Budget for family of 4?

[ohiomomx2]

My family will be taking it's first Disney trip in February/March of next year. I am trying to budget for a 5-6 day trip (is that long enough?). We live in Cincinnati and would really rather fly for not only the time saver but the sanity issue!! LOL
I realize that it will take some work on my part to find good fares but I have convinced myself that I can get 4 rt tickets for 150 each!! Maybe I have lost my mind, but that's what I'm shooting for. Then there's the hotel, hopper passes, food.....
We do live on a modest salary so we can't stay at the deluxe hotels, probably would be just as happy at a value hotel. I called today and was quoted 109 a night at an all-star (plus tax). Is that okay? I would like to pay less but maybe it won't happen. I saw there are discount websites for the hopper passes, do most people buy them that way? Any help with the cost of a 5-6 day trip to Disney with 2 adults and 2 children (8 and 5) would be helpful!
Thank you.

Jen

 

[Spirit Feather]

Hi Jen,

I am also in Cinci. We are leaving on our first trip to WDW in 1 day and a wake up! I can't wait.

You have come to the right place for help with budgeting. I have gotten so much help here and we are going to have a great trip without breaking the bank.

I'll let the more experienced folks here guide you to the places to look for discounts. Have fun planning!

 

[iwannago!!]

You have almost a year.. and you are in the right place for cost savings!

Bdays/Christmas etc.. ask for Disney Dollars - you can use them towards the kids park passes. OR ask aunts/uncles/grandparents to go in together and get the pass... unless there is a generous grandma in the family.

You should be able to get the All Stars less than $109, watch www.mousesavers.com for codes.

good luck!

 

[zurgswife]

From my experience with going in March don't expect to pay less for a value hotel....This past march the only Discounts I could find were for people from FL. We were there the first week of march. In Febuary I recall there were a few more general discounts during certain times.

 

[WDW2002]

Resorts, I am not sure but they may have not release 2003 resort rates yet, look for these in about October.

Hoppers, I will only buy from Disney direct or AAA.

 

[ohiomomx2]

I'm so happy to see that there is someone here in Cincinnati who has experience planning a disney trip! Are you driving or flying? I would love to know what discounts you found and how you planned and did your budget? You must be SO excited about leaving Friday. Where are you staying and how many are in your family? Any info is appreciated.

Jen

 

[ttfnpooh]

Hi there. we are also from Ohio (Vermilion) right up along the lake about 15min from Cedar Point. We are planning our first trip to WDW for Sept. 25- Oct.3. It will be myself, my mom,daughter (13) and son (11). We are going to drive down, taking 2 days to get there. We just pack things the kids like to do to keep them occupied. We are staying at the All-Stars Movies. I got it for $77 a night. Haven't decided if I am going to buy park tickets ahead of time or when I get there. Anyone have ideas which would be cheaper?? Also, any suggestions would be great!! My mother will be celebrating her B-day while were there. Any suggestions on what I could do? Thanks! Gina

ohiomomx2- I hope you have a wonderful time!!!

 

[emmalgin]

Stay off site. That is the biggest money saver..... Can't understand why people on budget will pay so much extra for a low budget room. Food cheaper offsite. Most/many offsite hotels (ie. Hampton Inns) have a fridge and maybe a microwave and table. Can get a Suite. Many have breakfast ($10 -$20 savings/day).

Sometimes you need a break......

Sorry if on budget, offsite can save $100/day.

 

[nicknamy1996]

My family of 4 just went for the first week of feb. this year on a cheap budget, and had a great time. We are planing trips for the next 2 feburarys right now.

My advice is go the the first couple of weeks in feb.(before presidents day), are you taking your kids out of school for the trip?

The value season runs through feb 15 or so and there is also low attendance at this time allowing you to do everything in 5 days or so.

The value season at the all star resorts cost $77 per night(this year) plus 12% tax =$86.24/night.

I recomend 5 nights (we did 4 this year and are doing 5 for the next 2 years)
5 night at full price is 86.24 x 5 =$431.20 and if you look between now and then You sholud be able to save at least 10% with codes. 431.20 - 10% = $388 for the hotel for the 4 of you.

For tickets a good idea might be 5 day hopper plus 2 ticket. 261.82 w/ tax for adult 208.82 per child. total $941.28 (if you get a disney club card ($31) you can save $9 per child and $12 per adult on that ticket. Or $42 - the $31 you paid for the DC card, but you also get a year long membership which can get you discounts on your hotel and souviniers and food at some places in WDW.

So for hotel for 6 days/5 nights for the 4 of you and tickets for 5 days at the parks and 2 plus options your total could be less than $1285.

Now i really carried on there, and hopefully it made sense, I enjoy looking for ways to save money.

Please ask me any questions I created by this post.

And if you are going back the following year thats a whole new plan that can save a lot more (based on 2 trips) Which is why we are going in 2003 and 2004. (Just doing the math in my head real quick I'm thinking 2 trips for you for 5 night each would be around $1900 for tickets and hotel)

 

[WDW2002]

If you choose to stay offsite don't forget to weigh in the extra cost of renting a car & gas before you jump that it is "so much cheaper."
Being a Disneyland Vet and never staying on site ($200 and up for a hotel room I think not!!) I assumed it would be better to stay offsite. Well once I started to do the research I realized I was not saving anything (if in fact costing more) to stay offsite and rent a car then to stay at the all stars and use Disney transportation.

 

[emmalgin]

Mears Car is approximately $80 roundtrip. Then at the mercy of buses and schedules. Some happy, some not so happy. Compact (Cavalier) approximately $150 including taxes for the week. I like the freedom of not being stuck in Disney. Offsite Hotels often include Shuttles....

 

[nicknamy1996]

If budget is your main concern look at driving

You would probably be lookin at 13 to14 hr of driving time at the most (estimating based on our trip from St. Louis(about 100mi further). factor in a couple of hours for stops (which would be long stops) and you could make it in 16 hrs. not to bad, especially if you start early 4 am or so, you could be in orlando by 8 p (Is cincinnati Central or Easter Time zone?)

At $1.30/Gallon for gas and assuming 25mi/Gal. your gas cost would be around $94 for the round trip.

Plus a hotel for the night when you get to orlando add $70 to that ($50 more if you plan on stoping on the way home). I recommend this because WDW will wear you out!

Also you have to add a couple of meals (McDonald's and Donuts for us) $60 to be safe.

Having your own car will be nice for the parks too.

So total for Driving. $250 give or take a few bucks. Plus the time.

But that decision is all up to you. because that is a lot of time in a car and weather can also be a factor (especially in Feb.)

Good Luck

 

[mark & sandra]

Hello ohiomomx2-
With the great help from these boards I was able to save hundreds of dollars. By planning now,you should be an expert by the time your trip comes.
Don't throw out ideas that sound ridiculous at first. If you join the Disney Club($39.00) you get immediate discounts that can recoup your cost for joining. You get an 800 # to call disney, discounts on hotels and park tickets. If you get just one childs annual pass you can still book rooms at annual passholders rate.(I've seen it as low as 54.00 a night). Check out the cost of a childs annual pass subtract the cost of a childs 6 day park hopper and then see if you save enough money on the room, and food to make it worthwhile.
Also many, many companys offer unbelievably reduced rates on deluxe hotels for the chance to try and sell you a timeshare. As long as you give them the 2 hours they ask for, you don't have to buy anything. Don't feel guilty not buying, it part of the business.
Explore all different options, you'll be amazed at the savings some choices will get you.
Good Luck.

 

[MrsPete]

If you've already decided that you want to do the next two Februaries, you might consider getting an annual pass. Go the LAST week of February next year, then the FIRST week of February the following year -- you won't have to buy passes the second trip.

 

[PTKeil]

This is what we did the last trip: 5 nights
Hotel: priceline...$20/night for 3 star...not the Ritz, but we're never at our hotel when we go to Disney.
Airfare from O'hare...$480 for four of us
Rental car (a must as far as we're concerned no matter where you stay)..$15.65/day hotwire
Food: approximately $500, and we ate well. We saved a lot of money going to Ponderosa a couple of days right before breakfast ended (10:30 or 11:00) and got the breakfast buffet for 2.99 pp (if I remember correctly) which then became the lunch buffet.
We had AP's at the time, but got a 4 day plus two option pass for my sister for around $200. Those extra two options give you 2 extra days to go to the water parks. I don't know if they offer it anymore, though
Grand total for four:
Approx $2000, which is pretty reasonable for 5 nights (six days) chocked full o' fun. Obviously this could be stretched out/ budgeted more, especially in the food department, but we would rather eat like kings than sleep like them ( the trade we made for a less expensive hotel room.)