Can I afford this trip, any ideas?

[WildabouttheMouse]

My sister generously invited my family to stay, with her and her husband, at her DVC property as she will have a lot of points to spend with in the next year. My family and I have visited Disney several times and I pride myself on my Disney Vacation planning. I save us money every trip, with good airfare prices, and usually the free meal plan. I am thinking that we will have to buy the meal plan, and the park tickets separately but will we be able to use the Magic Express to get to the DVC location? Would this vacation be too costly for my family and I?
There are 4 of us with only 1 under 17. We would stay for 6-7 days.

Our last world vacation this past Jan, only cost me $1986.00 we stayed at a value resort had the upgraded meal plan and used the Magical Express. The cost of my airfare was $800.00 round trip. We only spent addl money on what we bought and tips which was maybe another $800.00.

Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts regarding this and how I can afford this vacation?

 

[ccgirl]

My sister generously invited my family to stay, with her and her husband, at her DVC property as she will have a lot of points to spend with in the next year. My family and I have visited Disney several times and I pride myself on my Disney Vacation planning. I save us money every trip, with good airfare prices, and usually the free meal plan. I am thinking that we will have to buy the meal plan, and the park tickets separately but will we be able to use the Magic Express to get to the DVC location? Would this vacation be too costly for my family and I?
There are 4 of us with only 1 under 17. We would stay for 6-7 days.

Our last world vacation this past Jan, only cost me $1986.00 we stayed at a value resort had the upgraded meal plan and used the Magical Express. The cost of my airfare was $800.00 round trip. We only spent addl money on what we bought and tips which was maybe another $800.00.

Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts regarding this and how I can afford this vacation?

Honestly, for a budget vacation I don't get the meal plan. I pay OOP. I eat the meal with tap water and no dessert. I pack my own snacks. You said you would be staying DVC so I would use a grocery delivery place such as WegoShop. Have food and drinks delivered to you and bring lunch to the park. I pack a soft sided cooler to bring the lunches/snacks into the park. We eat breakfast before we go so the only meal we in the park, if at all, is dinner.

Park tickets are a tough one. They are not discounted much but join the Mousesavers monthly newsletter, if you have not already, and you can get discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist.

How much is your sister charging you for the points?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Only you can decide if it's in your budget or not, and having been there previously I'd think you'd be in a decent position to make that call. If you're planning a dining plan though, don't you have to have your sister put that on her reservation?

 

[sissy_ib]

What size villa will you be in? One-bedrooms and larger will have a full kitchen. Yes, you can use DME with DVC . You can buy the meal plan but I would take a look and see if it will save you much money. You may be better off cooking a few meals in the villa and paying OOP for a few meals.

 

[crisi]

We don't do the meal plan either. Is your sister offering a room with a kitchen?

As for park tickets, you could consider if money is really tight, driving down and doing a park less trip. Spend time by the pool. Resort hop. Play tennis.

 

[Zim]

Have you checked to see if there is a YES class available for the one member of your party under age 17? If so, that would get their tickets along with two people in their immediate family significantly reduced tickets.

Classes fill quickly and are very limited (like one or two available each week per age group, and not all times of the year).

 

[WildabouttheMouse]

What size villa will you be in? One-bedrooms and larger will have a full kitchen. Yes, you can use DME with DVC . You can buy the meal plan but I would take a look and see if it will save you much money. You may be better off cooking a few meals in the villa and paying OOP for a few meals.

She is not charging us at all for the points. She did say she would have a kitchen and a laundry facility. I did not know we could have groceries delivered. That would be good and although we have never brought lunch to the parks that would also be a saver. Thank you everyone for the ideas.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

You should look into the Y.E.S. program for tickets - it's a great program and the tickets are wonderfully discounted.

I agree that you can eat MUCH cheaper without the dining plan.

Good luck - I hope you can make it work!

 

[Marionnette]

My sister generously invited my family to stay, with her and her husband, at her DVC property as she will have a lot of points to spend with in the next year. My family and I have visited Disney several times and I pride myself on my Disney Vacation planning. I save us money every trip, with good airfare prices, and usually the free meal plan. I am thinking that we will have to buy the meal plan, and the park tickets separately but will we be able to use the Magic Express to get to the DVC location? Would this vacation be too costly for my family and I?
There are 4 of us with only 1 under 17. We would stay for 6-7 days.

Our last world vacation this past Jan, only cost me $1986.00 we stayed at a value resort had the upgraded meal plan and used the Magical Express. The cost of my airfare was $800.00 round trip. We only spent addl money on what we bought and tips which was maybe another $800.00.

Please let me know if anyone has any thoughts regarding this and how I can afford this vacation?

Well, a lot is going to depend on what you consider to be affordable.

I haven't seen airfare from PHL to MCO that is below $135 pp one way. That means that a family of 4 would spend at least $1080 on airfare. Plus baggage fees or early boarding check in. Of course, if you have FF points, that could bring the cost down some.

Then there's tickets. Best price that I've seen on 6-day MYW base tickets for 4 adults is in the range of $1040. If you want hopping, waterpark fun, or more days, expect to pay more.

Dining plan for 4 adults would be 4 X $35 x #nights for the QSDP. You're looking at a minimum of $840. Even more if you stay 7 nights and/or want the DDP.

So, that's already at least $2960 without taking into account any spending money or other vacation-related costs. If that falls within your budget, then go for it! You're going to love the DVC resorts. It might spoil you enough that you will want to buy into the vacation club yourself!

 

[WildabouttheMouse]

Have you checked to see if there is a YES class available for the one member of your party under age 17? If so, that would get their tickets along with two people in their immediate family significantly reduced tickets.

Classes fill quickly and are very limited (like one or two available each week per age group, and not all times of the year).

What is a YES class? Where would I find the information? I have not discussed the info with my sister, she just brought this idea up yesterday and I am just wrapping my head around it.

 

[Zim]

What is a YES class? Where would I find the information? I have not discussed the info with my sister, she just brought this idea up yesterday and I am just wrapping my head around it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2332767&highlight=yes+program

Thus url explains it best. For my DD and I - in September I got her a Marine Class at Epcot. The price for 7 day park hopper tickets with Water park AND the class came to 413 - same tickets would have been $750 by themselves!

Good luck...

 

[Zim]

Actually, that's not the BEST thread, there ar a lot of them, but here is a link to the program Individual Enrollment page. Simply put in your dates and find a class offered in Florida for those dates for your child's age and see what the price difference will be. Just don't complete the enrollment (obviously) until you're really sure you're going because unlike any other tickets, these are NON refundable and must be used that week and you MUST go to the class.

PS if THEY cancel the class for low attendance or whatever, your tickets will still be good.

http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/

 

[WildabouttheMouse]

I know the price of airfare has risen since I flew in January, when I booked then I was able to get the tickets for $89 per person one way. I am thinking my budget would be about $3500.00. And yes, we can cut back on the dining. And make it a more relaxing vacation and hang out at the pool and just enjoy the whole DVC amenities. It will also be fun to do a multi family vacation as my kids love their Aunt and Uncle. They are Disney nuts like us.

 

[WildabouttheMouse]

Actually, that's not the BEST thread, there ar a lot of them, but here is a link to the program Individual Enrollment page. Simply put in your dates and find a class offered in Florida for those dates for your child's age and see what the price difference will be. Just don't complete the enrollment (obviously) until you're really sure you're going because unlike any other tickets, these are NON refundable and must be used that week and you MUST go to the class.

PS if THEY cancel the class for low attendance or whatever, your tickets will still be good.

http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/

Thank you, I will check into this for her, she wants to bring a friend and they will both be 16.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I am thinking my budget would be about $3500.00.

With free lodging? Start packing your bags

 

[ccgirl]

I know the price of airfare has risen since I flew in January, when I booked then I was able to get the tickets for $89 per person one way. I am thinking my budget would be about $3500.00. And yes, we can cut back on the dining. And make it a more relaxing vacation and hang out at the pool and just enjoy the whole DVC amenities. It will also be fun to do a multi family vacation as my kids love their Aunt and Uncle. They are Disney nuts like us.

Oh yes, then definitely look into WegoShop. They will shop at the store you decide (Walmart for example) so there is no markup on the food. Only the delivery fee. I think it is $15. Well worth it, IMHO. You can have them get an ice pack at WalMart for you as well. We freeze the water bottles the night before so they keep our lunch cool. As they thaw, they provide for very refreshing drinks. You will love the villas!

 

[Sugar Jones]

With free lodging? Start packing your bags

Oh heck yes! If you don't have to pay for the room. $3500.00 is totally doable!


My budget for 2013 for the 5 of us is $4000.00 and that includes lodging, airfare, meals etc....

 

[hsmamato2]

think of it this way- in the past the cost of food and tickets was built into total room costs- this way,it's divided, so you can clearly see what you'll be spending
I vote,with free DVC, GO! It is not comparable to a value room at all- the grounds and pool,etc are SO nice, you will enjoy it!
Buy your meals out of pocket,and you will be able to save by eating breakfast (at least) in your BIG room
I've stayed both ways, the values are great just to sleep, the DVC is great to r-e-l-a-x.......

 

[monica9]

I think you can easily go for 3000. We personally love the dining plan and we feel that when we are on vacation, we like to go out and eat not cook ourselves, but that's just our personal choice. I think with $1000 airfare, maybe even a quick service plan and basic park tickets, I think you can manage it.

Happy disneying!

 

[WildabouttheMouse]

I think you can easily go for 3000. We personally love the dining plan and we feel that when we are on vacation, we like to go out and eat not cook ourselves, but that's just our personal choice. I think with $1000 airfare, maybe even a quick service plan and basic park tickets, I think you can manage it.

Happy disneying!

We love the dining plan too. It is half the fun for us to pick where to eat. The past few times we have tried to pick new places, but it will be fun to stay somewhere else and maybe make some meals especially breakfast.