Teresa's DW Vacation Quest

[klam_chowder]

Just heard the update on this wk's segment - you're doing a fab job Teresa! Talking through your options and asking all great questions - sometimes it's the minutia that gets us and it's wonderful to hear you listening to the concerns of everyone in your family

cheers,

 

[exwdwcm]

You're gonna have to go back to the drawing board.

Here's a money saver for the restaurants.....ice water with lemon and a couple packs of sugar makes a pretty good free lemonade.

lol- or make a 'salad' for free out of the toppipngs bar at Pecos Bill, right? That was an actual debate on one of the other boards. seriously!

Good luck Teresa- i am interested to see how this goes! I still for the life of me can't figure out how my parents managed to take us 3 girls (family of 5) when we were kids. We lived on a tight income. But we drove, hauled our pop up camper and stayed at FTW. sure it was still expensive with tickets and food.

 

[sjsjbrook]

$2500 will be hard for a family of 5, 4 of which are adults. I know in 2000 We were a family of three, and it cost us $5000 with food but with our flights, mind you we stayed at caribean beach. It was for 8days 7 nights though. Our last trip for our family of 5 was way more, mainly do to the fact that it is hard to find a room for 5 on site. We are now a family of 6, which means we most likely will have to stay offsite next time.

I am really looking forward to seeing how this all ends. Teresa you should keep a journal on this process and when it is all over release it so we can see the journey.

 

[corky441]

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I am really looking forward to seeing how this all ends. Teresa you should keep a journal on this process and when it is all over release it so we can see the journey.

That is a great idea -

I am enjoying this segment on the Podcast immensely. I know how difficult the planning was the first time DH & I actually did a WDW vacation. I never realized just how much went into it and that was just for the 2 of us.

Good luck Teresa - we're all rooting for you

 

[Mississippianna]

I think it's definitely a good thing to include park tickets to fully experience what the majority of folks deal with. I am willing to bet, though, that discounts will come out that allow y'all to get two rooms at Pop. It'll come together.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Can someone refresh my memory as to the details of the challenge?
How many nights is it for and how many people? I had thought Pete said for four people, but someone else mentioned five. If it's five, that is going to make it quite a bit harder when it comes to the hotel. I get emails everyday about Orlando hotel deals, but off property ones, I just got one today for Vistana Village and Gaylord Palms.

 

[Cherinva]

I feel for you Teresa. My upcoming trip is the first one that I've used a TA (Dreams of course) and I'm so glad. Now I don't have to do the research or the phone calls. Good Luck to you on this journey.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I'm listening to this section of the podcast right now. This is AWESOME listening to you all have the same discussions that we have at home as we plan OUR WDW vacation. At least for us - this is VERY realistic!

All of us tight-budget people can help you out if you want some hints on how we do it!

 

[DSNY4ever]

Haha, I think I was the only person that apparently thought $2500 was a lot of money. And I always have to buy park tickets and fly out from CA, but I do only plan for 2 people. I think especially without having to buy plane tickets, this will be plenty even with 4.

Go hang out on the budget board Teresa- and I like the renting DVC points idea that someone suggested. I am looking forward to hearing this week's segment, I haven't listened yet.

 

[esddk]

Bummer about the tickets but it will be more authentic.

I want to say that I am really enjoying the planning of your trip. I am hoping for lots of tips to use when I next get to plan a Disney trip for my family of 5. I am actually hoping for such great tips that I'll be able to start planning for an earlier trip. Just had the biannual trip during cold snap and want to come back to replace those memories with warm, sunny ones.

 

[mrzrich]

You can do a GAD volunteer project as a family. Then you'll have one day tickets with a face value of around $75 each that you can upgrade. Of course this will exclude you from buying a package and Disney may come out with some great package in the coming months.

We got the cabins last month with an AP rate of $148/night. Does the challenge allow you to book with an AP code or a FL resident code, or do you have to pretend to be an out of stater?

You can save tons on food if you have a full kitchen. Of course you can save more on food if you got free dining, but you'd have to buy full price tickets and room.

 

[rlduvall]

Can someone refresh my memory as to the details of the challenge?

A total of 5 nights, 6 days - which is apparently the average vacation length.

 

[elemusing]

ok - I can't believe nobody has suggested this, but when someone else suggested you keep a journal, why not write a trip report? Just call it Teresa's Big Adventure or something. And please link it here on the podcast board so we can follow the progress! That would be great! Many people post pre-trip reports and you can follow along with their planning.

Anyone else want to second that? All in favor say aye?

 

[mrzrich]

Base price for 4 adult and one child 6 day tickets...1048 for FL resident, $1122 for non-resident.

If Pete will let you squeak by with the current $99 4 day play pass available for FL residents, you may be able to add the Water Park and More option to fill the other 2 days. (How many days do you get to use the extras with this promotional ticket?) The black out dates for these tickets are very restrictive though, and the tickets must be used be the week before Memorial day.

Probably best bet is to volunteer like I said before.

 

[newmouse2008]

My head is spinning with the amount of ideas and suggestions you have. I have started a chart to help organize the info.

 

[corky441]

My head is spinning with the amount of ideas and suggestions you have. I have started a chart to help organize the info.

Perfect idea - a spreadsheet - don't forget to use multi-colored markers

We've all been there - right ?

 

[jeanigor]

Perfect idea - a spreadsheet - don't forget to use multi-colored markers

We've all been there - right ?

And glitter. Be sure the spreadsheet has glitter.

 

[rotlex]

I'm probably going to get blasted here, but I think the challenge needs to be harder! (And yeah, park tickets NEED to be included).

Why do I think it should be harder? Because $2500 is a LOT - especially for a 5 night trip! We did an 11 day trip last year, with free dining, staying at POP, for just over $1800. Heck, I could have brought home a lot of souvenirs with the extra $700. Our prior trip, stayed at CSR, for 10 days, with free dining, STILL only ran us $2300. So again, how is $2500 not enough to do this very, very easily?

Personally, I think the challenge needs to include staying at a mod, or above, AND including park pass purchases in the package for the trip.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My sister told me last weekend that she wants to plan a trip for her and her son. Five days, staying on site.

And doesn't want to spend more than 2,000.00. At least it's only 2 people.

So I'm going to be listening to Teresa's quest to see if I can pick up a few pointers to pass along to my sister.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm probably going to get blasted here, but I think the challenge needs to be harder! (And yeah, park tickets NEED to be included).

Why do I think it should be harder? Because $2500 is a LOT - especially for a 5 night trip! We did an 11 day trip last year, with free dining, staying at POP, for just over $1800. Heck, I could have brought home a lot of souvenirs with the extra $700. Our prior trip, stayed at CSR, for 10 days, with free dining, STILL only ran us $2300. So again, how is $2500 not enough to do this very, very easily?

Personally, I think the challenge needs to include staying at a mod, or above, AND including park pass purchases in the package for the trip.

11 days for $1,800? That is really good, but for how many people?

Remember Teresa has five people, that makes a big difference, if she had to go with a Moderate, she would have to get 2 rooms. And the free dining you got also makes a huge difference. Right now, Teresa has to include food, she has no way of knowing if free dining will be offered yet. I don't remember when free dining usually gets announced or if Teresa is on any kind of deadline to book her trip?

I have to admit though, I did wonder why she was having such a hard time when she was pricing things out and she thought she wouldn't need tickets. $2,500 just for room and food to me would be way easy. With tickets though, I think the challenge is hard enough.