Disclaimer: This is not a "budget" trip. This post is mainly to illustrate MY budget and to find a few places where I am totally hypocritical when it comes to justifying expenditures.
In planning this trip, budget is on the forefront of my mind, as I am sure it is for everyone (well, those who find limited and disposable synonymous when it comes to income), but didn’t see a lot of use in a post about this until I started to tackle the OOP vs
DDP decision.
So let’s start at the very beginning....a very good place to staaaaart (anyone else watch Sound of Music on ABC family last Easter weekend?).
Also, I am keeping my USO budget separate because both require different methodologies.
Logisticizing the Illogical
A quick note about how I justify this “budget” - now budget is a flexible and subjective word in my world. My budget is based off of a few things:
1.
How much is in my Vacation Savings: I get this partially funded by our annual tax refund and extra paychecks (we get 4/year with no financial responsibilities in our household and I split these funds between vacation monies and regular savings). Another practice I am fond of is occasionally change scrounging in DH’s commuter vehicle - it’s like discovering the hidden treasure at the end of Goonies every time.
2.
Coupon/Sale savings: Basically, I shop sales with coupons- so does everyone, you might say! Well, true, but instead of just oohing and ahhing over the final total, I track the actual number each month that I “save” with each purchase and earmark this money for vacation AFTER I pay bills, budget expenditures and contribute to regular savings/retirement account.
Can I always sock away the total amount “saved” each month? No. Why? Because it’s NOT actually money “saved” - I still spent my cold hard cash, although just not as much.
Why not just increase your savings contributions or have a SET amount for vacation funds every month, you might ALSO ask. Because I am also WEAK. And I need a regimented plan to get me through the dollars and cents that is life. I’ll explain:
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Semantics and verbiage matter to humans: The way a word is presented alters meaning. I find this most useful when trying to convince myself it is okay to spend money on *insert wasteful expenditure here like my tenth razor for the fabled stockpile*. Presented with such a good deal, I almost NEVER look at the Total, but I cling to the TOTAL SAVINGS number at the bottom of my receipt like it is my personal Holy Grail and almost immediately text DH with the pride of a beauty queen’s mama. So did I really save? Well, actually no, BUT when we get all philosophical and subjective....Heck Yeah I did Baby!
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This is simpler: If I allot money for some alternative “savings” like a vacation fund that isn’t long term, I will most certainly find a reason not to keep it there. I’ll need new glasses or DH’s scrubs ripped at his nethers or DD ate someone’s prized truffle and now I have to fly to some remote cow patty to get a replacement....kwim? We’ve all been there. So really , there is no difference in my method, except excessive complicated number games and time wasting, but it works for me because I’ve put semantics behind logic and reason and with the overpowering fist of delusional subjectivity, I have found a method that works for me.
**starting to think I’m giving way TMI and folk are gonna start calling psych consults on me any moment....*whistles and looks around shiftily*...nope, no head jockeys up in here...moving on!
Can I Pay Any More for Bed Bugs?
I know I covered earlier that we are staying at the Beach Club and even listed some details, but I am going to risk boring you with repetitiveness and given this is my PTR and I am thinking only like two people are following, we could come to an accord that you won’t ditch me over 200 words. Cool?
Like I stated earlier, I booked a Standard View Room at Beach Club with the special requests of full balcony, 2 queen beds and eastern side facing the woods/closest to epcot. This booking was for 5/28-6/2 5 nights at a sale of 30% (ended 3/31) off rack rate for room-only reservation. **I did have a PIN code via email, but it came in higher than the WDW sale.
Cost Breakdown for 5 Nights at Beach Club:
Monday-Thursday: $273/nt x 4 nights
Friday: $301 (**I find this odd considering Monday is Memorial Day, but cheaper??)
Subtotal: $1473
Taxes & Fees: $94.10
Total: $1567.10
Curious as to whether this was even a good deal or I was just being taken for some reverse psychology aka Sith mind tricks, I decided to price out Beach Club once again AFTER the spring sale and see where I was with cost...
Online Room-Only Reservation Price Check 4/10 for same dates and same resort:
Monday-Thursday: $390/nt x 4 nights
Friday: $430 (notice a 40 dollar upcharge compared to only the 28 dollar upcharge during the sale?)
Total after taxes/fees: $2238.75
Saved by booking under Room-Only Reservation System-wide sale: $671.65
**This is the cost of my park tickets!!!
I list this in detail because I have asked on a couple different board sites (with no response :/ - is it bad form to discuss these things? I’m Left Coast remember) if this is really a good deal or just Disney playing tricks on me...Has anyone here gotten a good discount on Deluxe accommodations that makes this “savings” look like bubble gum change?
LET ME IN!!!
Creepy, I realize.
I know I let loose the bombshell previously that I hadn’t gotten them yet. DO NOT DESPAIR! I will get to it. Chillax. In the interim, I have done some fancy numbers crunching...well, my calculator did all the fancying while a coworker hollered off numbers to me because my phone died and therefore lack of web browser, but you get the pic?
Really, the Y.E.S. tickets were an absolute steal, but my dates aren’t qualified and I’m doubtful I could pass of as a student anyway...granted I’m only like 5’, so maybe....
6-day Park Hoppers for 2 adults - DD is under 3....score!
Rack-Rate: $668
Undercover Tourist with Mousesavers link: $610
In comparison between 5 and 6-days, there is only a minimal $17 difference for BOTH tickets, so I decided on 6 days just for the option of going even on checkout and WWOHP day. I almost really want to buy straight from Disney because I have this irrational fear of LOSING THEM. And I was liking the idea that my ticket could be loaded onto my room key card...but that’s $58 bucks in savings!!!! How can I pass that up - easily 2 CS meals and 4 snacks by my calculations.
My Van is Better Than Yours
Gas: $400 in the swagger wagon
Flight/Rental: $1300
We do have a 12 hour commute, but I have a Road Warrior, so I’m sticking with some extra travel time (flying from my airport to Miami to Orlando...yes THIS IS THE ILLOGICAL ROUTE...it’s like an 8 hour process anyway). So overall, including return trip...I will spend an additional 8 hours in travel but will retain $900 cash money.
We don’t make $900 in 8 hours in combined, so decision is made.
Drive.
I Love a Charity Case. Poor Disney Stockholders.
I must preface by saying I love the DDP. It’s so awesome I want to get down on one knee and propose with my best cubic zirconia. I love it so much and yet, I haven’t even used it. Why?
Because it’s GENIUS.
I’ve done a lot of math on this - and this relates to my situation and food preferences exclusively, but I really feel like it could apply to several others - and the math doesn’t lie. By utilizing DDP, I will be donating approximately $30. Wait, Wha? Hold The Phone Disney!
When I first came to this conclusion (was like $60 donation then), I rechecked my math...twice...with alternating plan...and then picked more expensive entrees...and made sure to add in dessert and drinks...but then remembered I would still have to pay OOP for a number of meals and add-ons for DD...and then remembered we like booze, so the drink that comes with DDP will be pretty much wasteful unless they give out water bottles at TS and I highly doubt that...basically you see where I’m going.
But I’m gonna break it down for you anyway.
First, I made a chart of my food plan and looked at each TS restaurant’s menus and selected the likely foods we would order. (I could order for DH in my sleep, so had no issue with this.) Generally, our meals would fall into the median price range with the occasional higher priced entree. I made sure to add dessert and non-alcoholic drink cost (opting for the most expensive options available). I did the same with CS meals.
I did leave out costs of tip, booze and any meals that wouldn’t be covered by DDP because in the end, that has no impact on what they DDP ends up paying for and that cost will remain the same (I even made sure to leave the “cheapest meals like Kona BF on the OOP list)
DDP for DH and DW for 6 day MYW package cost: $660
OOP: $630 approx
**This OOP cost was even figuring higher priced menu items I probably wouldn’t even order?! but would just to maximize the DDP.....dunno about y’all, but I am a much bigger fan of free speech for menus! Plus, thinking in this train of thought for a family of three while trying to enjoy myself is just way too much work on a vacation and haven’t I already paid my dues with the touring plans? I really dislike the idea of feeling I HAVE to eat a certain way on this trip...If I want 10 TS and only 3 CS, then that’s what we’ll do, but if we decide we want to cancel 75% of our ADR’s and just eat burgers all week at BC, then I want that option...DDP would negate all of that for us.
Also, I figure that I would need to purchase at least 4 additional meals OOP to cover the week and also booze is a whole ‘nother sitch. That extra $30 bucks I save by going OOP (and really it will probably be more than that given I tend to go for an App and a side for me and DD to share - WHICH WE COULDN’T DO AS EASILY OR CHEAPLY ON DDP) is a cold case of refreshing brew with my name allllll over it.
I plan on keeping a running total of our costs and compare it at the end to see if I was WAY off...
Now why do I love DDP now that I have explained why I WON’T be using the money waster?
Once again - Because it’s genius.
Disney has figured out - and I have NO DOUBT they are fully aware - that the average vacationer on DDP is going to take their word for it that they WILL save an average of 15% or so utilizing this AMAZING CONVENIENT FEATURE. It’s Disney’s GIFT to you just for deciding to visit. And it’s not a lie - you CAN save money on these DDP’s, but you must work for it and order the right things at the right places - so what if you want mac n’ cheese with chicken strips...it’s filet or nothing for you! I am certain people are not thinking this way on the majority and out of the 85k daily visitors, not that many have read the blogs breaking this concept down....so what in essence is the gist?
You’re donating whatever you don’t use to Disney stockholders and I can’t even be mad at them about it - why?
Because it’s genius.
quick note: I wrote this prior to calling WDW to recheck our reservation and finding out I could not add DDP without canceling out my 30% discount - which is ludicrous, but made my decision to forego DDP all the more easier.
**I am thinking my next WDW, I will do an actual "Budget" trip and see how cheap we could go for....although the idea has appeal to me, I doubt DH would be on board - he won't even eat from room staples for BF.
And I'll actually get in line to ride the ride and not just in lines to go into the shops and Three Broomsticks. I was glad we had gone there, but def look forward to revisiting it someday!
my mom and I had looked into staying over at BC. So I do know that you can use a restroom near SAB on your last day to change, but now can't remember if there is a showering area or not. . .sorry!
So excited for you on your first WDW experience!!!
That's always exciting! As for staying at US/IoA = we have stayed at Hard Rock & absolutely loved it. Really cool, nice hotel. And you can't beat the short walk or boat ride to US or IoA! On to the thrill rides: My DH & I are adrenaline junkies! If your husband really wants a thrill, then he HAS to ride the Hulk! Best ride in all of the Orlando theme parks! We also love RNRC, ToT, Dragon Challenge (if you only have time for 1 side, ride the red - it seems faster & a little more fun to us). If he's interested in some drop/free fall rides, he should also check out Dr. Doom's fear fall at IoA. I won't lie - I hate this ride! It scares the you-know-what-out of me. I seriously screamed like a little girl the entire time I rode it. The one time I rode it. The woman next to me laughed at me the whole time. But, my husband adores this ride!
