my budget

[Goobergal99]

ok guys take a look!!

Changed to 2 standard rooms @ Pop century with dream maker
5 + 2 Package total = $2045.65 (credited $120 to my room key after fighting with CRO about the "supposed" reservation change fee that is not on the contract!!)

Airfare on southwest roundtrip from philly-mco $466.80 (4 ppl)

Mears transfers- $108
Food for week for 3 adults and one five yearold child- $120*8
Misc spending- $400

total = $3900.80

Tics and room pkg- Paid in full
airfare-paid in full
mears- purchasing at MCO ($108)
food- $960
misc-$400

I'm taking $1500 with me and will be paid directly deposited in the ammount of $920 (all of which will not be used, just a precautionary ammount)

Do you guys think this is enough ($1500) for 4 ppl for 8 days, doing one sit down or buffet a night??

 

[hockey mom]

Is your $1500 including your food money. Each sit down or buffet will run 3 adults and one child with tax and tip around $100x8=$800. So that leaves $700 for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and spending.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I budgeted $140 a day for food for us, to include one sit-down, and for 8 days, that is $1120; but it will depend on your family. We are 2 adults, a 3-yo, and a 1-yo, and the 1-yo will eat free at the buffets, and we pay a child's fee for the 3-yo.

 

[mad4themouse]

I have to agree with hockey mom. You will certainly spend at close to $100/dinner for a family of 3 adults and a child if you're eating buffets or sitdown meals. That will not leave very much for breakfast & lunch. And it certainly won't buy too many Mickey Bars and Dole Whips. I would suggest wither making plans to do a few counterservice dinners or else padding the food budget to reflect the higher cost.

You did great on the airfare ($116.70 pp RT is awesome!) and the 5+2 deal is a real budget-saver.

With regards to your ground transportation: why not get a towncar service instead of taking a Mears shuttle? You won't be waiting at the airport for the shuttle to fill up and then stopping at everyone's resort before you get to yours. Plus, most towncar services will make a grocery stop if you make the request in advance. This would make it possible for you to pick up a few snacks and brekfast items to keep in the rooms. For 4 people, the cost of the towncar with tip would be about the same as the Mears shuttle.

Finally, under misc. $$, have you taken into consideration tips for Mousekeeping? (2 rooms X 7 nights x $3 per room = $42 or roughly 10% of your misc. budget). I'm thinking that less than $100 per person for souvenirs and whatnots might be too little. When you begin adding in snacks in the airport, a magazine to read on the plane, ride photos, etc. that $400 won't go as far as you might think. However, this is one area of the budget where you can exercise the most control. There is no rule that states that you must tip Mousekeeping or that you have to buy souvenirs at all. If you can throw a little more $$ this way, do it, but don't sweat it if you can't.

 

[Taja]

Assuming the four people in your group don't qualify for the children's pricing/menus (under age 10, I'm thinking), you are looking at dinner buffet/restaurant pricing per person on site at about $25 to $50 per person. Some buffets include beverages (non-alcoholic), others charge extra. You're still expected to tip at buffets (usually about 10%, since it isn't full-service), so don't forget to include that. Full-service restaurant tips usually are about 20%, depending on the quality of the service.

Realistically, you probably won't want to have a full-service meal each night, and will opt for counter service on alternate days. There's just too much to do in the parks to take a lot of time for meals!

I agree about checking into the cost of a towncar service for your group. Be sure that it includes a 30 minute grocery stop at no extra charge. It will be at a grocery store (specify Winn Dixie, Publix or Albertson's--don't go to Goodings!), as they usually don't do the super centers (you can ask--they might for an additional charge). Stocking up on breakfast items, some snacks, bottled water, juice, etc., will save you a lot of money over buying everything on site. The chain grocery stores in the WDW area were slightly higher than here (Phoenix, AZ), but we're in a very competetive grocery market, so the margins are very thin!


__________________
Taja

 

[Goobergal99]

Hey, as I said if I go over a little it's ok because I will get paid while on vacation (ahh i love direct deposit!!) However, I just didn't really expect to have to pay much more then that because I have never had a prob staying within rage before. As far as stopping at a food store, I don't even want to see the real world again for the entire week and that includes stopping off at a food store LOL. However, we will be bringing some snacks with us in a backpack on the plane (that I got very cheap from wal mart!!)

Thanks again for all your suggestions!!!

Oh and also Tiffany towncar did not offer enough of a disocunt from mears to make it any more conveniant. Especially since we still need to tip the driver!

 

[GEM]

Even with the tip, you would still come out about the same with Tiffany - and it would be a MUCH more pleasant experience. No waiting at the check in counter, waiting for other passengers, stopping at other hotels, etc. You would be at your resort much faster and easier. They also help with baggage, etc. You also get a pick-up time that is just right for YOUR return flight, so you don't have to get picked up when they are picking up other people. You can print a coupon off at the Tiffany site.

Tiffany would be $95 - the $5 coupon = $90 plus a $10 tip each way = $110. NO WAY I would deal with Mears when a private car would be $2 more!

 

[mickeycw]

Prestige Town Cars is great and they are $85 - $5 coupon so $80 plus a tip is LESS than Mears....They are great and you get a 30 minute grocery stop! Think of all the money you will save buy buying a few cases of water!!

 

[Strings]

I have to agree about the towncar. Our first trip, we took Mears. It was 2hours 15 minutes before we got to the hotel. I love th grocery stop. Time is money, and my vacation time is time and a half.

 

[punkin]

"Assuming the four people in your group don't qualify for the children's pricing/menus (under age 10, I'm thinking), you are looking at dinner buffet/restaurant pricing per person on site at about $25 to $50 per person"

I thought childrens' prices were under age 12?

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Originally posted by Strings
I have to agree about the towncar. Our first trip, we took Mears. It was 2hours 15 minutes before we got to the hotel. I love th grocery stop. Time is money, and my vacation time is time and a half.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

punkin--Disney is famous for children ages 3-9...once you are 10 you are an adult for ticket and buffet/character meal/show meal pricing.

Goobergal...I think your budget looks great--especially if you try to share meals and such at the non-sit-down places. Saw a great tip elsewhere that you can buy hamburgers and sandwiches alone--and then just buy one value meal and split the fries. Also saw that you can buy a double cheeseburger for example and ask for an extra bun. Voila--2 cheeseburgers.

And if your child is willing to split meals--you can save more money. Perhaps ordering a pizza on one or 2 nights can compensate for some CM's/sitdowns. For EPCOT--if you want to eat in the countries--do so for lunch--LOTS CHEAPER. Sometimes you are so full, you don't need dinner With the 5 year old--vary your sit down meals to maybe a character breakfast, nation lunch, character dinner, et cetera. Pooh at Crystal Palace is fun and the breakfast is yummy. Cinderella does dinner at 1900 park fare if your child is into princesses (easier ressies than CRT for her breakfast). Chef Mickey's has gotten raves for breakfast too. The breakfast I think are 15.95/16.95 for adults and maybe 9.95 for kids--compare to 26.95 per adult for the dinners and you can save bunches that way.

What does the MISC cover--is that for extras like mouseboats or is that your souvenir lot. Also, not sure if your adults are into alcoholic consumption--that is a budget buster for sure as the drink prices are terrible--that will eat into your budget as well.

With our kids--we limit to one souvenir for visits only with hotel stays--but we usually only do one park at a time. So for 8 days--your child might want 4 souvenirs minimum--one for each park.

Hope you have an enjoyable trip your child (daughter?--sorry I can't remember) will love it!

 

[Goobergal99]

Well the pixey dust just rained on us today!!! DF ended up getting the check from his car accident settlement (was hit by a drunk driver a few years ago as a pedestrian!) and guess what, his laywer actually has the same bank that we do!!! The teller ended up putting the enitire settlement in as cash after verifying the funds!!!! Looks like money has become an issue no longer for this trip!!! Off to Disney in a few hours!!! Guess I better get some sleep LOL

Thanks for everything guys!!!!