I'm stressed out and really need some encouragement, please

[hallie]

I've been planning a surprise trip for my entire family for this Thanksgiving. It hasn't been easy but I've paid for the hotel and even purchased Connections vouchers for our meals already. But as I'm running out of time I'm starting to REALLY stress out and get discouraged. I have some bills to pay before we leave and it's going to be tight, real tight.

We will be gone for 7days. I've already put aside 650.00 for extra stuff and the kids meals. I figure we'll have to purchase 2 kids meals a day, they can split one for each meal easily and also meals for the day before we check in. Do you think that's enough extra money? We have to pay for gas to get down there(about a 1200 mile trip, one way) I figure we'll have to fill up about 4 times so that's about 100.00- 120.00. That would leave me with 550.00 for the kids meals, meals for all 4 of us for the day before we check in and then some fun money for extra snacks, souveniers etc.. Do you think that's enough?

Any advice and/or encouragement you can give me I'll really appreciate.

Thank you SO much in advance, I'm so stressed and it's hard when I can't even talk to Mike(my DH) about this because it's a surprise for him too!

Thanks again!!

 

[Glenn]

What a nice surprise your family is going to get. Since your driving think about what kind of snacks you can bring. When kids say im hungry its a way of helping between meals. Also a supermarket stop for water or pop helps the costs. Does your room have a coffee pot? Cheaper and somtimes better in the morning that what you might pay $2 for. When budgeting remember you would still spend some money if you just stayed home. Count that into your numbers too.

 

[lovelyk68]

hallie, I am so sorry that you are stressed. But it sounds like you have done an awesome job planning your trip. You have paid for the major expenses of hotel and food up front. That is great! You have managed to keep this a secret from your dh and kids. That is amazing!

I think your budget is fine. You can easily feed a family of 4 for $15-$20 per meal, so figure $60 the first day. That leaves $490 for kids meals, snacks and souvies for the rest of the trip. I think that is plenty.

I would suggest purchasing snacks and water to carry into the parks to keep costs down. Also, consider buying your souveniers from the outlet stores instead of the parks. Last year, we bought a pair of cat-in-the-hat silk pjs for $20 at the Universal outlet. I really think you will have no problems. Go and enjoy the happiest place in the world!

 

[hallie]

Thanks Glen and lovely68 for the tips!!! I know there's a Wal-mart that's not to far away from WDW so we'll definitely go over there and pick up some stuff for the room. It's cheaper down there then it is up here so that'll save some $$.

lovelyk68- Can you tell me where the outlet you talked about is? That's a great idea.

You guys are the best!

 

[MandaMom]

The Universal outlet is part of the Belz factory outlets. They have great deals we made out like bandits in May. My daughter got great cat-in-the-hat, curious george and universal logo t-shirt for 3.99 ( at the time it was an additional %50 off everything in the store) You will find some great deals here and in the same building is one of the Disney Character Outlets. Good Luck

MandaMom

 

[jennymouse]

We just returned from a 9 night visit at AKL. We (3 of us) ended up getting a couple boxes of donuts for breakfasts from the food court. A box of donuts was only $3.50 or so. One box feed us breakfast for two days!

 

[QJ411]

Hi Hallie,

I don't know much about the budget you'll need in WDW, but I read ur post and I wanted to say I think you're doing a GREAT job planning, and it's really sweet of you to do this for the holiday for ur family...they'll really be suprised and thrilled!!!

Hi-Five Hallie!

 

[Fiver]

Hallie,

It sounds like you have done a great job so far!!

Do you have a sam's club near you? We buy our water from them for $7.00 for 24 water bottles. We then fill a cooler with the bottles and then keep it in the room to grab one each day as we leave for a park.

We also buy a box of breakfast bars, and have those each morning. Another good idea is buying one adult sized meal and then have the kids share it. If your kids are young and dont eat much then it works great.

Your budget sounds right to me. We are going in Dec for 1 week and have about the same budget. We plan on eating breakfast in the room. Usually we eat one fast food meal and one sit down meal a day. On our day of travel I budget $40.00 for meals, and $40.00 for gas from Atlanta. We are 2 adults, and we eat fast food on our day of travel.

Good luck with your trip. It is a wonderful thing you are doing for your family!!!!

Fiver

 

[BethR]

Sounds like everything is going to work out well for you, hallie! You have been given some wonderful advice.

Have a WONDERFUL trip!

 

[hallie]

MandaMom- Aree the Belz outlets all the way down on I-drive? Sounds like you got some great deals there. Thank you!!

jennymouse- We are doing 2 character breakfasts but the rest of the time we'll definitely eat in the room- great idea about the donuts! I think I'll bring some breakfast bars too. Thank you!!

QJ411- I can't wait, I've almost slipped up a few times but my family still has NO clue! lol. Thank you!!

Fiver- We don't have a Sams club but I was planning on going to the Wal- mart down there. Maybe I'll buy a cooler too, I bet it'll be worth it and pretty inexpensive. I feel better that you said your budget is similiar. Thank you!! Have a great trip too!

BethR- Thank you!!

 

[travelitis]

Hallie, just wanted to echo the opinion to take food, snacks, drinks. Then if you don't have as much $$ as you were planning, you know you'll still be able to feen your group. You're doing great planning. Have a wonderful trip!

BTW, many of us stress about that at the last minute. I love to travel but panic about the money every time. It's always fine.

 

[Yvette Q.O.D.]

Don't forget that your monthly grocery budget will be less because you won't be home. If you need a little extra $$ figure out what you would have spent on groceries that week and use it in WDW or where ever you need it. That is what I usually do.

Hope you have a great and stress free trip!

112 days till we're there!!
Yvette

 

[MandaMom]

Hallie

Yes. Located just across the I-4 – Kirkman Rd. interchange from Universal Studios and just 12 miles from Disney World, Belz Factory Outlet World, Orlando fronts I-4 and the Florida Turnpike.

MandaMom

 

[PLibster]

Hallie,
We always eat breakfast in our room and usually eat lunch 2-3 times a week in our room as well. We have an electric cooler that we bought at Walmart and we keep milk, orange juice, salad mixture and dressing, pasta salads, sandwich meat, and of course plenty of sodas and water in there. We also bring poptarts, bagels, chips, cereal, cookies, etc. We bring our toaster oven and we are in buisness!! This helps us save a lot of money. I am always nervous about money, but we always come home with money left over. I'm sure you will be just fine. I think it is great that you can keep a secret like this, I couldn't stand it, lol. Good Luck!

 

[tink2dw]

There are 3 shopping outlets in Orlando!! this is the closest to WDW

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
State Road 535
Near Walt Disney World Resort
{Disney store only}


Orlando Premium Outlets
Vineland Avenue
Off I-4 near DownTown Disney
Phone: 407-238-7787


Belz Factory Outlet World
5401 West Oakridge Road
(I-4 Exit 30A)
Phone: 407-352-9611

This is the website I found these at there are discriptions,too!
http://www.destinationorlando.com/shopping/orlando_shopping.html

 

[jgates]

Ok, I believe the ones listed as Orlando Premium Outlets are the ones that are accessible from either I-drive S or the frontage road along I4. They have both the Disney & Universal outlets right across from each other. (At least Universal was there in late July). Very easy to access from DTD/Hotel Plaza Blvd.

Turn right at end of Hotel Plaza Blvd towards I4. Go underneath and take (I believe) the first left. I think by Bahama Breeze. Follow it past the Marriott Village (Fairfield/Springhill/Courtyard) and go about 2 miles tops.

PS, I admire you! My DH won't even go to Disney!

 

[hallie]

travelitis- Thank you!!

Yvette Q.O.D.- I didn't even think about that! thank you!!

MandaMom- Thank you, we drove right by that last time we were down, never knew it was there-lol.

PLibster- Thank you!! That's a great idea to bring a toaster with you!

tink2dw- Thank you for listing all those outlets for me!!

jgates- Thank you for the directions!! I know he's going to be so excited because he's a Disney freak like me-lol. We even honeymooned at WDW. Thanks again!!


You have all been so helpful thank you so much!!!

 

[lovelyk68]

Sorry hallie I didn't get right back with you but I see tink2dw has done a wonderful job giving you outlet info. We went to the Orlando Premium outlet and it is very convenient. You have gotten alot of good advice here. Have a awesome trip!

 

[tar heel]

My kids know that when we stop for gas, that's what we're stopping for. If we did drinks and snacks at gas stations/convenience stores, we would easily spend close to $20 each stop. We never travel more than 2 hours without a cooler -- just doesn't make sense. We're going 150 miles away to visit our college student son this afternoon (spending the night) and packing the cooler is one of the things I've got to do.

You need to get a cooler and pack all your road snacks. For a week at WDW, I have several 12-packs of soda, a couple cases of water, some juice boxes and two double-handled shopping bags full of snack and breakfast items. For breakfast, I bring homemade muffins, granola bars, cereal, etc. We buy milk at the resort (If you're on Disney property -- buy it at the store not the food court b/c there's a big price difference.) For snacks, I bring a variety of things, from chips and nuts to candy bars and fruit snacks. I start buying this stuff as I see specials and Buy One Get One Free offers. Breakfast is the only meal we eat in our room, but we carry a juice box and small snack to the park each day.

As far as the outlets go, if you have any $ left, keep in mind that there also is a Belz Center with a nice Character Warehouse just off I-95 in St. Augustine. We usually try to drive an hour or two our last day after staying in a park until closing, and that outlet is a nice stop on the way home the next day.

 

[hallie]

lovelyk68- Thank you!!

tar heel- Thanks for the advice!! I'm definitely going to pack a cooler and do breakfast in the room, all but 2 days we have character breakfast(I pre-purchased vouchers for these) Then on those days we scheduled late breakfast times so we can skip eating lunch out and then eat an earlier dinner instead.