What Does a WDW Vacation Cost, Really?

[IC10]

So I guess we are the family to do it backwards. We decide what we have to spend which was $4000 we knew to have $1000 for spending while we were there so we had $3000 to spend on tickets, DDP and hotel and we let MJ to do their magic.

8 nights with tickets at AKL with park hopper and dining plan. 4 adults or as we like to call it 2 adults and 2 Disney Adults $3700 or under budget!!! $300 to be applied to next trip.

[TikiGoddess]

The only reason we go so often is that my in-laws live in Tampa. We have to go see them every year since they don't travel much, and hey, Tampa is only an hour and a half away from Orlando...

Last year's trip was our longest -- 3 nts at WDW and 6 in Tampa: airfare $475, hotel $627 (WL AAA rate, 3 nts), food, tickets (already had), kennel ($300)... it all ended up being about $1800.

One of my solo trips cost me $650. The Oct Intercot trip I got away with around $375 for 3 nts! Sharing a room helps with cost, plus I ate a lot of bagels brought from home and cheap CS meals. Worth every penny!!!

Our next trip will not be so cheap. We are looking at a week onsite, and we have to buy tickets for 3 of us. So the cost will be $3000-4000, but we have been planning this since my first daughter was born. The money is already sitting and gaining interest as we speak.

Interesting thread!
TikiG

[crazeedizneefinatic]

We always go during value season, so that saves a bit right there. Last trip was Sept. '07, we spent 10 days at CBR with an 8 day PH. Total for 3 adults and 1 child age 7= $2600. We budgeted about $100 a day for miscellaneous things, we took $1000 spending money. We came home with about $600, we were on the free dining plan so food was more than covered so the $400 went twords souveniers and an ocassional drink. Airfare from Pgh to Orlando was $405 round trip for the 3 of us. I did not count the 4th person since it was my mother and she paid for that herself. We get a ride to and from the airport so we don't need to pay to park. So here it is:

CBR (10 days 8 day PH) =$1950 (2 adults 1 child my mother paid her portion of $650)
spending money 10 days = $400
airfare round trip = $405
Total = $2755

On a side note this year my son brought along his own money. He brought $200 and can home with about $90. It's amazing to see how he held back when he knew it was his own money.

Not bad in my book for a 10 day vacation! Got the same deal this coming September but we are staying at POR for 10 days 8 day PH for just $650 a person. We always just split the package cost by 4. Now Southwest just has to come through with great airfare!

I have spent more for a trip to Ocean City for 6 days and had much less fun!

[Disney Doll]

I'm actually scared to know myself, but here's what I estimate spending in Oct:
Airfare (3 tickets round trip)=1200.00
Hotel (6 nights POFQ)= 1100.00
Park tickets (2 adult 5 day passes)= $450.00
2 TS Meals= 150.00
MNSSHP= 100.00
Souvenirs= 100.00
TOTAL: 3100.00

I am a firm believer that you can do a Disney trip on a limited budget. We have done it in the past. Usually we go in Feb which is value season so that saves some. I also over budget so that way I feel like I've saved money.

Now for my justifications-
1. I don't count CS meals or snacks in the budget b/c you have to eat vacation or not and eating out at home isn't free.
2. I teach part time in addition to my regular job so my teaching money becomes our fun money.
3. I too pay a little here and a little there so it's not all one big bill
4. MOST IMPORTANTLY- Some of my favorite childhood memories are of family trips to the world. I love remembering those times and I want my son to have memories like that to look back on.

[merlinmagic4]

Our next trip will cost about 2750.00 for seven nights.

750.00 Timeshare Maintenance Fee (paid)
550.00 Mini Van Rental (we're driving)
400.00 Gas
170.00 P&PP Tickets
140.00 Aquatica Tickets
200.00 BBB (hopefully less if we can get a pirate costume at WOD or ahead of time)
450.00 Food/Souvenirs/Misc. (all counter service meals or at resort and kids will have their own money)

We are using the last of our tickets (non expiring) that we bought in 2005. We used them 8/05, 4/07, 11/07 and now 4/08. I think it will be sticker shock when I have to buy them again for 4/08!

Actually, throw another 100.00 in there because I'll probably give my mother a "stipend" for staying at my house with the dogs!

New Total: 2850.00

[CleveSJM]

... Hotel (6 nights POFQ)= 1100.00
Park tickets (2 adult 5 day passes)= $450.00
...

6 nights and a 5 day pass seem strangely out of place. For $6 ($3 each) more you can get a 6 day and hit a park a little on your in or out day. For $10 ($5 each) you can hit a park on both the in and out days. We do this even if it's just to shop, fireworks, or ride one ride. Even on days we go offsite...

[Hull-onian]

Good question!!
Air fare for four: $1600.00 Jet Blue
Two rooms All Str Spts: About $1600.00 Using triple AAA discount.
Park Tickets: AP pass: $430.00
Three Park Hopper Tickets: $280.00 each
which equals: $840.00 and $430.00
which equals: $1270.00 for Tickets
Hoop Dee Doo Revue: $256.00
Ten Dinner Ressies: Not too sure yet
Oh, I forgot: Limo to and from airport $200.00
Seaworld: Tickets $212.00Limo to and from Seaworld: 90.00 rd trip Quicksilver of course
Taxi to Poly for breakfast: $20.00 (I hope)
Souvinears: $1000.00
Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, Grandchildren and Darling Daughter: Priceless!!!!

[crltkcagle]

Hotel - 1100
Tickets-800
Transportation - 1000
Look on our kids faces when we finally get there- priceless!

[crltkcagle]

Good question!!
Air fare for four: $1600.00 Jet Blue
Two rooms All Str Spts: About $1600.00 Using triple AAA discount.
Park Tickets: AP pass: $430.00
Three Park Hopper Tickets: $280.00 each
which equals: $840.00 and $430.00
which equals: $1270.00 for Tickets
Hoop Dee Doo Revue: $256.00
Ten Dinner Ressies: Not too sure yet
Oh, I forgot: Limo to and from airport $200.00
Seaworld: Tickets $212.00Limo to and from Seaworld: 90.00 rd trip Quicksilver of course
Taxi to Poly for breakfast: $20.00 (I hope)
Souvinears: $1000.00
Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, Grandchildren and Darling Daughter: Priceless!!!!

Shoot I should have read through the posts before i posted, i thought i was being original. LOL

[BigRedDad]

We just booked another trip this year with our family. It will be 5 days / 4 nights.

WDW: $2750
Air fare: $750
Snacks/Souvenirs: $500
Total: $4000

Resort: Contemporary MK Theme Park View
Dining: Standard Dining (1 TS, 1 CS, 1 Snack)
Tickets: 5-day Park Hopper (no Waterparks or options)

This may go down a little bit if I decide to get an Annual Pass. I have a lot of number crunching to do in the next 5-6 weeks.

[tomorrowschild]

Family of 4 (mom, dad, and 2 teenage children)

Airfare: (We are in Canada- so it is more money for us)- $800 per person

Transportation: Rental car- $300 (compact to midsized)

Accomadation: On Property (moderate)- $130 a night (ave)

Food- Average $140 per day

Spending - $50 per person per day

[Hull-onian]

Shoot I should have read through the posts before i posted, i thought i was being original. LOL

Kelly you are an original, and you are the one and only you. Did that make sense?

[AllDisney]

I went with my daughter September 2007. We had free dining during this trip. We stayed at POP for 7 nights and got the 7 day park day park tickets. Got some great airfares from AirTran.

Total cost for trip $2000.00

We're beginning to plan our next trip for December 2009

Have fun planning!

[Goes4FastPass]

I've enjoyed reading the replies to this thread.

I believe The Disney Company delivers a quality product... and we all agree the memories we make with our loved ones is priceless.

One of the reasons I asked this question is, it seems whenever a post appears on this board asking for resort choice advice, some people effortlessly reply, "Go for it! We always do a concierge room at a monorail deluxe... it's just so magical."

Unless I missed something I don't think this thread included an all-in total for such a magical experience.

[QTPie68]

I just finished working on my planning spreadsheet for our 7 days in May at Pop Century for two adults and this is our estimate of how much we will spend:

Food: 715
Souvenirs: 200
Sedan service/tips for everyone: 250
Airfare: 250
Hotel: 682
Tickets (hoppers 6 day) 560

Total: $ 2657

Since I have been several times, I pretty much know exactly what I spend. I also make sure to have an extra 10% on hand for if you go over budget, or if DH is begging you for another Pal Mickey, or if you are so tired you would rather take a taxi then wait for the bus.

[Kairi_7378]

One of the reasons I asked this question is, it seems whenever a post appears on this board asking for resort choice advice, some people effortlessly reply, "Go for it! We always do a concierge room at a monorail deluxe... it's just so magical."

Unless I missed something I don't think this thread included an all-in total for such a magical experience.

I have to agree with you... I haven't seen the price tag for "magical" either. If I told my husband that I wanted to do something very expensive because it was "magical", he'd feel my head to see if I have a temperature!

That being said, here is what we spent on our October trip:
-4 nights at POFQ with 5 day hoppers and DDP: $1360
-Airfare from BWI: $325
-Taxi from airport: $40
-Taking in-laws out to dinner to thank them for taking us to the airport at 4:45 AM: $60
-Souvenirs and misc expenses, including tours: $300
Total: $2085. We understand that this was a bit of a splurge for us this year, but we had a ball. We could've done the Poly but didn't see any reason to spend more.

[johnO]

I think it depends on what type of trip youre planning. If youre planning an extravagant trip its going to cost you big time. On the other hand you can make a trip during certin discount periods and spend about $2200 for a family of 4 for 7 days. To me that's quite a bargain for WDW and well worth it.

[sleepingbooty]

I'm pretty comprehensive with my travel budgeting, so I always know exactly what we are going to spend before we go. Here's 08's budget:

Accommodations/tickets:
7 nights Pop Century, MYW+dining (free on bounce back promo): 1500

Travel:
Airfare for four: 800, or if we need to save a bit we can drive for about 400.

Stroller rental: 100

Souvenirs:300

Total: 2300 - 2700 depending on mode of transport

[cinderellagrl]

Evauluation of our last trip:
Seven days/ seven nights at Saratoga Spring two bedroom villa (six people, December 26-January 2)
$7435

Seven day park hoppers for six adults: 1696

Dinning package for six adults: 1600

Minivan rental: 850

gas for week: 100 (including trip to Cocoa beach)
New years eve party atop the contemporary: 2800

Spending money (gifts, beverages, additional snacks): 600

airline tickets: 900

grand total: 14,305

Last large family vacation till the kids can pitch in.... Magical!

[Catzle]

New years Eve party for $2,800 please tell me about it. That's sounds like it was fun!