Helping a Friend Budget

[Disneyliscious]

Look on vrbo dot com for somewhere to stay. You can get really nice, clean condos for $49 a night and up.

 

[kashzan]

I still think you are budgeting way too low for food. $15.00 per person per meal is really bare bones. I don't know how or what they like to eat, so I may be off base for even mentioning this. Its just my opinion. I am not a big eater at all, and I do not think I could do it.

 

[davper]

Your still too low for food. The minimum I would put for food, absolute minimum is $20 per meal per person. This does not include snacks and drinks. And Universal doesn't offer free water like Disney does. How many bottles are they going to carry with them?

Does your rental include insurance liability coverage? Will they need/want it? That will double the cost of rental.

Are they going during MNSSHP or MVMCP? Party tickets are much less than regular tickets.

If they are going during this time, they could do the beach in the morning. Cheap dinner in the afternoon, and head to Disney afterwards. I think you can get in as early as 4pm on these tickets.

 

[Marionnette]

Okay, I have revised my budget, increased the food budget, added gas, parking and changed the hotel to Cabana Bay:
<snip>
I looked at several counter service places and feel like $15 per person per meal will get an average size meal with a drink or bottle of water. I think the could order one of the larger meals and split it if they wanted to.

I am over budget by $189.77! They can look at their hotel options and decided what they want to do. =)

I still think that your food budget is too low. Your original budget was based on staying at a hotel that offered a free continental breakfast. You won't get that at Cabana Bay. Yet, you didn't increase the grocery shopping budget to make up for this.

I agree that they could probably get a meal and beverage for about $15 pp but I don't think that they would be able to split a meal and be satisfied. TS meals are definitely out of the question on this budget, as are any purchased snacks like ice cream or adult beverages.

Take a look at Orbitz for Cabana Bay. Use the promo code YESPLEASE and you should be able to shave a few more dollars off of the price for the resort.

They could also book a Disney Value Resort with the same code (I'm seeing ASMu on Labor Day weekend for $71/night plus tax) and this would get them free ground transportation to/from the airport. Grab a rental car from either the Swan or a DtD resort only for the days they want to visit Universal. Most of them will send a shuttle to your resort to pick you up to get your car and they will take you back after you return the vehicle. Mousesavers .com has a page dedicated to doing this sort of rental. They also have a page of contract id#'s and rental codes that can be used to bring the cost down further.

 

[TIAMOMMA]

I don't profess to know Fox's reputation in Florida, but on Tripadvisor at multiple locations I've read horror stories about Fox (horrible customer service, unexpected charges, etc). You may want to check this out too.

 

[kashzan]

I know it is very hard budgeting for others, but the old adage applies"you get what you pay for". While i think that yes they can GET BY on the food budget (just get by barely) , although very low, it is important to remember that they will be walking around all day in the sun and heat, and food does fuel the body.I would sincerely rework the budget for food, it really does seem low.

 

[kashzan]

Have you factored in taxes on hotel and food ? Have you factored in tips for hotel employees, wait people in restaurants etc

 

[morgan98]

OP, are you helping them put together a budget for their trip or are you helping them put together a budget trip? These can be two separate things. I am not sure that going for only 3-4 days to both Universal and Disney and then a day at the beach with related car rental etc. is ever going to be budget. The better prices for admission are for longer stays so I mean right there they are paying more than $100/per person per day for admission. Then, in general, renting a car for only a couple of days costs more per day as well. I am not saying it can't be done, I just feel that doing a little of so many things is preventing them from getting the most bang for the buck if that is what they are after.

If they are looking for a budget trip, picking one place Universal or Disney and getting multi-day tickets and them being able to do without a car rental would/could end up with the most for their money.

 

[sk!mom]

Do they need to keep the cost really low? If not, I would check predicted crowd levels at Universal. If they are high, I would really recommend at least a one night stay at an on site for the Wizarding World early entry and Front of the line passes.

To me, Universal is miserably hot and crowded without the onsite perks. The onsite hotels are beautiful and if they can afford it, I'd just stay there on a short trip but if budget is a big concern then I would sty there one night to get the perks on check in and out day.

 

[smiths02]

Do they have to have park-to-park tickets for Universal? You said a day in each park, so the only thing they miss by hopping is Hogwarts. Is that worth $70 to them?

What about Buena Vista Suites http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/bvsuites/bvsuites1.cfm. I am getting $414 for your friend's dates, breakfast and parking included (using the Dreams Unlimited discount rate)...it looks like they charge a hotel fee of $9.95 daily which then includes the wifi....so $454


1-Day Magic Your Way (Magic Kingdom® Park) - $115.95 X 2 = $231.90

2-Day Universal one-park Ticket - $160.73.21 X 2 = $321.46

Fox Economy Car (PU @ MCO 9/9 at 10 PM drop off MCO 9/13 at 10 PM) = $60.05
Buena Vista Suites $454
Food - 4 days X 2 meals per day X 2 people 16 meals X $15 = 240 + $40 grocery run for snack and water = $280.00
Eat breakfast in the room, take bottle water to the parks


AA Flights - Depart Flight # 1494 @ 8:10 PM with Return Flight # 212 @ 7:20 PM = $301 X 2 = $602.00

Gas - 18 gallons @ $2.50 a gallon = $45.00

Parking at Disney = $17.00
Parking at Universal = $30

Grand Total = $2,041.41

 

[HannaBelle]

You could look at Undercover Tourist and see if you could save a bit on tickets. It would also save them time while they are there.

The ticket prices are from Undercover Tourist and do include taxes.

 

[HannaBelle]

You might want to budget in umbrella and chair rentals at the beach. Also parking, depending on which beach you are going. I know we paid at Coco beach, however I didn't research it well enough before we went so I'm sure there are places to park or to rent stuff rather than right on the beach that might be cheaper. I think parking was around $10 and I think it was around $45 for beach rentals for two chairs, umbrella and float boards for the kids.

Also, I just went on Orbitz and plugged in your dates. There is a code you can use and Cabana Bay comes up $432 total. Free cancellation. Might want to check that out and book that asap if that's where they want to stay.

Thank you for the info, I will make sure she knows about it.

I will point out she needs to consider parking cost for the beach and equipment rental. TY!

 

[HannaBelle]

I don't profess to know Fox's reputation in Florida, but on Tripadvisor at multiple locations I've read horror stories about Fox (horrible customer service, unexpected charges, etc). You may want to check this out too.

Fox does have a horrible reputation, but we had a great experience in LA with them. Fast shuttle to their site, fast check out, very nice vehicle and we had zero complaints. I am giving her suggestions, she had to make the final decision. I will make sure she knows they have horrible reviews!

 

[HannaBelle]

Do they have to have park-to-park tickets for Universal? You said a day in each park, so the only thing they miss by hopping is Hogwarts. Is that worth $70 to them?

What about Buena Vista Suites http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/bvsuites/bvsuites1.cfm. I am getting $414 for your friend's dates, breakfast and parking included (using the Dreams Unlimited discount rate)...it looks like they charge a hotel fee of $9.95 daily which then includes the wifi....so $454


1-Day Magic Your Way (Magic Kingdom® Park) - $115.95 X 2 = $231.90

2-Day Universal one-park Ticket - $160.73.21 X 2 = $321.46

Fox Economy Car (PU @ MCO 9/9 at 10 PM drop off MCO 9/13 at 10 PM) = $60.05
Buena Vista Suites $454
Food - 4 days X 2 meals per day X 2 people 16 meals X $15 = 240 + $40 grocery run for snack and water = $280.00
Eat breakfast in the room, take bottle water to the parks


AA Flights - Depart Flight # 1494 @ 8:10 PM with Return Flight # 212 @ 7:20 PM = $301 X 2 = $602.00

Gas - 18 gallons @ $2.50 a gallon = $45.00

Parking at Disney = $17.00
Parking at Universal = $30

Grand Total = $2,041.41

Thanks!

Her DD wants to do HP World, she wants to do Disney. I have explained that ticket prices will be outrageous and they want to do it and they want to ride the Hogwarts Express.

I need to add $ for tips for room service. I will discuss the food budget with her. She is going to have to make that call but I would really like to see them at a hotel with breakfast included, it will save $$.

I have sent everyone's suggestions to her as well as links to a few of our favorite QS places with menus and pricing.

I will let you all know what she decides!

 

[smiths02]

I haven't stayed at Buena Vista Suites and I don't know how convenient it is to anywhere, but Pete from DisUnplugged (and Dreams Unlimited) said he put his family there before, so I'm guessing it's clean and safe (plus breakfast!)

 

[tinker&belle]

What if they flew into Disney took Magic Express to stay at a Value, then a cab to Universal for Cabana and then either a one day car rental for the beach/airport or two cab rides? It may not be much more than all the parking?

If I were me I would try to do just one or two of these things and try to not stretch the super tight budget.

 

[JenzyHP]

Do they have AAA? At Universal, you get a 10% discount on food and merchandise as long as it isn't at a cart. I also really like the Holiday Inn that is right at the gate. I've stayed there 3 times and just walked to Universal. It is a bit of a walk but not too bad. It is the one on South Kirkman Road. Free parking. No breakfast, but don't see why they can't just bring something to eat in their suitcase if its a budget buster. It is $82 a night on travelocity.

 

[kthshh]

I haven't checked this week but both Spirit and Southwest have had great airfare flying from Dallas to Orlando and Tampa. If they are flexible with their days this could cut airfare in half.

As for rental cars, I rent through Costco Travel. You can keep checking and cancel/rebook if you find a better price. It's for the well known rental agencies. Never had a problem with them.

 

[kthshh]

If they fly Southwest and come back Monday morning, the two tickets are $236 instead of $600. The extra night in the hotel will be cheaper than the savings.

 

[HannaBelle]

Well, I just got an email from my friend and they have decided not to go to Orlando. They are just going to drive to Corpus for the weekend.

Oh well!

Thank you so much for all of the input!