Budget for once in a lifetime Christmas trip

Raya

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Apr 24, 2008
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We always travel in value season, but we'd like to do one mazing Christmas trip, with a main building room in a monorail hotel, all the extras, and tons of great meals. Obviously we'd need to save up for this - any ideas how much we should save?

It looks like a GF (our first choice) main bldg room is around $750 a night, should we just double that for tickets and food? Also is there a significant price difference between the Contemporary and the GF?
 
When you say a Christmas trip do you mean the week between Christmas and New Years? If so, $750 per night is low for GF Main Building. There may be some better deals to be had if you mean early December. Main building is all club level so you may be able to "save" (ha ha) on some food costs that way.
 
You want to do the extras, too? Like a personal tour guide?

Disney will do whatever you're willing to pay for. I think you could easily drop $15k on an "everything" trip.

A contemporary garden room is probably the cheapest room. Actually renting DVC points is probably your cheapest option. but you won't be in the main building for GF or Contemporary
 

Just my opinion here, but why blow the majority of your budget on a place to sleep and shower when you can use the difference on all those meals and tours and tickets and all the extras you really want to do. You can spend $750 a night or $250 a night and have $500 a day to spend on what you want.
 
Just to get an idea, I would go on the Disney website, pick a week in December and price it out now. That'd probably be the best way to get a rough estimate.

Edited to add: No idea how many are in your party but I just priced out 7 nights, 1st week in December, main building at the Grand Floridian for 2 people with 8 day base tickets for a total of $8517.08.
 
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Just my opinion here, but why blow the majority of your budget on a place to sleep and shower when you can use the difference on all those meals and tours and tickets and all the extras you really want to do. You can spend $750 a night or $250 a night and have $500 a day to spend on what you want.

I agree with this. Save your money and put it towards something useful/fun.
 
We just did this the week after Thanksgiving. Our family of 4 (3 Disney adults, one child) wound up spending just under $10K for a week at the Poly, 6 day park hoppers, tickets to the Christmas Party, QS lunch and nice TS dinner, the Illuminations Dessert party, and BBB for my daughter. Plus quite a bit of snack and souvenir money.

We did find a great deal that made our stay at the Polynesian super magical and much more affordable, so that's a factor.
 
Dates are available for this December on the Disney website. Run the numbers for your family in your preferred room with meal plan and tickets. Click all the way through to the end and you'll get a final cost with taxes and fees without actually having to book anything yet. There are not likely to be any discounts for the weeks around Christmas, so consider this your total cost--minus souvenirs, dessert parties, or other special experiences!
 
Just to get an idea, I would go on the Disney website, pick a week in December and price it out now. That'd probably be the best way to get a rough estimate.

Edited to add: No idea how many are in your party but I just priced out 7 nights, 1st week in December, main building at the Grand Floridian for 2 people with 8 day base tickets for a total of $8517.08.

:earseek::crazy2:
 
Just my opinion here, but why blow the majority of your budget on a place to sleep and shower when you can use the difference on all those meals and tours and tickets and all the extras you really want to do. You can spend $750 a night or $250 a night and have $500 a day to spend on what you want.
Totally agree. I would not even be able to sleep at night knowing I'm paying that price per night.
 
Consider getting the Platinum plan. It includes dining at V&A, tours, fireworks cruises, the works. I think it adds $260 a night per person to the bill
 
We always travel in value season, but we'd like to do one mazing Christmas trip, with a main building room in a monorail hotel, all the extras, and tons of great meals.

This is my Disney fantasy! SOME DAY I want to stay in a deluxe resort, on the monorail and just splurge on the Disney-est of Disney experiences. Dinner at Victoria & Albert's, High Tea with my mother, the convenience of the monorail right outside. ::Sigh:: A girl can dream! Good luck and when you get to go, enjoy every delicious luxurious moment!
 
I think you are grossly underestimating the cost of GF main building. I did a dummy trip for 2 adults, December 23-30 with 7 day hopper tickets and deluxe dining. Standard room in GF main building (which means it is CL).
You rang in at $12,870.20 :scared1:

However, a bay lake view room in the CR tower (non-club level) would give significant savings, ringing in at $7,971.88 with the same extras. Which is still insane, but less insane :thumbsup2
 
Exactly! I know it would be expensive and probably a stupid amount of money, but it would be lovely. One September we got upgraded to the second best suite at the GF Club level. I'll dream about that room for the rest of forever!
 
Magic Your Way Platinum Package for 2016
Available only at Disney-owned-and-operated hotels, Disney’s Magic Your Way Platinum Package for 2016 gives you the ultimate Walt Disney World vacation.

This package costs $260.10 (tax included) per adult per day and $201.65 (tax included) per child per day IN ADDITION to to cost of a standard Magic Your Way Package and must be purchased for your entire reservation. A 3-night minimum stay is required.

The Platinum Package includes:

  • Accommodations at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa (DVC) resort (except Saratoga Springs or Old Key West)
  • Magic Your Way Base Ticket with choice of ticket length from 1 to 10 days (can be upgraded with the Park Hopper option and/or Water Park Fun & More option at an additional cost). Note that the length of the ticket does not need to match the length of your stay; it can be longer or shorter as needed.
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two snacks*, per person, per night at more than 100 Walt Disney World restaurants INCLUDING Victoria & Albert’s** (includes tax but not gratuities, except for pizza delivery, Private In-Room Dining, Dinner Shows and Cinderella’s Royal Table, which include gratuities)
  • One resort refillable mug per person
  • Itinerary Planning – Personalized Itinerary Planning is included to help with the details. A Disney Itinerary Planner will make contact up to 180 days prior to arrival.
  • Unlimited Use of Select Recreation – Enjoy unlimited use of select recreational activities including Disney’s 18-hole championship golf courses (greens fees, electric cart, range balls and rental golf clubs included), golf lessons, water sports, boat rentals, guided fishing excursions, horseback riding, miniature golf and more! (Some restrictions may apply and advance reservations may be required.)
  • Spectacular fireworks cruise to view IllumiNations at Epcot OR Wishes at Magic Kingdom. (One cruise per reservation. Advance reservations are required and subject to availability.)
  • Spa Treatment – One select facial, relaxing body treatment or manicure & pedicure is available at participating spa locations to help make your tensions melt away. (One treatment per adult, age restrictions apply.) If you would like additional treatments, you can take advantage of the Spa or Salon Discount– 15% discount on the non-discounted price of select 50 minute or longer Spa service or any Salon service at select Disney Resort hotels. (Hand and foot treatments are excluded. Age restrictions apply. One per package.)
  • Admission to the Cirque du Soleil Show La Nouba – One admission per person, in seating Category 1. (Advance reservations are required and can be made up to 180 days in advance.)
  • Characters in Flight – Float high in the sky in a hand-painted helium balloon, covered with classic flying Disney characters. For 8 to 10 minutes, experience a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Downtown Disney area at Walt Disney World Resort. (One flight per person. Restrictions apply.)
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  • Unlimited Admission to Select Children’s Activity Centers – Kids ages 3-12 get admission to Children’s Activity Centers at select Disney Resorts. Dinner is included. (Certain restrictions apply. Hours vary by location.)
  • In-Room Babysitting – One-on-one in-room babysitting is provided by Kids Night Out. The caregivers will provide individual attention to your child right in the comfort of your Disney Resort room. (Reservations required; gratuity not included.)
  • Luggage Tag – Walt Disney Travel Company commemorative luggage tag. (One per person.)
  • Other merchandise and miscellaneous discounts that come with the Magic Your Way 2016 vacation package.
*For each night of the package, guests on the Platinum Plan will receive:

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner Snacks
Full breakfast buffet OR Entrée & non-alcoholic beverage Full buffet OR Appetizer (at table service locations), entrée, dessert & non-alcoholic beverage Choose 2 snacks from a variety of single-serve snack items or a single-serving non-alcoholic beverage
Guests on the Platinum Plan may choose from more than 100 select table service and quick service restaurants, Character Dining and Signature Dining including Victoria & Albert’s** and Candlelight Dinner Package, pizza delivery (gratuity INCLUDED), In-Room Dining (gratuity INCLUDED) and Category 1-3 seating for Disney Dinner Shows (gratuity INCLUDED).

**Victoria & Albert’s includes Premium Menu only. If you wish to upgrade to the Chef’s Table, Elite Menu or include the Royal Wine Pairing with your meal, additional charges will apply.

Advance Dining Reservations are strongly suggested for table service restaurants, Character Dining Experiences and Signature Dining Experiences. Advance Dining Reservations are required for Disney Dinner Shows. Merchandise or photo imaging products that may be offered at dining experiences are not included.

Everyone in the room must be booked on the same package and ticket options. The Disney Dining Plan is unavailable for guests under the age of 3, but they may share from an adult plate at no charge or a meal may be purchased from the menu. The price of the meal will be added to your bill. Guests ages 3-9 must order from a children’s menu where available.

Packages and tickets plus their options or components (including dining entitlements) are nontransferable. Dining entitlements expire at midnight on the day of check-out. Theme Park tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use. Some activities and events are priced separately. Visiting more than one Theme Park on the same day requires the Park Hopper option.
 
Honestly, I really super recommend the CR tower club. They have 2 king rooms with extended balconies facing MK. I stayed there for a college graduation splurge for 2 nights and would kill to go back. The view is incredible and the lounge is nice and quiet since it isn't open to the atrium. Have to call to book but worth looking into.
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If you just want to go when the parks are decorated for Christmas, I'd recommend the week after Thanksgiving. We did that this past year. We rented DVC points at the BW, but even cash reservations are less expensive than closer to Christmas. All the decorations were up and Christmas activities were going on. It was very festive, but the crowds were low.
 
If you just want to go when the parks are decorated for Christmas, I'd recommend the week after Thanksgiving.

That sounds like a great idea... one question: When does the week after Thanksgiving start? I know that sounds silly but I would guess Thanksgiving weekend (Thursday to Sunday) is still very busy. I know airfares can stay high until the Monday or Tuesday after Thanksgiving. So did you arrive the Sunday or Monday after?
 


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