Our Budgeting System (A Savvy Way to Plan Your Disney World Vacation)
The system that helps you magically create a realistic budget for your Walt Disney World vacation.
It was the day after their Walt Disney World Vacation…
Exhausted but with good attitudes, the kids had returned to school early that morning. The house was quiet other than the soft hum of one last load of vacation clothes tumbling in the dryer. She thought about how everything had gone so smoothly. If only they could return more often–but it’s so expensive!
She cringed at the mere thought of how much they’d spent. Surely it wasn’t that bad. But that character breakfast was $250.00! How had she not realized beforehand that dining with characters was so expensive? She’ll never forget the look on her husband’s face when the server delivered the check.
Dread set in as she sat down to balance the family finances. She had no idea how much they had spent on this vacation. But their bank balance was a telltale sign that it had been much more than she’d realized.
Hopes of returning to Walt Disney World or anywhere else in the near future fell to the wayside. Things were going to be tight while they made up for their vacation expenditures.
Why did such a great time have to be so expensive?!
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Our Story
Years ago, we visited Walt Disney World an average of five times per year. We were (and still are) annual passholders who visited every single time we had the chance. We had no budget, splurged on the nicest hotels, and felt like we had to do every single “new” thing that Disney offered just so we could say we had done it.
Naturally, those extras began to add up. Before I knew it (or at least could come to terms with it), I had a massive amount of credit card debt. One day, after venting about my financial issues to a loved one, that person reminded me of the obvious:
“I bet you have no idea how much you spend on all those vacations you take.”
Wait! Was I supposed to know that? So, for the fun of it, I sifted through the numbers and came up with an unexaggerated one-year total just shy of $25,000.00.
It was sobering to see the number, but not quite enough to make me give up my vacations. I worked all the time, and our vacations were the reward.
Years later, I finally figured it out. Looking back, I realize I could have vacationed as much as I wanted IF (and that’s a very big “if”) I’d had a budget.
Sure, sometimes we might have had to postpone a trip. Other times, we could have missed a few dining experiences or stayed at a regular hotel instead of a fancy one. Or I might have given up a few things in our day-to-day budget to allow for more vacation time.
Most of all, I learned one huge factor–you can’t budget for something when you have no idea how much it costs. Read that again.
You cannot budget for something when you have no idea how much it costs.
When it comes to planning a Walt Disney World vacation, most people start with a number. For example, you might have $5,000.00 to allow for a trip.
Unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way starting with a restrictive number is setting yourself up for failure. It’s also not realistic until you’ve analyzed the details.
You have to add the actual numbers (or close estimates) of everything you’ll spend to get an idea of how much a Walt Disney World vacation will cost. And that number is different for everyone!
Insert–Our Disney World Vacation Planning Budgeting System
We need to learn to be good stewards of our money and savvy enough to do what we want with what we have. When you plan your vacation using the Resorts Gal way–there are no surprises!
You won’t come home after your vacation with mixed feelings about having an amazing time while stressing about how you’re going to cover the costs!
You’ll also know exactly what you can afford–before your trip. After making a wishlist, gathering your data, and letting the calculator do the math–you’ll have a realistic idea of how much this trip costs!
We’ve thought of everything, including a 10% contingency that you’ll hopefully never have to use! And if you don’t, you can use those funds to start saving for your next vacation or whatever else your heart desires.
What’s Included:
When you sign up, you’ll gain access to a collection of resources for planning a Walt Disney World vacation.
Our Resources Include:
Our Disney World Vacation Planning Calculator
A Magical Way to Plan (That Won’t Leave You Broke)
- Our Exact Formula for Calculating Your Walt Disney World Vacation Expenses (After gathering the numbers, our formula magically calculates a realistic budget for your vacation.)
- A Dining Table that Leaves No Surprises (Don’t start your vacation day with a pit in your stomach after receiving the check for an outrageous character meal!) Our dining table provides estimates of the price of each meal (with tax and tip) based on the number of people in your party.
- Make room for Snacks, Transportation, Accommodations, and more! Our tab system helps ensure you account for everything before your trip!
- Before, During, and After Editable Electronic Spreadsheets: Our primary spreadsheet helps project your overall budget beforehand. Another allows you to keep up with expenses during your vacation. (If you take a few minutes each day to track expenses while traveling, you can quickly make adjustments if needed.) A final tab lists your estimates versus what you spent. You can use these numbers to help plan your next trip!
Disney Resort Transportation Times
Bonus! Our Transportation Times
The cost of joining is worth this information alone! We’ve recorded how long it takes (using Disney’s complimentary transportation) to get to and from your Disney Resort Hotel to other major destinations on the property.
New! The Resorts Gal Ride Selector
Plan Your Lightning Lanes
Our Ride Selector will help you pick your Lightning Lanes BEFORE it’s time to book them. When your Lightning Lane window opens, you’ll have a concise list of what rides you want to select and desired times!
Pricing Options
Make this program part of your life for many Disney Vacations to come! With our limited time offer you’ll receive updates plus access to any new products we add in the future.
Transportation times Only
$14.99
Get Our Transportation Times for Every Resort Hotel at Disney World. (Includes over three years of data.)
(Regular $19.99)
Frequently Asked Questions
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