Average price of Disney vacation

[cokegal19]

This may to much of a personal question, but I was just curious on how much people spend on a vacation to Disney World. Including travel expenses, hotel, food, souviniers, tickets, and anything else that is a vacation expense. I was just curious because I am trying to plan our vacation and I think it seems a little rediculious to me the amount we will have to spend, and we only have 3 people in our family! My husband, me and our 3 year old son. Mabye I am trying to do to much or something. I don't know. Our vacation consists of a 4 day cruise with carnival and 4 days at Disney world.

 

[twinkles0819]

I just came back from WDW on Friday....this trip was for 9 days/8 nights, and when I take into account every expense, my trip was just shy of $2000 for two people.

And that's staying on my dad's hotel employee discount, and a couple of nights with a hotel that I got super cheap through priceline. The tickets are going to add up fast. When when you are done getting those it doesn't seem so bad

 

[pjlla]

I don't have an exact number, but I know how much we saved and we didn't quite spend it all, so I am pretty close.

For my family of 4 (myself, DH, DS almost 6 at the time, and DD 8 1/2).... stayed off site at Homewood Suites for 8 nights (included free bkfst) , 4 door rental car for length of stay, 4 round trip flights from Manchester, NH, 4 - 5 day PHP, 4 1-day admissions to SeaWorld, Dinner with Shamu, CRT bkfst, Chef Mickey dinner, and all other lunch and dinner out (mostly counter service), assorted souvenirs (about $100/pp), and many popcorns, Dole whips, mickey bars, soft pretzels, turkey legs, and LOADS of ride photos ................................$4000.00.

Best money I ever spent!!! Trying DESPERATELY to talk DH into returning November 2005!.....................P

 

[mad4themouse]

Our last vacation to Orlando lasted 11 days and we spent over $5,000 for the 4 of us (2 adults, DD14 and DS12). That included everything (airfare, rental car, hotels, meals and passes) but we were staying in deluxe accommodations each night and we ate sitdown meals at least once per day. I worked like mad for over a year to get the best possible price on everything.

My next trip will be more of an economy trip. It will be me, DS12 and DD14. We're flying down using frequent flier miles plus one awesome RT ticket for a total cost of $126 in airfare for the 3 of us. We'll stay at CSR (std. view) for the AP rate of $79 per night for 4 nights (total =$352.34). My rental car will cost me $92 for the 5 days. I have an AP and there are leftover days on the kids' passes. I also have several leftover meal vouchers from the previous trip. I'll bring an additional $300 for spending money. Total cost $870+ for 3 people for 5 days.

I could do it even more cheaply if I moved to a value resort for $49 per night (saving me $135). And I could cut the spending money in half and still be comfortable. I could skip the rental car and use public transportation for much less, saving me an additional $80. But then, it would be too much of a hassle and less of a vacation!

My advise would be to take the time to seek out the bargains. You can get discounted Park Hopper passes from several reputable online ticket brokers. You can find codes that offer room-only discounts to the public, not just to AP holders. There are ways to eat cheaply. There are "free" things to do that won't break your budget or waste a day on your passes. You may not be able to do WDW cheaply but you can do it for less than you think.

 

[lilpritch04]

OK, DH and I are taking our HM in WDW and on a Disney Cruise this Sept/Oct. For airfare, cruise, and Disney hotels and park hoppers we have spent over $2000 already. This is for the 4 night land/3 night sea package. Maybe it's because we are doing the Disney Land/Sea cruise package that it is so much. I don't know, I thought it was a good deal so I won't be upset about it now.

Our airfare was more expensive than I thought it would be, but that is also because we wanted to arrive early in the day and didn't want to arrive home too late in the evening.

We are bringing along another $600 cash/travelers checks for our time at the parks and any shore excursions that we might do--or shopping. I'm hoping the whole thing doesn't cost more than $3000--but it's our HM, so I guess it's worth it.

 

[HayGan]

For our trip next year we are setting the following budget:

APs: $1,500 (2 adults and 2 kids)
MVMCP (2nights): $300
Accomodations: $1,500 (3 nights on-site and 7 off-site)
Food: $1,000 ($100 a day)
Souveniers: $500 ($25 a day per kid)
Travel: $350 (gas and lodging along the way)
and we will have $500 in emergency reserves

Total: $5,650

Now for our 2006 trip our budget is:

Admission: $0 (APs from previous year - yeah!)
MNSSHP (2 nights): $300
Accomodations: $1,000 (7 nights - not sure where)
Food: $700 ($100 per day)
Souveniers: $350 ($25 per day per kid)
Travel: $350 (gas and lodging along the way)
again $500 in reserves

Total: $3,200

What ever is left over from our 2005 trip will go directly to our 2006 trip.

I've budgeting on the high side so that I don't stress about having enough $$$ Plus we will have disney dream dollars from my Disney Visa which will probably pay for at least one of the APs!!!

 

[cokegal19]

ok. I guess i don't feel to bad now. We are driving down and spending $200 round trip in gas. And I'd say about $40 in gas while in Florida. Were staying at a hotel through priceline (don't know which one yet) but not spending more than $300 on a hotel from Thursday night through Monday. Getting 3 day park hopper plus online for $185/per adult and $110 per child, totalling $480. Spending $300 on food while in Disney total. Then getting on cruise for no more than $900, and then budgeting $100 for tips, $100 for baby sitter, $200 for scub diving, $200 for spa, $150 for casino, and $200 for spending money.

That totals $3,170.

I guess that's not bad at all considering all that we would be doing, right????

 

[Amirah95]

What kind of room are you looking to book: value, moderate or deluxe. That is where the cost gets complicated. I priced a 4 night trip at a moderate with the silver package for this year at $3500. I don't know if I was over quoted, but that was what we were given. In that package you get the room, tickets, choices of meals and activities.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

We are a family of 6.

We are bringing our travel trailer to FW. I am figuring $225 for gas RT.

Bought Fun In the Sun Tickets for 2 adults and 4 kids=$1600

11 nights at FW= $297

10 Q&C vouchers=$115

3 VKL vouchers=$62

2adult/3child breakfast voucher=$80.50

12 days @ $100 spending for extras food and treats= $1200

GG firework cruise=$119

I have given the kids Disney dollars for allowance for the last 6 months. I have bought glow in the dark necklaces (lots), light up spinning stuff and other Disney misc. stuff so I am hoping there want be too much of that in the budget.

That adds up to $3699. Wow did not think it was that much!! ha!



But I also think about I would have spent $$ on groceries, gas, electricity, eating out, misc, etc... if we were home so I am not too nuts over the amount.

 

[pjlla]

Originally posted by lilpritch04
OK, DH and I are taking our HM in WDW and on a Disney Cruise this Sept/Oct. For airfare, cruise, and Disney hotels and park hoppers we have spent over $2000 already. This is for the 4 night land/3 night sea package. Maybe it's because we are doing the Disney Land/Sea cruise package that it is so much. I don't know, I thought it was a good deal so I won't be upset about it now.

Our airfare was more expensive than I thought it would be, but that is also because we wanted to arrive early in the day and didn't want to arrive home too late in the evening.

We are bringing along another $600 cash/travelers checks for our time at the parks and any shore excursions that we might do--or shopping. I'm hoping the whole thing doesn't cost more than $3000--but it's our HM, so I guess it's worth it.

Don't feel too bad.... that sounds pretty good to me! Our Disney HM back in 1992 cost us around $2000..... that was for airfare, onsite at CBR for 6 nights, transfers, and tickets (LOS passes at that time)...........And this was almost 13 years ago! So don't feel too bad if you spend $3000!................P

 

[kfeuer]

Last year my family of 2 adults and 2 children under 3 spent around $3000 for a week at Disney at WL. We used the Fairytale package, so that included UPH for the week. We ate alot of expensive sit down meals, or it would have been less. We live in GA so we drove down. This was our tenth anniversary trip and our kids first trip to Disney, so we didn't spare much expense.

Our next trip in February will definitely be more budget-minded. We're staying offsite in a 5-bedroom house w/ pool for 7 days (with my parents, sister/BIL, and MIL). We're paying $375 for the week (which is more then 1/4 of the cost since we're using 2 bedrooms). We're going to get AP's so that we can squeeze out one more trip before my youngest turns 3. We'll be driving down again so no airfare/car rental. The AP's will run us $1150 for 2 adults and one child, so we're looking at $1525 for tickets and lodging. We'll definitely be scaling back on the food costs (I gained 7 pounds on that last trip ). I'm hoping to spend no more then $2100-$2200 for the trip. We may go over that if we get to go to Universal for a day, however (if my mom feels up to watching the boys for us--I just don't feel like there's enough to do for little ones to justify the ticket prices).

When we go back to take advantage of our AP's, I'd love to keep trip costs around $1000. If we can get great rates at a value resort and eat moderately we should be able to do it without any problem. Then the average cost of those two vacations will be around $1500-$1600 for each week. That doesn't sound so bad!

 

[SEAlla]

This is the price of our last trip for the 2 of us:

$2200 5 nights concierge @ Contemporary
$400 2/4 day park hopper passes
$200 + day for meals (keep in mind we ate at places like Victoria & Alberts, California Grill, room service for breakfast, etc.) We aren't really snackers.
$300 Souviners
$240 in gas

Total around $4,000.00

This trip in October will be about the same but we are flying instead. I don't really look for deals, discounts, or budget but if I happen upon one I will take it!!! Funny I say that as I am on the budget board.


Susan

 

[ctsnowfall]

DH and I are making our second trip to WDW in December. I shopped and shopped online for the best deals and did copius amounts of research and this is what I came up with: $233 for airfare from Hartford to Orlando. $500 for 5 nights at OKW (renting a DVC member's points). $100 parking at airport and Mears to WDW. $450 PH passes. $300 for food (DH is a vegetarian so $$$ restaurant meals don't make sense for us, anyway would rather go on rides and see shows than spend time in restaurants, can do that at home). Looks like we can do the whole trip for right around $1600. Hope this helps. Best thing I can tell you is to figure out what your family likes best about WDW and spend your money on that only. Also, booking yourself usually saves you money over packages. Good luck and have fun!

 

[cokegal19]

Does anyone have anything to say about Travel Agents? I know there are a few like Dreams Unlimited Travel, and some other ones. Are they worth it? Do they really save a lot?

 

[gigi1313]

for our family of four for 8 days/7 nights is $4,000... that includes airfare, two rooms at pop century (we like our space), uphs, lots of food and special shows, prince and princess add-on, and anything else our hearts desire while we're there

 

[leebee]

We spent just under $2500 for 2 adults and our 10yo daughter for a two week trip to Florida. This included 3 RT airfares (ManchesterNH to MCO), intermed car at National EA (got a PT Cruiser), one adult Fun in the Sun Pass, one week at KSC Space Camp for DD, 5 nights hotel in Cocoa Beach, 4 nights at POFQ, my admission to KSC, my and DH's upgrade at KSC for special access tour and pass to Astronaut Hall of Fame, one liquid lunch (hee, hee, 2 frou-frou drinks/adult) at Cocoa Beach Pier, airport parking at MHT, all meals, souveniers, gas, groceries, tolls, etc. DIDN'T include WDW passes for DD and myself (we have AP's) and 4 nights at Marriott's Grand Vista (shared sis's timeshare). Meals were either (while at MGV) b'fast in villa, lunch/dinner in theme park counter service or restaurants; (in Cocoa Beach) b'fast for DD incl. with room, lunch for DD incl in day camp fee, brunch daily for DH and self, dinner in restaurants; (while at POFQ) b'fast in food court, lunch/dinners in theme park counter service or POFQ food court. Also had one dinner at Boma, one at Spoodles, one at O'Hana, one b'fast at Crystal Palace (for 2, DH's included in FITS). Don't forget the daily Mickey Bars/Dole whips for each of us! Shared Illuminations Cruise ($10/person). BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT!!!

When just DD and I go to WDW for a week, we spend <$1000, including airfare (usually priceline), hotel (priceline, hotelkingdom, skyauction) rental car (cheapest 4 door I can find), and until lasst Jan. included PH for us also, meals, not too many souvies. We go to WDW at least 2x per year, so go on the cheap side as we know we'll be back "real soon"!

 

[Lyn-CA]

Originally posted by cokegal19
Does anyone have anything to say about Travel Agents? I know there are a few like Dreams Unlimited Travel, and some other ones. Are they worth it? Do they really save a lot?

I've booked two packages with Dreams Unlimited and I highly recommend them. They really look out for discounts and apply them even up to the last minute and their booking all your PS, etc. is a definite plus.

 

[shamrock30]

DH and I will spend about $1700 for a 6 night trip in December. We are flying from MA, staying offsite in a condo, and renting a compact car. We spend very little on souveniers and mostly eat at counter service type restaurants. This price includes 5 day park hoppers and MVMCP. We'll probably come home with 2 nights left on our passes.

 

[eileenfk]

I have never kept track of exact amounts.
However, I have estimated all of my trips at about $1000 per person.
All the trips were about 1 week.

Based on reading the other posts, I think that $1000 per person, for a trip that is a week (or maybe a week plus a day or so) is a good estimate.

Eileen

 

[crisi]

Our last trip we took my MIL and her sister and our two preschoolers - four adults, two children, seven days. We spend about $10,000. It can certainly be done cheaper - this was a sit down dinner each night. Airfare from Minnesota for six. A two bedroom DVC unit. Daily park attendance.....

I suspect people on the Budget Board spend a little less than average - people who hang on the Restaurant Board a little more.