DH wants me to cut budget by $1500??!!

[mort1331]

I apologize, this is LONG! I'm pretty sure there is no way possible to cut this much, but hoping for some ideas on how/where I can save some. I thought I had done a pretty good job budgeting and getting good rates, but want to make sure. It will be the two of us and our 7yo DS. So, here is a rundown on our costs and stay details:

Air: $786 RT on Southwest (already paid for) fly out IND morning 10/13, back morning 10/21 direct flights
Car: $155 for midsize Alamo for p/u noon on 10/13, return 4pm 10/20 (I keep an eye to see if rate drops) Drop this
Rental villa $800 for 5 nights (already put down a dp) Eat the Deposit especially if its only 10%
Beach Hotel (Alden Suites) on St. Pete beach 2 nights $284.93 (also already put down deposit) same here
3 day base park tix $835 (from my local AAA) for MK 2 full days and HS 1 day Drop
Universal Studios 1 day 2 park tix $445 (also from AAA) (+$210 for express passes)
MCO Hyatt hotel night before flight $216
parking at theme parks: $85 no car no need
parking at our local airport $81
Food $800 (no idea if I'm in the ballpark or not on this one)
MNSSHP tix $231 (already purchased), doing this arrival day
I also have already purchased memory maker and the universal photo pass call ask for refund, Disney probably would, not sure about Universal

Add Stay at All Star SPorts $806 taxes in for whole stay, free transportation to and from airport (no need for car) booking this ask for credit on the photopass to apply for room.
Add 6 day tickets with Undercover $985 taxes in( only 150 more then your 3 day.

For food:
10/13 - Trex lunch after flight lands, counter service dinner at MNSSHP
10/14 - HS: lunch at Sci Fi, dinner at Mama Melrose (Fantasmic package)
10/15 - breakfast at BOG, CS lunch, dinner at BOG
10/16 - breakfast at BOG, CS lunch and Rainforest Cafe dinner at DD
10/17 - breakfast Universal character breakfast, CS lunch and CS dinner (Monsters Cafe, Thunder Falls)
10/18 and 10/19 we will be at St. Pete Beach
10/20 - lunch at Planet Hollywood, dinner ? maybe at hotel or airport
Also would probably allow one purchased snack a day in the parks. We plan to use Brita bottles and get free ice water.
None of these needed, and lots of great places to do cheaper

All that being said, the only places to save that I can find are the $210 for express passes at Universal, but I almost see that as necessary being as we have only 1 day to do both parks there. The other area would be to not stay at the Hyatt inside the airport and instead stay at the Holiday Inn with the shuttle to the airport which would save $110 but would be more of a hassle because we would still want to return the rental car on the 20th so we would have to get a shuttle from the airport to the Holiday Inn and then again back to the airport to catch our flight the next morning. I've even looked at changing our flight to leave on the 20th (it was much cheaper to leave on the 21st when I booked, and still is, but if that goes down I can change that for no fee and save the hotel cost.) Again, no major savings though.

Just want to make sure I'm not missing something! Also, is my $800 estimated for food in the ballpark or not enough??

Oh, and I have purchased the Orlando Entertainment book when it was $7 to use at least the Rainforest and Planet Hollywood coupons.

Thanks!

I haven't read all the posts, but you asked if you can drop $1500, Yes you can come pretty close to it IMHO. You need to prioritize the things that are important. Some of these things sting, but I am a firm believer that there are ways and still have a great time. We have taken to driving from Canada now and saving 3/4 of the cost to get there.
Have a great time with whatever you choose.

 

[Laurie75M]

I think you should look at the menus (prices) for your ADR. I think $800 is really low with what you have planned.

 

[Marshmelo]

OP, As many have pointed out, if you stick with your current meal plans, you are very likely to go over budget in that area. If your DH is already concerned with the cost, how is the real cost of food going to go over with him?

I used the calculator and input the places we were eating and even added in one snack a day each and it came to $799, so I was right on. Now, that does not include our travel and beach days, which I did tell DH.

 

[Marshmelo]

This is an excellent point. IOA closes at 7 on October 17, but the Studios close at 5. I would never pay for express passes at Universal because we always stay onsite, but the OP probably will find the express passes very helpful on what will surely be a very busy day. A Saturday night HHN will almost certainly sell out.

I would still rearrange the trip to spend some time onsite at Universal - it is such a better experience. I would much rather upgrade to multi-day tickets and stay onsite than spend the money on express passes that only allow for one turn on each ride.

Yes, I was aware of the hours that day. We plan to do Studios first and IOA midday until it closes at 7. Yes, I know it is a lot to fit in for one day. That is why I think we need (and DH has said he wants) the Express passes. Of course we won't be doing every single ride in both parks. Not even close probably. I have the day mapped out on touringplans and according to that, we will be able to get in everything we want.

 

[Marshmelo]

May i ask why your packing so much into such a short time? Why the beach and 2 major theme parks? And your 7 year can handle all of this? Sounds exhausting... universal the way you are doing it is not going to be pleasant especially if it's hot! Trust me. 2 days minimum for Universal, to really enjoy it, your plan is exhausting and ridiculously expensive. Cut out Universal and make that a special trip in itself.

I really don't think it is too much in too short a time. We have the day from noon on when we first arrive to go to DD for lunch and Lego store for DS as he is very excited to go there; and stock up on groceries, swim and probably grill some burgers for dinner out on the patio of our rental home (I changed our MNSSHP tix to the Thurs night instead of our arrival day because DH was stressed about it being too much when we first get there). The next day (Wed.) we are doing HS, Thurs. will be a relax/DD day until we head to MK by 4 to get in for MNSSHP, then Fri will be MK, then Sat. US followed by two days relaxing on the beach. When I was younger (HS/college/newlywed) and went with my family, we would do 10 days or more and do it "commando" style with park hoppers and rope drop to fireworks every single day, would do all Disney parks plus US and Seaworld and beach and even did Kennedy Space Center one time, so to me this plan seems kind of slow! I think with what we want to do at US we will be fine with one day for both parks. Yes, it is expensive, but DS is at the perfect age/interests to experience it right now and who knows if/when we will be able to go back.

 

[Marshmelo]

The OP's DH probably better get ready to add Universal Halloween Party tickets to the budget though.

I would NEVER take my 7 year old (or even older) to something like that. What? Oh, you were just being snarky? Ok. Just as long as you didn't think I would really do that.

 

[Julylady]

Interesting thread. We typically plan a Florida vacation once a year. Before the pricing structure changed, we routinely added on a day at Universal or Sea world or both. We also would drive to Clearwater for a beach day. But now, that is all out! We are looking at a Universal only trip in 2017. Combining WDW and universal is just way to expensive!

For what it's worth, I would have completely dropped either the Universal or Disney portion of the trip. And I would cook 80 percent of the meals at the villa. I would have also extended the villa stay to cover the entire trip.

And, if my husband asked me to cut out 30 percent of our budget, I would have handed the plans to him and told him to have at it.

 

[AmyAnne]

I think most of us here plan trips to Disney with the idea that we will be going back in the not-too-distant future. But it sounds like the OP has not been with her husband and son and is not sure she will be going back -- I think that changes what makes sense cost-wise. One day at Universal makes no sense if you are going back next year but maybe it does if you are not. Still, $1500 is a lot for the OP's husband to ask to be cut -- but I do think OP can honestly say to him, not without really changing the trip. (I do think the meals could be changed but that's no where near $1500.)

 

[littleblackegg]

The planned vacation actually seems pretty cheap for two adults and one child, four parks, a beach-front stay, a few nice meals, etc. I'd focus on the quality of your trip and not the quantity. I can understand not wanting to ditch Universal. I would, if you can bear it, ditch DHS because they have announced a huge refurbishment to start soon. There aren't a lot of attractions. Animal Kingdom, however, is much more worth your money. It's truly majestic. I also think your meal budget is a little low. It's not unusual for a counter service meal to run $20.00 for the two of us. We have started bringing a soft-sided cooler into the parks and filling it with water, diet soda, sandwiches, and nuts. We estimate this saves us $30.00 a day.

 

[littleblackegg]

Interesting thread. We typically plan a Florida vacation once a year. Before the pricing structure changed, we routinely added on a day at Universal or Sea world or both. We also would drive to Clearwater for a beach day. But now, that is all out! We are looking at a Universal only trip in 2017. Combining WDW and universal is just way to expensive!

For what it's worth, I would have completely dropped either the Universal or Disney portion of the trip. And I would cook 80 percent of the meals at the villa. I would have also extended the villa stay to cover the entire trip.

And, if my husband asked me to cut out 30 percent of our budget, I would have handed the plans to him and told him to have at it.

That's exactly what I would do to my husband. OK dude, I guess you are in charge of family vacations now!

 

[gopher101]

This makes me so happy my dad leaves all of our vacation planning to me. No asking to cut budget, he knows I will find the best deal.

If this is your only trip to wdw and universal, just explain to your husband you are getting a great once in a lifetime vacation. He might calm down once it gets a bit closer. It might just be sticker shock.

 

[nacho113]

I would NEVER take my 7 year old (or even older) to something like that. What? Oh, you were just being snarky? Ok. Just as long as you didn't think I would really do that.

Have to agree with you on that one. The park is pretty creepy with all the props setup for the HHN already, some are covered and some are right out in the open. I think it was The Walking Dead theme last year and there were buses and trucks full of "bodies" on the streets in Universal Studios, one can only assume that were going to be setup for the after dark extravaganza.
Don't get me wrong, I like Halloween if its done light heartedly (like MNSSHH) but I really don't want the bejeezus scared out of me...not my definition of fun (although I'm sure there are lots of folks who like this kind of thing).
I wouldn't take myself to this and definitely wouldn't subject my DW or kids to it.
My DD (7 YO at the time) wouldn't sleep in her own bed for a month after we took her on the Haunted Mansion at MK. We never even thought about that being scary, but she sure did.

 

[Marshmelo]

It might just be sticker shock.

I think so. I came up with a possible savings of $690 by cutting out the extra mk day (which we did), doing things that were suggested on here like no US express passes, hotwire hotel instead of Hyatt the night before our flight home, having relative drive us to/from airport, US tix from USSA. I presented those options to DH and aside from dropping the MK day, HE isn't sure that HE wants to do any of those things.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I thought USSA changed their policy last year that they don't sell to the general public any more, only to those who are part of certain youth sports groups.
Has that changed?

 

[TiffyRose]

I think so. I came up with a possible savings of $690 by cutting out the extra mk day (which we did), doing things that were suggested on here like no US express passes, hotwire hotel instead of Hyatt the night before our flight home, having relative drive us to/from airport, US tix from USSA. I presented those options to DH and aside from dropping the MK day, HE isn't sure that HE wants to do any of those things.

So he wants to spend less money and not change the plans? That's nice...me too and everybody else. I think the only thing that will accomplish this is an early suggestion of using discounted DGC to pay for park exspenses. DH and I are planning to do this for our cruise in January. I'm hoping to save around $200 this way. In the meantime we are maximizing our everyday savings (cc points, shopping clearance, using discounted GCs, thrifting, just not buying stuff) so that when its time to fork over the cash it doesn't hurt as much.

It really sounds like your husband wasn't in enough on the original planning and that's why the current panic/pull back. Next time maybe you can run stuff by him as you plan, complete with numbers, so he sees where it's all going. That way he has more time to mentally prepare for the cost vs. outcome.

I would also like to echo cutting the EP for US. DH and I spent way too much for a set 4 years ago while visiting his parents. However, we went in July when it was very crowded, and we did not know when we'd be back. This time we're going in Januuary, and we're saving the $70 each for our expected group of six. It should be less crowded, plus we've seen it before now.

 

[robinb]

I think so. I came up with a possible savings of $690 by cutting out the extra mk day (which we did), doing things that were suggested on here like no US express passes, hotwire hotel instead of Hyatt the night before our flight home, having relative drive us to/from airport, US tix from USSA. I presented those options to DH and aside from dropping the MK day, HE isn't sure that HE wants to do any of those things.

That's an interesting change of heart. I'm sure you must be relieved. Have a great time .
.

 

[Marshmelo]

That's an interesting change of heart. I'm sure you must be relieved. Have a great time .
.

Yes! I think he just wanted to make sure the things we were doing were "necessary" and the only way to do them. I presented him with the possible savings ideas and it's now in his hands whether he wants to sacrifice convenience/comfort/assurance in order to save $700. Pressure off me now! Thanks!

 

[gopher101]

I think so. I came up with a possible savings of $690 by cutting out the extra mk day (which we did), doing things that were suggested on here like no US express passes, hotwire hotel instead of Hyatt the night before our flight home, having relative drive us to/from airport, US tix from USSA. I presented those options to DH and aside from dropping the MK day, HE isn't sure that HE wants to do any of those things.

I had to laugh a little at that. Once again makes me grateful for my dad just saying I trust you, have at it.

 

[Marshmelo]

I had to laugh a little at that. Once again makes me grateful for my dad just saying I trust you, have at it.

And that's what he said at first, but he's never planned/paid for a vacation to Disney so when he found out the totals, I think he was in disbelief. Hopefully it won't sting too much and he will have a good enough time to want to go again and then will say that when it comes time to plan again!

 

[aprincessatlast]

The planned vacation actually seems pretty cheap for two adults and one child, four parks, a beach-front stay, a few nice meals, etc.

Call me crazy but $250pp per day is not cheap for a vacation.Then again anytime you do an a la carte type vacation with a mix of amusement parks and a beach it will not be a deal. I think you are underestimating food and misc. expenses. That only adds up to 100 a day and with 3 meals that is $11 a meal. Might want to up that a bit unless you are cooking a bit and eating QS.