How We're Budgeting for Our Disney Trip

A couple weeks ago I wrote We're Going to Disney World, Want to Help? and said I'd be discussing how we plan to budget for this trip. So here goes...

Right now, I have a "plug" figure in our 2007 budget. I have no idea how much this trip will cost us (we're still researching options, alternatives, etc. -- we've checked out tons of books from the library and are doing some online investigating as well -- plus I got some great tips on my original post) so it's a pretty big plug -- it should be a lot higher than what we actually need.

As we start to decide when we want to go, where we'll stay, etc., we'll get some more firm numbers. I'll then put these new/lower numbers into our budget and we should be good to go.

One more thing -- we won't budget to the penny and we won't obsess about costs once we get there. Here's a bit more detail on this line of thinking:

We'll get a good estimate of what we think it will cost, then add an extra 10-15% just for cushion. Unexpected expenses are bound to pop up, we may want a few extras here and there or we may want to splurge a bit. Hence the extra budget amount.

This extra amount also keeps us from obsessing (as I call it -- my wife calls it "spending wisely") over every little expense while on vacation. We're on vacation and I want to enjoy it, not worry about how I'm going to save a penny here and a penny there. Sure, I want a good deal on our trip, but if I'm thirsty and want a $2 Coke, I don't want to get into a big fight about the cost of Cokes at Disney versus at our local grocery store.

We used this approach on our trip to Aruba and it worked wonderfully. We had a great time, no stress about spending money, and we actually spent a good amount less that what we budgeted. So we're using the same philosophy on our trip to Disney. The one thing that's changed: we now have kids. We'll see if they throw a monkey wrench into everything. ;-)

Comments

[MCG]

SmartMoney article that might help you out:
http://www.smartmoney.com/dealoftheday/index.cfm?story=20070227&pgnum=3

[Joe]

We got back from Disney World in Jan. Thought I would mention the Disney Dining plan. I won't go into great details, but its basically $38 a day per adult, $11 per day for kids under 10 I think. It includes a snack (basically an item under $4), a counter service meal, and a table service meal. I can't imagine that anyone could eat all that food per day and not be completely full. On the other hand, your food expense is precomputed and there is no need to worry about the price of the items. We pretty much ordered what we wanted, where we wanted. Look into it, it worked out well for us.

[RichC]

AAA is the only travel agency that offers discounts on the Disney hotels. We really liked staying in the park. The Disney transporation system worked great. I was able to rent a car in Disney World at the end of our vacation and drive out.

[Blaine Moore (First Time Homeowner)]

My experience is that kid's throw wrenches better than monkeys. Maybe that's because it's always been other people's kids, but somehow I tend to think that that is a universal truth...

[lamoneyguy]

FMF, we just came back from Orlando, and spent a couple of days at the Dis World parks, and Universal. The first thing I would do is find a grocery store. It's not easy if you are staying at a Disney Resort hotel, as they do everything in their power to keep you on their property, consuming their stuff, 24/7. But if you can get to a store, get enough breakfast food, and sandwich making goods to last through your trip. Even better, pack a box of granola bars, and other non-perishables in your luggage.

The parks allow food and beverages to be brought in, and even allow the soft coolers.

[lamoneyguy]

By the way, no offense Joe, but there's no way I would do the "eat all day" plan. That's $76 for a couple. My fiancee and I ate for just over $40/day, and even had beers or wine with several meals.

[JMAN2]

I agree with Blaine Moore. I'm going to Disney World at the end of April beginning May (4 days) and staying on Disney property. My suggestions are: Bring a good backpack, go to the cheapest supermarket or Costco you can find in the area and stock up for the trip on bread, cold cuts (Disney resorts have fridges inside the rooms), tuna, chicken salad, chips, granola bars, sodas, water(1 liter plus buy one of those slings that wrap around the top of the bottle to carry aorund with you). For dinner, pick up coupons from the Kissimmee and Orlando guides you see everywhere in the city! If I come up with some more ideas, I'll post them.

[Nema]

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[Nema]

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