Our yearly trip this time with TWIN 1yo + 3yo + MIL- are we crazy?!?!

[LSU25]

* This entire thread will probably be all over the place, I'm mainly using it as a place to keep all my information/outfit choices) questions/saving amounts all in one place. So I apologize for the randomness ahead of time...

I guess first off I should give some background. We have gone to WDW twice over the past year and now we are currently planning out 3rd trip but decided to stay ONSITE for the first time The key difference we will be traveling with our 2 newborn ( will be 1y/o ) twin girls and our 3 y/o son. Its going to be so much fun matching all of their clothes together. We are still super super early in the planning stages. The last two trips I've discovered DISboards and we've had AMAZING trips staying off site with big groups so this will be our first time staying onsite. We will be making a yearly trip to Disney for as long as the kids enjoy it and want to and with 2 1 y/o girls I have a feeling we will be going a lot! Also, a friend of mine works for Disney so I'm realllllly hoping he can get us free tickets again like he has in the past.

-Also, I've decided since we will be there any ways I'm going to run the 5k on Thursday Morning though EPCOT!!!!

[size=+1]Trip Dates[/size]
January 5th- 12th

[size=+1]People: [/size]
Myself, DH, DS3, DD1, DD1, MIL

[size=+1]Resort: [/size]
Contemporary with the Magic Kingdom view. ( my MIL is splitting the room cost with us and this is what she wants and I have NOOOOO problem with it )

[size=+1]ADR's[/size]
Garden Grill EPCOT: All
Cape May Café breakfast: Just myself, DH and DS3
Hollywood and Vine lunch : All
Princess Storybook Breakfast: ALL
Cinderealla Castle for Breakfast: ALL
Teppon Edo just DH and I DATE NIGHT!!
Via Napoli Just DH and I Another date night I have the best in-laws ever

I didn't have any that were to hard to get but still happy none-the-less

Sunday:
Cinderella Royal Table: 8:10am

Monday:
Hollywood and Vine 11:25
Tepon Edo : 7:00

Tuesday
The Plaza

Wednesday
Cape May Cafe: 10:00am
Garden Grill : 5:30pm

Thursday
Via Napoli 7:00pm
[size=+1]Other plans[/size]
Definitely a day at Universal and HP

*We get comped tickets so we have to meet our friend at 8am so our ADR's for breakfast have to be a little later in the day so we can meet him

*Trip paid for as of 5/19/2013 YAY, now just 8 months of planning once the crowd calendars come out and our 180 +10 day window comes out on 7/7

 

[LSU25]

Hotel: Contemporary with MK View: $3157 (Splitting cost with MIL) so $1578 is our share
Gas: $400 ( not included in total, husband will split with mil)
Universal Tickets: $281.22
Garden Grill: $100
Cape May Café: $66
Hollywood and Vine: $83
Princess Breakfast or lunch/dinner: $107
Cinderella Castle b/lor dinner whatever I can get: $184
Teppon Edo $80
Via Napoli $100
Tips: $200
Other Food: $600
Souvenirs $200
Disney 5k: $60 ( Paid already)

Total: 2,021 ( My husband is paying for our half of the room) I made it my goal to save up for everything else (I'm a SAHM)

New Totals as of 5/6/2013:
Cash: $207
ING Vacation account: 1,113.88
Disney Visa Rewards $212
Disney Gift Cards: $315

Total:
$1,847.88 /$1800

 

[LSU25]

OUR SCHEDULE

Saturday:
*Downtown Disney
*Get rewards put on Disney Rewards Card
*Purchase Sunday's Tickets

Sunday
*Magic Kingdom
-Cinderella Royal Table for Breakfast ( Everyone )


Monday
*Hollywood Studio's
-Lunch: Hollywood and Vine ( Everyone )
* Epcot
- Dinner: Teppan Edo (John and Amanda)

Tuesday
*Magic Kingdom
- The plaza for lunch ( Everyone ) One of my favorite restaurants

Wednesday
*Epcot
-Breakfast: Cape May Cafe ( John , Amanda, Cam)
- Dinner: Garden Grill ( Everyone)

Thursday
* Race day 5k at 6:30 am at Epcot
* Animal Kingdom
* Dinner: Via Napolia ( John and Amanda)

Friday
*Universal Island of Adventure

 

[LSU25]

Budget Tracking:

Total Cash Saved
1,145.46

Disney Visa
$110

Total Saved:
1,255.46 / $2,081

3/25/2013
Added 13.34 to the budget, I sold some kids clothes online and they just paid.

3/26/2013
Added $11.00 to the budget by selling some gymbucks online

3/28/2013
Added $3.00 ( Hey every little bit counts haha)

3/29/2013
DH Did some private coaching and gave me $41 to put towards my part of the trip

4/1/2013
Added $9 from selling some more clothes and formula coupons

 

[LSU25]

So, I sold some more clothes and profited $6 but ended up spending $70 at Dillards on 3 new play shorts/workout shorts for my son. I really need to stay out of the stores haha I had $20 saved for new shorts so only a net loss of -50 from my Disney budget.

$-50 on new play shorts for Cam

New Totals:
Total Saved in cash Disney Visa TOTAL SAVED
1,070.46 110 1,180.46 /$2,021

 

[LSU25]

So we officially booked our room today. It feels so much closer now that we are official, even though we have 3 other trips between now and then.

 

[LSU25]

I'm slowly but surely chipping away at my part of the trip. I sold two gymbuck certificates for $11. My husband and MIL are splitting the cost of the room and I'm going to try and cover expenses for the rest of the trip. I am a SAHM so I accomplish this buy selling things online / keeping our food & HBA under $100 a week and putting all "extra" towards my portion of the trip.

New Totals as of 3/28/2013:
Total Saved in cash
$1,085.46

Disney Visa Rewards $110

Total:
$1,195.46 /$2,021

only $726 to go and 7 1/2 months to do it.

 

[LSU25]

Found $3...hey, every little bit helps haha

 

[LSU25]

2 things

1) I have the make my mind up if I'm going to run the 1/2 marathon
2) DH Did some private coaching today and made $141. He gave me $41 to put towards my part of the expenses for the trip.

 

[LSU25]

Added $9 from selling some more clothes and formula coupons



- I think I'm going to run the 5K on that Friday morning instead of doing the half marathon - financially it just makes more sense ( $700 extra night plus $170 race fee vs.$60

 

[LSU25]

Just a quick savings update:

Cash
$85

ING
$1,143.13

Disney Visa Rewards
$110

Total Saved
1,338.13 / 2,2021

 

[LSU25]

Added $5.75 from Ibotta

Update:

Cash
$85

ING
$1,148.88

Disney Visa Rewards
$110

Total Saved
1,343.88 / 2,2021

 

[LSU25]

-64.40

-I signed up for the 5k that runs through Epcot while we are there....I'll figure out the money later

- in other news I'm down 6lbs this week after switching my medicine up...yay! My goal is to lose 20lbs by the time we head to disney in Jan.

 

[LSU25]

Wow, I've long neglected this. I don't have the actual figures in front of me but I'm only about $300-400 away from my savings total. We don't leave for another 9 months ( wow that's a really long time) so I have no doubt I will be able to reach it and exceed it. I have my birthday, Christmas, anniversary and mothers day. Everyone keeps asking me what I want and all I say is DISNEY GIFT CARDS!!!! Or cash for the trip haha

 

[LSU25]

I've added two more dinners... these will be Date nights with the husband. One of Teppen Edo in Epcot and Via Napoli so I have to add those into my budget.

 

[LSU25]

This morning the trip is starting to seem more real and closer ( even though its still 9 months out) I printed all my sheets for my planning binder... I'm so excited I can't wait till the crowd calendars come out so I can start scheduling our ADR's , what parks , the itinerary...can you tell I'm a little OCD.

 

[LSU25]

Not much to update except THE DISNEY BINDER HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN MADE!

That means the planning as began...I can't wait till the crowd calendars come out and my 180 day window opens then the real fun begin!

 

[LSU25]

$20 cash added.... we are moving right along...about $300 left to go with just under 7 months till our trip

 

[LSU25]

THIS WAS THE BEST MOTHERS DAY EVER!!!!

- This was the best mothers day ever! My in-laws surprised me with $300 in Disney gift-cards to help pay off the trip, so that means my part of the trip is paid for and the Disney Visa dollars I collect from now till then will just be extra!! So excited, now just 8 more months of planning

 

[Blessedwithboys]

You did a great job saving on to more fun stuff planning!!!