Here's what we spent

[zurgswife]

Family of 6 ....2 adults....4 kids (dd14, ds12, ds11, dd8)...

Dog/house sitter.....$170

Gas from Philly to Orlando and back..........$187

Tolls on 95....Fastpass.....$0

Stopped in Williamsburg for 2 nights

Great Wolf Lodge (2nights).......................$563
Normally wouldn't spend this much on a hotel but they had a indoor water park at the hotel really wanted to try....it was well worth the money...Awesome hotel...

Admission to Williamsburg...season passes....$210

Food during our drive to WB and 1.5 days there....$189

WDW ....6nights SSR...Combination of my own points and renting points...
.................................................................$1058


Passes...season passes purchased last July....$0

Food at WDW 6 nights ........................$623 (includes car meals driving from WB to Orlando and Orlando all the way to Philly)

Snacks at WDW.......................$85 (includes snacks for car ride home)

Souveniors...............................$20

Total for 8.5 days away.....$3105 for a family of 6....

Not too bad considering almost $1000 was spent on 2 days in Willimasburg....

 

[Disney_1derland]

Sounds great! Hope you all had an amazing time

 

[dzneprincess]

Family of 6 ....2 adults....4 kids (dd14, ds12, ds11, dd8)...


Gas from Philly to Orlando and back..........$187

Kimball, what the heck are y'all driving that you were able to get from Philly to Orlando and back for $187??!!??!! I am impressed!!

 

[laurabelle]

I'm thinking of going to Great Wolf Lodge in the fall or winter and wondered if it was worth it...sounds like it is!
Where did you guys eat in Disney? Did you cook in your villa?
I'm not much of one to buy souvenirs, but $20 is impressive! What did you buy???

 

[michvin]

Hi...I saw you went to the Great Wolf Lodge....it just opened, didn't it? Anyway, wondering how it was for smaller kids. Thinking of going in the winter to break up the winter blues (we also are from Philly area). Thanks for any insight you may have.

 

[zurgswife]

The Great Wolf Lodge is awesome....something for everybody...our entire family enjoyed it...

$187 was for our Minivan...

We did eat all breakfasts and 4 lunches and 3 dinners in the Villas....

We had a great time..

 

[ntburns22]

We have gone to GWL in Ohio twice. My kids are 5 and 2. They both loved it. I agree money well spent....Great job on your budget!

 

[bobcat]

Awesome budget! I'm glad to hear gas for a minivan didn't cost too much. Last year I spent around $150 for the trip so a it doesn't look like it will be too much more this year.

When you ate out did you do mostly counter service?

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Great Job!!!!!!!

 

[zurgswife]

Awesome budget! I'm glad to hear gas for a minivan didn't cost too much. Last year I spent around $150 for the trip so a it doesn't look like it will be too much more this year.

When you ate out did you do mostly counter service?

Yes mostly counter service. Except.

Dinner- Chef Mickey's, Whispering Canyon Cafe...then DH and I went to Wolfgang Puck Express one night.

Lunch- We did Beaches and Cream once.

 

[zurgswife]

I'm thinking of going to Great Wolf Lodge in the fall or winter and wondered if it was worth it...sounds like it is!
Where did you guys eat in Disney? Did you cook in your villa?
I'm not much of one to buy souvenirs, but $20 is impressive! What did you buy???

Souvenirs....1 golden ears antenna topper and I got my dd a glass mug at German engraved with her name.

 

[laurabelle]

I was thinking golden Mickey ears...I wish I had an antenna on my van, I miss having Mickey on it!

Here's what we're spending for 8nights:
We'll be having all breakfasts in the villa, packing some lunches for the waterparks and 3 table service dinners, the rest counters. So far our biggest expense has been tickets- $918 3 adults 1 child 8 days w/5+, our villa was through skyauction $465, rented points for 1 night at BCV $140,
airfare for 4 - $467 on Southwest, rental car $206 (waiting for the rate to drop). Kids bring their own spending money for souveniers.

 

[bobbiwoz]

There are no tolls? When I lived back east, I think there used to be a toll, maybe in Delaware or when you entered Maryland on 95S. Or why are you saying Fastpass? Is there a bargain.

But, I totally impressed at the amount you spent on gas, good driving.

Bobbi

 

[disneysteve]

Gas from Philly to Orlando and back..........$187

Tolls on 95....Fastpass.....$0

I think the price of gas is one of the biggest misconceptions people have. They have allowed the media to convince them that they can't afford to drive anywhere. We drive every year and it always runs under $200. From NJ to WDW is 1035 miles for us. If we get about 25 mpg, that's just over 80 gallons roundtrip. Gas would have to top $2.50/gallon for the trip to cost us more than $200. We have a Toyota Sienna minivan by the way.

As for tolls, yes there are some. Fastpass doesn't make them free. They just get billed to your credit card. So the $0 estimate isn't really accurate.

 

[CarolA]

Sounds good! You didn't buy any pins... I am impressed.

 

[maggiew]

Great job!!

Maggie

 

[Kira G.]

"WDW ....6nights SSR...Combination of my own points and renting points-$1058"

This is why we need to join DVC! When you've got 4 kids (like we do too), we're stuck in 2 rooms the values if we want to make it affordable. We like the value resorts, but my husband wants to know when we're staying in a "real" resort!

Sigh - hopefully next year when we will be selling a property in Mass.

I'm glad you're trip was great!

 

[uppermomma]

Speaking of gas for mini-vans......my 2004 Toyota Sienna van only gets about 21 mpg on a trip!! It was "supposed" to get 27, according to the window sticker when I bought it. My Dad's 2004 Honda van gets 29 on trips.

Still like my van better.

 

[disneysteve]

Speaking of gas for mini-vans......my 2004 Toyota Sienna van only gets about 21 mpg on a trip!! It was "supposed" to get 27, according to the window sticker when I bought it.

OT - I've got a 2000 that does get about 25 on highway. Do you use the cruise control when possible? I think that helps with the mileage. Also, check your tire inflation regularly. If the pressure is low, it affects mileage. We go to Disney in November so usually don't need to be running the AC most of the time so that makes a difference too. Summertime mileage would probably be a little lower.

 

[meandtheguys2]

"WDW ....6nights SSR...Combination of my own points and renting points-$1058"

This is why we need to join DVC! When you've got 4 kids (like we do too), we're stuck in 2 rooms the values if we want to make it affordable. We like the value resorts, but my husband wants to know when we're staying in a "real" resort!

Sigh - hopefully next year when we will be selling a property in Mass.

I'm glad you're trip was great!

Have you considered renting points? We are doing that in January, and are tickled. My DH has "issues" with buying! Good luck with selling your property.

Michelle