panic attack panic attack-Am I making the right choice?

[MommyPoppins]

I book us for 4 nights at POR with my AP for a total of 396.00. We can eat(2 meals a day only and doing some major sharing) for $215 +$50 for snacks. But I am being pulled back and forth(by my own thoughts) between doing that and getting the MYW+free dining which would be $839.00. Plus we have to facter in a double stroller rental for 4 days. If money wasn't so tight, this wouldnt be an issue, but DH is working 15 hours overtime last week and this week to help pay for this. We are going with ONLY cash. We also have to make sure to save enough money for the weekend after we go as a family for Night of Joy. I need a vacation after planning this one. What would you do? Should I see just how far I can stretch the $1100 we have for these 2 trips?
WWYD?

 

[weeyore33]

have you considered foregoing the rental of a double stroller to buy 2 smaller ones at say wallmart for $10 ea. that is only 20$ instead of the 50 to rent and also have you considerd bringing food with you, we always bring snacks and juice boxes with us, maybe invest in the dining card? if you have an ap you can get one this saves you 20% on all meals. just trying to help

 

[MommyPoppins]

We have 4 children who all need a stroller, so that is not an option. We bring our own PLUS we have to rent the double for the others. We bring snacks and juice boxes and the dining card is only a savings after you have already spent 250 since the card costs 50 bucks. So I'm back to where I started. lol.

 

[dtsaos]

I think you should do the MYW + free dining. First of all, it will relieve some stress to know that you have X amount of food paid for. Second, by the time you factor in park tickets you'd have to be VERY close to the $839 amount anyway. I think the dining plan is a no brainer-even if money is very tight, it's still a great deal. I know there's plenty of ways to eat even cheaper than the plan if you really pinch pennies but just think of the quality of food and the stress factor involved. After all, it is suppossed to be a VACATION! Anyway, just my 2 cents....Good Luck deciding. By the way, have you looked into renting a double stroller from www.abbf.com ? I wasn't sure if for stroller rental you were talking about renting from the parks or somewhere else. abbf might be cheaper depending. Just a thought....opps, just looked at their site and it may not be that much cheaper since you're only staying for a 4 nights. You might be able to do the stroller swap-check on the budget board and then get a cheapo umbrella stroller so that you have the two seats. EDITED AGAIN, to say, sorry-didn't realize you actually needed seats for all 4 kids! (I can relate since we need a stroller for 3 kids and I've had a really hard time deciding what to do. )