Would you mind sharing....

[heatherleigh]

Glad you posted this, because this is something I need to start writing down for myself. I was supposed to work out our budget last weekend, but I wasn't feeling well. I just worked out a tentative plan that goes like this:

DVP (hotel & tix for 6 nights at DLH) $2037.50
Rental Car (minivan to accommodate my large fam) for 4 days $500.00
West Inn Hotel in SD for 4 nights w/ AAA discount $762.00
LegoLand Tix for 1 day $405
SeaWorld Tix for 1 day $315
SeaWorld behind the scenes tour for 2: $100
SanDiego Zoo tix for 1 day: $155
Airfare for 6: $1200
Food: $1400
Souvenirs: $800
Gas & Incidentals: $100
BibbityBobbityBoutique: $100

Our total (what I'm going to save up in advance) is roughly $8K. I know the actual total is slightly less, but I like to over-estimate because we do not pay for any of our trip w/ credit cards. We always save the $ ahead of time down to the dollar, and put it in a separate acct.

These are all full price tix, as I haven't had a chance to research deals on the LL, SW, or SDZ tickets. I just like to have a ballpark figure in my mind w/ worst case scenario. If I wind up getting a deal, that's extra $ for us to spend on our vacation!

I just did a quick search of different deals on ways I can save on our tix, and have already shaved off a couple hundred. I found LegoLand tix through Costco for : $303.95 for a difference of $100 or so. SD Zoo tix through AAA are $140 for a $15 savings (every little bit helps). SeaWorld tickets w/ a Southwest Air rapids reward club discount $255 (thanks Mousesavers)! Seaworld savings will be at least $50!! I may find better the more I look.

 

[kifuller4]

3 adults, 2 kids 5 nights 6 days at ASMu Family Suite
Park Hopper, Water Parks & More tix
DxDDP

Have kids stay/play/eat free (I had to pay the difference to upgrade them to the DxDDP)

$3670

Airfare $1100

Kids have been getting gift cards for all holidays/birthday so that is their spending money.

Don't know what I will buy, guessing will actually spend less than $500, which $100 of that will be invested in the surpirse BBB appts.

 

[EclecticWAHM]

We've got 2 adults and 2 kids (but they're adults for the dining plan) going in July.

40% off at BWI standard room for 5 nights
DxDP
6 day Park Hopper with Water Park & More
Trip insurance
$4152.96

No rental car - we're using ME and the on-site transportation options.

My plane ticket is paid for because of a work conference I'm attending before our vacation starts, plane tix for Dh and the kids $1070.

I've set aside over $300 for tips on the DxDP and bringing about $1000 in spending $$, of which I do hope to bring some home


Considering it's our first family vacation ever, I have no problem whatsoever blowing this kind of $$ on a trip like this! It's certainly not an every year kind of thing for us considering our last vacation I was 6 months pregnant with our first child and she's almost 15!!

 

[EclecticWAHM]

Glad you posted this, because this is something I need to start writing down for myself. I was supposed to work out our budget last weekend, but I wasn't feeling well. I just worked out a tentative plan that goes like this:

DVP (hotel & tix for 6 nights at DLH) $2037.50
Rental Car for 4 days $500.00
West Inn Hotel in SD for 4 nights w/ AAA discount $762.00
LegoLand Tix for 1 day $405
SeaWorld Tix for 1 day $315
SeaWorld behind the scenes tour for 2: $100
SanDiego Zoo tix for 1 day: $155
Airfare for 6: $1200
Food: $1400
Souvenirs: $800
Gas & Incidentals: $100
BibbityBobbityBoutique: $100

Our total (what I'm going to save up in advance) is roughly $8K. I know the actual total is slightly less, but I like to over-estimate because we do not pay for any of our trip w/ credit cards. We always save the $ ahead of time down to the dollar, and put it in a separate acct.

These are all full price tix, as I haven't had a chance to research deals on the LL, SW, or SDZ tickets. I just like to have a ballpark figure in my mind w/ worst case scenario. If I wind up getting a deal, that's extra $ for us to spend on our vacation!

I have to ask about the rental car - are you getting a van or deluxe vehicle or something for that price? $500 seems awfully high for a 4 day rental!

 

[mrsklamc]

Our last parks trip was in 2007. (Did a cruise last year)

Just DH and I spent about $1500 by splitting the townhouse at WH (www.5mins2disney.com) and the rental car with my sister. That also included Discovery Cove (with a discount-everyone should do it once if you can, even thought it's so expensive) and Universal tix.

We would spend less this time- our Universal experience was very disappointing and we won't do it again, and we may go back to Discovery Cover someday but it will be awhile.

On the other hand, I'd LOVE to stay at AKL or the Poly for the right price...but I've just never found a way to justify the difference in price between on property and WH.

 

[Vacation Lover]

This was a quick visit in January before a 4 day cruise. Here are the details:

Dates: January 14-18 (3 days; 4 nights)
4 adults + 3 children (Me, DH, DMIL and MIL's friend, DS11, DD10 and DD5)
We paid for the condo and some of DMIL and her friends meals--I've noted which ones below)

Accommodations--4 nights @ Windsor Hills 3 BR condo.......$500
Gas.......$90
Souvenirs.......$40
Park Tickets for 2 days for DD5; the rest of us had tickets from a previous trip.......$135
DisneyQuest Tickets......$175
Parking.......$28
Dining.......$660

Lunch @ Sci Fi (2 adults, 3 kids)... $90
Dinner-Pizza delivery (4 adults, 3 kids)...$40
Lunch @ Le Cellier (4 adults, 3 kids)...$205
Snacks for Dinner (!) @ Chefs de France (2 adults, 3 kids)...$20
Burger & Fries @ Liberty b/c snacks weren't enough for DH!...$15
Lunch @ Earl of Sandwich (2 adults, 3 kids)... $40
Dinner @ Kona (2 adults, 3 kids)...$130
Breakfast @ Whispering Canyon (4 adults, 3 kids)...$120
Groceries brought from home...$0 (included in previous weeks grocery bills)

TOTAL for 3 days & 4 nights.....$1,628

 

[deadhedjen]

Just happened to have my WDW planning book in front of me so this reply is an easy one.

Family of 6.
2 Adults. 4 kids. Ages 17, 14, 12, 9.

Trip dates June 21-30. (10 days)

Resort: Pop Century (we get 2 rooms)

Costs:

2 rooms at Pop $1486 (CM discount)

flights for 6 from PHL $1448

10 day MYW base tix $1366

food budget $2000

Total cost rooms/tix/flight/food: $6300.

 

[Riverhill]

We are a family of 4 but all are considered adult to Disney. 10 nights w/free dinning plan at POP $2200. If I plan based on last year. We took $700 in cash. We drove from Michigan. $700 paid for gas, and tips and motel on the way there and back. Total charges in Disney came to just under $800. So this year I plan on $1600 spending plus 2200 for vacation package. $3800 for entire vacation.

 

[heatherleigh]

I have to ask about the rental car - are you getting a van or deluxe vehicle or something for that price? $500 seems awfully high for a 4 day rental!

I know. The rental itself isn't actually that expensive ($39 per day or so). It's the taxes that are the main expense. We have to get a minivan because our family is so gigantic.

Glad you guys are going on a trip after all this time! It will be so much fun, especially w/ you not being pregnant. I was pregnant on both of our last couple trips so I couldn't go on all the rides.

 

[jemgumby]

OK heres ours:

2 adults 1 child
10 day ph, no exp and waterpark and more tickets
7 nights CSR
Regular dining plan

$3300

Incidentals to add car rental of 165.00, (my mom will be paying for the gas as we are paying for the rental car), we will be bringing cooler with food for the way up and plan to eat very cheap on the way back....No more than 40 bucks on food for the way home. I have $200 set aside in gift cards for tips, extra snacks, etc. We only spend about $20 each on souveniers....We also bring bottles of water, canned sodas and snacks to have in the room.....

So total is about $3800....the cool thing is we already have our tickets for our next trip in December now!!!!

 

[kdm2865]

2 Adults, 2 Children (4 and 1)

Disney @ Port Orleans French Quarter 6nights/7days w/Dining Plan- $2,489 (Really hoping for Free Dining to bring that down to around $1,925)
Gratuities and Extra Meal (CRT)- $250
Spending Money- $500 if FD is offered $300 if it's not.
Gas- $250 (overestimating in case fuel costs increase by late-September)

We also have to stay in a hotel on our way back home because it's such a long drive (16 hours) so have to add in another $60 for that.

Total (w/o FD)- $3,349
Total (w/FD) - $2,985

 

[hffmnheidi]

We usually spend about 3,000 in total or less if we get the free dining plan...

3 adults/no children

9 nights/1 standard room/moderate resort
dining plan for the whole group
5 or 6 day park hoppers for each person
round trip/coach airfare/baggage fees
300-500 in souvenir money
special party tickets for all three adults(Christmas Party)
1 day water park tickets for 2 adults
breakfast foods/snacks/case of water shipped down via UPS

 

[Disneysnel]

8 night in Aug @ AKL with 40% off is $1350. You got more for less.

Depends.. a 40% off at Beach Club makes the room during off peak about $250 a night. So for a 8 night stay thats about 2k total (plus tax). To rent points for the same time period and the same location is roughly 175 points at $10 a point is $1750.

Thanks, it looks like I did the right thing! I guess I would just have to cut back on something in order to save more but I don't want to give up anything

So, if I look at this way - that's about $360 per day for everything so that's really not too bad! or even better about $180 per person per day

 

[JustAKid]

Oh my goodness! Thank you all so much for your replies, you have no idea how much they've helped. I do have a couple of questions, if someone wouldn't mind humoring a rookie! What is FD? I have looked and looked and can't figure out what it's an acronym for, is it totally obvious and I'm just a dummy?

Also, how do I sign up for the possibility of the free dining, and what exactly does it entail? Obviously, free dining, but for everyone in my party? Table service? Character meals? Is it unlimited, or like the DP where you get one of each per day?

And finally, to those who have both done and not done the dining plans, did you find one saved you more money? Was the other an inconvience?

Thanks again you guys!

 

[kdm2865]

Oh my goodness! Thank you all so much for your replies, you have no idea how much they've helped. I do have a couple of questions, if someone wouldn't mind humoring a rookie! What is FD? I have looked and looked and can't figure out what it's an acronym for, is it totally obvious and I'm just a dummy?

Also, how do I sign up for the possibility of the free dining, and what exactly does it entail? Obviously, free dining, but for everyone in my party? Table service? Character meals? Is it unlimited, or like the DP where you get one of each per day?

And finally, to those who have both done and not done the dining plans, did you find one saved you more money? Was the other an inconvience?

Thanks again you guys!

FD= Free Dining. You don't sign up for free dining, you just have to go when free dining is offered. The offer hasn't been announced for this year yet but there are rumors it might be soon and it's usually for dates in Late August-Late September or very early October. The regular dining plan is 1 Quick Service, 1 Counter Service, 1 Snack for everyone in the party. There are rumors they might only offer QS dining plan to value resort guests which is 2 QS meals, 2 snacks, and the refillable mug-- nobody knows if that is true though yet.

We've never been to Disney before but we really like table service meals and it's definitely part of the vacation for us, so by doing the dining plan (free or not) we'd be saving money. Of course I'm hoping it's free though!!!

 

[JustAKid]

FD= Free Dining. You don't sign up for free dining, you just have to go when free dining is offered. The offer hasn't been announced for this year yet but there are rumors it might be soon and it's usually for dates in Late August-Late September or very early October. The regular dining plan is 1 Quick Service, 1 Counter Service, 1 Snack for everyone in the party. There are rumors they might only offer QS dining plan to value resort guests which is 2 QS meals, 2 snacks, and the refillable mug-- nobody knows if that is true though yet.

We've never been to Disney before but we really like table service meals and it's definitely part of the vacation for us, so by doing the dining plan (free or not) we'd be saving money. Of course I'm hoping it's free though!!!

Yes, the totally obvious answer, I knew it had to be! I tend to over complicate things!

Thank you for the clarification on the terms, I'm just going to clarify that you don't need any type of pin code for free dining, any person can get it when they go to Disney during "Free Dining" periods of time? That's awesome!!

 

[Justsyd2]

Your trip budget? I know every family is different, I know you will not be able to tell me how much *my* family will spend, but I'd like to have a savings goal. Perhaps if you tell me about your budget, I can take all things into consideration and adjust accordingly.

DH and I spent around $3,000 last June (trip for 2). Here's the scoop:

7 days/6 nights at Caribbean Beach Resort (regular room, not preferred)
5 day Park Hopper tickets
QSDP for 6 nights
Flights to and from Orlando from and to DFW lmao
Trip Insurance
Photopass CD

= $2,400.00

Lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table - $100.00 - OOP
Dinner at Rose and Crown - $40.00 - OOP
Extreme Souvenir shopping (our 1st trip to WDW)
Lanyards, Fast Pass pouches, and pins
Autograph book and pen
Extra drinks and snacks
Tips

= $500.00

Our first trip to WDW = PRICELESS!

We paid cash for the trip before we left. We also have a generous savings account, and an emergency fund in place. We never touch those. We have a vacation account that we use for, um, vacations...

 

[SereneOne]

Let's see

We just went this SB.

We drove halfway down on Fri but the hotel was free bc of points and bfast was free.

Next day was off property, but free because of points. We do DTD the first day.

On site for six nights and seven days, staying at POP, QS plan, seven day base tickets was 1700.

We spent another 1300 on BBB, some TS meals such as Norway, Fifties' Prime Time, T Rex Cafe, RF Cafe, Sanaa and Crystal Palace, etc. Tips for housekeeping, some alcoholic drinks such as Grey Goose slushes (our first and we are hooked!) and Mango Margaritas, souvenirs such as a kimono and hair piece for our daughter, one of those chinese outfits with the frog clasps and umbrella, webkinz, pickapearl, autograph books and pens, fuel, etc.


We are going again this Dec

Bounceback for six nights at POP will be under 400 bucks.
Tickets will be about 700
Food will be 900 give or take
and about 500-750 more for hkeeping tips, fuel, souvenirs, BBB, etc.

We are a family of three, myself, DH and our 6yo.

The following year we want to try a Deluxe, being that we have stayed at Mods and Values, so it will go up.

 

[rentayenta]

This is from my ptr for Disneyland:


DH asked what he thought we would spend on this trip. So along with printing off menus last after the kids went to bed, I did a little Disney math. The categories and amounts are as followed:

Fuel: $400 rt from SLC to Anaheim

First night hotel: $115 at the Marriott unless HoJo releases an entertainment rate for 6/12

GCV 2 bedroom villa: $0 paid baybee!

APs: $0 Paid!

Souvenirs: $300. I know myself too well to say $25 per child. Plus we'll have Gabby's BFF with us and she hasn't been in 7 years. How can I not spoil that child?

Travel food: $200 total including snacks in the car as well as stops.

Groceries: $100

Food in the parks including snacks, TS, CS, and tips: $1300 I thought it would be less but with Ariel's Grotto, Blue Bayou, Wine Country, and Storyteller's it sure added up.

Dog kennel: $180

Neighbor child watering garden:: $30; $5 per day for 6 days.

Tips for Mousekeeping: $20. They will only clean the villa once during our stay.

Misc. including Ridemax: $100

 

[Evi]

For us it varies trip to trip. For our upcoming trip this is what I'm figuring.

Animal Kingdom 40% off room rate 7 nights
POR or BC still haven't chosen have 2 free night cert
Airfare for 2 adults 2 children I'm figuring about 250$ per person
Plus dining for 7 days
7 day disney park tickets for
2 day universal studio tickets
rental car for 10 days
Souvenirs
snacks

Honestly I hate to say it but I wing it and figure it all out after. I try very hard to get the best deals on airfare, car rental etc. On way to hotel we stop at a market and buy bottled water, juice soda and snacks + anything we forgot or didn't want to pack. We will only pay out of pocket for meals for 2 days but I am making dinner reservations for both of those days. The only thing I really can say isn't preplanned for are souvenirs but we always get the same things pretty much. I budget for myself for one chamelia bead, 1 bottle of perfume at guerlain, and 1 pair fitflop. I've stopped buying tshirts and stuff along time ago. For the girls I plan for 2 sets of ears, two t-shirts, 2 pjs, 2 pick a pearls, they will each have $100 for whatever they want outside of that. Dh can get whatever he wants hes not a huge spender and its his money anyhow. I have reservations for a bunch of char meals, dinner shows and Cinderellas castle I've also made reservations for tea party and camps at the hotel and safari.

In the end I really price things out and will try to stay under 4k on this trip but you never know I may do better depending on airfare and car rental because those are the only items that prices vary on every year.