How can you afford it?!!!

M

magicwand

Active Member
I just looked over the individual prices on the website and now I am in shock. How can anyone, especially people with children, afford to go? I was looking at the Beach Club for next year because I have been wanting to stay at this resort but there is no way I will pay that much a night. That's just crazy! Sorry Disney, but unless you can lure me in with a great PIN code or some other offer there will be a few less guests at Disney World this year. :cry:
 
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Mamaof2QTs

Mamaof2QTs

Member
Make good money for starters. I married an MD/PhD and I'm an MBA.

Then live like you don't make great money. Our house is worth less than one years income for us. I cook 5-7 meals per week and pack my lunch. We don't get out much to eat or shop because we have two little kids. Until recently I was driving a paid off car for 5 years. I have two pairs of brand name jeans, but otherwise, no labels here!

Research the offsite hotels so you find what you think is a nice hotel. We have been 10 times and only spent 5 nights in a Deluxe hotel. When we have a big budget we stay in nicer hotel. When our budget is average, Holiday Inn here we come! If a hotel is good enough for a business trip, why isn't it good enough for my kids? Who am I trying to impress?

Drive.

Plan our vacation around a business trip.

Pick only a few nice meals, then try to eat a little cost consciously. However, we are on vacation so we don't shoe string it either.

Last but not least, Don't Add Up The Receipts!! My head is in the sand.
 
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DaisyDoesDisney

DaisyDoesDisney

Well-Known Member
We all make choices. It doesn't matter how much money you make- you make a choice every day about where your dollars are spent. So this year we're going to Disney four times.... deluxe all around. SUE ME. Raised four kids, put them through college and grad school. Sold the huge house because we didn't need it anymore. I'm tired of explaining to people why we're always on vacation- WE EARNED IT !!!!!
 
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disneyca

disneyca

Member
We go every 2 years. My husband has his own small business, and uses a travel rewards Visa to buy all his supplies. This pays for our flight ( 2 adults ) and three quarters of our onsite moderate resort and ticket package.
We go for 2 weeks in the fall and get free dining. We just have to pay the difference on our package, we pay over
6 months. The only thing left to save for is tip money, any incedentiles and my spending money ( which in my opinion is never enough!!).
 
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Graham9

Graham9

Well-Known Member
Graham9 said:
We can afford WDW because we don't come that often, maybe about once every two years. Once we commit to going, I work a LOT of overtime to pay for it.
Click to expand...

Just adding to my previous post. Going to WDW is a special time and it takes an awful lot of resources and effort to go. We have been going for about 10 times in 18 years. In the early days, we scrimped every penny and could only stay at a budget hotel on International Drive and used coaches to get around. Nowadays, we always stay on WDW (Usually the Coronado Springs), we drive everywhere and we take in a lot of other parks and attractions around the area. But that takes a lot of money and although we could do it on the cheap, we prefer to save and have a great time and do all the things we want to, as opposed to having a lesser time, doing little and regretting it later.
 
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Horizons '83

Horizons '83

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Swan and Dolphin offer the most value in my book if you find the right times. We typically stay only when the rate is around $139/Night plus resort and fees so it usually comes out to $178 a night. To be within walking distance of 2 of the parks and get most of the Disney Resort perks, its well worth it. The rooms are also being updated, so if you want a brand spanking new room, stay at the Swan.
 
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dreamingofdisney

dreamingofdisney

Member
Be creative in how you save.

We dog sit for people. We have dogs, so it's not that much more difficult to add another couple to the mix. $20 per dog per night.

Use the Target Debit Card and buy Disney Gift Cards. You save 5% on every purchase. If you spend $1000 at Disney, you'll save $50.

Don't go out to eat. There really aren't that many good restaurants. lol Save it for Disney.

Shop at Kohls (during sales), Target and Goodwill. Clothes will wear out. Nobody will care what you wear. Kids will remember your trip to Disney World. Shoes are the exception. Buy good shoes - your body will thank you for it.

Cancel Cable. Do a puzzle or play a game instead.

Buy used cars. You don't need an expensive one - just a reliable one.

Have a plan to save for your trip, and stick to it. Utilize the Disney Vacation Account. It helps you set a goal, and will take out regular deposits for you.
 
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MRGEFF

MRGEFF

Well-Known Member
pajammies said:
Love this!!

I agree with others here, it's what you want, so you save or budget or scrimp.
We don't do much of anything during the year, to be honest, in order to get us on a family vacation about once a year. We are not drinkers, nor am I a clothing, shoe or purse junkie, which for some people is a bonkers amount of money. No golfing, movies, weekend trips and we eat out infrequently... Just a family vacation once a year. The kids love all the places we have been able to take them, by cutting back in other areas.

Also another poster mentioned, you picked an expensive place to get a price quote with. Try a moderate and price that out instead, or a value even. Some people don't want to stay there, but we like it there because we don't spend much time at the hotels and choose to spend money on other stuff or put it toward the next vacation.
Click to expand...
Great suggestions.
 
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MRGEFF

MRGEFF

Well-Known Member
DaisyDoesDisney said:
We all make choices. It doesn't matter how much money you make- you make a choice every day about where your dollars are spent. So this year we're going to Disney four times.... deluxe all around. SUE ME. Raised four kids, put them through college and grad school. Sold the huge house because we didn't need it anymore. I'm tired of explaining to people why we're always on vacation- WE EARNED IT !!!!!
Click to expand...
If I didn't know better, you're writing my story. We did those things too. So YES, YES, we earned it!
 
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Horizons '83

Horizons '83

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
dreamingofdisney said:
Be creative in how you save.

We dog sit for people. We have dogs, so it's not that much more difficult to add another couple to the mix. $20 per dog per night.

Use the Target Debit Card and buy Disney Gift Cards. You save 5% on every purchase. If you spend $1000 at Disney, you'll save $50.

Don't go out to eat. There really aren't that many good restaurants. lol Save it for Disney.

Shop at Kohls (during sales), Target and Goodwill. Clothes will wear out. Nobody will care what you wear. Kids will remember your trip to Disney World. Shoes are the exception. Buy good shoes - your body will thank you for it.

Cancel Cable. Do a puzzle or play a game instead.

Buy used cars. You don't need an expensive one - just a reliable one.

Have a plan to save for your trip, and stick to it. Utilize the Disney Vacation Account. It helps you set a goal, and will take out regular deposits for you.
Click to expand...

This was a big one for me and my wife a few years ago. We saved at least $1000 a year on that alone.

Driving is another great saver. If you are very far from Florida stay at Hampton Inn's on the way down. We applied for the Hilton HHonors Credit Card partly for this reason. Its usually only 8,000 points + $40 bucks to stay at one in rural areas or 20,000 for a free night.

The hotel is where you can really see the savings. My wife and I love being able to walk to the parks at leisure, so we spend a little more to stay at the Swan and Dolphin but if thats not a be deal to you, stay at the Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort just outside WDW property. The rates are typically between 95 to 139 a night and the have a great pool area. Or like many others have said, the value resorts are a great option with getting all the Disney perks like the luxury level hotels.

Another great way to save, is by asking for Disney Gift cards for any gifts you get throughout the year (Christmas, Birthday, Anniversaries) instead of a sweater you won't wear or material things. I was able to get $300 worth because I really didn't want anything else.

We also have an AMEX Blue Cash card. You will be amazed at how much it adds up throughout the year. You can then apply the cash back to your next statement to help pay for part of your Disney bill. We should have around $400 by our trip in September.

So right there there is a minimum of $2000 you can put towards the trip without much sacrifice.
 
Upvote 0
pajammies

pajammies

Well-Known Member
dreamingofdisney said:
Be creative in how you save.

We dog sit for people. We have dogs, so it's not that much more difficult to add another couple to the mix. $20 per dog per night.

Use the Target Debit Card and buy Disney Gift Cards. You save 5% on every purchase. If you spend $1000 at Disney, you'll save $50.

Don't go out to eat. There really aren't that many good restaurants. lol Save it for Disney.

Shop at Kohls (during sales), Target and Goodwill. Clothes will wear out. Nobody will care what you wear. Kids will remember your trip to Disney World. Shoes are the exception. Buy good shoes - your body will thank you for it.

Cancel Cable. Do a puzzle or play a game instead.

Buy used cars. You don't need an expensive one - just a reliable one.

Have a plan to save for your trip, and stick to it. Utilize the Disney Vacation Account. It helps you set a goal, and will take out regular deposits for you.
Click to expand...

I wish my husband would let me dog sit! I love dogs and that would be good for a little side cash :(

Totally forgot about cable! Say what you will about me, but we haven't had cable, EVER, in our married lives (18 years) and actually the tv is only to play movies on, is doesn't get any channels lol.
We also just got smart phones last year and are about to downgrade to cheaper ones, we just don't like spending that much on phones. That is a huge cost, when a family of four all has smart phones, $200-300 a month is obviously huge!

We also save all our coin, it adds up to about $200 a year
 
Upvote 0
Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
pajammies said:
I wish my husband would let me dog sit! I love dogs and that would be good for a little side cash :(

Totally forgot about cable! Say what you will about me, but we haven't had cable, EVER, in our married lives (18 years) and actually the tv is only to play movies on, is doesn't get any channels lol.
We also just got smart phones last year and are about to downgrade to cheaper ones, we just don't like spending that much on phones. That is a huge cost, when a family of four all has smart phones, $200-300 a month is obviously huge!

We also save all our coin, it adds up to about $200 a year
Click to expand...
We use trac phones and have minutes to roll over every month.
 
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LdyApxr

LdyApxr

Well-Known Member
I am not onboard with the "buy a used car" because our used cars have resulted in more repair bills than our current cars. LOL We don't have high end models but I'd rather pay $220 on a brand new lease than $200 in repairs(and that repairs are never just $200) monthly. LOL
 
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