Is this normal for a $9,000?

[ldo]

I would really invest in a crock pot if you don't have one--about $30. You could even start trying recipes now (volunteer to cook dinner for the family 1X a month). There are a lot of recipes that you can put stuff in in the AM and then it is ready for dinner when you get back--so no real cooking at all--BBQ, chicken breasts cooked in green chili enchillada sauce all day, then make chicken tacos, etc.
Check this year in June and see what offers they have for Aug. and that will give you an idea of probably discounts for the next year. Good job getting your costs down!

 

[kim_d]

Since you ditched the dining the next thing I would do is price out the meals you want to eat out in the parks. That way you will have a generally idea how much you will need for those meals. $350 for table service + tips for 6 people will not get you very many meals. But if that's for counter service that will definitely extend your $350. Is the $15-25 per day or total for the trip?

 

[Firepath]

Since you live in Tampa, I'm assuming at least some of your group are Florida residents. You didn't say when in August you're planning to go, but if the later half of the month, you could get the FL resident Seasonal Pass for about $50/person less than a 5 day hopper and you'd have the pass for an entire year. Even better, if you were going to the parks M-F (5 days), you could get the Weekday pass for about $160/person less and again you'd have it for the entire year!

 

[Owlyoo]

Youngest will be twelve.
I was just looking at prices but yes it really shouldnt be that expensive.
No i haven't looked at menus but I will soon.
Not my first trip but it is one for my 16th birthday. August of 2018. No discounts as it is still two years away. I will have more miscellanious money by then so yes I will have a golf cart. Thanks for the great tips!

You're 14? Are there adults overseeing the planning of this trip as well as being aware of the budget you want to spend?

 

[disneycheerleader]

You're 14? Are there adults overseeing the planning of this trip as well as being aware of the budget you want to spend?

Yes. Why does everyone automatically assume Im some rich city girl. I have worked countless hours and saved all my money for 2 years so far to pay for this. I am not spending their money. Its mine.

 

[Owlyoo]

Yes. Why does everyone automatically assume Im some rich city girl. I have worked countless hours and saved all my money for 2 years so far to pay for this. I am not spending their money. Its mine.

I assume nothing. A 14 year old child spending $9000 of their own money on a vacation is unusual.

 

[disneycheerleader]

Since you ditched the dining the next thing I would do is price out the meals you want to eat out in the parks. That way you will have a generally idea how much you will need for those meals. $350 for table service + tips for 6 people will not get you very many meals. But if that's for counter service that will definitely extend your $350. Is the $15-25 per day or total for the trip?

It is for about half the trip. Most will be counter service with only 2-3 meals table service.

 

[disneycheerleader]

I assume nothing. A 14 year old child spending $9000 of their own money on a vacation is unusual.

Why is this unusual??? @Owlyoo

 

[yeahdisney]

I let the kids have a snack a day, any snack they want. They have it to look forward to and enjoy. I figure $5 a day, to cover tax too. They love it.

 

[disneycheerleader]

I let the kids have a snack a day, any snack they want. They have it to look forward to and enjoy. I figure $5 a day, to cover tax too. They love it.

Ok. I said $15-25 for snacks at the grocery store. They would be responsible for their snacks and how they spend and eat thier snacks.

 

[ldo]

I am of Mom of 3 teens, including a 14 yr old. Good for you for looking at the costs, planning and budgeting from money that you have earned! I hope you have an awesome trip. I also agree with another poster, reserving at Bonnet Creek, which is right in the WDW area can save you a lot of $$$. Also, sometimes, in mid-Aug., 2 rooms at POP (at $100 per room with discounted rate) can be a lot less than 1 cabin. You won't have a kitchen, but you have a fridge, so you can still eat breakfast and make sandwiches in the room. Kids meals at POP are only about $6 and include a drink. We all get a kid's breakfast, even the adults, when we stay at WDW. Pop has a really good food court. Since you will have a car, you can easily eat offsite for a few meals. Steak and Shake is right around the corner from WDW and has many $4 meals. I have driven and gotten take out before and brought it back to the room for dinner or you can eat there--they have all sorts of food for a good price. It's right down the street from Hotel Blvd near downtown disney. There are many ways to save $$$ and still have a great trip! Have fun planning your Sweet 16!!! Maybe you can talk you MOM/Dad into going to POP for an overnight in the next year or two to check everything out for your planning? There are lots of fun things to do--pool movies, go over to Ft. Wilderness and do activities--campfire, roast hot dogs, mashmellows, movies, etc. I am from Fl and when I was a teen, we used to go to Ft W and we didn't event go into the parks sometimes. There was no POP then, or we would have stayed there.
I also let my kids pick a snack at the park each day--they look forward to it--Mickey bars, Dole Whips, etc. are all under $5, and it's a special treat.

 

[supersnoop]

Why is this unusual??? @Owlyoo

Because most 14 year olds who earn that much money are saving for college, not for a family vacation.

 

[justgrace]

That's awesome that you earned that much money and are treating you're family to a vacation!! Can I join your family?

 

[justgrace]

Because most 14 year olds who earn that much money are saving for college, not for a family vacation.

Ha! I can tell you most 14 year olds are not taking their money and putting it in a savings account for college. Perhaps a few do, but most spend it on whatever they please. For a lot of middle school/early high school aged kids, college savings isn't even on the radar then.

 

[Boo Bear]

Unless you're planning on eating primarily at the signature restaurants, the DxDP is a huge waste of money and time. I don't know anybody who can eat 3 sit down meals per day, especially at WDW. You'll be wasting valuable park or recreational activity time sitting down at restaurants and it's SO MUCH FOOD.

 

[disneycheerleader]

Because most 14 year olds who earn that much money are saving for college, not for a family vacation.

40% of my money goes to my college fund as well as the money my parents can spare. Another 40% goes to the disney fund. The last 20% goes to my wallet for me to spend as I please.

 

[verleniahall]

your snack budget may be a little small - you might want to budget about 50 per person for snacks

 

[disneycheerleader]

your snack budget may be a little small - you might want to budget about 50 per person for snacks

I was guessing it was

 

[LJSquishy]

I'm glad you nixed the dining plan...you'll almost definitely save a LOT of money doing without it.

Budget-wise, it's really difficult to say how much money you'll need to plan for if you're including groceries plus money for dining in the parks. It all comes down to what meals you'll all want to eat in your room (are we talking breakfast only such as eggs, bacon, toast...or cold cereal or instant oatmeal? Or are you thinking you'll go back to your room to make tacos or spaghetti for dinner? Or perhaps just ingredients to make sandwiches to pack in your park bags to eat at lunchtime?). It also depends how many meals and what restaurants you'll want to eat at. For my party (4 adults), we've budgeted $50 per person per day and that will cover 2 counter service meals plus 1 table service meal (not including tips, drinking mostly water at mealtimes, and with typical entrees, not a $60 lobster for example). Some days we'll spend less, and some days we may spend more. We plan to eat most breakfasts in our room (oatmeal, yogurt & granola/berries, etc) to save a little money so like I said, some days we'll spend less money since we'll only purchase 1 CS meal and 1 TS meal, or may decide to do all CS meals several days. Definitely look at the menus & prices at AllEars.net for various restaurants to get a good idea of entrée prices. I would get rid of the park hoppers if your only plan is to be able to eat at locations in different parks...just plan your restaurants around your park days. If you're actually interested in park hopping though in order to do more than one park per day, then definitely keep them. I'm a park hopper myself as we like the freedom to come and go as we please.

I think you're being very realistic about the big expense of going to WDW...it's very expensive no matter how you look at it. Unfortunately food is very inflated there, but you have lots of time to plan and save for your trip.

 

[BabyFu18]

I think your food budget for dining out meals might be a little small, we are only a family of three and I budget $75 per person per day for food (this includes one sit down meal, generally a counter service meal and several snacks throughout the day). Though many days we will not spend that much, I always try to budget more than I'll need and if I come home with extra money that's just a bonus!

Also, do you think you guys will be a little cramped in one cabin? I know you aren't over occupancies or anything, I just feel like it's kinda small quarters and the possibility of two rooms at another resort might also be within your budget especially if a special comes around for your time frame.

Good luck in the planning process, that's half the fun!