Nancyg56
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2005
OP here- thanks for the input everyone. To add some details, it will be me and the 3 kids (11, 9, 4) by ourselves. We're going to pay the extra money to stay on property (at a value, we're cool with tight quarters) so the kids get the whole experience and not a mom on the verge of road rage. We won't have a car but DH is dropping us off at the beginning of the week with as many groceries as we can fit in the room. We will be packing all food and drinks into the stroller unless we save up enough to do a very few special meals (I'm thinking BoG and a snack in 'France', not CRT or Ohana). The kids will have/be getting their own spending money but I doubt they'll be buying much. We are already planning on making dresses and t-shirts (ODD is a crafter) so those won't be a temptation. So our expenses will really just be park tickets and hotel. I'm going to let the kids lead. I'm going to let them look at pictures from previous trips and watch them ooh and aah over the little moments and skip over the pictures of the rides. I'm hoping that with a year to work on it, I won't be that parent dragging their overtired kids through the parks complaining about how much we aren't doing.
I would cost out the difference between a dining plan and what you are spending on food. Two of your kids are young, so that makes a difference in price when planning meals. As a young mom I used to pack lunch when we went to theme parks, etc and we made due, however I am not sure that is always the most cost effective way to do a WDW trip. Upfront maybe, but in total? I am honestly not so sure. If you purchased the QS plan you could combine all of your dining credits and since they are not separating adult from child credit, you probably could make that last for all three meals the entire trip, have the kids get their snacks and that refillable mug for each one might be worth it's weight in Gatorade. I am not a plan pusher, however I do like to make good choices upfront so I am not spending twice in reality. been there, done that, do not want that to happen again. Be very realistic about your grocery shopping costs and what you will order in the parks for a meal.
Look for discounts. There may be plans offered at the value, or room only, depending on the season, so it pays to keep watch.
Give the kids their money in daily envelopes. They can use their money every day, or add the leftover into the next days spending allowance. This will likely to stop all whining. They can spend or save but when the current day's money is gone, it's gone.
Skip hoppers. They cost a lot and take time. If you want to leave a park do so, but return to the same park later in the day. It is a new park at night, IMO.
Once you cost out the trip, do not break it up into individual costs again. It is "the trip" from that point on. If you miss a day in the park because it's hot and the kids are all over the pool, or if you miss special parades, fireworks or attractions in any given park, if you have looked at tickets as a separate price, you may fall into buyers remorse. If the trip is the trip, it makes no difference, if you are happy, the value is there.
Also, be honest with yourself in terms of what you and the family really wants from the vacation. If you will regret packing most meals, then don't convince yourself it will be okay. It will not be. If you will begrudge dining out costs, then do not make them and build the expectation up. The actual experience will nit likely live up to the cost if you do. After a few times listening to my husband telling me what he wants to spend on any given vacation I figured out that he just liked the idea of "going cheap" and not the reality. Make a realistic budget based on your wants and needs, and as you save for it, remember that if you eat home, that is money for Disney. If you watch a redbox movie it is Disney money. We compromise a lot when we save for a trip, because as a family we prefer to have extra treats on vacation, rather than have them at home. I can make any meal special, and throw a movie party with the best of them. Enlist your family so they have an investment in what the end experience is. My little Princesses were on board from the get go. My DH was along for the ride. If I cooked he ate, and saved the dinner money, so no need to worry there! LOL!