Ryan! Hiya, pal! Thank you so much for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel for help in planning your vacation to the most magical place on earth! It’s never to early to start brainstorming and planning, in my opinion, so you’re in good company!
There are a few things I do to try and budget for my family’s vacations. I like to
browse the various hotels offered at Walt Disney World Resort and explore amenities and prices. When I find one that fits our style, I’ll check prices and do a rough estimate of cost based on nights and occupancy. Then, I consider
Park Tickets (I always choose the Park Hoppers because we love to hop around like Tigger!) and how many days we would like to stay and play. The last element to consider is dining (perhaps the
Disney Dining Plan is for you?) and free spending. My kids are very little, so they often share a kids meal, or are sated with glow sticks from the dollar store. Older kids (perhaps like your seven-year-old) may eat a bit more or desire a trip to the Pirates League for a grisly pirate makeover. You can easily browse menus on each Walt Disney World eatery page to get an idea of cost for your budget.
Lastly, you can book packages by phone at (407) 939-5277 with a Cast Member up to 499 days in advance. Online reservations have a much smaller reservation window, so if you simply MUST have the Finding Nemo Suite at Art of Animation, you may want to call ahead. Pricing may change in the future, but you can call ahead and pay only one night’s deposit on a room if you like. I love using Travelmation for anything I can’t do online myself. If there’s anything else I can help you with, please let me know! ~Lindsey P.