The price of Vacation

[Mrs. Ciz]

It's a two week vacation for 5 people! The price is not unreasonable at all when you break it down. We typically spend $6-7k for a week with 4 people.

I would think you'd be able to knock a grand off your rental and 2 grand off your food without trying too hard.

I was thinking the same thing Gumbo. We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens). We usually spend about $3000 per week - sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. Food costs with groceries and a Disney CS & TS each day costs us about $1000 for the week. Lodging - we use our timeshare so about $600 a week.

 

[LeslieLou]

This thread got me thinking...we're taking 3 vacations in 2014 (one is a quicky for college reunion)...how much are we spending?!

Trip to Boston/Cape/etc for 7 nights
Timeshare Rental Marriott Custom House - $1200
Gas to drive from Columbus - $300
Food - $1000
Activities/Souvenirs - $1000
Total = $3500

Trip to Colorado Springs for 3 nights
Flights on Southwest - $1300
Hotel - $350
Food - $450
Activities/Souvenirs - $600
Rental Car - Free on Points
Total - $2200

Trip to Disney World for 8 nights Dec 28-Jan 5
Hotel - 5 nights DVC, 3 nights Swan on points (hey! the $ is sunk, but for reference dues are $500)
Flights - Hoping around $1200
PrAPs - $2000 (this will be spread across at least 1 more trip)
Discounts for Fuel Perks/CC rebate - (500)
Food - $1000
Extra Stuff (won't be a whole lot) - $500
Total - $4200

10 grand! 18 nights...not too far off from OP, esp. bc we're a family of 4 instead of 5

I'm on a project w/vacation restrictions right now...all I can do is book vacations and dream about them coming. I need to stop!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Taking the food and spending budget: 4000/14 days/5 people = $57 // That's very similar to what I typically budget for food and spending per day per person. We usually come out under, but I like to have that budgeted as it lets us eat whatever we want in the parks, go out vs. cook in when we want etc. It doesn't budget for anything overly extravagant, but lets kids get a few souvenirs, etc. too.

I'm surprised personally to see so many people jumping all over that and thinking that's so high.

It's all perspective. OP is spending more per person for food/incidentals than we spent per person for our entire Disney trip.

 

[robinb]

TiW is good for a year. So yes $500 to break even but odds are if you have access to get one(FL res, DVC, AP's) you will be eating/visiting at Disney enough in a year to break the $500 quickly. It's a BIG shame V&A's is being pulled but I get it, why have it on the list if the place sells out anyway.
Also an additional benefit is free Valet with a TiW.

I miss the free valet! I loved that perk. Unfortunately, for us the TIW card just isn't worth it anymore at the new price and we are DVC members and AP holders. We are usually at WDW between Christmas and New Years and that means there are 4 blackout dates in 9 days between 12/24 and 1/1 (XMas Eve, XMas, NYE, NYD). In addition, we have started to eat offsite more so we're not eating at as many WDW restaurants.

 

[Networth]

I miss the free valet! I loved that perk. Unfortunately, for us the TIW card just isn't worth it anymore at the new price and we are DVC members and AP holders. We are usually at WDW between Christmas and New Years and that means there are 4 blackout dates in 9 days between 12/24 and 1/1 (XMas Eve, XMas, NYE, NYD). In addition, we have started to eat offsite more so we're not eating at as many WDW restaurants.

Yeah that's crummy about the blackout dates. Luckily we never visit durning busier times(we have FL resident seasonal passes), so we never run into that blackout problem. I know we are lucky to have jobs that allow us to go at off times + plus only being 2 hours away helps. Not sure what will happen when we have children because they will have school but in the 30 years I have been going to WDW I have never been on a major holiday.

 

[Lucky4me]

Ordinarily I would choke at that price, but I've recently been pricing out DD's honeymoon in Disney. It's NUTS. No matter what, I can't get them below $4,000 for a week, even staying at a value. This is in October. They'd be better off going on a cruise or an all exclusive, but she wants Disney World.
I created a monster by taking her there a lot as a child. lol

We only go once every 2-3 years now, stay off site and only visit the parks a couple of days. It just got too expensive.

Everything has gone up so much the past few years. I used to be able to get a direct flight for well under $200. Now- if its under $400 it's a good deal.
My last ten day non expiring park hopper was $320. Now it's $650?!!! More than doubled in less than ten years. My income didn't do that. lol
We got value resorts for $89 a few years ago. Now, $150 is cheap.

 

[kathy884]

It's all perspective. OP is spending more per person for food/incidentals than we spent per person for our entire Disney trip.

$57 pp per day the amount for spending and incidentals?? I sound like a broken record, but I'm just wondering if the people who think this number is that high really add up everything they spend money on for their vacation. I think of myself as being fairly conservative in my spending, but maybe not compared to others on this forum. This number is just right on for us: It covers groceries (more on vacation than at home and healthy food (fresh fruits and veggies can add up, but are good for you and so nice not to have to have all meals out)), a few souvenirs, incidentals at Walgreens if you forgot something or want to print photos, reading materials if you are bored at the airport with delays or want something new to read on a long driving trip, etc., counter service and snack at the parks anytime you are hungry or in the mood for a Mickey Bar, and eating a modest dinner or two out or ordering pizza if you feel like it. // I' d cut back vacations days before I'd cut back on this I think.

Here's our last week long trip and approximate expenses for two for food and incidentals. Like OP we were offsite, but in an offsite condo rather than an offsite house (really similar). Also, we had three others staying with us, so we shared some of our groceries, bought pizza to share one night, etc. They shared with us too.// Unbelievable but we hit $55 per person per day, almost exactly what OP budgeted.

Food and incidentals
Food at airport -- $25
Books and magazines at airport -- $30
Grocery trip 1 -- $120 (All breakfasts, three lunches, and one dinner in) // did one other grocery trip too. We don't really save all that much money eating in, but we eat way healthier and really enjoy not having to go out for every meal. Love/Love/Love my own kitchen on vacation. Things like garbage bags, laundry detergent, paper towels, laundry soap, dryer sheets, aluminum foil, zip lock bags, etc. eat into vacation grocery expenses too. At home, we'd already have these things that cover multiple weeks.
Lunch, Dinner, and snacks/drinks at parks (3 park days) $30 pp per day -- $180
Disney song book -- $30
Refrigerator Magnets -- $15
Dinner at Sweet Tomatoes -- $25
Grocery Trip #2 to pick up a few more things -- $60
SeaWorld souvenirs -- $30
Pizza Delivery (treated extended family too) -- $40
Gas Contribution -- Cousin from Tampa had car we all used -- $40
Parking for three park days -- $14*3 = $42
Develop pictures and other incidentals at Walgreens -- $30
Food and snacks at airport going home -- $25
Airport parking back home -- $80

Grand Total for seven nights/six days food and incidentals = 772
772/seven days / two people = $55 per day per person

Always budget lodging, car, and theme park tickets separately.

OP -- You and I think alike for food and incidental budgeting.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

$57 pp per day the amount for spending and incidentals?? I sound like a broken record, but I'm just wondering if the people who think this number is that high really add up everything they spend money on for their vacation. I think of myself as being fairly conservative in my spending, but maybe not compared to others on this forum. This number is just right on for us: It covers groceries (more on vacation than at home and healthy food (fresh fruits and veggies can add up, but are good for you and so nice not to have to have all meals out)), a few souvenirs, incidentals at Walgreens if you forgot something or want to print photos, reading materials if you are bored at the airport with delays or want something new to read on a long driving trip, etc., counter service and snack at the parks anytime you are hungry or in the mood for a Mickey Bar, and eating a modest dinner or two out or ordering pizza if you feel like it. // I' d cut back vacations days before I'd cut back on this I think.

Here's our last week long trip and approximate expenses for two for food and incidentals. Like OP we were offsite, but in an offsite condo rather than an offsite house (really similar). Also, we had three others staying with us, so we shared some of our groceries, bought pizza to share one night, etc. They shared with us too.// Unbelievable but we hit $55 per person per day, almost exactly what OP budgeted.

Food and incidentals
Food at airport -- $25
Books and magazines at airport -- $30
Grocery trip 1 -- $120 (All breakfasts, three lunches, and one dinner in) // did one other grocery trip too. We don't really save all that much money eating in, but we eat way healthier and really enjoy not having to go out for every meal. Love/Love/Love my own kitchen on vacation. Things like garbage bags, laundry detergent, paper towels, laundry soap, dryer sheets, aluminum foil, zip lock bags, etc. eat into vacation grocery expenses too. At home, we'd already have these things that cover multiple weeks.
Lunch, Dinner, and snacks/drinks at parks (3 park days) $30 pp per day -- $180
Disney song book -- $30
Refrigerator Magnets -- $15
Dinner at Sweet Tomatoes -- $25
Grocery Trip #2 to pick up a few more things -- $60
SeaWorld souvenirs -- $30
Pizza Delivery (treated extended family too) -- $40
Gas Contribution -- Cousin from Tampa had car we all used -- $40
Parking for three park days -- $14*3 = $42
Develop pictures and other incidentals at Walgreens -- $30
Food and snacks at airport going home -- $25
Airport parking back home -- $80

Grand Total for seven nights/six days food and incidentals = 772
772/seven days / two people = $55 per day per person

Always budget lodging, car, and theme park tickets separately.

OP -- You and I think alike for food and incidental budgeting.

Our entire trip was just under $3,100 over 11 days, 4 people. And yes, that includes everything. Wasn't tough; just added up CC receipts and subtracted the cash I brought home from what I brought.

And the folks on the budget board would scold me for spending too much

Now, not everyone is going to get along with that kind of trip, but IF budgeting is a priority, there's lots of places to cut back.

 

[angierae]

Ten days, two people, about $6100 but I could have done it faaaar cheaper. By my math, if I cut out all the extras that we don't need but we're planning on, we could do it for $5k (and 4k if we get free dining)

 

[Indio]

Yes, Disney has gotten extremely expensive. We used to go 2 or 3 times a year. Now we've gotten down to one week a year. This year, we spent around $4300 for 7 nights for my family of 5. We stayed in a value and 1 of my kids stayed in my parents room. Next year, we're going on a cruise - NOT disney (way too much!). I've already started looking at the choices and we're going to come out a good bit cheaper than a Disney vacation. I still love Disney, but the prices are getting just too high for our family.

 

[revdon64]

My family of six is going in December. Connecting rooms at POP, 8 day hoppers, airfare, DDP. Right around 10K. I think you're doing pretty well for 2 weeks and adding in Universal.

 

[powellrj]

If you are using these totals, you need to remember this thread is over a year old and the prices have gone up.

 

[ciera321]

I would think you'd be able to knock a grand off your rental and 2 grand off your food without trying too hard.

I agree. We did a 13 day with 4 adults - 3 men, one woman (don't know your breakdown of adults/kids), we ate very well, including 2 signatures. I budgeted $2,500, and we didn't spend the entire amount. Maybe you're planning on a lot of souvenirs..??...

 

[Frozen2014]

Yep, our total cost came to around $7500 for a family of 4. This includes 5 park day tickets, meal plan, Art of Animation resort for 6 nights and air fare from Ontario. I'd love to come to Disney more often but not at this cost. So we'll be back but in a bit.

 

[tlmadden73]

Just like any vacation .. the longer you go .. the more expensive it will be.

Personally I think that is a great deal for a vacation that long to Disney ..

What a lot of people don't factor into their vacation cost is:
1) You'd be spending money on food while at home. (Obviously not as much)
2) You save on utilities while you are away on vacation.
3) Depending on what your daily commute to work is .. you MAY be saving on gas.
4) Most people are still earning a paycheck while NOT working. So you are technically getting paid to vacation.

All those thing actually reduce the cost of your vacation below the actual "ticket" price.

 

[helenm29]

We did a trip with 5 of us for 12 days a couple of years ago...flying from California, 6 nights in 2 bedroom AKL Suite/6 nights in large room at Poly. Fast passes for all parks including water parks for extra days, Deluxe dining and a few extras for $10,000. This year we are just doing my DH and I, flying, Deluxe dining, 11 days at Port Orleans French quarter king room, 10 day fast pass (no water parks this time)for just over $7,000 but that isn't including any specialty things like F/W attractions (paid separate)and meals like V & A Chefs table. Your trip doesn't sound too bad but the way money is now, every bit needs to be accounted for. What the heck, have a great trip and stop worrying!

 

[robinb]

I just booked a last minute trip with a travel agency (not DU, so I can't say who they are) for 5 days in July at Coronado Springs for $670 including tax! That's like $118 per night for a moderate and just $50 more than my existing AP reservation at All Star Sports.

 

[Mike&AllisMom]

I just finished booking my vacation for a family of 5 and almost fell out of my chair. Is it just me or are the prices crazy anymore. We are going for 2 weeks and the breakdown is below. We aren't even flying down we are driving.

Universal Tickets (3 Days) $810.00
Disney Tickets $1,805.00
House $2,700.00
Gas $350.00
Spending & food $4,000.00
Total $9,665.00

My family of 4 is going for 15 nights. I didn't realize how much everything was going to cost until I saw this question. This is the only time I will ever add this up:

AP's $2,786.00
Poly CL $6,889.00
Flights $1,500.00
Gas / Parking $175.00
MVMCP $977.00
Dessert Party $196.00
Food / Extra $5000.00 (signature dining, BBB, Pirates League)
TIW $100.00
Sleigh Ride $79.00
Total $17,702.00

I'm going to need some time to recover from this post!

 

[chelseabun76]

Yeah, our family of 6 will never be doing a Disney vacation all together The price can put one of those children through college. I'll just save my pennies for my next one on one trip with my youngest boy in 2018!

 

[DisneyBride2014]

12 nights, 13 days for two adults (6 at a Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms, 4 at Boardwalk, 2 at Contemporary, theme park view room):
Annual pass renewal: $1,189.00
Spending Money/Food: $3,250
Disney Hotel (assuming a discount is released on the deluxes): $3,245.41
Gas to/from (we are driving down): $400.00
Hotel to/from: $187.88
MVMCP Tickets: $149.10
16 nights for dog boarding: $497
Tables in Wonderland: $100
Total = $9,018.39

Scary to add it all up like that! So yes i think it is very expensive but at the same time in my opinion the trip is worth every penny. And at least as far as the annual passes and the tables in wonderland goes, we get a few trips out of each so if i spread that cost over all the trips it would be a little less.