17 Days, Family O' 6, $3160.00 Budget**TRIP REPORT on pg 26**@Now with Pics!@

[TNKBELL]

************Trip Report on page 26!!*************Please see NEW REVISION ON PAGE 21. Dated 6-04-05Ok, here is our very budget trip for Sept/Oct 2005. The crew includes, me, Dh, Ds8, Ds6, Dd4, Ds1. We will be in Orlando and Tampa for a total of 17 days. Please keep in mind this budget was prepared by a SAHM on a very fixed income!

Budget rental van 20 days=$540.00(through hotdeals email)
Roundtrip gas =$400.00
Hotel on the way 2nts = $160.00
10 Day Exp MYW NOHop Tickets =$910.00
1 week at Summer Bay 2Bdrm =$264.00 (getravelop.com)
1 Week at Orbit One 2Bdrm =$264.00 (getravelop.com)
4 days at HI@DTD Mistake Rate =$4.00
2 nts in Tampa =$160.00
Spending & Food =$458.00
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TOTAL $3160.00

I know if you add up the days they equal more than 17 but we are missing one day at Summer Bay because the week starts on Sunday we don't arrive until Monday. While at HI the 2nd two days we will go to Tampa and leave most of our stuff at HI. We are bringing food to utilize the kitchens in our condos, such as, Pb&J, cereal, Mac&Cheese, Pancake Mix ect..... I have also printed out several coupons to use from Mousesavers.com and will purchase an entertainment book prior to our departure and hopefully not pay more than $5.00 for that(being so close to expiration) So our food and spending budget will be very small @ $26.00 per day! We don't need a lot of souvies, my kids favorites have always been sea shells anyway! Of course the budget doesn't include incidentals such as tolls, some taxes and unexpected expenses. I will report back after our trip to report the actual grand tally! A budget trip to WDW is better than no trip! Any advice or suggestions for improvement are much anticipated and appreciated!!

 

[pjlla]

How realistic is your food budget? Even with eating some meals "at home" so to speak, it seems very tight. Do you have extra money, just in case?? But I'm rooting for you!! We are budgeting $80/day for 4 people (DH, myself, DD 9 and DS 7) this summer (all meals out) and I know that this will probably be tough. We are traveling across several states and it is nearly impossible to plan ahead where we will be eating. I have already started giving pep talks about sharing meals, order entree only (no soup, salad, or extras), water to drink, etc. I will be anxious to hear how you do!...................P

 

[summersfam4]

Ohhhhh, I'm anxious to hear how you do also! We'll be there right before you and our trip will definately be budget minded, from a SAHM, and 1 homeschooled 6yr old, and one potty trained 2 year old.

Kelly

 

[Taja]

Realistically, you probably need $100 to $200 for tolls and incidentals. Living in the western U.S., I rarely encounter toll roads, but I know they're common in the midwest and east! Just MCO to WDW is about $5 in tolls!

Your food budget probably is a tad tight, but if you do your two major meals in your condo most days, you'll probably be okay.

My holidays always are on a budget (frequently quite tight, other times with a bit more wiggle room) simply because I'm frugal and spending money for the sake of spending money doesn't equal enjoyment for me!

I'll be cheering you on and waiting for your trip report and cost analysis!

 

[Purrrrfecta]

Hey,
How did you get that Summer Bay Rate? That is excellent!!!

That 458.00 for food and stuff does seem tight. How are you going to budget that?

 

[threeboysmom]

Hi! You've done an excellent job with your planning & budgeting! Wow! You deserve a great pat on the back! I'm curious to know how you arrived at your $26/day for food budget for all 6 of you. Was there a particular science to it? I'd like to hear some of your ideas for keeping the cost so low - would you mind sharing?

 

[madge]

Hey,
How did you get that Summer Bay Rate? That is excellent!!!

That 458.00 for food and stuff does seem tight. How are you going to budget that?

Government Employee Travel Opportunities

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I don't think that $26 per day for food is realistic at all for two adults, three children and a toddler. Even if having breakfast in your room, bringing lunch with you, and going back to the room for dinner.

Since it is no longer summer, AK will be closing at 5:00 and MK usually closes at 7:00, you might want to consider spending and additionalk $35 each (total $140) to convert the passes to hoppers. This will allow for evenings at Studio or Epcot.

 

[DianaPrincessofWales]

ITA - a budget trip is better than no trip to WDW!! And.....

You got that "mistake rate" at HI/DTD!! You're my hero!

Sounds like a great 20 days!!

 

[vanyel]

I'm amazed at your budget and can't imagine spending only $26 per day for food. Have you budgeted any money for emergencies - someone getting sick (i hope not)? What about a minimal amount for the kid's souveniers?

I'm terrible at saving money at WDW - congrats.

 

[HayGan]

Your budget looks great (but tight.) I think you are probably a little too low on your food budget as well. One place I think you may be able to save is on your hotels rooms on the trip down/back andin Tampa. Why don't you pick cities which would be good stopping points and try to do a priceline for that area. We did that on a trip a few years ago and we were able to get rooms for as little as $20 a night! Saving $$$ that way could really add to you food/misc. budget!

I hope you have a wonderful in-budget trip! We are all anxious to hear how it goes!

 

[Local_Girl]

Yea, another budget-minded SAHM!

You can probably pull this off, but you will have to bring a lot of food from home (we have done this too...lots of canned food, pasta, staples, etc.) Also, remember that you can use whatever your regular food budget would be at home for the same time frame, especially since your vacation is a lengthy 17 days (we sometimes forget to factor that in!). There have been some awesome threads on saving $$ on food at WDW too. I also agree that you might do well to check out Priceline or Hotwire for lower hotel rates along the way and in Tampa. Not sure about the Entertainment card...unless you are really sure you can use what's available. I checked it out pretty thoroughly online and found it to be really limited in value for our family...and not worth the effort.

Above all, I agree, you'll need to have extra $$ on hand (or a useable credit card) for unexpected emergencies, etc. Your budget is really tight, but doable! I'm cheering for you and look forward to hearing how it all goes!

 

[smfritz03]

Government Employee Travel Opportunities

Is this for police officers, firefighters,etc or military?

 

[my3kids]

I don't think you can eat that cheaply, even if you eat most meals in the condo. You could use Priceline and save a lot of money on hotels on the way down. If you are staying at Holidy Inn Express or Hampton Inn kind of place, you can probably get those in towns along the interstate for about $25-28 each night. You just have to know where you want to stay along the way.

 

[Belle5]

Very impressive! I would like to see your food abudget--a breakdown of exactly how you plan to feed your family on $26 a day.

 

[Local_Girl]

Is this for police officers, firefighters,etc or military?

There is a similar site for military, Armed Forces Vacation Club. Getravelop is, I *think* open to any government employee--federal, state, city, etc. but you'd have to check it for eligibility.

 

[smfritz03]

There is a similar site for military, Armed Forces Vacation Club. Getravelop is, I *think* open to any government employee--federal, state, city, etc. but you'd have to check it for eligibility.

It really didnt specify--dh is a police officer and this would be a great way to save on our next trip to Disney!! ( havent even went on our first and already planning the 2nd--this is really addicting!!!! )

 

[Amirah95]

Maybe it was a typo?

Do your tickets have an expiration? Reason why I'm asking is because 10 days in the parks can get expensive. When you carry-in drinks get warm and you guys want something cold...there goes your money or when the kids finally get on your last nerve because they have been seeing this souvy they have been wanting for the past three days.

Just going on McDonald's prices (example)...three times per day put you at $108 per day for food alone for six people (even counting the baby).

Did you count in the roadtrip food going and coming? Also, did you set aside emergency money?

We are roadtrippers as well and we take all of that into account. I bought a magazine, three crispy creme donuts (we didn't have that in the car lol) and a kids travel coloring book for my DD...my DH got himself a few Red Bull Energy drinks and a cup of coffee at the Maryland House. That was our first stop on the way down to Orlando...approx. $20.

 

[iamsorcerermickey]

Did you allow any extra $ for any additional charges for the rental units? Taxes and other fees are separate according to the website.

Food budget seems really tight, even using the $1 menus at McDonalds.

 

[vanyel]

Maybe I missed something - why are you spending two nights in Tampa while you have that great rate at HI?