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

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I feel like I got a sneak preview!

 

[TNKBELL]

Hey everyone, we are still en-route, but I wanted to let you know, I'll be posting my report this week!! We had a great time, and I'm hoping after crunching all the numbers that I'm still on budget.
Lisa... It was great meeting you also, we'll have to meet up again!!!

 

[bengalbelle]

I can't wait to hear the details!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Me Too !!

 

[mom23boys]

I, too, have been a lurker and can't wait to see how their vacation was.

Me too. Hope you had a great time.

 

[Kim in TN]

Hope you and your family had a magical vacation

 

[TNKBELL]

Hello!!! Through the Grace of God, we are home and refreshed from a magical family vacation!!

Did I stick to my budget? Yes, albeit with some changes!
Here is the breakdown:

Prepaid Expenses
Van Rental_____________510.00 (We had to go thru Avis since Budget didn't have a van available.. GRRRR.. but Avis gave us a better rate!!

Getravelop.com Condos_ 528.00 ( First week at Summer Bay, 2nd week at Orbit One)

Disney Package________480.00 (3 nights at Pop with 1 day park passes for me and 3 kids this included free dining plan)

MNSSHP Tickets______ 165.00 ( This was better than paying a full days price it was half the price and because you could enter at 4pm and of course all the freebies that come with MNSSHP!!)

Sheraton Safari Hotel___ 105.00 ( I confess for 50.00 per night I upgraded us to a Suite, and paid 50.98 per night and then the taxes.)

Choice Hotels_________ 140.00 ( We decided to stop more than 2 nights to and from Orlando so I recieved 2 nights free and we paid 65.00 for one night and 70.00 for the other night with Dh's gov discount.)

Total Prepaids_________1,928.00


Now for the actual spending

Gas______________540.00

Food ____________393.00

Souvies, Misc_____224.00

Tips/ Tolls_________51.00

Total___________1208.00


Minus normal weekly food budget for 20 days__ (214.00) I feel justified subtracting this because this money was not saved up for the trip but rather used for our daily budget.

Grand Total__ ______________ $ 2,922.00________________________ ___


As far as each catagory here's the breakdown:

Gas

Self explanatory


Food
Instead of listing every singel meal, I'll give examples of meals
First of all keep in mind that for 4 days we had the Free Dining Plan and ate a lot of food!! A very generous Diser, Shayla, gave us her unused Restaraunt.com gift certificates, one that we used was for the Starlight Grill and all we had to pay was 5.00 for the tip. We also had the entertainment book that another Diser was giving away for only the cost of shipping, so we were able to use the card and receive a free entree at Bennigans takeout for a cost of 10.00. We also ordered a Pizza Hut pizza with a coupon for 10.00 and Ds6 and Ds8 had free personal pan pizzas with thier Book It certificates.
There were numerous other entertainment coupons we used from Diser, Carol, that were buy one get one free anything from ice cream to hamburgers. I also brought coupons from home from the newspaper, one example Long John Silvers two can dine for 5.99 this was plenty of food for the whole family. Another day for lunch while at Walmart the kids each chose a Walmart brand lunchable for 1.00 each and Dh and I split a huge wrap that was only 2.14.We also refilled our water bottles and reused them. Most days we would eat out once and then eat a light meal at the condo or as Dd4 called it " Our vacation home" like fruit and cheese or sandwiches or an omelet and Mickey waffles( we brought our Mickey waffle iron) Also for our 4 nights on the road we had a free full breakfast and at Orbit One they had free coffee, donuts and juice for 5 of the days we were there. Some items we brought from home are... Pancake mix, grapes, apples, yogurt, string cheese,water, peanut butter(for the waffles), crackers, granola bars,juice and cereal. This fed us on the road and somewhat at "our vacation home". We also went 1 time to Publix and I used some coupons to purchase some staples like eggs, cheese, fruit, bread, milk, meat, ect. We also went to Walmart twice to buy staples and diapers.

Souvies and Misc_____
The first major spending was on 2 booster seats that we forgot to install before we left, so on our first night on the road in Columbia, Mo we had to go to Walmart an buy them...$30.00. Not to mention replacing Ds8 goggles twice! The 1st pair broke, the second pair was stolen by the ocean!! That was $8.00. Then Dh's fanny pack ripped, replacement was $5.00 at Walmart for a really nice one! The last unexpected expense was an autograph book and pen $10.00 at the Contemporary right before dinner at Chef Mickeys, we left our other one back at "our vacation home" . We spent 12.00 on coin operated laundry while on the road. In Perry, Ga we stopped at the .99 Festival and purchased shampoo, soap, dishwashing detergent, laundry softner and soap and other condo basics for $14.00. We bought postcards and did penny presses and went to the arcade all for about $25.00. I went to the Disney Liquidation sale in Celebration and spent $57.00, everything was 70% off so I received $190.00 worth.Upon check in at Pop Century I had ordered nametages for each of us from the Christmas shop at Dtd, they were waiting for us at the gift shop at Pop.

Tips and Tolls___
Parking, tips for housekeeping and tolls. The tips for dining are included in the food budget.


I wanted to list the freebies we found
At Epcot__
Fantastic Plastics at Innoventions.. We all made free robots that were really cute and colorful and all the pieces are interchangeable so my lego fanatic Ds' were in heaven!!
Japan at the World SHowcase. Miyuki made each of the kids a beautiful animal lollipop. I highly recommend catching this demo!!!
Kidcot Stop at the Land the kids made durable necklaces... really cute!
Kidcot stops around the World SHowcase.. Masks with lots of attachments.
The Jr Chef Program at the Land.. The 3 oldest Dks were given Chef's hats and free choc. chip cookies. Ds1 felt really left out!!
Innoventions a free family photo with a private meet and greet session with Goofy and Minnie!! We really enjoyed this one!

At MNSSHP__
Free Family photos sent by mail and waiting for us when we got home!
Tons of candy!!!!
Stickers everywhere!!!

Everywhere else__
Balsa wood planes at Orlando Science Center... A wonderful place!!
At Port Orleans Riverside after eating lunch at the food court(dining plan) we took the kids to the playground and while we were there, the Mardi Gras themed homecoming parade passed by and the Dks were showered with necklaces, toys, candy and bubbles!! Co-pilot licenses from riding in the front of the monorail.
Stickers everywhere!!

Some freebies from promotions__
We received a free great breakfast and Dh got a free Epcot ticket for listening to a timeshare presentation at Summer Bay(very low pressure and No,we didn't buy!)
Disney Visa sign up deal 50.00 Disney Reward card that turned into 61.00 after I put our Disney Vacation Package and MNSSHP tix on it. This is how it was spent___
World of Disney, btw, with the Disney Visa card if you spent 25.00 you received at 10% discount, but you had to ask for it.
25.00 for a Mickey Bear for Ds1
4.00 for clip ons for Dd4's tiara
Once Upon a Toy__
19.00 Mr Potato Head pieces for all the Dks(Mr Potato body from home)
Carribean Beach Resort__
2.00 for 2 beach pails for Ds1 and Dd4.

The boys also earned 20.00 on Kidzeyes.com so along with the leftover 10 from the disney rewards card they chose
Lego Imagination Store at DTD
2 Lego Knights Kingdom Knights for 20.00
and A Race car set for 20.00(10.00 from spending budget)

We have a family zoo pass and science center pass from home that we were able to use and get in free at the following places:
Orlando Science Center
MOSI in Tampa
Central Florida Zoo in Sanford
Adventure Science Center in Nashville


Our Disney Activities included:
An entire wonderful day at Epcot
A day and evening at Magic Kingdom for MNSSHP
Cinderellas Gala Feast at Grand Floridian
Dinner at Chef Mickeys at the Contemporary
A great lunch at Beaches and Cream at Beach Club where we met Diser, Lora and her wonderful family!!!
Lots of resort hopping ( my personal fave!!!)
The Dks got to ride in the front of the monorail!!!


Other Activities
Swimming Everyday!!
Clearwater Beach on the gulf
Melbourne Beach where we got to meet Diser, LisaLovesPooh and her adorable Dks!!
Science Centers and Zoos previousley listed
Miniature Golf(Free at Summer Bay)
Family Scavenger Hunt(Free at Summer Bay after completing we received free milkshakes as our prize!!
Family Trivia free at Orbit One
Kids Waterpark, free at Summer Bay
Ice Cream Social (free at Orbit One)
Face Painting(Free at Summer Bay)
Liki Tiki Waterpark(5.30 parking free admission from sister resort Orbit One)
Lots of snuggling and family time!!


All in all it was one for the memory books for sure!! Thanks to all the Disers for thier generosity and support and AWESOME ADVICE!!!!!!!

I would be happy to answer any questions!!

 

[dazzled]

TNKBELL: It sounds like you all had a fabulous time on your Disney Vacation. Thank you for posting. I couldn't wait to see how you made out on your budget. Sounds like you made out great. Good for you. It shows that Disney can truly be done even on a strict budget. Our family went to Disney in May and had a very limited budget too. There are only 4 of us and we did 6 nights in Florida for $1500. Thanks again for sharing your adventure and all your useful tips.

 

[HayGan]

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!

I knew that you could do it!

 

[disneymom3]

I am so glad to read your report!! I knew you could do it!! ANd it sounds like you all had an awesome time! ONe question--where in the world was DH when you and the kids were at Pop??

DD did the chefs thing in the land too several years ago when she and I were on a girls trip(actually we were celebrating that she was done with public school, but don't tell anyone...) Anyway, we were leaving that day and she convinced the CMs there to give her a cookie for each of her brothers at home. Really cute program they have there. She has told the boys about it, so I am glad to hear it is back.

Thanks for updating us. I know many of us have been waiting to hear your report when you got back.

 

[LilMamiBella]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! You did a great job with the budget.

 

[momofdbsdc]

Thank you sooo much for the great vacation report! You did a fabulous job with your budget!!!!! It sounds like you had an awesome time!

 

[zippehsmom]

Glad you guys made it back safe and sound. I knew you could stick to your budget, and it sounds like you guys had an awesome time.

 

[faindrops27]

I knew you would do it. With ease. It is now almost my turn. Albeit. I am not as savvy as you are. I do like to test to see, if I can stay within budget. I hope, I can bring some money back home. Wish me luck. Or send some pixiedust. I am so glad you had a fabulous time!!

 

[TNKBELL]

Julie, We actually never slept at Pop, I just booked it for the free dining plan so we could do character meals it was less than paying outright for both the character meals. We did hang out in between parks and resorts and we swam at the pool once. And of course I brought home some cute Mickey soap and shampoo!! I didn't feel right about exceding the occupancy of the room that's why we didn't sleep there and since this was a family vacation we didn't want to seperate, not to mention our comfortable beds and 2 baths at Summer Bay! P.S.....I'll never tell!!(about your celebration)

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Congratulations! It sounds as if you had a wonderful time and made lasting memories. You deserve a medal.

 

[foxfire]

I'm really glad to hear you had such a wonderful trip. I was sure you could do it within budget because of the extensive planning. Congratulations on a job well done...the memories you have are priceless!

 

[mom23boys]

Wow, what a great trip report and way to go on sticking to your budget.

I'm glad you and your family had a great time.

 

[lillygator]

Way to go - sounds like you had an awesome time too! A big kudos to you!! I could never do something like that~~!

 

[grlzmom]

I am so impressed, you should write a vacation budget book.

Way to go and I am glad your family had such a wonderful time.