How am I doing budgetwise?

[frannn]

DH isn't thrilled when I ask to eat offsite, or pull out gift certs and coupons for the trip (although I finally got him to admit that the meal vouchers were a good idea and saved us $ last trip). So, I have to be a bit creative to save $. I am also taking DD11 with us for the second time in 4 years (she usually stays with DD15 and my ex), and will have to spend a lot for her AP and food, etc. How am I doing so far for DH, DD1, DD11, and me?

Plane fare 525. Jetblue-175/person, and had credit for 1 seat
Hotel 627. AS Movies 9/10-9/20
Car 263. National full size
Passes 404. DH and I have last years APs, need DD11 AP
Food 1000. Includes 4 character meals and vouchers for
a few meals
Total 2819.

I didn't include any snacks or extra drinks (bringing both), but I'm sure we'll end up spending a small bit on those in the parks. Gas and tips are not included (tips on meals are included), and neither is souvenier money. I'm thinking an extra 1000-1500 should more than pay for everything I left out. Wow, now that I am looking at it on "paper", it really is a lot of $...but, maybe we'll end up skipping a meal, etc.

 

[MissyWV]

frannn,

We're (Mom, sister, myself and my son who's 10) going to Disney World during Thanksgiving week. I haven't been there for over 20 YEARS!! I've been driving myself absolutely crazy trying to work out an acceptable budget and a daily plan, so I am SO pleased to see your post.

Your budget is right along with mine.

Trip down and back (we're driving - 900 miles one way)
220 - gas and one night at hotel going down, food coming back
Hotel (2 studio suites at Comfort Suites Maingate East - 5 nights)
620 includes taxes
WDW Tickets
850
Discovery Cove - dolphin swim (this is for my mom who is absolutely crazy about dolphins)
920
Disneyquest (If weather is a problem - just for my son and I so my sister & mom can take a break)
50
Food (breakfast in room or free at hotel, 5 dinners, 3 lunches)
500 (We're going to eat nice lunches and pizza or sandwiches for dinner - will take snacks and drinks)

Total: 3170 (not including souvenirs, etc)

I think that I may be not including enough for food - I've been looking for meal vouchers but don't use a cc. We're planning on Rainforest Cafe, one of the japanese places and not sure of the 3rd yet - and will eat cheap for all the other meals) We have a total budget of $5000 - so I have some leeway on dinners. I am hoping to add dinner at one of the places before a night show.

 

[ceecee]

Since you are flying in and staying on site, do you really need to spend the $263.00 for a rental car? We actually love not having to drive, park, get in a hot car, etc. while there. We have always been satisfied with Disney transportation. In my opinion 4 character meals would be too much in one trip. We stay for 10-14 days and usually only do one. DD usually does Pirate Cruise, Cooking or Tea Party. One year we did do the Princess Storybook and Chef Mickey's for dinner.

 

[frannn]

To get to and from the airport, the outlet, offsite eating, and dinner ressies at CM, AK, and Pepper Market. I like the freedom having the rental car gives us. We're not doing any of the dinner shows, tea parties, etc. We are doing CRT, PSB with the meal vouchers, CM dinner, and CP lunch. All the rest of the meals (with the exception of RFC with the vouchers, Baskerville's with a 50% off cert, and Club Car 25. gift cert, will be counterservice, food court, or offsite.

 

[dj2]

have you considered trimming your hotel budget by spending 7 of your nights in a timeshare won on skyauction.com? for your dates, you might be able to get one at a good price. the kitchen would also help trim down your food budget. you could use your car to get some groceries for breakfast in. unless tht take away too much from the feel of a vacation.....

 

[fam4jc]

I think your budget looks GREAT! What a deal on your flight! You may be able to do better on the car. What is the cancelation policy for the rental car? The last time I rented a car I went on priceline the day before our trip to Houston and got a nice car for $15 a day! The lady at Alamo asked me how in the world did I get that rate! Skyauction is also a good idea if you don't mind staying off site. All in all I think you've done great keeping it to a minimum. I like to spend the money where it makes the most difference! Like on character meals, etc.

 

[canwegosoon]

I was just wondering if you are missing $$$ for gas for rental caror is that included? I think you're doing great for 10 days. Have you looked at other passes for your daughter (I figure you might be going back soon, but does she also need a AP?).

Food I am questionable on...$1000...have you done something similar before? But I guess if you ate breakfast in room a few days, and brought snacks you would be fine. I can understand all the PS (is this the last year you think your DD will really enjoy them?). I know the 1yo won't eat much, but I think milk /ceral is expensive too (esp. if you buy it on site)

I also would give up the car for the $$$, (but that's me) I love not having to drive at Disney. So your vacation, you do what you like. Your budget looks great....Have a good time

 

[disneysteve]

I think your budget looks just fine.

$1000 for food should be plenty especially since one DD is only 1 and won't eat very much - probably off of your plate. On our last trip in November, we spent under $17/person/day on food including all meals and snacks. That was for 3 adults and DD8.

I would never consider doing Disney without a car so keep the rental. It is far easier and more convenient to get around with your own vehicle, especially when you have a baby with you. Its also safer since we are 100% seat belt and car seat users. Some people don't like to drive at Disney but you do waste a ton of time depending on their transportation system.

I also wonder if DD11 needs an AP but for a 10-day stay it may be the cheaper option even if she won't be back again within the year. It depends how many of those days you plan to enter a park. We like having AP's because even on a "non-park" day, we might go into a park to catch a show or have a meal. There have been times when we spent less than an hour in a park which we never could have done without AP's.

As for accomodations, I'm a big off-site fan. I would never ever consider staying onsite with 4 people in the room, especially at AS where the rooms are quite small. For what you are spending, you could get a 2-bedroom condo offsite. The kids could be in one room and the parents in the other. You could even put the baby alone and have the DD11 sleep on the sofa bed (or put DD11 in the bedroom and put the crib in the living room). Everyone would get a lot more rest and you wouldn't be as likely to get on each other's nerves after a few days. Plus you would have a full kitchen, a couple of bathrooms, multiple tv's, etc. Just something to think about.

 

[minniemosa]

I also think that 4 character meals are too much if you want to verify your budet.We do one character meal always in our trips.But as someone said before, it is your trip so if you want to do it ,do it.The other budget is really good ,so go and relax...

 

[dj2]

we've done trips with 4 character meals. they're a fun way to see lots of characters w/o standing in a line. and the cost of a character meal is not always that much more than the cost of other sit-down meals. our whispering canyon cafe meal was the same cost it seemed as chef mickey's.

after re-reading your posts, i wasn't sure if you were asking for ways to trim the budget of just an idea if you numbers were on target.

if DD only needs the AP for this one trip, think about getting the FITS instead if it's less $$. FITS includes all the extras. don't know if that's the kind of AP you'd be getting her.