Disney Budget Help Needed...

[etwinchester]

We are planniing our next trip for May 2008. This will be the first trip for DH, DD and myself. Our last trip was with 10 other family member offsite and we only had to pay $200 & room tickets. My grandmother paid the remainder as a gift for everyone.

Anyway, this will be our first onsite stay and I need to know a good way of going about it. Here is what we'd like:

* CSR (for 2 weeks the beginning of May)
* Dining plan included (2 adults, 1 child)
* 10 day MYW w/hopper

For those who stay onsite for 2 weeks, how much do you normally budget for? I'd like to break it down so I know how much to save each month or each week if possible.

 

[LMC]

I would go ahead and call WDW to get a rate for THIS May. Even if it is rack rates you will have a general idea of what you will be paying. You can make your ressie 1 yr in advance so you'll have to wait a while to do that. When you finally do get a ressie, you can always check to see if they offer AAA discount or have an AP rate. For the resort you are looking at, if you can get an AP rate, it may pay for itself in resort savings if you get ONE. The only problem with the AP is that there are no dining options you can get. The only choice right now is the Disney Dining Experience which offers a 20% savings on food and bev. Of course, by the time you go, they may have revamped their dining options again and MYW for that matter.
To determine your food expense, go to allearsnet.com and look at their menus with prices! You could probably even benefit from a subscription to TGM.

 

[pezpam]

I'd echo LMC. You can go to the Disney website, call them, call AAA, etc. and price out a trip for this May, then bump it up a bit to account for any price increases that occur before you book.

 

[etwinchester]

Thanks. I did give them a call and found out I'd have to split the vacation. When it's time, I'd have to book a 10-day stay and a 4-day since the longest package plan is 10 days.