GOING BACK TO CALI

I think my kids are spoiled.

Recently in anticipating where to go for our annual family vacation, I shared with my kids all the theme parks there are in Southern California. We had originally expected to be taking the family on an Alaska cruise, but the plan fell through and we decided to fall back on our comfortable favorite. Since the kids were sad about the change, I naturally thought that maybe talking about theme parks could win them over. What I really wanted was to take them back to Disneyland since they had such a great time last year, but I was nervous that I’d be unable to afford it.

Instilling ideas of SeaWorld and Legoland seemed like a good strategy. As it turned out, we could afford Disney and I was so excited to share the news with them. Surprisingly, my daughter advised me that she didn’t want to go back there; she’d rather do something else. Um, what? What kid would rather do something other than Disney? This was unbelievable to me. Maybe I was too good at selling the other parks, or maybe I was the one wanting to return to Disney. After all, it is the happiest place on earth – and I’m the one that could really use that now.

Turns out, both my kids would rather go to Legoland. Which seems like a great idea, right? Except for the part about already booking a hotel in Anaheim and arranging a non-changeable flight out of Los Angeles. As I tried to sway the Disney argument, my kids’ solution was to do both. Both?! Boy, did that turn out to be a cost saver. Obvious sarcasm. Now I’m in a boat of cost consideration and disappointment damage control. If I refuse their requests for Legoland, I’m not listening to what they want. If I do both, I’m up against a financial wall.

Of course, the boy is now 3 and now requires a ticket of his own – so we’re talking theme park prices for 4. Trust me, the child admissions are hardly a relief. Most cost just $10 less than adults, so we’re still looking at $80-90 each. Per park. Racket.

According to online reports, it is suggested that you can expect to pay a minimum of $3000 for a 4-night trip that includes air and hotel for 6 people. All the extras, like food, are going to be additional. Say what? I know that I am fortunate with a current dual-income, but that’s a lot of money. A lot. In my book, 4 days is a long weekend. I can’t justify that.

I spent some time online to uncover some alternatives or at least some ticket discounts. Disney is a bit conservative with their discounts – to say the least. Unless I want to spend hundreds on multi-day passes, the savings are non-existent. The online ticket broker system that was so available last year seems to have evaporated into thin air with hardly a post or solicitation. Weird.

Thankfully, Legoland is a bit friendlier on the pocketbook. There are $10 discount coupons available and if you know someone who works for a large corporation, like Boeing, there are some further discount tickets available. I’m on the right track.

Although the husband and I have decided to commit to the dual theme park vacation, we’ve found ways to cut costs in other areas. Staying in our favorite San Diego beach condo rental will allow us to cook meals and avoid eating out. The time spent on the beach is easy and unbelievably enjoyable for all of us. Oh, and it’s free. Choosing two different theme parks means only spending a single day at each, which further cuts costs on admission and in-park spending (which can easily cost more than the price of a ticket). The hotel pool on the latter half of our stay will serve as more free entertainment as my daughter just learned to swim this past summer and will no doubt choose to stay in the pool until dusk.

Thankfully, air miles and companion fares with Alaska Airlines have helped offset air costs and we’re on track to keep this 8-day California vacation around $3K. And yes, that includes food and spending money. With a little creativity and some flexibility, you can treat yourself and your family to a great annual vacation without completely shattering the bank while still accommodating the wishes of the under-6 set.

So how are we doing it? Consider the cost breakdown:
$850 Air – using $100 companion fares and flyer miles with our Alaska Airlines Visa

$800 Condo rental – this includes 4 nights in a 2-bedroom beach front condo with kitchen.

$370 Hotel – 3 nights in a nice hotel property across the street from Disneyland. And the room is a kid-suite meaning the kids have their own room and Mommy and Daddy don’t have to be in bed by 8. A luxury, I know, but it’s our vacation too.

$100 Car Rental – Go with Costco, they have the best prices we could find.

$520 Theme Parks – This is a hefty part of the price tag. You could easily pare this down, but this cost is for 4 people attending 2 parks. Not too shabby.

$500 Spending – This is a moving target to include souvenirs and food. By hitting up a grocery store and cooking the bulk of our meals, this really can be realistic. We save a lot of money also by not giving in to the sky high prices in the park gift shops. Hit up Walmart or some other mass retailer for Disney tees (found them for as low as $3 last year) and Lego sets that you can give the kids in the car. They’ll be content. They shouldn’t care where they came from.