How low can your trip be?

[umaangel00]

I think 300 for gas is way over kill. I live in Michigan and we didn't spend even 200. Maybe 200 but nothing more than that.

 

[becca011906]

I think 300 for gas is way over kill. I live in Michigan and we didn't spend even 200. Maybe 200 but nothing more than that.

Is this there and back? i'm just curious, we'll be driving down from IN and still trying to figure gas right now!
Thanks

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I think 300 for gas is way over kill. I live in Michigan and we didn't spend even 200. Maybe 200 but nothing more than that.

I think it might be different this time. Here is a site that can give you information on how much it will cost.

http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/TripGasPrice.aspx

Ofcourse it all depends on what you are driving. We have a conversion van so we pay out the nose, lol, .........but it's worth every penny.

 

[faindrops27]

I am thinking as I read everyones post. Where am I going wrong. Can someone please help me. Please.

Ok now. This is my budget or what I will be spending. For a 9 night in orlando vacation. But, if someone can tell me where I can deeply slash my budget, I can make a down payment on this cruise. I want to go on. In sept 2006. Ok me, my dh, ds3, ds12, dd1

Airfare 4 r/t tix 660
Minivan rental, thrifty 370
Windsor hills 3 bedroom townhome 1105
Disney 5 day base 3 adults, 1 child 758
Already purchased universal tix 430 + 108 for 2 hhntix,2 express pass tix
Souvies 50 per child total 150
Food 2000. Grand total=5,518
(My food total is inclusive of miscellaneous, and some souvies for me and dh . I allowed for 40 dollars per person per day within the food/misc budget. I need to include that. We will be eating @ whispering canyon cafe(lunch), and 50's prime time(dinner) out of pocket. So, I am assuming eating at both places, is an easy 200.)Otherwise, we will do counter service for lunches, and fast food or perkins types for dinner. So, do you all see where I can cut back? Thanks for any input or help. It is greatly appreciated.

P.S. Sweetmaxine, where did you find a condo for that cheap. My mother wants to go on this vacation with us. She wants a condo type with private bedroom, and pull out couch in living area. But, cannot find for lower than 500.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I am thinking as I read everyones post. Where am I going wrong. Can someone please help me. Please.

Ok now. This is my budget or what I will be spending. For a 9 night in orlando vacation. But, if someone can tell me where I can deeply slash my budget, I can make a down payment on this cruise. I want to go on. In sept 2006. Ok me, my dh, ds3, ds12, dd1

Airfare 4 r/t tix 660
Minivan rental, thrifty 370
Windsor hills 3 bedroom townhome 1105
Disney 5 day base 3 adults, 1 child 758
Already purchased universal tix 430 + 108 for 2 hhntix,2 express pass tix
Souvies 50 per child total 150
Food 2000. Grand total=5,518
(My food total is inclusive of miscellaneous, and some souvies for me and dh . I allowed for 40 dollars per person per day within the food/misc budget. I need to include that. We will be eating @ whispering canyon cafe(lunch), and 50's prime time(dinner) out of pocket. So, I am assuming eating at both places, is an easy 200.)Otherwise, we will do counter service for lunches, and fast food or perkins types for dinner. So, do you all see where I can cut back? Thanks for any input or help. It is greatly appreciated.

P.S. Sweetmaxine, where did you find a condo for that cheap. My mother wants to go on this vacation with us. She wants a condo type with private bedroom, and pull out couch in living area. But, cannot find for lower than 500.

I'm not sweetmaxine, but I wonder if she got it thru Skyauction. That's where we got ours..........both of them (and another one for my sister's family). but these are two bedrooms that I got.........would that work for you? The total for the three timeshares (for a total of 3 weeks) is $901. But again, this would work for you if grandma didn't need her own room...........now she could have her own separate condo at the resort. You are also staying for 9 nights?.....SA is either bid per night(which is usually not a great deal) or they have the week auctions, which are the better deals. YOu could stay somewhere else for two nights maybe?

MINIVAN............

Do you really think that it will cost you that much? We always drive, but I thought I always read on here how there are such good deals on rentals in Orlando.

FOOD..............

I know you said you have some misc. in there but that seems like an awful big number. If you are there for 9nights, and you have a kitchen, couldn't you do some lunches and/or dinners there?

Also, have you gone to Deb Will's site to see what the prices are on the menus of the places you want to go? Check it out.......it's great fun and it let's you know ahead of time how much it will cost.
http://www.allearsnet.com/

Since you will be offsite and have a car, you have to try Sweet Tomatoes. It's just down the road a little down from Univ. but worth the trip.
http://www.souplantation.com/locations/restaurant.asp?store_id=72

We went for lunch........adults 6.99, child 6-12 4.49, child 3-6 1.49 and under 3 free.............at least these were the prices last Sept. So for $21 your family can go out to eat on great food that is good for you. This is a must stop for us every trip.

That's all I can think of for now.

 

[umaangel00]

Your food budget does seem extremely high! We were there for 7 nights and it was only 200 bucks for us. But it was only 2 of us. But still 2000 is really too much. Do you really need a mini van or can you get something cheapier?

As for the 2 that posted about my gas budget, I have a 2000 Ponitac Bonneville. It gets about 30 miles a gallon. Maybe a little less at times. It still didn't cost us more than 200 bucks there and back for gas. So it was 100 bucks each way. That is including driving around Orlando. We were just there in march and gas prices were about the same then too. Maybe 5-15 cents cheapier at the most.

 

[isyt]

Desnik:

What part of NY are you from and how long did it take you? We are flying in Oct, but I'm curious if driving is doable, maybe for next time.

Thanks

We just drove in June. We were on the highway by 5am and pulled into Disney about 12:15am. We did make great time , I don't do this all the time. We were in North Jersey.

 

[isyt]

Universal is my Dh and DS's pick. We went there last year one day and they enjoyed it. My DD also loved the water play area and meeting Barney. So it's a must do for them.[/QUOTE]


We always have a day of fun, not magical, but fun there too. Don's forget that Universal uses AAA for 10% off everything from food to souveners. Have a great time.

 

[faindrops27]

Pamela, and all others thank you very much, for your replys.

Anyhow, I will not be doing lunches in the condo. But, will be bringing light snacks granola bars, crackers, pop tarts my ds 3 favorite thing in the world, why? I don't know. frozen waters and such. Planned on eating each day counter service light lunch. Then dinner fast foods, sonics, my favorite closet one to me is virginia perkins, red lobster, olive garden?. Other than what I mentioned. Because. I have to cook for a living, when I go away on vacation. I want someone else to cook for me. Maybe will pick up some cereal for townhome for some breakfast, some days. I figured, that price for each of us, to shelter in miniature golf, go karts, ghiradelli once, and goofys candy co, on my off nights. Maybe beaches & cream?? I know now. I will try to bring alot of the money back with me. If we don't
spend it all. Which is now my aim.

The condo thing. My mother is bringing her husband, and my half brother. So, she is looking for a place that has a seperate bedroom, for he is a teen. He could sleep on the pull out couch. I am still looking for her, the thing with skyauction is they dont have her dates. It is October 17- Oct 26. Will they allow her to check in one day late? If so. I would try and win it for her. Do you recommend any of the condos there?

Sweet Tomatoes,
I heard of it, and it was going to be on my list of things to do, thanks for giving me the prices. I think I will be going for early dinner though. After animal kingdom. I dont have any afternoons open, other than the first day we get there. Where we will be eating at whispering canyon cafe. Well, again thanks everyone for all of your input. It is so greatly appreciated. You all are the best!! !!

 

[jay-nee]

For a week in September using AP rate:

Pop (7 nights): $462.56 (includes tax)
PAPs: $0 (we already have them)
Air: $562 (R/T from Portsmouth, NH to Sanford, FL)
Shuttle: $120 (Coach USA for 3)
Food: $600 ($75 a day for 8 days total, but we should be able to stay under this)

Total: $1744

Just a bummer that we can't swing this... But, sometimes life changes and you have to make new choices...

But, that would have been our budget. We have always found food to be the biggest item in our budget. But, it's also where you can save the most, if you are careful. Eating breakfast in the room saves both time and money. Using counter service and eating when you are hungry instead of just eating and eating helps too. We also like to do appetizers and desserts at sit-down meals, it cheaper and you feel plenty full instead of eating a "big" meal.

Good luck to you!

 

[4formickey]

it is best to over budget a little then to under budget. Keep your gas price high and it can be adjusted as needed.You guys have done good with your budgets.