Do you really add everything up?

[JENOS]

So I started my spread sheet of what I need to buy for our trip (June/2011).
And was shocked at what this trip is going to cost. When my wife asked me for a ballpark I said about 4k, and now that I added everything is looks like it will be more like 6k.
So my question is how much is your trip going to cost you in its entirety?
Other than the usual 3 categories (tickets, lodging, and food) do you factor in all the new equipment you will buy for your trip (camereas, strollers, new clothes, souvenirs, car equipment…ECT?)

 

[Darcy03231]

I do. My categories are:

Transportation (including airfare, taxi/shuttle/rental car and related tips)
Lodging (hotels, rental house)
Food (including any grocery store trips, snacks and tips)
Park tickets
Other entertainment (such as Cirque, Blue Man Group, mini golf, etc.)
Souvenirs
Photos
Trading pins
Misc. (because I always ended having to buy something that doesn't fit in the other categories, i.e. suntan lotion we forgot, otc medicine that we forgot, post cards, stamps, etc.)

I also add in anything we need to buy before we leave, but only if it relates solely to the trip, such as matching t-shirts. I don't get new camera for each trip. Last time I took my niece and she needed a stroller I just used the one they had, I didn't buy a new one. We usually go in April and I buy the kids new clothes, but then they use them for their spring/summer clothes which I would have had to buy anyway.

 

[Nette]

Don't forget parking your car at your home airport and pet sitting.

And yes, we do add it all up. How else would we know how much to save?

 

[tink_lover]

Why buy new stuff? We have always brought our old stroller, camera, clothing, etc. No need to purchase new if you already own it and it is working. Want vs. need.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

We do a general budget with the main catagories of transportation, tickets, hotel and food. Then we have sub catagories that include souvies, tickets to the halloween party.

When we get back we have a lot of fun adding up all of our receipts to see how close we got to the original budget.

We pay with cash only so we have to have a pretty good idea of what we are going to spend.

Since we are WDW vets it is pretty easy for us to know what we are going to be spending.

 

[vroomagain]

We bought a GPS(didn't have one), 2 umbrella strollers(had a big bulky double stroller that allowed the kids to beat each other up), a DVD player for the car(also had none) and camera(ours was old and needed a replacing anyway). I did not factor those into the overall cost mainly bc we bought them over time and also bc we continue to use them.

 

[JENOS]

I don’t buy a camera every trip but decided to since DD is graduating 8th grade in June/2011 and I really want to take some good pictures. Our DSLR is about 8 years old and a bit worn. Newer ones also have HD video so I won’t have to worry about carrying two devises.
It seems to me that usually most people underestimate the cost of vacation. I don’t understand how some families can vacation at Disney for less than 1k; that what is costing me for just the tickets.
I still remember last time we went, hearing a mother screaming at her child about not buying anything since this *ucken place cost so much money. I told my wife, what the point in coming is if you’re not going to make it special for your kids. We are a two year vacation type of family, but when we go the smiles justify the price.

 

[wdwfan16]

So I started my spread sheet of what I need to buy for our trip (June/2011).
And was shocked at what this trip is going to cost. When my wife asked me for a ballpark I said about 4k, and now that I added everything is looks like it will be more like 6k.
So my question is how much is your trip going to cost you in its entirety?
Other than the usual 3 categories (tickets, lodging, and food) do you factor in all the new equipment you will buy for your trip (camereas, strollers, new clothes, souvenirs, car equipment…ECT?)

Cameras - No, since I am not buying for the trip and throwing it away when I leave.

Strollers - No, same reason as the camera. I would not only buy it for the trip. The kids would walk and we would take breaks.

New clothes - Depends but most likely no. If my trip is in May then no, since I would use the clothes that summer and would have needed them too. If I bought new clothes at the start of the summer that no longer fit the kids then yes, since the trip is after summer time but too soon to be sure the clothes will still fit at the end of the summer.

Souvenirs - Yes

Car repairs - No, since the car just happened to need repairs.

Car equipment (DVD player, GPS or the like) - No, same as camera.

 

[sk!mom]

So I started my spread sheet of what I need to buy for our trip (June/2011).
And was shocked at what this trip is going to cost. When my wife asked me for a ballpark I said about 4k, and now that I added everything is looks like it will be more like 6k.
So my question is how much is your trip going to cost you in its entirety?
Other than the usual 3 categories (tickets, lodging, and food) do you factor in all the new equipment you will buy for your trip (camereas, strollers, new clothes, souvenirs, car equipment…ECT?)

My DH is an accountant so while I may try and use "Disney math" eventually reality will hit me in the face when he shows me the totals.

As far as counting all the little things, we don't buy much. We don't buy new clothes for vacation unless we need them anyway so we don't consider them a vacay expense. We just take the cameras that we already have and no longer have babies. We fly so no car expenses unless we rent a car and then yes, it would be counted. Souvenirs would be counted, if we buy any but we normally don't buy much. We're not really shoppers even on vacation.

 

[DawnM]

Well, it depends on so many things.....driving vs. flying, staying on site vs. off site, which tickets you get, what food you choose to eat.....and on and on.

We spend far less, but I know that many have no desire to do Disney the way we do.

But here is how I break it down:

Tickets/Passes
Gas for the entire trip
Food for the entire trip
Dog Sitting
Parking if needed


I do not have a category for camera or clothing because we don't buy anything new for these categories.

Dawn

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Funny you mention this... I realized today I didn't budget for parking at the airport for my super budget trip in September. $95 bucks is my cheapest option to park in Boston for 8 days! Argh!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I add everything up but we make major purchases (camera's etc) seperate. It's not like we would buy a good camera and say the whole cost is included in the trip..

We always buy new undies, socks, and sneakers for our trips. I include it in the trip budget. Not sure why, we would need them anyways, but it is how it just seems to work out. Only new clothes we buy are if they are really needed.

So we have in our vacation budget:

Trip Cost (this includes any extra's like MNSSHP - I lump it all together)
Air Fare
Pre-trip costs which include sneakers etc, throw away toothbrushes etc
Tips
Extra's (this is any additional food, souveniers etc)
Photopass

It really does add up.

 

[bumbershoot]

And yes, we do add it all up. How else would we know how much to save?

So true!

...do you factor in all the new equipment you will buy for your trip (camereas, strollers, new clothes, souvenirs, car equipment…ECT?)

Well, if you're buying things that are useful at home as well, like cameras and GPS etc, then those things should be coming from a separate budget. So I wouldn't include those in my trip budget, even though the trip is what caused the thought.

For us, strollers were pretty much used only for Disney, so those were Disney line items.

But souvenirs have to be put into the trip budget...unless someone NEEDS a new jacket or sweatshirt or pair of gloves *anyway*, and they'll use Disney themed items at home...then you can fudge where that comes from in the budget. Clothing vs actual souvenirs.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

My husband adds everything up. I've never thought of adding in new clothing purchases or film developing. Lighter weight, quick drying shorts have been purchased for this trip. The items added up included : parking at the airport, tips, food, souvenirs, airfare, rental car, groceries, room/ticket package.

 

[ethanash1]

I include the major categories like most people: Lodging, Food, transportation, etc. But I also include the smaller stuff. Supplies that I need for the trip such as sunscreen, first aid kit, ziplocs, etc. And I ALWAYS over estimate. I keep about $500-$1000 "cushion" in the bank just in case. I know it sounds like alot, but there have already been times when I have needed to dip into it because of something that I forgot about, or something that has come up unexpectedly.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I pulled my latest list.

We add up:

Transportation (gas for car or airline tickets) not repairs though since those would need to be done regardless.

Food: We don't do any DDP's. We guessitmate the TS costs using menus on allears.net and add an extra 100.00 per day for QS meals/alcohol/water/snacks. If the weathers really hot I up that to 120.00 per day because of the extra water we drink. We only do 2 or 3 TS meals per trip.

Pet Sitting

Parking Costs

Souveniers: 100.00 per day estimated. Most times we have money leftover.

Resort cost/Ticket cost

Disney extras: stuff that's only used at Disney like Body Glide or moleskin, travel size laundry detergent, roll of quarters.

We don't buy new clothes/shoes/equipment just for the trip.
We always have sunscreen/bug spray at home since we live in the south. We just use the free shampoo/conditioner and bring everything else from our home stash so those aren't added in.

And that's it.

 

[ccgirl]

Wow!!! $6,000?? If you don't mind - would you share how many are in your party and where you are staying along with when you are going? My friend spend that but they were also staying club level at Beach Club in a studio. It also fascinates me how Disney vacations can really run a wide range.

I see what you say about wanting to give your children what they want and make it special but some people just don't have the $$$. Even if they waited. Granted, I could NEVER imagine saying somethign like that to my children but for some it is a reality.

 

[Taja]

I usually budget for the following:

Airfare
Lodging
Tickets
Food & Beverages (includes in transit costs)
Ground Transportation (parking, shuttle, rental car, fuel, tolls, etc.)
Shopping (minimal--I'm not a shopper, but sometimes I buy something small)
Unexpected Expense (usually allocate $100 to $200, depending on length of trip)

Beyond that, I usually don't have additional expenses. I don't purchase new anything--unless my sneakers are dying a natural death and need to replaced! *LOL* Clothing, toiletries, laundry detergent (yes, do laundry on most WDW visits), snacks for the outbound flight are from current supplies. I might purchase a new paperback book or two, but that is from "entertainment" in my regular budget.

Technically, I probably should consider things such as extra batteries, but they come out of the household budget. I use more at WDW than I would at home, but I buy certain things in bulk, so I don't separate the costs.

I've only had an unexpected expense twice. I left my camera on the breakfast room table! I drove to Target in Orlando and purchased a fairly inexpensive on on sale that I now allow others to use! It actually takes pretty decent photos! The second time (different trip) I lost my sunglasses (first time that ever happened!) and had to buy a pair at WDW. I think the camera was about $30 and the sunglasses about $20.

 

[Ava]

I'm currently saving for our May 2011 trip. Nothing is booked yet, but we're looking at 7 nights at POP. Budget I have so far is:

Flights: $600
Park Tickets: $600
Room: $900

I still need to figure out food & souvenirs. We're not big souvenir people, but DD will be 2 when we go & I'm sure we'll want to buy her some things.

How much would you budget for food for 2 adults & a 2-year-old for 8 days? No rental car, so all on-site meals.

 

[JENOS]

Wow!!! $6,000?? If you don't mind - would you share how many are in your party and where you are staying along with when you are going? My friend spend that but they were also staying club level at Beach Club in a studio. It also fascinates me how Disney vacations can really run a wide range.

I see what you say about wanting to give your children what they want and make it special but some people just don't have the $$$. Even if they waited. Granted, I could NEVER imagine saying somethign like that to my children but for some it is a reality.

Six people total (only paying tickets for four of them since the 2 younger ones are under 3)

Renting a pool house
Going in June

Now I must say in all honestly 2k will be for a new DSLR , a new high speed/ high capacity memory card and roof top carrier that I need to buy for our car. I know that is not officially required for Disney for still needed for the trip and part of our overall expense.