Can we make this budget work?

[megs1313]

Hope this is the right place to ask this...

For the first time, we are trying to do Disney on a budget. It's stressing me out.

We are only going because we were gifted a stay at an off site resort and this is the last time we can go and not pay for a ticket for DD2 or adult price for DS.

Dh isn't asking me to factor in travel costs, so I've only got to keep in mind park tickets, food, and souvenirs. He's given me $3000 for that.

If you had a party of 5 (two adults, one 10 year old, an 8 year old, and a toddler), could you make that budget work? What would your choices be for tickets, food, etc? I'm feeling the squeeze.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I'm not seeing how many days you'll be going and when?

 

[megs1313]

I'm not seeing how many days you'll be going and when?

6 park days (8 days, 7 nights at the resort) in mid april.

 

[Darcy03231]

A 5 day magic your way ticket for 3 adults and one child comes to $1,270.80 through Undercover tourist. Parking would be $20/day for 5 days, so $100. That leaves you with $1,629.20 for food and souvenirs. If you limit everyone to $25/pp for souvenirs that would leave you with $1,504.20 for food or about $215/day. Most counter service meals run about $7-8 for child/$10-$12 adult, so if you ate all counter service meals it should be doable, with maybe enough for one or two table service meals, depending on how much your 10 and 8 year olds eat.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Sure. For instance you can get 8 day tickets for your group for $1448.42. Then you have over 1500 left for food, or roughly $188 per day, which shouldn't be hard to do. (We don't do souvenirs, or if so, it's quite small, maybe $20 each).

 

[Crystal824]

I think you can do it especially considering you don't have to factor lodging or transportation into the budget. If you do a 6 day ticket (with parking) is $1,441.83 using the link from the Mousesavers newsletter and Undercover Tourist, which leaves over $1,500 for food and souvenirs. I would bring food for the room for breakfast and snacks if possible. If not, use a grocery delivery service or go shopping when you get there if you have a car. Then maybe schedule one sit-down character breakfast or two (they are typically cheaper than other meals). Then review the menus for counterservice places to get an idea of what will fit into your budget (some are a little cheaper than others). You may also be able to squeeze in another sit down meal. If you limit souvenirs, you will be fine.

 

[megs1313]

A 5 day magic your way ticket for 3 adults and one child comes to $1,270.80 through Undercover tourist. Parking would be $20/day for 5 days, so $100. That leaves you with $1,629.20 for food and souvenirs. If you limit everyone to $25/pp for souvenirs that would leave you with $1,504.20 for food or about $215/day. Most counter service meals run about $7-8 for child/$10-$12 adult, so if you ate all counter service meals it should be doable, with maybe enough for one or two table service meals, depending on how much your 10 and 8 year olds eat.

I should've said that we won't have to pay for parking for 5 of the days as my mom is tagging along and is staying on site, so we'll only need to pay to park the last two days.

ETA: She also added 3 of us to her room reservation, so we have magic bands included as well.

 

[LJSquishy]

Easily doable!!! Look at menus & prices on Allears.net to plan out your ideal restaurants. Perhaps you'll want to splurge for 1 character meal or special meal and eat more budget-friendly the rest of your trip, or maybe you'll find that you can share certain meals if a couple of you aren't as hungry at certain times. There are a lot of great counter service options aside from the typical burgers & fries. A great affordable pizza restaurant in Epcot is Via Napoli which is budget friendly when you keep in mind that a large pizza can stuff 2+ adults.

Don't buy bottled water, you can get free water everywhere! Encourage your family not to spend money on sodas and such which really add up quickly. If you must drink soda, order 1-2 larges and share.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Don't be stressed out! This is easily doable. Limit the souvenirs for sure! You can always buy some "glow stuff" at the Dollar Tree & bring it along to avoid the begging for those items in the evenings. Bring some snacks into the parks with you & eat at quick service locations, heck even at the resort food courts. I'd even say to eat off site for a few dinners instead of paying the inflated TS prices. If you want a character interaction, but don't want to splurge for a character meal, go to the Chip & Dale singalong at Ft. Wilderness....it's free.

 

[Marionnette]

Hope this is the right place to ask this...

For the first time, we are trying to do Disney on a budget. It's stressing me out.

We are only going because we were gifted a stay at an off site resort and this is the last time we can go and not pay for a ticket for DD2 or adult price for DS.

Dh isn't asking me to factor in travel costs, so I've only got to keep in mind park tickets, food, and souvenirs. He's given me $3000 for that.

If you had a party of 5 (two adults, one 10 year old, an 8 year old, and a toddler), could you make that budget work? What would your choices be for tickets, food, etc? I'm feeling the squeeze.

It's a generous budget when you eliminate the cost of transportation and accommodations. I don't think that you would even need to scrimp on souvenirs or bring food into the parks or share meals if you don't want to. If you don't go crazy with the character meals or buy a limited edition replica of the castle in Swarovski crystals then you should be just fine.

 

[writermommy6]

You should be able to buy the 6 day tickets if you choose to eat most of your meals outside of the park and pack snacks and water bottles. With the lodging being free I don't see why you can't make it work.

 

[agavegirl1]

Your budget is completely "doable". There are many ways to save. Previous posters have given great ideas. I just wanted to add that I seldom buy things in the parks. Buy a few dollar store Disney keepsakes to "reveal" in the room and do pressed pennies and photographs.

Enjoy! April can be lovely.

 

[tink9702]

6day tickets - ~$1500.
Grocery shop/bring with you for breakfast - $100
Lunch at Via Napoli - $85 (two lg. pizzas, one app, water to drink, tip)
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern - $72 (two adult entrees, two kid entrees, share with 2 year old, drink water, tip)
Lunch at Yak&Yeti - $72
3 QS lunches - $40 each = $80
6 QS dinners - $40 each - $240
2 off-site lunches - $40 each - $80
2 off-site dinners - $60 each = $120
snacks - $150

Total: $2469 leaving you a bit extra to do another TS meal, order drinks, order desserts, souvenirs, or order the 2 year old their own meals

that's how I'd do it!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I usually do my whole trip, transportation and lodging included, for $3k or less. You'll be fine