How can you earn some money for a Disney trip?

Walt Disney1955

Walt Disney1955

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Alright, long story short, as you can see I have gone to Disney a few times in recent years. Our most recent trip was Southern California in September. First time at Disneyland for me and won't be the last. We left our 18 month old son at home and had a blast. However, I so badly wanted him to experience either WDW or DL in 2013. He's 2 now and I guess I felt he would have loved it.

Well, over the winter we ran into some financial trouble. Bills piled up and I borrowed a bit of money from my parents. I have always paid them back and I will this time as well, probably in the next 3-4 months but we are making good money again and while it seems impossible now I would love to go back to one of the parks this year, sometime in the fall of 2013. Crazy, I know, but if all of our ducks are in a row I want to do it.

Other than general overtime and the usual squeezing of a penny, explain to me how you would get money really fast in order to go on a Disney trip. A bank loan right now is not the option, my credit is still building back up and it might take at least a couple of months in order to get approved.

So if you have any ideas, let me know. Or, should I just let it go and start saving away for a trip sometime in 2014. The only issue is that we may or may not have another addition to the family by then.
 
s&k'smom

s&k'smom

Well-Known Member
I know the feeling and we too have had "bumps" this year, we are saving, putting some on credit and praying, it may not be the best financial move to go on a trip this year but we are going. I work a part time job at the local movie theater and that $ goes straight into a savings account for Disney and well free movies too! Good luck.
 
pumpkin7

pumpkin7

Well-Known Member
We had a Disney Fund jar which we kept by the front door. Any spare change went straight into it, aswell as any overtime. I also take out £50 a week for food, and anything I don't spend goes into the jar! Within 6 months we had our £2000.00 spends for Disney! The jar has now become the House Fund as we are moving house in the near future, and so far that has £750 after 3 months.
 
lunchbox1175

lunchbox1175

Well-Known Member
I have mentioned before that one of the things that I do is Secret Shopping for the Disney store. It actually goes through a company called grassrootsmeasures.com . I have a series of things I am to look for and make up a scenario to ask questions to the CM's at the stores, I get remimbursed $20 for every shop, sometimes $40 if they call me to do a last minute one. You are required to make a $20 purchase, so basically you get what you bought for free. I always purchase a $20 gift card, which I then put away until we go on our trip. When you sign up, you get a Visa Debit card that is assigned to you, and that is how they pay you, after about four weeks, you will have the funds loaded on your card. I don't even take that card out of its hiding spot until we go on vacation, so usually I will do 5 shops a month, and essentially save $200 each month by not doing anything. Also, I have mentioned before that when we are going to book a trip, we purchase $500 gift cards at Kroger, they usually give 4 times the fuel points for gift card purchases. So when we buy $1000 in gift cards (cause we are going to pay that anyways, might as well get something out of it) we get 4000 points, and that is equal to getting $2 off a gallon of gas on two fill ups. Saves us about $100, so we just take that money we saved and put it away. If you get creative, you can find all kinds of ways and it can add up very quickly. Hope this helps.
 
Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
I agree with those who said to pay off your debt and save up some money first, so you don't have to worry about where it's coming from.

I'd also suggest adopting a shoestring budget. Take the least expensive form of transportation, stay cheaply offsite, take advantage of whatever deals you can get through AAA or credit card bonus programs, bring your own food and forego souvenirs. I promise you, you're not going to have any less fun -- in fact, you'll have more, because you won't be worrying that every penny wasn't well spent.
 
ddbowdoin

ddbowdoin

Well-Known Member
Nemo14 said:
Going into debt for the sake of a Disney trip is never a wise idea. Wait until you can afford to go and enjoy yourself without worrying about how you're going to be able to pay for it.
Click to expand...

I agree... but at the same time you have to live life. I used to make great money, changed careers and am now doing something I love but I make 60% less what I was pulling in. You just have to save as much as you can, but at the end of day if you're a little short why lose out on an experience in life to save yourself from a little debt?
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
I think that if you save up some money so that you don't have to worry about where to get cash if something comes up...and then save up some more for the vacation...you'll be much happier on your vacation.

Other than inheriting it or working for it, I don't see any way to make any real money. Well, there is always the lottery, but I wouldn't advise gambling when you're already in debt.
 
rsoxguy

rsoxguy

Well-Known Member
I must agree with those who have stated that your best course in life is to settle old debt before venturing forth into new spending. WDW is not a necessity. You and your family's security and well-being are the things that should guide your financial decisions. There are times in life when we must "bite the bullet" in order to get our lives back on the proper course, and settling old debt before incurring new and unnecessary expenses qualifies as being such a time. I believe that it would be an insult, whether stated or not, to your parents if you designated money for a trip to WDW before settling your debt to them first. Life involves priorities, and the honorable management of finances should be high on the list. The issue is not whether or not one will pay back a loan, but rather the effort and resources that are focused on paying back the loan. Never begin new expenses without first settling old obligations. If one is to "live life", then one should consider honorable stewardship as a pleasure in life.
 
Californian Elitist

Californian Elitist

Well-Known Member
You've already been so many times... I think it's possible for you to wait until you actually have the funds to go again. WDW and the DLR aren't going anywhere. It's not worth going if you really don't have the money.

I have to let my D23 charter membership lapse this year because I'm transferring to a university in the fall and I can't be spending my money on all those D23 events. It sucks, yeah, but I've got to give more priority to certain things. You should do the same.
 
KCheatle

KCheatle

Well-Known Member
I work 2 jobs. I work full time as an attorney and that gets the bills paid, but then I also do work for my mom for her business. She pays me hourly. The nice thing about that is she basically has an endless supply of cash, so if I put the hours in I get paid. I've got a salary through my primary job which keeps me stable, but then the hourly option is great because I am in control of it. If I want to go to Disney, I can work my tail off and pay for it in about 6 weeks. Long-story short, you've gotta get a side job that you can earn money. It's not easy, but it's worth it :) Best of luck to you!
 
Knothead

Knothead

Well-Known Member
Here is what we do if we need to save for something. This isn't the fastest way to save for something, but it is easy and relatively painless, it just requires patience and dedication.
Week 1: Put 1 dollar in a jar.
Week 2: Put 2 dollars in the jar.
Week 3: Put 3 dollars in the jar.
Keep doing this every week adding a dollar each time and at the end of a year you have over $1300 to use for whatever you want. Naturally if you can add more at any point, you will have more money at the end. We usually do this for Christmas presents and such, but its also a great way to save for a family vacation.

It may not work for everyone, but in my opinion is a preferable alternative to borrowing money or racking up the credit card. Hope this helps.
 
lunchbox1175

lunchbox1175

Well-Known Member
Knothead said:
Here is what we do if we need to save for something. This isn't the fastest way to save for something, but it is easy and relatively painless, it just requires patience and dedication.
Week 1: Put 1 dollar in a jar.
Week 2: Put 2 dollars in the jar.
Week 3: Put 3 dollars in the jar.
Keep doing this every week adding a dollar each time and at the end of a year you have over $1300 to use for whatever you want. Naturally if you can add more at any point, you will have more money at the end. We usually do this for Christmas presents and such, but its also a great way to save for a family vacation.

It may not work for everyone, but in my opinion is a preferable alternative to borrowing money or racking up the credit card. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Oooh...I like this, very cleaver.
 
Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
Waiting until next year isn't the end of the world, in fact it might even make sense. 3 and 4 are such magical ages for a Disney trip they are old enough and big enough to really get so much out of the trip and might even remember most of it. That being said I get clear glass Christmas ornaments and vases, glass paint and paint until I think my fingers are going to fall off. Then I hit a bunch of craft fairs and sell them. Note to self make extra of any animal that has a movie coming out about that time.:eek: I did penguins the week Happy Feet came out and it was a 2 day show so I stayed up all night between shows painting more penguin items!!!!!!!!!!!
 

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