How much is too much to spend on a disney vacation?

[dismom9761]

I say do what you can afford. We had never gone because we assumed we could not afford it. We finally decided to take our income tax refund and take the kids.We spent 3000 for everything.5 nights at ASSP,tickets food,etc.for 6 people(one is DD1).Now I am addicted!I am planning on taking the kids back in Feb.2006(husband can't go) for longer and less money.That is why I love these boards.

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Well with the currency exchange our trips can vary tremendously. This year should be the cheapest so far. Because of these boards and all the fantastic tips I found....I may be able to go back to WDW pretty soon after my July trip.

Last year was pretty expensive because we didn't shop around for plane tickets and we were ripped off totally. We went for 10 days, including a stay at the RPR in Universal Orlando ( that REALLY hurt our budget!!)

This year with the new ticket format, the dining plan and AAA discount, flying Jetblue from another city, we are at 2700.00 US for a family of 4 DD 13 & 9.

All that there is left to pay for are the extras....we figure a 100.00 / day. BTW, we are going 7 days. OOPs forgot the fact that we will upgrade MYW tickets to 10 days so we can have 5 days left for another trip.....so that will cost a bit more.

 

[JonJehrio]

"It's never enough" .... Robert Smith, The Cure!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I really try to never think about what this is all costing. This year we'll be at the Nick Hotel 2 nights, GF 12 nights and HRH 4 nights. We're doing SeaWorld, US/IOA and WDW. We already had APs for Disney (wish I had bought them for US/IOA last year also but we didn't think we'd like Universal as much as we did). I've been buying Disney dollars ($50) every week since last July, and I have paid the hotel room off every month so when we get there it will be paid in full. It doesn't seem to hurt as much that way.

 

[hegs65]

The most we have ever paid was for our first family trip in Dec of 2000. We decided that since it was our first trip we would go all out and experience Disney in a deluxe way. Being the novices that we were, we did a pkg deal which when all was said and done, cost us $8000 for 7 nights at the Contemporary and 2 nights off site. It was alot of money for us, but we didn't care. The kids were young (dd5, ds9, ds 12) and we knew that we weren't going to be back for a few years so we just let them have a ball. Now having said all that, we just went again as a family in Jan 05 and because of the expert advice we received from the many wonderful people on these boards, we spent 1/2 as much money and we still had a fabulous time! I guess we look at it this way, any day at Disney is amazing whether you are staying at the Floridian or the All Stars.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

My guideline is that any amount is alright IF you do not have to suffer from a lot of pain paying it off the following year (or more). There would be exceptions though such as if it is probably the only time you ever get to go or a very special occasion.

I like not owing anything, except for utility bills, so for me it is what I can afford, right now.

Slighlty Goofy

 

[DVC Jen]

I don't even bother with worrying about justifying it. A family vacation is one of the most precious things we can do with those we love. The fancy cars, the big houses, designer clothes are just THINGS. Family vacations are so much more than just things. My parents died when I was 13 and then 16. They took me on wonderful family vacations and I cherish each and every memory I have from them. Things come and go... memories last a lifetime.

 

[kruggel2004]

I agree with everyone else..It all depends on your own personal situation..My DH and I have no kids but are not wealthy by any means..we would love to stay at a deluxe but for the price of a moderate we are able to splurge on some other great things..for 9 nights, hopper plus tickets, my way dining, air we are at 2,7000..we thought that was awesome..of course we still have a rental car and souveniers and tickets to universal..so whatever your budget is..dont' worry because your going to have a great time..

 

[Vivianne]

I agree with everyone else..It all depends on your own personal situation..My DH and I have no kids but are not wealthy by any means..we would love to stay at a deluxe but for the price of a moderate we are able to splurge on some other great things..for 9 nights, hopper plus tickets, my way dining, air we are at 2,7000..we thought that was awesome..of course we still have a rental car and souveniers and tickets to universal..so whatever your budget is..dont' worry because your going to have a great time..

Your vacation sounds like mine.

 

[PamNC]

That's a loaded question. It really depends. We buy AP's so when they expire and we have to buy new ones...the trip is more than the next trip...when the AP's are still active.

So, let's say the worst case scenario, it's AP buying time. I would say our cap for the vacation is $3,500.00. That's 7 nights at a deluxe with an AP rate. Buying AP's. Not scrimping on meals, and buying only 1 or two "trinkets." Perhaps going to one extra show or something, like Cirque or maybe doing Pleasure Island (we don't buy Premium AP's). This amount assumes we're driving, which we do most of the time. It's only 8.5 to 9 hours. It includes gas, although I might have to rethink that budget given the current prices. OUCH! My eyes bulge out everytime I drive up to the pump these days.

I wouldn't feel good about the trip spending more than $3,500.00.

PamNC

 

[Aidensmom]

Too much varies from person to person....

I think if you charged it all, and it takes you awhile to pay off then it may be too much.

I agree and will take it one step further and say if you have to charge ANY of it, it is too expensive. We only do a vacation when we can pay for it in cash.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

My DH and I agree that we won't charge any portion of our vacation. We like the cash only - or at least pay the balance when the credit card bill comes in. We are there 8 nights/9 days with a 7 day hopper passes for a family of 5 (3 being adults). We are staying at POR in July. We will also be doing Sea World one day. With air tickets and a rental car and food we will be spending a little under $5,000. Ouch!!! That is why we only can go every 2 or 3 years. But we feel fortunate. Some people can't even afford to go at all.

 

[MandM-Mom]

This is our first trip back as adults, we both went as children and on our Senior trips in High school so we wanted to be able to really enjoy ourselves so we included the meal plan so we could budget for our expenses a little better. I wanted to be able to bring my DD 4 to all the character meals and things. We are on a time constraint though so we only get to stay 5 days 4 nights, but I will take what I can get. I am a Teachers Aide and school breaks are just to busy and air is just too much so I had to fit it in on a long weekend somewhere. Since summer is just too hot in Florida for DH. So all in all we are spending

1480.00 for ASMo and Park hopper Tix includes MY Way DIning
386.00 For Air on SW 3 Tix
and figure in 600.00 or so for spending on Souvinears

So just about 2500.00 I think thats pretty good, I would of loved to have spent more but maybey next time we can go moderate.

I guess I will have to rethink my vacation club savings account to do that!!!

 

[pooh2001]

Am I nuts to spend close to $7000 for 2 weeks ?

Our estimates:
14 day UK ticket - 4 adult - (bought in the US ) -> $1300

Dolphin with AAA discount - 14 nights -> $2800

SW airline - 4 tickets- Round Trip -> $1000

Food for 15 days @ $150 per day -> $2250 minus VISA points = $1750

 

[disneyfan67]

Let's see........

Airfare for 2 adults, 2 children, round trip and nonstop - 600.00

Transportation to Chicago (ORD) airport round trip - 110.00 (not including tip)

Transportation from Orlando (MCO) to AKL by FL Tours - 110.00 (not including tip)

2 nights at AKL - 580.00

5 nights at the Polynesian - 2000.00

6 day MYW Tickets for 4 people with all of the options - 1000.00

Money for food and and the fun stuff you always find at WDW - 1600.00

Total comes to $6000.00 OUCH!

YIKES!! I just added this up for the first time because I've been paying for this in steps. It's amazing how fast it can get away from you. I'm just glad I didn't put it on a credit card! LOL!!

 

[cobbler]

Last year was our most expensive trip ever. Cost us around 4G. But a big chunk of that cost was annual passes for the entire family. It was worth every penny - let me tell you.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I don't even bother with worrying about justifying it. A family vacation is one of the most precious things we can do with those we love. The fancy cars, the big houses, designer clothes are just THINGS. Family vacations are so much more than just things. My parents died when I was 13 and then 16. They took me on wonderful family vacations and I cherish each and every memory I have from them. Things come and go... memories last a lifetime.

Glad you said that, and sorry to hear you lost your parenst so young. I lost my father at 9 which I am sure is a good part of why I spend lavishly on trips and vacations for my kid. Because you are right... the house, the car... they won't be memories. But should I leave early like my father did, I want my daughter to have as much good memories and experiences as she can have while I am here. Thats why I carried her on my shoulders until my body finally just gave out ( we ran from the front gate of Seaworld back to the Renassance hotel with her on my shoulders when she was 8. Carried her up there again when she was 9)

So yeah as you said, "A family vacation is one of the most precious things we can do with those we love."

 

[missypie]

If you truly can't afford your vacation so much that you're stressing out and yelling at your kids to HAVE FUN when they're tired becuase you know you'll never get there again and can't afford it even this time...then it's too expensive. I don't think small children can make themselves appreciate "once in a life time" vacations any more than "regular" vacations ... they are going to be themselves, no matter if what you're doing is cheap or expensive. (If they always take a nap from 2 to 4, they are going to need a nap from 2-4, even if you're in the MK.)

I'll express a different viewpoint from the posts above me. For all you parents who run up credit card bills and sacrifice a great deal to take your kids on Disney or any other vacations, I'll say this: Maybe you should re-think this. My parents were children of the Depression. They were both from large, poor families and literally never had a vacation growing up. Becuase of that, we always went on vacation. Sure, we drove and stayed at Motel 6s and cooked in the room, but we always went on a vacation. BUT, my parents rented a house all while I was growing up...they couldn't afford buy a house until I (the youngest) was 20 years old because they didn't have the money for a down payment earlier. When I look back on it, I think it was foolish to take a vacation every year...it would have been much wiser to have skipped a few years to save money for a down payment on a house. They would be much better off in their retirement if they would have skipped a few vacations and bought a house and invested money.

I know my parents were trying to give us the nice childhood they never had, but I don't know that it was the best decision.

 

[kkana]

For the 7 day Land & Sea - 2 adults DGD 8 yr old - $4,636.35 -- return airfare $2,030.34 -- transfers $254.61 == $6,921.30.
Plus we can't fly out the day the boat docks so it will be another $49.99 plus taxes for a room at the Econo Lodge Airport.

None of this includes food, souveniers etc.

But our thoughts are this will be our DGD's first trip, and possibly her only -plus since I am a breast cancer survivor, and the threat of a reoccurence never leaves, we plan to travel now - while we can.

This entire portion of the trip has already been paid for - so just working on the spending money. Thank goodness food is included on the Wonder

 

[nataliesdaddy]

Am I nuts to spend close to $7000 for 2 weeks ?

Our estimates:
14 day UK ticket - 4 adult - (bought in the US ) -> $1300

Dolphin with AAA discount - 14 nights -> $2800

SW airline - 4 tickets- Round Trip -> $1000

Food for 15 days @ $150 per day -> $2250 minus VISA points = $1750

No I don't think you are nuts - frankly seeing your tab makes me feel more at ease with my tab - the DD likes staying concierge... I did it once to spoil her and...hahahahaha I did...because now she just has to go that way!! She'll be an expensive date when she gets older. And airline tickets from our origination point are ludicrous...