The 'official' teatime needs to spill money saving secrets thread

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Seriously tho?! 1600 for 3? for a WEEK???

*bows to you* Puhlease share

 

[Brady's Mom]

We will spend less than 1600 for a week at DLR when we go in Nov. BUT, we have AP's so we don't need to buy park tickets - which saves a bundle.

6 nights at HoJo w/Ent. rate - $500 (or slightly under)

driving from UT this time - $200 for gas (max. but probably way less)

Food - $600 - $100/day for 5 people (we bring snacks from home and will bring some lunches to DLR for some or all of the days - I get tired of some of the food choices)

Totals about $1300 and that is a HIGH estimate for us. We share food and supplement with some of our own stuff.

Now if I could just get a great airfare like I did for my last trip ($39 each way on JetBlue!!) we might fly, instead of drive.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

So far we're looking at about 500 for the week in hotel (7 nights). We're not driving, however. So we're looking at (this is a huge guess since rates aren't out for next year) 69 each way for each person.

Food I'm not too concerned about. We're great at packing stuff in and eating cheap...

I guess disney tickets and rental will kill us?

 

[PHXscuba]

It so hard to compare "what you spend" to "do Disneyland." If you have to fly, it's always going to cost more than those who are close enough to drive (7 hours for us). Plus the rental car, of course. Those together could easily double what you spend.

I think the only fair "ingredients" in a cost-comparison for DLR are hotel, food, and tickets. Even there, the hotel rates can vary so much by season! It's hard to hear of someone paying $59 a night when you know you can't get that if you can only go over holidays or in the summer. It makes you feel like you are overspending.

I have problems doing comparisons for most any vacation because we have a family of six. Most ads you see quote their amazing price based on a family of four, or even just two people. Once you add an extra room or suite, it can be almost double the cost of that cookie-cutter family of four.

I think you can trim a little off ticket costs depending on where you buy, a little more off of food depending on how/where you eat (for example, we always eat breakfast in our hotel). The biggest savings for most people will come on hotel choice and discounts, plane tickets (or choosing to drive), and rental car costs. That's where I'd put my budgeting skills/time to work the hardest.

PHXscuba

 

[andee2000]

Seriously tho?! 1600 for 3? for a WEEK???

*bows to you* Puhlease share

That is impressive. For a week!

 

[LavenderPeach]

It so hard to compare "what you spend" to "do Disneyland." If you have to fly, it's always going to cost more than those who are close enough to drive (7 hours for us). Plus the rental car, of course. Those together could easily double what you spend.

I think the only fair "ingredients" in a cost-comparison for DLR are hotel, food, and tickets. Even there, the hotel rates can vary so much by season! It's hard to hear of someone paying $59 a night when you know you can't get that if you can only go over holidays or in the summer. It makes you feel like you are overspending.

I have problems doing comparisons for most any vacation because we have a family of six. Most ads you see quote their amazing price based on a family of four, or even just two people. Once you add an extra room or suite, it can be almost double the cost of that cookie-cutter family of four.

I think you can trim a little off ticket costs depending on where you buy, a little more off of food depending on how/where you eat (for example, we always eat breakfast in our hotel). The biggest savings for most people will come on hotel choice and discounts, plane tickets (or choosing to drive), and rental car costs. That's where I'd put my budgeting skills/time to work the hardest.

PHXscuba

I agree, it's hard to compare how much different people spend on their vacations. For example, I read the first post and thought "wow! that's a lot to spend on a DLR vacation! That doesn't sound like a bargain!". But that's coming from a local and if I go on a vacation to DLR where I stay in a hotel (as opposed to a quick day trip) then I usually only stay for 2 nights maximum and since APs are already paid for the cost of the hotel and the cost of lunch and dinner (we bring our own breakfast) is really the only expense. I can see how having to add airfare can really bump up the price of going there. That's why we've only been to WDW once and I'm not sure if we'll get a chance to go back.

But, back to the quesiton at hand, I would say that to keep costs down you could try getting a hotel for $50/night either by staying at a cheaper hotel (we got that rate at the super 8 over spring break) or by using priceline. I've heard about a lot of people getting the hyatt or hilton for $50/night on PL.

I can't believe how expensive vacations are. I totally took it for granted when my parents would take us places when I was younger. Now that I have to pay for it myself I'm amazed that anyone can ever get away!

Good luck with your bargain hunting!

 

[Mugglemama]

yeah, 1600 IS really good. geez.

our upcoming trip is going to run about 2800....that's for gas (driving from boise, estimating $400 but we'll likely spend up to $100 less than that), VERY CHEAP hotel for 8 nights (it takes us 2 days to drive there so we need a hotel on the way there and back), seriously discounted park hoppers (going to a conference while there), and food. and we're only budgeting $100 for each travel day, and $200 a day to spend while we're at DLR (although we never spend that much, so we should have plenty left over). plus, we're taking in our own water, snacks, etc.

i'm even going to make smaller sized tigger tails at home to bring with us!

how does she do it for 1600?

 

[blackjackdelta]

It so hard to compare "what you spend" to "do Disneyland." If you have to fly, it's always going to cost more than those who are close enough to drive (7 hours for us). Plus the rental car, of course. Those together could easily double what you spend.

I think the only fair "ingredients" in a cost-comparison for DLR are hotel, food, and tickets. Even there, the hotel rates can vary so much by season! It's hard to hear of someone paying $59 a night when you know you can't get that if you can only go over holidays or in the summer. It makes you feel like you are overspending.

I have problems doing comparisons for most any vacation because we have a family of six. Most ads you see quote their amazing price based on a family of four, or even just two people. Once you add an extra room or suite, it can be almost double the cost of that cookie-cutter family of four.

I think you can trim a little off ticket costs depending on where you buy, a little more off of food depending on how/where you eat (for example, we always eat breakfast in our hotel). The biggest savings for most people will come on hotel choice and discounts, plane tickets (or choosing to drive), and rental car costs. That's where I'd put my budgeting skills/time to work the hardest.

PHXscuba

I agree> Price quotes with out the facts makes things difficult to compare. We are also a family of 6, we always get tickets for 5 days. We have to do suite hotels or get two rooms, food varies so much based on individual tastes, we drive a total of 2700 miles while we are there and down and back(flying is out of the question when you do not live next to a major airport) and travel hotel rooms, just to name a few.
I would love 1600, just not possible.

Jack

 

[teatime]

Seriously tho?! 1600 for 3? for a WEEK???

*bows to you* Puhlease share

I forgot to add I bought the plane fare months and months in advance for 99.00 one way... promotional for new flight service from a town 110 miles away.


Please print this page for your records.
Date Created: 4/11/2009
Date of Travel: 8/19/2009
Total Plan Amount: $1,555.85
Amount Paid: $1,300.00
Amount Remaining: $255.85
Next Payment: $255.85 (8/1/2009)
Room 1: Anaheim Fairfield Inn by Marriott - Standard Room (Cert #593666)
Name of Guest: ******** ( blanked for my protection
Reservation: Check-In Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 after 4:00 PM
Check-Out Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2009 before 12:00 PM
Occupants: # of Adults 1 # of Kids 2
Room Options 4th, 5th nights free.
REQ 2 Queen, Sofa Bed; REQ NON-SMOKING
All requests are subject to availability at time of check-in
2 adult, 1 child 6-for-4 PARK HOPPER® Bonus Ticket 2 Days FREE!!! (Ticket #831079)
Waived Handling Fee
Ticket: 2 adult, 1 child Disneyland Resort Express One Way Transfer - LAX to Anaheim (Ticket #831082)
Ticket: 2 adult, 1 child Disneyland Resort Express One Way Transfer - Anaheim to LAX (Ticket #831083)
Ticket: 2 adult Disneyland Resort Express One Way Transfer - LAX to Anaheim (Ticket #834026)
Ticket: 1 adult Disneyland Resort Express One Way Transfer - Anaheim to LAX (Ticket #834027)
Ticket: 2 adult, 1 child Disney's Character Breakfast (Ticket #836245)

 

[Disneyanajc]

I plan all year for our Disney trip. I like (LOVE) the Disneyland hotel this is what I save for. We try and go for 5/7 nights at a time, do a two bedroom suite and plan for one meal at Blue Bayou, one at Steakhouse 55 or Napa
Rose and three character meals (our grandson loves these meals). I always get the five of us Fantasmic tickets (now that I have gotten
older ((wow! Did I just say that?)), to me this is a must do). This year I thought I was budgeting by not doing a suite and just getting two rooms, and by cutting out one character meal. I guess budgeting is in the mind of the beholder.

We live about 5 to 6 hours away from Disney and will drive instead of fly, found that we like the drive better.

I think everyone has there idea of their Ideal vacation, and how to budget for them, I thought I was doing great by keeping our price around $3000.
jc

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

ah HAH the truth! hehehe

Yeah, you guys are right..it totally depends on each family. I've never stayed for this long (ok when I paid for it..) so I guess it's a new 'budget'.

Ok so, I think we're doing great on our hotel. Flights aren't horrid...

I suppose they'll come out with some type of good deal on tickets (I hope I hope)