Confirm for the that is awesome WDW budget

[kjs1976]

Ok, so I'm like the deal queen in our house and probably our whole extended fam. I get a ridiculous thrill out of finding deals to travel to WDW. I'm trying to put together a deal on a budget and the following is what I came up with. Keep in my DH I always trusts me to plan so when I run this by him! he'll have no idea what is good or not unless I compare prices. Here goes...

6 day trip in April
Airfare $200 X3 on SW (direct flights, excellent times!)
AS-Music or Sports $450 (Expedia uk deal)
$390 for food/drinks (went on all ears menus and literally priced out each snack and meal and drink per person, per day, including airport!)
DME free
$822 5 one park per day tix (with $164 credit coming back from ebates!)
Most likely have someone drive us to and from airports, so no extra cost there
DD already has over $50 for souvenirs, which is what we budget for her and I'm sure Grammy will give her more come trip time. DH and I budget like $50 per person....we've gone so many times we don't buy any souvenirs unless it's a major catch our eye unique thing.

$2262 TOTAL for two adults, one child for 6 days
(minus $164 ebates rebate after trip $2098)

 

[Marionnette]

Ok, so I'm like the deal queen in our house and probably our whole extended fam. I get a ridiculous thrill out of finding deals to travel to WDW. I'm trying to put together a deal on a budget and the following is what I came up with. Keep in my DH I always trusts me to plan so when I run this by him! he'll have no idea what is good or not unless I compare prices. Here goes...

6 day trip in April
Airfare $200 X3 on SW (direct flights, excellent times!)
AS-Music or Sports $450 (Expedia uk deal)
$390 for food/drinks (went on all ears menus and literally priced out each snack and meal and drink per person, per day, including airport!)
DME free
$822 5 one park per day tix (with $164 credit coming back from ebates!)
Most likely have someone drive us to and from airports, so no extra cost there
DD already has over $50 for souvenirs, which is what we budget for her and I'm sure Grammy will give her more come trip time. DH and I budget like $50 per person....we've gone so many times we don't buy any souvenirs unless it's a major catch our eye unique thing.

$2262 TOTAL for two adults, one child for 6 days
(minus $164 ebates rebate after trip $2098)

If you're happy with it, then it's an awesome budget. I'm sure that there are some who will point out how you could have done it for even less by using credit card incentives, rewards programs and discounted Disney GCs, driving instead of flying, staying offsite, packing lunches everyday, etc.

However, I think it's all about getting the best bang for your buck and your certainly rocked the deals that you got! WTG!!

 

[teacup princess]

I'd be interested to know what you are eating. That seems really low.

 

[Lucky4me]

I'd be interested to know what you are eating. That seems really low.

Me too. If it's six days that's $22 per person per day for food.
Im thinking maybe counter service-sharing and breakfast/lunch in room with food from home?
Which is perfectly fine, but kind of low even so.

 

[mrsp1030]

Ebates rebates on tickets??? Tell me more

 

[Marionnette]

Ebates rebates on tickets??? Tell me more

Big thread about it here:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3237270

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

My DD lives in Woodbury, so I am familiar with airfare out of MSP. That is a good price.

 

[monorailsilver]

We were able to do about $40/meal for lunch and dinner for 5 of us. It was 2 or 3 adult meals and 2 or 3 kids meals. We didn't buy drinks and the kids drank bottled water that we shipped down and left over from my sister, when in the park. They have the large insulated thermos. Dh and I had out insulated bike bottles but they didn't keep the water cold for long.

We did have a snack a day too, sometimes 2 but we were usually full from our quick service meals.

So yeah I think the food budget is doable.

 

[powellrj]

If you are happy with it, why would it matter if we agree. We would spend more on food because we enjoy eating on vacation, but I also know other people don't like to eat as well as we do.

 

[kjs1976]

We eat bfast in the room and counter service only for meals. We bring snacks with to the park and in our room. From experience DD doesn't eat much when we are there. Sit down meals are just a waste when DD hardly eats much. I've been eating healthier and even when walking all day, I know what I'll eat and snack on.

I'm aware of all the incentives and programs out there. I have Disney reward dollars saved. And we have done quite a bit of business on eBay and craigslist which goes to vacation only.

 

[happymommy]

I think it sounds fine!

When I go without DH, we spend very little on eating too. DH likes a few sit down meals, but in August 2012 I took my kids for two weeks and we only had one sit down meal (and that was off site). But we had a condo so I cooked a lot - very relaxing.

I hope you have a great trip!!!

 

[LadyBeBop]

We eat bfast in the room and counter service only for meals. We bring snacks with to the park and in our room. From experience DD doesn't eat much when we are there. Sit down meals are just a waste when DD hardly eats much. I've been eating healthier and even when walking all day, I know what I'll eat and snack on.

Fair enough. I was also concerned about your food budget. Especially when you budgeted for the week what we paid for two character meals. We are big eaters though.

But it looks like you have everything under control.

I'm aware of all the incentives and programs out there. I have Disney reward dollars saved. And we have done quite a bit of business on eBay and craigslist which goes to vacation only.

Just curious. Do you buy dicounted Disney gift cards at Target? Or earn fuel points for buying Disney gift cards. Those were two ways I saved money.

 

[crisi]

My DD lives in Woodbury, so I am familiar with airfare out of MSP. That is a good price.

Amazing actually - we think we are getting a deal at $350 a person. But we are stuck with school break times.

Although we fly four this year for $70 off frequent flyer miles....

 

[hsmamato2]

Big thread about it here:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3237270

just be aware that not everyone is posting good results thru Orbitz.... some are,some aren't....

 

[nugov2]

If you are happy with it, why would it matter if we agree. We would spend more on food because we enjoy eating on vacation, but I also know other people don't like to eat as well as we do.

I have to agree. $20 a day per person for food isn't nearly enough for my family on vacation. We did a character meal everyday though(and at least one sometimes 2 TS meals a day) I know everyone vacations differently though. We also like to have a lot of activities planned in addition to parks so that would add more to our budget. I tend to view vacation as a big splurge, sky's the limit the entire time and am more frugal in my everyday life. If you and the hubby are happy and will get everything you want out of the vacation then it is great

 

[scottmel]

Here is what I do:

1. SW Visa. Open and Close every year for the 50k points. Have never paid for airfare for the annual trip since 2009. I own my own home and pay cash for cars so not concerned if this dings my credit rating.

2. Chase Rewards Visa. 5% bonus cash back. I usually have about 1000 in free rewards dollars to which I turn around and buy Disney Gift Cards with, come home, move the 1k over to the charge to cover the cost of the gift cards and you western pa people know what is coming next - yep free gas on the free points I just earned. So really 170 in free gas if double perks... THIS 1k is my version of FREE dining...

So really if you have airfare in your equation, which you do, get it out of there by opening a sw visa...FREE FLYING.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think OP sounds ok with the food.... give or take a few bucks here and there.... really,knowing how you eat,and what looks appealing,and the cost is most of it..... we can manage just fine with cereal for breakfast,plus qs food..there is a LOT of wonderful qs food at Disney if you tend to share a lot anyway to avoid waste or overeating we never have a problem. If we do share stuff,and someone is hungry,no biigie, we can always get more snacks and food.... but when we did the FD, even though it was a lot of fun,it was a lot of waste also for us (and we're pretty big eaters)
-our last trip we ate all qs except one buffet,and we had a great time! ( I avoid burgers and fries,chicken nuggets,etc)

 

[kjs1976]

I re ran all the food again today and yup, it will be $360-390. Earl of sandwich is factored in there and it's cheaper than most Disney places. Also ordering pizza one night. See, from 2001-2012 we took 1-3 Disney trips a year. DH had a better job prerecession and we could travel more pre-DD. I always got deals, but we splurged when it came to food and souvenirs. Sorta like, been there done that? Spending time with DD at the parks is our fav thing now. We've done the fun and fancy sit downs. I've been into a no clutter, no junk, don't buy it if you don't need it mode for the last six months. We've sold a lot on eBay and craigslist. I can't handle having those piddly souvenirs around, nor do I need it. So now it's like, let's spend only what we have to. It's WDW and we can have so much fun on a value budget doing what we love together in our happiest place on earth.

 

[momtosam]

Here is what I do:

1. SW Visa. Open and Close every year for the 50k points. Have never paid for airfare for the annual trip since 2009. I own my own home and pay cash for cars so not concerned if this dings my credit rating.

2. Chase Rewards Visa. 5% bonus cash back. I usually have about 1000 in free rewards dollars to which I turn around and buy Disney Gift Cards with, come home, move the 1k over to the charge to cover the cost of the gift cards and you western pa people know what is coming next - yep free gas on the free points I just earned. So really 170 in free gas if double perks... THIS 1k is my version of FREE dining...

So really if you have airfare in your equation, which you do, get it out of there by opening a sw visa...FREE FLYING.

SW will take you back after a cancel?

 

[LynnTH]

My DD lives in Woodbury, so I am familiar with airfare out of MSP. That is a good price.

Hey - I live in Woodbury too!! I also agree that is an awesome price or airfare. Lately we are luck to get $200 each way...