Family on TIGHT budget, HELP!

[ArwenMarie]

Not everyone spends a week in Disney. I know families who do one day! Jet Blue sometimes has kids free to Disneyland, but not necessarily WDW. I would start with a budget of 2-3 park days, with budget hotels.

You need to watch the airfares once you have savings built up. I flew from CA to Orlando for $140 last year, round trip.

Good tip! Short trips can still be super fun. There was a recent news story here where an airline took a group of special needs kids down for the day! (2 hour flight)

 

[maxiesmom]

Going on a very tight budget I would:

Stay at an All Star. They are a few bucks a night cheaper than the Pop.

Eat breakfast in the room. There are so many breakfast foods that don't need cooking equipment. Have granola bars or cereal or yogurt.

Pack sandwiches for lunch in the parks. You can bring any food you want into the parks, as long as nothing is in a glass container, and you do not bring in alcohol. In addition plastic lids and straws are not allowed in the Animal Kingdom. Pack lunches and bring in your own snacks. Bring in water bottles (and flavoring if you like) and use them for drinks.

If you decide to buy a counter service meal, always buy less than you think you need. Some of the meals are huge! You don't want to be tossing food (and money) away.

 

[ssommerville]

Disney is doable on a limited budget. I'm a single mom of four, 3 of them are considered adults at Disney, and my weekly pay is roughly the same as OP- I don't have excessive bills though. I've managed to take my kids every year since 2008- we stay 11 days at a moderate resort with 8 day basic tickets and free dining, usually for around $3500. It's a stretch for us, but we all love it and we cutback as much as we can to keep going. We don't fly and we always take things for breakfast in our room. I book our trips as far in advance as possible- even before discounts are announced- and make payments every time I get paid. It's worth the budgeting and cutbacks for that week and a half of Disney magic every year.

 

[disykat]

If you are a three day drive from WDW, would DL be a better fit for your family?

 

[LovesTimone]

I was a single mom for quite a while. I took my DD to Disney quite a bit and stayed on site. There are lots of ways to start saving for your dream trip.

Create a Disney savings account - separate from your "real" account.

Garage sale is one of the quickest way to earn some Disney money. Also selling on eBay, kids clothing, toys, and adult clothes in good condition sell well. Consignment shops are also another good way to earn some extra cash.

Swap out child care with your friends, this can save you a bundle. When my DD was little I had a group of friends that we would help each other out on baby sitting. So if we had a date, working late, weekend jobs, instead of shelling out 50 + dollars for a babysitter we would watch each other children. You can bank that money, for Disney.

Also check out what before and after school care would cost you at the school were your son goes. I saved over 100.00 a month with early drop of and after school program. Instead of using the day care to do this for me.

Have a girls night cocktails and clothing swap - This is a fun way to spend the evening, have everyone bring a few items in their closets, clothing, scarves, jewelry, purse's ect... then put all together then let everyone take turns choosing something new. This saves on buying new clothes and accessories.

Couponing is a great way to save on your grocery bill, it takes some time but you have a 5 year old that can help you cut them out, this makes it a family activity, while teaching him about money and budgeting. Groupon, Amazon local is another great way to save money, for you to get your hair done, oil changes, and other things for around the house.

I am not sure but is a part-time job on the weekend something that you could do? Watching a neighbors child, dog walking, maybe waitressing at a local place tips are easy to save. I had a second job when it was just DD and me, I worked banquets and events for catering company and at a resort. The money was really good. Flat rate for the evening was anywhere between 100.00 to 250.00 dollars, plus tips.. depending on the event and size, I started bartending at these events, and I would walk away with around 500.00 dollars not bad for 1 nights work. I also got some private events from the catering service in people's home for Christmas parties, family gathering, or work related events. That money was always really good.

For Christmas and birthdays you can ask for Disney gift cards, so that you don't spend them on something else.

Save your change, this you can get the kids to help with.

I would stay on site that what the magic is all about, especially for your 1st trip. Try to go when there is a good promotion, free dinning, you might want to think about staying at a moderate during this promotion that way you can have character meals, which is something that was important for us. When staying at a value during free dinning, you get the quick serve plan. You can upgrade but there is another cost... Always run the number then re-run them.

I would go for the package, this way you have paid for everything up front, and don't have to worry about shelling out once there for stuff, except.. souvenir's, and tips.

Shop airline fares - my friends just got a great deal, they bought 1 way to Orlando on one airline 99 dollars, then one way back on another 129.00. Round trip was going to cost them 329.00 per person. so over 100.00 per person.

Create a Disney box, for you to put items in for your trip, have the kids help you decorate it. Keep it where you can see it. This will help you stay focused!!!

Good Luck you can do it.......

 

[ronandannette]

Disney is doable on a limited budget. I'm a single mom of four, 3 of them are considered adults at Disney, and my weekly pay is roughly the same as OP- I don't have excessive bills though. I've managed to take my kids every year since 2008- we stay 11 days at a moderate resort with 8 day basic tickets and free dining, usually for around $3500. It's a stretch for us, but we all love it and we cutback as much as we can to keep going. We don't fly and we always take things for breakfast in our room. I book our trips as far in advance as possible- even before discounts are announced- and make payments every time I get paid. It's worth the budgeting and cutbacks for that week and a half of Disney magic every year.

I have no words.... Happy Mother's Day!

 

[kymom99]

I don't know how old you are, but if you have any old jewelry you can sell the gold stuff. At my age I had accumulated a lot of stuff I never wore anymore, things that were broken, and things given to me by old boyfriends, etc. I finally sorted through all of it and sold it last summer. Money was tight and my son's tuition increases so I needed some cash to buy school necessities. Do that and put the money aside. You could also ask your mom if she wants to donate some stuff to your cause!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

My point is that no one knows how she allots her $350/week income. To tell her that she cannot afford it without knowing that information means that you're assuming a lot. But there's no sense in planning a vacation when you have no idea what you can even afford to spend on it.

I can dream about going to Europe and staying in 5-star hotels in all of the capital cites, but if I don't have a plan for paying for it, then all of the advice on how to do it for the least amount of money does me no good.

You don't have to know much to realize that $18000 a year is a pretty low income to afford Disney hotels.


And three day tickets, no park hopping etc are going to take almost 3 weeks of her pay


Personally this looks like a long shot to me

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You don't have to know much to realize that $18000 a year is a pretty low income to afford Disney hotels.


And three day tickets, no park hopping etc are going to take almost 3 weeks of her pay


Personally this looks like a long shot to me

OP may have received a paid off home in the divorce settlement and also have generous child support from the ex. Or, she could be scraping by to pay rent & have a deadbeat dad who doesn't pay. So, really difficult to say definitively, even if common sense says it's not likely doable without an improvement in income.

 

[MommaPeel]

A determined mother planning a trip 3-4 years out can accomplish anything.

Just because she lives off $350 a week now doesn't mean she will be living off that in 3-4 years.

Disney is expensive, but with proper prior planning you can do it.

How long do you intend to visit? Need length of stay for ticket purchases, hotel stays and estimated food costs.

As some of the previous posters have mentioned, you can stay offsite much cheaper, I've seen rooms at $19-29 per night. And if you stay off property you would likely need a vehicle (more $$). However, the magic on property cannot be beat for a once in a lifetime trip.

With wanting to go before your oldest turns 9 I would opt out of the free dining, you will likely save more if you can get the room discount and pay for food out of pocket.

If you were to go during value season, for 4 nights days:
All Star room 4 nights = $400 (less if you can score a dicsount code then 20% off All Stars)
Tickets: (at regular price)
2 Child 4 day one park tickets = $548
1 Adult 4 day one park ticket = $294

Total so far $1122

I would add about $600 for food ($150 a day, budget board has how to eat under $40 per day FYI) and airfare estimate without knowing from where $900 for 3 tickets

Total would be $2722 for 4 days flying

I would get on the disney website soon and check "today's" discounts and options to get a ball park for the current discounts. All Star resorts are down to $78.40 a night before tax so that is $15 a night off my quote above. Also, look at the dining plan option difference as well.

I wish you luck.

 

[amyy]

I haven't read all the tips but I am sure there are a lot of great ones. Let grandparents, aunts/uncles know what you are planning and little gift cards on holidays & birthdays can add to enough to cover snacks and maybe some toys etc. I like the idea of just a 4 day ticket even if you can stay longer. Hanging out at the resort etc can easily keep you busy for a day or two.

I would let your friends know you are planning. They probably know you are on a tight budget and they might have a Time Share in the area they don't use. I have a few coworkers who never use theirs. They "rent' them out for almost nothing. We just lost 3+ nights at DVC because we didn't use it. Bonnet Creek is close to Disney and we have stayed there at a 2 bedroom for $500 for the week. It was last minute deal. Part of the magic is staying on Disney but you can make your own magic off Disney too. Happy planning!!

 

[robinb]

I just wanted to add a couple of older trip reports from people who did WDW very cheaply.

Here are two by TNKBELL:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=824539
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1618376
She spent about $200 per day about 7 years ago for s family of 7.

One of the things to consider as you read everyone's advise is that YOUR trip will be magical even if you don't spend a lot of money or stay onsite. Many people stay offsite and pack in lunch and have dinner back at their condo. One thing that TNKBELL did was include her weekly grocery budget into her vacation budget since she wasn't spending it at home.

I too think that $18,000 a year is a difficult salary to raise 2 kids on and even more difficult to plan an WDW vacation on. You probably can do it if you have enough time to save and have the ability to leave that savings alone. Saving is the easy part, not using your vacation stash for emergencies is much harder.

 

[sheetz]

If you have a Megabus stop near you, you can buy advance tickets for as low as $1 each. You'd still need transportation to the hotel from the Orlando stop but I imagine it'd still be a lot cheaper than airplane tickets for 3.

 

[Minnesota!]

Anything is possible, especially for a determined mom!

I am fiscally pretty conservative, and I always like to save up for a trip before it happens. So, I would start to squirrel away every penny you can, and once you get to about $2000, start looking at your options.

I would say absolutely no to the dining plan. I did it once, and it was such a waste. The second visit we didn't do the dining plan, still enjoyed many sit down meals and character meals, and still saved money rather than paying for the dining plan. Free dining at a value might be worthwhile, but I wouldn't pay for the dining plan.

Also, pack breakfast and lunch in your suitcase. We ate cold cereal for breakfast every morning. I simply packed 2 boxes of cereal in my suitcase and bought a 1/2 gallon of milk at the resort store. We also enjoyed homemade cookies and pretzels and cheese and crackers for snacks. I packed my own box of wine, and DH packed his rum and bought 2L sodas at the resort store. Although when I travel alone with my kids, I never drink, so that might be a useless detail for you. I would also suggest, since you're on a budget, to pack lunch food as well. PBJ sandwiches in the parks, or nutella crepes for a treat (am I the only person who thinks crepes are a travel food? LOL). There is a microwave in most food courts. I would def. pack some meatballs and sausage for dinner one night on rolls, add that to a bag of salad that you put in your suitcase and yum!

I agree that driving would be horrible. But, what about taking a train to a cheaper airport? If you live anywhere that flies direct to Orlando, watch the flights, I've been reliably able to pay about $180pp round trip when I buy tickets from Jetblue when they first open a new "window" of dates.

Or, drive, but go camping along the way. That is how my parents got our family of 9 to across the country for my Nana and Grampy's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. There was no way we could have afforded flights, but, we made a huge family trip of it. Tent camped overnights and grocery shopped along the way. Even if you don't have a tent, many campgrounds have cabins for rent that are cheaper than hotels.

But, most importantly, don't cause yourself stress or hardship by taking a trip you can't afford. Living in fear of not paying your bills is awful, and makes for a stressed out mommy. I'm certain that, while your kids wish to go to Disney World, they also wish for their mom to have the peace of mind that comes with financial security. I never took a week's vacation staying at a hotel with a pool at an amusement park while I was growing up, and you know what, I had a great childhood. And I also learned the importance of living within my means.

Please tell me you are kidding about the bolded. That is horrifying.

OP - it can be done. You just need to look at all the options. Plasma, selling off jewelry, old books, etc. Cut corners wherever you can..

 

[Lintasare]

Please tell me you are kidding about the bolded. That is horrifying.

OP - it can be done. You just need to look at all the options. Plasma, selling off jewelry, old books, etc. Cut corners wherever you can..

I am glad I am not the only one who noticed that. Packing perishable items in checked luggage. Not only won't it stay cold but a bagged salad would be green goo by the time they got to the resort.

"Hey kids did you get any fun souvenirs from Disney World" "Yeah we got food poisoning from meat packed in our luggage."

 

[Marionnette]

You don't have to know much to realize that $18000 a year is a pretty low income to afford Disney hotels.


And three day tickets, no park hopping etc are going to take almost 3 weeks of her pay


Personally this looks like a long shot to me

In general, I agree with you. However, we don't know the specifics of the OP's situation. A lot of people have made assumptions and it appears that the OP has no interest in providing additional information. She has not been back since making her first post.

But if she is bringing home $350/week, she is actually making closer to $25K annually. It's still not a huge amount of money but it's also not as little as you make it sound. She would also qualify for tax credits that would refund more to her in Federal Income Tax than she gets taken out of her weekly paycheck. It's not something that I, personally, have to be happy about but she could certainly use those tax credits any way that she wants, including a trip to Disney World.

 

[havaneselover]

$350x52 = $18,200. Not sure where the $25 k figure comes from.

 

[supersnoop]

$350x52 = $18,200. Not sure where the $25 k figure comes from.

I guess it depends if $350 is gross or net take home.

 

[Happyjen27]

Nope, totally not kidding.

My flight is direct and only 3 hours. I've never actually flown with frozen food, but, I have flown with frozen with breast milk, which, to me, was more precious.

After 6 hours of flying time with one layover, that breast milk, which was packed appropriately, was still frozen and usable. Given that, in general, the physics of freezing, thawing and altitude are applied equally to many substrates, I can only guess that frozen meatballs and sausage would also make it to its destination still frozen.

Obviously if, upon arrival, the food was at room temperature, it wouldn't be eaten, I suppose that seems clear to me, but not clear to the another person, I always forget there is a vast population on the DIS.

I've never flown with a bag of salad, so maybe you're right. Since I've eaten salads on planes before during meal service, I didn't realize that bad things happen to lettuce in the air, but, maybe it does in baggage hold?

So, thanks for the mocking. Just when I start to feel comfortable on the DIS, someone always reminds me that while these message boards might be about the happiest place on earth, they, themselves, are not.

 

[Marionnette]

$350x52 = $18,200. Not sure where the $25 k figure comes from.

If her net is $350/week, she is grossing closer to $25K (approx. 21% in federal taxes -income tax, medicare, social security - and another 4%-5% in local and state taxes - per capita taxes, state income tax and state unemployment insurance).