What's your Disney Trip Budget?

[gizmom29]

When it comes to disney my wife says there is no budget. We have been going to disney since 1999, sometimes twice a year and I have not seen one yet! But, we try. Maybe I am to blame. I love to have fun at any cost!!

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Oakville to DIsney via Driving.
14 days 13 nights ASMu
10 day park hopper
Free water park disney quest and whatever else is in that package.
Free food package upgrade to table service $400
Grand total $3100 usd including upgraded food package. paid for when the dollar was arounf 97cents. so $3300 cad.

Fuel budget $500 round trip. (suburban lol) We did it 2 years ago with astro just over $300 dollars
Hotel down 2 nights 1st half way down $100 Second night in Orlando area $100
Back 1 night hotel $100
food while driving $200.
Spending cash ??????? visa and a couple hundred USD
$4300 cad before spending money. We also high balled fuel food and hotel stay. We also have to pay for tips as its not included any more im told. So somewhere around $5000.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

My budget went out of whack when I persuaded DH to move us from POR to AKL then added on Universal and PBH

4 1st class flights United - free on aeroplan
9 nights pool view AKL, 5 nights club level Portofino Bay Hotel Universal
10 day PH, no water parks, free dining = $8,000
7 day universal passes - free withairmiles
$120 cab ride from AKL to PBH and PBH to airport
anticipating around $2,000 in incidentals

so around 10K.... shhhh.... don't tell DH!!! I have him focused on free flights and universal tickets.

 

[NikP]

I am not sure I want to think about our budget for April 2010. We usually go in September when free dining is offered. So April is going to hurt abit more. Approx. $5000 total for spending money, flights from Buffalo, hotel and parking in Buffalo, 10 nights at POFQ with dining and park hoppers. This is more than $1000 more than we usually spend. (2 adults and 2 kids ages 9 and 7.)

 

[wannago2disney]

We went in January 2008 spent just under $3000.00 for EVERYTHING
2 adults 2 kids, 4 and 2 at the time so the 2 yr old did not require park tickets
stayed at Pop 7 nights had 6 day park hopper tickets.Flights (4 seats) on spirit out of Detroit sleep/park/fly $90. did not do dining plan and ate counter service. (took cereal for breakfast/used fridge swap) we did 1 character dinner (chef Mickey's) Admission for baseball tournament at WWS was just under $100 for 3 of us for duration of the tournament. We spent about $250-300 on sourveniers incl pre-paid photopass cd.

This January, 2 adults 2 kids at Pop
10 nights: $850.54US
7 day MYW base tickets $944.30US
Flights on airtran $596.80US

we are budgeting $1000.00 for airport parking, souveniers, food, bbb and pirates league and WWS tickets (kids have been given their own money for souv. from grandparents)We will be splitting the cost of photopass cd with my inlaws who are also going.

So rounding up we are thinking about $3500.00 this time but just in case, I have put an extra $500.00 in my vacation account for unexpeteds...if we don't need it, it just goes to the next trip

 

[disneyfreak89]

4/3 deal package paid partly with Airmiles (CBR for 7 nights, 7 day base passes and dining) $1300

How were you able to use your Airmiles to pay for part of your package? Was that through Disney or Airmiles?

 

[CdnCarrie]

How were you able to use your Airmiles to pay for part of your package? Was that through Disney or Airmiles?

I did it through Marlin travel. For every 385 Aimiles you can redeem for a $50 voucher for Marlin travel.

You can also book through Airmiles but I prefer the Marlin route as I could do it in person rather than over the phone.

 

[disneyfreak89]

I did it through Marlin travel. For every 385 Aimiles you can redeem for a $50 voucher for Marlin travel.

So you have to buy a package through Marlin in order to use your AirMiles?
What if we don't need a package, just tickets, can I redeem some of my AirMiles to get some money off of Disney tickets?

 

[maxie]

Yes you can get 5 day and 7 day passes from Airmiles as well as Universal and Seaworld passes.

I do believe you can book Value room only resorts through Airmiles now as well as packages and use Airmiles to pay it off.

Marlin travel has to be a package.

 

[Sue M]

Jan 2010 2 adults 5 nights WDW/5 nights Ft. Lauderdale
5 nights at WL AP DDP pkg: $1273
2 nights Seattle hotel (Marriott Towne Suites) $169 total
SW flights 2 adults RT: $460.80
Alamo car rental 5 days for Drive to Ft. Lauderdale: $264.00
1 night hotel in Ft. Laud. Marriott Spring Hill Suites $181.00
Total: $2347.80

This doesn't include food in Ft. Lauderdale, staying at family condo, will eat most meals in here. So, not bad!

 

[Lizziejane]

oh, I don't even want to add this up....this is for 5 adults, 8 nights -

• rented points for a 2-bedroom @ BWV (BW view guaranteed) - $3300
• DDP - $1800
• 8-day hoppers - $1500
• Car rental - $320
• Air fares from Winnipeg - $2600 - (used aeroplan miles for 2 tickets)
• Groceries, breakfasts, the odd drink or two - the "stuff" that always pops up unexpectedly - $150 per day = $1200

And that's all U.S. funds

I figured we could have saved $750 on airfares if I hadn't been so impatient when I booked last month instead of waiting and booking last week

And could have saved $1500 by waiting for the 4/3 deal and booking 2 rooms at a Mod. But then we'd have quite a bit less space, and we wouldn't have that BW view! So, for me, the view will be worth it, but still kicking myself over the airfares...

 

[irisesareblue]

Ok, I think I have it - last full week at Disney was in November, 2008 -

Hubby and I drove down from Manitoba to Florida
$350. Gas for the Toyota was $350.00 total
$200. 1 night each way in hotels & meals along the road
$200. 6 nights in Priceline hotel @ base of $30.00/night
$500. 2 - 6 day MYW base tickets at Disney World
$200 Meals at Disney World (mainly counter service & Fantasmic Dinner)
$200 Souvenirs / spending money
Total $1650.00 US for 10 day vacation (6 days in Orlando/4 days travel to and fro)

As hubby likes to point out, I'm a cheap date....my daughters like to say I'm just cheap!!!

 

[Lizziejane]

Ok, I think I have it - last full week at Disney was in November, 2008 -

Hubby and I drove down from Manitoba to Florida
$350. Gas for the Toyota was $350.00 total
$200. 1 night each way in hotels & meals along the road
$200. 6 nights in Priceline hotel @ base of $30.00/night
$500. 2 - 6 day MYW base tickets at Disney World
$200 Meals at Disney World (mainly counter service & Fantasmic Dinner)
$200 Souvenirs / spending money
Total $1650.00 US for 10 day vacation (6 days in Orlando/4 days travel to and fro)

As hubby likes to point out, I'm a cheap date....my daughters like to say I'm just cheap!!!

WOW...I'm so impressed! I can't IMAGINE the drive - tell me all about it, please!! Did it really only take one night on the road, each way?

 

[disneyfreak89]

Marlin travel has to be a package.

Thanks maxie!

Ok, I think I have it - last full week at Disney was in November, 2008 -

Hubby and I drove down from Manitoba to Florida
$350. Gas for the Toyota was $350.00 total
$200. 1 night each way in hotels & meals along the road
$200. 6 nights in Priceline hotel @ base of $30.00/night
$500. 2 - 6 day MYW base tickets at Disney World
$200 Meals at Disney World (mainly counter service & Fantasmic Dinner)
$200 Souvenirs / spending money
Total $1650.00 US for 10 day vacation (6 days in Orlando/4 days travel to and fro)

As hubby likes to point out, I'm a cheap date....my daughters like to say I'm just cheap!!!

Wow! I am VERY impressed also! I too want to know how you managed only 1 night down and back from Manitoba! We are closer to Detroit border and it takes US 1 night down and back!

Also, the priceline rate per night was a steal! Disney couldn't match that!

And only $200 for meals? That's what I'd like to do, just CS, but my DH LOVES to eat at the TS for nicer meals and a glass of wine or two, which can REALLY add up!!!

 

[laxcdn]

Let's see:

2 adults 1 kid, from Jan 19 to 28 from Winnipeg

$1600 Cdn flight and 2 bedroom condo at Liki Tiki
$300 Univeral 2day/2park tickets
$300 Busch/Seaworld 2 park tickets
~$200 Tampa Bay Lightning vs Atlanta Thrashers tix
$450 2 MYW Disney tix
$500 in food
$150 Pirates dinner adventure
plus shopping

 

[canadianjovigirl]

We just spent 3 weeks in Florida....the first 3 nights in Clearwater beach and then 19 days in a rental house. We had 2 adults and 3 kids ages 9, 11, 14 with us and spent $9400 prior to going down and took $3000 in spending money and came back with some. We purchased the following before going

Rental house fees
Airfare for 5 from Calgary to Orlando
Rental Van
7 Days at Disney - base tickets
2 days at Universal
Busch Gardens
Sea World
Discovery Cove
Aquatica
Kennedy Space Center
Daytona 500 Experience/Daytona Beach
Cirque de Soile
NHL football game with transportaion there and back

We had a rental mini van for 21 days so had fuel expenses for that. We did purchase the photo package from Discovery Cove, Photopass from Disney and purchased groceries for the rental house. All in all it was a costly vacation, but friends of ours are going for a week and spending nearly the same staying in 2 rooms at Disney..............

The kids each had over $300 in birthday money so they had their own spending and ice cream money and we purchased them each a hoodie and they bought their own snacks if they wanted something other than what i packed to the parks.

 

[wannago2disney]

We went in January 2008 spent just under $3000.00 for EVERYTHING
2 adults 2 kids, 4 and 2 at the time so the 2 yr old did not require park tickets
stayed at Pop 7 nights had 6 day park hopper tickets.Flights (4 seats) on spirit out of Detroit sleep/park/fly $90. did not do dining plan and ate counter service. (took cereal for breakfast/used fridge swap) we did 1 character dinner (chef Mickey's) Admission for baseball tournament at WWS was just under $100 for 3 of us for duration of the tournament. We spent about $250-300 on sourveniers incl pre-paid photopass cd.

This January, 2 adults 2 kids at Pop
10 nights: $850.54US
7 day MYW base tickets $944.30US
Flights on airtran $596.80US

we are budgeting $1000.00 for airport parking, souveniers, food, bbb and pirates league and WWS tickets (kids have been given their own money for souv. from grandparents)We will be splitting the cost of photopass cd with my inlaws who are also going.

So rounding up we are thinking about $3500.00 this time but just in case, I have put an extra $500.00 in my vacation account for unexpeteds...if we don't need it, it just goes to the next trip

Just adding an amendment to my Room rate for 2010. called last night and was able to add the SGG code (30% off @ value)...ended up saving just shy of $200 off of what the CAA discount would have been...saving of almost $300 off rack rate!!
applied the code to my inlaws reservation as well...so maybe I will be the "good" daughter in law this year!!

 

[irisesareblue]

Thanks maxie!



Wow! I am VERY impressed also! I too want to know how you managed only 1 night down and back from Manitoba! We are closer to Detroit border and it takes US 1 night down and back!

Also, the priceline rate per night was a steal! Disney couldn't match that!

And only $200 for meals? That's what I'd like to do, just CS, but my DH LOVES to eat at the TS for nicer meals and a glass of wine or two, which can REALLY add up!!!

We drive on a shift basis and we usually leave at 3 or 4 am in the morning on the first full day of driving. That time, we left after work on a Thursday night to beat a storm and had to stop alongside of the road at a rest stop to get off the icey roads at about 1 or 2 am somewhere in Minnesota so we used the restrooms and took a short nap - we then drove to Clarksville TN and spent the night and drove the remainder of the way the next day. On the way home, we took the Kansas City route (more southerly) and left Disney on a Friday afternoon. We drove until Saturday evening and stopped in Fargo ND.

We drive a lot for our business and we are both good at sleeping in the passenger seat and can spell each other off, so we're not typical drivers.

I think driving is a great way to go - we then have our own car instead of rentals and we can take our own GPS for navigation purposes.

The hotels through Priceline are great! I've learned that we should only bid 3 star hotels in the Orlando area though!

This January, my budget is as follows (for me and adult step-daughter) going from January 2nd to 9th:

Hotel: Priceline at REgal Sun Resort - $45/night + $15. resort fee X 7 nites=
$420.00
$78.00 for flights from Hamilton to Orlando (had a credit with West Jet)
$200.00 for step-daughter's flight back to Hamilton on Jan 9th
$155.00 for flight from Orlando to Winnipeg for me
$500.00 for tickets to Disney (pay for 3 days, get 3 free)
$400.00 for meals and souvenirs ($200.00 each)
$0.00 ticket to Universal for one day (Air Miles)
$0.00 ticket to Blue Man Group (Air Miles)
$100.00 extra night in Orlando for myself
$150.00 rental car through Alamo

$2003.00 is the total
I am going to try to stay at the Hyatt Airport because step-daughter leaves on Jan 9th and I leave on Jan 10 in the morning. I have to try this through a bidding strategy on priceline. I love priceline!

My feeling is that this January I will upgrade my tickets to an Annual Pass and I'll get to go again in May to take my daughters (we'll be driving from Manitoba that time as weather will be better and they are seasoned travellers and my step-daughter isn't).

Now, I'll get on my soapbox - I firmly believe that the Disney experience can be had by those of us on a true budget. It just takes research and the willingness to eat a few meals in the room. The magic of one character meal can make the week! The experience at Disney is the same - they treat each and every guest within the parks the same and you get to go on every attraction offered and see the parades and fireworks (unless it's a separate hard-ticket party). I firmly believe that that is the magic that Walt Disney wanted to create.

Even by researching and going at "off-season" staying on-site can be cheap - the boards here are so helpful and fridge swaps can be accessed.

For me, a Disney fanatic - the trip of a lifetime has become the opportunity to go to Disney 2 or 3 times a year!

 

[tricia]

This was for my SIL and her family at ASSp, had free DDP, and base tickets.

7 Nights
3A, 1C

Flights 742.88 CAN
Hotel in Buffalo 200 US
Gas 225 CAN
Disney 1666 US
Tips 150 US

967.88 CAN

2016 US
1.25 Exchange
2520 CAN

3487.88 Total

This is for the same time frame for my family, 3A, 1C, at AKL in a bunk bed room.

7 Nights
3A, 1C

Flights 756.80 US
Hotel in Buffalo 200 US
Gas 225 CAN
Disney 3065 US
Tips 150 US

225 CAN

4171 US
1.25 Exchange
5214 CAN


5439 Total

Same trip, 2 different budgets. Huge difference in where you stay.

 

[vikkii19]

Here is ours for our Honeymoon trip from Oct 6 to Oct 16th, 2009.


Flights from Moncton to Orlando = 992.00 CND for both of us
First 3 nights - CSR with free dining upgraded to DxDP and 10 day base tickets for 2. = 1491.17US
Last 7 nights at SSR, rented points at 10$ per point = $970.00US
DDP for the last 7 nights = $559.86US

We had brought $2000.00US in spending money for (Cirque du soleil, dinner at Fulton's, tips, taxi fare to get to Sea World, tickets at Sea World, souvenirs...)

and we came back with $410.65US left.

For a grand total of
$5660.38 apprx.