Planning a May trip. Wow, what a difference in price three years make.

[Mr. Pricklepants]

I am/was in the beginning stages of planning a trip to WDW for mid-May, and after calling for a quote, financially I don't know if I see the value in a Disney vacation. I may have just been priced-out for a Disney vacation.

Like I said, today i called Disney to inquire into a Disney All Star Movies-preferred room, dining plan for seven nights/eight days and park hopper tickets for six days. The rep gave us a quote of $3450 and this is after the fun and sun package pricing. I thought this seemed a bit high, so I started digging up the confirmation and receipt from our May 2014 trip. When I saw the price and details of the previous trip I was a bit shocked.

Some details of the 2014 trip: May 10-17, 2014 we, my wife, my DD age 5 stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, had the Disney dining plan, park hopper tickets for six days and the memory maker for $4039. Loved the Wilderness Lodge. We had a good trip despite an issue from something that I attribute to Disney's fault, but I have no way to back up my claim and something else that cast a small shadow on the trip. It could have been better, but it still was nice.

Our 2014 trip was our most expensive vacation that we have been on and I thought we could go to Disney, stay at a value resort for a lot cheaper than a deluxe and try to have a better overall trip to cancel the bad vibes we had on the last one. As of right now I don't know if I will bother putting down the $200 deposit to hold the current price quote. I was really looking forward in going back, but the price for tickets, hotel, Disney dining, airfare, parking, and various other little things such as a few sovereigns, dessert etc., makes renting an airbnb house on the ocean for a week sounds a heck of a lot better and so much cheaper.

Any one else have a similar story where you thought you were going to go to Disney for cheap, but it just didn't happen or was I just spoiled in the pricing that I received for the 2014 trip?

 

[threvester]

My estimate is to go Chef Mickeys one day and Crystal Palace for breakfast on another, without the dining plan and the rest going to the regular sit-down and quick-service.

Here is a quick break down. Since the crystal palace would be for breakfast, that day food estimate is about $230.00.

Crystal Palace
adult 1 $30.00
adult 2 $30.00
kid $18.00
drinks $4.00
x3 $12.00
total $90.00
tip $16.20

snack
ice cream $4.00
x3 $12.00

snack #2 $5.00
x3 $15.00

Lunch
Hamburgers at starlight
adult 1 $15.00
adult 2 $12.00
kid $15.00
drinks $4.00
x3 $12.00
Dessert $4.29
x3 $12.87
total $66.87

Dinner
Estimate
adult 1 $15.00
adult 2 $12.00
kid $15.00
drinks $4.00
x3 $12.00
Dessert $0.00
x3 $0.00
total $54.00

total for day $237.87

Universal currently wouldn't be worth it since my daughter is not interested in the properties and my daughter is really, really short for her age, so yeah she probably wouldn't clear the minimum height requirements

The Hopper is and extra $600 so that is something to think about too.

Drinks are included at Crystal Palace

 

[LAKid53]

I just made a 4 night reservation over Labor Day for a trip to Universal. Picked up a 1 bedroom hospitality suite which includes a kitchen and has two bathrooms - a little over 1000 square feet. And it's a club level room. The rate per night was $100 less than a standard club level room at GF. So we got a beautiful 1 bedroom suite that has about 700 more square feet than a standard room at the GF for $100 less per night - and we get a kitchen area, two bathrooms and food that we can get in the lounge on our floor and then take back and eat on our 6 person dining room table. At a nice Loew's hotel that's a 10 minute walk to Universal. Other than trips for races when staying on property is pretty much a must, I'm beginning to think we should stay at Uni and just drive over to WDW since I'm an AP and have free parking. We're not rope drop to park closing kind of people.

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

But..would you really all be eating a dessert every meal and 2 snacks per day?

I have to agree with this. If we have the dining plan then we take advantage of the desserts and snacks, but if we have to pay OOP, but would most likely skip dessert and probably share a pretzel instead of having two snacks a day. When we went to Universal we ate lunch at Three Broomsticks and our only snacks were Butterbeer. We had breakfast in the room that morning, and a quick service at the resort for dinner when we returned to Disney.

 

[BigRedDad]

We are priced out of staying onsite for what Disney offers in their accommodations. We have decided to go the route of APs + offsite. Similar to your situation, this is what we were weighing our options for our trip this Summer.

For DW, DD(11), me, June 17-24:
Option 1:
Pop Standard Room + 7-day Park Hopper + MM = $2,747

Option 2:
Platinum Plus AP = $2,650
WBC 1BR Dlx = $560
WBC (week #2) = $550

Yes, Option #2 is $1,000 more but we get 2 whole weeks for vacation, save 10-20% on most things Disney, get free parking, get free MM, get free water parks, and we get to get in as many times as we want until July 17, 2018. The room size is almost 3x the size with separate bedroom, wash/dryer, kitchen, and whirlpool tub. We will save $1,000 just on meals vs Disney prices. Slapping a Prime piece of steak on the grill for the cost of less than 2QS meals/ At worst it is equivalent to Disney Deluxe accommodations for the price of just 1 night stay. We will take 2-3 more offsite trips with the APs.

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

Just remortgage your house, take money out of the kids college fund and go! Hahah... No, seriously, now that you know BEFORE you have even booked anything at least you're aware of the increase and can try to compensate for what you didn't know you were going to spend. It's clear that you WANT to go to Disney and personally if I could afford it (whether or not how expensive I THOUGHT it was going to be) I would stay on Disney property with all the bells and whistles that will make my vacation enjoyable. It is not a beach (which you have mentioned previously) and the experience will be memorable and you won't have any regrets.

 

[Mr. Pricklepants]

My food estimates are just that, an estimate. Who hasn't had two desserts in one day while on vacation especially when you are walking on the surface of the sun otherwise know as Orlando in the late spring/summer? The dining plan used to offer dessert with each dinner and quick service and with the snacks, soooo I just wanted to compare. Hey, I used the snack credit to buy fruit in the park. I'm the type of weirdo that likes to live it up a bit on vacation, but know in advance that I can do it guilt free. If I save money from the original estimate, than that is sweet delicious gravy. Mmmmm gravy. Plus this time I won't have a stroller to use a pack mule and haul around a ton of food, like we did last time. I sound fat, but i'm not. I swear. I could use a few pounds sure, but I'm only like 8 pounds over the "normal" BMI.

I just know that snacks and desserts are an easy way to keep my daughter motivated in walking across pavement when it's 100 degrees outside. Sidenote. Why doesn't Disney have more awnings to keep the guests cooler? Maybe they should have scrapped Avatar land and invested their cash it all in awnings and those micro water mister things. They could even up-sell the option to tickets so it's tied into your Magic Band. When you walk by a water mister it turns on and cools you off but for the sad poor chumps that didn't shell out an extra $100, it would turn off and leave them all hot and disturbed. "Mom!" whines a kid, "I'm so hot, lets go back to the hotel and go into the pool" "Sorry kiddo" replies the Mom. "I know it's hot but we just got into the park, but you can blame your cheap father for not wanting to pay extra for the "air" conditioning"

On our 2014 trip I estimated our extras, souvenirs-shirts, mugs, mickey ears, etc.. tips, little extra stuff that catches your eye when you are strolling in the park after your daughter falls asleep in the stroller and then you and wife can actually look at things at a normal pace- anyway i think I my estimate was like $50.00 off after looking at the itemized charge-to-room bill that we received after the trip. I don't remember thinking that I was a strict budget or anything and I bought a few stupid things along the way too.

I would rather over estimate and plan for expenses and be prepared to pay in cash than be stuck with a OMG credit card bill. My wife and I had one of those experiences on our first cruise. When the bill-to-room charges statement came back with all the alcohol charges on it, that was frightening especially when each drink has an 18% tip added to it. I think we bought an extra cruise ticket with the booze bill.

 

[Mr. Pricklepants]

Just remortgage your house, take money out of the kids college fund and go! Hahah...\

Sad laughter. College fund? Her college fund is in Beanie Babies and Star Wars Episode I Pepsi Cans.

 

[Chaset24]

Just remortgage your house, take money out of the kids college fund and go! Hahah... No, seriously, now that you know BEFORE you have even booked anything at least you're aware of the increase and can try to compensate for what you didn't know you were going to spend. It's clear that you WANT to go to Disney and personally if I could afford it (whether or not how expensive I THOUGHT it was going to be) I would stay on Disney property with all the bells and whistles that will make my vacation enjoyable. It is not a beach (which you have mentioned previously) and the experience will be memorable and you won't have any regrets.

Well said! The extra cost is for the extra magic..

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

Sad laughter. College fund? Her college fund is in Beanie Babies and Star Wars Episode I Pepsi Cans.

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

My food estimates are just that, an estimate. Who hasn't had two desserts in one day while on vacation especially when you are walking on the surface of the sun otherwise know as Orlando in the late spring/summer? The dining plan used to offer dessert with each dinner and quick service and with the snacks, soooo I just wanted to compare. Hey, I used the snack credit to buy fruit in the park. I'm the type of weirdo that likes to live it up a bit on vacation, but know in advance that I can do it guilt free. If I save money from the original estimate, than that is sweet delicious gravy. Mmmmm gravy. Plus this time I won't have a stroller to use a pack mule and haul around a ton of food, like we did last time. I sound fat, but i'm not. I swear. I could use a few pounds sure, but I'm only like 8 pounds over the "normal" BMI.

I just know that snacks and desserts are an easy way to keep my daughter motivated in walking across pavement when it's 100 degrees outside. Sidenote. Why doesn't Disney have more awnings to keep the guests cooler? Maybe they should have scrapped Avatar land and invested their cash it all in awnings and those micro water mister things. They could even up-sell the option to tickets so it's tied into your Magic Band. When you walk by a water mister it turns on and cools you off but for the sad poor chumps that didn't shell out an extra $100, it would turn off and leave them all hot and disturbed. "Mom!" whines a kid, "I'm so hot, lets go back to the hotel and go into the pool" "Sorry kiddo" replies the Mom. "I know it's hot but we just got into the park, but you can blame your cheap father for not wanting to pay extra for the "air" conditioning"

On our 2014 trip I estimated our extras, souvenirs-shirts, mugs, mickey ears, etc.. tips, little extra stuff that catches your eye when you are strolling in the park after your daughter falls asleep in the stroller and then you and wife can actually look at things at a normal pace- anyway i think I my estimate was like $50.00 off after looking at the itemized charge-to-room bill that we received after the trip. I don't remember thinking that I was a strict budget or anything and I bought a few stupid things along the way too.

I would rather over estimate and plan for expenses and be prepared to pay in cash than be stuck with a OMG credit card bill. My wife and I had one of those experiences on our first cruise. When the bill-to-room charges statement came back with all the alcohol charges on it, that was frightening especially when each drink has an 18% tip added to it. I think we bought an extra cruise ticket with the booze bill.

I like "cheap father" lol thanks for the laugh.

 

[Chaset24]

Sad laughter. College fund? Her college fund is in Beanie Babies and Star Wars Episode I Pepsi Cans.

May the force be with you haha...

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

Also, you could always get gift cards to pay for dinners and snacks that way you don't have that OMG credit card bill... And also, have you thought about or looked into garden grocer. Having her favorite snacks on hand sounds like it would be super helpful in getting her around the parks. On a side note, I plan on eating ice cream for dinner at least twice while there... Why the heck not??? And my 3 year old will LOVE it!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Do you really need all of those deserts and drinks and snacks every single day? You can take hundreds of dollars off your trip by ordering a few cases of water and granola bars delivered to your hotel room..

 

[21stamps]

My food estimates are just that, an estimate. Who hasn't had two desserts in one day while on vacation especially when you are walking on the surface of the sun otherwise know as Orlando in the late spring/summer? The dining plan used to offer dessert with each dinner and quick service and with the snacks, soooo I just wanted to compare. Hey, I used the snack credit to buy fruit in the park. I'm the type of weirdo that likes to live it up a bit on vacation, but know in advance that I can do it guilt free. If I save money from the original estimate, than that is sweet delicious gravy. Mmmmm gravy. Plus this time I won't have a stroller to use a pack mule and haul around a ton of food, like we did last time. I sound fat, but i'm not. I swear. I could use a few pounds sure, but I'm only like 8 pounds over the "normal" BMI.

I just know that snacks and desserts are an easy way to keep my daughter motivated in walking across pavement when it's 100 degrees outside. Sidenote. Why doesn't Disney have more awnings to keep the guests cooler? Maybe they should have scrapped Avatar land and invested their cash it all in awnings and those micro water mister things. They could even up-sell the option to tickets so it's tied into your Magic Band. When you walk by a water mister it turns on and cools you off but for the sad poor chumps that didn't shell out an extra $100, it would turn off and leave them all hot and disturbed. "Mom!" whines a kid, "I'm so hot, lets go back to the hotel and go into the pool" "Sorry kiddo" replies the Mom. "I know it's hot but we just got into the park, but you can blame your cheap father for not wanting to pay extra for the "air" conditioning"

On our 2014 trip I estimated our extras, souvenirs-shirts, mugs, mickey ears, etc.. tips, little extra stuff that catches your eye when you are strolling in the park after your daughter falls asleep in the stroller and then you and wife can actually look at things at a normal pace- anyway i think I my estimate was like $50.00 off after looking at the itemized charge-to-room bill that we received after the trip. I don't remember thinking that I was a strict budget or anything and I bought a few stupid things along the way too.

I would rather over estimate and plan for expenses and be prepared to pay in cash than be stuck with a OMG credit card bill. My wife and I had one of those experiences on our first cruise. When the bill-to-room charges statement came back with all the alcohol charges on it, that was frightening especially when each drink has an 18% tip added to it. I think we bought an extra cruise ticket with the booze bill.

Your fruit comment- that's my point!!!

How much is a piece of fruit? Not enough to make using a credit worth it for sure. You would be saving money with OOP.
I really can't imagine anyone eating 2 $5 snacks and 2 desserts per day...plus 3 full meals. You wouldn't be able to walk in the 100 degree heat.lol. We ate our way "snacking" around the World Showcase in December, but only had 1 full meal besides that, and only bc it was a dining package..I would have rather done without.

I bet if you go back and itemize expenses, remove the dining plan and hoppers..figure out how you would actually eat.. you'd be shocked at what you would see.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Sad laughter. College fund? Her college fund is in Beanie Babies and Star Wars Episode I Pepsi Cans.

Um.

 

[Mr. Pricklepants]

Also, you could always get gift cards to pay for dinners and snacks that way you don't have that OMG credit card bill... And also, have you thought about or looked into garden grocer.

We used Garden Grocer last time and that was wonderful. My wife had normal priced wine every night after we came back from the parks. We mainly bought breakfast stuff, fruit, granola bars, cereal, wine, milk juice boxes, etc.

When you are at Disney, regular snacks just won't cut it. You have to have official Disney snacks. I don't care if it's 110 degrees out with 100% humidity she will want that damn hot fresh popped popcorn.

Ice Cream for dinner is awesome, though I have to have a waffle with it to add some healthy aspect to the meal. You must have missed the part above where I said I plan for things so I don't get sticker shock but no worries, that post was pretty all-over-the place.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We used Garden Grocer last time and that was wonderful. My wife had normal priced wine every night after we came back from the parks. We mainly bought breakfast stuff, fruit, granola bars, cereal, wine, milk juice boxes, etc.

When you are at Disney, regular snacks just won't cut it. You have to have official Disney snacks. I don't care if it's 110 degrees out with 100% humidity she will want that damn hot fresh popped popcorn.

Ice Cream for dinner is awesome, though I have to have a waffle with it to add some healthy aspect to the meal. You must have missed the part above where I said I plan for things so I don't get sticker shock but no worries, that post was pretty all-over-the place.

You got breakfast from Garden Grocer AND used the dining plan? I've said before that I'm a big guy and a big eater but that's a TON of food.

 

[21stamps]

We used Garden Grocer last time and that was wonderful. My wife had normal priced wine every night after we came back from the parks. We mainly bought breakfast stuff, fruit, granola bars, cereal, wine, milk juice boxes, etc.

When you are at Disney, regular snacks just won't cut it. You have to have official Disney snacks. I don't care if it's 110 degrees out with 100% humidity she will want that damn hot fresh popped popcorn.

Ice Cream for dinner is awesome, though I have to have a waffle with it to add some healthy aspect to the meal. You must have missed the part above where I said I plan for things so I don't get sticker shock but no worries, that post was pretty all-over-the place.

I get it. And I do think people should spoil themselves on vacation. But most of the time we can't do everything we want and remain within budget. I'd love to be staying in a Haven suite on my June cruise.. I mean as in salivating over it.. but I'm not. I'm staying in a regular stateroom bc that's what my budget allows. We'll still have a fabulous time.

Just pick and choose what's most important, then you can have Disney and a college fund

 

[Mr. Pricklepants]

Um.

Hey, you won't be laughing when you see me in the New Star Wars land park getting treated like Naboo royalty. Sure I could go to Michigan and get back a sweet ten cents per can, and then be ahead with something like a Hamilton(that's a $10.00 bill for those who are not with it) or at Disney, I can trade those sweet cans of corn syrup water into gold pressed latinum or an autograph of Natalie Portman's stunt double. Autographs is where the real action is at.

 

[Mr. Pricklepants]

You got breakfast from Garden Grocer AND used the dining plan? I've said before that I'm a big guy and a big eater but that's a TON of food.

I never thought I would be explaining my life choices on a Disney board, but hey, here we are. Yes, we did Garden Grocer and the dining plan. Probably spent $125-150 on the grocer, but again that was mainly for breakfast stuff and who knows what else. Maybe I can find my order form for that. We didn't really have anything to throw out either, expect maybe for some milk.

At that time, my wife and I didn't eat land meat. So it was fish and veggies. I love both, but neither keeps you full that long trekking like 10 miles a day over the Disney wastelands. Plus if you were in line with me, you might have been offered some yummy munchies. I make a mean salted, cinnamon and cocoa almonds. That was a hit on the plane. Again i'm not or need to be attending weight watchers. (NNTIATWWT)