Oz Disney Budgets

[Willow25]

Alicia, that makes sense. I overlooked the per person part and thought you went for 6700 total. Yes I think Ms Shuttergirl is on to something with the $1000 a day.

 

[aussietravellers]

Im enjoying reading about everybodies budgeting for Disney.

I'm embarrassed to say that I have never actually travelled on a budget. We usually choose where we are staying based on what we like the look of and it's always a deluxe resort but find the best deal we can for that place. Just eat whatever we feel like eating and do all of the activities we want to do. We then do look for coupons, discounts and whatever else to get the best deal for what we are wanting to do and eat.

I am looking at doing a budget trip for DS and I in December though, so am trying to work that out now and trying to see what we need for food each day, accommodation, activities, shopping and I'm really hoping to do the trip for about $6000 (that's for two people, 14 nights, and not including airfares as we will use ff points).

 

[battymum]

Shuttergirl - I think your $1000 per day is pretty spot on - We went for 24nights and spend $25000 - but we are family of five!!

As far as a budget for food - if we werent on free dining at WDW I think I would have paid for the dining plan - just so i dont have to worry - we loved just handing over our card. Actually my original plan was to stay offsite and self cater, - so glad I didnt go there!!

Whilst I love eating out - we have three teens and I hate eating out with them - they eat very little but we have to pay for them as adults (at least they dont drink alcohol!!) - loved having it prepaid!!!

We generally tipped about $30 per meal and DH would have a couple of beers - so loved eating at those beautiful restaurants for only $40-$50 !!!

I actually wonder what else people spend money on in WDW - we spent very little -and we certainly didnt intend to skimp on anything.

My kids had their own spending money, which they had saved themselves, and had all sorts of plans for coming home with Goofy hats etc - but when it came down to it - they said to themselves "what will I do with it when I get home?"

They bought a few souveniers but spent most of their money in the outlet malls buying useful stuff - and Mummy was happy!!! One of them even came home with $100 (which we had to borrow off him at the airport - as he had cash and we didnt)

 

[alicia1506]

Alicia, that makes sense. I overlooked the per person part and thought you went for 6700 total. Yes I think Ms Shuttergirl is on to something with the $1000 a day.

lol. i don't mind being on a budget, but that would be a huge savings!!!

i don't think even i'm that good

 

[alicia1506]

Im enjoying reading about everybodies budgeting for Disney.

I'm embarrassed to say that I have never actually travelled on a budget. We usually choose where we are staying based on what we like the look of and it's always a deluxe resort but find the best deal we can for that place. Just eat whatever we feel like eating and do all of the activities we want to do. We then do look for coupons, discounts and whatever else to get the best deal for what we are wanting to do and eat.

I am looking at doing a budget trip for DS and I in December though, so am trying to work that out now and trying to see what we need for food each day, accommodation, activities, shopping and I'm really hoping to do the trip for about $6000 (that's for two people, 14 nights, and not including airfares as we will use ff points).

i certainly wouldn't be embarrassed about not travelling on a budget... i would LOVE to not HAVE to budget or go without some things in order to indulge myself while on holiday. i guess it comes down to individual circumstances and personal preferences and in the end... how deep your wallet goes, and how much you are prepared to pay...

we're in a concierge suite on the cruise, then a boutique 5 star hotel in chicago, then we're staying offsite at Desert Inn & Suites for the first 7 nights of our disney adventure, and only spending 2 nights onsite at the disneyland hotel... mostly cause the 2 nights at the DL hotel cost more than the 7 nights at the Desert Inn & Suites, and we're happy putting that money towards entertainment etc and souvenirs. but that's just our preferences and it allows us to buy up on gifts for the family and clothes and handbags etc

 

[Mum from oz]

Our last trip was pretty good at $25k for 32 days. Although we absorbed some of the costs of my mum.

This time my budget for 2 adults and 2 x children looks like this:

Flights (SYD-LAX-MCO-SFO-LAX-SYD) - $6928
7 Night Caribbean Disney Cruise - $5168
Cruise gratuities - $336
3 Bed Townhouse @ Windsor Hills for 7 nights - $789
7 night car hire MCO - Cape Canaveral $353
1 day car hire Cape Canaveral - MCO $64
7 night stroller hire - $109
6 day park hoppers - $1185
1 day Legoland Fl tickets - $160
Travel insurance - $233
Columbus Motor Inn, San Francisco for 5 nights - $880
SF Fire Engine Tour - $160
Alcatraz - $98
Spending Money - $6000

Total $22466

We still need to get a few things that I haven't accounted for. We lost our passports when we moved and still need to replace the kids plus get new ESTA's. We want to hire a Mustang for the day in San Francisco. We have quite a few ADR's at WDW. The only one we have paid for is HDDR. We like to eat out at least once per day while on holidays so our food budget would be around $200 for all of us a day. Some days its more or less. With the spending money I highly doubt we will use all of it. As on the cruise all food and soft drinks and entertainment are included. We will pay for a few excursions and souvenirs on the cruise. After all that rambling I'm guessing it will be around $25k for this trip too.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

we definitely like to splurge on indulgences while we're travelling...

ms shuttergirl.. i would love to do a trip like yours with lots of awesome entertainment, eating out at various table service restaurants and so on. that's my ideal vacation and the one i will do for my solo trip, which i'm planning hopefully next year.. my issue is that my fellow travellers wanted to always be moving on to the next thing, not stopping and smelling the roses.

having said that, my trips were only like... 14-16 days long... so if you think about it... a budget of $6700 per person x 2 = $13400/16 days = $835.70per day for the trip, which isn't that far off your budget either...

we also take extra money for 'indulgent' meals in nice restaurants, or a huge blowout on room service or drinks or going out for entertainment that we didn't plan but decide to do along the way.

Well Alicia, it sounds like your budget if you include the "extra indulgent money" hits pretty much where mine hits. It's a bummer when your fellow travellers aren't on the same page as you. Fortunately my DH and I are on the same page mostly and the kids generally love what we love .

We're going to DL, not WDW, and for 2 weeks, and going off my nerdy planning spreadsheet we are budgetting a total of $4,600 per person (2 adults, 3 kids) - $329 per person per day approx.

I have allowed $200/day total for food - based on prices on allears.net and a bit extra, plus taking into account we are staying on concierge level at PPH so will have breakfast and most snacks covered. It also doesn't take into account my 10% AP discount.

I've already paid for the airfares and paid too much,which I knew at the time but I couldn't wait any longer!

I booked the room at 10% AP discount rate but am hoping for further discounts closer to the time which will be a bonus.

Spending money is a bit of a guess - who knows??!! I plucked a number out of the air but it will depend how much we have saved by the time we go and what we actually want to buy.

The budget also includes extras like passport for youngest child, my AP, 14 day passes for the other 4, ESTA, Halloween party, Fantasmic dessert seating, travel insurance, transfers, car hire for a couple of days, and day trips to Knotts Berry Farm, LA and down the coast.

It's so true that the spending money budget is a total "guess-timate". We do not pay any attention to what we are spending on shopping to be honest but it generally works out to what I thought in the end

Alicia, that makes sense. I overlooked the per person part and thought you went for 6700 total. Yes I think Ms Shuttergirl is on to something with the $1000 a day.

Awwww, I feel kinda clever right now. I was scared posting those figures so I'm glad this is appearing like not a bad equation.

Im enjoying reading about everybodies budgeting for Disney.

I'm embarrassed to say that I have never actually travelled on a budget. We usually choose where we are staying based on what we like the look of and it's always a deluxe resort but find the best deal we can for that place. Just eat whatever we feel like eating and do all of the activities we want to do. We then do look for coupons, discounts and whatever else to get the best deal for what we are wanting to do and eat.

I am looking at doing a budget trip for DS and I in December though, so am trying to work that out now and trying to see what we need for food each day, accommodation, activities, shopping and I'm really hoping to do the trip for about $6000 (that's for two people, 14 nights, and not including airfares as we will use ff points).

Aussietravellers, as you know it all comes down to what your lifestyle and budget will allow. For the majority of your trips you haven't had to budget and that is amazing . You can totally make your budget trip "budget" work but in the end, if you are in a position not to worry too much about it then that is wonderful. I think it will be an interesting experiment for you but in the end, I think old habits die hard and when you are away you will just enjoy yourself and not worry about budget too much. With that said, I think your budget is pretty good if it doesn't include flights.

Shuttergirl - I think your $1000 per day is pretty spot on - We went for 24nights and spend $25000 - but we are family of five!!

As far as a budget for food - if we werent on free dining at WDW I think I would have paid for the dining plan - just so i dont have to worry - we loved just handing over our card. Actually my original plan was to stay offsite and self cater, - so glad I didnt go there!!

Whilst I love eating out - we have three teens and I hate eating out with them - they eat very little but we have to pay for them as adults (at least they dont drink alcohol!!) - loved having it prepaid!!!

We generally tipped about $30 per meal and DH would have a couple of beers - so loved eating at those beautiful restaurants for only $40-$50 !!!

I actually wonder what else people spend money on in WDW - we spent very little -and we certainly didnt intend to skimp on anything.

My kids had their own spending money, which they had saved themselves, and had all sorts of plans for coming home with Goofy hats etc - but when it came down to it - they said to themselves "what will I do with it when I get home?"

They bought a few souveniers but spent most of their money in the outlet malls buying useful stuff - and Mummy was happy!!! One of them even came home with $100 (which we had to borrow off him at the airport - as he had cash and we didnt)

Well Battymum, it's good to know this vague theory of $1000 per day is fitting with a few others.

I agree that free dining was sheer awesomeness and we are hoping to get it again this time. I don't think I would purchase the dining plan but we shall see. I will look into it closer to the time. I do have my fingers crossed it won't be necessary and we will get free dining though. I am embarrassed to say I am already working out where we want to eat and it's 11 months away . My family is all about the food I tell ya.

My DD13 is becoming much more adventurous in her eating and is almost a foodie now. DS9 is not the best eater but we have to say that after visiting WDW in 2010 for the F&W Festival, his palate has increased and he is much more willing to try new things. He often doesn't like those new things but at least he tries them so I am one happy mummy with that. I too am happy to try new things if I think I am not "paying" so free dining really worked for my "psychology" and I ordered more outside of my comfort zone because it felt like I wasn't paying haha.

I agree with the not spending too much at WDW. We didn't buy too many souveniers although I did buy lots of Christmas decorations but they dont count right .

We definitely did alot of shopping at the outlets though.

 

[Melbourne5]

Hi all

$1000 a day sounds about right for our family of 5 on the last trip but as many have pointed out this can easily be swayed by 'special indulgences' like theatre, sporting events etc which can really add up.

 

[alicia1506]

so from what i gather from our mutual sharing of 'budget' workings here.. it sounds like anything from $800 - $1000 per day seems pretty average, if we're including things like flights/food/accom/spending money etc and taking into account family size and duration of trips...

i think most things like accom are fairly consistent around similar times of year, flights are pretty similar around similar times of year etc, so it really comes down to things like food, entertainment, extra special activities and souvenir/shopping as to how that will affect us all.

it's been great to hear from everyone who has posted and broken down their budgeting techniques.

i do browse the internet most every spare minute i have trying for comparison deals, doing 'what if' kind of searches for other options for the trip to make it as awesome as possible within the confines of time off work, and still feasible.

my trip is over 9 months away and i'm already looking at menus and restaurant reviews and planning food experiences and entertainment adventures for us

 

[viaggiamo]

Hi everyone,
I am organising our trip at the moment for October 2012 and this budget thread has been really interesting and helpful.

I am budgeting around $7-8000 flights (2A 2C) BNE-LAX-SFO-LAS-LAX-BNE

Accommodation will be:

$1200 Anaheim 7 nights
$2000 Vegas 5 nights
$1500 SanFransisco 5 nights
$2400 drive between SF and LA- 11 nights (this is approx)

Then:

tickets to DL: $1000
Car hire: $600
Food: about $150-$200 per day (2 A and a 3 and 5 yo)
Spending money: $6000 (around $200 per day)

DH also wants to buy golf clubs and I want an expensive handbag, sooo much cheaper in the USA and these will be on top of all that.

So around $28000 but our business will be paying for the flights and Vegas sections, so that will be nice.

C

 

[cola]

Buget is so impacted by the exchange rate, sometimes you travel when it i amazing, I'm hopeless with a budget, but I do try and get things cheaply when possible (eg fly United when they have tickets much less than any other airline ) Then the rest of it is spend as usual) Usually stay off-site in a 2 bedroom Marriott, so Disney Dining Plan doesn't come into it, but $550 for a 2 bedroom apartment for 7 nights that sleeps 8 in a squash (we usually just have 3 of us) makes up for any lack of access to DDP, plus we've done Disney so much we don't have to go to a park every single day, I'm relaxed that I will be back (I've got a 10day non-expiring Park Hopper that has to be used up......). Off-site you're not paying for Disney park entry every day, much easier to actually have some relaxation and recovery time, entire days can be shopping or Universal, or any of the other options Orlando allows.


The last 2 trips to Orlando and even my trip to Europe last year (which did include Disneyland Paris), I paid for as much of the accom in advance as I could, obviously paid for the airfare in advance and other transportation, I took $1000AU cash and my credit card bill for while I was away was pretty much the same as if I'd stayed home. This might be a reflection on how big my credit card bill is normally

 

[Chubbylita]

We were there last year and spend a couple of dollars and I don't know if there are some changes on the rates to date...Prices usually go up =(

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

so from what i gather from our mutual sharing of 'budget' workings here.. it sounds like anything from $800 - $1000 per day seems pretty average, if we're including things like flights/food/accom/spending money etc and taking into account family size and duration of trips...

i think most things like accom are fairly consistent around similar times of year, flights are pretty similar around similar times of year etc, so it really comes down to things like food, entertainment, extra special activities and souvenir/shopping as to how that will affect us all.

it's been great to hear from everyone who has posted and broken down their budgeting techniques.

i do browse the internet most every spare minute i have trying for comparison deals, doing 'what if' kind of searches for other options for the trip to make it as awesome as possible within the confines of time off work, and still feasible.

my trip is over 9 months away and i'm already looking at menus and restaurant reviews and planning food experiences and entertainment adventures for us

So funny, my trip is 11 months away and I'm planning the food too . It's a sickness I tell ya.

Hi everyone,
I am organising our trip at the moment for October 2012 and this budget thread has been really interesting and helpful.

I am budgeting around $7-8000 flights (2A 2C) BNE-LAX-SFO-LAS-LAX-BNE

Accommodation will be:

$1200 Anaheim 7 nights
$2000 Vegas 5 nights
$1500 SanFransisco 5 nights
$2400 drive between SF and LA- 11 nights (this is approx)

Then:

tickets to DL: $1000
Car hire: $600
Food: about $150-$200 per day (2 A and a 3 and 5 yo)
Spending money: $6000 (around $200 per day)

DH also wants to buy golf clubs and I want an expensive handbag, sooo much cheaper in the USA and these will be on top of all that.

So around $28000 but our business will be paying for the flights and Vegas sections, so that will be nice.

C

Whoa, thats a pretty big accom bill for Vegas, where are you staying? Somewhere lovely I would assume. Lucky you that your business is paying for some. That's a great bonus.

Buget is so impacted by the exchange rate, sometimes you travel when it i amazing, I'm hopeless with a budget, but I do try and get things cheaply when possible (eg fly United when they have tickets much less than any other airline ) Then the rest of it is spend as usual) Usually stay off-site in a 2 bedroom Marriott, so Disney Dining Plan doesn't come into it, but $550 for a 2 bedroom apartment for 7 nights that sleeps 8 in a squash (we usually just have 3 of us) makes up for any lack of access to DDP, plus we've done Disney so much we don't have to go to a park every single day, I'm relaxed that I will be back (I've got a 10day non-expiring Park Hopper that has to be used up......). Off-site you're not paying for Disney park entry every day, much easier to actually have some relaxation and recovery time, entire days can be shopping or Universal, or any of the other options Orlando allows.


The last 2 trips to Orlando and even my trip to Europe last year (which did include Disneyland Paris), I paid for as much of the accom in advance as I could, obviously paid for the airfare in advance and other transportation, I took $1000AU cash and my credit card bill for while I was away was pretty much the same as if I'd stayed home. This might be a reflection on how big my credit card bill is normally

I think I would consider offsite for DL but not for WDW, I like the bus system too much and it just seems so convenient although those prices you were throwing around are very impressive. If you are on a tight budget that would be such a saving, wow.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hi everyone,
I am organising our trip at the moment for October 2012 and this budget thread has been really interesting and helpful.

I am budgeting around $7-8000 flights (2A 2C) BNE-LAX-SFO-LAS-LAX-BNE

Accommodation will be:

$1200 Anaheim 7 nights
$2000 Vegas 5 nights
$1500 SanFransisco 5 nights
$2400 drive between SF and LA- 11 nights (this is approx)

Then:

tickets to DL: $1000
Car hire: $600
Food: about $150-$200 per day (2 A and a 3 and 5 yo)
Spending money: $6000 (around $200 per day)

DH also wants to buy golf clubs and I want an expensive handbag, sooo much cheaper in the USA and these will be on top of all that.

So around $28000 but our business will be paying for the flights and Vegas sections, so that will be nice.

C

Where are you staying between LA and SF? Unless you're staying a while in Carmel/Monterey, that's a big budget for the 11 nights....but even so, you can get reasonable accommodation for around $150 per night in Monterey.

Enjoy. It sounds like a great trip.

 

[Toy Story]

My budget is also looking at about $1000 per day, for three of us. I think our budget for 4 in 2010 was slightly higher.


NY accommodation is a killer - $3650 for 12 nights.
WDW, 8 nights in a Royal Room at POR, Dining Plan and tickets is $4120. We are doing dining plan, we did it last time and just found it easier to order what we wanted rather than looking at the $, and with the character meals and Ohana dinner that we wanted to do I figured we were close to what the DDp would cost.

My budget doesn't include DD's spending $ (she has saved close to $400) or clothes - I will add $ out of my normal clothing budget to cover purchases.

Interesting thread.

 

[viaggiamo]

Whoa, thats a pretty big accom bill for Vegas, where are you staying? Somewhere lovely I would assume. Lucky you that your business is paying for some. That's a great bonus.
.

I know it's heaps, but we are there for SEMA which is apparantly one of the biggest conferences ever and the rates reflect this unfortunately. I also want to stay somewhere nice with our two small children due to DH being at the event everyday. On tripadvisor most people said Four Seasons, last time I visited pre-children I stayed at MGM but apparantly it is very focussed on the young party crowd, and I do not want my kids to see that in the pool etc.

The other place I am considering is Caesars Palace as it's so much more central, but I don't know!!!!

Any suggestions?

Where are you staying between LA and SF? Unless you're staying a while in Carmel/Monterey, that's a big budget for the 11 nights....but even so, you can get reasonable accommodation for around $150 per night in Monterey.

Enjoy. It sounds like a great trip.

Cool thanks for that info. I thought I may have been over-budgeting here a bit but wanted to be over, not under, I am yet to organise our exact trip in this section but I am not keen on staying right in Monterey due to the huge prices there.
DH wants to play Pebble Beach and I want to visit Hearst Castle.

Otherwise Santa Barbara, San Luis Osipo (sp??), MOnterey/Carmel, Santa Cruz, whereever else we find/like/is recommended along the way.

Do you think it would be too long (a 10-11 night drive) in this area?

Thanks,

this thread is great.

C

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I know it's heaps, but we are there for SEMA which is apparantly one of the biggest conferences ever and the rates reflect this unfortunately. I also want to stay somewhere nice with our two small children due to DH being at the event everyday. On tripadvisor most people said Four Seasons, last time I visited pre-children I stayed at MGM but apparantly it is very focussed on the young party crowd, and I do not want my kids to see that in the pool etc.

The other place I am considering is Caesars Palace as it's so much more central, but I don't know!!!!

Any suggestions?


C

I'm not entirely sure where the Four Seasons in on the Vegas trip so can't comment on that but Caesars Palace is so central, the location really can't be beat. I would definitely consider that as an option as well. What are the reviews saying about it? It looks fabulous.

 

[viaggiamo]

Four Seasons is on top of Mandalay Bay, so a fair way out from the centre...
Arrrrgh, I don't know!
C

 

[cola]

I know it's heaps, but we are there for SEMA which is apparantly one of the biggest conferences ever and the rates reflect this unfortunately. I also want to stay somewhere nice with our two small children due to DH being at the event everyday. On tripadvisor most people said Four Seasons, last time I visited pre-children I stayed at MGM but apparantly it is very focussed on the young party crowd, and I do not want my kids to see that in the pool etc.

The other place I am considering is Caesars Palace as it's so much more central, but I don't know!!!!

Any suggestions?

Have you been to Vegas before?
How small are the small children?

If you are after a more resorty spot with more space it means off the Strip, or at least south-Strip (which distance-wise is like being off the Strip) Somewhere like the Cancun resort will have regular shuttles to the Strip, but lots of space and fantastic pools for kids. The shuttle means it's not just-duck-back-to-the-room-to-freshen-up distance, but you will probably find it a lot cheaper than being in the middle of the Strip and easier with small children because it has a lot more space. A lot of people won't stay off the Strip because of the concern of being close to the action, but if you are alone with children, how much of the action will you be able to get to? You'll probably want a couple of recovery days after Disneyland too and somewhere like Cancun will have easy access to laundry facilities. The distances walking to get to rooms at any of the big Strip casions can be so huge, you can spend as much time walking to the lobby as being on a shuttle bus.

 

[5ofus]

Have you been to Vegas before?
How small are the small children?

If you are after a more resorty spot with more space it means off the Strip, or at least south-Strip (which distance-wise is like being off the Strip) Somewhere like the Cancun resort will have regular shuttles to the Strip, but lots of space and fantastic pools for kids. The shuttle means it's not just-duck-back-to-the-room-to-freshen-up distance, but you will probably find it a lot cheaper than being in the middle of the Strip and easier with small children because it has a lot more space. A lot of people won't stay off the Strip because of the concern of being close to the action, but if you are alone with children, how much of the action will you be able to get to? You'll probably want a couple of recovery days after Disneyland too and somewhere like Cancun will have easy access to laundry facilities. The distances walking to get to rooms at any of the big Strip casions can be so huge, you can spend as much time walking to the lobby as being on a shuttle bus.

Thanks for posting this info. I'm looking at Vegas for my family for next year and Cancun is one that has stood out as a front runner for us. Loads of space, great pools and a kitchen so we will have milk and snacks on hand for the boys. Some great rates available too.