Realistic budget for 7 nights?

[nicolem]

We got back from WDW just a little over a month ago with the intention of not going again till December 2007, when our next baby will be turning one. However, last night DH was watching DS as he oohed and ahhed over our home movies of the last trip, and he's decided we can probably afford a trip in September, before I get miserably pregnant.

Our room is already paid for (DVC) and we have season passes, and we don't need any souvenirs since we just got back ...what I really need advice on is how much money we would need for gas and food. We've never taken a road trip anywhere (we're normally airplane people, but DS didn't do so well on the plane last time), so I have no idea how to determine the approximate amount of gas we would need ...I know it's about an 18-hour trip (from Dallas to Orlando), and our car gets approx. 25 mpg. With gas in the $3 range right now, can anyone give me an estimate of how much it would cost to drive there and back?

Regarding food, we'll probably eat all but one breakfast in the room, and we'll try to eat either lunch or dinner in the room most days as well. We'll probably have two TS meals and the rest will be CS. Since we'll have a car this time, I'm thinking we can always run to the grocery store for more lunch meat, cereal, etc. if we run out. (I'm starting to really like the idea of this car thing!) We'll arrive on a Sunday and leave on a Friday afternoon ...I don't expect anyone to do any heavy-duty math for me, but if you've ever done a similar trip, can you give me some idea of how much you spent on food?

TIA for any advice. I'm so excited about the idea of a "last minute" vacation (I usually plan them 6-8 months in advance), but I'm a little nervous too.

Nicole

 

[dizneefamily5]

Nicole - how exciting! I can give you a little insight into gas costs. We just got back and it cost us almost exactly $300 in gas. We drive from Cincinnati (about 16 hours) and we were there 2 weeks and we drove around quite a bit while we were there. It was 5 full tanks at about $60 each. Gas was running 2.79 - 2.89 when we went.

Hope that helps! Have fun!!

 

[nicolem]

Thanks! That's very helpful, and it really isn't as much as I would have expected ...my husband has been trying to figure it out for the past hour, but he's like me - completely clueless when it comes to both math and road trips!

Anyone else have any tips re: the meals?

 

[amarberry]

Congrats on your trip. How exciting! I can't really help with gas cost estimate (except to say that don't gas prices peak in the summer months? Hopefully things will settle down before your trip).

If your son is under three, buffets might be a good value for your family especially if you maybe do a late lunch ADR for your TS. Since you mentioned that you were a passholder, do you have DDE?

 

[nicolem]

Yes, we do have DDE, and we'll definitely take advantage of that! Normally we do a TS meal every day, so it will be a little strange to eat so cheaply - but I guess it's worth it if it means another trip. I'm thinking we'll do one character meal ...we usually do a breakfast, but my husband wants to make this a very laid-back trip (since we're going during a slow time and we've already been this year), so we'll probably do a late lunch, as you said, which will allow DS (who's 2) to sleep as late as he can in the morning. Right now I'm thinking either CP (which is our tradition, although we've never had their lunch) or the new Playhouse Disney breakfast at MGM. For our second TS meal, we may do Biergarten; it's one of our favorites, and it's cheaper than most other places. I may even be able to talk DH into a third TS meal if we go to Trails End for lunch one day, since it's so cheap. We like to take the boat over there from MK for a nice afternoon.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and tips!

 

[becca011906]

if you go to AAA.com there is a gas calculater thing that is pretty acurate for each make and modle of car, it was very helpful when we were planing our tip last year in sept right after katrina hit and gas prices were all about $3.20 a gallon or so, guess that's not to much differance now when they are about $3 a gallon it's just NUTS... i hate it! LOL