Budget Advice Please

[pines506]

Hi. We'll (me, DH, DD 11 and DS 8) be going to WDW, staying onsight, in July for 8 nights. Driving down from Chicago area leaving 7/23 and returning home 8/2. We are planning on spending the night in Atlanta or thereabouts each way. Its been a while since we've been there (and first time driving in 9 years) and I'm just not sure how much spending money to bring. I'm currently figuring about $2400.

Gas - $400 (At current gas prices AAA quotes $250 rt, but I'm sure it'll go up!)

Full days in Disney - $200 per day for meals and souvies (Mostly counter meals or outside) I also have the Entertainment book for Orlando, so we may use that.

Travelling days - $150 per day (Including hotel in this. I'm assuming I can find one for about $50-$80)

I would certainly appreciate any input or advice.

TIA

Diane

 

[tednvon]

I would do www.priceline.com for overnight going down if you know where you are staying.
Do one or two star for 20 to 25 bucks and it should work fine for a fast night.

Try Deb Willis great site at www.wdwig.com for lots of tips on meals and planning


Ted

 

[LuvTigger]

Your budget sounds reasonable to me, and you seem to have reasonable expectations.

Just wanted to mention that one of the best deals in EPCOT is Norway's lunch buffet. At last check, it was less than $15 per person, and most people seem to like it (BF and I personally LOVE it!)

One of the suggestions I made to someone else who was also planning on $200 a day was to only put $200 in their wallet for the day and keep the rest in a waist pack that goes under your clothes so you can access it if absolutely necessary, but you'd have to go out of your way to do it! Then each day, add another $200, so some days you'll have more than just the $200 and you might be able to splurge on a sit down meal, or more souvenirs, etc.

 

[fam4jc]

Hi. I agree that your budget sounds good. We do alot of driving trips with our family of four also. We always stop at the welcome center of each state we enter. They have these newspaper hotel coupon books that have GREAT rates in them for last minute stays. The last time we used it in Texas we stayed at a Comfort Inn for $39. Nice, clean hotel for a family on a budget. This is a good resource if you are driving with no certain mileage per day in mind. If you do plan x number of miles then the priceline option would be a good way to go.
Have a great trip

 

[pines506]

Thanks for the suggestions! We are planning on only bringing $200 a day with us and leaving the rest in our room. I don't trust myself to have more than that on my person and I'm kind of hoping to come home with some money too (but not expecting to -- it would just be nice!) since we leave a week after we get back for a week in Michigan.

I think I might start getting those Disney Dollars for the kids too. DS doesn't remember the last time we went and I know my DD -- they will both have a major case of I wanna haves!

I'm going to keep the welcome center tip in mind! We really don't know how far we are going to drive the first day -- I'd like to make it to Atlanta, but DH works midnights and it depends on if he takes the night before off and we leave really early or if we have to wait for him to get home from work....

Just wanted to say I've read through this board and picked up a lot of great tips. This is the best vacation planning tool!

 

[canwegosoon]

Also and option is once you get on an Interstate, stopping at a rest stop an picking up one of those travel guides. My sister was able to save an extra $10. off a hotel in VA. which we already had confirmed internet price of $75(for 4 persons w/ dog extra charge). This is just an option, espically if you arent exactly sure where you'll stop on the drive.