Help! This is way too expensive!

[Sandy Feet]

Please tell me I'm doing something wrong. The cost of this trip is so high one of our kids might not get to college. Can't you just hear it "No I didn't go to college, we went to Orlando instead!"
Flying from the Caribbean isn't cheap, so that is $$ right there. But I haven't even added the cost of a rental car or any special dinners!
Here's the budget so far for our family of 5 (2 adults , 3 kids 15,11 and 7)


Air tickets 2,246.00
Universal 4 park flex ticket 831.75
(Adults $179.95, Child $145.95)

Magic Kingdom 4 - day park hopper 1,094.00
Kennedy Space Centre 253.00
Condo 10 nights aprox.1,200.00
Housekeeping tips?
Rental car ?
Parking at theme parks $7.00 per day 70.00
Meals - $150.00 per day? 1,500.00
Souvenirs $10.00 per day per child (10 days) 300.00

TOTAL 7,494.75

 

[meandtheguys]

Just wondering if you can get your condo cheaper, or partially on Skyauction. Also, we saved a lot (6 people) by cooking some meals in the condo. We didn't spend nearly that much for food. Does your condo have housekeeping? And we didn't give the kids souvenir money. They earned and saved for the trip.

Boy those prices for flying are killers! Good luck! Am sure people much smarter than I will help!

 

[angel's momma]

Sorry to tell you this, but WDW parking recently went up to $8

 

[tarmand]

Personally, I think you are trying to fit in too much in a 10 day trip. You will miss some really great stuff if you try to rush through that many activities. Also, a day at the condo pool midway through the trip might be a great idea. I would only go to WDW and Universal. You can get the Mastercard Deal for the Universal Tickets. It is buy four 5 day passes - get one free. That's $379.80 for 5 - 5 day passes. Then go to WDW for 4 days and if you have a plus - you could even go to a waterpark.

Here is the link.

Mastercard Universal Tickets

I'll bet the condo can be found cheaper also.

 

[bajanswife]

I'm also from the Caribbean, and like you we are 2 adults and 3 kids! We are only going to do it when we have enough airmiles (AA) to get at least 4 of us there for free. We estimate this will be in about 3 years, which is perfect because our youngest is just 1 right now and we want her to be at least 4 when we go. If we wait 4 years we might all get there on miles. Also, we are lucky in that my parents own a timeshare that's part of RCI, so they can hopefully give us a week one year which we will exchange for a condo in Orlando. But still, even with these great money savers, it will be an expensive trip, and one we will likely only do once (or once every 6 - 8 years!!).

Believe me, I will be watching these boards and reading every book/website I can lay my hands on nearer the time in order to get the best deal. Right now I'm just looking forward to a short jaunt to Orlando with my girlfriends in October - again, I'm using miles and staying at a friend's apartment, so my costs will be low.

Good luck finding some better deals!!

 

[tarmand]

I don't really know how sky auction works, but check this out! The bid appears to be $2 right now - plus the $195 fees.

Sky Auction

 

[Sarahsmom85]

I am wondering why you are getting the flex passes for universal?
If you get the Mastercard offer and then get the FITS tickets for Disney you would save a lot plus get so much more.

Fits passes give you all Disney parks, water parks, pleasure island, Disney Quest and a character breakfest.
would cost you about the same as the 4 day pass

Check out ibidusa.com for offsite hotel deals. They seem pretty cheap. plus i got some great meal deals here off site that is.
Ci Ci pizza for 6 for $10.50

Read this site for lots of great help

 

[disneymom3]

Okay, your food and condo bugets are too high I think. Even if you don't want to do SkyAuction, look at Hotel Kingdom. You can get some very nice properties with full kitchens and two bedrooms for way less than $120 a night.

And if you have a full kitchen, you might as well use it somewhat. You'll have a car and there are a couple of Publix and a Winn Dixie quite close to the area around WDW with normal grocery prices. I always figure that my grocery bill for food we eat in the condo doesn't really count since we would be eating at home anyway. I do buy easier and more convenient, hence more expensive food while on vacation, but we are also a family of 5 and have never spent $150 a day on food. My boys are little though, so that makes a difference. Think though, let's say you do breakfast at your condo--you get to count that as basically free--poptarts, cereal bars, bagels or cereal and milk, plus juice. That is cheap and easier than restaurant meals. Okay figure lunch in the parks, go to www.allearsnet.com to check out the menues and you can estimate what you will eat. Figure some counterservice, some sit down if you need it. Go offsite for dinner or eat in your condo. (A chicken dinner from the grocery deli with mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw etc is going to be maybe $16)

You'll need to decide on a snack policy. We have done trips where you can have anything you want and trips where we brought fruit snacks and granola bars in with us. As far as spending money, I would agree with the above poster that your kids should bring their own spending money. They are a lot more conservative when it is their money they are spending! Yours are all old enough that they can make some money somehow--you don't say when you are going though, so time might be an issue.

Ask any more specific questions that you have. I am sure you will get plenty of advice!

 

[LIFERBABE]

You definitely have too much in Park Passes. There is no way you will be able to do all of that to get your money's worth. You could do WDW for 10 days and not be bored. Add US/IOA and that is definitely enough. Your itinerary must be jam packed!

I would go with the FITS passes for WDW and go with either the AP's or 2 Park Power Passes for US or as suggested the 5 day Mastercard deal.

We are spending 10 days in June and we have US Ap's and Park hoppers. I intend to just relax at least 2 days.

You can definitely do better on the condo or even a Vacation home.

I have our rental car booked for 10 days thru National for $200 for a full size. Use CID 6600330 and Ent. -$20 Coupon.

 

[Amirah95]

That 7000 balance scares me

 

[HaleyB]

You are coming a long way, and you only have 4 days for Disney. I think that is a huge mistake. You will not have your fill of Disney in 4 days. On the other hand I think US could be done in 2.
My advice is get a FITS pass.
Fun in the Sun Pass
This is valid for 30 days, includes a breakfast, and gets you into all Disney parks AND Kennedy Space Center (plus a bunch of other places, not Universal though). I think they are a bit over $320 for adults. That gives you 30 days of park admissions, a much better value than PHP, even if you only use it 5 or 6 days. It is good at Disney Quest too.
Would you consider not doing Universal? No? Well, I have read a few places that you can do US in two days, but I don't know if that helps your budget at all.
Given that air fare is going to be your biggest expense, is ther any way you can stay longer? It may not help your bottom line, but might give you a better price per day!
You can do much better on food if you need to.
I would also price out staying onsite with the 7 for 5 deal, maybe two rooms at a value? Price it out just to see.

Gosh, I thought we were spending a lot... Well stick around here, you will get tons of good advice.

 

[OLT2004]

I agree that you are trying to do too much!

I know airfare is expensive and you want to squeeze the most value out of your total investment but I would suggest a "every other day" plan.
That is, one day up early and put in a full theme park day - open to close day.
The next day sleep in and go to a water park or minor attraction.

It looks like you are planning a 9 Day in a row Major Theme Trip.

By day 5 or 6 everyone will be beat and grumpy. You will stop having fun and start fighting among yourselves. Your long saved for and dreamed about vacation will go straight to H_ll...

Buy or borrow a book titled The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and read it cover to cover.

Then start planning your dream!

 

[Sandy Feet]

See, I knew you guys were the best! You have made some very good remarks.

Sorry, forgot to write we're planning on the end of August early September which suits hubbies work schedule. Originally had planned for early Dec - less crowds, decorations up, oh well...

It is a lot to see in just ten days and if we can afford it, I would like to stretch to 14 days. But that really depends on getting these costs WAY lower. Personally my dd and I would be happy with just seeing WDW, but her older brothers are very keen on Universal.

The Kennedy Space Centre idea was mine as something educational? And unfortunately the kids liked that idea too.

So now I have to figure out what parks to exclude. Any suggestions? Do you all use the park attendance chart (from mousesavers, I believe) to help you plan which park to visit on what day?

Food-wise we are going to eat breakfast at home and most dinners. Probably stop at a supermarket on the way from the airport to stock up. A few dinners out though. For some reason my son wants to try a Red Lobster, and they might all enjoy Medieval Times more than Hoop dd Doo which was the first option considered. Still would like to squeeze in a Cinderella breakfast just for us girls though.

Its hard for kids to earn $$ where we live, no part-time jobs like paper routes or lawns to cut! We were trying to figure out a way for them to be in charge of their money to cut down on the nagging/whining for snacks and souvenirs.

Thank you for all the links, I'm going to check them out now.

 

[mtblujeans]

Having kids that age, you can do Universal in one long day. If you are there when they open, and stay till they close, you may find that is enough. My boys are 12 & 15 and they had a good time at US but were a bit disappointed, too. You will, however, kick yourselves if you don't spend the majority of your time at WDW! You can spend more than one day at Epcot alone! You will probably get hooked, just like the rest of us, and start planning your NEXT trip the minute you get home.

 

[patsal]

With teenage boys, the entertainment at Medieval times may be better, but the food is sparce and you may have to give them something else to eat that night as well. HDDR will fill them up, but the entertainment is definately different in both places! LOL

 

[swilshire]

If the "girls" prefer Disney and the "boys" prefer Universal, you might consider splitting up for a day or two of the trip. One parent can take the rental car and drop off the other part of the family at the park of choice. You could always grab a taxi back to your condo if there is no bus or shuttle service available.

Even within a given park, we often split up for a while. With kids 18, 16, 10 and 5, one size does not fit all at vacation time. Going with the flow and separating is much easier than trying to please everybody and you don't spend so much time waiting or doing things that you don't enjoy.

JMHO.

Sheila

 

[KristiKelly]

If you & DD don't care anything about Universal, have DH take DS's to Universal 1 day (maybe 2) that would give you & DD a chance to do all girl stuff, go to the pool, Princess b'fst, and maybe even a nap . That would cut down on 2 passes for Universal. We have been to WDW 4 times & have yet to make it anywhere other than WDW, we were there for 6 nights last year and never got bored with it. If you could stretch it to 14 days, that would make per day cheaper. I don't know, just a thought.

 

[mikesmom]

I agree you are trying to do too much. Kennedy Space Center won't be very educational if everyone is tired and grumpy! (And do you realize it is a 45 minute drive each way? (an hour if you get confused by traffic ). End of August/early September will be very hot and humid. You may not be able to cover as much ground as you think.

Take a day off to rest and recuperate by your pool.

Medeival Times may be a letdown. At the age of your boys, they may consider it pretty cheesy.

Get them backpacks and let them carry some of their snacks. Since you have a condo, you can stock in bottled water, chips, fruit and let them bring at least that much in each day.

You may have to forget about the Cinderalla breakfast. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that meal sells out pretty fast and reservations may be gone already.

 

[Sandy Feet]

Wow - the Mastercard deal at Universal would save us about $450.00 if my math is correct....

4 park flex tx x 5 = 831.75
Mastercard offer = 379.80

But this offer doesn't include SeaWorld.

Would it be better to buy the 2 day/2park tx and also tx for SeaWorld?
Have to check that out...

These are the parks we really want to see..What do you think?
How many days at each if we're in Orlando for 2 weeks and want down time as well as at LEAST 1 shopping day for Mom.

WDW
Epcot
Seaworld
Kennedy Space Centre
Universal
1 or 2 water parks, which one?

Are we missing anything?

Thanks,

 

[Sandy Feet]

Hi mikesmom

Thanks for writing in...you had some good remarks.
You and I must've been writing at the same time.

Yes, I don't think I have the stamina to try getting a breakfast ps!

Yes, I'm worried Med Times will be cheesy.

No, the heat won't bother us coming from the Caribbean.

Hopefully my husband will be convinced we can't go-go-go every day.

Not sure the kids will really carry their own stuff all day which means the parents might end up looking like pack mules

Is it easy to find those water bottle straps other posters have written about? They'd go for that if I tell them the water is weird-tasting!