Cost of 3 weeks vs 2 weeks

[Julia Ann]

obviously i would love to visit for as long as possible - but apart from the obvious food spending money does it really cost much extra for a 3 week stay? next time we visit will be a few years off but DD will be 5/6 and in first year of school - would be nice to go for 3 weeks to pace ourselves. What advice have you got?

 

[scojos]

do it!
we did 3 weeks, 3 years ago, our kids were 9 7 and 5, we stayed "cheap and cheerful" on 192 and then last 4 nights at HRH...
the cost really isnt that much more, after all, its the flights that eat into the budget. we had bfast stuff in the room made a picnic to eat in the park to keep the cost of food down and then "ate" properly in the evening (ponderosa, golden corral, dennys etc.
the kids didnt want to eat at the end of the holiday, they were on food overload, just took the crystal light sachets and filled water bottles at the fountains...
we took our money and split it into 21 enevlopes, when it was gone for the day, it was gone, (i think we had about $100 per day for everything imc food..
next year we are doing 18 nights, 14 on site, 4 at HRH (hopefully, depends on what rate i can get for the hrh)
i waish you a magical trip
tracy

 

[aaronandterri]

we always stay 3 weeks or longer, its such a long flight for the kids and the most expensive thing is the flights which dont cost anymore to go for longer (we fly virgin), i then find the extra week rearly cheap, and the extra days on our tickets cheaper too, its easier to pace the holiday with plently of days to do everything to, we tend to do split stay at a villa then onsite for a bit which helps with the cost and makes it a more comfortable trip.

as for time off school , im one of those bad parents who take my children out of school every year, (last year they has 100 % attendance other than our holiday, its not like there always off), we always go in holiday dates plus a week either side, last april we went for easter hols plus a week, this christmas were going for xmas and new year and only missing the last week of school (where at our school not much happens that week that thell miss educationally anyway), i always feel my children gain much more from our holidays than they would miss from a few days at school and am lucky that my kids are top of there classes so never have to catch up much either.

happy planning xx

 

[john storey]

Like everything, it all depends on how much you spend on eating & entertainment. Our last 3 holidays have all been 3 weeks +, we love the thought of that 'extra week' at the end when you were normally heading for the airport. OK we're a bit spoilt being DVC members so accomodations are only costing us 'points' not money, so the biggest outlay for us is the airfare this is the same however long you stay, also the extra weeks car hire has to be payed for, our main problem is being able to get the time off work. I think you will find that more & more UK holidaymakers are going for the 3 week option, lets face it there is loads to keep you amused once you are here, go for it.

 

[iluvtot]

..as for time off school , im one of those bad parents who take my children out of school every year, we always go in holiday dates plus a week either side..... i always feel my children gain much more from our holidays than they would miss from a few days at school

I so agree!! We have always gone in school time, mainly because of my husbands' job. His busy times were always April, Aug and Oct; so we would go in Dec.
Unfortunately though, it gets harder as the children get older; and as ours are all looking at exams next year (DS17 A levels, and DD's15 GCSE's) we have (reluctantly!) booked to go this month. I will so miss Disney in Dec! I have no regrets though. Life is too short, and I honestly believe that the time spent together, and the memories we have collected and share are priceless.

Jules

 

[PoppyAnna]

We would like to go for three weeks next year too. For all the same reasons that Terri mentions, we find it takes the girls about three or four days to get over the flight so we'd like to pace ourselves, particularly if we have to go in the August heat. We do prefer a villa stay to relax more and have some days away from the parks. I'd probably do 14 day ultimates in the middle of the 21days and do Busch, IOA and US either end (maybe a one night stay at US and Busch away from the villa).
Like everybody says the main chunk of the budget is the flights so providing you fly scheduled the cost shouldn't be any different, eating breakfast at the villa and main meals off site is cheaper so that helps.
I like the idea of breaking the budget down in 21 day envelopes, thats a great idea, when its gone, its gone
With DD6 working so hard her Dyslexia is improving so much I wouldn't feel right taking her from school (I would do a week either side of a sch holiday like Terri does if I could).

 

[Lizzybear]

We're going for 19 nights this trip (have to account for the flight home being overnight aswell so really 20), would go for longer but my bf can't get any more days off at once (he could only get 21 days as a favour, it's normally 2 weeks) For the likes of the west coast it's almost essential to stay longer than 2 weeks IMO, and for the east coast it's nice to do

 

[Ware Bears]

We went for 3 weeks last time and it was so wonderful I couldn't bear the thought of only going for 2 weeks this time so we've stretched it out to 17 days.

 

[pixiepower04]

In 2004 we went for 3 weeks plus a few days in DC on the way back, my kids were 4.5 & 6.5 at the time but we were badly prepared and much of it is a blur.

Last September/October we stayed for 4 night at RPR and 3 weeks at CBR, the kids then 8 & 10, we were much better prepared and had a great time.

Next September/October we will be staing at RPR for 6 nights, Miami for 3 nights followed by OKW for 14 nights and can't wait.

I always take the kids out of school for the week before their October holidays as they never do schoolwork in that last week.

As I make wedding cakes for a living I am swamped with bookings between April and September so I never get to spend any of the other school holidays with my kids so every 2 years I will be taking them out of school for a week for a great holiday full of quality family time together and to hell with the consequences!

To answer your original question I think the the longer you stay the cheaper it gets, as in, a week at Disney is 1000, 2 weeks is 1800 and 3 weeks is 1600. We looked at 2 weeks initially but it was only something like £600 more to stay for an extra week so that's what we did.

When checking flight prices there was no difference between the 2 weeks and the 3 weeks, if there was a big difference then we would have stayed for 2.

I say do it as it gives you plenty of wind down time too.

 

[Julia Ann]

thanks for the tips - never even thought about the time off work 25 days annual leave is pants when you have kids!!!!! keep the info coming i'm goin to write it all down in my planning book

 

[scojos]

also consider, if you stay on site you wont need a car (ME then buses)
i would choose to hire a car, but you dont need a car
tx

 

[wideeyes]

We have booked for 3 weeks next year, flights are obviously the same and we will be staying DVC for some of our stay so will eat some meals in, we don't spend loads on food anyway as don't eat many Table service resturants and I plan on booking the DDP for some of our stay if it is free.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Three weeks is absolutely lovely and I would definately go for it. In my opinion it is worth saving leave all year for!! It really isn't an expensive holiday when you get there. The difference between two and three week admission is mininimal. We are really trying to tweak holiday dates to get three weeks for next year. It is really worth it!