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How we planned a road trip from SLC to Disneyland for around $1,500

  Brought to you by Kristel Gough, Loan Orginator NMLS#215971 at Axia Home Loans.

 

Family road trips. If you’ve ever taken one, you know how quickly things can get out of hand. The quiet car ride can very soon turn into a white-knuckled drive through Hades, with the kids fighting in the back seat, and the realization that you left your wallet on the top of the gas pump back in Panguitch.

Here’s an insider’s look at how I took my family from SLC to Disneyland for around $1,500, while making some incredible memories along the way.

 

1. We took our small hybrid vehicle.

Cram the entire family into a small hybrid vehicle such as a Toyota Prius.  It can be done. We did it.  My wife packed camera gear, lap top, clothes and food for four people into our 2012 Toyota Prius, and we were on our way.

Total spent on gas for entire trip: $160.

 

2. Get yourself a family mascot.

One year for St. Patrick’s Day, Grandma sent the kids a little leprechaun doll.  It came with full outfit, shoes, and a little hat.  Over time, the clothes just disappeared and we ended up with this creepy looking bearded naked doll.  My wife Anna thought it would be funny to start hiding the doll in weird places around our house.  I would randomly find the doll while going about my day.  It would be in one of my drawers, in the fridge, sitting on top of my tooth brush, or upside down in the medicine cabinet. I started to do the same thing to her.  Soon after, the doll would end up in the car with us or on trips.  We officially made it our family mascot.  On the road trip we took photos of the doll in random places.  Our 6-year-old daughter was embarrassed by the whole thing, but we had some good laughs.  We suggest taking along a family mascot to break up the monotony of the drive.

Cost: Free

 

3. Stock up at Trader Joe’s.

I know– creepy doll again.  Get used to it.

My wife and I eat a Paleo diet.  Specifically, we follow a way of eating taught to us by our good friends and New York Time’s best selling authors Dallas and Melissa Hartwig (you can learn more about their philosophy and book at www.whole9life.com).  According to my wife Anna, Red Vines are a road trip necessity.  Therefore, we only occasionally threw Paleo out the window while on the trip.  The night before we left SLC, we went to Trader Joe’s and spent  $150 on healthy snacks, fruit, veggies, cashews, etc.  It was enough snack wise for the entire trip.  Oh wait, I forgot the tub of Red Vines cost $10 at Costco.

Food, Drinks, Snacks: $165

 

4. iPads/iPods/iPhones.

If you have to purchase these for the trip, then you will crush your budget.   However, if you’re like us and happen to have kept a first-generation iPad, third-gendration iPod, or have an old iPhone you’re not using, these suddenly become your road trip’s best friend.  Load some age appropriate apps, games, and movies for the kids and enjoy a few minutes of argue free travel time.

 

5. Headphones

If you don’t have these for the kids you’re basically hosed.  Especially in a Prius.  The Prius is great on gas but there is absolutely no buffer zone between you and the kids.  Comfortable headphones for the kids are as good as water or even air when you’re road tripping it to SoCal or anywhere for that matter. We happen to have some older, over the ear versions of headphones made by Skullcandy.

 

6.  Playlist

We may not have the same taste in music but this playlist kept us somewhat sane from Scipio to Zzyzx Rd.

 

7.  Find a comfortable place to stay.

There are several inexpensive hotels right next to the Disneyland on Harbor Blvd.  It’s not the Ritz Carlton but our personal favorite is Best Western Plus Anaheim Inn.  Great service.  Free parking.  Grab bag breakfast. Walk right across the street to the park.  Money.

Cost per room: $134 a night with your AAA discount.  Comes out to around $160 with tax.

 

8. Keys to the Kingdom.

A 2-Day/1-park per day ticket is the way to go when on a short trip.  $674 for four (if your kids are ages 10+ it may cost you a few extra bucks).  This gives you a day at Disney Magic Kingdom and Disney California Adventure.  If you haven’t been to California Adventure, it’s a must.

Ticket Cost: $674

 

9.  Eat on the Cheap

Disneyland doesn’t advertise this, but there are no restrictions regarding bringing in outside food.  My wife has a bag that she loves.  It’s the Kavu rope bag.  She loaded this bag up with cashews, trail mix, Larabars, water bottles, and sunscreen.  We also carried in a Trader Joe’s grocery bag with sweatshirts, change of clothes for the kids in case of emergency, and more food.  This bag went into a locker you can rent for $7.00 a day.  Lockers are located in convenient areas just off Main St. in the Magic Kingdom and to the right just after you enter California Adventure.  If you want to splurge on some in park food the corn dogs are ridiculously awesome (Completely off the Paleo plan but hey, we’re on vacation).  They are sold in a cart at the end of Main St. just before you hit the center of the park.  The cart is off to the right near the first aid station if you are walking towards Cinderella’s Castle.  Another great place to eat while you’re in California Adventure is Flo’s V8 Cafe.  For around $11-12 a plate you can get some nice rotisserie options.  They also serve beer and wine.

Between the lockers and the in park food we spent about $60 over 2 days.

 

10. Just say no!

Just about every ride spits you and your kids out into a ridiculously large gift shop based on the theme of the ride.  Dear Disneyland, we love you but this heavy handed sales and marketing technique is not cool.  It’s a parent’s nightmare.  Dear parents, preparation and an iron will can be your only defense.  We thoroughly prepped our kids on the trip down.  It went something like this: “You guys remember that there is a lot of stuff you will see at Disneyland that will be enticing.”  “What’s enticing?”  “Things that you think you want and can’t live without.  You will feel like you want some of that stuff more than you want food.  Mom and Dad are giving you $20 each to spend on one special thing that you want.  However, there will be no purchases over that amount.  Any amount of whining, begging, or crying will do you no good.”  We stuck to that plan like white on rice.  My daughter bought a Minnie Mouse ball cap for $18 and my son bought a red Incredible Hulk action figure for $15.  They were happy and didn’t ask for anything else.  By the way, when did the Hulk start coming in alternative colors?

Gifts: $40

 

11. Fast passes.

Grab a map when you first get inside either park, which will tell you what rides have Fast Passes.   Get the Fast Passes for the most popular rides first before you do anything else.  I repeat: GET THESE FIRST.  Use this strategy throughout the day because in the Magic Kingdom you can only get Fast Passes every two hours.  California Adventure will let you get them whenever but some of the newer rides such as Radiator Springs Racers (based on Pixar Cars Movies and very fun I might add) fills up quickly and Fast Passes get pushed out late into the day and eventually are not available.  For example,  you can get a Fast Pass at 11am and you won’t be able to use the pass until 8:30pm.  With the Fast Pass strategy you will cut your wait times down to less than 15 min a ride.  With out Fast Passes, you probably won’t be riding everything you want to ride.

 

12. Vegas, baby!

The drive back always seems longer.  This will add an extra $150-160 to your trip and you don’t have to do this but we decided to break up the drive home by staying in Vegas for a night.  There are many hotels that offer decent rates.  We stayed at the MGM Grand.  There are definitely cheaper options but we like the pool.

Cost per night: $80-$160 depending on where you stay

Due to smaller cargo space in the Prius (compared to an SUV or van) we were forced to pack light but this made it easier to travel and increased our mobility.  We had a fantastic time as a family even with some of the restrictions we placed on ourselves.  Maybe even because of the restrictions.  It was more about the time spent together than all the other stuff that sometimes we think is important but in the end doesn’t really matter or bring happiness.  In total we spent around $1,569 on a 5 day trip and it was well worth it.

Featured image: Ted Chi