Wanna know what I spent on the Magic?

[dijid]

For those of you who remember, before leaving I asked if I was crazy to think I could spend only $100 on the Magic (not including tips). Well, I'm back and you have to be the judge of whether I did it:

On the ship - $28
$10 - one family pic at Shutters
$0 - taking pictures of the pictures at Shutters
$12 Pluto for DD
$4 keychain to hang on the Christmas Tree
$2 tips for the only time we got room service

St. Maarten - $25
$10 - Water taxi for the adults
$4 chair and umbrella rental for the day
$11 souveniers

St. Thomas - $5
$0 walking around shopping mall
$5 souveneir

Castaway Cay - $12.21
$12.21 - Konk Koolers (YUM!!!)
(Note - we brought our own wine to drink on the verandah, but I avoided alcohol on the ship as I found it made me supersensitive to the rocking of the ship.)

Getting off the boat - $5 tip to porter

That would bring my total to $75.21

But - DS got the worst case of V&D I have ever seen in my life (5 days and still going!) and we spent a total of $145.90 on Dr's visit, medications, pedialyte and extra diapers.

If he hadn't gotten sick, we would have done Palo and Flounder's Reef, adding $33. But, we wouldn't have bought the Pluto toy (only bought it when we realized we hadn't spent anything on "fun" stuff). So, our total should have been $96.21. I do think you can go and not spend a fortune.

 

[mkunichi]

Congratulations! Since I don't have kids, I didn't want to comment earlier on whether I thought it could be done. I had thought that for me, the key to budgeting would be controlling alcohol intake.

I failed and as a result, was super-sensitve to the rocking of the boat.

Wait a minute, this seemed to be true even when we were in port, so maybe it wasn't the rocking of the boat that caused me to be unable to walk in a straight line...

 

[mmouse37]

Good for you!!!! It's great that you did not spend that much. There's hope for the rest of us!!

MJ

 

[prymsu]

I wish i could stick to a budget like that! That is amazing.

 

[npall]

I knew you could do it. Sorry about your ds getting sick. I think it was going around because ds (2) had V & D so bad they gave him an anti vomiting suppository and we still ended having to take him to the emergency room for dehydration. BTW they said that there have been several cases of rotavirus going around.

Glad you had a great trip otherwise!

Naomi

 

[ragdoll]

Good for you! Cruising is a great deal if you have self-control when it comes to how much money you spend while on board. There is plenty to do without spending a fortune.

 

[Rob_b]

Wow!! Such control.

I'm sure on our first day of cruising we will surpass your total cruise amount.

How much do you spend when at WDW?

 

[westjones]

We have always stayed on a tight budget during our last two cruises and still had the time of our lives!!!!

Now in September we are going on the 7 day and I fear it will be a lot harder. We have never done excursions, but on the 7 day trip we will want to do somthing special. I sure hope there is a 'budget conscience' person on the ship now with some good tips and suggestions! Sounds like Key West will be fine with a walking tour and then watching the sunset at the square.

DJ

 

["Ginger"]

That's great dijid. I am sorry your DS was not well. Our DD got the flu on a Disney cruise and we had to visit the ships hospital. When we got home I submitted the bill to our health insurance company they reimbursed for everything except our co-pay. So I would say you stayed with in your budget.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Congratulations! How encouraging! Maybe it can be done without adding my girls hard earned cash to Disney's kazillions!
Glad you kept your head on your shoulders!

 

[ennazus]

I'm so sorry your little one was sick!!

Thanks for your report back! I have one question... what about the 'tips' with the tip envelopes? Did you do that?

<< Position 3 day 4 day 7 day
Resturant Server $11.00 $14.75 $25.75
Resturant Assistant Server $8.00 $10.75 $18.75
Head Server $2.75 $3.75 $6.50
Stateroom Host(ess) $10.75 $14.50 $25.25 >>

 

[kml2000]

I read your earlier post, but didn't reply. I think it is great that you even attempted it. I went on a 7 day cruise several years ago as a celebration of "I have been divorced one year - AND MADE IT!!!" and spent only $75.00. We bought one drink on board to get the glass and then bought liquor in port and mixed our own drinks. We didn't drink much either, which is one of the reasons our tab was so low. It was only myself though, no kids, went with my best friend.

I plan on keeping our spending low on our upcoming trip, but it is only a three nighter. I want to save it so we can go on a 7 day next year!

Congratulations - YOU DESERVE IT!!!

 

[Doctor P]

Thanks for the update, and the proof that it indeed can be done if one is really, really careful. I'm impressed. Hope DS is doing better.

 

[dijid]

To answer a few questions -

When we go to WDW, we don't spend much. We pack snacks, a couple bags of bagels and drink mixes (lemonade powder and cans of concentrated fruit juice) in our bag. We only buy lunch and dinner, and allow ourselves one sitdown dinner at EPCOT one night. Last time at PO-R DH got the refillable mug since he was majorly addicted to Diet Coke at the time. We get an ornament for a souvenier, and usually maybe one other trinket.

Yes, we did do the tips in the envelopes. We charged the tips at Guest Services and distributed the envelopes on the last evening. We tipped the recommended am't for 4 to our room hostess. But for dining, since DS only ate 2 nights (food we brought) we only tipped for 3 to our server and head server. Maybe if they'd been more attentive to him, or we hadn't had to occassionally go get a high chair for him ourselves, I would have tipped for the 4 of us. Our assistant server is another story. DH felt he was so bad that we had to send him a message and tipped less than the recommended amount.