Magic Disney Math

[angeleigh]

The WDW trip started out as a simple thing – my wife and her sister were going to take a week and drive to Florida with the kids for a nice summer vacation. As we looked into it more and more it quickly went from something simple to this plan. Just wondering if this was typical or if anybody saw any major problems with the final plan (or ways to save substantially on it?) The peolpe going on this trip are wife, our 3 girls( 12,9, and 6) and her sister with 2 children (11, 8)


Original Disney Budget

1200 miles each way – 2400 miles r/t plus 150 there- 2350 miles
22mpg – 107 gals, $2.35/gal = $251
Estimated tolls r/t = $55
7 people x 4 fast food meals each way x $4.50/ meal = $252
Budget hotel ($55) x 2 rooms each way = $220
Parking 3 days @ Disney - $24
4 “Disney” adult and 3 child 3 day tickets = $1200
Food/snacks $200/day = $600
2 rooms 3 nights ($75/night) each Orlando = $450
Misc. = $200

Total = $3252 or
Per Disney day $1084 or
$157/person/day at Disney

First budget change – fly instead of drive – 7 round trip tickets from expedia- $978
Net cost after subtracting driving costs - $200 and no hot/grumpy/irritable travelers (or at least less than following 2 days in minivan packed to top)

Total = $3452 or
Per Disney day $1151 or
$164/person/day at Disney

Possible problems – what if flight down delayed? Only 3 days to begin with and with r/t purchase no time left for Disney – shuttle from budget area hotels not convenient – how much of which parks to see – but still for only $7 per person per day why not lose the big headache of very long road trip?

Second change -so we read about Disney Resorts – include free convenient transportation to all parks and only $99/night at value resorts – provide easy break during the day – room costs go up to total of $594 from $450. Trip now costs
Total = $3596 or
Per Disney day = $1199 or
$171/person/day at Disney

Now we have an official “Disney” vacation and though the budget was more than we really though when the idea first floated by “maybe you and your sister could drive with the kids to Florida for a special summer vacation it wasn’t that much more and for a very special vacation for 7 people that had never been to WDW before it seemed not too outrageous or difficult…but ..Then we started reading. Seems everybody was convinced that 3 days was not a lot for Disney – and I was somewhat bothered by the idea of it costing $1200/day for a vacation so we started playing with the days and flights, etc.
Third change - I could book 7 day flight for the same price of $978 total for 7 r/t tickets. Stick with the off Disney hotels , but for a full week a car was really a must I figured… so add $420 for a minivan rental for the week…….extra meals – suddenly the budget looked like this –

Flights $978
Car rental $420
Hotel $1050
Food $1400
Parking $ 56
Tickets $ 1310 (nice surprise here – tickets cost almost the same as 3 day)
Misc $400 (longer trip – budget extra for unexpected)

Total - $5614
Per Disney day = $802
$115/person/day at Disney

Fourth change - While the overall cost of the trip had increased the cost per day was, as expected, substantially less. It was much easier in my mind to justify. Unfortunately – now other issues came up – wife and her sister were concerned about driving around strange city with kids in unfamiliar car, further research at this point showed importance of doing priority seating at some shows, amount of money budgeted for food if it was to include anything but fast food was questioned, would kids want to go to different places than hotel or just 1 park per day, what about water parks? Etc, etc….
So it was back to a Disney resort. Get rid of the rental car, save $420 plus parking of $56 , add only $196 for room to change to Disney resort, change tickets to park hopper plus for total ticket cost of $1850…..looked like this-

Total = $5698
Per Disney day = $814
$116/person/day at Disney

Final revision - Now this was a genuine super Disney vacation in my opinion. At a Disney resort, come and go from parks as they please, go to the water parks if they want to or Disney Quest , now we started looking at the food budget – the dinner shows seemed expensive and the adults had no interest in eating cheeseburgers for a week straight so – what about that Disney dining plan? So we looked at the full “magic your way package”. Room, 7 day park hopper tickets, “plus” option for water parks, etc. , lunches and dinners, (in our case extra counter service because the younger ones will share some counter meals) - no worries or headaches.. Now it looks like this –

Magic your way package- Pop century - with dining plan – park hopper plus tickets,
$4733
Airfare $978
Misc $400


Total = $6111
Per Disney day = $873
$125/person/day at Disney

Now I understand Disney Magic and Disney math – I work in finance/accounting for a profession but Disney convinced me that $6111 is a better deal than $3252. Hopefully the AAA travel folks can save me a little bit with some type of discount somewhere – but everybody is very excited so I guess it will all be worth it…..

 

[Princess Glenda]

I love you post!! Disney sure has a way with their MATH!! I think you are being very wise to increase the number of Disney days. It will be true Disney Magic and I am sure everyone will have a wonderful time.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

Angeleigh,
I had to laugh at your post. Our quick Thanksgiving vacation has become an
11 day event with airfare. We were going to drive from Ohio and DH said he would really prefer to fly, so I agreed but only if we could turn the driving days into Disney days. I couldn't believe it when he said "if we can fly( we have 4 kids) I will stay as long as you want" Yeah now a super vacation. We haven't vacationed in over 3 years so we are very excited. Kids can't wait! So I can totally understand the way you and Disney do math. Have a great trip.

 

[Forevryoung]

Great post- it is SO true.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Reminds me of the $50 loaf of bread at the grocery store..

"while I'm here, I should get...."

"Since they'll be down here anyway--tack on a few extra days"


I hope they enjoy the trip--and have fun making it magical for them. Hopefully your wallet can have a similar magical experience and not be completely deflated when you pay for it

 

[mareed]

Great post! This happens to me almost every trip. I call it vacation scope creep. My vacations always end up with added days, or sometimes I add people to bring along!

Just don't consider getting annual passes. They tend to burn a hole in your pocket and it becomes very easy using Disney math to justify yet another trip since the park entry is "free". We're now bringing our 2 DS's and my Mom along on the beginning of our Anniversary trip in June. After they leave, we will still have 9 days with just DH & I. Oh, we're also going with another family of 4 (close family friends), and we'll be meeting another family of 3 for a few meals while we're there!

 

[angeleigh]

Thanks for the comments everbody - its nice to know we are not the only ones that this happens to. If I start to get depressed about the cost I just talk to the kids for a couple minutes to hear how excited they are about the trip and it all seems worth it......

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Too True! There is nothing like Disney math. For what it's worth, my Disney math doubles when there are characters, my kids, and photos involved!

 

[disneymom3]

Just don't consider getting annual passes. They tend to burn a hole in your pocket and it becomes very easy using Disney math to justify yet another trip since the park entry is "free".!

Oh yeah, the money saving extra trips with those annual passes!! That is a big danger! Next trip we are getting 10 day nonexpiring passes, but down in my heart I really want the AP! DH is trying to talk some sense into me!

The only thing I would consider changing in your magic math budget is to make sure they will really get use out of the pluses if you upgrade to that type of pass.

 

[angeleigh]

The plus package was one of the things that we were considering doing without. However, we thought that for the grownups it might be relaxing to sit at the waterpark while the kids played.

Does anyone know how to figure out the savings with the AP? We were considering this that way if we wanted to return with just our family at a later date we would have the tickets for the parks already. Would it be cheaper to buy annual passes now rather than in 6 or 8 months?

 

[maggiew]

My DH doesn't understand Disney math. I think he needs to take a course to brush up on his skills.

Maggie

 

[disneymom3]

Does anyone know how to figure out the savings with the AP? We were considering this that way if we wanted to return with just our family at a later date we would have the tickets for the parks already. Would it be cheaper to buy annual passes now rather than in 6 or 8 months?

Oh boy--you are really treading dangerous waters. Your Disney Math is really progressing, though! I have read that the break even point (or the point you are slightly ahead) is 8 days now with the new pricing. Plus, there is the chance of an AP code for your room. (Can't use it with the dining plan though.)

It is either mousesavers or allears that has the analysis of when to buy an AP.

 

[Madi100]

The plus package was one of the things that we were considering doing without. However, we thought that for the grownups it might be relaxing to sit at the waterpark while the kids played.

Does anyone know how to figure out the savings with the AP? We were considering this that way if we wanted to return with just our family at a later date we would have the tickets for the parks already. Would it be cheaper to buy annual passes now rather than in 6 or 8 months?

Check out mousesavers. She has done up a chart that shows if it's saving you money or not. I haven't read it yet, but need to one of these days. We don't like to do all counter service either, and I can't see getting the dinner package, but maybe I need to read up. I loved reading your post. For us, we have a seven year old and a four year old. We wont do water parks, and we don't do Disney Quest. We are going for eight days, and we plan on just doing the four parks. We've never left Disney property, and we've never run out of things to do. Quite honestly, we had planned on taking a day out of the trip to enjoy the resorts around us and just check things out. There is plenty to do outside of the parks, and not leave Disney property. There are pony rides and a petting zoo at Ft. Wilderness. We spend a few hours riding the different transportation. Sounds silly, but there is so much to see. It is really my goal to have this vacation be a little more relaxing and not running so much. There are rides and attractions that we still haven't seen and this is our 4th trip.
Here is the link for the comparison.

Mousesavers

 

[cowtownmom]

The price per day per person doesn't look too bad. The main thing is that if you can afford it, and it's worth it to you, than I'd say go for it!

One thing you might consider checking is if you all might have a pin code with your name in the system. We had booked a package at a value resort. I decided it couldn't hurt to check for a code, knowing it's a very random thing. We did have a code waiting for us!! With the savings, we were able to get a moderate at less than what we were paying at the value. The savings is only on the resort, so we didn't do a full package. We still get the savings on tickets like they're doing for all right now. In the end, we've saved $500!!

 

[redmomof4]

Your post was so hilarious and I am sure many people can relate as I certainly can!! I am trying to budget a land/sea package for 6 right now. ACK. I'm in the process of cancelling our ro ressies for a package too! LOL
Shawna

 

[redmomof4]

We'll be a family of 6 (2 adults, boy-14, boy-18, boy-5, girl-3)
The younger two aren't great eaters and sharing is an option.
We'll be crusing at either the end or middle of our vacation (food included!!) We'll be at the world (not necessarly the parks every day-but probably) the day we fly in (landing around noon-1pm), the day we leave (fly out afternoon) and 4 full days not including the day we have to go to the port to cruise.
Any input
possibly interested in the Hoop Dee Doo Revue, how much are tix and MNSSHP, how much are tix for that.
Thanks
Shawna

 

[angeleigh]

One thing you might consider checking is if you all might have a pin code with your name in the system. We had booked a package at a value resort. I decided it couldn't hurt to check for a code, knowing it's a very random thing. We did have a code waiting for us!!

How do you find out if you have a pin code?

 

[cowtownmom]

Call COR and tell them you would like to find out if you have a PIN attached to your name in the system. It will not be attached to a current reservation you might have. The CM who helped me was just wonderful. When I called I said that we have our current reservations, but I had forgotten to check to see if me might have any kind of code by our name(s). She said she needed to look in the main system to look it up. If you get a CM who says they can't do that, call back to get another CM and try again. The one I spoke with definately knew what she was doing. I've heard that there are many others who do not know how to do this (of maybe aren't willing to look for you). Hope this helps!

 

[golfgal]

I have just given up explaining Disney Math to my DH, who also works in the finance world. He will just have way more fun if he doesn't have a clue how much it costs! I am trying to figure out how to hide the menu prices (even thought we have the meal plan-he will still start running numbers and will figure out that a bottle of water costs $2.50 so our hotel must cost WAY more then he thought).

 

[LovePug]

Oh boy--you are really treading dangerous waters. Your Disney Math is really progressing, though! I have read that the break even point (or the point you are slightly ahead) is 8 days now with the new pricing. Plus, there is the chance of an AP code for your room. (Can't use it with the dining plan though.)

It is either mousesavers or allears that has the analysis of when to buy an AP.

It used to be 8 days. With the new MYW tickets, it's 11 or 12 days. That's why we ended up with the 10 day, no expiration tickets instead of an AP this year (as was originally planned before MYW was announced).