I just arrived home from Disney last week, and really? All I can think about is taking my own family now. After a few long talks with Nick, we've decided to try for it. The last time I 'tried', I got about $2600 saved up and we decided that a better use for the money would be to purchase a home (it was during the down turn in the housing market, so we got a great deal on a large home). That was about 4 years ago exactly.
We started talking money, the cost of going, when we would want to go, etc. This is what we came up with.
Our first big issue is that there are 5 of us, which means we either need 2 cheap rooms, and a suite, which can be pricey. 1 resort offers a regular room for 5, but the 3rd bed is more suitable for younger kids (in fact, they list it being only for children 9 or younger, and our youngest is already 10, and tall for her age).
We settled on renting a cabin at Fort Wilderness - they sleep 6, have their own kitchen, and you don't share walls or floors/ceilings with other people, so no worry about being too loud, or having others be too loud. It's a bit more than renting 2 cheap rooms, but the resort has a lot to do- horseback riding, canoe & paddle boat rentals, bike rentals, 2 arcades, 2 pools, a sandy beach (where you can see the night time electric water parade, and the fireworks at Magic Kingdom), 3 restaurants, boat transportation, and more.
Time frame, we talked about next Spring. That would give us a year to save, and allow our taxes time to be processed and refunded for extra money. BUT, they could also be delayed- they have been held for a LOT of people this year, so that's a concern.
I looked through "Least Crowded" times- we have already decided we'd rather take the kids out of school for a week, than go when the park is super busy. Fall from Labor day until the week of Thanksgiving is listed as least crowded.
We decided on early October of 2013- the parks will be decorated for Halloween, which is one of our favorite times of year, and they have something called Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2-3 nights a week at the Magic Kingdom. It IS an event that has a separate ticket fee, but there are fun parades, live music, trick or treating through out the entire park, and more. Plus, adults are allowed to dress up in costumes (currently, they allow kids to dress up any time, but adults are NOT allowed to come in costumes), and are encouraged to trick or treat as well. There are special fire works, too. The whole thing just sounds like a lot of fun.
And by going in October next year gives us 19 months to save. I currently have $1200 put away towards it, so that's a huge help. Given that there are 5 of us, most of the advertised deals don't work out right, because we have to do different rooms.
Additionally, all 3 kids are over the age of 10, which means they'll be charged "adult" prices for park admission, and meal plans.
With $1200 saved as a start, I came up with a budget. I plan to add $2000 to the savings next Spring with our tax refund, so that will be helpful. If I put away $300 a month from March 2012 to October 2013, that'll give me almost $9000 total, which is probably way more than we need, BUT, I'd rather play it safe in case anything comes up between now and then- like replacing a vehicle (we do have a secondary savings we put money into for unexpected expenses, but still, I'd rather err on the side of caution).
Ideally, I want to do 8 days, 7 nights at Fort Wilderness, with a 5 day park hopper pass. 5 days means we can take 1 day off right in the middle (Our asperger kids will need it), and not do parks on the day we arrive or leave (unless the flight arrives early in the day, and leaves late in the day). But 5 days is still enough to do all the parks we want, and we can always add a 6th day if we want.
1/2 Day at Animal Kingdom, followed by the evening at Mickey's Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.
1 Full Day at Magic Kingdom
1 Full Day at Epcot
1 Full Day at Hollywood Studios
1/2 Day at Hollywood Studios, followed by 1/2 day at Epcot.
That way, each of the parks I think the kids will like the most gets 1.5 days. Animal Kingdom is smallish, but there's not a ton I think the kids will love- we'll do a few rides, then head back to the cabin to get ready for the party, and head over to MK for the evening.
(Now you'll see just how crazy my mind is- I actually LIKE sitting down and figuring out the potential to save between now and then, and I'll get rather obsessive about it)
Now... I just have to pull off saving the money. I don't think it will be an issue. I make between $400-750 a month online. $300 is a low amount, but honestly, if I have extra set aside in PP, I'd rather just dump it into our savings account, so it may grow by more than $300 a month.
On top of that, we usually put $50 per paycheck into my savings, so $100 a month ($150 a month twice a year when checks are 3x month). We have 42 paychecks between now and then. That will be an additional $2100 set aside.
Plus, Nick is going to put 50% off all bonus checks in there- some of them are really small, like the last one was only $90. But, his annual bonus has been around $1500 take home the past two years, so that's an extra $800ish when they are all factored in.
$300 a month x 19 months - $5700
$1200 already saved + $5700 = $6900
$2100 from paychecks + $6900 = $9000
$2000 from taxes + $9000 = $11,000
Additional $150/month x 19 months = $2850
$2850 + $11,000 = $13,850
Now the expenses- (These are based on NO discount, and THIS year's rates, which obviously will change next year, sadly)
$2410 - Cabin for 6 nights
$1560 - Meal plan for 6 days (which, sadly, is cheaper than paying for each meal out of pocket)
$1625 - Park hopper passes for 5 days, for 5 people
$325 - 5 adult tickets to MNSSHP (Halloween Party)
$1500 - $1800ish - Airfare for 5
This makes it almost $8000 without extra money for spending, but meals 100% covered. Now, tht said? The time frame we're going during, the past 2 years they offered free dining, so we could save over $1500 off that, and eat for free the entire time.
That would make it only $6500.
Of course, prices raise just about yearly, so it will likely rise a bit before we go.
***I fully realize this is an INSANE amount to spend on a vacation. BUT, this would be the ONLY chance to do this before our kids are grown up. Our oldest will be 17, son will be almost 15, and youngest daughter will be almost 12- any longer, and the oldest will be out of the house. It's just one of those things I've wanted to do for a LONG time, and finally feel like we can afford to try.
(I did warn you that I can be obsessive when it comes to figuring out the money aspect, right? This is normal for me when we go on ANY sort of vacation- I factor in every little cost, so I know what is needed exactly, then add in more just in case- that means no surprises).
-sigh- Here's hoping we have no huge catastrophe between now and then, which wipes out our savings. I plan to call Disney tomorrow and see just how far in advance we can actually book the trip. One really nice thing about Disney?
You can book a trip with as little as $200 down, and anything you pay is 100% refundable up to 46 days before the trip. You can also change anything about the trip up to 46 days ahead of time for free, and after that, it's a 1 time $75 fee. SO, if we have to change the dates, we can. If for some reason we have to cancel, we can. We don't lose any money by doing so, but it gives us a safety net in which to cancel should we need to.
Flights are the 1 part I will wait on, because THOSE are NOT refundable.
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Comments: 22
You are doing the right thing. You're planning, you're obsessing, you're saving, and you're well on your way. Like you said, the kids aren't going to be kids forever. I wish my parents had thought like this when I was a kid. I've never been to Disney, and our "vacations" were a beautiful summerhouse on the lake that was the same thing, year in, and year out. It was like a second home. Now when I take vacations, I VACATE!!! I don't need another home to go to, I want to go new places.
You'll be happy to know that Walker and I are on the verge of booking our trip to Montreal for March. The trip will be well under $1,000 with everything factored in, and train tickets are paid for with our CNIB cards (OK they're free!!!), hotel's paid for upto $400 with gift cads from Airmiles, and all we need to think about are taxis, food, and all the awesome gifts I want to buy for my French-Canadian relatives, LOL That $1,000 total includes all the paid-for items, such a train tickets, hotel, etc.
I'm so glad you are the way you are when it comes to financially planning something. You and I are of one mind, and I'm just as obsessive, when planning something like that.
Walker's and my main attraction will be going to see family, and a nice hotel with a pool, but with three children, I can see how you are going to want to hit parks, and do kids things.
Good job taking a day off for the Asperger kids. Having Aspergers myself, I know how important that is. If I were going to do a park like you mention, let alone 5 of them, I'd need a wheelchair (preferably motorized), and "exit strategies" (a place to pull oer and decompress for a few minutes to a couple of hours, if things got overwhelming). Fortunately for me my minimum-required exit strategy is a fully-charged iPod and a pair of headphones. LOL
$10,000 for MEMORIES that will last for generations is a deal.
You will get pics, and have you factored in souveniers? If the kids know they may never be back there again, they'll probably want something. I still have all the neat stuff I bought in Denmark. I'm going to get touristy things in Montreal like t-shirts, books, and things, not just for me, but for the children in my familoy. I love being able to give unique things to my nieces, nephews, and cousin's little girl. Not expensive things, and not too many, but I like the option of being able to buy something. I am also going to take Local things up there for my cousin's children. I want to get the boys some books about Guelph, since their great-grandparents lived here for the 50 years they wree alive in Canada. In Montreal I'm going to visit a branch of the family I've never been able to visit before. They also have our old family bible up there since Becky and I aren't going to have kids, my other Uncle never had children, and my Quebec uncle has a child who has two children (gender doesn't matter). The bible was best passed down through him. I want to show it to Walker, and get a picture of our hands and wedding bands, over Mormorand Morfar's wedding entry in the book, since it's their rings we have. Funny, but I'll be taking a trip someplace I've never been before to find something I've had all along, just that's never been "in reach. Know what I mean?
Your kids are going to have their pictures and memores, and if they have kids, they're goig to tell them all about their 2013 vacation, and those kids are going to pass the pics down to their kids. Who knows (future) Great-Grandma Heather may make a Disney Scrapbook that will go down the generations, and live forever.
Anyone who thinks you're paying an insane price for a vacation, is insane themselves. You're buying memories, and those are effing PRICELESS!!!!!!!
You've also had the advantage of a "scouting mission" on your trip with your friend, to see what is worth seeing BEFORE paying $10,000 to see it.
Can you tell you've gotten me thinking? LOL
Additionally, there is a fantastic Disney Outlet shop about an hour away, where I've found things like shirts for $1.50, sweatshirts, Park Authentic souvenirs and more.
We'll likely make a trip (or 12) over there well before we go and start picking up discounted shirts to wear when we go. I plan to go over there after Halloween this year, and try and get some discounted Halloween shirts for each of us.
I have a feeling everyone is getting a suitcase for Christmas this year. ;) I have one already, so I'm set, but the only other one we have is small, beat up, and the handle has broken off, leaving a sharp wire that pokes your hand.
The money that I got for my birthday has all gone into my personal sayings account, and I'm adding $50 a month from my monthly pay every month. Montreal is already budgeted for, so the savings will be just mine for whenever i need it.
How are the kids, when it comes to saving? I always saved my money, but my sister always wanted to spend it the moment she got it.
For me the very idea of having the money when I need it, with no particular goal in mind, is enough to get me savings. I carefully allot myself a certain amount of spending money, so my saving doesn't get in the way of daily fun, and daily fun doesn't get in the way of my saving.
Sounds like you have some great kids!!
I think the kids will have such a wonderful time (not that I won't...). I really wouldn't mind doing a trip with JUST my husband down there for our anniversary some year, but a family trip comes first. :)
I basically spent nothing when we went to Disney because our tickets were free, we got a parking pass, and a friend gave us meal tickets to use in the park-- but we just did drinks and snacks as we went. All I spent was money on souvenirs for each of the girls.
Oh, and because there are 8 of us, we are driving, something none of us mind as we are all huge on road trips. Plus, this gives us more freedom to do other things like a couple days at the beach, and a trip to Kennedy Space Center, which will ironically be about half the price of 5 day tickets to Disney for the one day.
Driving woukd require renting a larger vehicle- our two youngest are both Aspies, and can not go an hour in the car with out screaming over lack of personal space, so our car would be out. The last time I looked into renting a mini van, it was nearly $900 for a week. When ypu add in 4 days of driving (it's just shy of 24 hours each way- too much for me to push through in a single 24 hour shift), that cuts back the total time we have down there, and Nick really isn't able to take a ton of time away from work with his new managment position.
I think by May, i could maybe be up to about $2200 is all, which just is not enough to swing it. We did very briefly talk about trying for this upcoming October, but it would still be tight, and mean cutting corners- shorter stay, 2 value rooms instead of 1 cabin (shaves about $50 off per day), etc. We decided if we are going to go, we are just going to have to consider it a semi long term goal, and save, save, save. I would much rather know we can afford it ahead of time, rather than worrying about every thing we spend money on along the way, ya know?
Thank you for the advice on the savings, though :)
There are 4 of us now. We are staying at Caribbean Beach resort again this year, which I absolutely love! You have your own little beaches and we opt to go with the Pirates of the Caribbean room (which is a bit more expensive, but worth it if you're pirate fans like my family is). We are staying 5 days 6 nights, purchased the standard park tickets without hopper option, and all of our meals (which are free with the promotion). Without plane tickets it was $2300. We have always drove before but we are going to try to fly this year. With the price of gas and a hotel room (We're coming from OH) it costs just as much to drive. We shall see! I've never flown before, so I'm a bit nervous. But, getting to FL in 2 hours verses 2 days is a big motivator!
Sorry I've rambled on. I just get so excited talking about my favorite place on earth. <3