Planning again for our first trip...need to know if I'm on the right track....

[hopetoseedisney]

I keep repeating to myself, we will get there in 2005, we will get there in 2005.....lol
We originally planned our first trip for August 2003, and was a week away from leaving. We had our bags just about packed, AP vouchers purchased, and disney dollars in hand. That year, the only thing our kids got for birthdays was disney stuff (dollars, shirts, etc.). However, unfortunately, my dad had to have an unexpected operation (his leg was amputated), after spending the summer with chemo and radiation, and we had to cancel our trip indefinitely. My dad has endured 4 major surgeries in 18 months (plus chemo and radiation) and to my knowledge doesn't have any major appointments coming up for the next four months. We are hoping to go in February for the first time, and will plan to return for two smaller trips through the 12 months following that. Sorry I made you read through all of that for my real reason to post -- dh asked me just the other day if I was preparing for the trip in February, and I guess since I've been let down several times, I haven't really even given it a second thought. So, I'm back to planning, and need to know what has changed since 2003. Here's what I have so far -- we are planning a budget of $100 a day for food, with probably a 7-9 day stay (it will depend on if we fly or drive down). If we fly, it will be free, but if we drive, I have to budget for driving down, and probably one night's stay on the way down. I think we will probably stay at Pop Century (if the reviews are still just as good) because we are eligible for a 50% discount through the airline my husband works for. I am budgeting about $550 for our hotel stay ($60 a night X 9 nights plus $10 extra). We already have AP vouchers that we will activate when we get to WDW. Can they still be activated downtown disney? As far as restaurants or a touring plan of some sort, I have no idea. It seems almost like they changed the peak times, so we will try to go during value season for the first trip -- probably the week before President's Day. Am I kidding myself to plan this trip in such a short time??? I want our first time to be magical....but on a budget because we really can't afford to go overboard. We have about $300 in disney dollars saved for the kids to splurge with, and I have brita water bottles and a few odds and ends tucked away for our trip. What next?? Feeling overwhelmed, and feeling hesistant to get excited again........

 

[LilMamiBella]

I know exactly how you feel. I've had to put off our trip a few times and I'm hoping I don't have to change it again! We're going February 2-9 and staying at POR! I'd say you got things down pat more than us lol..We hardly have any of the money yet..lol
We're planning to have a fridge in oour rooms and eat breakfast there. I'll also pack snacks in a backpack with bottled water. So, the only real things we'll pay for is counter service lunches and dinners- some will be sitdown dinners. I want to have at least one character breakfast though. I'm sooo excited! )

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You are very seriously underestimating food costs. $100 per day might work for two adults based on breakfast and lunch at quick service or carts and sit-down dinner.

You mentioned "children". How many and their ages? Also eating habits and expectations. Will you be wanting to do any character meals? That way we will be able to assist better.

If you go to the Menu section on Debbie's board You will be able to see all the menus, both parks and resort restaurants, and their prices.

Also, your profile does not say where you live; where are you coming from? If you are coming from the Northeast or Midwest you may run into very hazardous driving weather in February.

Hope these questions/comments help in your decisions or in further questions (more specific) to ask.

Mike

 

[disneysteve]

You are very seriously underestimating food costs.

This may or may not be true. It depends on how many of you there are. Last year, we were 3 adults and 1 child. We averaged $17/person/day, so $68/day total for 4 people. This year, we were 2 adults and 1 child. We averaged $20/person/day, or $60/day total for 3 people. So $100/day can be adequate if there are 4 or 5 of you, but it would be kind of tough if there are more than that.

Yes, your APs can be activated at Downtown Disney. The Guest Services is near Once Upon A Toy.

As for flying vs. driving, since you can fly for free I would think that would be tough to pass up. Plus it gets you extra time at Disney. Personally, we would never do Disney without a car, so factor in that cost.

Keep the questions coming and we'll be happy to help.

 

[hopetoseedisney]

Thanks for the replies so far. We will be coming from Kentucky, so the weather is definitely a concern since we go through the mountains in Tennessee. I would also like to fly, but was worried about adding the cost of a rental car. I would like to have the freedom of being able to go off site for dining or other sight seeing. However, I do also want to get the most of my AP since I don't have a guarantee that we will get back to WDW within the 12 months. As far as our food budget -- we will be eating every breakfast in our rooms, and would probably do sit down lunches for just a few days, and maybe one or two sit down dinners, but the rest would probably be counter service. I have a ds who is 6 yrs, and a dd who is 8 yrs. The restaurants that were on our last list of "to definitely visit" were The San Angel Inn, Rainforest Cafe, the place where you eat in a car (like at a drive-in movie) and one character lunch or dinner that I can't remember where the location was -- I'm thinking it's a colonial place or something like that. Anyhow, when I had budgeted our food in 2003, I felt it was more than enough. My husband and children will not be interested in trying strange foods, and we will make sure that we keep plenty of snacks for back in the room, as well as to bring in a backpack during the day. Thanks again....keep the replies coming. I need to come up with a complete budget within the next week so I know how much we need to save each week until we go.

 

[lrjc]

There is a new dining program starting Jan. 2, 05 for guests staying at disney. The information is in more detail at mousesaver.com. The cost is $35.00 per adult and $10.00 per child per day,(each member in your party much purchase), which includes one sit down meal, one counter service meal, and one snack. There may be something else, but I don't remember. Anyway, the total cost would be $90.00 per day for your family of four. If you ate breakfast in your room, this would be under budget for you. You may want to check into this. Good luck!

 

[hopetoseedisney]

Does the new dining program have to be purchased at the same time as tickets or as a package??? If not, then this may be the route for us to go. Is there some place to see the details of the dining program? Otherwise, I guess I'll have to wait until after January 2. Thanks.

 

[disneysteve]

I would like to have the freedom of being able to go off site for dining or other sight seeing.

Have you considered staying off-site? For the $60/nite you would be paying onsite for a tiny room at Pop Century you could get a suite or condo offsite. Mom and Dad could have one bedroom and the 2 kids could have another bedroom. Makes for a much more comfortable trip as you aren't constantly on top of each other. You'll have APs so parking at Disney would be included. Another alternative, for less than $60 you could get a comparable regular hotel room offsite and save some money. Just something else to think about.

 

[hopetoseedisney]

Thanks for the suggestion Disneysteve -- actually, if we go in value season, our room with tax will be more like $42 for pop century, and although the rooms are small, we feel we cannot do better off site with some of the perks -- such as the decor and the ability to have items purchased in the park delivered to our hotel. I estimated $60 if we go during peak season. If someone knows of a better deal for an off site hotel, I'd consider it. Thanks again. Keep suggestions, tips, and ideas coming.

 

[disneysteve]

actually, if we go in value season, our room with tax will be more like $42 for pop century, and although the rooms are small, we feel we cannot do better off site with some of the perks

$42 for onsite is quite reasonable if you don't mind the room size. You can do better offsite, but not really dollar-wise, just space-wise. Personally, we value space over other perks but that's just us. Especially if it is your first trip, I'd go onsite for that price.

 

[tiberius]

I can surely sympathize with your having to put off the trips, although for less serious reasons. Our first trip was put off by a year and the trip we were "supposed" to be going on next week is now put off until next Christmas season. In the first case, the trip went fabulously--and we had no problem with food budgeting as you are describing. I think if you are careful not to use too much for character meals or major sit down meals, then you will be fine. Remember, breakfast generally and lunch generally costs less than dinner. Often, we ate only one big meal, one small meal, and one or two snacks for the day.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[canwegosoon]

Just a thought about the car...perhaps instead of renting it for 9 days, which can ruin any budget, rent it for 2-3days coming and going. You could get a good rate, and usually use an entertainment book coupon. You will have to watch for codes and other specials (perhaps something with the airlines too). That way you could have the car to get you from the airport, get groceries, and even plan a few activities around the use of a car. Then return it to the Swan. Then 2 days before you leave, do the same thing, and get yourselves to the airport....I would think the $$$ for this would be similar to gas + hotel for your trip. You can rely on Disney transportation for a few days. I also believe there is an AP discount with one of the rental cars. Check on the Transportation board. I would just wait a little while on making any firm plans with all of the changes going on. I mean realistically are you getting back to Disney for 2 more trips, when it has taken you 2 years to reschedule this 2003 trip. You might be better off trading one or 2 AP and getting new MYW tickets for a 7 or 10 stay(then you still have the other AP's for other trips). I would really think about it. You always can stick with your origional plan (which I like by the way, but there are big changes coming, and I am not sure about all the discounts and codes there used to be). Hoping this trip goes through for you.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

It sounds to me like the trip is quite do-able for you. Value season at the value resorts will run from 1/1-2/16/2005, so you'll be getting the lowest possible room rate with your airline employee discount. If you can fly for free, do it. The questionable driving weather in February and the cost of gasoline, tolls and hotels stays down & back will offset the cost of ground transportation. You've already got the AP vouchers paid for and $100/day budgeted for food.

Instead of renting a car for 9 days, or doing the rent-return-rerent option that canwegosoon suggested, you may also want to consider using a limo service like Tiffany Towncar or FL Tours for about $100 roundtrip. The limo will pick you up at the airport, do a grocery stop along the way and drop you off at your resort. They will they pick you up on your departure day and drop you off at the terminal. This would be cheaper than renting a car but you would not have the freedom to go off-site for any shopping or meals. It's kind of a trade-off but with car rentals running about $250 for the 9 days that you'll be there, it may be worth it.

For Rainforest Café and that colonial restaurant (Liberty Tree Tavern in MK), I would suggest getting the Vacation Kingdom Lunch vouchers from Hotwire Savings Club and having lunch. One adult and 1 child voucher for lunch at each place, plus an additional entrée or two from the kids' menu should be enough to feed your family. The vouchers are $31 per adult and $12.75 per child but they cover tax and tip as well as the cost of the food. The vouchers are a good deal at LTT and RFC. I would not order them for the Sci-Fi at MGM (the drive-in movie) and they are not good for any character lunches. A good budget option for a character "meal" is the Ice Cream Social at the Garden Grill in EPCOT. The cost is $6.99 per person for make-your-own sundaes and some good character interaction.

Also, keep in mind that your AP will entitle you to 10% dining discounts at select WDW restaurants. Check the benefits details at AllEarsNet.com - AP Benefits to see what your AP can do for you.

Have fun planning! I'm sure that it will be a magical trip, no matter what you decide to do!

 

[debbiedoo]

Before I became a dvc member I use to have to budget my trips as well. I use to live 1 hour from wdw, and I hope that this really helps you. First of all I would fly and not rent a car. I would take my vauled time and make the most of it!!

I have seen other people pack a suitcase just of breakfast items, cereal, poptarts, etc. Also, they usually have danishes, milk in the food court area. 100 a day can be done for food.

My recommenadtions are:

MK - food pavilion or the rest in tom land. great for the price and kid oriented. Main street bakery is great too!!

pecos bills is ok too. .

Epcot - san angel inn - go for lunch - say 3 in the afternoon. This will still get you the lunch prices. 2 adults and 1 6 yr old we pay around 35/40 that with sodas and no alcholic beverages. Then later in the day that leaves us to enjoy some of the munchie food around the world

MGM - I done this in oct and we loved it. You can eat a simple breakfast in your room and we had Hollywood and vine ressies with fantistmic ps. This place was great for the kids and us too!! 2 adults and 1 child was around 65. We still had left over money to go over to the villian room for snacks to take to our show. They have steak, shrimp, pork, and chicken here. The kids also have there own bar.

Animal Kingdom - you can get the bang for the buck here and it be on the cheaper side. Flame tree BBQ. we really enjoy this rest. At AK we eat lunch there and dinner at epcot or back at the resort.
2 adults, 1 child around 25

This is a budget that will allow you to eat in your room for breakfast, and still have a piece of the magic to take home with you,.

I would definitely make this a must due. In oct we went to Chef mickey's for breakfast had a 11:00am ressie and was sat around 11:15. This is very unusual to say for my whole family, We were so stuffed that no one wanted dinner. We went to MK and then over to Epcot for the food and wine and had 2 munchie plates!! amazing!!! It can be done!! Remember with character dinings and places with Ohana's and hollywood and vine, this includes your drinks as well.

any more questions just pm me!!!!

 

[Grants Mom]

The first time I went to WDW was in April 2001 with my husband. We stayed off site (money reasons). Food wise this is how we did things :
Breakfast - we got a complementary breakfast at our hotel. (Free!)
Lunch - I had bought some tuperware sandwich containers. So we had food in our room. We made sandwiches and then took some cookies and chips with us, along with bottles of water (refilled in the water fountains in the parks).
Snack- my husband and I would split one thing at the park everyday we were there, like a funnel cake, popcorn and soda.
Dinner-we waited to get back to the hotel and either drove down the road and grabbed a burger or had pizza delivered to our room.
I think we probably saved a good chunk of change by doing it this way.
Our next trip is being planned for 2007 to stay on grounds but I am wanting to some of the same things (packing my lunches, even taking breakfast bars to eat for breakfast.)