We just returned from our last trip late Sunday night(10/14), and we actually spent a little less than I budgeted. DH decided at the last minute to join us(because I caught the flu right before we left) so he did the driving. There were 6 of us total(kids 13,11,9,and 7), and we stayed at the BWV for 7 nights. I spent less than $1000!
We are DVC members, and used points for the room. We all had AP's that expired mid-week, and a day left on a multi-day ticket at Islands of Advnture. I budgeted $100 a day for 1 lunch in the parks, and spent @ $65 for groceries to take down with us for snacks,light breakfasts and easy dinners.
Gas(roundtrip) ...$96.20(8-seater van, gas-hog)
Fast-food on the road.....@$50
Lunch in Disney parks(3 days)...Teppanyaki($90),Tony's($65),and Coral Reef($66),but 2 oldest DD's did not eat at the Coral Reef with us, had counter service at MGM instead($15)
Dinner at Rose and Crown($72)
Lunch at Mythos(at IOA)...$100(just wanted to try it, but was not impressed)
Non-park days: Had breakfast from the BW bakery 3 days($60)
Lunch at FW for 4 of us(oldest DD's wanted to eat Easy mac in room and hang out at Comm. Hall)...$44
Dinner for 2 at Big River Grill on BW(kids had pizza in the room beforehand($20)and explored the BW while we had dinner...$60
Lunch at Olive Garden....$51
Pizza from BW takeout another night, and ice cream from Seashore Sweets...$40
Goofy bars(not called that anymore!) in the parks, and 5 pins....@$80
We ate in our room more than usual on this trip because I was not feeling well the first few days, and we have done all the character meals on past trips. This is the first trip we skipped 'Ohana's, too, which would have added $120 to our total. For in the-room-dinners, I used only an electric skillet twice and a slow cooker twice, and cooked shrimp one night, with salad and peas and carrots, and chicken breast another night with instant rice and salad. One night we had spaghetti with Ragu in a jar(not DH's favorite) and salad, with olive garden breadsticks(bought the day before while we were there for lunch). Because of DH's work hours being recently cut, and year-long financial "slump" we have experienced due to an auto accident last year(10/04/00) that required physical therapy for me, I am quite pleased with our budget trip.
If we factor in the cost of DVC(less than $200 a month for points and dues) and our AP's($1850 for 6), and divide by 3 (the number of trips we have taken this year), it would still be less than $2500. I have to agree with a previous poster that anyone that goes to WDW at least once a year(or even once every other year) should consider purchasing DVC or another timeshare. It's a lot easier for me to pay monthly for the lodging than all at once. Now, if Disney would follow Anheiser-Busch's lead and offer AP's at a monthly charge, I would have renewed mine. As is, I am not sure when we will return, because $2000 is a lot of $$ for us right now for passes(without the renewal discount).