Budget vacation for family of 5... (not WDW)

[rusty4]

Dollywood does not open until the end of March. I had checked into mid March for ourselves. Love that area but would only want to go if we could see Dollywood as well.

 

[libinatorsmom]

Depends a lot on where you want to go and what you and your family is interested in. But here are some ideas - just google them you will see what they have - but you can do a budget vacation pretty much anywhere - just have to do your homework

Wisconsin Dells Area
Hersey PA
South Dakata - Badlands - Mt Rushmore
lousiville Kentucky areas - Horse tracks, Cumberland Falls, Mammouth Cave Etc

We are taking a Road Trip this summer to NY for our vacation - get out there and see what we run into! We cant wait

 

[3boymthr]

My cousin did Punta Cana with her DH and 3 kids and the cost of an all inclusive - including Air - was $1,500.

Also, check into Cancun or maybe Bermuda.

I know it's college spring break time, though, so you'd want to make sure the hotel is family friendly.

Or maybe southern California.

Florida but not Orlando. Key West is absolutely gorgeous and there are lot of things there that will appeal to families - some crazy museums (Ripley's and a few others), the key deer and alligators on Big Pine Key, snorkeling, etc.

 

[angelat]

Have you thought about Washington DC? It's within driving distance from NY and a majority of the attractions are free. My family of four stayed at Homewood Suites by Hilton Alexandria when we went a few years back. We got an awesome deal on a 1 bedroom with kitchenette. The kids had a great time. Not sure how March is, but it is a great place to vacation. They still keep asking to go back.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Yes, because I've heard great things about it, but they only have 9 and 11 night cruises in March - I just think thats too long to be on a ship w/my kids! LOL

I've always said "A cruise is a great way to vacation with your kids if you don't want to see them" If they're in to their kid clubs they'll spend a lot of time there

 

[v.t.]

Depends a lot on where you want to go and what you and your family is interested in. But here are some ideas - just google them you will see what they have - but you can do a budget vacation pretty much anywhere - just have to do your homework

Wisconsin Dells Area
Hersey PA
South Dakata - Badlands - Mt Rushmore
lousiville Kentucky areas - Horse tracks, Cumberland Falls, Mammouth Cave Etc

We are taking a Road Trip this summer to NY for our vacation - get out there and see what we run into! We cant wait

Have you been to the Badlands in mid-March? I just assumed it would be too cold.

 

[Ericandjenng]

Dollywood does not open until the end of March. I had checked into mid March for ourselves. Love that area but would only want to go if we could see Dollywood as well.

I don't know (and I live about 45 minutes from there) that I would make Dollywood a must do. My DS is 7 and been to WDW 7 times but we've still not taken him there. Dollywood's nice but there is so much more to do. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are packed with a variety of amusements from mini amusement parks to go karts to mini golf to laser tag to helicopter tours to a dino museum to Ripley's Aquarium (which is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! and I don't even like fish-eating or looking at them). And, and, and .....

The other thing is Dollywood is more of a typical amusement park and has some great shows but definitely does not even come close to the magic of Disney Imagineering.

Dixie Stampede is a cool dinner show. Plus Ober Gatlinburg has the winter fun stuff all year including ice skating and skiing-snow in winter and turf in summer and an alpine slide.

Shopping, shopping, shopping---Pigeon Forge & Sevierville are basically Outlet shopping meccas. And very typical of outlet shopping, some really great deals and some over priced stuff and everything in between.

Then you also have the Great Smoky Mountains with hiking and scenic/nature activities.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We were thinking of skipping WDW and venturing out somewhere else... (sorry!) we LOVE it at WDW but this year we are looking for something new.

But we are also looking to stay within our usual WDW budget for the week.. last year's Beach club w/air and dining cost us about $3500. (we got the buy4/get3 deal!)

I'm looking online and there are so many deals for 2 parents w/ 2 kids.... most all inclusives only allow 4 in a room.. and cruise lines are the same (unless we pay top$ for a suite)
Any budget ideas/deals out there for a family of 5 ??

We have passports so leaving the country isnt a problem... and we plan to go in March b/c the kids have conference days at school.

Most families of 5 or more usually get 2 connecting staterooms on cruises. It doesn't have to be a suite. It can be inside, window, or verandah. Also gives you 2 tvs, 2 bathrooms, 2 closets, etc. Yes, 2 of the kids end up paying adult prices but it doesn't have to be a deal breaker. You have to book 1 adult in each cabin but DCL doesn't care who sleeps where. That said, 2011 cruises on the Dream have been available for sale since Oct 09. Prices start low and just go up as the ship fills so if considering sailing on DCL, I'd start looking now for summer 2012 or just accept that you're probably paying more than your next door neighbor. We're waiting for DCL to release fall 2012 dates/prices. We try to book 1st day of release b/c I refuse to pay more than I have to.
Check out the cruise boards.

That doesn't help you for this summer but we've done some non-Disney trips that we loved that don't take so much advance planning to get a good deal: Williamsburg, VA; Niagara Falls, ON; Shenandoah Valley in VA (Blue Ridge Mts., Massanutten Resort) and Sedona, AZ/Grand Canyon. Last one isn't exactly low budget since airfare alone would almost reach your old Beach Club trip.

 

[ccgirl]

I don't know (and I live about 45 minutes from there) that I would make Dollywood a must do. My DS is 7 and been to WDW 7 times but we've still not taken him there. Dollywood's nice but there is so much more to do. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are packed with a variety of amusements from mini amusement parks to go karts to mini golf to laser tag to helicopter tours to a dino museum to Ripley's Aquarium (which is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! and I don't even like fish-eating or looking at them). And, and, and .....

The other thing is Dollywood is more of a typical amusement park and has some great shows but definitely does not even come close to the magic of Disney Imagineering.

Dixie Stampede is a cool dinner show. Plus Ober Gatlinburg has the winter fun stuff all year including ice skating and skiing-snow in winter and turf in summer and an alpine slide.

Shopping, shopping, shopping---Pigeon Forge & Sevierville are basically Outlet shopping meccas. And very typical of outlet shopping, some really great deals and some over priced stuff and everything in between.

Then you also have the Great Smoky Mountains with hiking and scenic/nature activities.

Yup....we have yet to visit Dollywood. The Aquarium was fabulous, tons of mini golf, the "hikes" were breathtaking (and free), great restaurants and shops, Ober Gatlinburg, Cades Cove (another free thing). We were just so busy. We might go this year but we're going to wait until we get there to see. Gatlinburg was just such a pleasant surprise for us.

 

[swilshire]

Yup....we have yet to visit Dollywood. The Aquarium was fabulous, tons of mini golf, the "hikes" were breathtaking (and free), great restaurants and shops, Ober Gatlinburg, Cades Cove (another free thing). We were just so busy. We might go this year but we're going to wait until we get there to see. Gatlinburg was just such a pleasant surprise for us.

We've had season tickets for Dollywood for nearly 30 years now. It isn't Disney World, but the ticket prices aren't either and it's a very pleasant way to spend a day. One day admission is a bit hefty, but you can get a season pass for less than the cost of two days. I'd recommend going that route and spending at least a couple of days. If you go during one of the big events, like Kidsfest or Festival of Nations, it's hard to see all the shows in just one day.

Sheila

 

[ccgirl]

We've had season tickets for Dollywood for nearly 30 years now. It isn't Disney World, but the ticket prices aren't either and it's a very pleasant way to spend a day. One day admission is a bit hefty, but you can get a season pass for less than the cost of two days. I'd recommend going that route and spending at least a couple of days. If you go during one of the big events, like Kidsfest or Festival of Nations, it's hard to see all the shows in just one day.

Sheila

Thanks! I really would love to try to go. My DH wants this vacation to be more spontaneous than our WDW vacations using my excel spreadsheet. We are going the week of July 10th. Hopefully something good will be going on there. We can't wait!

 

[Zoemakes5]

We went to San Antonio one year and it was the best, and one of the cheapest, my family of five has ever taken. We stayed at a Days Inn that had free breakfast including waffles. We went to Sea World, the Zoo (really cheap because we were zoo members where we lived...I think it cost $2 pp), the Alamo, the River Walk....just had a great time. Things I wanted to do but didn't were the exposition park (may have forgotten the name) and the space needle type attraction, El Mercado, Six Flags. Oh, and Schlitterbaun, the world famous water park, which is just north of San Antonio. Food was inexpensive, too, and had some of the best BBQ!

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

I know I have seen this and now can;t find the answer. We are also family of 5, kids 10, 7 and 2. When pricing cruises on Carnival it would only allow us to put 5 guests and price was same for each guest. Is the price for the 2 year old really the same as an adult? Am I doing something wrong? My gut is my famly may not like cruising but we are considering a short cruise if we can find a good deal. ANy other advice on good price strategies for 5 on a cruise. We are looking at this summer so booking far in advance is not an option right now.

 

[Vijoge]

Is the price for the 2 year old really the same as an adult?

Only if the 2 y/o is the second person in the cabin. (for instance if you were sailing alone with a two y/o)

I think Carnival's website averages out the price between all the people in your party, so instead of showing Mom at 600, Dad at 600, Jr at 300 and Sissy at 300 it would show as $450 pp.

 

[WDWjen]

Hi all - thanks for your input and wanted you to know we just booked a last minute 5 night Carnival from Jacksonville to Bahamas and back. (Sail 2/19) We are going to drive to the port so we avoid airfares (and bad weather delays)

They allow 5 in a room so the total cost is just $1250. Of course we will have other expenses but we should stay within our budget w/out any major excursions/purchases.

I have no idea what cabin we will get as we booked a 'guaranteed' room so we'll see how this turns out! I'll let you know if its a major disaster!!!

Thanks again to my budget -minded friends here at the DIS!!

 

[merekc]

Not to hijack this thread, but question for those who've been to Dollywood.

We are planning a trip to this area. We've done this area before, cabin in the mountains, etc and we really enjoy it. However, we've never been to Dollywood.

It appears to be very similar to Silver Dollar City in Branson, in fact they are owned by the same group. Anyone been to both who can tell me if it is better, worse or about the same?

Thanks.

 

[ccgirl]

Hi all - thanks for your input and wanted you to know we just booked a last minute 5 night Carnival from Jacksonville to Bahamas and back. (Sail 2/19) We are going to drive to the port so we avoid airfares (and bad weather delays)

They allow 5 in a room so the total cost is just $1250. Of course we will have other expenses but we should stay within our budget w/out any major excursions/purchases.

I have no idea what cabin we will get as we booked a 'guaranteed' room so we'll see how this turns out! I'll let you know if its a major disaster!!!

Thanks again to my budget -minded friends here at the DIS!!

Yeah! Sounds great. Let us know how it went.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Hi all - thanks for your input and wanted you to know we just booked a last minute 5 night Carnival from Jacksonville to Bahamas and back. (Sail 2/19) We are going to drive to the port so we avoid airfares (and bad weather delays)

They allow 5 in a room so the total cost is just $1250. Of course we will have other expenses but we should stay within our budget w/out any major excursions/purchases.

I have no idea what cabin we will get as we booked a 'guaranteed' room so we'll see how this turns out! I'll let you know if its a major disaster!!!

Thanks again to my budget -minded friends here at the DIS!!

Woo-hoo! Have fun! So you're driving from NY to FL?? That'll be an adventure. Enjoy your cruise.