SUPER Budget trip...can this be done?

[Mic]

We have the opportunity to take a short,long-weekend-type trip to WDW before our 3 oldest kids go to camp(oldest DD will actually attend 2 camps), but only if I keep it way under any budget I have ever used before. It will be myself, DH, and possibly 3 kids(Oldest DD is at beach with best friend, and 2nd DD may join friends as well). Was able to book 2 rooms at ASMu with AP discount(POR was full), and have paid deposit. I will owe $265 at check-in, and gas for the trip will cost @$120. Everyone has PAPs from last trip(ouch!), so food is the only concern. My main objective is to see the special 4th fireworks and do the AK passholder scav. hunt(missed the last one at MK), but the family(OK, just DH) insists on Disneyquest and Blizzard Beach. If we do DQ for a few hours on arrival day, and split 1 day between Blizz. Beach and AK(BB from opening until @3pm, then AK till closing), I think we can do it. We will also have a half-day to spend at AK on our departure day if needed to finish the scav. hunt. That leaves the 4th free to spend all day at 1 park(I am leaning towards Epcot). We will have a fast-food meal on the way down(to save time, mostly)for @$25, and I can use a few Olive Garden Certificates for dinner when we arrive, or buy something inexpensive(Pizza?) for @$25.Breakfast will be in the room all 3 mornings(already packed). Debating on lunch at BB...we will have a small cooler for water, and may take a few pitas, and some deli ham, turkey, and cheese in for lunch. Youngest DD eats like a bird(several small meals a day) and asked me to take something for her to eat so she would not have to run to the Lottawatta Lodge every time she got hungry like last trip , so this may work best. DH is famous for wanting to do something different, so I will have 7 Q&C vouchers we can use at BB if he wants. Dinner will be at AK, either the "meal deal" or at Rainforest Cafe, since I also have 2 kids Vac. Kingdom lunch vouchers left from last trip. I am budgeting $50 for either one. Lunch at Epcot will be Teppanyaki(we HAVE to do this one), and dinner will be from several counter service restaurants(it's hard to please everyone!). I am budgeting $100 for the day, $75 for Teppanyaki with AP discount, and $25 and a few Q&C vouchers for dinner. My big question is: How late can I use the kids Vac. King.lunch vouchers at RC? If I can't use them at 5 pm, will we be able to eat at Tusker House or Pizzafari at that time? Assuming one of these plans is possible, and budgeting $50 for lunch and possibly dinner on the drive hom(I have a few free sub cards from Subway I need to use), does anyone think I may not be able to do this trip spending so little? I plan on taking a credit card just in case, but only $700 in cash for 2 (big) kids and 3 younger ones.

room---------------$265
Gas-----------------$120
Food---------------$250
Mickey bars for kids, and a few alcoholic drinks
for DH--------------$65
souvenirs------------$0(other than the kids' own money...and we have no time to shop!)

Any input welcome!

 

[TandyR]

It sounds like you have a plan so I would give it a shot. If you haven't talked to your kids about being on a tight budget, you might want to do that...I find that helps because at least with my kids know not to ask for the extras when it is a tight budget trip. And if you run into a real emergancy you will have the CC. So I see no reasons why it can't be done...just report back here when you get back.

 

[bobcat]

It can be done and I've done it. I got this silly notion in my head after Christmas that we were going to WDW for a couple of days and we all had AP's so we had to do a super budget trip.

Tusker House closes early, around 3pm, so don't plan on an early dinner here.

 

[kaf7878]

Sounds like you alerady have a great plan. My only suggestion would be to do water only in the parks to save a ton of money. Either take a water bottle in with you or buy one or two there and refill as needed. You can share these...each person doesn't need their own. This saves us at least $10-20 a day. Even when we eat at restaurants we only order water. Sodas are up to $2 eash at restaurants!

 

[Mic]

Thanks for the votes of confidence and advice! I am almost packed...doing a few last loads of laundry. Tandy- great advice on spending. We have been often enough that the kids don't even ask for money anymore(well, the boy hasn't learned, yet, but his sisters know better). They have their own money, and any extra from me is doled out before we leave home. Since everyone has some type of camp next week(cheerleading, boy scout, yearbook, etc.)and will want spending money then, there will be none on this trip. Bobcat-I remember reading about your Christmas trip. We did something similar 2 years ago(for July 4th, no less), but we left DH at home to tend to his sick Mom, and had a room at OKW with a kitchen(saved tons of $ on food). That was the trip I realized eating dinner in worked great for us most evenings. I sure am going to miss that kitchen on this trip, but we won't really be in the room long enough to cook. Thanks for the heads-up on Tusker House closing early. I have decided that if we are unable to use the lunch vouchers at RC or do an early dinner at AK, we can always just drive off-site for dinner, or perhaps use 2 Q&C vouchers and a little cash at the Peppermarket Grill since we will be close. kaf-Way ahead of you on the water idea. Just finished packing 3 6-packs of Aquafina into the big cooler, along with a 6-pack of cokes(to keep me awake on the trip down...I will be doing all 9-10 hours of driving.) We are all big fans of iced water with meals(well, all except my son...I swear I brought the wrong child home from the hospital!), and that does save $$. My son is allowed a soda with lunch if he has not had 1 all day, but all 3 of my girls always order water, even when the soda is included with the kids meal. My biggest budget-buster is my DH's need to have a few drinks with lunch, and planning to do dinner in Epcot as well as lunch will add up(he plans on joining AA when I join Disneyfanatics Anonymous). I am prepared to spend a little more that day if I have to. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Rpsemont]

MIC- You would always put DH on his own booze budget. Make it like the kids and their own spending money. That way, you can say that you were able to maintain low cost. Personally, we seem to always spend more than we plan and I always want to blame it on honey having extra beers and such. As if my $7 blue martinis don't contribute to the problem.
LOL! BTW, for something fun and different for back at the hotel we would get a bucket of wings from Hooters. Then maybe a salad shaker or two to share from McD's and it was a great dinner for relatively low cost. There's a Hooters right outside DTD and they have a special outside pick up window.

 

[Mic]

We're Back! I thought I would post a few highlights. I WAS able to stay within budget, and had a great time! DH had a few things to do Wed., so we did not leave until lunch, but still arrived by 9 pm at ASMu. We had lunch at a local restaurant at 11(on the road by noon), and made 2 stops, arriving at 9 pm. Check-in at ASMu was easy, and I was even moved to another section when I did not get the bldg. I requested. I must say the staff was very good here(I've encountered much worse at BWV). We went to Blizz.Beach Thursday from 9:30 am to 2 pm, then to AK until 5 pm. I did pack a few pitas and sanwich bread, some deli ham,turkey, and cheese into the cooler with some bottled water, and I can't tell you how jealous the folks sitting next to us were when we took this out at 11 am. The counter service restaurants were not open until @11:30, and their kids were hungry before then. DH was going to get a turkey leg at noon, but the line was a little long, so he decided against it. We had dinner at RC after leaving AK at 5, and I found this to be the BEST use of the vac.kingdom lunch vouchers. After subtracting the voucher items, I only owed $18 for 3 kids' meals, and $20 for DH's 3 mixed drinks,and we ate like kings!($50 with tip). The kids swam while I did laundry later(even with ponchos on, we got soaked at AK, and I did not want to take wet clothes home), then we went to the food court for ice cream. Friday we spent at Epcot(got there a little after opening) and were surprised how not crowded the park was. The lady that sat at our table during lunch at Teppanyaki remarked that MGM was not crowded, either. We decided to go back to the room to rest after lunch(I rested, kids swam), then got back to Epcot at 7. We were able to ride Mission:Space(an hour wait), and the kids spent another hour playing the video games at the end of the ride. Headed to World Showcase at 9, just in time to see the fireworks from MGM. We used 2 Q&C vouchers at the Tangeriene Cafe, and paid for 3 kids' meals($16), and had more food than we could eat. DH took 2 older kids back to the room in the van, and youngest DD and I caught the monorail to the Mad(I mean Magic) Kingdom after the fireworks at Epcot at 10 pm. We rode AstroOrbiter, then staked-out a good seat for the midnight Spectro parade. We waited for 5-10 minutes on a bus back to ASMu after MK closed(I was pleasantly surprised at the efficiency), and we were in our room by 1 am. The drive home was LLoonngg, as usual, and traffic was bad between Orlando and Daytona. I kept careful tally of my spending for the short trip, and I thought we did well. Including the lunch we ate locally the day we left, we had 2 sit-down meals and 2 fast-food meals on the road($72). We had breakfast in the room all 3 mornings(brought cereal,poptarts, bagels, and a toaster from home, and purchased a gallon of milk on the way down), and took our own lunch to Blizz.Beach, so no expense there. Dinner at RC was $50 and 2 vouchers, and lunch at Teppanyaki was $75, including tip and 2 beers for DH(using our AP's for 10% discount). Dinner at Tang.Cafe was $16 and 3 vouchers, and we had ice cream each day at either the food court or at Epcot, as well as pastries at Epcot Fri. morning(total of $36). I spent $119 for gas(counting the fill-up when we got home),and $10 on incidentals(laundry, napkins, etc.)The only souvenirs I purchased was $52 in pins(limited edition released on the 4th at Epcot) and 2 t-shirts at RC (on-sale)for $19. I actually came home with $50!!! And we had a great time. We just walked in, so I will wait to unpack tomorrow, but I wanted to post my budget success first!

 

[bobcat]

Excellent Job! Thanks for posting your success, and so soon after arriving home. You must be exhausted!

 

[punkin]

Sounds like you had a great time and didn't mind being on budget. I hope I can do as well when we go. Welcome back!

 

[cpl100]

That sounds like a great trip. When we go to the water parks we are planning to picnic it too, mostly for the convenience of it and to step away from the usual counter service food for an afternoon.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I actually came home with $50!!!
********************************

Now put that money aside...... like you never had it and use it to start saving for your next trip... that is what I always do!!!!

 

[TandyR]

Great job staying in budget and it sounds like you had a good time.

 

[LittleL52]

We're going this Friday, driving down, and you are my inspiration!!!
DH - 38, myself - 38, DS-15, DS-8.
We're staying from Saturday until Thursday with a VERY TIGHT budget of only $2,000. We got a great deal on our room through Shades of Green so we will be staying at the Contemporary. Tickets are 4 day ultimates at the Military rate. But with summer time activities, our original budget got smaller and smaller until we are at the $2K mark. We owe $396 on the hotel and $759 for hoppers. I've budgeted $200 for gas and a few tolls before VA hoping that will be enough. Souvenirs the kids are buying out of money given to them for both being on honor roll the entire school year!! We also want to take a side trip on our way home Thursday to the Kennedy Space Center.
The rest is for food and incidentals...We are eating off site at buffets a few meals (Ponderosa, Shoney's, Golden Corral...we have coupons!!) One late Character breakfast at Chef Mickey's and a late breakfast at Boma in AKL...Hopefully we will still be able to fit them into our plans....
Thanks so much for the inspiration...I knew with tight planning and perserverance it could be done.!!!

 

[punkin]

LittleL52. Where do you get coupons for the cheap buffets? I'm on a ight budget too and would love to know.

 

[LittleL52]

Here is one of the sites that I used for food coupons...also check direct web sites of restaurants that you want, and Mousesavers.com has links under her WDW/Food area. Good luck!

www.orlandosaving.com/foodtop.htm

 

[punkin]

Thank you. I will try this.

 

[Mic]

LittleL52-
You seem to have put a little more effort into your plans than I did mine(evidenced by the room through SOG). Our first few trips to WDW were spent at SOG(husband was a reservist at the time, and had served in Desert Storm), and my kids still love that resort. We like the Contemporary, too! I'm assuming by your post that you will be able to get the UPH's(or are they called the Stars and Stripes pass?) for just 3 nights, or did I misunderstand? That would be great, and would give you 4 days in the parks and 1-2 days off. My kids could make a day of lounging by the pool and visiting Legoland/Downtown Disney. I realized a few years ago that making lunch our big meal of the day, and keeping dinner simple worked best for us. We always knew what park we would start the day in, so it was easy to make lunch plans. Dinner would get tricky because we sometimes never made it back to a park after an afternoon break, or we were just not hungry enough for a sit-down dinner. And I can't stess enough what a lifesaver a few snacks/drinks for the room are! My kids would have spent a lot of $ at the food court without room snacks, and it is just convenient to grab something when you get back to the room or are headed to the pool. We never make a point of going back to the room for snacks, but they sure are nice to have once you collapse for the day! I can't imagine you not being able to have a great trip with 2K...you might even bring money home! Have a magical trip, and post after you get back to inspire others!

 

[LittleL52]

Thanks!!! Yes, they are called Stars & Stripes Passes which are the same as Disney Ultimate Park Hopper.... Day 1 MK, Day 2 AK and Blizzard Beach, Day 3 MGM and Disney Quest, Day 4 Epcot and Typhoon Lagoon....

I've made tentative plans for each day, utilizing 8am EE for each park on their respective days - late breakfast, then back to the park for a few hours doing the inside attractions in the heat of the day. Dinners are the main thing that we are doing offsite - that way if we are too tired (or too full) to go back to a park we can go back to the hotel to rest up a bit then head back out. We are big on the snacks too!!! The kids have already made their list of poptarts, tastykakes and danish to keep in the room...and I went to the market this weekend and caught good sales on snack items to pack in my backpack and carry in the park...Sam's club for 2 cases of water and we are set!!!

By the way...I feel as though I'm cheating to get my room at the Contemporary which is normally $264 per night for a paultry $89.00 SOG price!!!! What a bargain! Even the park tickets...SOG 4Day Ultimate Adult $200/ Children $159 - Disney price Adult $251.17/Children $193.83. Thank you Uncle Sam!

I REFUSE TO PAY FULL PRICE FOR ANYTHING, WHEN I CAN FIND A GOOD DEAL WITH A LITTLE IMAGINATION!

Looking forward to writing that trip report!!

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by LittleL52
We're going this Friday, driving down, and you are my inspiration!!!
DH - 38, myself - 38, DS-15, DS-8.
We're staying from hoppers. I've budgeted $200 for gas and a few tolls before VA hoping that will be enough.


What part of NJ? I am driving from the Southern Part and I can give you the info.

Delaware Memorial Bridge $2. Or Ben Franklin Bridge, Betsy Ross, Walt Whitman $3 Remember most of these bridges are two way tolls.. so your return is prepaid.

DE Turpike $2

MD Turnpike $2


And nothing else. We take I 95 straight down.


Our car (A Satun Sedan) took 3 tanks of gas down. Up to $15 a tankful. That was $90 round trip, and the $2 tolls home.

You should be fine if you are driving from S. Jersey. I dont know central North Jersey tolls, so can't help you there.

 

[LittleL52]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.......!!!! I've been looking everywhere for someone to give me an idea of how much gas it would take so I could budget a little more appropriately!!!!

We're from Burlington County and will be driving a van...it takes a lot to fill it up but it drives forever...

This has to be the best of all the unofficial Disney sites!!!!