Help With January Trip Planning

[DisneySaint]

Hi everyone! My girlfriend and I are trying to plan a little Disney excursion together. I am a frequenter (over a dozen times in my life, last trip was this month) and she's only been 2 times before, and really wants to go. Unforunately, there is NO way we can afford just the two of us being 20 y/o students, so we've asked my best friend and his girlfriend to come along (they have only been once when they were kids) and share a room to split the costs 4 ways. We live in Baton Rouge, LA and have already ruled out the possiblity of flying. We wanted to go to Disney for only 2 days and Universal for 1, but Disney does not offer a 2-day pass. We did manage to find a 3-Day Park Hopper, though, so that's the smallest thing we can settle for and still be able to hop parks. We plan to go the day kids go back to school (January 5th). Here is my cost breakdown PER PERSON. It's still very steep for us students who only work part time, so please let me know if there's anything we can change, if I missed anything, or if I underbudgeted. The costs all INCLUDE tax.

[DEPARTING HOME MORNING OF SUNDAY JANUARY 4TH and DEPARTING HOTEL FRIDAY JANUARY 9TH]

*Costs PER PERSON on a 4-person scale

-3 day Disney Park Hopper = $175.00
-1 Day Universal IOA = $52.00
-Parking at Universal = $2.50
-Pop Century Hotel (5 nights) = $106.64
-Food Costs (assuming we will eat as much as possible in snacks we will bring) = $70.00
-Gas costs from Baton Rouge to Orlando Roundtrip = $20.00
-TOTAL PER PERSON = $425.89

Please review this and let me know if there's any extra ways we can save money or if I missed something. Please check back on this thread often, too, as I will follow it closely and reply.

Thanks!
Joey

 

[jordanyosh]

I would plan on 500 even. I think you underbudgeted for food. It's always nice to overbudget in this area as you never want to pass up a good meal.....70 seems a bit tight. 1 counter service meal alone can cost 10 or more.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[DisneySaint]

^

 

[luvthemouse]

i agree about the food budget...you way underestimated. I cant seem to see a way to get that any cheaper tho.... one question...how is gas only 20$ from LA to Fla ( i dont kno exactly how far it is in distance but that seems awfully cheap for gas) My only other suggestion would be to look at off disney hotel prices....sometimes their cheaper but i dont see it getting any less than that tho.... Also...what kind of car are you aking there? the smaller the car, the better the gas mileage (basically you may wann keep the gas guzzling SUV at home if possible)

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by luvthemouse
i agree about the food budget...you way underestimated. I cant seem to see a way to get that any cheaper tho.... one question...how is gas only 20$ from LA to Fla ( i dont kno exactly how far it is in distance but that seems awfully cheap for gas) My only other suggestion would be to look at off disney hotel prices....sometimes their cheaper but i dont see it getting any less than that tho.... Also...what kind of car are you aking there? the smaller the car, the better the gas mileage (basically you may wann keep the gas guzzling SUV at home if possible)

That's per person. $80 still seems cheap though.

I'd say $550-600 to be on the safe side.

Where did you find 3-day park hoppers?

 

[DisneySaint]

The 3-day hoppers are exclusive to a company I am associated with. Too bad I can't get 2-day. =/

 

[DouglasE]

No one is allowed any souvenirs! Not even a key chain! (just teasing)

Your plan is sound. Most people going to WDW are used to splurging a little because "it's their vacation". I totally understand having to be tight with money. You will still have a blast even with having small fast food meals.

 

[Mike-O-Wave]

I don't understand why $70 per person for food is too small to budget. If they eat from their snacks for breakfast, can't they still spend $15 per person for lunch, $10 for park snacks and eat a $45 supper at Epcot if they choose? This assumes they bring their own bottled water to the park to drink while walking around. I'm interested in knowing the flaw here since I also am trying to budget a trip where we will have to watch our food costs.

 

[noname70]

Bring TONS of snacks, water bottles, and drink boxes. Thats how we survive breakfast and between meal hunger in the parks. We bring a water bottle in and refill it a lot a fountains. Also pack bulk stuff (raisons, nuts, breakfast bars etc) and drag it around in a backpack all day. Granted, when you finally eat a real meal its awesome but you save a fortune on all of the little things.

 

[MichRX7]

At first glance I thought your food budget was too low, but than I realized you said you were in college (bring lot's of PB&J).

My Dad called me last night to tell me gas at the Florida border was $1.25/gallon so $80 for gas from LA might not be too far off if you are driving a small car.

Looks good...do your laundry by hand in your sinks for a few weeks and you should be all set.