$1500 Budget Trip to Walt Disney World For a Family of Four

AS OF JULY 2005

Since Disney rolled out its Magic Your Way vacation packages in January 2005, it has been advertising that a family of four can vacation at Walt Disney World for 6 nights/7 days for less than $1500. Of course, that includes ONLY hotel room and tickets, plus ground transportation to and from the airport. Except in cases of the rare special offer, it does not include meals. It also doesn't include the cost of getting to Orlando, or any extras such as souvenirs or bottled water.

I decided to see if I could sketch out a way for a family (2 adults, 2 children ages 3-9) to do an all-inclusive vacation at Walt Disney World for $1500.

It's possible, if you live within driving distance of Orlando. With careful planning, a budget of $1500 can cover the entire cost of a decent vacation at Walt Disney World. That includes $100 worth of gasoline, 5 hotel nights, 5 days of admission to the theme parks, meals (including one character meal) and a few souvenirs. The budget does not include meals on the road -- you'd have to pack your own groceries or add some additional cash for restaurant meals.

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

If you're on a tight budget, $1500 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 $1000, 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.)

The $1500 Disney World Vacation Budget

Gasoline	$100.00
5 nights at 2-star hotel using Priceline*	$185.00
Parking (5 days)	$40.00
5-day Magic Your Way tickets (advance purchase from a ticket broker)
for 2 adults and 2 children (age 3-9)	$714.00
4 breakfasts in room and bottled water	$40.00
Character breakfast, with tax and tip	$68.00
5 counter service lunches and 4 counter service dinners	$225.00
Afternoon snacks (4 days)	$48.00
Souvenirs	$80.00
Total:	$1500.00

The Plan

First Night

Depending on your driving time, you will need to bring a packed lunch and/or dinner (not included in 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 $40.

Spend your first night at a hotel in Orlando, booked through Priceline. You can frequently get a 2-star hotel in the Disney World area for $30 or less per night plus Priceline fees and taxes, so figure $37 per night total. To learn more about using Priceline to book hotels near Walt Disney World, 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 for breakfast and lunch is $25 per meal. Here are some examples of what you could buy for that much money:

• Lunch at Pizzafari in Animal Kingdom: 2 individual cheese pizzas @ $5.49, two soft drinks @ $1.99 each, two kids' meals w/drink @ $3.99 each. Total with tax: $24.43.

• Dinner at Lotus Blossom Café in Epcot's World Showcase: Family shares Orange Chicken Rice Bowl @ $6.59, Vegetable Lo Mein @ $4.59, Fried Rice with Beef @ $3.99 and Egg Rolls @ $3.19. Adults have Chinese Tea @ $1.59, kids have milk @ $.99 each. Total with tax: $25.05.

• Lunch at Back Lot Express in Disney's Hollywood Studios: Grilled Turkey & Cheese Sandwich with fries or cranberry slaw @ $6.59; Sesame Chicken Salad @ $6.79; two soft drinks @ $1.99 each. Two kids' meals with sides and beverage @ $3.99 each. Total with tax: $25.34.

• Dinner at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café in Magic Kingdom: Buy one 1/2 lb. double bacon cheeseburger with fries @ $7.29. Get an extra bun for .80 and split the meat -- voila, two bacon cheeseburgers. (Load up on the extensive toppings bar at this restaurant!) For the second adult, get an extra order of fries @ $1.89. Two soft drinks @ $1.99 each. Two kids' meals with sides and beverage @ $3.99 each. Total with tax: $21.94.

You also have a budget of $12 per day for snacks, which is sufficient to buy one ice cream or popcorn per person per day.

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.

The budget includes $20 per person for souvenirs, which is enough to buy a few small items. To stretch your money even further, you might want to visit the local Disney outlet stores on your last day.

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

Day 5

End your Walt Disney World fun with a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's in Disney's Contemporary Resort or Donald's Breakfastosaurus in Animal Kingdom. 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 is 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 per adult beverage.

• You could carry basic meals and snacks into the theme parks, instead of eating in the counter-service restaurants. (Technically Disney has a rule against bringing picnics into its parks, but the rule doesn't seem to be enforced, as long as you don't carry in glass bottles or make a big mess.) 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, unless you eat at fast-food restaurants, you probably won't save much money.

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 optimal 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.

Most 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, hot breakfasts or character meals are things that "make" the whole trip. Only you know exactly what you need and want in a vacation!

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