It's Only Money..Get a Life!...

[real mad hatter]

Hold on a second....That's better..Just received a PM on my Facebook from an old work buddy ( I can't believe he's still working and moaning about his job ) Anyway I told him were off to Andalusia in a few weeks for 12 days of peace,sun,& tranquility on a rather cheap vacation.When he asked me how much it was,I told him for the three of us,including flights and accommodation in a 4 star hotel & spa $1.500. He was shocked and said " What a waste of money" ...Whit!!!...When I told him of my 2015 plan for a 14 night vacation at Disney,staying at a deluxe resort..And the approx cost of the vacation $7.500...He exploded,saying I was out of my tiny mind.." I could buy a new car for that " he quoted..Here's my question to all off you good people..Where does a Disney vacation come in on your priority list.??...Are you the sort of person who looks at the total cost of your trip,then think,hold on...I could put that money to a house makeover..A new kitchen or a new car...Or do you say " To hell with it,we're off to Disney. "..This question probably has been asked a thousand times on here,but with things in general,being tight nowadays,watching what we spend on weekly groceries,fuel,heating bills,etc..I'am just wondering if your attitude to a Disney vacation has changed over the years..Now personally I don't reflect on how much we've spent on our five previous trips,I'am a great believer in enjoying life while your here. ( Unlike actress Shirley McClaine, I don't expect to come back as someone or something else ) So what are your present views on this nowadays..??...Has it changed from maybe your first trip twenty odd years ago.?

 

[ExtinctJenn]

We are definitely in the category of looking at what we spend on the trip, considering what else we could do with that money, and then scrapping the idea and booking the trip anyway. The way we see it there are always "things" we can buy but a family vacation to a place that brings out the very best in each of us, especially since every other day when we are in the "real" world things are tough, is just priceless to us.

 

[Susan Savia]

We've been visiting Disney World for 30 years now and nothing has changed for us, 'except' the length of time we stay. When we started out it was 5 days (of course there were only 2 parks then) and now we stay for two weeks. And, we stay offsite. Going to WDW each winter is 'what we do'. Oh and we just bought a new 2013 Jeep.

 

[75disney]

We don't have a huge house, get new cars every few years, or constantly do huge home improvements, but we do spend our hard-earned money on family vacations every year. We always do one big trip (usually Disney) and two smaller, shorter trips (within driving distance every year). Why? Because my kids are only young once and I want to spend as much time enjoying them as I can before they are all grown up. People think we are crazy to put so much emphasis on vacations. To each, their own, I say.

 

[LIMA TIME]

its all about perspective. But the way we look at is, your right it is a ton of money. My family took me to Disney when I was child and they are some of the best memories I have. I don't think back and say, "Wow I really love what we did with the Kitchen back in 1988. Man that was awesome." But I do remember the feeling of going on 20,000 Leagues under the sea and thinking it was the coolest EVER. The memories I have as a child going on vacations (not just to DW) are my most treasured possession. All I can do is try and make lasting memories for my family. If that cost me $$ then so be it.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Hold on a second....That's better..Just received a PM on my Facebook from an old work buddy ( I can't believe he's still working and moaning about his job ) Anyway I told him were off to Andalusia in a few weeks for 12 days of peace,sun,& tranquility on a rather cheap vacation.When he asked me how much it was,I told him for the three of us,including flights and accommodation in a 4 star hotel & spa $1.500. He was shocked and said " What a waste of money" ...Whit!!!...When I told him of my 2015 plan for a 14 night vacation at Disney,staying at a deluxe resort..And the approx cost of the vacation $7.500...He exploded,saying I was out of my tiny mind.." I could buy a new car for that " he quoted..Here's my question to all off you good people..Where does a Disney vacation come in on your priority list.??...Are you the sort of person who looks at the total cost of your trip,then think,hold on...I could put that money to a house makeover..A new kitchen or a new car...Or do you say " To hell with it,we're off to Disney. "..This question probably has been asked a thousand times on here,but with things in general,being tight nowadays,watching what we spend on weekly groceries,fuel,heating bills,etc..I'am just wondering if your attitude to a Disney vacation has changed over the years..Now personally I don't reflect on how much we've spent on our five previous trips,I'am a great believer in enjoying life while your here. ( Unlike actress Shirley McClaine, I don't expect to come back as someone or something else ) So what are your present views on this nowadays..??...Has it changed from maybe your first trip twenty odd years ago.?

Must be a pretty naff car for that price even a Ford ka will set you back "from 8995" . The way we look at it is yes it is expensive but we don't smoke/drink/gamble/party the weekend away or anything like that.Yes it might take us all year (or longer) to save for our two weeks but its our two weeks of bliss.Disney is what we do and we like the way we do it yes it could be cheaper (Indiana Jones Airways,DME instead of hirecar,stayin a cheaper resort)but we know what we like and whilst we can afford it without getting into debt then we will continue to do it this way.
P.s we are looking a the free ddp for our next vacation

 

[jw24]

Well, that depends. I mean, I don't have the luxury of going every year so it's not really an annual priority and not something that if I miss out, I'll be a broken man per say. I need a motivation to go and justify the spending in my view. My most recent trip I spent the money because I figured I waited long enough and thought it was the right time to see New Fantasyland though my 2010 trip was more of an impulse trip, mainly because I never had the opportunity to see the AK in its entirety. (I only got to spend 2-3 hours in the AK on my HS class trip in '09 because of a flight later that day.) So for my next trip, maybe come 2016-2018 in mind, the priority will be greater because New Fantasyland will be done, Disney Springs should be completed, the new Avatarland should be done and hopefully, something big and needed will come to HS. (Nothing's confirmed so I'm not buying in to the rumors.) but most of all, I'll be able to stay at a deluxe, something I want to do more than anything else! As of now, it's not on my top priority list mainly because there are other things I want and need.

 

[kfergdisney]

There are things that make me think twice about the money spent on Disney, then it passes in about 10 seconds. It is important to get away and have a good vacation every once in a while. Cleanse your mind, release you of the confides of your hometown (I really do love my hometown). There are numerous things I could use that money for, but for me, the chance for a Disney vacation comes about once every 5 years or so. I'm selling useless things that I don't need and going to Disney!

 

[real mad hatter]

Must be a pretty naff car for that price even a Ford ka will set you back "from 8995" . The way we look at it is yes it is expensive but we don't smoke/drink/gamble/party the weekend away or anything like that.Yes it might take us all year (or longer) to save for our two weeks but its our two weeks of bliss.Disney is what we do and we like the way we do it yes it could be cheaper (Indiana Jones Airways,DME instead of hirecar,stayin a cheaper resort)but we know what we like and whilst we can afford it without getting into debt then we will continue to do it this way.
P.s we are looking a the free ddp for our next vacation

Whit....I thought the two of were a couple of tattoo maniacs,who terrorise the natives every weekend.Then smoking weed until the wee hours of the morning,while swigging back cheap liquor by the litre,and putting cash on the outsider at Saturdays football games.....LOL...For the record, I don't smoke..don't gamble..don't party like its 1999... However, it's been know for me to have a wee dram and a beer at the weekend....Ok..A big dram and a keg of beer....

 

[real mad hatter]

Interesting views here..Right across the spectrum..There is one common factor tho...The lure of a magical vacation that brings families together and memories that live forever....That to me is something money can't buy.....

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Whit....I thought the two of were a couple of tattoo maniacs,who terrorise the natives every weekend.Then smoking weed until the wee hours of the morning,while swigging back cheap liquor by the litre,and putting cash on the outsider at Saturdays football games.....LOL...For the record, I don't smoke..don't gamble..don't party like its 1999... However, it's been know for me to have a wee dram and a beer at the weekend....Ok..A big dram and a keg of beer....

Shhhhhh

 

[NWDMD]

My next trip is the first where I'm throwing caution to the wind and spending $$$. We usually go 2-3 times per year (it's a short drive and we're Annual Passholders). We usually stay in a moderate, value, or offsite. We're staying at the Polynesian this time. It's a big celebration though, less than 60 days until I come home from Afghanistan.

I wouldn't look down on anyone spending $$$ to go though, I just prefer to go more often and stay at a lower cost resort than spend it all on one trip.

 

[jkl2000]

Because our two sons are 14 and 4 years old, we had a period in there where we could do some vacations and not worry about the flying, how he'd react to time changes, etc. and we took advantage of it. We haven't taken a real vacation in really about three years now, because we were sort of waiting for DS4 to grow up a bit and make it easier (we also bought a 100-year-old house three years ago, so all the maintenance, upgrades, etc. is new to us, expensive, unending, etc.). But some time this summer we realized we owed ourselves a good vacation, so while I feel we've kept the budget within reason, it feels totally deserved.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

My next trip is the first where I'm throwing caution to the wind and spending $$$. We usually go 2-3 times per year (it's a short drive and we're Annual Passholders). We usually stay in a moderate, value, or offsite. We're staying at the Polynesian this time. It's a big celebration though, less than 60 days until I come home from Afghanistan.

I wouldn't look down on anyone spending $$$ to go though, I just prefer to go more often and stay at a lower cost resort than spend it all on one trip.

Let me give you an early "Welcome Home"

 

[zurgandfriend]

My DW is the "Ant" and I'm the "Grasshopper." She says we have to save and I want to go to WDW evey year. She say "what about tomorrow" and I say "after my combat tours in Vietnam and Kuwait I know that tomorrow may never come." I also am fond of telling her that "caskets don't come with pockets." Seriously, I as I have stated many times I have this conversation all the time with people that can't see that my relaxation is different from theirs. Rather than own a boat, motorcycle or season tickets to a sports team I would rather relax in the magic bubble. I hear all the time you just don't get it" and I reply "neither do you."

 

[Poofiesdream]

We never went on vacations while we had young children, saved the money for retirement and their college. At the age of 16 my son was in a car accident and he almost lost his life. He had brain surgery and after months of rehab he is 99% normal again. After the accident we thought about what if we had lost him. We had no memories to look back on, no pictures of our family enjoying our lives. Ever since then we go on vacation every year. We have made lots of new memories! We find the money! Our family times being together are worth a lot more than money! You never know what the future will bring so take some time now to enjoy your life. You don't have to go overboard or in a large debt to do it!

 

[Nemo14]

We never went on vacations while we had young children, saved the money for retirement and their college. At the age of 16 my son was in a car accident and he almost lost his life. He had brain surgery and after months of rehab he is 99% normal again. After the accident we thought about what if we had lost him. We had no memories to look back on, no pictures of our family enjoying our lives. Ever since then we go on vacation every year. We have made lots of new memories! We find the money! Our family times being together are worth a lot more than money! You never know what the future will bring so take some time now to enjoy your life. You don't have to go overboard or in a large debt to do it!

my sentiments exactly!

 

[real mad hatter]

We never went on vacations while we had young children, saved the money for retirement and their college. At the age of 16 my son was in a car accident and he almost lost his life. He had brain surgery and after months of rehab he is 99% normal again. After the accident we thought about what if we had lost him. We had no memories to look back on, no pictures of our family enjoying our lives. Ever since then we go on vacation every year. We have made lots of new memories! We find the money! Our family times being together are worth a lot more than money! You never know what the future will bring so take some time now to enjoy your life. You don't have to go overboard or in a large debt to do it!

Many thanks for telling your story...This touched me on a personnel level..And I agree 100% with what you say??...I hope you have many many magical vacations ahead of you.....

 

[Minthorne]

My Dad died in 2011 and it is memories that remain. He taught me an important lesson: Life is short ... Eat dessert first!

 

[real mad hatter]

My Dad died in 2011 and it is memories that remain. He taught me an important lesson: Life is short ... Eat dessert first!

Is the dude in the blonde curly hair the same guy that played opposite Sissy Spacek in the film Carrie.?