Cost of Disney Family Vacation

[KatieCollette]

Well we just stayed for 8 days at POR with 3 Disney adults and one child, and we only spend 5000. And we were not being frugal at all! I guess if we stayed at Deluxe it could have been closer to 10 grand, but we completely fine with a mod hotel.

 

[bowbat]

I was shocked but only because I've never stopped to do the math. We live close to WDW (less than two hours) & only have one kid. We go several times per year, but only for a couple days at a time and always with a great room-only discount. I logically knew that people who flew down and stayed for 10+ days were paying thousands of dollars, but still seeing a $10k figure and all the breakdowns of costs here... yowza!

I don't know what we'd do if we didn't live so close, because I am both cheap & loving of deluxe accommodations.

 

[ejrj]

I love how all the CDNs are in the NOT shocked group. CDNs are so sadly used to paying more for everything!! PS. I want to hear more from the guy who spent 7 days at the poly for less than 3k??!!

 

[Scarlett81]

Here's how my ten grand broke down:

*My recent trip was all out at a deluxe hotel, 8 nights, theme park view, club level/standard room-this was a once in a lifetime trip for us, not a norm by any means! lol

8 night/9 day room described above, park hopper tickets-$8400.
Flight for 4-$600
Food for 9 days-about $1000, and I'm not including bottled water, drinks or snacks, just sit down meals.

Thats ten grand. And that doesn't include photopass, $150 or the bibbiddi bobbidi boutique or victoria and albert's, which were both gifts to us. That would be another $500.
As my hubby says, 'they print money'!

-As an afterthought, fyi though we were very happy with the amenities, if I had to pick and choose I'd do club level over a particular view/theme park view. And I'd do any out building room with club level over a main building room. We love park hopper, so I'd keep that. And we tried to have a big breakfast later on, to carry us through to dinner with just a snack in between. That seemed to work well, and saves alot.

 

[LaMickey]

I am probably not as shocked as I should be.

We are going to WDW in June 2012 for 7 nights. Party size (and some of our choices) drives our costs up considerably. We are 2 adults and 7 kids so we opted to stay in a DVC 2br Villa. Just room and tickets is quickly $10K. So absent any discounts or free dining we will be paying at least $12K-$13K (probably more). And that assumes we drive – which we will as DW hates to fly.

Unfortunately Disney does not offer many options to large families. I believe the only cheaper option on-site would be two mod. rooms, but we lose the kitchen, 3rd bathroom, laundry, etc. The kitchen actually offsets some of the costs as we do some meals in room and the laundry allows for less packing. The 3rd bathroom just provides sanity for me and DW. We also prefer to be able to stay together with some living space.

I know we could save quite a bit of money staying offsite, but with the age range (15 to 3) of our children it is invaluable for one of us to be able to take the little ones back to the resort while everyone else stays at the parks .

I should also note that we do not do Disney every year or even every other year. It has been more than 5 years since our last visit. So it is a little easier to justify the costs. I would expect it will be another 3 to 5 years before we return.

Hoping for a discount!!!

 

[alex9179]

I've been planning and saving for a really long time and already have the money set aside. This will be our first family (of 5) vacation that isn't centered around staying and visiting with relatives and we're prepared to lay out some cash. Not as much as some, and it isn't "extravagant" by Disney standards but it's definitely more than we're used to spending and VERY indulgent for us.

We'd like to stay 5 nights at the Poly, with DDP, GV-club level, no hoppers, no water parks, MNSSHP tickets if we go in Oct, and driving from Texas.
Our current total for room/dining/park tickets is $5358. Gives me a bit of a heart attack! Of course, I'm hoping for some kind of discount but we're still looking at over$6000 when we factor in the drive, tips, adult beverages, shopping money and party tix. OH YEAH, V&A's for our anniversary dinner and kids club for the night. <chest pains>

The cost is freaking me out so much that I keep pricing different options but, with 3 kids from 5-8 at trip time, ease of getting around WDW is a huge factor and I REALLY want to do all of it. But it's so much money! But it will be so much fun! My poor brain!

Shoot. We won't know when DH's 2012 vacation is until next month sometime, so our Oct. trip is still a ?

 

[2disneyboys]

you can go as cheap or as expensive as you want, and it's still the perfect vacation for you... I love this about WDW.

from Dec 26, 2010 - Dec 12, 2011 DH & I would have spent a little less than $10,000 for our Disney trips. We have taken 3 and have 1 more in a few weeks.. thats 4 trips... 34 days @ Disney in 1 years time . (this is extravagant for us!) This includes dog care for our pets while we are away from home, driving roundtrip 3 of the trips (norfolk va to Orlando, FL usually about 12-15 hours) and flying round trip this upcoming Dec trip. Food, and slight souvies... we dont' really buy many family souvies.. and I don't officially track our DS's $ spent as that's all money they earned and saved and can spend as they want. (it's usually all blown @ the lego store anyway!) it includes a combo of on and off site stays, dining plan and non dining plan food expenses, snacks, etc. Basically all costs for 4 trips and our grand total is $9,869.0 (of course, I don't know the actual costs for our misc expenses for our upcoming trip so I just included our budget of $500.00.. it might come in lower.

I am not shocked at families who spend that same amount of $ for much less time in the parks.. I'm also sure that other families could mimc my situation and come in lower. Ultimately, Disney is very accomodiating in taking your dollars and exchanging it for the vacation(s) of your dreams... that's what keeps us all coming back... over and over..

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Not shocked either when you stay deluxe for more than a week. Would I do it? Heck no. For us a WDW vacation isn't about fancy anything so we are perfectly fine scrunching 5 into POR or staying off site.

I have and do spend more than 10 grand on vacations quite often however they are to Europe. To me that justifies the amount of money. We spent 2 weeks in France last summer for about $12000 for the 5 of us (including airfare). This coming summer will be 8 nights in Paris and 3 in London and the budget is currently the same.

Everyone has a ceiling and everyone has to decide what works best for their family travels. I could never pay $400/night for deluxe when I only pay $240/night for a 2 bedroom apartment in the heart of Paris. Too me that's complete highway robbery but to others it's their dream.

 

[ejrj]

I could never pay $400/night for deluxe when I only pay $240/night for a 2 bedroom apartment in the heart of Paris.

Tell me more about your two bedroom @ $240 in Paris!!

 

[wen8jr]

9 nights, 10 days (Disney CSR & Universal Royal Pacific) over Christmas - 4 Adults & 2 Teens
Driving 12 hrs (no airfare)

We are right at 4100.00 and this includes Disney 7 days tickets (no hopper/no water park), Universal park to park tickets for 2 days, including 1 AP ticket.
We do not spend money on souveniers, not interested in those - but we do splurg on food/drinks and will be eating TS every day.

If we flew, stayed in a Deluxe and done park hoppers/water parks, I could definately see our 4K doubling...so I'm not shocked by other's reports of their costs. But we would rather go to the Caribbean or Hawaii if we are spending in the ball park of 10K.

Past trips that come to mind budge wise under 4K:

In 2009 we stayed 6 nights at Portofino Bay Hotel, visted Universal Parks, Discovery Cove (Dolphin pkg) and Seaworld, ate TS most meals and came in at 3800.00.

In 2007 we stayed at Disney 5 nights during free dining promo at POR in Oct. and we spent right at 2200.00.

Off topic a little but here are some of our none park vacation examples:

In 2008 we went to Charleston, done a 5 night split stay at a plantation and a harbor side cottage, done all the touristy attractions, visited Myrtle Beach, etc. and spent only 2000.00.

Smoky Mtns - yearly - cabin for 3 nights over one weekend - $1500.00 for cabin, food, attractions, etc. Very expensive vacation spot that is a 2 hour drive for us so we go quite often.


All WONDERFUL trips at or under 4K and really we do not hold back on spending.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Our most expensive trip was December '07. Hubby got a new job that year and our income more than doubled. We never ever were able to splurge or stay deluxe before that so we went all-out. Really. ALL-out. I tried to get a discount for the Contemporary MK View but it wasn't available. It was our dream-stay so hubby insisted we do it anyway. Soooo, we stayed MK View in the Contemporary, dining plan, FL resident seasonal passes, flew 1st class, had stretch limo transfers to/from the airport, and didn't limit ourselves on souvenirs. Total cost? I think our final tally in came in at about $14k.

We've not stayed deluxe without a discount since that first blow-out and watch our spending a bit more as we go. It helps that the merchandise doesn't appeal as much anymore. Our average trip costs since then when we stay deluxe come in around $7k. November last year we did POFQ w/free dining for 9 nights at about $4k. Not so bad. The early trips to POP we did for under $3k. I think it's awesome that a place like WDW can be done for such varied budgets. It really makes things possible for everyone!

 

[ccgirl]

I got the idea for this thread earlier today when a handful of people expressed disbelief that someone spent $10k on a Disney vacation. I was shocked that people were shocked...lol

We wil be at DW this Dec for 14 nights for the 3rd time in 4 years and its always the better part of $10k. There are 2 adults and a teenager in our party, cost looks something like this:

Airfare from western Canada for 3: $1,950

Magic your way pkg, 14 nights waterview at CSR, 10 day park hoppers w/waterparks and more, Free Dining plan: $4,713

Passes for 3 to Seaworld: $225

Other activities, other food, spending money, souvenirs over 15 days: $1500

That brings us to a very loose total of: $8,388

Without free dining you can add $2k to that total easily and if we decidied to stay at a Deluxe resort your at $15k in a hurry.

Not sure why people were shocked that the poster in the other thread spent $10k on their vacation? For most of us Disney isn't a weekend getaway its a major 10-14 day vacation.

Last year we split 8 nights at CSR with 6 nights at Hard Rock Universal and it was $10k when the smoke cleared.

Interested in hearing others thoughts on this.

Here's mine for 10 days for 2 adults and 2 children for May 2012 (non-WDW this time):

Airfare from MA $250, have enough points for 3 tickets.
2 BR Timeshare $169 transfer fee/ $600 maintenance taxes
Discovery Cove 2 swim/2non swim $169x2/$69x2 = $476
Passes for SW, Aquatica and Busch Gardens $157 each
Rental car $250
Gasoline $40
Groceries $90
Meals out (got restaurant.com gc's) $50

Total of $2553 for 10 days for 2 adults/2children.
Even if I didn't have the airfare points that would be an extra $750 bringing the grand total to $3303.

 

[buzznina]

Our trip last month:
We are a family of 4 DD1(7) and DD2(2)
Transportation: Drove 7 hours – Gas $150
Resort: Mod - CSR
Nights: 7 - $952 Room only Discount
Meals: OOP - $650 – Mainly CS plus 1 Character lunch at Akershus and 1 TS dinner.
Tickets: Seasonal AP's: $350 (We get 2 vacations out of it so I broke the total cost in half for this trip)
Special Tickets: MNSSHP $175
Misc: $250
Total Cost: $2527

 

[makthompson]

After our first two trips to WDW we bought the DVC points. Our first trip was offsite, luke warm water at the hotel, didnt "feel Disney" and was over $10k. Granted there were 6 adults and 1 child and that included plane tickets, 7 days there, park hoppers, room and food.
Our next trip was 3 adults, 2 children and we stayed on property at the Boardwalk Inn and the whole package was $5k. We had that " Disney feel" that we like and enjoyed the Boardwalk. That was the last time we went without being DVC Members.
We just went back this summer with 3 adults and 1 child. Chose the DDP for the first time, did a 7 day pass to the parks (we were there 10 nights), stayed at the THV and with tips and everything was less that $3500.00.
Wish I would have known about DVC sooner. The first 2 trips would have paid entirely for the points contract

 

[ccgirl]

After our first two trips to WDW we bought the DVC points. Our first trip was offsite, luke warm water at the hotel, didnt "feel Disney" and was over $10k. Granted there were 6 adults and 1 child and that included plane tickets, 7 days there, park hoppers, room and food.
Our next trip was 3 adults, 2 children and we stayed on property at the Boardwalk Inn and the whole package was $5k. We had that " Disney feel" that we like and enjoyed the Boardwalk. That was the last time we went without being DVC Members.
We just went back this summer with 3 adults and 1 child. Chose the DDP for the first time, did a 7 day pass to the parks (we were there 10 nights), stayed at the THV and with tips and everything was less that $3500.00.
Wish I would have known about DVC sooner. The first 2 trips would have paid entirely for the points contract

Did the $3500 include your maintenance/dues for the year and a portion of the buy in? As a side note; how did you like the THV?

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Tell me more about your two bedroom @ $240 in Paris!!

Sent you a PM!

 

[jeffnpa]

Going for 9 days in May;
Air for 5= 1500.00
Stay at Beach club w hopper tixs and DDP 6000.00
now, hope for a free DDP or kids stay and play to lesson the cost. Went to WDW in 08 stayed at ASmovies for 7 days and it was $3000 for 4 people.

Life is short if you can afford to do so, go ahead because tomorrow may not be around.

 

[Lindzeer]

I totally believe it, but $10 K to go to Disney just seems like a lot to choose to spend, when there are lots of other awesome luxurious options out there for that price tag. We're spending $5k to do a split WDW/Disney cruise vacation (POFQ, regular meal plan, balcony cabin/3 night cruise).. So I can totally see how double the days = double the cost. That said, if I had $10 grand to blow on a vaca, you better believe I'd be in The Maldives. Different strokes, different folks.

 

[ame8888]

We (2 couples) are going in January... 7 nights -2 Bedroom at Saratoga Springs Deluxe Resort, Roundtrip Non-Stop air, 8 day park hoppers - The Entire trip for all 4 of us approx. is $3250.00... We got some great deals and I planned it out really well - We will all chip in for groceries and of course have dinners out, but this allows me to vaca more than once a year. For 10,000.00 - I think I would have to go to Europe!

 

[makthompson]

Did the $3500 include your maintenance/dues for the year and a portion of the buy in? As a side note; how did you like the THV?

No it did not. Our Dvc is paid for so i dont include it. As far as the dues, I use the Rent/Trade board on here and sell just enough to cover those.

We absolutely LOVED THV. Now DH wants to stay there whenever we go..I really want to stay at other Resorts until we've stayed at them all and then I wouldnt mind staying there every trip. Plenty of room.