JennysSeven
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 18, 2015
- Messages
- 236
The sticker shock hasn't quite worn off yet... (all numbers rounded off)
Package (8 nights in 2 rooms at CBR, 7 days park tickets (non-hopper) and DDP for hubby and I and our 7 kids (5 Disney adults and 4 Disney kids) -- $9800
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tix for the 9 of us -- $750
Gas (driving from TX) -- $450
Hotels on the road -- $600
Food on the road -- $750
Souvenirs, tips, etc. -- $1000 (total rough estimate; will figure this out more carefully as the time approaches, once we get our ADRs, etc.)
Total: $13,350
I'm going to try to use points for hotel stays along the way to save (we're Platinum with Marriott's reward system so we build up quite a few points) and see if I can cut food on the road back some (that figure represents breakfast in the hotel, packed sandwiches, etc. for lunch at rest areas, and restaurant dinners for 8 on the way there, 9 on the way home, as hubby will be flying to Orlando on business ahead of the kids and me driving there). I'm planning on using our Disney Visa rewards for most of our souvenir money, and I'm planning on getting a Target red card and trying out the process I read here on these boards of buying discounted Disney gift cards to try to shave at least 5% off the package costs. And I'm hoping for a room discount to come out for the time we will be there, but not depending on it.
We're planning on doing a lot of character meals hence the DDP. If I can't get the ADRs I want I will probably consider dropping the DDP and paying for food OOP as we could most likely save $$ that way if not doing the character meals/buffets, etc.
.
My older kids and I are Ebaying stuff to pay as much of the package cost as possible. That's my compromise with hubby because I want to stay on site with the DDP and he'd rather stay off site and save money that way, as we've done in the past. After 2 months of Ebaying, we're at just under $3K saved up, with a little bit more than 5 months left before our package has to be paid in full. Most of the actual travel expenses to/from Orlando and tips will come out of our regular budget.
If there are any other savings ideas I'm missing, I'm all ears!!
Package (8 nights in 2 rooms at CBR, 7 days park tickets (non-hopper) and DDP for hubby and I and our 7 kids (5 Disney adults and 4 Disney kids) -- $9800
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tix for the 9 of us -- $750
Gas (driving from TX) -- $450
Hotels on the road -- $600
Food on the road -- $750
Souvenirs, tips, etc. -- $1000 (total rough estimate; will figure this out more carefully as the time approaches, once we get our ADRs, etc.)
Total: $13,350
I'm going to try to use points for hotel stays along the way to save (we're Platinum with Marriott's reward system so we build up quite a few points) and see if I can cut food on the road back some (that figure represents breakfast in the hotel, packed sandwiches, etc. for lunch at rest areas, and restaurant dinners for 8 on the way there, 9 on the way home, as hubby will be flying to Orlando on business ahead of the kids and me driving there). I'm planning on using our Disney Visa rewards for most of our souvenir money, and I'm planning on getting a Target red card and trying out the process I read here on these boards of buying discounted Disney gift cards to try to shave at least 5% off the package costs. And I'm hoping for a room discount to come out for the time we will be there, but not depending on it.
We're planning on doing a lot of character meals hence the DDP. If I can't get the ADRs I want I will probably consider dropping the DDP and paying for food OOP as we could most likely save $$ that way if not doing the character meals/buffets, etc. .
My older kids and I are Ebaying stuff to pay as much of the package cost as possible. That's my compromise with hubby because I want to stay on site with the DDP and he'd rather stay off site and save money that way, as we've done in the past.
After 2 months of Ebaying, we're at just under $3K saved up, with a little bit more than 5 months left before our package has to be paid in full. Most of the actual travel expenses to/from Orlando and tips will come out of our regular budget.If there are any other savings ideas I'm missing, I'm all ears!!
less $500 deposit paid at reservation time.
