Here is the budget, what am I forgetting?

[Spirit Feather]

Here is the budget I have developed for our March 7-15, 2003 trip. What I am forgetting or underestimating?

LOS Passes -SOG price 1340.00
room - 8 nights at CR-NGW 608.00
airfare - Columbus to MCO 800.00
airport parking 80.00
towncar service 80.00
quick and casual meal vouchers 110.00
Rainforest café' lunch w/ voucher 59.00
breakfast - 3 character 193.50
hoop-de-doo 200.00
grocery stop 100.00
extra cash 500.00
stroller rental for seven days 35.00
quarters for penny machines 10.00
campfire 10.00
refillable mugs 40.00
one time use cameras/developing 80.00

This trip is for 2 adults, a 14 y/o and 5 y/o. The kids are saving their own spending money and are receiving DDs for Christmas so I did not figure that into the budget. We have our refillable mugs from our last stay at the CR, but I do not know for sure if we can use them again.

I already have the meal vouchers from connections. We plan on 3 character breakfasts and breakfast in the room the remainder of the time. The kids usually split a meal between them.

If I can come up with an extra $650 I want to purchase Premium Annual passes. My DH is now a full time/unemployed college student. That means he will be off for 2-3 weeks at Christmas time and for a week at spring break. I really can see us going back with-in the year and I think it would be worth spending the extra $$$ now and not having to spend more later.

 

[tar heel]

I don't believe $193.50 will buy three character breakfasts including tax and 15% (or more) tip for three adults and a child. I may be misunderstanding you here -- are vouchers paying for this? I personally would make at least one of these a nice sitdown lunch anyway.

About the annual pass, will your waterpark usage justify the premium pass? With children, I'm assuming your PI usage will not! We've been perfectly satisfied with regular ones. Our teens may go once or twice the entire run of the pass. Your cost difference for regular passes is not much.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by tar heel
...(snip)....About the annual pass, will your waterpark usage justify the premium pass? With children, I'm assuming your PI usage will not! We've been perfectly satisfied with regular ones. Our teens may go once or twice the entire run of the pass. Your cost difference for regular passes is not much.

Just wanted to note that the Premium Annual Pass includes Disney Quest. I agree that if you haven't looked at a "plain" annual pass plus the cost of anticipated PI, waterparks or DQ visits, it is worth considering. You might save some $$$.

 

[bobcat]

Are you buying LOS passes and not APs? There shouldn't be too much difference in price for the 8 days you are going, and you can then make another trip on them.

You airport parking sounds a bit high. Sunpark usually has coupons in the Dispatch and even their valet parking is only $7/day. Shuttles are often and I have always been really pleased with them.

Have you thought about bringing an umbrella stroller with you to save on renting each day. When my DS was 4 I bought a cheap stroller, about $12 at Walmart, and it made a couple of trips with us. Saves time entering the park as well since you don't have to stand in line to rent.

Your budget looks good! I always forget to budget for film developing.

 

[SandraC]

TIPS! Have you included meal tips and Mousekeeper tips? I also budget PRE-spending like new clothes and shoes and POST-spending like the $300 for film development and new photo albums. S

 

[Spirit Feather]

I was basing the parking on the going rate at the Cincinnati airport. I will have to look for those coupons. We will save nearly $600 by driving the 2 hours to the Columbus airport--and it is a non-stop flight!

My DH and I are both a little tall and the umbrella strollers are too low for us to push comfortably. My son will be nearly 6 when we are there and I am putting the stroller rental funds into the budget just in case we need it. I am going to try get him to walk as much as possible. He has been walking on the treadmill here at home everyday!

the $193.50 for the character breakfasts are already paid for by the vouchers I have. That includes tax and tip.

My DH and DS must go to Disney Quest! If we get APs, then they would have to be Premium AP's so that they can get into there also. The regular AP's are only $54 more (for the four of us) than the LOS passes but hubby won't go for those.

 

[travelitis]

The only thing that comes to mind is taxes. Did you factor in the tax with your hotel rate? I think you've got it covered. The only extras would be things particular to your family (i.e. diapers).

 

[tmfranlk]

the $193.50 for the character breakfasts are already paid for by the vouchers I have. That includes tax and tip.

Did you get one voucher for each of the kids? I am only asking, because you total doesn't seem to add up to what I remember paying for our breakfast vouchers (but I could be remembering wrong). You mentioned that the kids will share meals, but I wanted to make sure that you were covered since they won't be able to at the character breakfast (since they are buffets or all you care to eat table service).

Otherwise, I think your budget looks great. I totally agree with you on the stoller issue. Umbrella strollers are too short for me too and it is worth the rental to keep my 6yo sister happy and rested.

Have fun!

 

[bobcat]

Are you flying Delta? I've flown with them once and am going to DISCON in a couple of weeks using them again.

DQ sometimes runs evening specials. We did it once. Do they offer an annual pass for DQ? I know the water parks offer their own.

 

[Meagansmom]

Just an fyi...We paid $8.00 for a single stroller this past May.

 

[Meagansmom]

Just an fyi...We paid $8.00 for a single stroller this past May.