Looking for help for a Budget Trip

[TandyR]

I really want to do the Danskin Triathlon at WDW on May 15...My DH and I have talked about this and he would like to know how cheap I could make this trip if we did it. We would be going down May 13 and heading home May 16. So I am turning here for some help and some ideas.
I would like to stay at Coronado Springs since that is where all the speakers and registration and stuff is happening for the Triathlon, but I guess I could stay else where. I know we are DVC members, but I rather not use points because we are planning a big trip in 2006 with my in-laws and we need to save the points. The Triathlon trip would be just for DH and me and my bike.
So ideas thoughts or whatever would be helpful.

I am coming up with for a budget:
Coronado Springs 3 nights: $500.00
Plane tickets for 2: $533
Food: $400 (I am guessing at this because we normally travel with two kids, but we normally cook in our DVC room for two meals which we won't be able to do for this)
Stuff for the kids at home: $50
Tickets for the parks: we both have park hopper tickets with two days left on them

Total: $1482




thanks for any help you can give me.

-Tandy

 

[disneysteve]

I'd suggest staying offsite. You should have no trouble finding a nice room for $150 for 3 nites, maybe less. And you could even find a place with a kitchen or at least a fridge and microwave to help trim the food costs. That would save you $350. Use part of that to rent a car for the few days which will save you the ground transportation from the airport (which you didn't include in your budget).

Speaking of your food budget, I think you can spend a lot less than $100/day for 2 adults. Last 2 trips, we averaged $17/person/day and $20/person/day, so for 2 that would be $34-40/day.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Like disneysteve said, you can probably trim that food budget by a little. Skip the heavy sitdown meals and go with lighter, counterservice fare. If you eat at the Pepper Market, do take out and not the sitdown. They will automatically charge you a 10% gratuity on the bill if you sitdown.

I'm assuming that you'll use the Magical Express to get from the airport to CSR since you haven't budgeted for ground transportation. That should help keep the cost down but you won't get a grocery stop. Try to bring some food along with you or ship a package ahead. Since CSR is a convention center, they get packages shipped to them for guests all the time and they know how to handle them.

$500 for 3 nights at the hotel is high but correct for CSR during regular season. Hopefully a code will come out that will make that room more affordable. If you're AAA members, you might be able to get the 15% discount now. That alone would save you $75.

The airfare also seems a little on the high side but I'm used to traveling out of Philly and I know that travel from Maine is a different story. Look into airfare for Tampa/St. Pete or Sanford. It might be worth the inconvenience if the cost is lower.

Good luck! I hope you get to compete in the Triathalon.

 

[Taja]

Unless you're planning full-service meals, you certainly can save a lot on your food budget. I usually spend $25 to $35 per day maximum, combining an in-room breakfast of a bread roll and fruit, snacks of crackers and baby carrots (a little snack bag of each) carried into the parks, bottled water purchased offsite and the first bottle of the day carried into the parks, 3 to 5 bottles of water purchased in the parks (depends on the weather), a snack purchased in the park, counter-service at the park or resort, and a full-service meal every second day.

Of course, I have a child-like approach to WDW. I can dine in fine restaurants at home--at WDW it's just fuel!

While you might prefer CSR, you can stay at a value resort for much less. Pop Century is quite nice, the main disadvantage is if you don't have a rental car, going from resort to resort can be a bit of a pain. However, you probably can rent a car for less those three days than the difference between the two resorts.

Just things to consider...

 

[TandyR]

Thanks for all your help. I just got off the phone with a AAA travel agent. They are able to book me a package for $1060 that includes
$50 disney dollars
a meal package for 2 adults
2 day park hopper tickets
small rental car
CSR from May 13-16
roundtrip airfare from Portland, ME to Orlando

I don't think I can beat that.

 

[newtodisney]

I did the triathlon last year and loved it. I am hoping to go again this year. I can't believe it is only 100 days away!

It looks like you got a good deal from AAA. Here is the way I add it up ala carte:
CSR for $99,night +tax ($296)
2 day tickets $96 each ($192)
RT Air from Portland to Orlando $166 each ($332)
Free Transportion to/from Airport
Meal Plan $39.03 pp/per day (234.18)
Souveneirs ($50)

So my total comes up to $1154, and that didn't include a rental car. Looks like you go a great deal!

 

[ironz]

Tandy...
Don't forget to budget for the cost of shipping/flying your bike!

I'm thinking about being there for Danskin. Definitely doing the 1/2 IM on 5/22. Will let you know!!

 

[TandyR]

That is in my other budget...the cost of doing a Tri budget. (Registration fees, a umber belt, new swimsuit, and getting a bike down there.) If I do well with the Danskin I hope to continue training and do half IM at somepoint.....my long term dream is to do a Sprint, an Olympic, half IM and an Ironman. But we will see what happens. Defenatly tell me if you are going to be around. While I am down there I am going to meet up with friends from FL, friends from a Tri list I am on and I would love to meet up with someone from Dis. Plus I could use all people to chear for me as I can get.

 

[bigbabyblues]

The only thing I can think of to make it cheaper would be to stay at the All Stars. They're just right down the road from CSR, maybe 2-3 miles, and if you have a rental car you could easily go back and forth.

Just a little thought, but it sounds like you're doing great!

Steph