On Average how much do you spend..

[MaMa3Princess]

On your Disney Vacations. We are a one income family and we live very modestly. However, vacations are very important to us. Now I would love to drop 3,000-4,000 grand on a vacation but that is not going to happen So normally we spend anywhere from 600-1,000 totally on vacation. Now I know that is super cheap but hey we have to be super cheap. So I am just curious how much do you normally spend? .

 

[utahkennedys]

It all depends on whether you need to fly, how long you are staying, etc. I don't see any way that would work however, as tickets are expensive and depending upon how many people are in your family and how many days you go, the tickets could easily cost your entire budget. Not trying to be negative, just honest.

On our last Sept. trip we had free airline tickets and stayed at DVC where we own at OKW (so didn't have to spend $ on the room), and my tickets were $300 per adult and my dd was $200 or so, but we got the 10 day non-expiring to use on 2 or more trips. Add food, etc. and Disney isn't "cheap". But I don't know where else we get more bang for our buck either!

Our trip before that in April was paid for by DH's boss as a "bonus" and it came to over $5k for 7 nights...but we went first class, stayed at Poly, etc. We would NEVER normally spend that much.

 

[zippehsmom]

It depends if it is a budget trip or not.

This December we spend for 2 adults & 2 kids: $1,100 7 nights Pop w/ dining & 1 day MYW(I have an AP), $250 upgrade for DH & DD MYW to 8 day tickets, $400 extra cash, $154 rental car & $680 airfare Total: $2,584

Last summer I took my neice, nephew and Mom and we stayed for 2 weeks(6 people total) so with airfare, rental car, accommodations, food & spending money we spent close to $10,000.

This summer we are going for 3 weeks and it looks like it is going to cost about $8,000. We are driving instead of flying so we are saving $$$'s there. Also, my brother is footing the bill for my neice and nephew this year so, actually I will only be spending around $6,500.

I know that we spend a lot on vacation, but we enjoy going.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

I am sorry I left out a lot of variables, We live in Ga so we always drive and my sister works for Universal and her roomate works for Disney so we get free tickets. My budget includes food and entertainment. But that is why we vacation there because it is easy with all these variables being in place.

 

[zippehsmom]

I am sorry I left out a lot of variables, We live in Ga so we always drive and my sister works for Universal and her roomate works for Disney so we get free tickets. My budget includes food and entertainment. But that is why we vacation there because it is easy with all these variables being in place.

Wow, that must be nice. I used to work for the Disney Store in college. Those free tickets sure were nice. I always gave them away . I did not make it to disney until our honeymoom

 

[crazelion]

I would check hotelkingdom.com for hotels, condos and suites.

I think since already got tickets then that cut down of the cost right there.

Found a hotel the offer a free breakfeast and youn only have pay for lunch and dinner.

Gas is cost alot now.

I think get away going under a 1000.00 dollars for myself.

 

[spiceycat]

I have an annual pass - so that is already paid for

I neither get an exchange thru RCI or II - so $149 + fee ($175 - they went up).

or skyauction (never pay more than $250)

generally this is for CWR - so add $50 for the pet fee, they also do $50 deposit (but if you check out on time you get that back)

buy groceries $80 for the week.

we made eat a meal or two onsite so add $35 - but most meals are in the condo.

since I have an annual pass I can park my car for free at WDW.

now shopping - I wait for WDW to go shopping - I buy my shoes - new balance for about 2 for 1 compared to the prices here - last time I did even better..... they were having a sale! for $39 I got 2 pairs - here the same shoes were $54 to $85 pair.

I also buy clothes (when I need them) here.

$300 resort
$100 fees
$80 grocery
$35 meals on site

so around $500.

now when it it time to buy annual passes again - big expensive - $345(I think) I own DVC so we get a discount.

 

[DawnM]

We have annual passes so that is already covered.

The last 3 times we have gone we use SkyAuction.com and get a 1 bedroom condo for $225-$300 for 7 nights, including taxes. That helps a lot because we end up with a kitchen and can eat some in the room.

So, for example: This trip (leaving Jan. 21) our budget is:

$240- Vacation Village condo-7 nights
$90- dog to go to a kennel for 9 nights
$200 for gas including local driving to/from parks

Food will just depend on what we decide to do (eat out/fix our meal ourselves, etc....)

So, roughly $550 for the essential elements of the trip.

I CAN be done! AND, for me, if I do Disney this way I can go a lot more often than if I stay in Disney hotels, eat all my meals at Disney, etc....

Dawn

 

[kilee]

There are so many variables. For a WDW vacation-- I usually have to budget $1200-1500 for a long 4 day weekend and $2300-2800 for a week long trip. We did a 11 day trip only once and I had budgeted $4000 for it but came home w/ almost $700 and we spent a few hundred on a trip to an ER for dh who had kidney stones.

There are so many things that can affect the price. Airfare-- this is huge-- we prefer not to drive the trip. So, we try to go around Jetblue's and SW's sales. Also, where we stay. The cheapest has been a Day's Inn for $19.99 a night- shortly after 9/11. We had a great poolside room and the hotel was modern and clean- just a no-frills kind of place. Most expensive has been the Dolphin. So--- this affects things a lot too. Also, how many park days is the last thing that changes our budget a lot.

 

[riu girl]

We prefer a 2-3 week holiday and not just theme parks but also a lot of time at the beach.
We just did 23 days total , two weeks at a modest condo at the beach in Siesta key, one night in a stopover hotel in BUF before holiday, return airfare for 5, groceries for two weeks for the condo/beach part of holiday , Busch gardens (for 4) and 7 day Disney MYW tickets (for 4), 15 day car rental, 8 nights in a value resort in Disney, 8 days food in Disney, spending money.

We did the whole 3 weeks for about $4000 US so I feel good about that.

Later this year we are planning a similar type holiday (one week in Orlando, but just doing SeaWorld two days) followed by two weeks at the beach (including two days at Busch gardens)
.
We are hoping to do all three weeks (2 adults, 2 kids) for around 4000-4500. For us, its not about shopping and nice restaurants (although we do manage to eat out several times during our vacation) but about spending time together/relaxing. I will never do a whole week doing Disney theme parks again. It was great being able to stay on site and see all four theme parks in week, but not relaxing enough for my tastes.

 

[crazelion]

I have an annual pass - so that is already paid for

I neither get an exchange thru RCI or II - so $149 + fee ($175 - they went up).

or skyauction (never pay more than $250)

generally this is for CWR - so add $50 for the pet fee, they also do $50 deposit (but if you check out on time you get that back)

buy groceries $80 for the week.

we made eat a meal or two onsite so add $35 - but most meals are in the condo.

since I have an annual pass I can park my car for free at WDW.

now shopping - I wait for WDW to go shopping - I buy my shoes - new balance for about 2 for 1 compared to the prices here - last time I did even better..... they were having a sale! for $39 I got 2 pairs - here the same shoes were $54 to $85 pair.

I also buy clothes (when I need them) here.

$300 resort
$100 fees
$80 grocery
$35 meals on site

so around $500.

now when it it time to buy annual passes again - big expensive - $345(I think) I own DVC so we get a discount.

I know WDW has the best prices for New Balance shoes that I ever seen. the last time I was there I came with 6 pair of new balances tennis shoes.

 

[ohiomom28]

Last year, we stayed offsite, hotel was $260, took $1300 with us and came home with over $200. Did a timeshare presentation to save on Disney tickets, 3-1day tickets for $70. We blew alot of money that week! So, a total of about $1560 for 5 nights.

This year, we are staying offsite again, but going to US/IOA. I am driving myself crazy trying to find the "best" deal. We are flying this instead of driving, so there is added expense. Hoping for a total of $2500.

 

[helens042266]

We are taking a 2 week vacation this year... Me, DH, DS(16)DS(11) DD(9)

2 bedroom condo for 2 weeks $1000.00

10 day disney non-hopper tickets (4 adult, 1 child) $1000.00

hotels for the drive from illinios $120 (I hope)

food for the road $100.00

gas $300.00 (hopefully gas prices do not skyrocket in june)

4 Table Service/Buffet meals for 5 $400.00

Groceries for 2 weeks $300.00

money left over for CS and spending $1280

I hope we don't spend that much!! We have been saving for a while and are just waiting to see how much we get back in taxes for the rest!

 

[disneysteve]

Our last trip in November cost about $2,000. That included driving to and from NJ, accomodations, Disney tickets, meals and spending money. We actually spent $2,300 but the extra $300 was a special gift I bought DW so I don't count that as it was a total non-necessity purchase and could easily have been cut had we not had the money to do so. BTW, there are 3 of us: me, DW and DD 10.

 

[HappyLawyer]

in the past probably around 10k but through, OLCC ownership, and skyauction, rental codes for cars and ticket mania, including the spending money and our disney cruise, our next 3 week trip should total 7k

 

[d4est]

Our first trip is in 2 weeks. The total for onsite at mod, tickets, dining plan, & air is a tad under $2500. We will have another $800 for the just in case stuff & souvies. Seems like a lot of $$$, but we just love to vacation. I save for it & pay bits and pieces over several months.

 

[kissy]

When we went last nov. My dad and step mom paid for our 5 day hoppers (2 adults/ 2 kids) and our hotel and dining pass. We still ended up spending about $1500. That was for gas, a 2 night hotel stay next to kennedy plus tickets to kennedy, souveniers and an extra night and day on hopper at disney because we weren't ready to come home.

This year we were going to rent a house so I was looking at about $2500 but my best friends hubby travels alot for business so he is getting us free adjoining suites at hilton instead so that will be $600 less we will have to pay.
Right now we're looking at
$720 for 6 day hopper plus passes
$200 for gas
$1000 for food (we are wanting to get some groceries so we can do breakfast in our room but still eat at some of the disney resturants since my best friend has never done any of them!)
As for souveniers, I'm getting each of my girls disney dollars throughout the year so what they have when we go is what they will have to spend. As of right now my oldest has $40. Plus I have been buying little things from the disney store as they go on sale so I can give them a little something each day! DH and I will probab;yt spend about $200 since we each have to get a tshirt or sweatshirt!
Oh and Best friend and I will be doing the Dolphin encounter thing at epcot so that will be $120

 

[pandora174]

That varies but last vacation was this past Dec. We got an awesome rate at the Portofino since we were doing Universal. I got 3 annual passes that I was able to use flex pay (pay every month $47 for all 3 us ) Wish Disney had that . we stayed 5 nights at the Portofino, bay view room (their nicest hotel) & ordered room service 1x, ordered a $50 b-day cake & ate at sit down restaurants for an average of $60-$70 4 times. We also had a character breakfast. We snacked & my DH got the refillable glass for beer & I got for soda. I took $300 cash for gas & misc. Our bill incl meals, shopping, room was about $1500 at the Portofino. Now we did splurge & got one night through Priceline for $75 & stayed at the Peabody (which I paid for meals out of the $300 in cash). So for a total of 6 nights in whch we really felt it was a luxurious vacation we spent about $2K (not counting the monthly tickets) but I figure when we go again in Nov. the flex pay option will have saved us a bunch. Also Universal has alot of savings for AP holders, 15 % off restaurants & 20 % off shopping etc. For some reason I spend tons more when I go to Disney ? I still cringe when I remember our 8 night stay at the BW & Poly in 2002 where I had pre-paid the rooms mind you & had the tickets also pre-paid but still managed to spend over $1500 on food & shopping !!! My DH still brings it up & I can't figure out how I did that

 

[lulubelle]

DH & I went for the Food & Wine Fest this last October. We stayed at Sheraton Vistana Villages (free, we exchanged our TS), bought 7 day hoppers and four paid functions at Epcot (Segway tour and three meal/cooking type events). Airfare from LAX. Rental car. I cooked at least one meal a day in our unit. A couple hundred on souvey's. We spent $2,500 for nine days. I thought that was pretty cheap.

We had a great time.

 

[bslowry]

My family of 4 is going in June.
Airfare - $700 - Allegiant Air
Tickets to US/IOA $220 for 5 days
Tickets to Discovery Cove/ Seaworld $950
Hotel - 2 nights Nick Hotel, 5 nights Royal Pacific $1400
Dinner with Shamu $100
Transportation Airport $115
Spending Money (mostly food) @$700 - are kids are 3 and 6 and don't eat much.
Total - $4185

Now that I think about it we might try Discovery Cove another time.