How much would you expect to spend?

[LOVEDISNEYLAND]

I just had a question. I am planning a trip to Disneyland for Feb 8th-12th which is a Sunday through Thursday. The least busiest days of the week. We are trying to fly into Long beach airport (cheaper than OC) from Seattle. Staying at the Best Western Park Place for 4 nights with a rental car. small one, with a 5 day hopper ticket and one day at knotts.

We also never eat in the park because we are super picky eaters and don't really like the food, except for churros and popcorn and the Blue Bayou. So my question is, how much do you think a vacation like this would cost us? Do you think we could do it for $1,500? It will only be the two of us.

I guess I need a glimer of hope because I really miss DL and want so badly to go back. What's your opinions? Thanks for taking the time to reply!

 

[techno]

Probably, depends on if that includes your airfare, rental car, hotel, and park admission.

We usually drive from Arizona, stay at the PPH or DLH, and spend 3 days at the park. It usually costs us ~$2,000 for the three of us (2 adults, one little one). That includes gas, hotel, park hoppers, food, and some shopping.

We've done this every spring (March/April) and winter (late November/early December) for the last 2 years, and the costs are always in the same ballpark.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I don't know how much the rest of your trip costs, but for four of us we spent about $100 a day on food. Breakfast was free at the hotel. We often split meals or had a "snack" for a meal. We also didn't go to any fancy places to eat, just counter service. So, if you always brought your own food, that might save several hundred.

 

[Queenbillabong]

You may be able to do it, but you should start checking prices now. Look at Getawaytoday.com and also price out flights/hotel separately to see. It might be tight for that long though.....

 

[CrazyDuck]

You can't do it for $1500

$375 Park Place
$750 airfare to LGB
$388 DLR park tickets
$86 Knotts park tickets
$135 car
------
$1734

If you fly into LAX (no biggie since you are renting car!) and you stay at a cheaper hotel you can do it!

$252 Travel Lodge DL Drive
$632 airfare to LAX
$388 DL park tickets
$86 Knotts park tickets
$112 car
------
$1470

 

[dizneekrazee]

It will porbably be about that. But it also depends on you rental rate and your airfare. Those are both so expensive. We are a family of 5 going in October, we are driving from San Fran. We are planning on $1200 for everything, including gas, tickets and hotel. (The kids are bringing their own spending money, and that is not included in that price).

 

[hikingblondie]

You could watch for Virgin America to have a seat sale from Seattle to LAX. We are flying out of Seattle and got $79 each way fares recently. Saved so much $$ by flying on Saturday, it paid for an extra night in the hotel. Check JetBlue too. Also, look into booking at the HoJo with the Ent.card rate. I know it's not posted on their website yet, but you could book and keep checking to see if your dates come up...can't beat the price-under $80. Also, I believe BWPPI gives you a 10-15% discount for being a DisBoard member.
Look into all your options. Me and my daughter are going for 7 days with 6 day parkhoppers, airfare as above, and transfers for about $1200 and we only have the Ent.rate at the HoJo for 2 nights, but I keep checking.
You could totally do it for $1500.

 

[avalon451]

You can't do it for $1500

$375 hotel
$750 airfare
$388 DLR park tickets
$86 Knotts park tickets
$135 car
------
$1734

Maybe look for cheaper hotel, and fly into LAX (no biggie since you are renting car!)

We're doing it for less than $1500 from Seattle, but we're not going to Knotts, renting a car, and we're paying $99 each way airfare. You can get Jet Blue from Seattle for $79 each way right now.

If you want to trim expenses, I would drop Knotts and the rental car, take Super Shuttle from LGB (it'll cost you about 80 round trip, total without tip, if you use a coupon for $2 off each person each way (last coupon on the list here: http://www.anaheimoc.org/Articles/Archive/Webpage10153.asp )

Stay at Howard Johnson's in a standard room for $59 a night with the Entertainment book rate. It's not up for Feb yet, but pretty sure it will be during midweek.

That gets you:

$250 hotel for 4 nights (59 a night plus some tax, cost of the Ent book, etc)
$400 airfare (160 airfare each plus some tax, etc)
$388 5-day hoppers (get them from GetAwayToday so you get 2 MMs)
$90 Super shuttle including tip
_________
$1128

 

[CrazyDuck]

You can get Jet Blue from Seattle for $79 each way right now.

Actually you can't because you can't book Jet Blue for February yet!

 

[avalon451]

Actually you can't because you can't book Jet Blue for February yet!

You're right, Sy. Well, dang. And Alaska wants an arm and a leg for Feb at this point. Guess you would just have to hope the fares get reasonable before then. That's the trouble with trying to get everything planned so far ahead!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Wait till Oct or even November to book your airfare. Maybe by then gas prices will be back to normal! Wait for the HOJO entertainment book rate too, for the hotel!

 

[LOVEDISNEYLAND]

Thank you for all your money saving tips guys!!! Sad to say, but I do not have the Ent card that everyone seems to be talking about. I really want to go longer but I'm affraid we won't be able to afford it.

 

[avalon451]

Hey, Missy, the Ent card is easy: go to www.entertainment.com and order the Puget Sound South book. It costs $25. It's those coupon books that schools and bookstores sell, with a lot of two-for-one coupons in it, etc. But what you need is the little card that comes stuck inside the cover. It gets you all kinds of discounts on travel, etc. At HoJo, there is a special Ent rate that you can only get when you call the hotel directly and talk to IN HOUSE reservations (ask for Lorealle, she's the best!). Don't call the 1-800 line, or let them switch you over there. They can't give you the Ent rate. Yes, the book costs $25... but consider that with a 4-night stay, it will save you around $200... it's well worth it!

You don't have to have the Ent book already to book the room. You just need it to check in. Here's more details: http://www.hojoanaheim.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Hope that helps!

 

[bumbershoot]

LOVE, since your trip isn't until 2 months into next year, don't get the Entertainment book yet. Wait, check out their site, and you'll see that they have sales. I'm in Tacoma too. Get the South Puget Sound one.

I got my 2008 book/card for $15 a month or so after the "current for Nov '07 to Nov '08 books" went on sale, and it has $20 worth of coupons for Safeway alone! 4 coupons for $5 each, to be used one a quarter, but still, that's pretty good (now if only I could find that last quarter coupon that I so cleverly put in A purse).


I don't know how far out Virgin America is selling tix, but they have some nice deals, and I hear they are a really "cool" and nice airline.


Hubby, 4 year old son, and I budget about $100 per day for food AND souvenirs. But we just don't tend to eat huge amounts when we're overly warm, and we don't buy tons of souvies either.