Need help budgeting

[lemondog]

(X-posted to Families board)

Hi guys. I am new to this board, and so glad I found it! You seem like a really friendly bunch, and I need some help trying to budget our WDW vacation. This will be my first time going since 1992 (yikes!) and my first time with kids. After careful thought and the feedback of people on this site we plan to travel next fall (October?), when our older DD is 4 and our twins are 20 months.

So next step is figuring out how much to save. That's where I need help of the pros. Like I said, I haven't been in 12 years, and even then it was just 2 adults. We aren't made of money, so we plan to do some things to cut costs. Some things we plan on doing to save, unless you think they are not worth our while:

-We are going to drive -- Orlando is about 12 hours from us.
-We are going to have breakfast and lunch in the room, along with a couple of dinners. We do want to do a Character breakfast one day, though (unless you recommend lunch??).
-We definitely want to stay on-resort
-Preferably want a room where we can cook meals (someone mentioned Fort Wilderness cabins?)
-Will have 3 kids + 2 adults in one room, so need something with adequate space
-Would like one dinner out as a couple, while the kids are with a sitter. How much should be budget for this?
-Any ideas for where to get the best rates on hotels, park passes, etc?
-Plan on staying 5 days. Will probably focus on Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom only, unless you think kids this young will get something out of the other parks.
-We don't plan on visiting a water park, unless you think they are not to be missed. With such young kids, we would be pretty limited in our swimming options there, anyway

These are basics, as we are just beginning to plan, but any help you might give as to how much to plan on spending I would REALLY appreciate. Gotta know how much to stash in the piggy bank!

Thanks!
Angela

 

[mrsschlep]

What we did was we shopped around for prices for the big things like hotel, airfare, and park tickets. We used the price from www.disneyworld.com for our hotel and park tickets (price them seperately for a better deal), and the average price from tavelocity for our airfare. Maybe you could get a roundabout number of miles you will be driving and figure out your fuel expenses that way.
Then we took the grand total plus we figured $250 per day for our trip and divided it by the number of weeks until our trip. Every week we put that much money in an envelope marked "Disney".
We also bought a dry-erase board and made a calander of just Fridays until our trip. We mark off every week when we put our Disney fund money in the "Disney" envelope. We also use it to make notes of what we need to do to prepare for our trip. For example under today's date Oct 8 we have ~Book room~ and in a couple weeks we will make all of our priority seating reservations and another week we will book our airfare, and tell our kids, and then buy tickets, and 2 weeks before we leave we will call everything and reconfirm.
I know that $250 a day sounds a little high but this is our first trip and we want to make sure that we have enough. This is includung PS's, snacks, souvies, and any extras we may come across. We are really unsure how much to take and this just worked in our budget. Besides anything that we don't spend can come home with us and go into our "Disney" envelope for our next trip.
I hope that I was able to help you a little. My husband is the budget guy in our house. He just always has better ideas then I do. But everyone has their own way of doing things. What works for us may or may not work for you. Good luck and have fun planning a magical trip!

 

[ncbyrne]

http://www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html
This site will be extremely helpful when planning a WDW budget.

 

[VAN]

Just a few comments:

I think driving to save money is wise ... 12 hrs isn't bad and then you'll have your own vehicle once there (we drive 20 hrs each way)

I'd plan the first 2 days and the last 2 days in the parks. Keep the middle day for a day to catch up on sleep, visit some of the resort properties and maybe go to O'Hana's for dinner and then the campfire (at Ft. Wilderness) in the evening.

Don't rule out the other 2 parks ... it is easy to start with EE at a park, have a short break for lunch at your room, and then end at a park that has evening hours (such as Epcot)

Remember, if everybody gets cranking, take another down day and save your tickets for a future visit (they never expire)!!

I would give the kids a set amount of money for souveniers. We always gave our kids (when they were little) about $25 with the understanding that if they bought clothing (hat/shirt), I'd pitch in 1/2. I found that the quality of the souveniers were better and that if they wanted something crappy/expensive, I could say - well that will only leave you with $xx, are you sure that's what you want? 9 times out of 10, they would pass.

Have a great time!

p.s. If you can afford the cabins, I would recommend them for your family. Ft. Wilderness is a great place, especially if you have little ones!! Also, the MK is just a ferry boat ride away!!

 

[firetaz]

Our family has been at disney 3 times. '96 - AS, '98 - POFQ, '02 - POR. We will be at the Pop Century in Dec. 04. I hope I can share some insight for your planning.

1). We live a 18 hour drive from WDW, we fly every time. The cost per person to fly out weighs the costs to drive. Figure gas prices at $2 per gallon, lodging on the way down and back, meals. This usually is couple hundred dollars less than flying, but the piece of mind of it only taking 2 1/2 hours to fly versus 18 hours of drive time is priceless. My children are 13, 10, 8. The less time we spend in the car the better. So the difference in cost is worth it. You also have to figure in transfers from the airport.

2). We took $200 per day the first trip, $300 per day the second, and $400 per day the third trip. Our up and coming trip I'm planning on about $300 per day. $200 was too little, $400 was plenty and we came home with left over money. So we are trying the $300 per day again, hope it's enough! We don't have charge cards to help out with any shortages. We plan to eat at the counter service resturants.

3) POR offers rooms with trundle beds for a family of five. My son enjoyed sleeping on the bed, and the rooms are spacious. They don't kitchen facilities, but why would you want to cook? Your on vacation!

Hope this helps!

 

[Jasminesmommy]

One thing you may want to do is add the Prince and princess package on your package. It caost $64 for each kid and $23 for each adult and it gives you $50 for each child and a free character breakfast for all. If you look at the price it all adds up about even but its paid in advance and takes care of kids money and the character breakfast. Plus you get Perfered seating at in AK Lion king show, pocahantas,some bird show, Tarzan Rocks at MGM Playhouse Disney, Beauty and the Beast.

 

[lou7401]

Is your daily spending money including the price of the admission tickets or in addition - $300 per day etc.? Also are you eating out for all three meals every day?

Thanks - I'm trying to get an idea what I should expect to spend too.

 

[OhioTony]

We just returned Oct 3rd from a stay & Carribean Beach Resort..previous trip in 2001 we rented Wilderness l cabins..Cabins have a lot more room, a functional kitchen & a nice Boat Ride to Magic Kingdom But less Disney feel (ie Themed pools; Landscaping & character). We made oatmeal for many breakfast' but with 5 days you most likely WILL NOT make it back to room for lunches of dinner..This last trip we brought a cooler and kept it iced from resort machine. we brought groceries ( pop tarts, boxed breakfast pastries, soda in plastic bottles,u can take them in parks & save 2.50 a bottle!, energy bars..ect. Also do your park resteraunt homework. At animal Kingdom,both days we went we purchased kid meal vouchers for 5.99 for kids & us adults and we were quite full.You get a kids meal a large drink & vouchers for a treat, ice cream or popcorn, and another drink to use the same day. AK is the only park to offer this. There is a family pizza deal at Pizza planet in MK for 24.00 I believe.Turkeylegs are ofered at most parks for 5.00. we got 2 to share & threw a lot of it away as we were full! if you are @ EPCOT during the food & wine fest you can snack your way around world showcase..Most $$ is spent on drinks..order a LARGE drink & courtesy cups with ice & split the drink! A fun diversion at MGM is to have onion rings and milkshakes in cars while watching B drive in previews at sci-fi resteraunt. For dinner a couple nights we ordered a whole pizza for 17.00 and ate in our room,we brought our own drinks & chips. We did kept our food budget to less than 60.00 a day for a family of 4..the rest of the budget the kids blew on trading pins!

 

[FreeTime]

We have stayed in the cabins and they are great. I am not sure of the cost of the sitter but if you stay in the cabin you could have a late romantic dinner after the kids have went to sleep in the bedroom. I know it is not the same as going out, but I have a fear of leaving my kids with strangers and I don't know if I could do it. The cabins also have a grill so you can cookout a night or too as well. We always get a room where we can cook. We are not a family that enjoys eating out every night and enjoy being able to rest in the cabin instead of wait in a noisy restaurunt. You may also want to see if you can rent from a DVC member and get a home away from home resort that is themed more then the cabins are.

 

[firetaz]

Originally posted by lou7401
Is your daily spending money including the price of the admission tickets or in addition - $300 per day etc.? Also are you eating out for all three meals every day?

Thanks - I'm trying
to get an idea what I should expect to spend too.

No, the amounts given are for food and spending only. Tickets and room were already paid for, and not included in the daily figures.

 

[yecats]

First you made it these boards which is a wonderful saver. I think the Ft W Cabins would be wonderful for your family. Reason is you get a cabin to yourselves (no noise/neighbors bothering you and vice versa). Full kitchen and room to stretch out (when kids have been stimulated enough by parks, you can have them sleeping in the bedroom while your in the kitchen/dining room/living room relaxing and not having to tip toe all over the place. Please note that getting around Ft. Wilderness is a slightly bit different (exchanging busses usually once to get to a park, etc - sometimes may be better to drive your vehicle to the park - parking is free when staying on the grounds).

Second, check out a site called mousesavers.com. She'll post codes that anyone can use (sometimes the cabins in the offseason can be around $140-$160 per night). These codes will get posted a few months before your date (so begin checking spring through summer next year) and call WDW immediately when the codes are released

Third, as stated by another poster above, the cabins do lack a little disney charm but you can cook. If you would stay in a moderate (it would be cheaper per night) but your not supposed to cook in the rooms and there really not set up that way. We do bring cold cereals, snacks and water and keep in the room (this will save you a ton of money) and these resorts are easy to access with themed pools, etc. You have to decide what is the best trade off.

Fourth, As I don't have children but do read a lot of responses and know a bit about disney, your twins shouldn't require any children's tickets to enter the parks. Your older daughter will require a ticket. There is also a charge to rent strollers if you don't bring your own into the parks. Certain restaurants (believe sit down restaurants may also not charge you for the younger children to eat?).

Fifth, check out the menus at wdwig.com to see basic over the top prices charged at themeparks (they are hilariously funny and sad all at the same time - there are also many resort photo's there as well). You may want to check into a thread on the budget board about food vouchers and splitting meals between adults and younger children. I can tell you that certain places do give you a lot of food (ie. Columbia Harbor House chicken strip meal can feed one adult/child easily for $7.00 and I've witnesses plenty of parents doing this there). This does take a bit more reading and working on your budget. Lastly, you may find it worth your while as your driving to invest in a food saver and cook a number of your meals before heading down to keep in a cooler. This would save you time/trouble while on vacation as you would just simply need to reheat the food and serve it. We generally walk into the parks with water, chips, fruit and I've seen people eating homemade sandwiches on park benches.

Sixth, I drive from LA which is anywhere from a 10 to 12 hr drive and although I am tired when I get there, it is doable in one day.

Lastly, read up (homework is fun on these boards) and you'll learn so much. Post questions no matter how dingy you may feel (we all have to learn). Also, most of the Park Hoppers that are sold usually have a plus or two with the ticket that you can use at Pleasure Island or a water park. You may want to go to the waterparks as they do have kiddy areas/pools and the kids do seem to have a blast there. Good luck and have fun planning.

 

[loribell]

Angela,

According to Mousesavers a Fort Wilderness Cabin with an Annual Pass Discount for October of this year is $139 per night. The other discount codes are no longer up but they will be slightly higher than that, not sure how much but the AP discount is the best there is.

Through the Disney Store you can buy Park Hopper tickets in advance. The 4 day park hopper is $202 for adults but I'm not sure about the prices for any of the other options. With a membership at Hotwire Savings Club you can get 4 day Park Hopper Plus tickets that allow you one water park visit for $208.96 adult, 167.75 child (3-9).

You can check menu's at http://www.wdwig.com for an idea of what meals out will cost you.

One of our favorite character meals is the Crystal Palace, with Pooh and friends. This should be good for your childrens ages. I would suggest a lunch meal here. It is just $1 per person more ($17.99 adult, $9.99 child (3-9) so the twins will eat free here!)than breakfast and will allow you to hit Fantasy Land at opening and get the rides done with very little wait.

Now as for the water park, you can either hit one or skip it. We tried Blizzard Beach this summer and the little kids area, Tikes Peak, is wonderful. There is a lot there to do but with just 5 days you probably need to use one of your days for a break.

I hope this helps some. Have a great trip!

Lori

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

We have been several times with our dd starting when she was about the age of your twins, and I can't believe she's almost 5 already! Anyway, we found it easier to eat in the parks, just because it takes so long to get back to the resort, even if you're staying onsite. We just split meals with her (and still do). This last trip, we came prepared with a cooler, cereal, a case of water, snacks, etc. and came home with almost everything we took. It's just easier to eat when you're hungry. Also, we went a couple of weeks ago just for one day (it's great only being 4.5 hrs. away!) and stayed at CBR. Our room had a fridge in it for no charge. All of the moderates and deluxe resorts should have them in time for your stay. Also, sign up for the Mousesavers.com newsletter. Sometimes ticketmania.com offers specials to newsletter subscribers not available to everyone else. And definately book room only and buy tickets separately. It's much cheaper that way. The twins don't need a ticket, and kids under 3 eat free just about everywhere. Good luck, and have a great trip!