8 days WDW $1,425?

[TomM]

We're going to WDW for 8 days on a budget first of Feb. Here is our budget. Any suggestions on how to save more?
$248 8 nites FW ($31 per nite with AAA includes tax)
$548 4 Day hopper with AAA (2 adult, 1 child)
$300 food, includes 1 character meal, counter lunch in parks
meals at camper
$100 misc.
$225 transportation (driving from Indiana)
$1,425 total

TomM

 

[jdwright13]

If you haven't done it, start a family change jar. Considering you have 5 months, if everybody agrees not to spend any of their change, and throw it in the jar, you could easily come up with an extra $200 which takes some of the pressure off. In 6 months, anytime I spent money, I never used any of my change, and it's up to about $150 for one person. Since you don't include it in your budget, it's makes you feel much better one you cash it in the day before your trip.

 

[Momto2funkids]

We are camping at FW in September.

I think your food budget of $300.00 for the 8 days looks a little low.

Does the $300.00 include the groceries you will buy to have at the campground, or is this just the "eating out" fund?
Jo

 

[TomM]

$300 is the whole food budget, but you're probably right, $300 is a little low for WDW. However, I just got back from a 10 day camping/canoeing trip to Alaska and spent $90 on food, total but there was just one of us. (The whole trip cost $1,100 per person...everything.) We travel simple so we can travel more.
TomM

 

[Mic]

When we go to WDW, we usually have a kitchen(thanks to DVC), so I start purchasing dry goods about 6-8 weeks before we leave. Things like Easy Mac, spaghetti noodles, instant oatmeal, cereal, and bottled water and drinks keep well, so I look for sales on these items and purchase early. By spending an extra $10 a week at the grocery store early, I only have to spend $30-40 on perishables for the week(and we are a party of 6) when we arrive.

 

[idontknow]

I might pad your gas estimate a little incase the prices increase. We drove down a few years ago in our truck and it was about $200 in gas just to get to and from WDW. (not including the driving while we were in Orlando) I think the prices were about where they are now, somewhere around $1.40 a gallon. Then you'll need an oil change after you get home.

 

[jdwright13]

What you driving? Maybe I just get great gas milage, but my gas budget from Indiana is $100. I am driving a midsize car though, not an SUV or Van though.

 

[jdwright13]

What you driving? Maybe I just get great gas milage, but my gas budget from Indiana is $100. I am driving a midsize car though, not an SUV or Van though.

 

[TomM]

We drive a truck & pull a camper, about 15 mpg. My wife is great about preparing meals ahead. She freezes most of them then pops them in the microwave when we get back late from the parks. Sometimes we stop on the way down, I've thought about trying priceline but have never had the nerve. All who use it seem to have no problems.
Thanks for everyone's input. Every $ I save means we can travel somewhere else.
TomM

 

[patsal]

As Mic suggested add a few non-perishables to the cart each week. If there are BOGO's combined with coupons you may get most of the items "free" or very inexpensively. We pre-purchase non-perishables about four months prior to the trip and I pack them all in one suitcase (we DVC), once I get there I make a quick grocery stop for perishables and we are on our way. I only spent $56.00 when we were there in July for 14 days. The rest was about $5 per week added to the grocery bills. Have a great trip!

 

[Momto2funkids]

Tom, I am impressed.

Could your wife post some of her "make ahead" meals? As I mentioned, we are camping in September (actually we are leaving next week) and the food budget is the one thing that has me nervous. I am so afraid that we will just do the most convenient thing which is to eat at the parks, instead of taking a break at the campsite and eating there.

Jo

 

[A kid at heart]

are your passes just hoppers or pluses too?

 

[doggy]

we budget for 4 people approximately $75 to $100 a day for food and if it is less you feel good about the whole trip, but then on the other hand you have money to spare for other things that just might come up.... better to be safe than sorry I always say

 

[doggy]

gas you had better figure about $1.35 to $1.45 a gallon for the areas you will be traveling in....pulling a camper dont you think 10 to 12mpg is a good number to use for an average....

 

[DocRafiki]

I guess you're not souvenir-buyers. $100 for misc. also seems really low to me. I would spend half of that on film (before leaving) & developing. Then there are refillable mugs, ride/park photos, missing sunglasses & other necessities that pop up, ice cream bars & roasted almonds, and surely the child will want a t-shirt and some souvenirs.

What are you doing on the extra 4 days? If not a hopper plus, are you planning on spending no money for entertainment those days? I know it's possible, but the shops and restaurants suck me in on those days.

 

[TomM]

Our camper is a small popup and light to be pulled by a truck. On our days off from the parks we will visit a state park, go to a beach, roam the resorts, swim if we get lucky and the weather is warm, and hopefully a day just to read, walk the trail to WL, take a boat ride. We take a coule rolls of film & video camera. Our daughter is 5 and is really into Disney "guys" (the little plastic Mickey, and all the others, so she is easy to please. (she is not really a T-shirt person at this stage) We really do live fairly simply and have fun.
TomM

 

[plummer925]

Hi TomM!

Just wanted to let you know that I think your vacation sounds HEAVENLY!! My Father in Law has a camper that I was thinking of buying (really great deal - I should have done that instead of my Disney vacation!! LOL) and hauling down...BUT...it's not a pop up and we don't have a truck, so we'd have to buy that TOO!!

So, maybe next year!!!!

I personally prefer camping over resort vacations - I don't use the amenities at a resort, and camping is so inexpensive (I'm very cheap! LOL)...

You're going to have a BLAST!!!! Don't forget about the campfires and movies at the FW Campground!!

I'm envious!!!

Crystal

 

[Tigger1]

I figure about $100 per day for food. We have 6 of us though. We are in the parks aboout 4 days and spend $10 to $15 each for counter meals/ snakes. On weekends we stay at FW and eat a meal out when we are there. On the way to Disney (we drive) we bring snacks for the road and stop for meals We usually stop at Shoneys for a late breakfast early lunch. Then purchase Pizza at our stop for the night. Other than that we buy grocerys at Walmart and Sams Club. I have taken some foods but always say not next time. We usually take a few things with us but always wish we hadnt (takes our space and is same price at Walmart. I will always pack things like spieces, already opened supplies such as laundry detergent, bounce, foil, glad wrap ect. I figure if there is just a little left at the end of trip I can leave the whats left fopr the next person and not have to take it home. We stay at a resort with a kitchen most of our trip so that helps cut food cost alot.