Please review and critique

[TonyS20]

My DH and I recently purchased into SSR. We had been planning a 13 night trip to WDW next October. Since we made the purchase, we will have enough points to invite my DH's DB, his GF and their DD6 to join us for 5 nights (Sunday - Thursday to save points, of course ).

They have asked me to come up with a budget for the 3 of them for the trip. This was a "dream" trip for my DH and I as I will have saved for almost 2 years by the time we go. They don't have a lot of money, so it will be difficult for them to come up with a lot of extra money. I have already put together a general guide including the menus for them to review. I have stressed the importance of breakfast in the villa, counter service lunches (including sharing and ordering water) and eating dinner in the villa (or something along these lines).

Here is what I have so far:
Airfare: $600 (estimating $200/each from St. Louis)
Accommodations: $0 (using our points)
Rental Car: $0 (we have to have a car anyway, so I will book one large enough for all of us)
Tickets: $575 (2A and 1C 4 day hoppers)
Food: $250 (roughly $60/day for 4 days)
Souvenirs: $75 (basically $25/each)

Remember: they know it is going to be tight money-wise and are will to sacrifice to make it happen. Does this look ok to you? Any areas I have missed or over/under estimated?

Basically, we will all fly out on Sunday. We will go grocery shopping (DH and I will pick up tab) and grab a fast food lunch. Check in and then my DH and I are treating everyone to dinner at Chef Mickey's. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are park days. On Friday, my DH and I will have a towncar come pick them up and take them to the airport and they will leave. We will have the next 8 days to enjoy WDW!

How does this look to you guys? Any other innovative or creative ways to save money?

 

[hockey mom]

Looks good to me and what a treat for them to have so much covered by you and your DH.

 

[tink2dw]

Do you have a Water Plan?? Water at WDW smells and tastes like sulfer! But WDW sells their bottled water for $2.50 for a really small bottle. Thats a budget buster!!!!

Solutions
1. Buy $7. Brita Sports filtering bottles.

2. Bring water from home or Mail it to your WDW hotel.

3. Buy water in Orlando from Walmart for cheap.

Whatever you decide, have a plan!! Dehyration sucks!!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says..........................................You have done well.

Food. If you do it the way you say, $60a day is too high for them.
Sounds like breakfast is covered by you. Typical counter lunch planned out would be less than $20. And that is without cutting corners. Kids meals are a bargain, and adults can eat them, they don't have lazer tags on them to see who eats them!

We usually get some kind of meal deal that is burger, 3428 fires and a gallon of coca cola. The other adult gets just an entree,and then a kids meal, with milk for kid and trade fries for fruit. Most places will do this.

And we still didn't finish the fries.

Ya start cooking dinner, and food dollars drop even more.
Buy a Stouffers 10 servings lasagna, for less than 10 bucks.
No prep, just turn on the oven, food for everyone and leftovers!

Don't tell me they have a Papa Murphy's in Orlando, or else you you can get a big pizza for less than $10, you just have to bake it in the oven. And your friends can treat you to that, as it will feed everyone, and they can feel good that they picked up the tab!

Just say thanks alot and that you appreciate it. In a way that $10 pizza makes up for chef mickey, they are doing what they can do to reciprocate.

 

[miche73ak]

Your budget looks good. For holidays or my birthday when anyone asked what I wanted I tried to think of things I would use in Orlando, restaurant gift card, wal-mart, target(we don't have Target in Alaska and we go crazy when we get to one) , disney dollars. Maybe suggest to other family members when dd has birthday throw a few disney dollars in her card. Remember to tell them to save their change. You would be surprised how much money you would have after a year. You and your husband are very kind to help them out the way you are.

 

[TandyR]

Sounds like a good budget to me. $60/day for food is what my family of 4 (Me, DH, DD7 and DD4 during our next trip) budgets for food when we go to WDW....we plan for dinner in our room VWL DVC owners...which is something you might want to do during the time they are with you so they might be able to shave some more off the food budget. My family of 4 eats at mid-range sit downs for lunch so if you did counter service for lunch they could cut out more or eat at counter service for both lunch and dinner if you don't want go back to the room for dinner.
Thinking about it keep the budget at $60/day for food and if they spend less then they wouldn't have any suprises I would be suprised if they spent more.

 

[aero99]

My only suggestion is that you go ahead and buy the 7 PHP passes. If you are a SSR owner (like me!) you will be back to WDW. And since passes never expire, you know you will use them. It is just cheaper in the long run to buy the bigger passes and save them for other trips. (for example, I have 3 days and 3 plusses just waiting to be used. I plan on getting another 7 day PHP in May so by the time I take a trip in 2005, I will have 5 days and 6 pluses)

Have fun!
Melissa

 

[hercamore]

Excellent budget.

I wish I had relatives like you!

Sounvenirs are so expensive for the little kids at Disney. One t shirt and stuffed animal will be more than $25 tho.

herc.

 

[TonyS20]

You guys are the best! I knew I could get good advice here.

tink2dw - good point on the water. I figured we would purchase some on our grocery stop, but it might be a good idea to look into the Brita bottles. A lot of people rave about them!

disnee dad - great advice. I don't think between the 5 of us we can eat 3428 fries and a gallon of coke! But, I know what you mean. My DH and I usually order a meal and an extra sandwich. The portions are very large! I have also been looking at frozen dinners (like lasagne) to fix in the villa in order to save them some money. I figure we will order pizza at least one night. On the last trip, my DH and I order pizza twice in a 11 night stay! I will appreciate and show my gratitude if they offer to do something like this!

miche73ak - I will tell them about saving their change. That is a good way to come up with some extra cash for the trip. Good idea!


TandyR - Thanks for reassurance that $60/day is a good number. I didn't know if that was too much or not enough. If that is plenty for your family of 4, that will work great for their family of 3. My DH wanted me to give them a number that would include snacks/treats as that is something he really wants to experience this time. He's looking forward to his first Mickey bar and wants to share the experience with his niece !

aero99 - I'll have to think about the 7 PHP for them. I don't know if they will be able to go again. We plan on purchasing APs for us, so I wanted something that would allow them flexibility. If it seems like they may take another trip or would want to share the remaining days with someone else in the family, that would be a good way to save some money!

hercamore - The souvenirs are a big unknown. My BiL doesn't think he will buy anything, so his money will probably be spent on his DD. I gave that number to him as an estimate and provided costs on various things (t-shirts, postcards, photos, keychain, hats, etc). That is the only piece of the budget that I really can't control, so that will be up to them.

Thanks to all of you for your nice words. I know what we are doing is generous. I can't wait to see the magic of Disney through a child's eye! We are really looking forward to this trip. Hopefully it will be a blast!

Thanks to your comments!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says.....................................Hope you have a great trip. No more advice unless you ask for it.

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

TonyS20,

There is not too much I can add to the great suggestions above except to say that one thing I always sneak in is a portion of my weekly grocery budget... I'm planning all the "extra" expense of eating at WDW, but I am also not having to stock my kitchen at home for that period. It may not be much, but it is a few $$$ to consider as an enhancement.

As a DVC owner who took extended family last year, I can tell you it is a wonderful feeling to share the magic of DVC accommodations! Congratulations on your purchase, and I hope you've been welcomed home from the DVC board, too!

Have a great trip!

 

[TonyS20]

Thanks again for all the kind comments and advice!
Mrs. Snowgod - I have added that comment to the booklet that I am putting together for them. Hopefully the can use some of their grocery budget for the trip. In addition, some of their other monthly expenses should be cheaper.

Any suggestions on places that will fit within this budget? Here are some of my ideas:

Day 1: (MK): Kona Cafe for breakfast, Casey's or Columbia Harbor House for late lunch, dinner in villa

Day 2: (MGM): breakfast in villa, 50's for lunch, dinner in villa, ice cream for snack

Day 3: (EPCOT): breakfast in villa, The Land food court for lunch, snack around Epcot for dinner

Day 4: (AK/MK): breakfast in villa (thinking about Donald's Breakfastasaurous (sp?) if DN liked Chef Mickey's), Pizzafari or BBQ for lunch (if not Donald's), dinner Pecos Bill's (or in villa)

I thought these would be good for 4 adults and a 6 year old on a budget (planning $60/day for 2 of the adults and the kid). Does this seem reasonable? Any other's that might be more appealing? I think this should allow for an extra snack each day if needed.

I always get such great advice here!

 

[2angelsinheaven]

You also will get a discount on food/merch I believe with your getting the AP's. I found some info on this at Pass Holder Discounts. It's been a few years since I've had ours, but I know Universal and Sw/Busch holders get discounts at parks with passes, I think Disney does the same...

Have a wonerful time and what a great thing for you guys to share with them...