Hi. Sounds like a nice trip you are trying to plan. Have sooo much fun planning! I've heard lots of great advice on these boards plannign for my trips. Here is what I suggest.
#1. Plan out your dream stay, then go to the disneyworld.com web site and put in a reservation request - that will give you rack rate for room only and rack rate for a standard package. These numbers will be on your "high side" of your budget planner.
#2. Look realistically at what your family will want to do. Will they enjoy an entire day just at the resort at the pool and shopping at downtown disney? Will they want to go to the water parks? Then figure out what type of tickets you need based upon what your family want to do. Look up ticket prices on ticketmania.com for advanced sales. Also you can get discount tickets from
AAA. Are you a member?
#3. Are there any must do character or other meals for you on this trip? Look at that and decide if you want a couple of special meals. Plan what food you can take. Do you need a fridge? cooler? make a high and low budget also for food.
#4. Tell everyone to save their own money for souveniers (you may have to even things out some before trip. I had to give my 5 yr old a little bit of money so she would be more in line with my 7 yr old)
#5. Estimate high on airfare or gas prices to be prepared. Having extra saved doesn't mean you have to spend it
Once you have spent some time really thinking about what you want to do and looking through some of the great wdw web sites, then you can set your high and low budgets. Aim for the high one, but know you can go if you only save the low side. Being there is so wonderful. It is worth every penny.
Without air fare, I would say for hotel, tickets, food, etc for five nights you are looking at $4000 on the high side and $3000 on the low side.
Remember there are many delux hotels, with different room types and rates. Season is very important to rate. Plan carefully and you could have a super trip with $3000!!
