How much is your 2025 vacation going to cost you?

[PrincessNelly]

I know there is often a "how much is your vacation costing" thread but I didn't see one created for 2025, so I thought I'd start it!
I love seeing how people budget their trips, how many good deals are found, & fun places people are going!!

We set aside about $600/month for our vacation fund. We also dump any bonuses or tax refunds we get into it. We only do 1 date night a month at home and I'm an avid couponer, so we are able to take 3-4 vacations a year.

We are typically WDW people but mixing it up this year. We found a great GTY rate on the Disney Magic & decided to use it as an opportunity to visit Houston for the first time. Flights & hotels ended up being more than we originally planned but its my birthday, so I'm happy to splurge on myself!

Feb 1st - Feb 8th (2 Adults)
1 night Hotel at IAH Airport (pre cruise) -$251.82
5 night cruise Western Caribbean on Disney Magic (verandah room) - $2,180.24
1 night Hotel Downtown Houston (post cruise) - $219.97
One Way DCL Transfers - $90.00
Prepaid Gratuities - $145.00
United Flights (EWR to IAH) - $290.94 (basic economy + seat & baggage add ons)
Spirit Flights (IAH to EWR) - $296.40 (upgraded to Big Front Seat package)
Uber from Port to Houston - $60.00 (estimated)
Uber from Houston to IAH - $20.00 (estimated)
Travel Insurance - $100
Prebooked Onboard Experiences (Palo Brunch & Dinner, Massage) - $420.00
Dining in Houston - $200 (estimated)
Est. Total $4,274.37

We lucked up into 4 nights at the Grand Cali before Disneyland announced the 70th anniversary dates. I've heard how hard it is to book a DVC Studio here when you aren't a VGC owner. So we are thrilled to visit for the first time & see all the new offerings! We may add a few more nights to this trip, as we've never been to California & would love to explore the LA area for a few days! Any recommendations on places to stay would be great.

May 19th - 23rd (2 Adults)
4 nights Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Deluxe Studio -$851.89 (DVC dues)
Disneyland Tickets - $835.00
Dining - TBD
Additional Hotel - TBD
Flights - TBD
Transportation - TBD
Current Total $1,686.89

 

[tvguy]

Booked our first big trip of retirement. A Princess land/sea 14 day package. Just under $14,000 with air fare/excursions/pre-paid tips/hotels and about half the meals on land. Our retirement planning included a budget of $1,000 a month for travel, so that money every month has been going to pay down that trip.
7 days touring American Historic sites by bus, all around Washington D.C Philadelphia. Boston, Gettysburg ending up in NYC getting on an Eastern Canadian cruise for 7 days.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I don't have an exact budget yet, but we'll be driving from North Carolina to Holyoke, MA for our daughter's wedding in August. Afterwards, the rest of the family will spend 6 nights at a ranch in NY that we go to every year. Normally, we stay 7 nights , but the kids wanted to get back because classes start 2 days after we get home this way.

We're kicking in $20k for the wedding (not sure if I'd count that as a vacation expense). Plus the maid of honor dress, the bridesman's outfit, various hotel rooms, meals, etc. A hotel room for the way up, and the way back. Plus the cost of the ranch (haven't changed the reservation yet, from 7 to 6 days). And plane tickets for the bachelorette party for my younger two, and also for 3 of us for the wedding shower. Probably a hotel room for 2 nights for the shower (waiting on details).

The younger two may also travel abroad with school--no word yet.

For us, this is a "cheap" year--the wedding is budgeted separately. But next year, it looks like Iceland, a cruise with extra days tacked on, which we'll likely start paying for this year (deposits, etc.). We'll firm up who's going and how many cabins later on.

 

[bettertheangel]

We have a trip to WDW planned for February.

Two 4-day Park Hopper WDW tickets from Undercover Tourist - $1,466.24

Two Round Trip tickets to MCO via American Airlines - $821.90

7 Night Stay in a Two Bedroom Suite at Sheraton Vistana - $1,816.88

7 Day SUV vehicle rental from Budget - $372.54

Our total so far is $4,477.56. This is obviously not including food, LLMP, or souvenirs. We are also planning on visiting Kennedy Space Center but have not bought tickets yet. I estimate that it will be an additional $2,500 since we are mainly doing TS for meals.

 

[Buddhaman42]

Thought I would contribute our 2025 trip budget as I kept a pretty decent record and may help someone who is in the process of planning. We are a family of 5, travelling this month. This is not at all the norm for us, took me about 4 years to save up for this one trip.

3 Nights Polynesian + 3 Nights AKL Kidani - $3,060
2 Nights Riviera - $863
Flight (5 tickets) - $1,664
Airport transfers - $120
7 Day Park Tickets - $3,412
Dining Budget - (estimated) $4,460
(Table Services include Space 220, Jiko, Sanaa, Roundup Rodeo, Ohana, and Akershus)

"Extras"
Lightning Lanes - $628
CRT - $406
BBB - $233
Savi's - $530
Memory Maker - $180
Souvenir Budget - (estimated) $1,000

Grand total: $16,556

 

[Genie+]

30 days out. Just DH and I. 5 full park days and 5 nights at Grand Flo. $2,890.

$200 for Airfare - Round trip EWR-MCO used points to go down. Paid $100 each to come back up.

$590 for Park Tickets - 3rd trip on APs before they expire Feb 28. Sorcerer Pass cost $1k. Used for total of 17 days. 5 days pro-rated $295 each for our hoppers.

$1,100 for Room - 18 DVC points per night. Cost $12 per point and $216/nt*

$1,000 for Food - budget won’t exceed

That is the shiny version and I’m actually shocked it is still working out to about $300 per day for each of us. That’s still expensive! Considering we had to take 2 other trips to get that prorated AP cost down. Without spending $25k on DVC last year those APs would’ve cost 50% more. That $12pp DVC cost is really at least $16pp once you factor TVM on the $4pp/py buy-in. We still need to buy a few days of LLMP and LLSP for GotG, tacking on another $150-$200 to the trip.

I guess it’s really not bad all things considered. The other versions would be:

$1500 for Park Tickets - going rate for 5 day hoppers, 2ppl starting Feb 2
Or
$900 pro-rated cost on Incredipass APs

*$300-$350/nt at Gran Flo DVC after applying time value of money on buyin and avg/year
Or
$600-$1000+ for Deluxe room
Or
$200-$300+ for Value/Moderates

$200 per person per day for room/ticket is starting to look better At least we’re getting hoppers and deluxe resort for that price.

$50-$75 food budget per person per day If we stick to mostly QS and only Grand Flo Cafe for Table Service. We’ll see…

 

[robinb]

Dare I even ... it's NOT a budget trip by any stretch of the imagination.

15-Day Panama Cruise with 4 Days at Disneyland ~ February 21 - March 14

• Airfare MKE to FLL- free on SWA points
• Pre-Cruise hotel - free on hotel points
• Car from FLL to MIA Cruise Port - $50
• NCL Bliss Panama Canal cruise - $4965 ($5765 minus $250 in "Cruise Next" certificate cost for $500 deposit and $550 OBC)
  • Includes ...
  • free gratuities
  • open bar
  • 150 minutes of WiFi
  • 7 specialty meals
  • 2 free bags of laundry
  • $50 off excursions at each port - we actually don't use this one much.
• Excursions - $1200, estimate 6 ports, $200 per port
• Car from San Pedro Cruise Port to LAX - $250 (estimate)
• 5 nights at the Disneyland Hotel - $964 (DVC dues)
• 4 day Disneyland Park Hopper with LLMP - $1310
• Food and extras in California, estimate $200 per day - $1000
• Airfare LAX to MKE - free on SWA points
• Travel-Insurance - $243, 1/2 of $485 Allianz Annual Plan

Grand total: $9982

 

[Genie+]

Thought I would contribute our 2025 trip budget as I kept a pretty decent record and may help someone who is in the process of planning. We are a family of 5, travelling this month. This is not at all the norm for us, took me about 4 years to save up for this one trip.

3 Nights Polynesian + 3 Nights AKL Kidani - $3,060
2 Nights Riviera - $863
Flight (5 tickets) - $1,664
Airport transfers - $120
7 Day Park Tickets - $3,412
Dining Budget - (estimated) $4,460
(Table Services include Space 220, Jiko, Sanaa, Roundup Rodeo, Ohana, and Akershus)

"Extras"
Lightning Lanes - $628
CRT - $406
BBB - $233
Savi's - $530
Memory Maker - $180
Souvenir Budget - (estimated) $1,000

Grand total: $16,556

This is much closer to what our budgets looked like for our party of 4 last year and party of 5 the year prior. Now I fell stupid for complaining above. It’s just that this Feb trip was supposed to be a kinda bonus freebie with APs and good point season DVC. Lol

 

[jennab]

9 nights for 2 adults and 1 teen in late spring. We haven’t been in about 2.5yrs so splurging a bit. DH decided he’d rather pay more and have deluxe, I was going to do a moderate to save $ originally.

Contemporary 9 nights - $4,444
Tickets (14 day park hopper plus with memory maker) - $2,044
Airfare (expected to be covered by points) - $0
Food & other - estimate about $2500

Total as of now = $8,988

Likely spend more on extras, but I’m not sure exactly what yet. Have thought about Wild Africa Trek, possible fishing, mosaic art, etc.

 

[Genie+]

Tickets (14 day park hopper plus with memory maker) - $2,044

Ooh is that UK tickets? Whatever it is - it’s a GREAT deal in 2025!

 

[jennab]

Ooh is that UK tickets? Whatever it is - it’s a GREAT deal in 2025!

Yep!! I am in the US, but I bought it during their Black Friday sale! I don’t need all the day, but still cheaper than direct through Disney ticket and it includes water parks and photopass/memory maker.

 

[Genie+]

Yep!! I am in the US, but I bought it during their Black Friday sale! I don’t need all the day, but still cheaper than direct through Disney ticket and it includes water parks and photopass/memory maker.

Wow yeah, that is fantastic. It makes it easier to part with money in other areas… like the LLs, Enchanted Extras, Resort, etc.

ETA - I feel so old when I look at WDW ticket prices on their site

 

[jennab]

Wow yeah, that is fantastic. It makes it easier to part with money in other areas… like the LLs, Enchanted Extras, Resort, etc.

Exactly! I don’t feel as bad going to deluxe resort because we are saving on tickets and airfare! Oh and I suppose Disney’s gift card deals save me some money too, didn’t factor that into my “cost”

 

[PrincessNelly]

Thought I would contribute our 2025 trip budget as I kept a pretty decent record and may help someone who is in the process of planning. We are a family of 5, travelling this month. This is not at all the norm for us, took me about 4 years to save up for this one trip.

3 Nights Polynesian + 3 Nights AKL Kidani - $3,060
2 Nights Riviera - $863
Flight (5 tickets) - $1,664
Airport transfers - $120
7 Day Park Tickets - $3,412
Dining Budget - (estimated) $4,460
(Table Services include Space 220, Jiko, Sanaa, Roundup Rodeo, Ohana, and Akershus)

"Extras"
Lightning Lanes - $628
CRT - $406
BBB - $233
Savi's - $530
Memory Maker - $180
Souvenir Budget - (estimated) $1,000

Grand total: $16,556

Hitting all my favorite resorts! Have the best time!

 

[kristenrice]

October 14-21, 2025 (for now...dates subject to adjustment based on flights)
It will be my friend and I using my DVC membership and her military tickets

3 nights in a concierge studio at AKV + 4 nights in a 1BR at BLT = $800 (*my portion of a point transfer)
6-day park-hopper tickets = $400 (Military Salute tickets)
Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Ticket = $200
Dining for a week = $1000
Flight = $500 (includes various incidental transportation costs)
Miscellaneous = $600 (includes grocery order, tips, tours or other expenses)

Total for 7 nights = $3500

 

[PrincessNelly]

30 days out. Just DH and I. 5 full park days and 5 nights at Grand Flo. $2,890.

$200 for Airfare - Round trip EWR-MCO used points to go down. Paid $100 each to come back up.

$590 for Park Tickets - 3rd trip on APs before they expire Feb 28. Sorcerer Pass cost $1k. Used for total of 17 days. 5 days pro-rated $295 each for our hoppers.

$1,100 for Room - 18 DVC points per night. Cost $12 per point and $216/nt*

$1,000 for Food - budget won’t exceed

That is the shiny version and I’m actually shocked it is still working out to about $300 per day for each of us. That’s still expensive! Considering we had to take 2 other trips to get that prorated AP cost down. Without spending $25k on DVC last year those APs would’ve cost 50% more. That $12pp DVC cost is really at least $16pp once you factor TVM on the $4pp/py buy-in. We still need to buy a few days of LLMP and LLSP for GotG, tacking on another $150-$200 to the trip.

I guess it’s really not bad all things considered. The other versions would be:

$1500 for Park Tickets - going rate for 5 day hoppers, 2ppl starting Feb 2
Or
$900 pro-rated cost on Incredipass APs

*$300-$350/nt at Gran Flo DVC after applying time value of money on buyin and avg/year
Or
$600-$1000+ for Deluxe room
Or
$200-$300+ for Value/Moderates

$200 per person per day for room/ticket is starting to look better At least we’re getting hoppers and deluxe resort for that price.

$50-$75 food budget per person per day If we stick to mostly QS and only Grand Flo Cafe for Table Service. We’ll see…

this is exactly how I think. I'm always shocked how much my trips still cost w/ DVC.
But then I run the numbers without it & I'm pleased lol

 

[PrincessNelly]

Dare I even ... it's NOT a budget trip by any stretch of the imagination.

15-Day Panama Cruise with 4 Days at Disneyland ~ February 21 - March 14

• Airfare MKE to FLL- free on SWA points
• Pre-Cruise hotel - free on hotel points
• Car from FLL to MIA Cruise Port - $50
• NCL Bliss Panama Canal cruise - $4965 ($5765 minus $250 in "Cruise Next" certificate cost for $500 deposit and $550 OBC)
  • Includes ...
  • free gratuities
  • open bar
  • 150 minutes of WiFi
  • 7 specialty meals
  • 2 free bags of laundry
  • $50 off excursions at each port - we actually don't use this one much.
• Excursions - $1200, estimate 6 ports, $200 per port
• Car from San Pedro Cruise Port to LAX - $250 (estimate)
• 5 nights at the Disneyland Hotel - $964 (DVC dues)
• 4 day Disneyland Park Hopper with LLMP - $1310
• Food and extras in California, estimate $200 per day - $1000
• Airfare LAX to MKE - free on SWA points
• Travel-Insurance - $243, 1/2 of $485 Allianz Annual Plan

Grand total: $9982

This sounds amazing. I may need to copy this trip. Not sure my boss would approved lol

 

[PrincessNelly]

Yep!! I am in the US, but I bought it during their Black Friday sale! I don’t need all the day, but still cheaper than direct through Disney ticket and it includes water parks and photopass/memory maker.

I never knew you could do this. This might be a game changer for me

 

[PrincessNelly]

9 nights for 2 adults and 1 teen in late spring. We haven’t been in about 2.5yrs so splurging a bit. DH decided he’d rather pay more and have deluxe, I was going to do a moderate to save $ originally.

Contemporary 9 nights - $4,444
Tickets (14 day park hopper plus with memory maker) - $2,044
Airfare (expected to be covered by points) - $0
Food & other - estimate about $2500

Total as of now = $8,988

Likely spend more on extras, but I’m not sure exactly what yet. Have thought about Wild Africa Trek, possible fishing, mosaic art, etc.

Have you seen the new refurbished rooms at Bay Lake Tower? They look great, if you would be open to renting DVC points for BLT to save money. Might be too short notice tho.

 

[jennab]

I never knew you could do this. This might be a game changer for me

Yes I learned about it this year too and worked out great for our longer trip!