Have kids? Need budget help!

[sunshinehighway]

I was looking at doing a quick, cheap trip last year and found Last Minute Travel. They had great rates for the Hilton in DTD. I think it was $84/nt. That was a regular hotel room though. I didn't end up booking through them so I can't recommend them. I actually found the site through a few threads here. If you do a search you can probably find some reviews from people who have actually used them and the tricks for finding out the name of the hotel before you book. The Hilton in DTD participates in EMH.
Many of the DTD hotels also have bus service to the parks. I've read its pretty reliable, but again I haven't actually stayed at one.

 

[Beemitchcowski]

Yes, I've definitely been looking at Bonnet Creek - it just seems like all the prices I find are similar to Disney prices, and then you lose the EMHs (of which there really aren't too many I'd want to do in that time frame). Also, when I've looked at other sites, I don't know who's reputable! Or, how to only get a 5 day stay when everyone is selling 7! I'm still looking.

Yeah..That will add some extra costs...Bonnet Creek adds a "guest confirmation fee" for less than 7 days and most Home rentals (Windsor Hills add a $75+ cleaning fee for most rentals)

Would you consider a home rental? If so..you might be able to find a renter that has a "hole" in their calendar/not a complete week available...and sometimes that have some great deals! When are you thinking of going?

 

[torinsmom]

We stayed in a 3 bedroom condo at Emerald Island in 2010 and are staying here again in July. EI is a gated community, 10-15 minutes away from all the parks and this unit is very close to the clubhouse/pool. It was only $500 for the week and two of the bedrooms had twin bedrooms(perfect for the kids)

http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/vacation-rentals/Kissimmee-Florida-vacation-rental-townhouse-proID-42665.html

You will have to buy a YES ticket for yourself, but everyone does not have to have the same ticket. You could buy a one day ticket for yourself You also want to act fast on YES tickets. Some dates have already sold out. Sorry to say that looking at the site, all the classes that all 3 kids could go to are filled. There is one for 8-11 year olds on August 15th, so maybe you could fudge on the oldest's age or call and ask if it's okay for him to be a little older? Either way, you need to act quickly.

We save money by eating breakfast and sometimes lunch at our condo. It's so hot in summer that a break is a good idea anyway, so we just eat lunch/rest/swim until 5 or 6 when things start to cool off somewhat. We also bring in a few snacks like fruit snacks, granola bars and peanut butter crackers to snack on. We bring flavor packs like Crystal Light and ask for free ice water at CS or kiosks. You can also buy kids meals for everyone at CS places or buy items individually instead of the listed combos to save money.

For souvenirs, I have always given my son a set budget. Once it's gone, it's gone. I encourage him to "window shop" and take pictures of things he likes and then decide what he wants later in the trip.If any of the kids have birthdays between now and the trip, they can also let people know they would love Disney gift cards as presents.

It's so great that you're doing this. I tried for years to take my nephews with us, but my sister and BIL would not let them go. Luckily, they have been a few times with the whole family. I am taking classes to become a foster parent and one of the things I'm looking most forward to is taking them to Disney.

 

[erinmomof2]

I second using Skyauction.com. You do not have to stay the full week to get that rate. We've used them several times and have always been pleased. Our favorite place when we can get it is Summer Bay. I've seen Bonnet Creek on there often too, but we haven't stayed there yet.

Another place to check is ebay. 2 years ago we stayed at Holiday Inn Orange Lake Resort for about 500 for the week. That was for a 2 bedroom villa and the kids LOVED the waterpark there.

 

[HeatherC]

We are staying at Bonnet Creek in April. I rented a three bedroom for $110 a night including all taxes from 5starresorts. I believe the two bedroom was $99 a night. That would be less than an onsite hotel I would think.

Hope this helps! Have fun planning!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Personally since you are the only adult I would try to stay onsite and utilize the Magical express. Then you wouldn't have to worry about lugging around luggage and navigating three children through the car rental. Can you rent through Enterprise? They may even bring the car to you hotel (not sure about this).

I'd definitely feel better with a car, in case we need to run to Walgreens or visit an urgent care. It would be our first big vacation together so I'd have a little nervousness and would want to have a car! But, I know through my CC points that I have to get the car from the airport; they only rent that way.

I was looking at doing a quick, cheap trip last year and found Last Minute Travel. They had great rates for the Hilton in DTD. I think it was $84/nt. That was a regular hotel room though. I didn't end up booking through them so I can't recommend them. I actually found the site through a few threads here. If you do a search you can probably find some reviews from people who have actually used them and the tricks for finding out the name of the hotel before you book. The Hilton in DTD participates in EMH.

That's good to know that the Hilton gets EMH. Where exactly do you find out which hotels are DTD hotels? Is it by address, or is it named something special when you do a search on Orbitz or Travelocity or...??

Bonnet Creek adds a "guest confirmation fee" for less than 7 days and most Home rentals (Windsor Hills add a $75+ cleaning fee for most rentals)

Would you consider a home rental? If so..you might be able to find a renter that has a "hole" in their calendar/not a complete week available...and sometimes that have some great deals! When are you thinking of going?

I'm not sure about the whole "home rental" thing - it concerns me that a big house may not be properly cleaned after every guest. You have more of a chance of a clean place with a hotel room, I think! I'm not against it yet, though. More research must be done.

We stayed in a 3 bedroom condo at Emerald Island in 2010 and are staying here again in July. EI is a gated community, 10-15 minutes away from all the parks and this unit is very close to the clubhouse/pool. It was only $500 for the week and two of the bedrooms had twin bedrooms(perfect for the kids)

http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/vacation-rentals/Kissimmee-Florida-vacation-rental-townhouse-proID-42665.html

For souvenirs, I have always given my son a set budget. Once it's gone, it's gone. I encourage him to "window shop" and take pictures of things he likes and then decide what he wants later in the trip.If any of the kids have birthdays between now and the trip, they can also let people know they would love Disney gift cards as presents.

Thanks for the info; I'll look into Emerald Isle. I figured that if the kids are really going to go to Disney for the first time, there will be a lot of grandparents who want to give a little money to them to spend. They'll have more than enough for a few souvenirs! Both of the boys have birthdays in late summer, but the girl just had a birthday. And regardless, I'll get them something too! I thought I'd encourage them to either take a photo (like you said) or write it down (I'll carry a small notebook anyway, so they could use that).

I second using Skyauction.com. You do not have to stay the full week to get that rate. We've used them several times and have always been pleased. Our favorite place when we can get it is Summer Bay. I've seen Bonnet Creek on there often too, but we haven't stayed there yet.

Another place to check is ebay. 2 years ago we stayed at Holiday Inn Orange Lake Resort for about 500 for the week. That was for a 2 bedroom villa and the kids LOVED the waterpark there.

Now, on skyauction.com I saw that they say you have to arrive on a certain date. I wouldn't be arriving then; would that matter? For example, if it says you have to arrive on a Saturday but we don't show until Monday, will we be SOL?

Also, are these refundable? If I tried to jump the gun and grab those prices but then we weren't able to go, could it be refunded? I'll have to go look at the fine print!

We are staying at Bonnet Creek in April. I rented a three bedroom for $110 a night including all taxes from 5starresorts. I believe the two bedroom was $99 a night. That would be less than an onsite hotel I would think.

Wow, it would be nice to get it for that cheap.

It would be nice if the planning were a little easier! I wish it wasn't so mind-numbing to try and get a good deal. I had a great, quick trip in January and trying to figure out a budget summer trip is the complete opposite of that experience!!

 

[kvnchapman]

Google Vacation Upgrades (Ken and Denise) and Vacation Strategies (Humaira). These are companies that rent excess points for Wyndham owners, and they both offer excellent customer service and good rates. I have personally used both.
We had a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom deluxe in Nov 2011 for $675 (7 days) and we are doing 1 week in a 4 bedroom/4 bathroom presidential (with family) for $1175 in 2012.
Great space, great pools and amenities, free shuttle service (good as long as you don't need to transport to/fromthe parks between 12:30 and 3pm, as they take a midday break).
The full kitchen will save mucho dinero.
Use a touring plan and make rope drop to maximze your time actually enjoying attractions and you won't even notice the lost EMHs.
Good luck!!

 

[TinkTock]

I'd definitely feel better with a car, in case we need to run to Walgreens or visit an urgent care. It would be our first big vacation together so I'd have a little nervousness and would want to have a car! But, I know through my CC points that I have to get the car from the airport; they only rent that way.

I think you're better off relying on a cab if you have some kind of non-emergency medical need. Most likely you won't need it at all, and 1 or 2 round trip cab rides for medication would probably be cheaper than a car rental for the whole trip. Of course, if it's an emergency, you'd be calling an ambulance anyway.

I'll add my voice to those who think it's great that you're taking them!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Google Vacation Upgrades (Ken and Denise) and Vacation Strategies (Humaira). These are companies that rent excess points for Wyndham owners, and they both offer excellent customer service and good rates. I have personally used both.
We had a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom deluxe in Nov 2011 for $675 (7 days) and we are doing 1 week in a 4 bedroom/4 bathroom presidential (with family) for $1175 in 2012.
Great space, great pools and amenities, free shuttle service (good as long as you don't need to transport to/fromthe parks between 12:30 and 3pm, as they take a midday break).
The full kitchen will save mucho dinero.
Use a touring plan and make rope drop to maximze your time actually enjoying attractions and you won't even notice the lost EMHs.
Good luck!!

I did contact both Humaira and Ken as of yesterday, thanks to the comments here and elsewhere on the Orlando resorts board. I heard back from Humaira, but I haven't heard from Ken yet.

They have both 1 and 2 bedrooms available; we'll be four people. Would 1 bedroom be ok? My neice and I would sleep in the master bedroom, and then the boys could take over the living room. It would be less expensive than the 2 bedroom, and still more room than we would have had somewhere like Pop. Trying to figure out the sizes.

I think you're better off relying on a cab if you have some kind of non-emergency medical need. Most likely you won't need it at all, and 1 or 2 round trip cab rides for medication would probably be cheaper than a car rental for the whole trip. Of course, if it's an emergency, you'd be calling an ambulance anyway.

I'll add my voice to those who think it's great that you're taking them!

Thanks for the tip, but the rental car is free. And if I relied on a cab, then I'd need a cab to and from the airport as well, which would end up being more money than paying for gas for the week I think.

I'm starting to get a bit worried that I won't be able to make this work. Every time I move one thing in the budget, something else gets bigger. I'm trying to find a way to get this down to $2,200 but I'm stalling right at $2,400. I'd want to have a bigger emergency cushion, and I can't come home to having no money after the trip is over, so I need to contract my budget severely! Maybe a stay at Pop IS in our future; even with the fridge, if I got a regular discount price for having the AP it would be less than $500. That's a big IF.

 

[Rienchen]

I'm starting to get a bit worried that I won't be able to make this work. Every time I move one thing in the budget, something else gets bigger. I'm trying to find a way to get this down to $2,200 but I'm stalling right at $2,400. I'd want to have a bigger emergency cushion, and I can't come home to having no money after the trip is over, so I need to contract my budget severely! Maybe a stay at Pop IS in our future; even with the fridge, if I got a regular discount price for having the AP it would be less than $500. That's a big IF.

I do hope you can make this work!

Someone mentioned that YES tickets may not be available for the dates you're looking at, did you double check this?

 

[ZehnJahren]

I do hope you can make this work!

Someone mentioned that YES tickets may not be available for the dates you're looking at, did you double check this?

We're still good - it's still open. If not, the cost of 2 adult and 1 child ticket on UT is $740 (no hoppers). One of the things that juggles in my budget. It's hard when I have very little information - we don't even know where the kids will be in school in August since they're moving, so we don't know the dates they can go yet. I was hoping to get as far into the summer as humanly possible, just in the hopes of just a little less crowds. That might not be possible!

 

[torinsmom]

We're still good - it's still open. If not, the cost of 2 adult and 1 child ticket on UT is $740 (no hoppers). One of the things that juggles in my budget. It's hard when I have very little information - we don't even know where the kids will be in school in August since they're moving, so we don't know the dates they can go yet. I was hoping to get as far into the summer as humanly possible, just in the hopes of just a little less crowds. That might not be possible!

My experience is that June is less busy than July and July is less busy than August. It's only if you get into late August that crowds die down, and most schools have started back by then.

Could you do something right after school's out? That way, you would know what dates are possible. Looks like a whole slew of classes are open June 20th and onwards into July. One thing you have to worry about, since you are one adult with three kids is that you will need 3 spots in one class. If something is open, it could only have one spot.

 

[ZehnJahren]

My experience is that June is less busy than July and July is less busy than August. It's only if you get into late August that crowds die down, and most schools have started back by then.

Could you do something right after school's out? That way, you would know what dates are possible. Looks like a whole slew of classes are open June 20th and onwards into July. One thing you have to worry about, since you are one adult with three kids is that you will need 3 spots in one class. If something is open, it could only have one spot.

Ack, don't tell me that! I was looking at Touring Plans and EasyWDW and the days I chose in August were not at 9s all week like the rest of the summer. I'm waiting right now on a talk with my oldest nephew's dad; once I talk to him, I'll know a lot more about possibilities of dates. I just pay in cash so I need a little more time to gather money before the trip; I guess I could put a little money on my credit card if we had to go early, I just hate doing that if it's not an emergency. If I got to Florida with them and something happened, I'd not hesitate to put emergency items on my card - I just don't typically charge things I should pay cash for. It's just me.

As for the classes, I know you're right. I'm trying to get things tacked down. I just need a lot of different permissions from parents so I have to get that verified first and then I'll move on.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Orbitz has the All Star Sports and Music for $87/night towards the end of August.

 

[torinsmom]

I dont know about 9's during the summer. I have been June, July and August and it wasn't nearly as crowded as spring break. I find if you get to the parks when they open, you have a good 2-3 hours before it gets pretty busy. Then it starts clearing out again around dinnertime for awhile.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Thanks for the tip, but the rental car is free. And if I relied on a cab, then I'd need a cab to and from the airport as well, which would end up being more money than paying for gas for the week I think.

If you can stay on property, you really wouldn't need a rental car. I know you said the actual car rental is free, but I think you have $200 budgeted for gas. Even if you had some type of emergency and had to go to the airport early, I bet you could make arrangements with Magical Express. I always find Disney to be very helpful.

I also see you have $600 for food. It'd probably cost you close to that for the quick service meal plan. You can most likely get away with less for the food budget. Most of the counter service meals are more than enough for two adults to share.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I dont know about 9's during the summer. I have been June, July and August and it wasn't nearly as crowded as spring break. I find if you get to the parks when they open, you have a good 2-3 hours before it gets pretty busy. Then it starts clearing out again around dinnertime for awhile.

You've got a point; we're ALL early risers typically, and that means we should at least walk into a semi-empty park. I'd like to get there for MK's opening show at least once, and I've never seen a "rope drop" at Epcot. I do use a GAC when I need it, so if it gets really horrible we still wouldn't have too bad of waits. I just like to NOT use the GAC, and big crowds make that impossible.

I guess with it so hot, we'd probably head to the pool or something mid-day anyway. Another plus: we're all hot weather fanatics. The kids spend a ton of time on a boat in the summer, and I love it hot and humid.

If you can stay on property, you really wouldn't need a rental car. I know you said the actual car rental is free, but I think you have $200 budgeted for gas. Even if you had some type of emergency and had to go to the airport early, I bet you could make arrangements with Magical Express. I always find Disney to be very helpful.

I also see you have $600 for food. It'd probably cost you close to that for the quick service meal plan. You can most likely get away with less for the food budget. Most of the counter service meals are more than enough for two adults to share.

Orbitz has the All Star Sports and Music for $87/night towards the end of August.

I hear ya on the rental car. I'm still in a debate over that. It won't be debatable if we stay off property - I think my only chance to stay on property would be to possibly rent points on DVC or stay at a value. I don't know about us all being in one room though, with one bathroom - but, I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to be on property for their first trip. If I don't stay on property, I'd probably do either Wyndham Bonnet Creek or I'd go with a family-owned timeshare that I'm currently looking into. Regardless, I think the car would save time and money and I really enjoyed it on my last trip. Also, I'd rather not make us wait around for buses in the heat (though I know many families do it).

 

[ZehnJahren]

Oh, also, I have set up a phone call with Dad #2 for today at 5 p.m. I'm nervous to plead my case - wish me luck! (I also gladly accept prayers.)

It's so funny; I was wishing and praying that I could win the OMDD sweepstakes because that would make this trip possible. 18 people from this board won, and I'm not one of them! Oh how I wish I was; it would make everything a LOT easier!

 

[TosaTrio]

Any update?

 

[ZehnJahren]

An update:

The last wall has fallen and the last dad said yes. So now all three children have permission to go with me, and the real planning and budgeting can begin!

I asked on the main Theme Board what summer weeks were best; still, it looks like the second week in August will be our week unless classes start up super-early for one of the kids in the 2012-2013 school year! I spoke with my family member about possibly using the timeshare (Marriotts), so I'm waiting to hear back from her. Then, we got notice two days ago that the SW Card was in the mail already, so I'm waiting to get that, charge something, and pay it off so the points are available. My mom is flying to my brother's this summer, so if she goes with Southwest, I'm going to charge her flight on my card to get the added points. That would completely cover all three of the kids' flights and leave only mine to purchase. I spoke with Humaira and Ken at WBC and got preliminary prices, and am also looking at another option of a split-stay while renting DVC points. Other than that, there's always the possibility of a value resort; so many options that I just need dates tacked down before I can make solid plans.

If we end up with the timeshare, then 5 days and 7 days will be the same cost so I may just take them for a bit longer. We'll see; again, so much going on.