Have kids? Need budget help!

[HayGan]

Glad to hear things are working out Good luck with your planning and have a wonderful trip!

 

[clutter]

Keep us updated! This is way more fun than my real life.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I'm really glad he ok'd the trip. YaY!

Now all the fun of serious planning can happen. I know you'lll come up with a good plan that works best with your budget. You are going to have so much fun with the kids.

 

[scrapper2k]

My friend took her kids with a tiny food budget. Breakfast was cereal at the hotel. Lunch was a packed sandwich. Supper was cheap back at the hotel. She bought the kids one treat a day which was a snack or soft drink. They drank from the fountains most of the time.

 

[ZehnJahren]

Glad to hear things are working out Good luck with your planning and have a wonderful trip!

Thank you for your comments! I'm going to make this work!

Keep us updated! This is way more fun than my real life.

Mine too! My sister thinks that we should surprise them if this all works out because she thinks they'll drive her crazy if we tell them before summer starts!! I told her I still need some things to fall into place; all the parents have agreed to silence on the subject for now.

I'm really glad he ok'd the trip. YaY!

Now all the fun of serious planning can happen. I know you'lll come up with a good plan that works best with your budget. You are going to have so much fun with the kids.

I was telling my boyfriend last night that this is my chance to take then; if I don't grab it, it'll be gone. after taking more time to think about their ages and personalities, I think we're right on the cusp of the oldest outgrowing it and entering the sullen teenage years. I think he might be the one who thinks Disney is for kids, but he's also my theme park Buddy, we went to Six Flags quite a few times.

My friend took her kids with a tiny food budget. Breakfast was cereal at the hotel. Lunch was a packed sandwich. Supper was cheap back at the hotel. She bought the kids one treat a day which was a snack or soft drink. They drank from the fountains most of the time.

These are all good ideas for a budget trip. I think we'll definitely be doing cheap breakfasts in the room, and I plan on carrying granola bars and other small snacks for the park, and the heat will be a great excuse for a lunch in the room when the day gets hot. But the food money we don't spend on park lunches we will probably make up for in Mickey bars!!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Ok, my budget update:

Marriott Timeshare: $219
Tickets: $515-748 (YES vs. UT)
Airfare: $350
Car/gas: $300
Food: $600

Brings me to a totally do-able grand total of: $1,934 - $2,217!!!

Now, to figure out the week! I know I said above that I was totally leaning towards that week in August, but with the timeshare being so darn inexpensive, I could still possibly pull off that week in early June. I know it's going to be busy no matter what, but I really want to get in that period where it's right after school lets out or right before it goes back in for the fall. I also know June is slightly less blisteringly hot than August. (I did say "slightly")

It all seems to be coming together; but man, it's a LOT of planning! How do people just call Disney, book an (overpriced) package, and go???

 

[HayGan]

Ok, my budget update:

Marriott Timeshare: $219
Tickets: $515-748 (YES vs. UT)
Airfare: $350
Car/gas: $300
Food: $600

Brings me to a totally do-able grand total of: $1,934 - $2,217!!!

Now, to figure out the week! I know I said above that I was totally leaning towards that week in August, but with the timeshare being so darn inexpensive, I could still possibly pull off that week in early June. I know it's going to be busy no matter what, but I really want to get in that period where it's right after school lets out or right before it goes back in for the fall. I also know June is slightly less blisteringly hot than August. (I did say "slightly")

It all seems to be coming together; but man, it's a LOT of planning! How do people just call Disney, book an (overpriced) package, and go???

That's great that you were able to get such a great deal on the timeshare I think that you will find that you are not going to need all that car/gas & food $$ but it is better to be safe than sorry

Our experience with early June is that it is HOT and the crowds get noticeably bigger as the month goes on. (We have done the first 2 weeks in June twice.) You do have slightly less of a threat of hurricanes/tropical storms in June versus August as well. (We were there during TS Fay in August 2008 which was miserable but we made the best of it!) You will have a great time no matter when you go!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I also know June is slightly less blisteringly hot than August. (I did say "slightly")

My experience is that June will probably be blisteringly hot but that August will DEFINITELY be blisteringly hot

 

[clutter]

I've been in August for 5 or 6 times, and in May twice. The hottest I've ever been was one of our May trips (2003)! The reality is that you can check the average weather, but you could always get a heat wave or a tropical storm. You just never know. (Of course, we were also there the week in December that they had 7 inches of rain in 2 days...) August was definately less crowded, but the later the lower the crowds.

 

[Rienchen]

June is so much sooner than August though ;-)

 

[ZehnJahren]

That's great that you were able to get such a great deal on the timeshare I think that you will find that you are not going to need all that car/gas & food $$ but it is better to be safe than sorry

Our experience with early June is that it is HOT and the crowds get noticeably bigger as the month goes on. (We have done the first 2 weeks in June twice.) You do have slightly less of a threat of hurricanes/tropical storms in June versus August as well. (We were there during TS Fay in August 2008 which was miserable but we made the best of it!) You will have a great time no matter when you go!

Yes, I can't believe what a great deal it is! A family member has the timeshare, and usually she charges the maintenance fees if someone in the family uses it. As it is, she agreed to let me have it for the fees, since I'm going budget on this trip. I hope that there are openings at the times I want to go; I'm going to call them tonight.

I also talked to a work friend about June; he usually goes the second week and he says that there's always a noticeable uptick in crowds as the week goes on. I think I'd like to take my chances that maybe just maybe Disney was offering discounts those first two weeks because it wasn't yet packed, and we'll get off with 7 crowd levels instead of 9s. A girl can dream, right?

And yes, we'll have a great time no matter when we go. When I was a kid, there was nothing but rack rates and busy, busy summers with three hour lines for Space Mountain - and those are some of my most cherished memories. I need to keep that in mind so I don't stress out.

 

[ZehnJahren]

My experience is that June will probably be blisteringly hot but that August will DEFINITELY be blisteringly hot

LOL, for sure!

I've been in August for 5 or 6 times, and in May twice. The hottest I've ever been was one of our May trips (2003)! The reality is that you can check the average weather, but you could always get a heat wave or a tropical storm. You just never know. (Of course, we were also there the week in December that they had 7 inches of rain in 2 days...) August was definitely less crowded, but the later the lower the crowds.

Yep, you roll the dice regardless. I remember when I was 8 or 9 we were at MK in June and the skies opened up for the regular afternoon rain. It was so hot that after it rained, we watched the steam rising off the blacktop. I thought that was so cool as a kid! You can't forecast what hundreds of thousands of people are going to do; you just have to make a choice and stick with it.

June is so much sooner than August though ;-)

My thoughts exactly! Though, I was just there in January, so I really could hold out for longer; my next Disney trip wouldn't be until 2013 to DL!

 

[sunshinehighway]

Weather is always a roll of the dice. I've gone in May and had downpours the entire week and froze my toosh off in early December. Plan it for what works best for you. The kids might drive everyone nuts with their excitement waiting until August.

I'm very happy for you that this is all coming together. It'll be something special for you all to remember.

 

[burnurcomputer]

If your time share is at Harbor Lake........you will LOVE it ! Its my "home" resort and its not as *fancy* as the others, but even budget Marriott is better then many other places I have stayed!!!

Linkage for checking! http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcoho-marriotts-harbour-lake/

I would go right after school has let out because of the uncertainty relating to the moving. It's sooner, you can still get YES tickets, and it may be less hot. Remeber that ice water is free by request. Take some drink mix pouches (you can get some yummy ones at $ stores) or get some MIO and you can cut soads out! When we go we get food our first day and prepare lunches to take with and then we round them out with some junk items, like fries.

Check if your unit has a washer/dryer in it. If you take a few of the 2 in 1 wash sheets its super easy to put a load of wash in the wahser and pop in the dryer when you get up. You can take less clothing (we normlly pack for 4 days of clothing) and have more room to take some of your things too

I do what others call budget-ish trips, but thats just how we roll! I have 4 kids and we like to do things together so thrift is part of our plan, plus our Disney trips are +1 because my Mom is part fo that vacation every time we go


Keep us updated and ask, ask, ask for advice!!!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Weather is always a roll of the dice. I've gone in May and had downpours the entire week and froze my toosh off in early December. Plan it for what works best for you. The kids might drive everyone nuts with their excitement waiting until August.

I'm very happy for you that this is all coming together. It'll be something special for you all to remember.

Yes, anything can happen. I think June is going to be better! I can't believe that I may actually pull this off.

I would go right after school has let out because of the uncertainty relating to the moving. It's sooner, you can still get YES tickets, and it may be less hot. Remeber that ice water is free by request. Take some drink mix pouches (you can get some yummy ones at $ stores) or get some MIO and you can cut soads out! When we go we get food our first day and prepare lunches to take with and then we round them out with some junk items, like fries.

You've got a point that I just keep forgetting about. Right after school means that we don't have to worry about when their new school year starts, and they don't have to worry about missing any classes. I started at a new school a couple times as a kid and it was ALWAYS so hard to start a new school a few days after everyone else.

We're all big-time water people, so we'll be drinking lots of it. I don't think they'll like the sulphur taste, so I'm thinking that I'd bring gatorade packets. That could help with all the salt loss during the hot day, for all of us! I won't be allowing any sodas at all during the day; it'll be too hot.

Check if your unit has a washer/dryer in it. If you take a few of the 2 in 1 wash sheets its super easy to put a load of wash in the wahser and pop in the dryer when you get up. You can take less clothing (we normlly pack for 4 days of clothing) and have more room to take some of your things too

Good point; once I book I'll find that out. I have laundry detergent allergies, so we'd have to go buy some Tide once we got down there.

I do what others call budget-ish trips, but thats just how we roll! I have 4 kids and we like to do things together so thrift is part of our plan, plus our Disney trips are +1 because my Mom is part fo that vacation every time we go .[/QUOTE]

Nice! I wish my Mom could go anytime when I go; she and I are going to DL next summer for our very first time! We were at WDW last October and had fun together; I'm looking forward to our next trip.

My next trip to WDW was going to be more luxurious, and just for me and DBF; but once I saw that I could possibly bring the kids for just a few hundred more than what I was planning, I knew I had to try. And it looks like it might work out!

 

[reginaastralis]

I'm from Florida, and while I can't give you budget advice, I can give you weather "advice" ...

It's going to be hot. Like stupid, why are people outside in this weather, hot. It's hot like that most of the year ... even this winter we've had to wear jackets twice. However, your best bet is to go in prepared. Eat small meals, which will help with the stomach ache from over eating in 1000 degree weather. Wear lots of sunscreen, and reapply often ... I have fair skin, and I try to remember to reapply at least once an hour. No, I'm not exaggerating. I'd also put on my shopping list some aloe, because even with reapplying you'll end up with some amount of sunburn, somewhere. But I wouldn't push it. I'd make sure that the kids have a good time, and if they need to go slow, then there might be some things you end up missing. I don't think that's always a bad idea.

And I'm with you on how "cool" it looks after a rain storm to see the heat literally rising off the asphalt. I'm 28 years old, and every time it rains, I run outside to see the steam come up ... lol. We were at MK last night, and it started raining during the Electrical Parade .. it wasn't a downpour, but I always find it somewhat amusing to watch people run for cover. You aren't made of sugar, so you won't melt (which is what I tell my daughter). I think of rain as refreshing ... and my boyfriend laughs at me because I refuse to carry an umbrella in everyday life. Sometimes you just need a refreshing shower

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'm from Florida, and while I can't give you budget advice, I can give you weather "advice" ...

We were at MK last night, and it started raining during the Electrical Parade .. it wasn't a downpour, but I always find it somewhat amusing to watch people run for cover. You aren't made of sugar, so you won't melt (which is what I tell my daughter).

I used to go to FL every summer back when I was a kid; I remember the heat! It can be very similar to other parts of the county, though; I do think a lot of people overthink the heat. It's hot, but it's summer; the theme park I worked at for years used to get up to 107 inside and I'd go out in pants and sleeves to work.

I love to watch people beat it once the skies open. I'm the kind to walk in the rain as well!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I've been watching Southwest fares, but couldn't book due to waiting for the SW points to post to our new credit card. The flights just went up by a LOT and I can't imagine they'll go back down. With these prices it won't be possible for me to take them anymore; I had just decided if we couldn't go in early June that I wasn't going to take them in August due to it being so much more hot and humid, and also because they won't know when their school starts so I can't adequately plan. I won't take them when it's super crowded; I personally can't handle those crowds, so August probably would have been a bad idea anyway.

I'm very, very disappointed; other airlines have much better prices, but I had to be able to use the points in order to take them because I couldn't afford four round trip plane tickets. I am SO GLAD we didn't mention it to them at all; they would be crushed.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I've been watching Southwest fares, but couldn't book due to waiting for the SW points to post to our new credit card. The flights just went up by a LOT and I can't imagine they'll go back down. With these prices it won't be possible for me to take them anymore; I had just decided if we couldn't go in early June that I wasn't going to take them in August due to it being so much more hot and humid, and also because they won't know when their school starts so I can't adequately plan. I won't take them when it's super crowded; I personally can't handle those crowds, so August probably would have been a bad idea anyway.

I'm very, very disappointed; other airlines have much better prices, but I had to be able to use the points in order to take them because I couldn't afford four round trip plane tickets. I am SO GLAD we didn't mention it to them at all; they would be crushed.Thanks for all your help.

Oh I'm sorry to hear your update. Maybe you could take them during a school break? Around here, the kids get a long weekend in October because of teachers' meetings&Columbus day and a week in February. It'd give you more time to plan. You seemed so excited, its a shame that it isn't working out.

 

[kaywoody]

Don't rule out a long weekend. The last two times we went MLK weekend. The kids were out of school for 4 days- one holiday, one staff development day and the weekend. The two days before that were finals week and since they were both in elementary that didn't affect them except that they were early dismissal days. I picked them up at noon on the way to the airport the first finals day and they missed one day of school. I didn't feel too bad because it was an early dismissal day which is a less productive school day anyway. We left at Thursday at noon and didn't come back until Tuesday afternoon which was 5 nights and only counted as one absence.

The best part was that the parks were practically empty and the weather was nice. We didn't even need our sweatshirts until the sun went down.