So realistically how much is Disney

DH were discussing this the other day. We have done no research as we are not planning on going anytime soon but we would like to take our 3 kids. I have been when I was younger so many years ago and DH has never been.

We know it will not be cheap so it will probably be a once maybe if we are lucky twice trip there with our children. Hence the reason we are waiting until they are older (maybe when my youngest is 5/6 and the twins are 7/8). We are not sure exactly about that yet. I can't even wrap my head around it when I see all the Disney posts I'm like omg I don't have time for all that research! I hear we pretty much would want to stay on property as it would be a huge hassle with 3 kids to shuttle back and forth off property.

So my question is how much approximately are we looking at? I realize of course this is a broad range. But DH and I are thinking this trip for the 5 of us will probably run in 10-12k range. Does this sound about right? Are we completely off base? Just wondering.

Re: So realistically how much is Disney

Well there are really a ton of variables. So it is really hard to give you an accurate answer. But you can definitely do it for much less than 10-12k. I mean you CAN spend that if you wish, but you can do Disney for much less. Pricing out trips I find sometimes you can do it for less than a cruise.

Time of the year, age of the kids, level of hotel, type of tickets can make all the difference.

Often you can get deals like 20-30% off of the room. Pricing out a trip in the end of August for example in a moderate (POR)some sections sleeps 5. Add tickets you are looking at somewhere between 3k and $3,500.

A deluxe will run you closer to 4,500 with tickets.

Food is hard to say. It depends on your personal taste. I know some who eat breakfast in their room (they get peanut butter and bread, or cereal, or yogurt) and do mostly counter service and one or two table meals. While others do the bigger meal plan and sit downs two times a day. I recommend checking out Allears.net -they have all the counter service and table service menus. That way you can price things out to get an idea. There are meal plans. They help with budget, you can come out ahead, but for most it isn't worth it. You would need to pick the most expensive meals, order the most expensive things to be worth it. We have gone both ways. It is a personal choice.

You do not need a car there. ME picks you up at the airport and returns you and your bags for free. Transportation in the world is free too.

Airfare really depends. You could watch airfare for good deals. Many drive to save on costs as well.

If you are not going soon. Price out some weeks you are interested in (book airfare separately). Their website is easy. It will give you a base of what to expect. Then expect depending on when you go there might be a deal which makes it cheaper. But if you budget for the full price, the deal will just give you more money to play with.

Btw kids under 3 are free. No ticket needed for them. In some circumstances they eat for free (buffets and family style places, but not if you order them a meal). One way to save.

You can splurge and pay 6-8k for hotel and tickets, but you don't have to to have a good time. Easywdw, mouse savers, dis boards, touringplans, Kenny the pirate are all good sites. Also the all stars have some family suites that are just a little more than the moderates, with more space. You could also rent dvc points through a place like DVids and get a villa and cook more meals, but pay less too. Don't just assume because it is Disney it is too much. Yes, it can be expensive, but you can do it on a budget too if that is your wish.

Re: So realistically how much is Disney

I would say it will cost you anywhere from $3k-10k depending on time of year, how many days and where you stay/eat.

I think the first time we went, we stayed off site for free using starwood points, both kids were young so we did not buy them tickets, went to 1 park per day for 4 hours, bought groceries and made a few meals in our kitchen, only quick serve meals and our whole trip was 5 days. That trip cost us less than $2k.

Recently we stayed at Grand Floridian, character meals, sit down meals, parkhopper, stayed for 5 nights and this trip probably cost more like $6k.

Our sweet spot for trip length is 4-6 days. Other people we know like to stay the whole week including both weekends so 9 nights total. That would obviously cost more because more hotel nights, more tickets, more meals.

Our good friends with 3 kids just booked and it is costing them $6k for 7 nights with 4 days of parkhopper and 2 days at Universal. They bought a package from Costco.

Message edited 4/19/2015 4:58:46 PM.

Re: So realistically how much is Disney

Good to know. No, we would definitely love to do it for 5k or less but didn't know if this was reasonable with flights, etc.

Re: So realistically how much is Disney

We've gone 3 years ina row over school breaks, and find for a family of four it's aveergaesout to about $1000/day (including airfare).

So realistically how much is Disney

We just went in November and as a family of 5 we spent just under 5k. We were able to get the free dining plan which saved us close to $1000. I'm sure the time of year that you go would make a difference too.

Re: So realistically how much is Disney

I'd say $5k to $10k depending on how long you were planning to stay, what types of places you wanted to eat at, park hopper vs. regular tickets, and the type of room you pick. airfare for 4 alone can get pricey.

Re: So realistically how much is Disney

We typically split the trip with a florida beach vacation. You drive for about 3 hours to get to a beach. It's much less $$ to go to the beach (no admission fees) & we go often (every year to every other year). Last year, I think the kids liked seeing the gator swamp tour more than Disney!

Flights are tough. This is when you will get stuck with a fixed cost of around $2K if you are off season with a family of 5. I only look up jetblue direct flights with so many kids.

So my break down for 7 days would be for resort off site:
$2000 flight (for 5, flying on weekends)
$300 PM "event" at Disney: xmas or halloween party: an excellent way to avoid crowds & save some $$
$1000 2 full days Disney
$1000 (for really nice resort hotel)-$1600 (5 star luxury) hotel (check out Orbitz)
(and we go to beach)
$500 car rental (pick up one city, drop off another)
So: $4,800- 5,400 plus food

If you stay at Art of Animation Disney for 5 for 7 days:
$2000 flight
$4000 hotel & 4 day package of tickets (vs 2.5 days because you are not going to beach)
So: $6,000 plus food

Again, food is very personal & you can make sandwiches or do character dining every night...

I'm also pricing for September. If you price for a school holiday, of course everything goes up per supply & demand.

So realistically how much is Disney

We just went over Spring Break for 7 nights (peak period, and paid $259 a night at a moderate plus tax...POFQ), air was peak, tickets through a third party for 6 days (no hopping). I paid $5,000 total including our meals and souvies for 1 adult and 2 kids (one is a teen, so pricing is higher for park tickets). I've done it for less staying at a value. I've done it for the same price staying at a Deluxe (Yacht Club through Orbitz with a sale and code). It all just depends on when you are going and where you want to stay.

Re: So realistically how much is Disney

The biggest factor in cost will be time of year and resort.

If you go at "off" times you'll save so much money. Instead of choosing an expensive resort go for the value resorts. Also, try and book when Disney is offering FREE dining, that is a HUGE savings, especially for a family of 5. Use the Disney transportation to and from the airport and the parks, we NEVER rent a car so that is another savings.

We were there in October/November, we stayed at a value resort, and we got free dining. Our kids are 6 and 2 (my little one was free) and it cost us about $3K for 10 days. However, on top of that we paid for passes to some of the special events that were going on while we there as well as passes to Universal. Also, it was another $1100'ish for airfare. So no matter what, it will be a few thousand for a Disney vacation. You can save some money by driving down if you think you can handle the long drive.

I would recommend speaking to travel agent that specializes in Disney vacations and let them help you put together a trip that will be as cost effective for you as possible.

ETA - You can also save money by NOT getting the Park Hopper passes. Plan your days so you take full advantage of one park per day. I use to always get Park Hoppers and I loved it BUT now with two little kids, it's really more of a hassle to jump around so I planned our days out so that we stayed at the same park morning, noon, and night. It worked out great and it saved us some money too!

Message edited 4/20/2015 11:30:34 AM.

So realistically how much is Disney

like everybody else said- it depends on when you go, and how much you want to "do it up" lol if you want to stay on disney in on of their deluxe hotels, or one of the value resorts- whether you do dining plan or not, how many character meals you want to do, whether or not you get park hopper tickets, if you want to do the Bibbity Bobbity boutique or Pirates League for your kids....
we're going the first of september. we wanted to "do it up" a little bit this trip, so we're staying at a deluxe hotel (Wilderness Lodge), we got the park hopper tickets with water park option, and we're doing the dining plan with a lot of character meals, and a dinner at Le Cellier steakhouse (but we're hoping the free dining comes out soon!!). for me, DH, DS (5) and i... its going to be close to 6K for 7 nights, with airfare.
like i said, we're doing it up a little bit this trip. when we went in 2011, my friend who works for disney got us in the parks for free every day and we stayed at a value resort. and then last year when we went, we stayed at the disney campground in my parents camper, and they paid for the campsite... so the last 2 trips weren't too expensive. so we figure we'll splurge a little bit this time

So realistically how much is Disney

Just to give you an idea about peak vs off peak costs. We wanted to go this year during spring break to see the Flower & Garden Festival. We usually go in October for the Food & Wine Festival. Airfare for our family of 3 in October ranges from $690-800. Airfare during spring break for our family of 3 priced out at $2100. We didn't go.