Just back from week at WDW...LOVED Bonnet Creeks...did NOT love Crowds...total cost..

[TnTWalter]

We rented a 2 bedroom at Bonnet Creek on Ebay. It was awesome. We liked it better than Windsor Hills even though it was only 2 bedrooms vs. 3 and we paid slightly more for 1 less night.

We went spring break so peak season $599 for Sat-Fri.
It's going to be really hard to get me back onsite!

We spent a whopping $468 on eating out in and around the parks!! Crazy! For 5 people for the week. We had snacks and CS meals at Parks and ate at Giordani's [had $25 restaurant cert. that I got for <$2 but still spent $45...we ate it for lunch and dinner though], Fuddruckers and Earl of Sandwich and the Pollo place for smoothies.

I also spent about $160 on groceries. We did breakfasts, snacks and 2 dinners at bonnet creek. Enjoyed adult beverages as well. 2 cases of water.

Spent most ever on souveniers $236. And pressed pennies...$33. LOL.

Parking $14 per day for 7 days. Loved the Diamond AAA pass. If you can get one, highly recommend. $98

$474 on traveling there and back....food, gas, 2 hotels.

$1272 7 day base ticketes.

Grand total $3300ish.
Saturday - Friday family of 5 with 4 of us over 10.

 

[disneyandme]

How did you get your Diamond AAA pass?

 

[a1tinkfans]

Glad your trip worked out so well and you sound so HAPPY..
after some of the "down" posts tonight, it was refreshing to see a HAPPY toned one

 

[eliza61]

Glad to hear you had a great trip. Bonnet creek is a nice resort.

 

[TnTWalter]

Diamond AAA pass. Went to my local AAA office and they had a sign that stated if you bought 4 or more days, you received the pass. The lot was much closer especially at Epcot.

Trish

 

[ZachnElli]

We are a family of five also with 4 of us over 10, seriously break down that food budget for me!! Lol! We will be staying at WH, it was a tough choice between BC and WH, but my kids are so spread out, I figured we really needed the 3rd bedroom. Anyway, back to your food budget!!

 

[TnTWalter]

We loved Windsor Hills and it is closer to restaurants and groceries.

Other ideas for budget meals we did last time: the 2 for $13.99 at Logan's. I think it's like Sun-Wed certain times. Also last time I bought sauces and breadsticks from Olive Garden and made the pasta in the condo for a good cheap dinner. I had planned to hit Sweet Tomatoe's but never made it. If you register close to your trip time you can use a coupon they send. Food Budget....while at Parks most of the time all 3 ordered from kids menu which you are allowed to do at any CS; sometimes my oldest got a regular menu item.

We also spent the $160 on groceries which included fresh fruits, veggies, yogurts, v8 fruit juice, lots of snacks, beer, capri suns, bottled waters, breakfast food....
and made 2 dinners with it and brought lots of stuff from home [protein powder for smoothies, snacks, etc.]

we did more snacking this time...it was mid 80s....
I made a big breakfast every morning...with fruit smoothies every morning...one morning oatmeal, 2 mornings pancakes, eggs and sausage, eggs and bagels, last day whatever was left people's choice...

DAY 1 SATURDAY
lunch at MK Pinocchios $33.29
DINNER Fuddruckeres....
there was a family of 4 meal deal that even included beers. for $25 PLUS we added another kids meal $6 and 2 side salads....the kid burgers are really small though. I gave DD some of my meat. The other 2 had mac n cheese [which is kraft fyi].

DAY 2 SUNDAY
lunch Epcot La Cantina [shared 2 loaded nachos..mmm mmm] $21.20
Fountainview 2 swirl ice creams $7.66
1 Frozen Coke $4
1 Grand marnier Slushie France $9.50
Dinner Epcot France 3 desserts and 5 sandwiches $31.64

Day 3 MONDAY
lunch Studios discovered the FOOD COURT BY TOT! Good food at HS.
Fairfax Fare $41.50 for 4 [2 turkey legs, 1 pbj kids, 1 salad and 2 beers]
other kid bought kids pizza @ catalina eddie's $5.32
snack/supper 4 corn dogs $17 [i wasn't hungry]
ate slow cooked corn on cob and chips and salsa at home later after swimming

Day 4 TUESDAY
lunch Animal Kingdom Pizzafari $35.13
Snacks 1 Brownie and 3 Huge Crumb Cakes $14.77
Frozen Chai for me $5
Dinner Burgers, salad, watermelon

Day 5 WEDNESDAY
late lunch @ Giordano's...ordered 2 small stuffed pizzas big platter of fried things 2 side salads to share and iced tea/soda for all....after $25 gift cert we paid $45...but we ate it for dinner also so 2 meals!
Snacks for fireworks...2 Cotton Candy Bags $8.42

Day 6 THURSDAY
lunch Morocco @44.68 for 4 of us
lunch Fish & Chips for DH $8.73; we all ate in line for Belle
snacks 1 crepe and 2 ice creams France $12.26
Margarita Kiosk $13.32 for ONE margarita...it was good
Kir Royal Champagne Drink $13.75
Dinner Slow cooked chicken black bean recipe I got on here...mmm mmmm
[chicken, salsa, 1 can corn, black beans, 1 package cream cheese...i had forgotten black beans and still yummo]. Served with tortillas.

Day 7 FRIDAY
lunch @ Earl of Sandwich $24.45
smoothies @ Pollo Campero 3 smoothies + Watermelon Sangria $24.46

 

[budafam]

Thanks for posting this. We're going for our first time next month but staying onsite... I will definitely be looking into this for our 2nd trip when we take more family along.

 

[Karenann*]

Thank you so much for sharing these actual costs!!! I am just in the very beginning planning stages for our first WDW trip probably in 2012 or even 2013 so this gives me an idea of where to start. We are a family of mom and 5 kids all adult prices and appetites! We also eat in and share and watch costs etc.
Thanks again!

 

[undertheseas]

Thanks for linking your post from mine! We're also a family of 5 with 4 over the age of 10 so your food budget is really inspiring. What did you all eat at Morocco? DD#1 is a picky eater, she may have to share with DD#2 (she's almost 2) but DS and I are very adventureous so the shawarma platter looks like it might be a good value to share.

 

[Belle599]

Thanks for posting your meal breakdown! This is a great example that if you want to have a fun trip to WDW that it can be done on a budget without sacrificing. I like how you had lots of smaller meals/snacks throughout the day. Great job!

 

[TnTWalter]

Thanks for linking your post from mine! We're also a family of 5 with 4 over the age of 10 so your food budget is really inspiring. What did you all eat at Morocco? DD#1 is a picky eater, she may have to share with DD#2 (she's almost 2) but DS and I are very adventureous so the shawarma platter looks like it might be a good value to share.

I got the sliders and the kids got the kids meal cheeseburgers....the sliders were yum-O and could have easily shared but I CHOWED. LOL. Plus got a free sample of wine...mmm. mmm.

 

[TnTWalter]

Thanks for posting your meal breakdown! This is a great example that if you want to have a fun trip to WDW that it can be done on a budget without sacrificing. I like how you had lots of smaller meals/snacks throughout the day. Great job!

I think the heat made us not as hungry so the snacking was better...but you could easily add more substantial food and only spend a couple hundred more! Still great pricing and much more cost effective than dining plan if you have kids >10 years old.

 

[DaniB]

We rented a 2 bedroom at Bonnet Creek on Ebay. It was awesome. We liked it better than Windsor Hills even though it was only 2 bedrooms vs. 3 and we paid slightly more for 1 less night.

Did you rent Bonnett Creek from an individual or company? I'd love to get an estimate for 2012 or 2013.

 

[jgates]

There are a ton of the AAA passes on eBay at times. Run $10 & less depending on how bids go including shipping. Several sellers have tons of them (unsigned) - makes me wonder if each office gets a stack of them & some of the workers sell off part of the stack LOL.

I read on one of the other boards here that some AAA offices will give you a parking pass without any other obligation, just because you are a AAA member. It might be worth asking. I have to wait as our nearest office is 50 miles away. So I'll either have to try eBay or see if they will let me beg one on the way to the airport. I have a conference out of town before we go next month, so may use that as an opportunity to stop in & inquire.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

GREAT job!! You totally rock!!

This is the part that has me floored:

Dinner Epcot France 3 desserts and 5 sandwiches $31.64

That's a lot of stuff for only $31.64.

 

[TnTWalter]

re AAA: I procastinated on buying the tickets so I would have had to pay expediated shipping from UT. I popped into my AAA as it was close and they had a sign by the WDW stuff stating if you buy 4 or more day tix you can get the pass. So I was psyched. And the price was really close so I was even more excited.

They say on them non-transferable. But there is no date or no name attached to them other than 2011. There's a big debate on buying from ebay etc. on the 'theme park' board.

re Bonnet Creek: tons of people on here use vacationupgrades [ken price]. He was $171 more than my Ebay purchase but would be good peace of mind for those not wanting to risk it. I just started scoping out what they were going for the week I was going [closed auctions] and learned that that price would be good for a spring break week. So I also checked seller feedback etc. Look for a top rated seller that mostly sells timeshares.
My ebay seller: tekcholah she currently has 7 nights in may for $499

BUT...if you are going in off times you could probably be closer to $300 for a week fyi. You just can't book it months in advance.

RE France:

I had the turkey and brie loaf baguette.....HEAVEN. The kids had the ham and cheese croissant and hubby had a ham and cheese thing that looked like a pizza...the desserts were DELICIOUS, our fave was the Napolean. We sat with our plates by the little bridge and waited for the fireworks and chowed down.
they don't show my sandwich on here:
http://allears.net/menu/men_bps.htm