The Cost Of Disney

This summer we spent 32 days living at Disney and we are planning to return in late December. This is a good opportunity to review our goals. Specifically, financial goals. Last year we were at Disney for 22 days and this year 32 days. We didn't hit the lottery, these trips are really expensive, so we attempted things to make the 2014 trip cheaper.

First, the cost of the villa. In 2013 we paid $119 per day. This year we paid $93 per day which saved $26 per day!

Next, a huge expense is food. Our goal was to eat at home and off property as much as possible. We didn't do as well as I had hoped. In fact, many opportunities to eat at home were lost because we were challenged getting out the door in a timely fashion. However, we did cut nearly all of the Disney table service restaurants this year. We did have an improvement. Considering groceries (including soaps, cleaners, paper, and everything) and out-to-eat, in 2013 we averaged $129 per day. This year we averaged $85 per day which saved $44 per day.

$85 still blows me away and I know there are huge improvement opportunities there without taking away from our vacation.

One thing to consider is that we would buy groceries and go out to eat if at home. It isn't $85 per day while at home, nevertheless, it makes $85 per day a little more palpable.

Our journey to Florida and home was $300 cheaper because we used cheaper hotels, cut the trip by a day, and cut several of our normal stops out of the trip.

Souvenirs, gas, and our year passes worked out about the same.

I feel pretty good that we were able to significantly extend the length of the trip without increasing the cost, and if we ever try this again, there are opportunities to cut back even further.