omg I just booked flights to San Francisco Oct/Nov 2014!

[CJ2001]

Cannot believe it, i finally convinced my hubby (who is terrified of flying) to go back to the US and just in time before the Air NZ sale finishes tomorrow. Had not planned on getting it as we have not saved a cent so have dipped into funds to get the flights which are so cheap! Now we have to save are butts off before October!

Got my annual leave approved in half hour too, now just hope its ok for kids to get out of school. My sons school will be ok but my daughter has just started at a new school and not sure of their policies but dont think they can do much about it.

Had always hoped to go this year but hubby was adamant we werent, so the money we had put aside I spent at christmas! I'm a little panicked now but it will be awesome. We are going to book the rest of our flights later when we get some more cash. Going to New York from San Fran & Orlando, hopefully in between that we can go to Washington and Boston.

Hoping we can do this all for $15K, flights for 3 adults and 1 child to San Fran is costing $4100. Do you think $15K is doable?

 

[aussie shaz]

Very exciting! Wish it was me.
Just regarding your $15000 budget...We did flights to LAX for 3A1C - $4100
We stayed 6 nights HOJO and 9 nights vacation rental (approx $200/night). Disneyland 10 day passes, Universal VIP tickets, car hire for whole time. Add in food (usually take away, no expensive restaurants), and shopping (lots of it), and we came to about $16000.
Not sure what kind of things you're thinking of doing, but adding flights, more expensive hotels in NY, WDW tickets(?). I think you'd be pushing your $15000.
Good luck anyway!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I agree with Aussie Shaz, I think it will be a challenge to keep within that budget.

San Fran and NY hotels are pretty costly, and all the flights and transfers will add up.

Of course it depends exactly how long you are going for and what style of accommodation and dining you are comfortable with. If you are prepared to 'rough it' a bit you should be okay.

 

[zanzibar138]

Congratulations on booking your flights

It really depends on how long you're going for and what type of holiday you're planning as to whether you'll come in under $15k. I think with a few internal flights, plus visiting expensive cities like SF and NY, you might be pushing it. If you can price up some accommodation and airfare options (and maybe big ticket items like WDW passes), then you might get a better idea. Then you just need to factor in meals, sight-seeing and spending money.

You can save money by minimising restaurant meals, or even eating in your room where you can (breakfast is an easy one), and things like taking public transport instead of taxis/transfers.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Congratulations!

Good luck with the budget. Be aware that accommodation in SF, NY and Boston can be pricey.

How many nights are you away for? It's hard to gauge if the amount is doable or not without knowing how many days you're hoping to cover.

• If you're away for 2 weeks or so, it's a great budget.
• If you're away for 3 weeks or so, it could be tight; but doable.
• If you're away for 4 weeks or so, then it could come down to the type of accommodation and experiences and food and shopping that you're prepared to trade off on.

 

[CJ2001]

Thanks guys

We are going for 18 days. Flying into San Francisco for 2 nights (which is really just a stop over and we loved it so much last time wanted to see a few things we missed), then going to New York for 4 nights.

Now we are thinking of not doing Washington or Boston and going by bus or train to Niagra falls for 1 night then to Orlando 11 nights.

Hoping to do 8 day tickets in DisneyWorld 2 days Universal and 1 day shopping.

Would love to go to Colorado but dont think it would be possible.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks guys

We are going for 18 days. Flying into San Francisco for 2 nights (which is really just a stop over and we loved it so much last time wanted to see a few things we missed), then going to New York for 4 nights.

Now we are thinking of not doing Washington or Boston and going by bus or train to Niagra falls for 1 night then to Orlando 11 nights.

Hoping to do 8 day tickets in DisneyWorld 2 days Universal and 1 day shopping.

Would love to go to Colorado but dont think it would be possible.

Sounds like a great itinerary in the making. Good luck with your planning. Depending on what you do and how you budget it out and how much shopping you want to do, your budget might be doable. By my reckoning, you're looking at about $550 per day. Assuming $150 for food, that leaves $400 for accommodation and entertainment. I looked, and found, accommodation around the $150 per night. Some places I did more, others I did less. Having said that, NY and SF will cost more.

You could always stopover in Denver or something.

I would recommend that you keep an eye out on specials and/or sign up to the UO website for hotel specials. They normally offer discounts for 3 night minimum stays. Last year's discount was up to 40% off rack rate. It might be worth factoring a 3 night stay into your plans.

 

[zanzibar138]

Thanks guys

We are going for 18 days. Flying into San Francisco for 2 nights (which is really just a stop over and we loved it so much last time wanted to see a few things we missed), then going to New York for 4 nights.

Now we are thinking of not doing Washington or Boston and going by bus or train to Niagra falls for 1 night then to Orlando 11 nights.

Hoping to do 8 day tickets in DisneyWorld 2 days Universal and 1 day shopping.

Would love to go to Colorado but dont think it would be possible.

I think definitely doable with some careful planning

Sounds like a great trip

 

[Oz Mum]

Oh wow - so exciting!!

Are your Passports still valid??? That can eat a fair bit into a budget plus adding on Visa's & Travel Insurance.....

 

[CJ2001]

Sounds like a great itinerary in the making. Good luck with your planning. Depending on what you do and how you budget it out and how much shopping you want to do, your budget might be doable. By my reckoning, you're looking at about $550 per day. Assuming $150 for food, that leaves $400 for accommodation and entertainment. I looked, and found, accommodation around the $150 per night. Some places I did more, others I did less. Having said that, NY and SF will cost more.

You could always stopover in Denver or something.

I would recommend that you keep an eye out on specials and/or sign up to the UO website for hotel specials. They normally offer discounts for 3 night minimum stays. Last year's discount was up to 40% off rack rate. It might be worth factoring a 3 night stay into your plans.

Thanks for your info, I will definitely check that website out. Thanks for the estimate per day too will factor that in.

Do they sometimes have those dining packages at Disneyworld for free in end of oct/ start nov? (Sorry forgot what they were called cause I stopped researching because i thought I would never be able to convince hubby - I'm still in shock that we booked!)

 

[CJ2001]

I think definitely doable with some careful planning

Sounds like a great trip

Thank you

 

[CJ2001]

Oh wow - so exciting!!

Are your Passports still valid??? That can eat a fair bit into a budget plus adding on Visa's & Travel Insurance.....

Passports are valid, visas aren't! I work for a bank so travel insurance insurance is at a discount bug will definitely factor that in

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks for your info, I will definitely check that website out. Thanks for the estimate per day too will factor that in.

Do they sometimes have those dining packages at Disneyworld for free in end of oct/ start nov? (Sorry forgot what they were called cause I stopped researching because i thought I would never be able to convince hubby - I'm still in shock that we booked!)

They did have Free Dining this year. I don't know exactly what the dates were or if they covered the period you're going to go.

If you are looking for FD, I would recommend you run the sums based on what you might eat and compare it to any other discount that might be offered. I have effectively 3 adults in my party and based on what we would eat (on average), the room only discount works out better for us. It really does depend and vary family by family. So, you'll need to work out what is best for you and your family.

 

[CJ2001]

They did have Free Dining this year. I don't know exactly what the dates were or if they covered the period you're going to go.

If you are looking for FD, I would recommend you run the sums based on what you might eat and compare it to any other discount that might be offered. I have effectively 3 adults in my party and based on what we would eat (on average), the room only discount works out better for us. It really does depend and vary family by family. So, you'll need to work out what is best for you and your family.

Thanks PIO, I will keep that in mind and will keep a look out

In regards to dinning, I have read on here about all the bookings that need to be made 6 months in advance - is that just for the disney world dining places or do you also have to book months in advance for places in downtown disney like TRex etc...?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks PIO, I will keep that in mind and will keep a look out In regards to dinning, I have read on here about all the bookings that need to be made 6 months in advance - is that just for the disney world dining places or do you also have to book months in advance for places in downtown disney like TRex etc...?

Yep, the Downtown disney places as well. Some, like TRex and Raglan Rd, are very popular and can book out well in advance. Although, some of these places take bookings through the Disney system as well as their own booking system. If the disney website shows that TRex is all booked out, try ringing the restaurant as they may still have availability.
My family bowled up to TREx without a reservation and got a table. However, this was for a very early lunch (about 11am). It was very busy (and loud) by the time we left.

 

[bswift]

For NY accomm, if you don't need anything too fancy try the Guest House off Park. My parents and I stayed in the Susan Bea apartment over NYE 2012/13 and it was great. It had 1 separate bedroom and then another bed in the main living room, as well as a small kitchen and a bathroom. It definitely was like staying in someone's house rather than a hotel but we only paid $220 a night over NYE so it was well worth it. The location is great, walking distance to Times Square and the park (by Australian standards... US friends I met up with there took a cab one block instead!). Previously as a family we had stayed at the Affinia Manhattan but that was before they renovated, the prices are a bit steep now. On my own I have stayed in a private room at the Vanderbilt YMCA and then on my last trip I booked through Hotwire and got the Roger Smith hotel for $120 a night. I also booked my WDW accomm on Hotwire and got the Holiday Inn Resort LBV (not DTD) for $66 a night. This was before the changes to FP though so if you can afford it, you probably should stay onsite (unless offsite gets pre-booked FP+ later this year, then staying offsite could help you save a lot of money).

Boston and Washington are both amazing cities but very, very expensive. Probably best that you're skipping them for this trip! For Niagara Falls, personally I found that I really only needed a half day there. Once you've done the Maid of the Mist and the behind the falls tour, that's kind of it. Everything else is just super commercialised and basically a children's version of Las Vegas.

Have a great trip

 

[CJ2001]

For NY accomm, if you don't need anything too fancy try the Guest House off Park. My parents and I stayed in the Susan Bea apartment over NYE 2012/13 and it was great. It had 1 separate bedroom and then another bed in the main living room, as well as a small kitchen and a bathroom. It definitely was like staying in someone's house rather than a hotel but we only paid $220 a night over NYE so it was well worth it. The location is great, walking distance to Times Square and the park (by Australian standards... US friends I met up with there took a cab one block instead!). Previously as a family we had stayed at the Affinia Manhattan but that was before they renovated, the prices are a bit steep now. On my own I have stayed in a private room at the Vanderbilt YMCA and then on my last trip I booked through Hotwire and got the Roger Smith hotel for $120 a night. I also booked my WDW accomm on Hotwire and got the Holiday Inn Resort LBV (not DTD) for $66 a night. This was before the changes to FP though so if you can afford it, you probably should stay onsite (unless offsite gets pre-booked FP+ later this year, then staying offsite could help you save a lot of money).

Boston and Washington are both amazing cities but very, very expensive. Probably best that you're skipping them for this trip! For Niagara Falls, personally I found that I really only needed a half day there. Once you've done the Maid of the Mist and the behind the falls tour, that's kind of it. Everything else is just super commercialised and basically a children's version of Las Vegas.

Have a great trip

Thank you so much for all the information I will definitely check out the NY accommodation as my dad might be coming with us now too so that would be handy.

Was thinking of staying at Niagra to save on NY accommodation prices but if there isnt alot to do and the NY accommodation is a good price might just be worth a day trip to Niagra.

 

[CJ2001]

Yep, the Downtown disney places as well. Some, like TRex and Raglan Rd, are very popular and can book out well in advance. Although, some of these places take bookings through the Disney system as well as their own booking system. If the disney website shows that TRex is all booked out, try ringing the restaurant as they may still have availability.
My family bowled up to TREx without a reservation and got a table. However, this was for a very early lunch (about 11am). It was very busy (and loud) by the time we left.

So do you ring them from Australia or when you get to Disneyworld?

Havent even looked at the Disney system yet - is it hard to use?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

So do you ring them from Australia or when you get to Disneyworld? Havent even looked at the Disney system yet - is it hard to use?

You would be best to ring them from Australia as soon as you decide that you want to eat there. Waiting until you get to the USA will make getting a booking pretty difficult. I've found that ringing the USA is no where near as expensive as it used to be. Of course, this can vary from country to country and provider to provider.

You may find that you don't need to ring anyone if you use the online Disney system. It is very easy to use. Sign up to the Disney World website then go to a restaurant and pick a date and time. The system will then bring up your desired time, or some within a few hours either side. You pick the time that suits best, input a few details, and you're all booked. Some of the more popular restaurants and character restaurants require credit card guarantee. Nothing is charged to your credit card unless you don't turn up for the booking. From memory the no- show charge is $10p/p.

If you like restaurant dining (vs fast food style meals), then you should definitely be prepared to book at the 6 month mark. Some places such as Be Our Guest and Ohana will book out in a matter of days (if not hours). In fact Be Our Guest is usually booked out before the 180 day mark by guests with hotel bookings (this gives you a head-start). Once you've made your bookings, it is easy to cancel them and rebook other restaurants (depending of course, on availability).

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Also, if you can't get a restaurant you want, keep checking every day or so for cancellations. They pop up all the time.

Let us know if you want a list of our restaurant favourites. Of course you'll get a huge range of answers, but it might give you a place to start your research.