Need Budget Boards help :)

[Beezle2]

I'm making myself a little crazy trying to decide the best way to pull off an October trip for 3 with a $2500 budget. So I hope the experts can help me decide

I am going to take my DD10 and her friend 10 for a birthday trip Oct 21-28th. My DD and I have APs and I will have the TIW card so that doesn't need to figure into the budget. I have ASmo booked right now at $785 for the week but am hoping for an AP discount later that I can add. Airfare is about $800 right now on Delta out of Detroit, those are good times, direct flights and I'm thinking about jumping on them but am not sure if I should wait.

I know we want to do Ohana for her Birthday bfast, the MNSSHP, and I need a 7 day ticket for the friend ($262 at undercover tourist)

what I'm driving myself crazy about is the hotel, will we like it (?) We usually stay DVC and the rooms look small. But we really plan to be on the go, the girls are going to want to be out doing stuff constantly. I could shift over to OKW if I buy points and that would be about the same price at ASmo but without any potential discount.

My budget so far:

ASmo $785 (possible AP discount)
Airfare $800
ticket $262
food $500
MNSSHP $160

So $2507 and I would still want a bit for spending money. The girls will have their own spending money. I will be bringing a suitcase with bfast stuff and snacks. Do you see anywhere I might be able to reduce a bit? Anybody have thoughts on the airfare? Should I try and wait a git to see if it comes down?

Thank you

 

[HayGan]

Since virtually all of your costs are fixed, the only place you can really look to save money is on the food. If you were to buy some points to stay at OKW you would have at least a kitchenette that could be used to help save on some food costs.

There is no comparison of a studio at OKW and a value room. Hands down I would pick OKW! You will have more room and everyone will be more comfortable. I've stayed in at a value several times and while they are ok I've always felt very crowded even when my kids were much younger than your two girls. Personally, my boys and I would be much happier in a studio with a kitchenette than in a value room. (You could see if you could get someone to transfer points for $1 less than you figured that would save about $80 but may be tough to find someone willing to go that low.) Taking food with you and having a grocery delivery could save you a bunch.

Is your daughter absolutely set on on the 'Ohana breakfast? Since both girls are 10 and considered an adult now that is a bunch of money to spend on breakfast (even with the TIW card.) Could you do something else special for her birthday?

You could buy Disney gift cards at Target to pay for meals and your accommodations (if you stay at ASMo). If you use a Target card then you save 5% on those cards. On $1,500 for room/food/MNSSHP tix, that is a $75 savings.

As for airfare, there are absolutely no indications that they will go down anytime soon. In fact, most (if not all) agree that they will continue to rise. I would say if you are sure of the trip and ok with the airfare then I would book it as soon as you can.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm making myself a little crazy trying to decide the best way to pull off an October trip for 3 with a $2500 budget. So I hope the experts can help me decide

I am going to take my DD10 and her friend 10 for a birthday trip Oct 21-28th. My DD and I have APs and I will have the TIW card so that doesn't need to figure into the budget. I have ASmo booked right now at $785 for the week but am hoping for an AP discount later that I can add. Airfare is about $800 right now on Delta out of Detroit, those are good times, direct flights and I'm thinking about jumping on them but am not sure if I should wait.

I know we want to do O'hana for her Birthday bfast, the MNSSHP, and I need a 7 day ticket for the friend ($262 at undercover tourist)

what I'm driving myself crazy about is the hotel, will we like it (?) We usually stay DVC and the rooms look small. But we really plan to be on the go, the girls are going to want to be out doing stuff constantly. I could shift over to OKW if I buy points and that would be about the same price at ASmo but without any potential discount.

My budget so far:

ASmo $785 (possible AP discount)
Airfare $800
ticket $262
food $500
MNSSHP $160

So $2507 and I would still want a bit for spending money. The girls will have their own spending money. I will be bringing a suitcase with bfast stuff and snacks. Do you see anywhere I might be able to reduce a bit? Anybody have thoughts on the airfare? Should I try and wait a git to see if it comes down?

Thank you

There will most likely be some sort of AP room discount for the week that you have planned. You might have to switch resorts but you can always do better than rack rate. I'm guessing that you should be able to save at least $150 off of your current cost, if not more.

The airfare looks pretty good to me. It's pretty much in line with what I'm seeing out of PHL for that same time period. I don't expect the prices to go down much, but if you're a gambler, use a website like Bing travel or farecast to see if there is a chance that the price will drop. Don't forget to add in any additional fees like baggage or early boarding.

Do you think that you will want to park hop? If so, then you will need to consider adding that to the ticket for your daughter's friend.

I think that your food budget is a little low for 3 people for 7 nights. 'Ohana alone, even with TiW, is going to run $65 (you get a 20% discount but they automatically add an 18% gratuity). If you're planning to do other TS meals, then you'll probably want to add more money to your budget. Remember, Disney charges adult prices for age 10 and up. No more children's prices for your daughter!

If you really need to cut costs, drop the MNSSHP. As awesome as it would be, it's an extra expense that you can do without and still have a good time.

Good luck putting your trip together. I think that you could manage it with your budget if you were to stay offsite in a budget-priced hotel and a cheap car rental. But if staying onsite is a priority (and if I were traveling alone with 2 10-year-olds, I would be more comfortable with it), then you're going to have to tighten your belt on the other things.

 

[Beezle2]

Since virtually all of your costs are fixed, the only place you can really look to save money is on the food. If you were to buy some points to stay at OKW you would have at least a kitchenette that could be used to help save on some food costs.

There is no comparison of a studio at OKW and a value room. Hands down I would pick OKW! You will have more room and everyone will be more comfortable. I've stayed in at a value several times and while they are ok I've always felt very crowded even when my kids were much younger than your two girls. Is your daughter absolutely set on on the 'Ohana breakfast? Since both girls are 10 and considered an adult now that is a bunch of money to spend on breakfast (even with the TIW card.) Could you do something else special for her birthday?

for airfare, there are absolutely no indications that they will go down anytime soon. In fact, most (if not all) agree that they will continue to rise. I would say if you are sure of the trip and ok with the airfare then I would book it as soon as you can.

>

We are DVC members and I did look into a studio with rented points, but I would be locked into the price with no chance of a discount, I went back and forth on that with myself. If we could have gotten BWV for the entire stay I might have done that, but it was unavailable for 3 of our days. If I stay at ASmo I can use our TIW card at the food court there so that would save a bit. By the time we are there the value rooms should all have the mini fridges so I can keep milk for cereal. I am bringing a suit case with bfast items. Also was thinking of doing YES tickets, I heard I can upgrade those to the APs I was going to buy anyway. I could get a 6 day base for $175 for the friend. We will not be doing a park on the party date so thats all she would need.

Definate yes to Ohanas bfast and the party Must do LOL, I sure will be looking for that AP rate on a room from now til then!

Thanks for your thoughts!

And I agree about the airfare, I will probably book that this week.

 

[Beezle2]

There will most likely be some sort of AP room discount for the week that you have planned. You might have to switch resorts but you can always do better than rack rate. I'm guessing that you should be able to save at least $150 off of your current cost, if not more.

The airfare looks pretty good to me. It's pretty much in line with what I'm seeing out of PHL for that same time period. I don't expect the prices to go down much, but if you're a gambler, use a website like Bing travel or farecast to see if there is a chance that the price will drop. Don't forget to add in any additional fees like baggage or early boarding.

Do you think that you will want to park hop? If so, then you will need to consider adding that to the ticket for your daughter's friend.

I think that your food budget is a little low for 3 people for 7 nights. 'Ohana alone, even with TiW, is going to run $65 (you get a 20% discount but they automatically add an 18% gratuity). If you're planning to do other TS meals, then you'll probably want to add more money to your budget. Remember, Disney charges adult prices for age 10 and up. No more children's prices for your daughter!

If you really need to cut costs, drop the MNSSHP. As awesome as it would be, it's an extra expense that you can do without and still have a good time.

Good luck putting your trip together. I think that you could manage it with your budget if you were to stay offsite in a budget-priced hotel and a cheap car rental. But if staying onsite is a priority (and if I were traveling alone with 2 10-year-olds, I would be more comfortable with it), then you're going to have to tighten your belt on the other things.

>>>>

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone seems to think the same about the flights. I think that will be my first priority. I don't think the price is too bad but I would be a little if I spend $300 too much by not waiting a little.

Glad to hear you think there would be a room discount, I will really be hoping and haunting the discounts and codes board here on the Dis. I would be willing to try a different resort if a good code or pin comes out, but if we end up at ASmo I think the girls will love all the color and fun picture spots. They will have a blast and it's just ME who is worried about the small rooms!

As for Ohana and the party we are going to keep those. We are doing Ohana for breakfast because Stich is her favorite, that will keep the cost down there. Bfast is only $21 or so. I am going to have to work that food budget

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Also was thinking of doing YES tickets, I heard I can upgrade those to the APs I was going to buy anyway. I could get a 6 day base for $175 for the friend.

YES tickets, once issued, cannot be modified or upgraded in any way due to their very deep discount.

 

[Marionnette]

>

We are DVC members and I did look into a studio with rented points, but I would be locked into the price with no chance of a discount, I went back and forth on that with myself. If we could have gotten BWV for the entire stay I might have done that, but it was unavailable for 3 of our days. If I stay at ASmo I can use our TIW card at the food court there so that would save a bit. By the time we are there the value rooms should all have the mini fridges so I can keep milk for cereal. I am bringing a suit case with bfast items. Also was thinking of doing YES tickets, I heard I can upgrade those to the APs I was going to buy anyway. I could get a 6 day base for $175 for the friend. We will not be doing a park on the party date so thats all she would need.

Definate yes to Ohanas bfast and the party Must do LOL, I sure will be looking for that AP rate on a room from now til then!

Thanks for your thoughts!

And I agree about the airfare, I will probably book that this week.

So you don't have APs or TiW - yet? Those are added expenses that are going to inflate the cost of your trip considerably! You will not be able to upgrade the YES tickets, like CF already said. You will also not be able to get an AP room discount without one. I am less confident of a room-only discount for the general public than I am of AP room discounts for your dates. They might still happen but they won't be as generous as AP discounts would be.

At least you will get the DVC discount for the APs. Or you can get the TiW card for $100 without buying APs, because you're a DVC owner.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

You mentioned keeping some milk in your fridge at the All Stars...

The All Stars are getting BEVERAGE COOLERS which I have read described as NOT mini fridges but coolers that are cool enough to cool a can of soda but not cold enough to keep milk from spoiling. SO if you are going to do milk for cereal then you will need to rent a mini fridge from the resort for your 7 days. ($70 plus tax)

I personally wouldn't make your DD's friend TAKE A CLASS while on vacation to get a discount on her ticket. I would ask the girl's parents to pay at least her ticket and possibly her airfare too and then I would cover her food. If someone was planning on taking my kid to Disney I would be more than willing to pay their way. Unless you told the parents right from the get go that you would be paying for everything.

And as bad as you would hate to buy those tickets now then see them go down and you spent $300 more than you should have...the likelihood is, you are going to mess around and wait and the prices will jump $300. That's what would make me sick. If you can get 3 NON-STOP round trip tickets for $800 I would hop on that price now. Unless they plan on having some amazing Anniversary sale or something like that $250 a ticket is pretty cheap.

I see ppl saying every day on airfare and rental cars that they kept waiting and waiting hoping for the rates to go down, then BOOM they almost doubled and once that happens, nothing you can do. You are just S.O.L.

 

[adventure_woman]

1. I just want to say HELLO FROM KALAMAZOO (I don't think I have ever seen anyone else from Kzoo before here! lol)!! What great weather we have today!!

2. Don't forget about adding luggage fees from Delta.
3. Is your daughter 9 turning 10 (or 10 turning 11)? If she is 9 at the start of her trip, she is 9 for the whole trip - giving you the children pricing for the buffet/tickets. Same for her friend. So - I looked and if both kids are both 9 at the start of the trip - for the DDP it would be $571 and you could get it only if you use the AP discount or rent points. Just an idea.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

You mentioned keeping some milk in your fridge at the All Stars...

The All Stars are getting BEVERAGE COOLERS which I have read described as NOT mini fridges but coolers that are cool enough to cool a can of soda but not cold enough to keep milk from spoiling. SO if you are going to do milk for cereal then you will need to rent a mini fridge from the resort for your 7 days. ($70 plus tax)

I personally wouldn't make your DD's friend TAKE A CLASS while on vacation to get a discount on her ticket. I would ask the girl's parents to pay at least her ticket and possibly her airfare too and then I would cover her food. If someone was planning on taking my kid to Disney I would be more than willing to pay their way. Unless you told the parents right from the get go that you would be paying for everything.

And as bad as you would hate to buy those tickets now then see them go down and you spent $300 more than you should have...the likelihood is, you are going to mess around and wait and the prices will jump $300. That's what would make me sick. If you can get 3 NON-STOP round trip tickets for $800 I would hop on that price now. Unless they plan on having some amazing Anniversary sale or something like that $250 a ticket is pretty cheap.

I see ppl saying every day on airfare and rental cars that they kept waiting and waiting hoping for the rates to go down, then BOOM they almost doubled and once that happens, nothing you can do. You are just S.O.L.

Someone else on the boards said they called WDW, and they said the beverage coolers are cold enough for meds, they just don't have a freezer portion. I think it is worth looking into a little more.

 

[shortbun]

Transportation from airport to resort needs to figure in as well. Roundtrip for three is going to run at least $75-100, maybe more. Definitely get the air tickets. Fuel is going up, I'm guessing airfare will follow. Check the rules on cancellation and change fees very carefully. Make sure the friend's parents understand them as there can be no name changes. I think your food budget is low. I know tween girls don't eat much but they DO snak. Take a box of zip locs for leftovers or sharing things.

 

[Marionnette]

You mentioned keeping some milk in your fridge at the All Stars...

The All Stars are getting BEVERAGE COOLERS which I have read described as NOT mini fridges but coolers that are cool enough to cool a can of soda but not cold enough to keep milk from spoiling. SO if you are going to do milk for cereal then you will need to rent a mini fridge from the resort for your 7 days. ($70 plus tax)

The refrigerators have already been installed in most of POP with all values rooms set to be complete by the middle of April. People have posted pictures and are saying that they are refrigerators! They are the same size and type that you would see in a regular moderate or deluxe room. And that includes the lack of a freezer compartment.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44268462&postcount=2856

 

[GAGirlInVA]

Transportation from airport to resort needs to figure in as well. Roundtrip for three is going to run at least $75-100, maybe more.

As long as they are staying onsite, they can use the Disney Magical Express at no additional charge.

 

[Beezle2]

YES tickets, once issued, cannot be modified or upgraded in any way due to their very deep discount.

Yes, I misspoke. I have been looking at too many options I was thinking of upgrading any passes I bought if I got free dining which could be an option in that time frame.

I am pretty sure I wouldn't go with that option even if it were offered but I had considered it.

 

[Beezle2]

So you don't have APs or TiW - yet? Those are added expenses that are going to inflate the cost of your trip considerably! You will not be able to upgrade the YES tickets, like CF already said. You will also not be able to get an AP room discount without one. I am less confident of a room-only discount for the general public than I am of AP room discounts for your dates. They might still happen but they won't be as generous as AP discounts would be.

At least you will get the DVC discount for the APs. Or you can get the TiW card for $100 without buying APs, because you're a DVC owner.

>>

I am not including the price of the APs in this trip because I am buying them anyway to cover our December trip and our March 2013 trip. Our older DD is getting married at Disney in March so it seemed like the great time to buy the APs. I will be buying them before any discounts come out and will have them ready to take advantage of a discount.

 

[Beezle2]

You mentioned keeping some milk in your fridge at the All Stars...

The All Stars are getting BEVERAGE COOLERS which I have read described as NOT mini fridges but coolers that are cool enough to cool a can of soda but not cold enough to keep milk from spoiling. SO if you are going to do milk for cereal then you will need to rent a mini fridge from the resort for your 7 days. ($70 plus tax)

I personally wouldn't make your DD's friend TAKE A CLASS while on vacation to get a discount on her ticket. I would ask the girl's parents to pay at least her ticket and possibly her airfare too and then I would cover her food. If someone was planning on taking my kid to Disney I would be more than willing to pay their way. Unless you told the parents right from the get go that you would be paying for everything.>>>>

Nope not asking the parents for a thing, this was my invite. She is my DDs best friend and it will be a joy to treat them to a fun experience. They are so awesome together and both great, sweet kids. She'll have spending money and thats all that will be expected. And the class would be for both kids, I think they would love to do the Wild by Design or the Seas one. They both love animals and would have fun >>>


And as bad as you would hate to buy those tickets now then see them go down and you spent $300 more than you should have...the likelihood is, you are going to mess around and wait and the prices will jump $300. That's what would make me sick. If you can get 3 NON-STOP round trip tickets for $800 I would hop on that price now. Unless they plan on having some amazing Anniversary sale or something like that $250 a ticket is pretty cheap.>>>

Yes, I agree with you there. I don't think $800 is bad so I will be taking care of that right away!

Thanks for the input

 

[Beezle2]

1. I just want to say HELLO FROM KALAMAZOO (I don't think I have ever seen anyone else from Kzoo before here! lol)!! What great weather we have today!!

2. Don't forget about adding luggage fees from Delta.
3. Is your daughter 9 turning 10 (or 10 turning 11)? If she is 9 at the start of her trip, she is 9 for the whole trip - giving you the children pricing for the buffet/tickets. Same for her friend. So - I looked and if both kids are both 9 at the start of the trip - for the DDP it would be $571 and you could get it only if you use the AP discount or rent points. Just an idea.

>>>

Hey Yes we are having an awesome day arent we! DD is 10 turning 11! No child pricing for us, lol. We do pretty good splitting an app, entree, and dessert between us though. She likes good food and will try most things, so we will do some table serve places and stay away from the buffets other than Ohana for breakfast.

 

[Beezle2]

As long as they are staying onsite, they can use the Disney Magical Express at no additional charge.

>>>


Yes thats the plan!