How much do you REALLY spend???

[WDWCPAlumni]

When you add up everything..... transportation, cash, disney dollars, credit cards, all the little things, all the big things......tips

All and all
How much do you think your family REALLY does spend on a single vacation, how long do you go, how many of you are there?????

 

[BeckWhy]

Ok, I can't say for certain on our last trip or any previous trips for that matter, but I can make basic assumptions about our future trip.

We will spend about $2600 for two of us (adults). This includes 7 nights at a value resort (non-preferred room) with no discount (even though I will book the discount), 5 day base MYW ticket, DDP, drinks (now I can't remember the specifics, but it's something like 3 drinks a day for my boyfriend and 2 for me), ME transportation, food at the airports during layovers, and airline tickets (at $250 a piece, but I'm not sure how much we will end up paying in the end).

What's not included in the price above but I can assume, cost of gas and tolls to the airport (2 hour drive in decent weather) $20 each way (someone will drive us to the airport and then someone will pick us up). Cost of souveneers (sp?) is about $150 for the both of us (that's two refillable mugs, a stuffed animal in AK, and some extra money for who knows what).

Did I miss anything?

 

[aimeeg]

We leave in 19 days. For our family of three plus one baby, I think the latest count was around $3100.

We are staying in a timeshare so our hotel was only $139 for the week.

We bought three 8 day park tickets at undercovertourist for $611

We are flying southwest and renting a car from Thrity for a total of $730. (We were able to get lower rates from Southwest so we now have a $220 credit to use at a later date.)

Our biggest expense is Character Dining. This is our first trip and it is what our DD wants to do the most. We are going to Chef Mickey's, CRT, Liberty Tree, Restaurantasaurus, Crystal Palcace, and Storybook Breakfast.

We have also sprung for the delux package at the Bippity Boppity Boutique. (Part of a potty training bribe.) We are also doing the Wonderland Tea Party and the Family Magic Tour.

I am also surprising my DH with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. It is the best waste of $350 ever.

I did compare prices to see if we would have saved more money if we booked it all through Disney and it actually would have cost $1000 more.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

Not counting souvenirs, I think we're looking at about $6500. There are four of us - 2 adults, 2 children. This is our last trip where DD9 will be considered a child!

That includes:

- 7 night land/sea package (Poly/Cat 6 on cruise) $4350
- 1 night DVC rental after cruise $109
- airline tickets $1300 (We never get good deals on direct flights from our local airport!)
- Approximately $400 in food for our land portion
- About $300 for suprise date for DH to celebrate our 15th anniversary while at WDW

I must say that this isn't typical for us. We usually drive. And I usually look for discounts when staying at WDW. We used to stay at value resorts, but after trying a deluxe last year, we're hooked! But this trip is a splurge for our 15th anniversary.

 

[MinnieCandi]

We went to the world in November 2006. After everthing was said and done we spent $4380. That included everything for 4 people, Airfare, Hotel (CB), Disney Dining Package, park tickets, tips for mousekeeping, sweatshirts, mickey ears, pictures from photo pass, everything.

 

[cleo]

Next to nothing now, but we live 3 minutes away.

Before that, probably around $2000-2500 including airfare, onsite stay, tickets and dining. Didn't buy many trinkets (maybe the first few years, not so much after that), were not big eaters and used discounts where available. Doing the exact same thing now would probably cost around $3000 with 'inflation'.

Editing to say, that was for a 7 night stay for 2 adults, one child.

 

[ReninDetroit]

We've gotten pretty good at saving money, mostly by alternating between expensive trips and cheap trips. In March, we did 5 nights in 2 standard rooms at the POR. We spent a total of about $3000 for the four of us (all expenses included). This included our first ever AP purchase, which we quickly earned back in hotel savings and the DDE.

Once at the parks, we extended our 6-day hoppers (for which only 4 days per person were ever used) into 10 days with no expiration. Combining this with the AP room discount and DDE food discount, our trip in December (pre-holiday rates) will only cost us about $1,500, assuming we can get relatively cheap airfare.

 

[scrump]

For Feb 07 trip, we spent roughly $2400 for two adults. Included in this is a value resort, passes, airfare, food (no DDP).

Edited to add that it was a six-night stay.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Last Sept during FREE dining, my dgf and I spent a total of less than $1700. We drove 75o miles each way, spent two nights in motels, 5 night stay with 6 day myw tix, went to HDDR and Donald's oop, and went to Capone's off site. We stayed at AS-Sp. Our car never moved from Monday to Saturday afternoon.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

It's very hard for me to break it down.

We buy 10 day w/fun option and no expiration passes and we get several trips out of them, 4 or 5 at least. Because we've gone to WDW a ton, we don't necessarily do parks every day anymore. Our trips are more relaxing than the ones in the earlier days of our addiction.

We live outside of Washington, DC, and my goal is always for the three of us to fly for under $450. It's rare that I go above that. We just got back from a quickie trip, and I spent a little under $300 for our r/t tickets.

We like the mods. I just stayed at POR for $196 a night, including taxes. That about killed me because I was used to the days of deep discounts Not anymore. We do stay at the values sometimes, depending on finances.

For spending money, we spend about $150 a day including our food. I'm boycotting the DDP because I think it is detrimental to park food and atmosphere, but with the DDP we'd spend more than that anyway. I have a teenaged boy.

I LOATHE Disney's Magical Express, so we spring for a town car.

For a week, if I prorate my tickets, include my hotel, air, and spending money, I'd guess we'd spend about $3000 for a week's stay. Our trips are usually shorter, though...anywhere from 3 to 5 days.

 

[rentayenta]

10 nights/11 days
POR
me, DH, DD10, DD8, and DS5
10 day MYW hoppers with water park feature, expiring
food, free DDP
$3,130

airfare for 5 from SLC to MCO
$1,050

tips
$100

groceries delivered
$100

4 surprise gift baskets
$300

DH golf (2x after 10 am)
$100 with gratuity

Souvenirs/extras
$200

Gab's tri including bike rental and entrance fee
$70

Misc; cabs if needed, etc.,
$100




$5,150 is my best guesstimate and I bet we'll come close.

 

[Disneyof3]

Were a family of 5 and for 5 nights and 6 days including the DDP in a moderate resort, gas driving there and back, food for the way there and back, souveniers and I do my yearly clothes shopping while in the US, cereals and food we get that we can't get at home, total usually is about 3500-4000. Not bad a once a year trip.

 

[wen8jr]

What everyone is reporting makes me feel better for what I plan to budget for our first WDW trip in Oct. 2 Adults, 1 DS (12)

Driving 750 miles, we're staying 5 nights at POR, 1 night in St. Augustine at Casa Monica Hotel (a treat), 2 nights in hotels while traveling, with 5 day WDW base tickets for 3. Also going to do MNSSHP and a Schooner Sail in St. Augustine.

We're budgeting $4K:

5 nights WDW resort with 5 day base tickets & 3 MNSSHP tickets - $1582.00
Casa Monica Hotel 1 night - $295.00
2 on the road hotels - $200.00
Food & Drinks - 8 days @ 150.00/day - $1200.00
Gas - $300.00
Schooner - $100.00 - 3 tickets
Other Misc Spending - $250.00

I have budgeted high on the food and gas. Never know when gas will skyrocket and the cost of food seems to be outrageous.

Boy would it be nice if they offered free dining for mid-october!!!!

Hope I haven't missed any unknown costs! I think there may be toll costs on FLA interstates????

 

[estherhead]

I don't have everything bought yet so this is what our definates are & then what I think we'll pay:

Definate:
ASMo w/8 day tickets (not hoppers) with water parks pluses w/free DDP: $1600.00
Free: all souveniers will be paid with my $300 Disney Visa rewards card

Airplane: I hope to buy on Priceline for $99.00 which is what I've paid the last few times. With fees for the 4 of us it ends up being $524. If not than I can fly non-stop Southwest for all of us for $796.00
Rental car & gas: 300.00
Parking our car at the airport for 8 days @ $5.50 per day $44
Alcohol $100.00 (we mainly drink rum & Coke in our room but a few Froo-Froo drinks)
Grocery store run: $100.00
Photopass I want to buy this time $125.00
Misc. cash for surprises $200.00

Grand total outta my pocket: $2993.00 hopefully. Up to $3500.00

 

[MickeyNicki]

Since we have AP we go about 6 times a year so I would say:

TOO DANG MUCH!!!!!

 

[Jenniww]

All star Movie pref 7 nights- hopper & DDP plus N/S air from Va to Orlando $3300.

We bought every thing we wanted and spent about $1200.


It was our first trip. So we did go a little over board!

My youngest and I are going back in Jan and we will have a spending budget of about $300. The first time was special.

 

[jimmalru80]

With the five of us, deluxe resort, prime time, premium plan, lots of drinks, etc. It looks like $10,000 to $12,000 every year. It's what we live for.

 

[Weeziblu]

6 nights/7 days @ AKL pool view bunk bed w/ 7 day MYW w/hopper, waterparks & more & dining plan = 3998.00

Airfare for 4 from PHL to MCO - $920.00

CRT out of pocket - $150

estimated stroller rental, drinks, tips, breakfast OOP & special occasion cake for Father's Day dinner - $500

estimated souveniers - kids each $100 on Disney gift cards & each $35 Disney dollars; me & DH $500 Visa gift card

approximate total: $6,811.00.

Wow, more than I thought, actually

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

From my experience, if I was counseling a family thinking of going, I would ask them if they wanted to stay in a deluxe, moderate, or value/off site hotel.

Then I'd say count on $275 per day per person for deluxe, $225 for moderate, and $175 for value/off site.

This is assuming they are going to be eating not every meal at a Disney sit-down, can get reasonable or sale air fares, know how to shop for rental car deals or are using Magical Express, and can keep a lid on the extras and the souvenirs.

Anyone can run up a tab way way higher than that at Disney if they try.

 

[*Emily*]

Waaay too much, nut it's worth every single penny!