by Princess Spanky Pants ~ The Real, Original, Heather T
Member since:
October 13, 2006

Saving For Disney

March 05, 2012 12:00 AM UTC
views: 0 | 2 people recommend this | comments: 20

I started my savings for Disney- I had a jump start, so that helps. Hoping to be close to $10000 by October, 2013! Yes, that' more than we'll need. But it gives us some space for issues like car repairs before then, and price hikes.

Also, with 5 "adults", we need things most families of 4 don't, which adds to the price:

5 adult priced tickets
Hotel room that allows 5
Meals for 5 adults (2 of which are teens and eat a LOT)

All said and done, based on the prices right NOW, it's $5,845 for 5 6 day park hopper passes, the resort, and dining plan. No worries about the cost of food when we arrive.

Air fare alone is running $1400-$1600 depending on the air line, time we leave, and what air port- these are the cheapest of the cheap seats.

That adds up to $7500 in today's prices. Add 10%, and it's $8250 in potential prices next year.

So, even if we don't wind up touching the $9750, it's not THAT large of an amount vs. what we need.

Potential windfall- the past 3 years, the quick service dining plan has been free during October. That shaves $1500 off the cost of the Disney package, making it between $6000 and $6600 for the total package.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d67/d292/d747/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

 

 

Comments: 20

Teresa W. Mar 5, 2012, 12:11am UTC
We're trying to save for Disney also, the one here in California though so we don't need near that much money but it does cost a lot and it all adds up fast. Good luck in your savings!
You guys will have fun! Yes, it does add up fast.
Janet "Jax" B. Mar 5, 2012, 12:26am UTC
Good luck! We have 4 1-day park hopper plus tickets that we've had for at least 5 years...(yes, they are still good). We just can't seem to afford to go down.
With the costs, it's not hard to see why! It's just SO expensive. Back in the early 90's, tickets were $25 a day. Now it's almost $100!
Renee (Pres of Baby James Foundation) ~. Mar 5, 2012, 12:30am UTC
Good luck!
Alicia Loudon Mar 5, 2012, 1:17am UTC
Good luck
Sophie S. Mar 5, 2012, 2:05am UTC
I know this is going to sounds totally weird, but I actually like reading your savings tallies for vacations and stuff. Partly because it is kinda like a cheat sheet for myself and partly because I obsess over budgets. Our trip is in May/June and I figure its going to be about half what you're spending. We are getting 8 5 day passes for just under $1200, the same for the hotel for 5 days if we decide to stay at the Disney resort or free if we decide to use a family members summer home in Orlando. Then we are driving so the gas is about $500. It actually going to be more expensive to do the side trip to Kennedy Space Center for the two days, but it is totally worth it. Still crunching numbers till then.
I get way too obsessive when it comes to figuring out numbers ;)
Rebecca P. Mar 5, 2012, 5:26am UTC
Good luck with saving for your trip to Disney. Disney is an amazing experience, but also a very costly one!
That it is- on both counts!
J W. Mar 5, 2012, 6:29am UTC
sounds like fun. good luck
Heather E. Mar 5, 2012, 9:27am UTC
It sounds like you and Sophie are great examples of how to really get going on a vacation plan.
Nancy S. Mar 5, 2012, 11:55am UTC
Good start. Hope you make it.
Thank you everyone!
Marsha C. Mar 5, 2012, 8:23pm UTC
So cool! This was a goal of mine years ago and it was so much easier back then to earn hotel gift certificates as well as food and everything else online. I had a lot saved up but it wasn't meant for us to make the trip. I ended up selling the hotel certificates. We did drive (33 hours each way) to West Palm Beach and we were able to use the food place gift cards on the trip along with all the food we took with us.
No Disney, but the guy we stayed with took us to Lion Country Safari and other places like that while we were there.
Sandy C. Mar 20, 2012, 9:41pm UTC
Good Luck. We had planned to take the kids to Disney for spring break but decided to wait because it would be a bit crowded. It is close enough that we could drive down for the day but I would like to spend a couple days down there. I think we are going to go down this fall.
Pamela Marks Mar 23, 2012, 8:17pm UTC
good luck sounds like you have a plan
HEIDI F. Mar 23, 2012, 8:27pm UTC
Good luck saving for your vacation. Disney is a great place to vacation at.
Angela Nelson Jun 21, 2012, 9:02am UTC
Wow! I love your posts about saving for Disney! I actually got a part time job so I could pay for our trip in September. It's not cutting it though. I need more ideas to save! So, I'm gonna go read all your posts! lol. Hope this is not bad gather etiquette ( I just joined about a week ago, so let me know if it's not polite) but I made a Disney group. Hope you'll add me as a friend and check out my group page! Disneylove.gather.com
JoAnn C. Jul 22, 2012, 3:46pm UTC
I just read your last post and you mentioned staying at the cabins. The cabins are considered a moderate resort which usually get the standard dining plan when free dining is offered. Could that change next year, yes but something to keep in mind.

You'll be there during the food and wine festival. You can use your snack credits at the food booths.

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