Good Plan?

[simonkodousek]

I'm making a plan and budget for the next trip, and I want to check to see if it sounds good...

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Resort: Beach Club Resort, $240/night * 6 nights = $1,140
Flight: Midwest Airlines, $202.30/person * 4 people = $809.20
Rental Car: Alamo Rent-a-Car, $462.86
WDW Tickets: Park Hopper (7 Day), = $1,056.48
Dining (and snack) Cost Estimate: $50/person/day * 7 days = $1,400
Cirque de Soleil Lan Nouba: $76.50/person * 4 people = $306
Other Items: $15/person/day * 7 days = $420

Total Trip Cost: $5,594.54 (give or take)

~~~~~~~~~~

This is our vacation for about 3 years, so I don't want anything to go wrong.

Next, the park plans...

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Day 1 (Arrival) = Epcot
Day 2 = Epcot/Downtown Disney West Side, Cirque de Soleil
Day 3 = MGM Studios
Day 4 = Animal Kingdom
Day 5 = Universal or SeaWorld/MGM Studios & Fantasmic!
Day 6 = Magic Kingdom/Downtown Disney Marketplace
Day 7 = Magic Kingdom

The parks are in order of importance to us. Since the kids are getting older, and will be 15 and 12 on this trip, they can really understand Epcot and MGM.

~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, the dining...

I am trying to do 2 CS meals and 1 TS meal per day because of the budget. Some restaurants that are "must-do's" on our list are...

- Crystal Palace
- Biergarten
- Le Cellier
- Boma
- Whispering Canyon Cafe
- Kona Cafe
- Mama Melrose's
- Grand Floridian Cafe

~~~~~~~~~~

All of this is pretty sketchy right now, but I'm wondering if it is a good plan.

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

Your budget looks pretty good, but I have a couple of thoughts....

1. Your car rental rate sounds a little high, you can probably do better unless you're renting one of the higher end vehicles.
2. Your dining budget seems too low for three meals a day. Have you looked into the dining plan? $38.99 per person, per night gets you 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack per day. Likely to save a bit that way, even if you do some out of pocket dining. Check out the menus by clicking on the "dining" link at the top of this page to get a more precise idea of your food costs.
3. It looks like you won't be doing any park hopping, so paying for park hoppers is probably unnecessary. However, you may want to get the "water Park Fun & More" option, because it gets you into pleasure island, and into DisneyQuest (both in Downtown Disney).
4. I suggest you plan a specific souvenir budget--some amount per person. We did that, and also told the kids they'd be able to spend it on whatever they choose, but to keep in mind there would be no more money when it's gone.

It looks like you've got a good start planning--have a great time!!

 

[Elmo888]

$240 per night at Beach Club seems low, unless you are getting some great deal. Wdwinfo.net lists the nightly rate in value season for a standard at $315. And don't forget to add taxes for the resort (12.5 percent, according to wdwinfo.net).

Enjoy your trip!

 

[ihearttink]

$240 per night at Beach Club seems low, unless you are getting some great deal. Wdwinfo.net lists the nightly rate in value season for a standard at $315. And don't forget to add taxes for the resort (12.5 percent, according to wdwinfo.net).

Enjoy your trip!

On the mousesavers site room only code with Check-in dates: 7/29/07-9/29/07 has BC for $240.00. I think this came out yesterday.

 

[simonkodousek]

Your budget looks pretty good, but I have a couple of thoughts....

1. Your car rental rate sounds a little high, you can probably do better unless you're renting one of the higher end vehicles.
2. Your dining budget seems too low for three meals a day. Have you looked into the dining plan? $38.99 per person, per night gets you 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack per day. Likely to save a bit that way, even if you do some out of pocket dining. Check out the menus by clicking on the "dining" link at the top of this page to get a more precise idea of your food costs.
3. It looks like you won't be doing any park hopping, so paying for park hoppers is probably unnecessary. However, you may want to get the "water Park Fun & More" option, because it gets you into pleasure island, and into DisneyQuest (both in Downtown Disney).
4. I suggest you plan a specific souvenir budget--some amount per person. We did that, and also told the kids they'd be able to spend it on whatever they choose, but to keep in mind there would be no more money when it's gone.

It looks like you've got a good start planning--have a great time!!

1. Yes, I am renting one of the higher-end vehicles so the family fits comfortably. We will probably be doing a bit more touring around Orlando than just SeaWorld, so the car is necessary.

2. I was thinking of that also. I'll probably raise the budget to $60+. The Dining Plan sounds great, but it just doesn't work for our family.

3. Hmm... the Waterpark Fun & More sounds nice! Maybe I'll re-do some plans in order to fit Blizzard Beach and DisneyQuest in!

4. The souvenir budget sounds like a good idea! Thanks for the input!

Thanks,
Simon

 

[simonkodousek]

$240 per night at Beach Club seems low, unless you are getting some great deal. Wdwinfo.net lists the nightly rate in value season for a standard at $315. And don't forget to add taxes for the resort (12.5 percent, according to wdwinfo.net).

Enjoy your trip!

While I was looking at prices, I noticed this error. We would be going during a non-discount time, so $315/night sounds about right!

 

[simonkodousek]

On the mousesavers site room only code with Check-in dates: 7/29/07-9/29/07 has BC for $240.00. I think this came out yesterday.

Please see my above post!

 

[mommytobug]

Is budget ($) important to you? I mean are you on a tight budget? If so, you could consider renting points from a DVC member for the Beach Club. It is a TRUST matter. I own DVC and have been blessed to have "friends" that rent from me over and over. Just a suggestion.

 

[my_try]

Is budget ($) important to you? I mean are you on a tight budget? If so, you could consider renting points from a DVC member for the Beach Club. It is a TRUST matter. I own DVC and have been blessed to have "friends" that rent from me over and over. Just a suggestion.

You are absolutely right Mommytobug. When we went to the BC in Feb., we decided to stay in a "studio villa" and we rented points from a DVD member from this site. I had already booked our room through WDW for our 2/9/07 - 2/17/07 trip. When our reservations were switched over to points, my total went from $2,520.00 + tax to $1,550.00 (155 points @ $10 a point for 8 nights). The savings was amazing and it let us be able to splurge on other things while we were there.

Think about it!

Kathy

 

[toocooltobeMom]

Wow, your plan is not tight by all mean. I guess money is not part of this budget,

 

[simonkodousek]

You are absolutely right Mommytobug. When we went to the BC in Feb., we decided to stay in a "studio villa" and we rented points from a DVD member from this site. I had already booked our room through WDW for our 2/9/07 - 2/17/07 trip. When our reservations were switched over to points, my total went from $2,520.00 + tax to $1,550.00 (155 points @ $10 a point for 8 nights). The savings was amazing and it let us be able to splurge on other things while we were there.

Think about it!

Kathy

Hmm... this sounds like a good idea! I'll look into this!

 

[simonkodousek]

Wow, your plan is not tight by all mean. I guess money is not part of this budget,

Well, it is and it isn't. Since this is going to be our "big" vacation for 3 years, I'd like to make it nice, and by making it nice, you spend more and more money...

 

[simonkodousek]

2. Your dining budget seems too low for three meals a day. Have you looked into the dining plan? $38.99 per person, per night gets you 1 table service, 1 counter service, and 1 snack per day. Likely to save a bit that way, even if you do some out of pocket dining. Check out the menus by clicking on the "dining" link at the top of this page to get a more precise idea of your food costs.

I looked into this a bit more on the WDW Info website, and it looks excellent! Just the thing to make the trip easier!

 

[my_try]

Hmm... this sounds like a good idea! I'll look into this!

PM me if you need any advise. We were so pleasantly surprised at how easy "point rental" was.

Kathy