What Does a WDW Vacation Cost, Really?

[Goes4FastPass]

I read a lot of threads on this board about value vs. deluxe and other cost considerations and add-ons and options preferred view upcharges and I see lots of expressions like 'priceless' and 'worth it'.

I know I personally trick myself about how much I spend when we go to WDW. I pay for my package well in advance, airline tickets on a different credit card, cash for most purchases while on property.

Standing in front of Cinderella's Castle always makes me feel like a kid - but in my extended family I'm the 'kid' who has to make the dollars work.

And It seems from many posts here that your WDW vacations often are a week or longer. We hardly ever get to stay that long.

I'd like to know, if any of you are willing to tell us, what the usual all in total cost door to door is for your usual 'on property' WDW vacation. Transportation to and from WDW, lodging, meals, park admissions, all of the extras, MVMCP, MNSSHP, P&P, pizza delivery, BBB, HDDR, CduS, pin trading, souvenirs, concierge, refillable mugs, photos from ToT and MBYB and everywhere else, water park locker rentals, dole whips, churros, tipping, taxis, ponchos, etc. etc. etc. all in.

I'd like to know, and...

...am I the only one who tricks themselves about their total cost?

[BigRedDad]

I haven't been in a while, but my wife and I honeymooned in 2001 for $3000. That was airfare, AKL on the Savannah, tickets, meals souvenirs, wedding gift, 7 days. We are going for 7 days this Spring. It will be DD2, DW, and myself.

POP: $675
Airfare: $750
Tickets: $560
Meals: $500
Souvenirs: $300
Total: $2785

[mudpuppysmom]

You aren't the only one who tricks yourself about the total cost.....I think I'm a tad delusional too since I spread it out over the course of a few months.

We just came back last week from seven days, so I have a fresh trip in my mind. Now, my sister wants to go in December with her girls and she would like us to go too....I'll have a five year old and a 6 month old in December, so I'll have to account for a tad bit more next time.

Now, I'm kinda afraid to tell you what we just spent "door to door"......but here is what I can run down for you:

Hotel the night before and parking for our car at the hotel $110
Airfare $406 (but I had $130 in credit that I also used from SW)
Rental Car (we love having a car and this was the cheapest I've ever gotten one....$92 for the rental and $30 for gas this trip)
Hotel -- we stay at SOG most of the time and it's on Disney property, but not a Disney hotel, so not sure if you want to count it......$666
plus $30 for parking fee
Supplies from Walmart once we got there:$60
Pirate & Princess Party: $130 (I can't remember exactly, so I took $45x3 which is what I think it is about)
Meals: Now this is pretty tough, because we eat on and off property and we generally do not eat breakfast at a park, we eat in our room....granola bars, fruit, pop tarts, etc... We only ate four sit down meals this trip in the parks (three were planned one was not) and only one of them was an actual sit down (Cali Grill), the others were buffet (Tusker House lunch on a whim, Crystal Palace breakfast and Biergarten lunch). Granted Cali Grill was a really heavy bill too! Anyway, I estimate that all our food in park and out of park PLUS the souvies we bought (which were not our usual this trip) was about $1300.
Tickets: we bought a 10 day hopper no expire (DH uses it when he comes for long weekends, a 10day hopper for DS and an AP for me) for $1200

So, grand total.......ohhhhh, am I going to be surprised when I add all this up.....$3964.....and I try to be budget minded!!!
So there you have it!

[CleveSJM]

Last big trip we took was for 6 days during free dining in 2006.

Transportation: $500 (drive straight thru, gas, misc)
Lodging: $960 (2 connecting Value rooms)
Meals: Free dining was nice (without FD $1000)
Park admissions: $1000ish (4 adult, 1 kid, 1 under 3)
Extras/Souvs/MNSSHP: $1540

Whole ball o' wax: $4000 with Free Dining $5000 without. Disney VISA Card felt the brunt of that, HELOC shortly thereafter...

[scootch713]

One adult/two kids.... deluxe hotel, 6 nights, flights from Pittsburgh....all the other stuff(food, souveniers, stroller rental ect...)

about $3000 each year...

memories with my two miracle babies(well not so baby anymore, age almost 6 and 8)..... "priceless".....


(you knew that was coming, didn't you)

[mickey&missy]

Good question!

In all honesty, I believe that our 2006 trip cost us about $10,000. GULP!

We took DH's parents with us and had 2 courtyard view rooms at WL. With airline tickets for 6 people (our family of 4 and the inlaws) limo, our package, meals & snacks, Hoop Dee Doo, MNSSHP on Halloween, DD's trip to BBB (of course she picked the most expense dress), pins, souvenirs, photopass CD, plus all the pre-trip purchases etc, etc, etc,

I spent WAY too much money on souvenirs during that trip. But I got a lot christmas decorations and christmas gifts. Plus, we tend to "go all out." When we go.

In 05 DH's parent took us, we seem to have a they take us - we take them trend going, and we paid for breakfasts, snacks, a few dinners souvenirs, photopass pictures and not much else. We spent somewhere around $1500.

I try very hard not to trick myself about the cost. DH is very nickle and dime and tricking myself would cause an arguement between us. For us its much better to know the cost before we plan, make sure its doable and go from there.

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

I keep all my receipts from my previous trips so that I can budget what to spend on the next one.

Sept 2007 trip:
hotel/tickets 2400
airfair 10 (used free flights)
food and souvenirs 2550 (husband bought me my christmas presents too)

total 4960

It adds up so fast when you are there. I start putting money away when I get back for my next trip.

[WriteDisney]

I'm planning my trip for September right now and adding up costs.

We're staying for 10 days with dining, water parks, park hopper, and accomodations at a moderate hotel (Port Orleans French Quarter) and here's what the total looks like: $2800.

When you add in airfare, its going to be around $3200. And even though it does include meals and snacks, I'm sure I'll end up spending another couple hundred bucks on food and souveners.

For us, this works within our budget for the year. My DBF and I work hard and its our big vacation for the year. We were originally planning on 2 trips, but could only budget one.

Personally, given everything that's included I think its completely worth it. I spend 8 days in london and paris last summer and while my parents paid for most of the trip, the part I was responsible for was astronomical. Considering that disney vacation packages include everything, its completely worth it and then some. Especially given how many options you have to save money (value resorts, not opting for certain perks).

If I was to give any advice to those who think that disney isn't affordable, I would say go during value season! Our trip in march was going to cost more then the one in September, and during value season we were able to add 2 days, water parks, and budget in some tour and special events!

[AuntDJ]

Nope, I count my self as delusional when it comes to the cost of my Disney trips:

This years per-tally:

2300-Hotel/8 day park hopper/dining plan (POFQ)
750- airfare
50- in room snacks and breakfast items
100-random in park snacks; items not covered by dining plan
400-souvenirs

I estimated high for the souvenirs...but that puts us around 3600...for me and my niece.

Totally worth it for me!

DJ

[WriteDisney]

I forgot to add that most transportation is included (buses or monorail) so you really only need to worry about airfare. Thats a huge savings (gas!). I also love that all entertainment is included (minus special events which you can budget as needed). You never have to worry about what to do, theres usually too much to choose from!

[AZ Disney]

We just returned and the package/airfare were all paid in advance. DH and I flew on rewards tickets and my parents bought the boys' tickets for their birthdays. They were only $160 round trip from PHX-MCO.

MYW Package at POFQ $2500 w/Dining for 7nights/8days.
everything else got billed to the room while were there and it was $1222.00. This was souvenirs and extra dining/drinks costs.

Yikes!

[Goofster]

We usually like to keep our costs down by bringing our own breakfasts, eating mostly counter service meals, and keeping a strict budget (per person) for souveniers.

For our upcoming 2/3/08-2/8/08 trip:

Saratoga Springs (renting DVC pts.) - $600
WDW Tickets (non-Park hopper) - $655
Airline Tickets for 5 (from Detroit) - $600
Food (one character buffet - $15 each day for snacks, etc.) - $375
Souveniers - $100.

Total - $2330 This will probably the cheapest it will be as 2009 will require park passes for my son (he'll be turning 3 towards the end of this trip) and then 2010 will require a pass for my youngest son (he just turned 1). So by 2010 we'll be up to about $2730.

[#1donaldfan]

For us, a fam of 5, one being at a child rate right now......from door to door, up and down the east coast, we tend to manage very well on $ 5,000.....it may have been a little more last year, don't remember why...... that's staying at POR, driving down approx 900 miles, staying one night off prop....usually one night back, eats, souviners, ...... yeah, about 5 door to door.....with very little left over....oh yeah, kennell for dogs....???? you pose a very interesting question .........

[SAHDad]

I'd have to look, but for our last trip, we only had a couple major expenses.

Airfare - major expense, and something I'd have to check. IIRC, ab out $750 (2 adults, 1 preschooler, 1 infant)
Magical Express - free
WL - free, since the in-laws are DVC members, and tend to save points for a couple years so that all the children/SILs can go at once.
Food - almost all free. Not due to free dining, but we use our Disney Visa for a lot of purchases, and just save up the reward points until we take a trip. We did spend some on groceries (mainly diapers, Cheerios, baby food), but less than $100 for a party of 12
Tickets - $400? Something like that. The baby didn't need them, and my wife still had days left from a previous trip.
Souvenirs - I spent $60 on a Goofy's Challenge jacket, my wife got a couple marathon things, and we bought some things for the kids. Call it $150, and I would have change back. We don't buy many, though we do take a lot of pictures.
Misc expenses - $100, but that's to cover my rear, in case we forgot anything
Parking at airport - $100 or so. (Ouch!)
Marathon registration - $425? (I ran the 5k and the Goofy, my wife ran the marathon. That adds up fast. . .)

If we had to pay for lodging, we probably wouldn't stay in WL, but either one of the All Stars or Pop Century or something, unless we could get a good deal.

[kakn7294]

Let's see - guesstimates for what we spent in August 2007:

Airfare: $520 RT on SW for 4 people
Parking at airport: $70
Food at airport: $50
Crocs and Jibbitz at airport: $80
MYW package with free dining: $2300 at POFQ with 9 day PH tickets
P&P party tickets: $180
Souvenirs: I have no clue - at least $800

All together, probably about $4000.00 to $4500.00 - pretty much what I figured but didn't want to know!

[Disneyatic]

Our last trip we had free dining and stayed at Pop so it was a bit cheaper but we went WAY overboard with souvenirs and almost couldn't get everything home!!

Here is the breakdown for our December 08 trip
$3351 for 2 adults, 2 children (ages 9 & 11) 7 nights at POFQ with water view, 8 day park hoppers no water park option, standard dining package
$1600 estimate of round-trip airfare from DFW to Orlando
$200 dining tips
$1200 souvenirs and extras
Total: $6351 YIKES
Hopefully we get a good deal on airfare and can shave off some of the cost that way!

We had decided that we were going to splurge more on this trip and let it be mine and DH's Christmas gift to each other. We are also taking our niece along and she is 11 so she counts as an adult on this trip and that has added some cost.

[conwayjohn71]

Family of 4
7 night Package staying at Port Orleans with dinning plan
2678.92
Additional food
200.00
BBB for 2 girls (it was a birthday present)
270.00
Souviners, everybody had the same amount, at least when we started
600.00, after the trip my wife informed me this number rose to 916.00
We fly free since my sister works for SW Airlines

so we usally spend around 4000.00 for the group of us

it will be more in 2009 since we are going to stay at either Wilderness Lodge or Animail Kingdom, that is what my wife wanted for our 10th anniversary

we are not going this year so I am budgeting 6000 for our 2009 une trip

[joonyer]

On our last trip, we (four adult prices) bought the dining plan. We stayed 6 nights at Pop Century, with Park Hopper (with water park) passes, and the dining plan. The price for all of that was right at $2,950.00.
Gas for driving there and back home: $100.00
Food on the road $40.00
Miscellaneous groceries/drinks/snacks we kept in the room: $50.00
Souvenirs, gifts and snacks not covered by dining plan: $525.00
MNSSHP passes (two nights) (worth it) $320.00
Wheelchair rental 2 days(wife sprained her ankle):$16.00
Total Spent: $4,001.00

The dining plan added about $912, and for the amount/choices of food you got, it was worth it, however, it bought way more food than we wanted. We won't purchase it again. We have stayed for a week before buying all our own meals and spent only about $600.00, simply because we don't eat as much food as you get with the plan.

Overall, the memories we make on every trip wre worth it, but we also go other places on vacation that cost much less, although they aren't as magical, and we make great memories there too. I'm just glad we can afford to go to WDW every so often. We're saving & planning now for our first Disney Cruise.

[pogo]

I read a lot of threads on this board about value vs. deluxe and other cost considerations and add-ons and options preferred view upcharges and I see lots of expressions like 'priceless' and 'worth it'.

I know I personally trick myself about how much I spend when we go to WDW. I pay for my package well in advance, airline tickets on a different credit card, cash for most purchases while on property.

Standing in front of Cinderella's Castle always makes me feel like a kid - but in my extended family I'm the 'kid' who has to make the dollars work.

And It seems from many posts here that your WDW vacations often are a week or longer. We hardly ever get to stay that long.

I'd like to know, if any of you are willing to tell us, what the usual all in total cost door to door is for your usual 'on property' WDW vacation. Transportation to and from WDW, lodging, meals, park admissions, all of the extras, MVMCP, MNSSHP, P&P, pizza delivery, BBB, HDDR, CduS, pin trading, souvenirs, concierge, refillable mugs, photos from ToT and MBYB and everywhere else, water park locker rentals, dole whips, churros, tipping, taxis, ponchos, etc. etc. etc. all in.

I'd like to know, and...

...am I the only one who tricks themselves about their total cost?

OK... I'll try to answer this before I read everyone else's response's so it's not affected by theirs.

We (just my DW and I) usually go for five or six nights, and stay in a Mod if we are paying for it. We stayed at the Poly once at McDonalds expense and loved it, but we're not that rich.

Our package (POFQ, 5 nights, 6 day tickets, no park hopper, last year cost us $1,800.

Air fare from Rochester, NY is around $350.

We spent around $400 total on food, drinks and souvies so our cost = about $2,550. Well worth it.

We are trying to go again in April of this year and our estimated expense's are $2,440 and we are planning on driving.

There you have it... I hope this info helps.

[BMan62]

Last November DW and I spent 8 days - 7 nights at Pop Century Standard room with MYW + Park Hopper tickets for the 8 days. We did NOT get the meal plan.
Cost $1080

Airfare for 2 BWI (Baltimore) to MCO (Orlando) on Southwest - roundtrip.
Cost $280

Food, drink, etc. at WDW - OOP
Cost $600 (approx.)

Parking for 8 days at airport (BWI)
Cost $72

Total cost for trip: $2,032 (+/- $50)