To Disney or not to Disney.... - we do Disney!

[Colargol]

That is the question right now. We have booked and planned a dream holiday in Florida this summer. 4 weeks of sun, fun and Disney. Flight and accommodation already paid for. Charactermeals are booked. Only thing remaining is telling the kids, who are 4 and 8 yrs old.

All good. We thought. 2 weeks ago when my DH finally gets the operation he has been waiting for for years. A cornea transplant. Operation went fine, but swimming is off for a long time. OK; we will just have to live without the water parks. Can do that.
So, today my DH is told that he will loose his job. Not good. Unemployment benefits are good, so no immediate threat to our day to day finances, but 4 weeks in Florida now when the dollar is at a all time high?! Well, that seems rather tricky.

So now I am desperately looking into ways in which we can make it a budget holiday. Tickets to Disney cost what they cost. That leaves us with food and car rental to save money on. We must have a car. And want to book with a reliable company, that offers safe cars and all insurance we need. Any ideas if there are other places to look than Avis, National and Hertz?

And food. We are staying in a apartment, so we will definitely eat in most of the time. Most of my already planned character meals might have to be canceled, that's ok. Lunch at the castle is already paid for, so that stays.
But where do we do our grocery shopping at affordable prices? Is walmart the place to go?
And when we want to eat out, but not spend a fortune - where do we go? Kids eat everything. Not too big a fan of typical fast-food places, but if money is tight we might have to give that a try also.

DD4 is in to princess stuff, and we planned on getting her a treat at BBB, like DD8 did when we last visited. They probably both would like it, although DD8 is too big for princess stuff now. Is it OK to bring your own dress? Last time we spent about $150 if I remember correctly in BBB on full costume etc; but DD really preferred the fancy princess nightgowns (!) we bought elsewhere. So maybe we can still go there, but not do the full package, but still have the experience?

Other good ideas on how to save money on a trip to Orlando?

 

[SLP958]

This has to be a troll post but just in case.

If your husband has lost his job spending 4 weeks on vacation is not a sane idea no matter how much you try to budget.

Stay home. You can always go back when your husband finds another job.

 

[Colargol]

No troll here!

And as I said, trip is under consideration. We already had money set aside for the trip, and the biggest costs (flight and accomondation) are already paid for. So totally unrealistic it is not. But if we devide to go, we will definitely have look at ways to save money.
(And as I also said; our day-to-day expences are not a problem, whether we go on holiday or not)

 

[Disneylover99]

Definitely bring your own dress to the BBB and just get the basic package. Good luck.

 

[PollyannaMom]

To your specific questions -

We used Alamo for our rental car last time. I'm not sure about the exact comparison, but DH was happy with the price, and he's hard to please as far as that goes.

I believe you can get just a hair-and-makeup package at BBB, and that lots of little girls wear their own dresses in the parks.

I do think there are budget grocery stores, but we have not stayed anywhere with a kitchen, so I'm no help as far as specifics. I would recommend asking this one the Budget board. (I would not mention the full details about why you need to change the trip, though. If the flights and accommodations are not refundable, I can understand why you are trying to go ahead. But attitudes about travel are different here, and you will get a lot of folks telling you to just not go.)

 

[mnrose]

There is honestly not a whole heck of a lot of difference in grocery prices between Walmart and others. Maybe average 5-10%? Walmart is fine. There is also a grocery store in the same general area that I found had decent prices as well. Publix on East Orange Lake Blvd. There is a SuperTarget right across too.

In terms of car rentals, we've always found the best prices via Costco....but unless you are a member, you can't get those prices. Failing that, I might priceline bid about 1-2 weeks in advance of your trip. Make a reservation NOW getting your best prices possible via any major car rental company (typically, these can be cancelled with no penalty whatsoever...many don't even require a credit card to reserve), and then do Priceline as your date approaches. You may do even better. Alamo has good pricing for the most part. Also try Enterprise.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I would cut back on the time. Did I read that correctly 4 weeks?

I would try Dollar Rent A Car or Enterprise for car rentals. I'm not sure taking a taxi might not be cheaper?

You can bring snacks into the park.That might help with not eating at the park.

I would go the the Dollar Tree and load up on Disney stuff.

Have fun

 

[Colleen27]

This has to be a troll post but just in case.

If your husband has lost his job spending 4 weeks on vacation is not a sane idea no matter how much you try to budget.

Stay home. You can always go back when your husband finds another job.

She's not a troll. She already has airfare from overseas booked. That's a lot of money to throw away by just cancelling so it makes sense for that to be a last resort only if there's no way to make a budget trip happen.

OP, yes, you can bring your own dress to BBB. I highly recommend it even if budget isn't an issue because the Disney dresses tend to be scratchy and not terribly well made. I bought one from a website (Little Dress-Up Shop or something along those lines) that was much softer and washable, and it held up well enough that it survived heavy use by older DD and is a favorite part of younger DD's dress up trunk now.

Food: I'm partial to Publix over Walmart. The prices are still good and quality is generally better, IMO. Can't speak to the shopping experience, though, because we have our groceries delivered when we're in Orlando (we don't rent a car). For meals out, look at Groupon or Restaurant.com for the Orlando area to see if you can get some discount offers. We've discovered a lot of interesting restaurants that way, both at home and when we're traveling.

Have you heard about the campfire sing-along at Fort Wilderness? It is a free character experience with Chip & Dale that is a lot of fun, so if you end up cancelling your character meals that might be a nice thing to add. You can bring your own marshmallows or buy a kit there for a few bucks, and it is really geared toward your kids' ages.

Good luck to you, both with making the trip the best you possibly can and with your husband's job search.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

If you cancel, can you get your money back? If so, that's what you need to do. No job = no four week vacation! You say day to day expenses are covered, but for how long? And how long will your husband be out of work? There's no way for you to know. Much better to have all that money back in the bank in case you need it. I know a lot of people will say you only live once, go for it. But, I'm sorry, a four week vacation in Florida is a splurge for anyone, let alone someone without a job! Disney will be there in another year or two when you're on more solid financial ground.

 

[barkley]

on the rental car w/insurance-I've found that I can save on by either using a credit card that provides insurance on rental cards automatically when you use that card to rent or by calling my existing auto insurance agent and adding coverage for rental cars a week before we go, and then canceling it as soon as we get back (costs me maybe $30 for an entire month of the added coverage).

as far as groceries-walmart is fine. eating out-research some of the chain restaurants around where you are staying and see if they have clubs you can sign up for on-line (but wait to sign up less than a month before you go). some will send you a free appetizer coupon just for signing up or other discounts. we've also gotten food to go from restaurants b/c then we save on drinks, appetizers, desserts....and it's not uncommon for me to opt for a to-go item from the less expensive kid's menu (often at Mexican and Italian restaurants) b/c the servings are more than enough for my appetite. familiarize yourself with the chain restaurants and check their websites for specials when you are going-specials like the ones olive garden is running now (and does somewhat frequently) where you buy one entrée and get an identical second packaged up for free to take home. oh-and don't forget to take into consideration price changes between lunch and dinner hours, going out to dinner a bit earlier can be a big savings.


I will say-if we were in your situation we probably would cancel if for no other reason than someone seeking a job has to be immediately available to start one (so if it takes till the summer to find one would you and the kids go alone?), and the likelihood of any new employer permitting a new hire to take 4 weeks off during their first 5 or less months of employment seems pretty slim (that's assuming he gets a new job immediately).

 

[ronandannette]

This has to be a troll post but just in case.

If your husband has lost his job spending 4 weeks on vacation is not a sane idea no matter how much you try to budget.

Stay home. You can always go back when your husband finds another job.

Not at all - your response is very rude.

OP, this is exactly like the discussion going on in your other thread - it's a cultural divide. Only you know the job market, severance allotment and unemployment benefits in your area, and I'm sure they're much more favourable than what would be available to most American posters on this board. Job-loss is an extreme threat to the financial security of many here, not to mention the ideology of self-sufficiency. The idea of discretionary spending while being without an income is as outlandish to them as letting your kid walk in the dark to school . Don't be taken aback by the responses. And do visit the Budget Board for specific information but as a PP has said, do NOT mention that you need to manage the budget for your 4 week Disney Dream-trip while unemployed.

PS - OP, I'm presently wait-listed for a corneal transplant too. Thanks for the information about swimming - I did not know that.

 

[Colargol]

Not at all - your response is very rude.

OP, this is exactly like the discussion going on in your other thread - it's a cultural divide. Only you know the job market, severance allotment and unemployment benefits in your area, and I'm sure they're much more favourable than what would be available to most American posters on this board. Job-loss is an extreme threat to the financial security of many here, not to mention the ideology of self-sufficiency. The idea of discretionary spending while being without an income is as outlandish to them as letting your kid walk in the dark to school . Don't be taken aback by the responses. And do visit the Budget Board for specific information but as a PP has said, do NOT mention that you need to manage the budget for your 4 week Disney Dream-trip while unemployed.

PS - OP, I'm presently wait-listed for a corneal transplant too. Thanks for the information about swimming - I did not know that.

When I first posted this thread it didn't even cross my mind , but I soon realized that cultural differences are very much present when it comes to this topic too ;-)

Just to explain a little where I come from: We get 5 weeks paid holiday. We are actually required by law to take 3 weeks off during the summer months, only by special agreements can you postpone those holiday weeks. So 4 weeks is not that crazy, just means that we will have only one week holiday left for the rest of the year instead of two.
And those 5 weeks are paid for by money you pay through your wages the previous year; so my husband will get paid for 5 weeks holiday this year, even if he holds no job. That "holiday payment" will match his original income.
He will get unemployment benefits that are not too far away from his original salary. Maximum time for unemployment benefits are 2 years I believe. (The unemployment benefits are stopped during holidays, so you do not get double pay.)

And yes; airline tickets are non-refundable. We will also loose some if we cancel the accommodation. So if we cancel, we will loose out on those money. The same goes for cutting down on the time spent in Florida; it would mean getting new airline tickets one way) But if we can't afford to go, well so be it. Then we will go back some other year. But my husband will still have 4 weeks holiday this year, whether we go to Florida or not;-)
(And jobhunting in the summer months are virtually impossible. Noone hires during those months, so he will not miss out on anything if we do decide to go).


On the bright side; he has just scheduled 2 job interviews, so with a bit of luck he is back working sometime soon.

 

[Colargol]

And also; thanks for all the good advice on how to save money while in Florida!! I am taking notes of them all, and will most certainly look into them, job or no job. I will also have a look at the budget board here on DIS - didn't know it existed!

Just one more question: What is priceline bid (mentioned by mnrose in her reply)?

 

[mnrose]

Not sure you can do it from Norway? Maybe? Priceline is a "bid for travel" site.


www.priceline.com

You put in your dates, put in an "offer" for how much you are willing to pay for a vehicle, and enter credit card information. If your bid is accepted, you are charged immediately. Non-refundable. What I do is reserve a car for the "best available" rate I can get a month or two before traveling, then start bidding about 10 days before I travel (that's when you get the best rates....car rental companies are more willing to accept a lesser bid if they have inventory available at the "last minute"). I will start by bidding 25-30% lower than what i have a car on reserve for....so, for example, if my best available rate was $250 for a week, I bid $175 or even lower.

There are lots of "rules" about bidding (can't submit multiple bids on the same day for same level of car, for example). I have also found, when bidding, that a full size car will go cheaper than a economy or compact car. Here's a quick primer:
http://www.bidontravel.com/mobile/cars.html

And another good description, with screen shots to really help:

http://www.frugalmouse.com/priceline-rental-car-bidding/

As for insurance, check to find out whether your "private" auto insurance in Norway covers you while traveling? Here in the US, this is very common....our private insurance covers us and therefore I NEVER buy the ridiculously expensive insurance offered by rental companies. Also many credit card companies also will insure a rental vehicle if you rent using their card. Check that too. It may all be different since you are in Norway...I have no clue. LOL.

As for the cost of groceries, even with the exchange rate being what it is, I think you will find our groceries to be significantly less than what you pay in Noway. When I traveled there, I was surprised at how expensive things were there! (Beautiful country, wonderful people, just pricey!).

So, in that sense, you may end up spending less to eat for the month you are here than you would by staying home. For certain, gas will cost you WAY less.

 

[WorldWacky]

Have you considered doing the BBB experience yourself for the girls? That's what I did. We brought our own dresses, I made them up with a little blush and pink lip gloss, threw their hair up into some buns with tiaras brought from home and added some hair glitter. Bonus: no headaches from too tight buns.

 

[JanaDee]

When I first posted this thread it didn't even cross my mind , but I soon realized that cultural differences are very much present when it comes to this topic too ;-)

Just to explain a little where I come from: We get 5 weeks paid holiday. We are actually required by law to take 3 weeks off during the summer months, only by special agreements can you postpone those holiday weeks. So 4 weeks is not that crazy, just means that we will have only one week holiday left for the rest of the year instead of two.
And those 5 weeks are paid for by money you pay through your wages the previous year; so my husband will get paid for 5 weeks holiday this year, even if he holds no job. That "holiday payment" will match his original income.
He will get unemployment benefits that are not too far away from his original salary. Maximum time for unemployment benefits are 2 years I believe. (The unemployment benefits are stopped during holidays, so you do not get double pay.)

And yes; airline tickets are non-refundable. We will also loose some if we cancel the accommodation. So if we cancel, we will loose out on those money. The same goes for cutting down on the time spent in Florida; it would mean getting new airline tickets one way) But if we can't afford to go, well so be it. Then we will go back some other year. But my husband will still have 4 weeks holiday this year, whether we go to Florida or not;-)
(And jobhunting in the summer months are virtually impossible. Noone hires during those months, so he will not miss out on anything if we do decide to go).


On the bright side; he has just scheduled 2 job interviews, so with a bit of luck he is back working sometime soon.

Paid vacation is common in other parts of the world (including the US). Even though his vacation time is paid, four weeks worth of expenses aren't. And four weeks worth of expenses is significant when your husband doesn't have a job.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I always use http://www.alamo.co.uk/ - the insurance is bundled in so you don't have to worry about it, and it is much cheaper than going through Alamo.com or another rental car company and adding the insurance on top. I could use my Visa Gold card, but then if there's a problem I have to deal with claim procedures etc. If you have the Loss Damage Waiver included in your rental you are absolved of the liability. You may still get issues e.g. they may not want to re-rent you another vehicle if you damage theirs mid-trip, but it is easier than dealing with claim forms and lots of paperwork, which will continue after you leave the U.S. (you may not get everything fully resolved before you leave). And with Alamo you rent a particular car class and then can pick any vehicle parked in that aisle - I always enjoy that because I walk around and look for cars with no damage, cars that have the trunk space I need, cars with easy to remember license plates etc.

 

[Kayabee]

To be fair OP you titled your post To do Disney or not to Disney. Your first sentence is That is the question right now. You then mentioned that tickets cost what they cost and lunch at the castle is already paid for, so it looks like you are planning to do Disney. Not sure why you titled it the way you did, but you might have better luck on the budget board with tips on how to keep your costs down. I think here posters are going to focus on the title and answer that question.

You are going to have to buy groceries whether you are at home or in FL so I don't consider that an expense of vacation. I guess one way to help food costs is to eat most meals at the apartment, or pack quick lunch/dinner foods to take with you too the park.
My kids really like CiCi's pizza and Sweet Tomatoes. You can sign up for specials for ST, and maybe CiCis too, but they are pretty cheap anyway. We've only stayed off site once and I forget all the other places we ate LOL.

Don't know too much about BBB, but I have read here that you can bring your own dress, and you can also just have them do glitter in the hair so you aren't doing the whole Princess make-over thing. I'm sure if that isn't correct info someone will let us know.

We've always had the very good rates for car rentals through Alamo, not sure how their monthly rate compares to others though.

If it were me, I'd keep all the "extras" spending to a minimum. I'd give the kids a GC with X amount on it and when its gone its gone.

There is alot of free stuff to do in the are too, so make sure you google that!

 

[barkley]

a suggestion on cooking to save $$$-since you've got time to plan you might want to contact whomever you're renting from to find out exactly what kitchen supplies/appliances are in the rental unit. this way you don't plan on making something only to find you don't have the necessary cookware to do it. along the same lines-when you find out what you will have to work with you can start thinking about stuff you can cook that will take the fewest ingredients b/c while it's less expensive to cook vs. eating out every day/night-it gets more expensive if you have to buy spices, condiments, oil/cooking spray, foil....that we all tend to have on hand when we cook at home. keep in mind that you're going to be doing your activities all day so pick stuff to cook that doesn't entail allot of prep or cook time (if the unit has a croc pot it may be your best friend) AND between time change and the florida heat/humidity you may find your energy level is at least initially much lower than normal (we only travel from one side of the u.s. to florida on the other side but esp. when our kids were little the time change really threw them for a loop-and even when we lived in an area where the summer temperatures commonly hit 106+, because we weren't used to humid heat an Orlando day in the high 80's knocked us all out).

 

[elaine amj]

With car rental, check ALL the major companies. And then check back again every few weeks. It takes time but he price disparities between them are ridiculous. And there is usually no rhyme or reason why one is so much more expensive than the other. And who's the cheapest changes all the time. And make sure you are using any possible coupon codes for a month-long rental. You may even be better off with a "budget" car rental option like Fox Rent a car or perhaps Sixt (which I believe is fairly familiar to Europeans?). Sometimes renting at the airport is cheaper and sometimes renting off-site (and taking a cheap $5-10 cab ride) will save you a LOT. You might find it cheaper from a European website, you might find it cheaper from an American one. Check your travel insurance and see if it covers rental cars. Is it possible for you to get insurance from somewhere local that will cover you in Florida so you don't have to pay the ridiculous car rental charges? Here in Canada, there's a couple of credit cards that will cover me for rental cars in most countries. I didn't have it when I visited the UK and ponied up for rental insurance there (ouch).

The one thing to know is that there are NO absolutes in the car rental game. I though airfare pricing was wacky - then I started renting cars. It can be very time-consuming but given you need to rent your car for an entire month, it will be worth it to you to learn how to play the game. Especially since a month-long rental will be add up.

e.g. I am pricing out a one week one-way car rental from San Jose, California to Disneyland. I was getting quotes of $500-$1000. I ended up shifting my search to an offsite location (should be a $5-10 cab ride) and plugging in a basic AAA discount code and I now have a rental for $314 from Hertz. Still pricey but more liveable. I will continue searching until the time of my trip. Another example - I have a 1 day/1 way in Washington in a couple of months and after some searching, prices ranged from $35 (only at Alamo) to $70-$100 everywhere else.

As for food, as a PP pointed out, your groceries should be much cheaper compared to Norway. So your food expenses might actually drop - especially if you are committed to eating in the apartment. I tend to find ordering pizza on the pricier side when looking for budget meals out. Cheap buffets tend to have the best value. Cici's Pizza is a pizza buffet that's around $5/pp (my kids love it). Plus they offer BOGO coupons. Sweet Tomatoes is a salad/soup based buffet that still has kid friendly options. I remember $5-7 pp. Chinese buffets are usually under $10/pp as well. Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney is absolutely delish and about $5-6 per sandwich. They also offer free sandwich coupons. Groupon is another favorite for me when I visit a new city. If you have a car in Orlando, it's much easier to Groupon things since you can move around easily. Oh, a dirt-cheap easy no-cook meal in the apartment is picking up a $5 rotisserie chicken in the grocery store. That feeds my whole family - we can even stretch it out to 2 meals if we use it to make sandwiches, etc.