, another page of posts, I will try to keep up!!
First of all, Yes I homeschool. It makes traveling off season more flexible.
I have been checking on flights, the cheapest I'm finding from our city is $267 roundtrip, not enough to save significantly. As far as meals in the condo, my Dks love breakfast, so we are bringing our Mickey waffle iron with us and plenty of pancake mix. So for breakfasts(always eating in, except for CM) we will have cereal, pancakes,bananas,eggs, waffles, toast,and juice. The other meal in will consist of a variety of meals, mac n cheese, hot dogs, a treat at our house is Homestyle Bakes, chicken and biscuits(bringing coupons)(I know this isn't gourmet food, but then some of the kids are picky eaters), spaghetti, tacos, we will have a grill at Cypress Palms, so hamburgers and chicken sandwiches and we will have leftovers a plenty! I'll write down what we eat and the cost as we go for the trip report. Please keep in mind that when you add up GCs, regular food budget and rewards our total for food and spending is...over $650. That is about $50 per day, we don't buy lots of souvies, we get plenty free. We also take food with us to eat in the car so when we drive we don't stop more than 1 per trip out, and then we will only spend @ $7.00, so that will increase the other days spending allowance. I have done quite a bit of research on nutrition and based on that, our family does not eat big meals, we eat three small meals and two snacks or three everyday. In doing that we always have leftovers to use for snacks or other meals. Two breakfasts on the road are provided at Comfort Suites and we can take what we don't finish as long as it's portable..ie..fresh fruit, breakfast bars, wrapped pastries, or yogurt since we will have a cooler, to use as snacks. This hotel also used to make homemade cookies in the evening...not expecting...but hoping!!
Prior to leaving I go through coupons, print out menus for GCs and restaurants we will be visiting, look at the Publix sales add online, and prepare our cooler and travel food( I actually save this up little by little and use coupons and watch the sales).
I assure you that we won't starve!!
Thank you for the advice and input, I am taking notes!!

 

[HayGan]

Ahhh, the queen of family vacation is budgting is back Nice to see you again!

I think your budget looks great! Those of us who followed your first trip know that you can definitely do it again!

I just have one suggestion. Have you considered joining some of the on-line rewards programs such as Sunshine Rewards, Cash Duck and/or MyPoints to earn extra funds for the trip? You could easily earn enough extra to pay for those great Universal tickets for sale now (7 days for ~$80) or just ot help defray some of the costs of the trip!

 

[punkin]

Ok, I understand how she can feed the family for so little now.

Well explain it to me. I am also going to be bringing some staples down (we are driving) as well as cooking in the condo. The stuff I bring down still cost me money and is part of my weekly grocery budget. However, I CANNOT feed my family on $75 per week at home, let alone on vacation. She is planning to eat out EVERY night. I don't get it at all.