Realistically, how much for a trip to Florida for a family of 4?

**Miss_Jane** · 07-04-2012, 11:20am

I would love to take the kids to Florida and go to Disney and Sea World and some of the other theme parks in a few years time.

I was just wondering roughly how much a two week trip would cost? I know it is a bit of a case of how long is a bit of string, but I am just looking at getting an idea of how much it would be for flights and accommodation in a villa or something like that.

(It's OH's idea of hell though so I will have to work on him!)

**Chocolate Lips** · 07-04-2012, 12:14pm

Like you've said it can vary massively depending on if you choose to stay villa, hotel on I-Drive, on-site at Disney etc Flights seem to be really expensive right now so it was cheaper for us to book a package deal than it was do everything separately as we had done in previous times.

We stayed on site at Disneyworld for 2 weeks and including flights, transfers (we didn't want a car), park tickets for 2 weeks and the Disney Dining Plan (which was one quick service meal and one table service meal plus some snacks per day) it cost us about £6,500.

We spent more when we were there because they expect a 20% tip on every meal

and some of the meals at places like Cinderella's Royal Table were $130 dollars.

You can obviously do it cheaper than we did if you stay off-site. Also I know some people book indirect flights - so if you can be faffed with changing flights halfway through you can make it cheaper that way.

**suemarie** · 07-04-2012, 01:19pm

Originally Posted by Chocolate Lips

Like you've said it can vary massively depending on if you choose to stay villa, hotel on I-Drive, on-site at Disney etc Flights seem to be really expensive right now so it was cheaper for us to book a package deal than it was do everything separately as we had done in previous times.

We stayed on site at Disneyworld for 2 weeks and including flights, transfers (we didn't want a car), park tickets for 2 weeks and the Disney Dining Plan (which was one quick service meal and one table service meal plus some snacks per day) it cost us about £6,500.

We spent more when we were there because they expect a 20% tip on every meal

and some of the meals at places like Cinderella's Royal Table were $130 dollars.

You can obviously do it cheaper than we did if you stay off-site. Also I know some people book indirect flights - so if you can be faffed with changing flights halfway through you can make it cheaper that way.

WSS, we pretty much stay in our timeshare resort, but do eat out occasionally and the 15 - 20% tips add more onto your overall bill. Which is why we do a main shop once we arrive & then stock up the fridge freezer.

We also hire a car & go for the walk away insurance (DH always insists on a SUV) fuel is pretty cheap too, this also needs to be included in your budgeting.

The most we have ever spent is £4000 (visiting Disney, Universal Studios - Islands of Adventure, seaworld, Busch Gardens & Lowry Park Zoo...bearing in mind that Ashley is only just 2 & the kids theme park tickets start at 2-11.

**Miss_Jane** · 07-04-2012, 12:36pm

Thanks for the info, it's great. We would probably stay off-site, so we'd probably need a car. That meal pass sounds good. I always forget about tipping for food in America!!

**Duckie** · 07-04-2012, 02:58pm

I'm anticipating at least £4-5k when we do it in a couple of years time, and this will be including some free accommodation in the in-laws apartment - although this is a 5hr drive from Orlando so it will be a two centre holiday for us.

**Lu Lu** · 07-04-2012, 06:45pm

We array budgeting £7k for when we go next august. Flights around £2k , although will probably go premium economy so plan to spend more there. That's virgin miles plus money flights.

Villa will be £800, car hire £3-400 and park tickets £1800. That's for all parks plus a trip to discovery cove. We are also looking at around £2k spending money.

All if that is diy. A package for next Aug at the moment is around £4k not inc park tickets and spends so cheaper to diy for us.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

**cheeky_biscuit** · 07-04-2012, 08:45pm

I'd budget between £5-10k with it being a couple of years away, I've no idea what the currency will do?
Lulu, can you use miles & money in school holidays? We've only managed to spend our miles outside of school holidays ( although not tried miles plus money).

**Miss Frosty** · 07-04-2012, 08:51pm

We are planning to go in 2014 and DH has already said that we will have 10k plus for it ! He has been to Florida lots when in the RAF and doesn't want to scrimp ! Best we get saving !!!

**ChelseaHarvey** · 07-04-2012, 08:53pm

I no when I went at 16 it cost my parents £6000 to take us all there's stay in a villa, hire a car & get the hopper passes. I also no that during our 14 days there they spent a lot as well on shopping & food we ate out a lot though

***Uptowngirl*** · 07-04-2012, 09:56pm

We are going next Saturday for 2 weeks

and off the top of my head it costing us about £1900 for the flights, £750 for the villa (sharing cost with my parents), about £1200 for park tickets (DD doesn't need a ticket as only 2) that's 14 day hoppers for Disney and universal and then Legoland tickets for the day, £240 car hire, and about £180 for taxi to the airport this side (again shared with parents). That's for the 5 of us.

We've got quite a bit of spending money, but we have a US dollar account so will just transfer back anything we don't use or add more
If needed! We will eat in quite a lot and take picnic to the parks, but have booked a character breakfast at Disney and will probably have a few nice meals out. I don't think we will spend anywhere near £10,000 though even with all the shopping I have planned!