No matter how hard you try, a vacation to Disney World will almost always cost you more than planned. How do I know? It just happened to me.
My husband and I decided a long time ago that when our daughter was 5, we would take her to Disney World for her birthday. We knew this was coming, so about a year prior, we started to save money for it. We wound up with a budget of $2500 and we did everything we could to stay within that budget. For instance, we stayed at an on-property hotel during the off-peak season. Doing this meant about a $25 or so per night savings and, because we were staying on the property, we had access to the Disney transportation system (which is fantastic, by the way). No rental car needed! There was even a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel…perfect! We booked a package deal (hotel and park passes) through the Disney website. I’m not sure that this saved us any money but it was nice to book it all in one place.
I also spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for the least expensive flights. Because we fly out of Philadelphia, the fares are pretty hit or miss. They’re either excellent or supremely craptastic. I was able to seize on a pretty good deal on Southwest about 3 months before we left (it was $600 roundtrip, nonstop for all 3 of us. Not amazing but really not bad). It was in our budget and, after we had purchased the hotel, flight and park passes, we knew exactly how much of that $2500 we had left. For the record, it was $480.
We knew that $480 wasn’t going to get us too far in 5 days of Disney World magic but it was a nice start. So, right off the bat, we knew that we were going to have to go over our established original budget. This part was no big deal because we had enough time to plan and save for the overage. We wound up bringing an extra $170 with us, for an even $650. This, we thought, would surely be enough money especially considering the fact that the hotel, flight, park passes and transportation were paid for in advance (word of caution: Disney makes you pay for everything ahead of time. To me, this is like paying for food in a restaurant before you’ve eaten but it’s how they operate). We? Were wrong.
For starters, everything in Disney World costs about twice as much as you would expect. The snack package of grapes were not $.99; they were $1.99. A bottle of water cost $2.50! And the refillable souvenir cups that you buy at the hotel because they make you think you can get them refilled at the parks for free? $14.99, and you can only refill them at the hotel! I was totally unprepared for this. Here’s a shining example of my naivety: The first night we were there, we went to Downtown Disney for dinner. I brought $65 with us, thinking this would be enough money for dinner, dessert and perhaps one small souvenir. Needless to say, when we got the bill and saw that it was $55 (without tip), I almost had a heart attack. We didn’t order anything fancy either; in fact, I think we got some of the cheapest things on the menu. But apparently, I can’t add and we spent all of our money just at dinner. The rest was purchased on a debit card (now, I realize we could have skipped dessert or a souvenir but you try saying no to a 5 year old who wants ice cream and Minnie Mouse ears. In Disney World. I couldn’t do it).
Fortunately, things did get better from there and we came home with exactly $1 in cash and approximately $.64 in pennies. But, we forgot we had to pay for parking at the airport ($66) and because I’m lazy, we had also spent an extra $60 for the Southwest early bird check-in ($60, and totally worth it). Overall, it cost us about $3000 to go to Disney World for 5 days. Not bad but not good either.
A few things I’ll do different next time:
- Pack snacks in my suitcase. Disney World allows you to bring in your own food (probably because they know what a wallet raping their food is). To save on the cost of snacks in the park, I will pack snacks like granola bars, pretzels and Goldfish, put them in my backpack and carry them around. That way, if my daughter gets hungry, I won’t have to spend over $2 (including tax) on 12 grapes.
- Bring an insulated water bottle and some Mio. We were foolish enough to think that the souvenir cups would be refillable at some of the restaurants in the parks. They are not. Walking around the parks can make you thirsty and at $2.50 a piece, water gets expensive. Next time, I will bring an insulated water bottle or two or three, fill them with ice from the machine at the hotel (free!) and refill the bottles from the water fountains around the park. Since the water is not the most tasty, I will bring a bottle of Mio (water flavoring) to disguise the taste.
- Budget more accurately. Now that I have a rough idea has to how much things cost, I can save and budget better the next time. I will also throw in an extra $50 just in case I miscalculate inflation. Also, I will make sure to add in the extra $60 for the early bird check in on Southwest. It saved so much time and energy that, while I didn’t mind going out of our budget to do it, I will make sure to include it in the budget this time.
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I have only been to Disney once when I was in 7th grade. It was the coldest day in Florida that year, and we only brought shorts! We were miserable, but we did get on the rides quickly because there were very few people.
Someday I would like to take my kids, but with 3 of them, that day is quite a ways away. I just hope we can go before my oldest gets too old to really enjoy it.
Did your daughter have a good time? You were still close to your budget, and you had some extra money to cover it, so overall it sounds like a good time was had!
Melissa recently posted…Take a Challenge To Start the New Year Off Right
My daughter had an amazing time! She got meet almost all of the princesses, loved the rides and thought it was so much fun to eat in restaurants for 5 straight days.
We got lucky with the weather. It was mid-70s and sunny the entire time. As far as worrying about your oldest not enjoying it, don’t stress. I went with my family when I was 16 and my little sister was 6. I think I had more fun than she did!
We used to go to Disney all the time, I loved going, but it sure is expensive.
Michelle @ Making Sense of Cents recently posted…Spending, Life, Income and Food Updates… 1/30/2012
It definitely is expensive. I think, though, that if you’re prepared for it, you won’t have the kind of sticker shock that I had.
My wife and I went in 2008 which is something we wanted to do before we had kids. We bought the meal plan which made eating pretty much ‘free’ except for tips and drinks once we got there. You even got to go and get snacks that you could take with you and eat throughout the day. It wasn’t cheap and someone said that they’ve raised the prices since we went, but at least it lets you budget accordingly. My wife did an enormous amount of research and we made reservations when we got there after we figured out what parks we wanted to go on what day, so it worked out pretty well. Disney coffee is the worst coffee on the planet by the way.
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I don’t drink coffee so I’ll take your word for it 🙂
We thought about doing the meal plan the next time we go but I’m going to have to do some extensive research. I don’t eat meat so I want to be sure that I will have options on the limited dining plan menu. It’s a good suggestion and if you combine it with the snacks and water tips I gave, you might not have to spend any extra money on food once you get there. Might be something to consider!
Packing in your own food is one of the best ways to keep these costs WAY down. I can’t stomach paying $10 per snack in the park. Makes the entire trip MUCH less enjoyable.
MoneyforCollegePro recently posted…Do You Spend Money on Quality or Quantity? The $120 Pen Story
When I realized that the grapes were $2, I almost freaked out. But I’d rather spend $2 on grapes than on crap.
I’m glad you had a good time! 🙂 Being a California girl, I’ve been to Disneyland bunches of times and it never gets old. When I am 80, I will still be standing in line for the Haunted Mansion!
Mackenzie recently posted…Recap: Goals for January
I will be right there with you! I’ve only been to Disneyland once, when I was 16, but I probably should go back. Just to compare 🙂
Money does go quick in easy inside the Happiest Place on Earth! I think you did an amazing job!
I am still holding out hope that we can go in July for my daughter’s 5th birthday (to Disneyland not World). We use to go all the time but when we added the fourth kid we stopped vacationing out of state! We wont have airfare cost since we can drive but still a trip like that for a family of six, on a strict budget, takes some serious planning.
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Of all the people I know who would be able to pull this off, it’s you. You are the best budgeter I have ever met!
We went for our honeymoon. We did have water bottles we could refill in the park, and generally tried to eat only one meal a day at Disney (or at a restaurant at all- we had a timeshare with a full kitchen and went grocery shopping).
I am glad your family had a good time on the trip. You deserved it.
shanendoah@the dog ate my wallet recently posted…Sunday Evening Post #27
This was a rare time that we didn’t go somewhere with a kitchen. When we went to the Outer Banks (NC) a few years ago, we had an amazing kitchen but for this trip, it just wasn’t in the budget. Next time, we’ll probably aim for 1 meal at the park and 1 at the hotel. As long as we pack enough snacks, my daughter should be able to skip lunch. That doesn’t make me a bad parent, right?
Whoa. My parents took us to disney world when I was 17. I have 4 siblings and we were spoiled brats when we got there. I feel so bad for them now. Im sure they could have bought a car for that amount.
Marissa @ Thirtsyixmonths recently posted…What is a credit union, and how it can benefit you?
I was 16 the last time I went with my parents. There are 3 of us, and one of us was 6 at the time so I’m pretty sure the trip was mostly for her anyway. We went at Christmastime and I’m sure it cost them a freaking fortune. But it’s their money and if that’s how they wanted to spend it, I’m not going to complain 😉
Hehe! I like the words “Wallet Raping” as that’s exactly what happens when you go to Disney. But its a fun trip for your kids, so that makes it totally worth it.
Tushar@EverythingFinance recently posted…Think Before You Invest: What Are You Comfortable With?
My wallet hurt so much when we got back but my daughter had a blast. I would pay that amount of money again just to make sure she had fun. Every penny was worth it!
Wow that is expensive. My friend and his wife got a disney world credit card a couple years before they even had a kid. His plan was by the time his kid was old enough to enjoy it, it would be paid in full. Neither my wife nor I have been but it would be fun once we have kids to take them there. At least hopefully it was worth it for you guys
Evan @smartwealth recently posted…Weekly Roundup: 1-30-2012
It was absolutely worth it! We’ve toyed with the idea of getting a Disney credit card but from talking to someone who has it, it takes a while to earn the points. We haven’t decided yet.
Also, you so don’t need kids to go to Disney! My husband and I went about 5 years before our daughter was born and had an amazing time.
All our vacations end up being more expensive than we budget. That’s why I always throw an extra buffer on a top of our budget. Just because I know that it will be me seeing something, wanting it and spending on it.
My brother-in-law goes to Disney World at least once a year. Can you believe it?
Aloysa @ My Broken Coin recently posted…Reading Salon and January Blog Updates
I can believe it because it’s so much damn fun! If you’re financially prepared for it, then it’s really not too bad.
As far as the buffer, I’ve learned my lesson. I will ALWAYS have one now.
So glad you had a good time!
They definitely try to get ya though…I’ve lived in Florida for about 10 years so I’ve gotten used to the 7 million billboards offering Disney “deals.” 🙂
Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder recently posted…The #1 Most Overlooked Tax Deduction Could Save You $1,000
Ah, the Disney deals. The only part of the trip that seriously annoyed me. I felt like I was being brainwashed or recruited to join some sort of Disney cult (which they name The Disney Vacation Club). That stuff was everywhere!!! I would think, though, that living in Florida, you become numb to it.
Your post reminds me of when we went to Disney World….the day we went to Magic Kingdom it was about 100 degrees. We bought those little fan things attached to water bottles to help cool us all down during the day. I believe we paid about $18 for each of them (we bought two). When we got home, I saw the same thing at Walmart….minus the Disney decal….for $1.99.
Ouch.
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That would make me so mad! The Florida weather is why we go in January…we don’t have to deal with extreme heat and the weather is way better than at home.
Love the look of the site! I think all in all you did a great job planning for everything, it’s almost impossible to really stick to a preset budget when travelling… you always need a bit of a buffer for these types of things!
Thanks, Andrea!
I don’t think it’s impossible to stick to a preset budget if you know what you’re getting into. I did not. But I’ll know better for next time, though!
Everybody I know that’s gone to DisneyWorld has complained about the over-priced everything. It sounds like you did pretty good, especially compared to my MIL. I think she spent 6k for 5 or 6 days, and nothing really fancy either. 🙂
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Thank for the breakdown! The Wife and I are planning for Spring 2013…we will have miles for the flight but beyond that your budget has really helped out – even shared it with her.
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Make sure you take my budget with a grain of salt. We went in the off-peak season, stayed at a value resort and only bought a 4 day park pass (with the park hopper option). Depending on your length of stay, where you stay, your food choices and a few other variables, my budget should be a guideline only. You also need to account for the fact that you’re going next year and prices may rise.
But I’m glad it provide some assistance in your planning. Your son (and you guys) are going to have a great time!
My ex husband and I have discussed taking the boys to WDW together within the next year or so. We went on our honeymoon and had a blast now we both want to take the kids but it’s so expensive that we are considering the trip together so we can split air fare, eating & park tickets (separate hotel rooms though near each other). I can’t wait to take my boys (who are now 9 & 6).
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If you can handle a trip with your ex, more power to you! I do think it’s a great idea to split the costs when you can, especially for the park tickets and the food. Your boys are going to have an amazing time. 9 and 6 are wonderful ages for Disney!
I am going with my ex, our 5-year-old son, his current girlfriend and her two 7-year-old twins. It was his girlfriend’s idea because she thought a child should be with both of his parents for his first trip to Disney. We are sharing a hotel suite together.
Wow! That is amazing that you’re able to do that. I applaud you. There is no way I would be able to conduct myself like a mature adult in that circumstance.
A tip for anyone who knows you want to go in the future, why wait to save (for this trip or any other). Start putting even $10 away every pay cheque now instead of trying to save a ton right before. Open an account with no debit card and put it in automatically. It isn’t much out of most budgets and you won’t likely miss it. If you don’t have it all you’ll still have a good start.
This is a great idea, Jackie. Thanks for sharing!
This is a very timely post as I am going in October. THANK YOU for letting us know that we can bring our own food into the park! PB&J and frozen grapes FTW!
I have Disney fund set up in an ING account with $50 per paycheck scheduled automatically. The fund is going to stay until 2016 when I take the now 5-year-old for his “magic” birthday when he turns 9. At that point I hope to have enough saved up for the Land-and-Sea Cruise and some frills!
I am happy to help. If I can save someone a few dollars, then me blowing my budget was worth it!
Disney is a gigantic rip off, so much so that it is actually cheaper to visit Beijing!!! I make double the national average and was shocked to see these families talking about how they’d saved for 5 years just to see Disney. Boy where they shocked when they spent $100+ on a meal and several grand on park tickets lol! What a rip off!
Wow…that’s a lot to spend at WDW! The past two years I have stayed at the POP Century resort with free dining. For around a hundred dollars with tax, we housed and fed four adults each day. The meal plan only includes two meals per person each day, but the portions were so large that we would split two or three meals at each meal time. Fancy meals are part of the fun, but we would again split and share meals to keep the price down while increasing the foods sampled. Snacks contain a gazillion calories anyways (no grapes for me…gourmet cupcakes, mickey bars, and Epcot World treats to stimulate my senses) so those practically required a three-way split in order to not gain weight during the trip. On a side note…A friend once commented how she longed to take her kids on a vacation. I calculated that she would have enough money in a year and a half if she only quit smoking. Others could give up their morning Starbucks or McDonalds.