Can I get budget help from btdt's?

[krismanda]

We are taking our first trip to DW this October. 2 adults, one child, one infant. We have a 7 night/8 day stay booked at Coronado Springs. Do these numbers look reasonable..and do you see anything that I'm leaving out? I'd hate to get to the last minute and realize I hadn't planned for some expense. Thanks!

resort/dining/ticket/insurance package - $2418

Airfare - $765 (already booked)

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (for 1) - $75

Meals not covered under dining (CRT and TRex) - $200

Stroller Rental - $70

Tips - $150 (I totally guessed at this number, I have no clue what to really expect on tips for basically one TS a day)

Grocery - $100

Misc. snacks - $100

Photopass (prepaid) - $100

Souvenirs - $300??? (totally guessing on this, don't know what is average. Our 5 year old will probably want everything. lol).

Total - $4278?

Does this seem reasonable? Are there things you would add or do away with?

 

[Beezle2]

I think you did well you might be a bit high on the snacks and grocery amounts since you have the dining plan. I always figure $5 each for snacks and at $100 you will have 20 snacks! That might be more then you'll need on top of all the dining plan ones.

Not sure what you are covering under the grocery category but again, you already have the dining plan so you might come in under your budget there. It'll give you some wiggle room either way though and thats nice. Have a wonderful trip

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I just want to make sure you are budgeting enough for CRT and TRex...

Did you check the costs for CRT (not sure if you are booked for Breakfast or Dinner- there is a price difference) and TRex? I know TRex can get pricey pretty fast! Kids drinks are not included ($2.00 each,) and I might be wrong but I don't think there are free refills on adult drinks. Burgers come with chips, fries are extra. We went to Rainforest Cafe and ended up spending much more than we planned!

 

[krismanda]

The grocery $ is because I plan to order some diapers/wipes/baby food to be delivered for ds and to pick up some milk for breakfast in the morning.

I *think* I priced CRT correctly. We have breakfast reservations. I will take a closer look at prices for Trex...I just guessed on that one. lol

Snacks were kind of a guess as well. I did forget we get one snack each with our dining plan, so perhaps I'm overestimating a bit there!

 

[cglaura]

Anything at home on the way to/from? Airport parking, tolls, gas, tipping baggage handlers...

Sometimes parking can be alot depending on the fee structure. I under-budgeted almost $100 on that my first trip!

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

Tips - $150 (I totally guessed at this number, I have no clue what to really expect on tips for basically one TS a day)


Does this seem reasonable? Are there things you would add or do away with?

I would probably up the tips to $200. I would estimate each table service meal "costs" $100 and tips are not included with the dining plan. A generous 20% for each meal would be $140-$160 for 7-8 meals, plus housekeeping (if you want) and other tips.

 

[aprilgail2]

Tips - $150 (I totally guessed at this number, I have no clue what to really expect on tips for basically one TS a day)


?

I think you are low-balling the tips-I would up that a bit. Especially if you are including baggage handlers, housekeeping and meals in there.

 

[mountdew1]

Well, first off, unless you already pre bought your Photopass, they have gone up to 119.95 to prepurchase. So thats $20 you need to add in.
Also, assuming you are on the basic dining plan, you each get one snack per day. Will you really need additional snacks?
To get a reasonable idea on souvenir prices, look at the disneyparks.com/store selection. That will help you to gauge prices.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I think most of your figures look pretty good. I have found that tips work out to be around $20/dinner, $15/breakfast and $18/lunch, and that's for 2 adults, 2 children, but no extras, like appetizers or alcoholic drinks.

I think your $100 for extra snacks is probably a little over-budget, but it's nice to have a little cushion there.

Hope you enjoy Coronado Springs - we love it there!

 

[dhardawa]

I don't tip housekeeping (they are union and paid a nice wage) and won't use things like luggage service simply because I don't want to tip. So, my only tips are on sit down meals. I did a ton of figuring, actually looking at menus and prices, when I was considering buying the dining plan (ended up getting free dining) and the tips at 18% for two adults and a child were $83 for seven sit down meals.

With a dining plan, I have never needed to buy a snack so I think $100 is way too high there.

I would pack a stroller from home and save that $70. If you have the dining plan, why are CRT and TRex out of pocket? I'm assuming you have seven other sit down meals already booked??? If so, look at the menus and see if these are the cheapest. If not, use your dining plan on them and pay out of pocket at two different ones.

 

[krismanda]

Thanks for all the input everyone, esp. on the tips. I will bump up that category a bit, just to be safe.

Well, first off, unless you already pre bought your Photopass, they have gone up to 119.95 to prepurchase. So thats $20 you need to add in.
Also, assuming you are on the basic dining plan, you each get one snack per day. Will you really need additional snacks?
To get a reasonable idea on souvenir prices, look at the disneyparks.com/store selection. That will help you to gauge prices.

I prepurchased the photopass before the price increase. Thanks for the souvenir link, that was a resource I hadn't seen before!!

dhardawa - Yes the extra expense for CRT and TRex is because we used up our TS credits. We are doing HDDR and that counted as two. I think we will have an extra QS and I had planned to do Earl of Sandwich instead of paying out of pocket for TRex, but then I kept hearing how people's kids really liked TRex and we don't have one near us. My dd loves RFC and I think it is something similar? Anyways, that is the one dining issue that I am still a little on the fence about. I decided to pay out of pocket for CRT because it is cheaper than paying for two TS meals elsewhere

The stroller rental is for a double because we do not own one and I'm concerned that my dd will get sick of so much walking. I feel a little silly because she hasn't used a stroller in years, but I've seen so many posts on here about older kids using strollers, or just having it as an option if they do get tired. I know my dh is not going to want to carry her around 1/2 the day!

 

[navywifetill2002]

The stroller rental is for a double because we do not own one and I'm concerned that my dd will get sick of so much walking. I feel a little silly because she hasn't used a stroller in years, but I've seen so many posts on here about older kids using strollers, or just having it as an option if they do get tired. I know my dh is not going to want to carry her around 1/2 the day!

You have some time so you may want to check out yard sales this summer for a double stroller. If you check it at the gate there is no charge at the airline and I was just at a garage sale with a GREAT one for $40. Less OOP then you have budgeted then you can either gift it to someone at the resort or bring it home and put it in your yard sale.

As far as dining tips go I think you're right on. Remember HDDR & CRT require no tips. We are a family of 3 and at 18% we're at $105 for our 6 TS (I'm a number junkie and have looked up the price of all the meals and have a spreadsheet with tips factored in).