Magic Disney Math

[cocowum]

The exact thing happened to us. We were supposed to do a short budget trip and that went out the window. We are now staying 12 days buying AP's and splitting our stay between AKL(we had a pin) and SOG. Disney math gets you every time

 

[angeleigh]

Alright - an update - my cousin that lives in Orlando got us a castmember discount on the rooms - at first it seems like a great deal but now we are playing with the numbers and this is what we have - need some advice from the Disney vets which is actually a better plan - Remember it is 7 of us traveling 2 adults and 12,11,9,8,6 yo children.

total Us Darlene

Hotel - 1030. 515 515

Tickets- 1503 848 655

Air 978 559 419
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3511 1922 1589




With the package trip we were at
Magic your way package- Pop century - with dining plan – park hopper plus tickets,
$4733
Airfare $978
Misc $400
---------------------------------
Total = $6111



$6111
-3511

$2600 for food/ souvenirs/etc = $371/ day spending = $53/person/day


Was the package with dining actually a better deal?

 

[Sally]

I tried to decide if the dining package was going to be worth it. I took out my statement from last year added up all my food charges plus the cash I took for char meals, and actually the dining plan is saving us money. Last year I spent 900. in meals, this year with the dining plan I am spending a whole lot less (saving over 400.) and getting more char meals and sit down meals than last year. At least with the package and dining it is all done, just call and make the PS. Depends on your family and their eating habits, easiest is to look at the menus on allearsnet.com and add it up. I am an accountant by trade and I crunched the numbers, for our family it looked like the dining plan was the way to go. I will let everyone know if it was right when we come home.

 

[jenr812]

What a great post LOL!! We started out trying to plan a quick 4 day trip with MYW dining and hoppers in Feb but wound up with a 7 day trip with MYW dining and hoppers the first week of July! But with a PIN code, it was only $400 more!!! Gotta love Disney math! Thanks for the laugh!:

 

[weregoingtodw]

Same here! Our trip went from a consolation "daddy is overseas so I'll get DD's mind off of it" to an eight-person, eight-day, fully planned relaxation with everything under the sun included!

But hey... it's paid for, so what do I care? I can't take it with me!

 

[rantnnravin]

Alright - an update - my cousin that lives in Orlando got us a castmember discount on the rooms - at first it seems like a great deal but now we are playing with the numbers and this is what we have - need some advice from the Disney vets which is actually a better plan - Remember it is 7 of us traveling 2 adults and 12,11,9,8,6 yo children.

total Us Darlene

Hotel - 1030. 515 515

Tickets- 1503 848 655

Air 978 559 419
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3511 1922 1589




With the package trip we were at
Magic your way package- Pop century - with dining plan – park hopper plus tickets,
$4733
Airfare $978
Misc $400
---------------------------------
Total = $6111



$6111
-3511

$2600 for food/ souvenirs/etc = $371/ day spending = $53/person/day


Was the package with dining actually a better deal?

I love this thread:
You may consider crunching the numbers for only ONE of the rooms on the dining plan (1 adult, with the 3 youngest children-)Since the system doesn't discriminate between child and adult meals, use the points to pay for adult meals and (2 adults, 12 & 11 year olds) and pay for the littler ones meals out of pocket. Because the table service meals include an appetizer and dessert and the counter service also include dessert, it's a lot of food and easy to share) You can also do character meals, again, using the points for those considered adults and paying for the younger ones:
In this way, you're paying $65 x 7 = $455 and have 56 "meals"-28 counter service and 28 TS (plus snacks) paid for
I also would consider slashing your price by removing the "plus" options. Even if you go to a h20 park, it will cost less out of pocket than the "plus" ticket.
(you could always add on later)

By my calculations, you will save $735 on the dining alone...

 

[clombardi]

Wow! I thought I was the only one who changed my mind about Disney vacation details every time I made my "final" decision! I am so glad to see that you are as insane as I am. Great post. It made my day!

 

[jcemom]

Disney convinced me that $6111 is a better deal than $3252.

Too funny! I've never thought of it that way!

I have joked that Disney is getting their money's worth out of MY AP though! I thought when I bought it that the AP cost a little over $400...now I'm thinking the actual cost has been more like a little over $4000. Nothing like squeezing in an extra trip or two to get 'my money's worth' out of the AP. I think I'm saving money somehow, but I'm not really sure.

Maybe I need to take a course in 'Disney Math' from you, lol.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

This is a GREAT post!!

 

[mom23boys]

I love this thread:
You may consider crunching the numbers for only ONE of the rooms on the dining plan (1 adult, with the 3 youngest children-)Since the system doesn't discriminate between child and adult meals, use the points to pay for adult meals and (2 adults, 12 & 11 year olds) and pay for the littler ones meals out of pocket. Because the table service meals include an appetizer and dessert and the counter service also include dessert, it's a lot of food and easy to share) You can also do character meals, again, using the points for those considered adults and paying for the younger ones:
In this way, you're paying $65 x 7 = $455 and have 56 "meals"-28 counter service and 28 TS (plus snacks) paid for
I also would consider slashing your price by removing the "plus" options. Even if you go to a h20 park, it will cost less out of pocket than the "plus" ticket.
(you could always add on later)

By my calculations, you will save $735 on the dining alone...

First this tread is great. It is amazing how Disney just sucks you and your wallet in.

Second great idea, especially if your wife and DSIL do not want to eat counter service every meal.

Have fun planning.

 

[mom23boys]

double post

 

[HaleyB]

Great post! My husband also calls it Disney Math when I start booking a trip...

Last year a code came out so I "saved" us a ton by extending our 10 day trip to an 18 day trip and then at the last minute to a 20 day trip! We didn't go into the parks that many days (only 9, plus a Disney Quest day). With the codes the price was the same so long as you did not count food into the budget But we were going to eat on those days no matter where we were, right?

I am currently planning a "short" trip for this fall. In my Disney dictionary "short trip" means at least a week. I can't wait to try the dining plan and I want to hurry up and book it before Disney figures out what a great deal it is for people with kids.

Love your post, I will have to share it with DH, he thinks I am the only one who thinks like this.

 

[ncbyrne]

You are definitely not alone. I think your scenario is especially true for folks who find the DIS along the way! BTW...when is your trip?

 

[NYMomof4]

I am so glad that I am not the only one doing Disney math! I definitely think that for the money, a week is a better deal than the 3-day (I've done both) and why pay 900$ airfare for 3 days, right!lol Last year we tried Typhoon Lagoon for the 1st time and it turned out to be much more fun than we thought-my mother sat on the "beach" while I surfed the waves with DD6, DS9, & DS11. It is a good time. We also enjoyed relaxing at the pool at midday. Another on-site benefit! There are so many non-park things to do that you could spend a month!lol (don't change the plan...) It can take some work but you can get around fine on the busses/monorail without a car. We had a car last year and went off property once! Have a great vacation

 

[HaleyB]

Our very first trip (well since I was 8) to WDW we rented a car. It took forever to get it (like an extra hour) we used it exactly two times in eight days. And we had an infant with us. We went to the grocery store, one time, more out of guilt than need. We drove to a park, one time. We found it much easier to carry the baby onto the bus than to try to cool off his carseat, strap him in, park, hike into theme park, then after a long day walk around the parking lot for an hour looking for a non descript white sedan. That was the last time we rented a car and we have never missed it. We like to hit New Orleans for a few days on our way so we drive more often than fly now. But when we do we park the car and forget we have it while we are at WDW.

 

[kath1210]

We have had a slightly different "Disney Math" experience. I was planning a trip in October or December. Then the "free dining" came along, so I was able to justify a trip in October (which turned into a huge family reunion!) AND since we are "saving" so much, we'll also be taking a short trip in December to see the Christmas decorations!!

Is there a 12-step program for Disney addiction?

 

[lsg1]

Alright - an update - my cousin that lives in Orlando got us a castmember discount on the rooms - at first it seems like a great deal but now we are playing with the numbers and this is what we have - need some advice from the Disney vets which is actually a better plan - Remember it is 7 of us traveling 2 adults and 12,11,9,8,6 yo children.

total Us Darlene

Hotel - 1030. 515 515

Tickets- 1503 848 655

Air 978 559 419
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3511 1922 1589


Was the package with dining actually a better deal?

We are also getting our rooms at a cast member rate from a relative that works in WDW. We are buying our tickets from ticketmania which will also save some money.

Just curious, since you get the cast member rate for the rooms, if you add tickets to the room, can you still add the dining option since the room is not really a package?

 

[HaleyB]

Disney math hit again, the didning code came out and my little fall trip is currently booked for 9 nights. Yipee, WDW here we come!

I also have a trip to Disneyland next week. Can't forget the original on its anniversary, now can we?

Disney 12 step program? I sure hope not unless it is
Step 1, call CRO to check prices,
Step 2, Check Mousesavers and DIS for codes,
Step 3, rework budget so we can afford another trip,
Step 4, Change dates to take atvantage of new code,
Step 5, call CRO and add another 4 days on because we are saving so much with code,
Step 6, Join Tourguidemike,
Step 7, Tell DH about the trip ,
Step 8, Buy Unofficial Guide just in case there any big updates in there this year,
Step 9, Spend many hours pouring over menus and best days perdictions making vacation plan,
Step 10, Wake up at 5:55 to call for PS (ADR) trying to get CRT or other 'hot' ressie,
Step 11, Haunt Disney store looking for stuff we 'need' for our trip,
Step 12, Go to WDW and begin planning for next trip on second to last day (or sooner).

 

[kath1210]

Disney 12 step program? I sure hope not unless it is
Step 1, call CRO to check prices,
Step 2, Check Mousesavers and DIS for codes,
Step 3, rework budget so we can afford another trip,
Step 4, Change dates to take atvantage of new code,
Step 5, call CRO and add another 4 days on because we are saving so much with code,
Step 6, Join Tourguidemike,
Step 7, Tell DH about the trip ,
Step 8, Buy Unofficial Guide just in case there any big updates in there this year,
Step 9, Spend many hours pouring over menus and best days perdictions making vacation plan,
Step 10, Wake up at 5:55 to call for PS (ADR) trying to get CRT or other 'hot' ressie,
Step 11, Haunt Disney store looking for stuff we 'need' for our trip,
Step 12, Go to WDW and begin planning for next trip on second to last day (or sooner).

I LOVE it!! Now those are twelve steps I would gladly take - again and again!!

 

[dudedisney]

I thought I was the only one doing this. I'm still having trouble with the justifying part since this is my first trip and I'm not the one doing the planning.

See if this is close (general figures for a week):
Hotel: $560
Tickets: $875 (+ $500 if we do Universal)
Mickey's thingie in Oct: $121
Food: $800
Transportion: Flying $1,000 (come on, cheap fares!) + parking fee $60
or 14 hr trip Driving $175 (did the AAA fuel calculator) + tolls

What else have I forgotten here?

$2,900-3,900 sound about right for family of 4, 2 1/2 adults (11 yr old!) and 6 yr old?