USA Adventure Cost???

[tapdancer]

Hi everyone I hope you can help me. My husband has asked me to cost out a 4 week USA holiday in 2014 so I thought I would ask all you knowledgeable DIS readers.

Bit of background on who will be going Me, DH, DD (19), DS (16) and DS (14) these are the ages they will be in 2014 when we hope to go.

The plan is to fly from Sydney to LA and have 5 nights at DL, then drive to Las Vegas for 3/4 nights, fly to New York for 5 nights then end up in Orlando for 12 nights and then back to Sydney.

We have just returned from 10 nights in Orlando, staying at the Beach Club and spent approx $20,000 including flights from Tasmania.

I know there will be lots of variables but just wondering if anyone has gone for this amount of time with 3 children and what approx if cost. Just wondering if it will be out of our reach and then we might have to think about just the two of us going.

Thanks in advance

Nerissa

 

[WAMUMOF4]

We have spent $35000 2 years in a row the first time we went for 26 days 24 in the USA this year we went for 40 days 38 in the USA.
But we spent at least $2000 on motor sport tickets and each year we have completely clothed and shoes our kids to the point that i spent $300 in Aus in the last year on clothes and shoes.
Both times we have gone in July/Aug
Last year we had a week in Anaheim this year we had a week in Orlando this would include Me DH DS16 DS14 Dd12 DS10
I think for where you want to go it is completely possible to do that.

 

[tapdancer]

I was thinking that anything under $40k would be fantastic. We were lucky this trip that my 16 year old DD saved all her spending money $1600 from her part time job at KFC which saved us heaps. I am hoping my son who will be 16 at the time of the trip will also be able to save his own spending money.

We also outfitted all 5 of us in the USA and spend next to nothing here at home for clothing.

 

[australiankaren]

Asking about costing is like asking how long is a piece of string

depends on whether you fly cheapest airfare economy or like a bit more comfort.....ie: air asia econ vs v Australia premium economy

accom at disney: on site or off, value or deluxe, dining plan or OOP, annual pass or MYWH tickets

transport: car hire or taxis, buses or planes

will everyone be in one room, or 2 rooms or villa

do you have to get passports..as they are $200+ each.. that's over 1K just in passports alone....

can you get student discounts...

travel insurance......annual trips or single trip, premium or basic, family or single

the list goes on.....

best to make a spreadsheet and put in estimates.....

sorry if this muddy's rather than clears the waters.......but I do enjoy a good list

 

[WAMUMOF4]

i thought i should break that down a bit for you
Flights $9079 Perth to Dallas
Car hire $2200
Accommodation $4600 we had 8 nights where we stayed with friends so this is for 30 nights. But $1500 of this is just for 3 nights 2 in Times square and 1 in Niagara Falls.
2 rooms Pop resort for 5 nights and 2 nights at Nickelodeon
Travel insurance $430

 

[battymum]

Flights SYD_MCO $6,250.00
Travel Insurance paid $284.00
ESTA paid $70.00
Magic Your Way /
Pop 2rooms 8nights $3,600.00
Universal tix $710.00
Kennedy tix $200.00
Cruise 7nights $5,032.00
Town Car Now $285.00
Rental Car /Transfers $300.00
Comfort Inn Port C $200.00
Hard Rock Hotel 4nts club $1,426.00
MCO -NYC flights paid $1,253.16
NYC - 4 nights $2,000.00
Cirque Du Soleil $442.00
Statue Cruise $54.00
$22,106.16


This is a copy of my spreadsheet from our recent trip for our family of 5 - see my TR for the details. Everything is in USD - except for airfare. We did get super cheap airfare SYD-DFW, but I think you could do a trip well under $40k, We had free dining in Disney, which certainly helps, and my kids all had their own spending money - DD16 works, and the twin DS's sold a bunch of stuff on ebay and Grandma came to the party with some cash. I had about $5000 on my travel card and came home with $900.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Great to see what other people are spending. I definitely think you could do it for well under 40k. Battymum, that is a great breakdown.

I was going to say, 5 nights in NYC won't be enough. You will kick yourself. I'd stay one night less at DL and only 3 at LV to get an extra day or two in NYC. Just my thoughts on that one . Maybe not everyone loves NYC as much as me, I do have an addiction to the Big Apple.

 

[tapdancer]

Well hubby has gone quiet on the let's all go to USA for 4 weeks holiday He thinks $35000 is too much and maybe we should just go the two of us. In 2015 we have our son enrolled in an expensive private school for grades 11 and 12 with our youngest son starting there the year DS13 finishes.

I think I am just going to save as hard as I can and say "see we can afford it" when the time comes. I will show him

 

[cola]

with the teenagers, will you let them wander off by themsleves? Staying on property is the more expensive option, BUT is does give the teenagers the option of a lot more freedom - would you let them have it? If not, staying off property is generally a lot cheaper (eg we usually get a 2 bedroom Marriott Grand Vista or Marriott Cypress Harbour for about $500 per week if you know where to look). If you do have to stay on property, look into renting from a DVC owner, much cheaper than going through Disney, and much more space than rooms. Do you know anyone with a timeshare that exchanges through RCI?
We find Vegas is a bit more, but 1 week at Marriott Grand Chateau in a 2 bedroom is usually about $600
Will there be uni/school holidays to work around?

 

[kylieh]

+ 1 on Marriot Grand Chateau in Las Vegas. We would stay there again without hesitating.

I'd drop a night in Anaheim and add it to New York. From what I can tell NY accom is the most exe. We're looking at April 2013. April 2012 accom is about $400 night for an apartment-style hotel for the three of us (that meets ours / DD needs.)

I'd look at costs for the same time next year and add 6% for inflation and set the AU$ at .85 just in case.

We've also found each trip gets cheaper as we don't tend to buy as much stuff.

 

[mareeld86]

Hi Tap dancer where is Tasmania are you??

I only go with 2 people so I cant help with prices all that much but If you want any help with anything let me know

Lauren

 

[areweindisneyyet]

+ 1 on Marriot Grand Chateau in Las Vegas. We would stay there again without hesitating.

I'd drop a night in Anaheim and add it to New York. From what I can tell NY accom is the most exe. We're looking at April 2013. April 2012 accom is about $400 night for an apartment-style hotel for the three of us (that meets ours / DD needs.)

I'd look at costs for the same time next year and add 6% for inflation and set the AU$ at .85 just in case.

We've also found each trip gets cheaper as we don't tend to buy as much stuff.

Hi Kylie. We are tossing around a late March April 2013 NY and WDW adventure. Fingers crossed.

 

[tapdancer]

Ok latest update - DH and I have been talking and have decided it will be just us two going. It all started as a trip to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary so it would be nice if we just went as a couple.

So - At the moment the plan is fly to LA and have 4 nights in Anaheim, then 3 nights Las Vegas, fly to New York and have 8 nights then we aren't sure what to do for around 5 nights on the east coast, then home via Hawaii for 4 nights.

Just after ideas of what the must sees are on the East Coast aside from New york - we have decided not to head back to Orlando but to experience something new.

I know it is still 3 years away but the thought of another trip is keeping me sane at the moment and I love the planning stage.

 

[tapdancer]

Hi Tap dancer where is Tasmania are you??

I only go with 2 people so I cant help with prices all that much but If you want any help with anything let me know

Lauren

I am in Kingston