We have set our trip dates! We will be traveling to Disney World January 26th – February 2nd, 2013. Here is our budget for the trip.
$935 – One Week in 2 Bedroom Beach Club Villa. I have a friend who was unable to use her DVC points for this year, so she was kind enough to use them to book us a week at the Beach Club and in exchange we paid her enough to cover her annual dues for the year. Since we are traveling with my mother in law and nephew again, we split the bill. We are paying 2/3rds of the bill and she is covering the other 1/3rd.
$1389 – Approximate cost for 2 Adult Park Hopper and 2 Children Park Hopper tickets from Undercover Tourist. We are going with Park Hoppers on this trip since we are within walking distance to Epcot. (Ouch! These tickets are getting so expensive!)
$425 – Approximate cost for our 3 sit down meals – 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Garden Grill and O’hanas for dinner. We will also eat at Rainforest Cafe for lunch one day (we have $75 in Landry’s gift cards; included that $75 in the $425 estimate).
$150 – Approximate cost for groceries for 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 dinners that we will cook in our kitchen in the Villa. We plan to break each day for lunch and hopefully swimming if it’s not too cold.
$150 – Souvenir money. Hubby and I will each get $50 and we will give each of the kids $25. They usually save their allowance and Christmas money too.
$538 – 4 round trip airline tickets on Southwest.
$3587 – Total trip budget for the 2013 Disney World trip!
I want you to learn how to grow your own fund too! If you are new to couponing, start with the Getting Started Couponing Series, followed by the How To Start Your Fund series. Remember you can use these savings principles to save for anything you want from Disney trips to paying off debt to buying a new television. As the great Walt Disney said “If you can dream it, you can do it!”
Megan R says
Jennifer- Kristin is staying at the Beach Club Villas which are part of the Disney Vacation Club. They are a Disney resort so they can take the Magic Express.
Jennifer Shaw says
Thanks Megan.. so unless you stay at a Disney resort.. you can’t take the Magic Express?
Megan R says
That’s correct. You have to be staying at a Disney Resort to ride on the Magic Express as the bus ride reservation is linked to your Disney resort reservation. Any other hotel or resort and you have to find your own way there- taxi, shuttle, town car, etc. I have used Happy Limo to get from DCL to WDW and was very happy with it. There are lots of options, but the Magic Express is free and included with your Disney resort amenities.
Jennifer Shaw says
I see you said you were flying SOUTHWEST but was NOT staying on Disney sights.. Does this mean you can still ride the MAGIC EXPRESS bus or do you have to rent a car? I guess my question is.. how do you get from the airport to your villa?
Amanda F says
I just booked our rooms last night and we are going to be there at the same time :) I would love to meet! We are staying on property 1/28-2/6…let me know!
Alissa says
Wow! Our package is $3375 so far, for our trip the 1st week of Jan…..(hoping for some more discounts to come out, as we are Disney Visa card holders) for our group of 6 to go for 7 nights/6 days. We did get the counter-service meal plan, and we are driving from MD down to FL. I haven’t accounted for gas (but my mom is going with us, so she will be contributing towards that cost), and we don’t have park-hopper tickets, just 5 one-day passes each. I have amassed over $300 in Disney gift cards so far, to pay for a couple dinners out at “Be Our Guest” and the character breakfast, & spending cash. That’s a great price for flights!! There’s no way we could get flights that cheap from here….LOL
Megan says
Kristin- I was just curious if you are using Garden Grocer or some other delivery service for your groceries? Since you are flying and you don’t have a budget for any other transportation listed, I assume you will be riding the Magical Express? We have always had the free dining plan, so I am curious about the groceries and meal planning aspect. Can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Jane Baker says
We went in early March last year and have reservations again for this year. The weather was beautiful. We used the pool two times. The international flower show begins March 6….so, Epcot is a bit busy plus spring break. So, it is a beautiful time to go…but, keep in mind it is a bit crowded too.
VB says
We are planning on going at the end of February or 1st week of March. You guys are going in January and mentioned hitting the pool which was a concern for us . We weren’t sure if if feb or march would be warm ensugh for that. Any experiences going during that timeframe? We have neen told March is a rainy month in Florida- any experience with that as well?
Michelle C says
2011 was unseasonably warm all year round.
It really is hard to say. I live in Jacksonville, FL. Sometimes it is too chilly for swimming early in the year. There really is no telling if this year will be like last year though.
Jolene says
We will also be “using” a friends DVC points this year to go at Christmas! My only let down…no “mousekeeping”, we have went 2 other times, and each day was a special suprise when we got back to the room. We rotated each day on who got to the open door and go in first! I’m not sure why Disney doesn’t give DCV members daily cleaning? But, I am super excited to see the World in full Christmas decoration!
Jane Baker says
I know that it is a bit more money upfront. But, I normally purchase a 10 day hopper pass with no expiration and use it for 3 or 4 trips. If we go during a time when they are doing special park tickets (Halloween or Christmas). We purchase the special ticket and only do that event that day and use 2 or 3 of our hopper passes for the rest of the trip. We also like to spend one day enjoying our resort and visiting Fort Wilderness and Downtown Disney.
katrina says
Have you considered doing the Disney Y.E.S program and getting tickets? It can save a good amount of money. Last year my family of 5 went, the older 2 took 1 class each and our 8day park hopper tickets were I *think* $1045- or about $209 a person. Give or take a few $.
The kids LOVED it.
VB says
I had been checking the yes site for quite some time but they never posted any dates after October. We were wondering if simce the addition to the park they decided not to offer the classes/discounted tickets. But after reading your comment I checked the site and it looks revamped and they have schedule for January and February up!!!! They just don’t have the pricing up but this years discount was something like 35%-40% off reg ticket price.
Kristin: they have classes during the week you are going!!!
Nella says
You should check out orlandofuntickets.com. The park passes might be cheaper. They have $307 adult and $291 child hopper. That is 5 day pass for price of 4 days.