We save like crazy, and budget $2000 or so for a normal family vacation. This is the "blowout" for us.
$2700 for 2 adults & 2 teens 6 nights POFQ with
DDP and 7 day PH&WP passes
$150 (estimated) 3 nights stay on the road in motels
$100 1x buffet dinner & breakfast before check in at POFQ
$50 Fast food on the screamin drive home
??? Gas for trip. I'm annoyed by the gas prices so I'm just ignoring this.
??? Tips
I assume that our round trip transport including food & hotel will be about $1000, so I think our total will be close to $4000.
The kids each have $100 in birthday money, they make their own decisions as to what they get. They are good about not doing the "gimme" thing, when we were at the fair a few days ago, I told them it would be $45 for us all to get the armband to ride all night, and they looked around and said, "that's a lot of money, and we're going to disneyworld in a few weeks!" so we didn't get the arm band. I was proud of them.
I have a rule "when we are in an amusement park, we don't do the things that cost extra" and I always have snacks for them.