I thought I'd be skipping Disney in 2023 and future (sort of been there, done that, bought the T-shirt, and it's pricier than what I want to pay, especially for a large family group). We went in March of 2022 (11 of us) and have a fun March of 1972 photo of me and my brother side by side one at the same place in the MK with his daughter and my son in March of 2022 which I think is cool as heck (Photos are taken almost exactly 50 years apart of each other). We have so many great Orlando / Disney memories thru the years. I thought this 50 year period would end my Disney run. I honestly did.
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So OK, no Disney/Orlando only trips planned but OMG -- I am going to be in Tampa visiting a cousin who lives in assisted living for two full days in February, was just going to fly home from Tampa, but now I am doing the Keys to the Kingdom tour that has been on my bucket list for the past 20 years, and I'm so excited. I'll only have time to do maybe two attractions after that tour too before I head to the airport and fly home, but am still totally onboard to do this. I'm just counting additional costs of doing this since I was already going to Tampa anyway. And I'm also counting offsets where there were expenses I was going to incur in Tampa my last night and fly home day that I will no longer incur.
Canceled my last night hotel room night in Tampa that saves me $200. Canceled my last day rental car in Tampa which saves me $75. I was originally for visiting my cousin going to spend three nights in Tampa and fly home from Tampa in the morning. And I was already paying for one hotel room for my nephew who lives in Orlando to join me and my cousin at the Lowry Park Zoo Day 1 and the Florida Aquarium day 2, so that's not an add on expense. (He was already driving out the first morning I'm there and driving back to Orlando the end of the second day full day I was there). Now my nephew is going to drive me from Tampa to his house, and I'll stay in his guest bedroom one night for free.
And I asked him if he'd like to do the Keys to the Kingdom tour with me and he said yes, he'd love to, but didn't want me to have to spend the money if I didn't want to. Well it would be a blast to take him, so of course I splurged and got him tickets too.
So my one expensive whirlwind day at the MK for the five hour Keys to the Kingdom tour for two (includes a counter service lunch) will set me back about $448. After the tour I'll only be able to do maybe two more attractions there and then my nephew will drive me from the park to the airport. I'll have my suitcase in his trunk. The MCO airport is only like 15-20 minutes from his house and my flight is at 6:30 p.m.)
One day splurge on Keys to the Kingdom tour at the MK for two sets me back a total of: $448 ($224 pp for the day)
--Tampa Hotel Savings -200
--Tampa Rental Car Savings -75
--Two one day Magic Kingdom Tickets $360 with tax -- $180 pp
--Tickets for two for the Keys to the Kingdom with tax is $243 -- about $122 pp
-- Regular Parking at the MK for one day $25
--Extra cost of one way ticket flying home from Orlando instead of Tampa (Tampa to St. Louis direct flight ticket was $125 and Orlando to St. Louis Ticket is $160, so an extra
$35. Flying on Southwest, so could easily change return location and time.)
--Tip for Tour Guide $40
--Dinner at the airport (quick service) $20
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But does it end there? No it doesn't. In September I'm taking my son on a bucket list trip for him to Paris and Belfast, and what do Disney loving people who are in Paris end of doing lol -- do a few add on days to
Disneyland Paris of course. We extended our European trip by three days and are spending three nights at a Disney hotel and two and a 1/2 days in the parks in September 2023.
Disneyland Paris Add on -- gives us two and 1/2 days in the parks: $1480 -- comes out to $246 pp per day.
-- Cabs or private transportation from Paris hotel to Sequoia Lodge Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Paris hotel to Charles De Gaulle airport for flight to Belfast - $120 (We could save $s by doing the train, but in our case time savings and convenience is worth the added cost to me.)
-- Three nights at the Sequoia Lodge (a Disney hotel) Disneyland Paris. This includes park hopper tickets for four days, but we are only using three days (1/2 day the day we arrive and two full days where we will have the rope drop advantage of staying onsite) -- $960 -- That's $320 a day or $160 a day pp. (I booked on the UK instead of the US website, and that saved me a few $s)
-- Food (We are doing mostly quick service, just one table service meal. You could spend a lot more here, but our priority is time in the parks, not eating) - $300
-- Souvenirs - $100
What is it about Disney that makes me this excited to spend this much money??
DH isn't interested in either of these trips, and I'll also be doing a 2023 trip with him to Sedona, AZ.
. My BFF may be bringing her adult son with her since he was not able to join us on our trip this past year due to his military deployment, but there is also the distinct possibility that BFF may not be able to come at all and it may end up being just dad and I. Either way, we are planning on acquiring enough points for a 2BR at AKV-Kidani for a week in October, arriving the day after my birthday. If BFF isn't able to come, we have a backup plan....we will split the stay into 3 nights at BLT and 4 nights at Kidani in 1BR's (pending availability, of course). So either way, it will be fun.
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Yup. Also, I need to find cheaper car rental options. 
