$1700 Budget Trip to Walt Disney World For a Family of Four

AS OF MAY 2008

If you've read my "How Low Can You Go" article about taking a family of four to Walt Disney World on a budget of $1250, you know the money doesn't go very far. Most people would not be willing to cut their vacation down to such a short visit and race through all four parks in only two days.

Disney advertises that a family of four can vacation at Walt Disney World for 6 nights/7 days for less than $1600. Of course, that includes ONLY hotel room and tickets, in the off season. Except in cases of the rare special offer, it does not include meals (and eating three meals a day in the theme parks can easily cost $100 a day). It also doesn't include the cost of getting to Orlando, or any extras such as bottled water.

I decided to see if I could sketch out a way for a family (two adults, two children under 10) to do an all-inclusive vacation at Walt Disney World for $1600. My conclusion? Nope. But I could do it for $1700.

It's possible, if you live within about 350 miles of Orlando. With careful planning, a budget of $1700 can cover the entire cost of a decent vacation at Walt Disney World. That includes 5 hotel nights, 5 days of admission to the theme parks, meals (including one character meal), in-park snacks and 50 gallons of gasoline. The budget does not include souvenirs or meals on the road.

If you live further away, you'll have to add on the cost of additional gasoline, or airfare and ground transportation, which will add significantly to the bottom line.

If you're on a tight budget, $1700 is about the lowest possible all-inclusive cost for a family of four to do a reasonable Disney World vacation. (If you're really strapped, you might be able to do a 3-night/2-day vacation for $1250, but I don't recommend it.) Don't expect to see and do everything, but a 5-day ticket will allow you to experience quite a lot. (Be sure to visit the Time is Money page for some hints on how to maximize your time in the parks.)

Jump to:

The $1700 Disney World Vacation Budget

5 nights at 2 1/2-star hotel using Priceline*	$210.00
Theme park parking (5 days)	$55.00
5-day Magic Your Way tickets (advance purchase from a ticket broker)
for 2 adults and 2 children under 10	$807.80
4 breakfasts in room and bottled water	$45.00
Character breakfast, with tax and tip	$72.86
5 counter service lunches and 4 counter service dinners	$256.50
Afternoon snacks (5 days)	$60.00
Gasoline	$190.00
Total:	$1697.16

The Plan

First Night

Depending on your driving time, you will need to bring a packed lunch and/or dinner (not included in vacation budget) to eat during your drive to Walt Disney World.

Before you leave, stop at a supermarket and purchase groceries for four days' worth of breakfasts, and enough bottled water for your five days in the theme parks. The easiest approach is to buy breakfast foods that don't require refrigeration, such as peanut butter, bread, donuts, pastries, fruit, granola bars and/or cereal. If you have a cooler, you can bring a few refrigerated items to eat on the way, and possibly milk for your cereal. (You can use the hotel ice machine to restock the ice in your cooler during your vacation.) Your total grocery budget is $45.

Spend your first night at a hotel in Orlando, booked through Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" service. Currently your best bet for a decent hotel at a bargain price is a 2 1/2-star hotel in the Universal/SeaWorld area for $35 or less per night, plus Priceline fees and taxes, so figure $42 per night total. To learn more about using Priceline to book hotels, click here.

If you get to Orlando early enough on this first night, there are many things you can do for FREE that don't require park admission.

Days 1-4

Eat breakfast in your room. After breakfast, head over to one of the Disney theme parks, arriving in time for opening so that you can maximize your time in the park.

Eat lunch and dinner at counter service restaurants. Your budget is $28.50 per meal (on average). Here are some examples of what you could buy for about that much money:

• Lunch at Restaurantosaurus in Animal Kingdom: two cheeseburgers w/fries @ $6.09, two soft drinks @ $2.09 each, two kids' meals w/drink @ $4.49 each. Total with tax: $26.99.

• Dinner at Cantina de San Angel in Epcot's World Showcase: Wet Burrito @ $7.95, Tacos al Carbon w/black beans @ $7.95, two soft drinks @ $2.09 each, two kids' meals w/drink @ $3.99 each. Total with tax: $29.88.

• Lunch at ABC Commissary in Disney's Hollywood Studios: Cuban Sandwich w/plantain chips @ $6.69; Chicken Curry w/rice @ $6.49; two soft drinks @ $2.09 each, two kids' meals with sides and beverage @ $4.49 each. Total with tax: $28.05.

• Dinner at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café in Magic Kingdom: adults split Half Chicken and BBQ Rib combo meal w/mashed potatoes and vegetable @ $13.99, two soft drinks @ $2.09 each, two kids' meals with sides and beverage @ $4.49 each. Total with tax: $28.91.

You also have a budget of $12 per day for snacks, which is sufficient to buy one popcorn, order of churros or bag of chips per person.

Take your prepurchased bottled water (which you can chill on ice in your hotel) with you into the parks, so that you won't have to buy it at $2.50 a bottle.

At park closing, head back to the hotel you booked through Priceline.

Day 5

End your Walt Disney World fun with a character breakfast. The least expensive options are currently Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom; 1900 Park Fare at Grand Floridian Resort or 'Ohana at Polynesian Resort (either of which are a quick monorail ride from Magic Kingdom); or Cape May Cafe at Beach Club Resort (quick walk or boat ride from Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios). Any of these breakfasts will cost you $18.99 for adults and $10.99 for kids, plus tax and tip. Be sure to make Advance Dining Reservations before your vacation.

After breakfast, head off to whichever Disney theme park you'd like to visit on your last day. A counter service lunch and a snack are included in the budget.

Since you're driving home, you'll probably have to take off sometime in the afternoon. The cost of meals on the road is not included in the budget.

Notes

Be aware that when you bid on Priceline for the five hotel nights, you'll be paying in full at the time of booking, and it's non-refundable.

Is it possible to go even lower? Yes. For instance:

• If you skip soft drinks at meals and instead order a cup of ice water or drink bottled water you bring with you, you'll save around $2.23 (with tax) per beverage.

• You could carry basic meals and snacks into the theme parks, instead of eating in the counter-service restaurants. If you do this, be sure to pack things that won't spoil.

• You could leave the theme parks and eat dinner off-site occasionally. However, this really cuts into your park time on such a short vacation. Also, even if you eat at fast-food restaurants or very inexpensive sit-down locations like Steak n Shake or Cici's Pizza, you probably won't save any money once you pay for the gas to drive there.

Will this plan work for everyone? Absolutely not. When it comes to vacations, people have very different needs and desires. This plan is not the ideal way to visit Walt Disney World. But if the only way you can go to Disney World is on a strict budget, it might work for you.

Many people will find this plan too bare-bones. Perhaps fabulous resort hotels are an important part of their vacation plans, and they like to take their time in the theme parks. (That would be me. Personally I'd much rather save up my money and enjoy a few luxuries on vacation.) For some people, fine dining or lots of souvenirs are things that "make" the whole trip. Only you know exactly what you need and want in a vacation!

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