Disneyland...low on funds high on fun!

[hpfan100]

Hi everyone
I just returned from a three day trip to Disneyland. My goal for this trip was to have tons of fun for very little money. I hadn't been to the land since the 90s when there was no California Adventure. I think it was 1995 to be exact but not positive. I had recently been to the world and was bitten by the Disney bug. Now I'm afraid a monster may have been created and am not sure how I will vacation anywhere but Disney again.

Cast of characters:

Me!! My name is Amy and I live in the ever hot state of Arizona. Gilbert, Arizona to be exact. I hate it but alas this is where I am stuck until a job far away comes up. I have two spoiled fluffy tabby cats that keep me happy and down to earth. I teach special education and make less money than the 20 year old assistant manager at the gas station hence the low on funds part of the title.

Anyway....back to Disneyland. I was really excited about going and wanted to try to see and do it all in only three days and with a budget of 600 dollars.

Do I? Tune in next time to see

 

[PrincessMaleficent]

You have my attention!

 

[skiingfast]

I'm sure you could do it. Once by chance I took my son for three days. We got everyone pays the kids price on tickets. And also along the way I we had a couple with us who payed for half of the gas. We dropped them off in LV. Since the tickets and gas were cheap I went pretty cheap on a hotel. I tried for $700 and left with a couple unbudgeted cheap souvernirs, and spent $750. What really broke the bank was food and snack at $4X7, which I planed for being X2.

Tickets kids 3 days X two was about $320, the biggest expense. Hotel $210. Gas, I guessed $75 three tanks, which it worked out my friend bought two more. So these were more or less fixed assuming my mileage worked out. $605.

Food went for $20 per day, I brought snack and hotel had breakfast, $80. Snacks just under $10. Misselaneous, which could of been souvenirs or another treat $5. $605+ 80+ 10 +5 = $700.

Of course then I spent another $20 less the extra budgeted snack, so extra treats $15. A couple meals where high and some low so the 20/day for food worked out to $25, an extra $20. And then Souvienirs beyond the extra $5 was $15 for a couple small books. Hench $750 when I got back home.


In the end I think I could of done without the snacks but then would of ate more at reagular meals so that wouldn't of helped. But I could of saved on the hotel and walked more. That was a concern before the trip but after I knew I could of done that. Still I couldn't do too much less then this unless I got another deal on tickets. I saved about $20 on the ticket so if I at that I might only be able to get a hotel for $30 less. In the end I see $740 as the likely one child / one adult trip for me. Of course I have to increase that each year for inflation which is really high on park tickets.

 

[hpfan100]

WOW Skiingfast that is pretty impressive for a family trip. Ticket discounts always help!

 

[hpfan100]

Well my first major decision when planning this trip was if I was going to fly or drive.

Driving:
Pros- obviously driving is pretty cheap, I have a car and I just get in and go, small car gets good mileage and has a radio that I can turn up loud
Cons- 5 to 6 hours in a car alone, car is brand new and don't want it dented, could make time at disney shorter,

Flying:
pros- fast (only 1 hour from PHX), gives me credit towards a free flight later, free diet coke and peanuts, have drink coupons if I need a stiffer drink
cons- didn't buy early enough for it to be cheap, no car when I get there, 3 oz liquids, security idiots


I was pretty sure I was going to drive and break in that new car until....I found a cheapo air and hotel package through southwest. So after all the deliberations....I flew. southwest not dumbo airlines.


My package deal included two nights at the Holiday Inn Express in Garden Grove and round trip air from PHX to SNA. Total cost after teacher discount was 275! I think that is pretty good. Gas would have cost me about 100 dollars and the hotel alone would have been 185 after taxes.


total budget 600
spent so far 275
left to burn 325


and I still need tickets, food, transport from airport and to/from Disneyland

will I make it under budget....tune in next time same bat time, same bat channel

 

[kylie71]

You've got my attention!!
Please come back and update us!

 

[disneymama83]

 

[where's_my_prince]

i assume from your username your a Harry potter fan?

 

[hpfan100]

You've got my attention!!
Please come back and update us!

thanks for tuning in

hmmmm popcorn

i assume from your username your a Harry potter fan?

Potter fan indeed but Disney is good too

welcome readers...look for my update sometime soon. It' been crazy busy at work this week.

 

[reyasmommy]

Looking forward to reading more. I need some tips for a cheap disney vacation. I haven't been on the disboards in over a year. Feels good to be back.

 

[jenniferrose]

I'm reading! Anyone who is a special ed teacher is AMAZING in my eyes! Thank you for doing what you do!

 

[hpfan100]

Looking forward to reading more. I need some tips for a cheap disney vacation. I haven't been on the disboards in over a year. Feels good to be back.

Welcome back!!! I'm hoping I have some tips you can use. I like saving money...I always feel good about that.

I'm reading! Anyone who is a special ed teacher is AMAZING in my eyes! Thank you for doing what you do!

AWWWW how sweet It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it.

Update on budget breakdown coming tomorrow...just totaling up my receipts.

 

[stich626]

Curious as to how the trip went! I am always low on funds so looking foward to see how you did it!

 

[hpfan100]

Hi everyone...thanks for hanging in there with me. I had parent teacher conferences this week and it was crazy.

So when we left off...I had found my flight and hotel room. I was trying spend only 600 for this trip and I still had 325 left for ground transportation, food , tickets and such. I booked a round trip shared van service via Super Shuttle. With my coupon from Entertainment book I paid just $16! The hotel offered Disney shuttle for $4 each day. So that makes $28 for ground transportation (super shuttle and 3 days for hotel shuttle). I bought my 3 day disney ticket from the disney for 186. No discount there but I had it ahead of time and didn't need to stand in line at Disney.

total so far: 489 that leaves 111 for food and fun

I took $40 cash and a $20 Disney gift card with me. This would be my food budget for the three days.


Well on to the trip report.....


I left my house around 7:00 am and headed to the airport for my 9:10 am flight to Orange County. I parked and headed to the bus stop. I arrived at the security line to head to gates. I take my shoes off,pull out my quart sized baggy and declare my contact solution to the TSA person. I pass through the metal detector and get ready to grab my gear. Yet the TSA has other plans for me. My suitcase's contents appear strange to the scanners and the next thing I know I'm headed to the special search table. The following conversation occurs:
TSA: do you have any liquids or sharp objects in here?
Me: no
TSA: any liquids in here
Me: no
TSA: cremes, liquids
ME: no with attitude
TSA: how about aerosols?
ME: no
TSA: are you sure?
ME: YES
He digs through my perfectly organized bag and finds nothing but is sure that my banana and granola bar are the culprits of this annoyance. He resends my bag through the scanners sans banana and granola bar and then its fine. After all that I ask what appears to be liquid in bag so I never pack it again. He says must be the banana because fruit can appear liquid on the scanners.
I think WOW this is my tax money hard at work. And I'll never pack my banana again...I'll declare it with my contact solution.

I move to the side and repack and organize my bag and then immediately post some snarky comment about this incident on my facebook page.

I board the plane and enjoy my super short flight to Orange County while drinking my free Diet Coke and eating my liquid banana. Get to Orange County and head to the super shuttle counter and get on my van immediately. I'm the first stop and I get to sit up front.

The hotel looks beautiful form the outside and lobby is nice. I try to check in and my room is available at 11:00 am I'm feeling good and the TSA twits feel miles away until....the hotel clerk tells me they assigned me a smoking room with two beds. I reserved a king non-smoking room. She proceeds to tell me that type of room would cost me more money. I whine a bit but decide I'll deal with for two nights. I was pretty mad though. I head to my smoking stinky room and get ready to head to the park. I pack my shorts, snacks, water bottle and such in my bag and head out to the shuttle.


Up next my first day at Disney and my first time ever at Disney California Adventure!!!

Will I meet my budget? Will I survive the smoking room? Will I get to ride all the rides? Tune in next time to find out...same bat channel same bat time....

 

[skiingfast]

What would you do if you spent that $60 on churros all in the first day? Did you have any backup?

I would of been really mad at the Holiday Inn Express. Did you know before that you reserved a smoking room?

 

[hpfan100]

What would you do if you spent that $60 on churros all in the first day? Did you have any backup?

I would of been really mad at the Holiday Inn Express. Did you know before that you reserved a smoking room?

If I spent my $60 on churros then there was no backup. I had my credit cards and debit for emergency only. The hotel had free breakfast too so i could always nab extra stuff for snacks later.

I didn't reserve a smoking room. I reserved a standard room with king bed and non smoke. They claim that since it was a "standard room" that didn't mean I would get non smoke and king bed. I know there dumb policy now and don't plan to return to a holiday inn express anytime soon.
I'm more of a Hampton Inn kind of girl.

 

[skiingfast]

I I didn't reserve a smoking room. I reserved a standard room with king bed and non smoke. They claim that since it was a "standard room" that didn't mean I would get non smoke and king bed. I know there dumb policy now and don't plan to return to a holiday inn express anytime soon.
I'm more of a Hampton Inn kind of girl.

You know what is funny, my last stay at a Marriot they did the same thing to me. I thought it particularily funny the a hotel reservation didn't reserve anything.

When I say my last stay at a Marriot I mean it. This wasn't recent. I will never stay at one again.

 

[hpfan100]

You know what is funny, my last stay at a Marriot they did the same thing to me. I thought it particularily funny the a hotel reservation didn't reserve anything.

When I say my last stay at a Marriot I mean it. This wasn't recent. I will never stay at one again.

totally agree with that sentiment I have such good luck with the hilton family of hotels that I don't know why I even bother trying others.

 

[SKWDW]

I'm in!

I was inspired by your budget WDW trip planning last month, and did my own budget trip to DLR that same holiday weekend. It will be fun to see how you do on a budget at DLR.

Wow, you're a strong person hpfan100 to withstand a smoking room. I'd rather sleep on a couch in the lobby than put up with smoke. Ugh.

Hopefully you missed out on the rain. It poured during my latest trip last week. By pouring I mean three straight days of torrential rain with a side of thunder and lightning. At least the lines were short!

 

[ardenandjacksmom]

Can't wait to read how you did at the parks---I'm a Krazy Coupon Lady so whenever I read the words 'on a budget' I start doing a happy dance

The hotel/airfare deal was pretty impressive, would have been even better had they given you your non-smoking room. (I've been 'burned' on this before too, now I print out confirmation emails with all the fine print for just such occasions, I swear sometimes hotels really try to get away with nonsense!!) I'd say Skiingfast's Marriott experience had to be a WHILE back like he said since they've had 100% non-smoking rooms for a few years now LOL.

Lastly, I just want to say thanks for being a SPED teacher--my DS is on the spectrum, so I'm a fan!