Should I stay or Should I go?

[LIFERBABE]

We just returned 6/7/03 from 1 week in WDW and had a great time.

Dh and I normally do a week in Vegas every Sep/Aug but the airfare has been around $310 each and Vegas has gotten alot more expensive than it used to be in the Food and Lodging areas so the best budget for this trip would be $1800-$2K for the 2 of us for a week over the Labor Day weekend which is about twice as much as we usually pay. I usually budget $1500 for our Vegas vacations and that's total.

I looked into us returning to WDW since we have the Military Hoppers that expire in December and Vouchers and Entertainment book and through SOG we can get the Contemp. for $519 for the same Labor day week.
SOG will finish their reconstruction in December 03 so Im thinking we won't get rates like that on a Deluxe or a Value for that matter in the future.

My only problem with returning is the airfare and car rental. So far Im coming up with $1050 for the 4 of us for air and $200 for a compact car rental (with codes) due to the holiday.

Is $1800 for a family of 4 considered a budget trip when staying onsite? or is that stretching it? This includes Air, Hotel, Food, Souvenirs, and Passes.

I've checked air out of Houston but I missed out on that Delta deal.

We have never stayed onsite before and I would like that experience to weigh the pros and cons of each.

We drove this last time (18 hours) and it really wasnt that bad but I had the luxury of taking off from work an extra day.
I will let DH make the call on driving again, but I'm for it and I normally drive 10 hours before he takes over.
We really don't mind taking the kids on our "Adult" vacation time as we are all really close and for what it would cost for the 2 of us to go to Vegas, the 4 of us could return to WDW and if we drive it would be tremendously less!

We have an extended family trip to WDW planned for June 2004, so this will definitely have to be low budget.

I can't see past the Pixie Dust so please help me!

 

[dturner]

Originally posted by LIFERBABE
We just returned 6/7/03 from 1 week in WDW and had a great time.

Dh and I normally do a week in Vegas every Sep/Aug but the airfare has been around $310 each and Vegas has gotten alot more expensive than it used to be in the Food and Lodging areas so the best budget for this trip would be $1800-$2K for the 2 of us for a week over the Labor Day weekend which is about twice as much as we usually pay. I usually budget $1500 for our Vegas vacations and that's total.

I looked into us returning to WDW since we have the Military Hoppers that expire in December and Vouchers and Entertainment book and through SOG we can get the Contemp. for $519 for the same Labor day week.
SOG will finish their reconstruction in December 03 so Im thinking we won't get rates like that on a Deluxe or a Value for that matter in the future.

My only problem with returning is the airfare and car rental. So far Im coming up with $1050 for the 4 of us for air and $200 for a compact car rental (with codes) due to the holiday.

Is $1800 for a family of 4 considered a budget trip when staying onsite? or is that stretching it? This includes Air, Hotel, Food, Souvenirs, and Passes.

I've checked air out of Houston but I missed out on that Delta deal.

We have never stayed onsite before and I would like that experience to weigh the pros and cons of each.

We drove this last time (18 hours) and it really wasnt that bad but I had the luxury of taking off from work an extra day.
I will let DH make the call on driving again, but I'm for it and I normally drive 10 hours before he takes over.
We really don't mind taking the kids on our "Adult" vacation time as we are all really close and for what it would cost for the 2 of us to go to Vegas, the 4 of us could return to WDW and if we drive it would be tremendously less!

We have an extended family trip to WDW planned for June 2004, so this will definitely have to be low budget.

I can't see past the Pixie Dust so please help me!

Go for it, I'd go back to WDW for sure. $1800.00 for everything plus staying at the Contemporary-that's great!! I'm going in late September, going to drive also because of the high airfares from Dallas (what's up with that anyway, never any good airfares from Dallas), it sounds like you drove straight through without stopping for the night, is that what ya'll did? I haven't driven to WDW from Dallas since the late 80's and we always stayed the night in Pensacola which I'm planning on doing again this year.

I've stayed at the Contemporary once and it was so nice to just practically walk out of your room onto the monorail, you'll love it. Anyway, you know you'll have more fun at WDW then Vegas, just go for it, I would in a heartbeat.

 

[Minniespal]

I would go - You have budgeted for a vacation, so its not as if you had planned for a trip and also the whole family can go.

 

[ceecee]

I would have no problem with that dilemma.....I personally do not care for Vegas, both times I couldn't wait to get home. $1800.00 for 4 is budget in my book, especially if that includes the Contempory, Great deal.......go for it.

 

[prncess674]

How much is the airfare per person? Which airline? I may able to help you out with some lower airfares if you give me your dates.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Dturner:
yes we drove through there and back. We had time allotted to stop in Destin but we felt pretty good so we continued on.
We left at 9a.m. Friday morning.

We love Vegas! I will definitely miss the Mandalay Bay this year. We don't gamble much but love the luxury of the hotels and the entertainment. No kids though!

Prncess:
Thanks for the offer! My wrist is about to give out I have been clicking continously for the last week trying to make this happen! The fare breaks down to $255 pp. I believe it's nonstop RT. Im flexible on the departure date Aug 29-31 and return 7 nights later. Hope you have better luck than I.
I was pretty surprised at the Rental car rates! They have really increased. The cheapest I could find was $119 plus tax for the compact for the week. The weekend is pretty much blacked out for codes due to the holiday.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by LIFERBABE
Dturner:
yes we drove through there and back. We had time allotted to stop in Destin but we felt pretty good so we continued on.
We left at 9a.m. Friday morning.

We love Vegas! I will definitely miss the Mandalay Bay this year. We don't gamble much but love the luxury of the hotels and the entertainment. No kids though!

Prncess:
Thanks for the offer! My wrist is about to give out I have been clicking continously for the last week trying to make this happen! The fare breaks down to $255 pp. I believe it's nonstop RT. Im flexible on the departure date Aug 29-31 and return 7 nights later. Hope you have better luck than I.
I was pretty surprised at the Rental car rates! They have really increased. The cheapest I could find was $119 plus tax for the compact for the week. The weekend is pretty much blacked out for codes due to the holiday.

Your profile shows Ft Worth but are you in Houston? Can you fly out of Hobby or IAH?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

A) I would go to WDW in a heartbeat. Vegas would be fun- but as fun as WDW??? In my opinion, I think not. LOL

B) Do you HAVE to have a rental car? When you are staying onsite you could easily do without one unless it's necessary for another reason? Especially at the contemporary where you could use the monorail right there!

(what's up with that anyway, never any good airfares from Dallas),

Yeah, what IS up with that??? LOL

 

[jessgood1]

That's a great deal! My family of 5 (1 infant, so 4 really) had a quote of about $2400/ week (with FTP) for the Contemporary.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Prncess:
Im in Ft. Worth but for a good deal like the one Delta offered last week for $113 RT we would drive to Houston! My quote is for DFW departure as the lowest Im finding out of HOU or IAH is $213 plus tax.

Bibbidy:
The only way I could convince Dh to return so soon is to allow time to look at villa properties as it is something we are considering. So this is technically a "business" trip! (wink wink)

And the car will work out for getting us back and forth to the airport which would run us $85. I do plan on using Dis Transportation whenever we are on property as that will be part of my comparison.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Oh, I understand now why the vehicle is important.

Oh and btw- you're just a hop, skip and a jump away from me.

We could never fly out of Houston- we wouldn't want to leave our vehicle at the airport so we get a ride from a relative both to the airport and back... and Dallas is as far as she's going to go. LOL (btw- we live about 30 minutes SW of Fort Worth)

 

[cali2gagirl]

If you do decide on Disney....I mean..who wouldn't...LOL definitly try priceline.com if you haven't used them before!! You pick your price...and it will either accept or reject.
I've never had it reject me yet!!