There is a disturbance in the force....

[janelove956]

So I've been planning my June 2014 trip for a bit now and finally booked the date! BUT later on today I found out that my hours are being cut at work so slowly but surely I'm panicking.....how am I to pay for this vacation and by April none the less!!!

Any suggestions on ways to save at Disney or anything?????? Help!!

 

[smk]

It really isn't that bad. Come up to the table with the zipper already open and they peak in and your own your way. For us as a family of 5 it saves a lot of money. I've added up the cost of the dining plan and for us it isn't worth it. It's too much money especially considering when we can get to a decent restaurant for dinner and save money. I usually have a gift card or two for a chain restaurant so it saves us money. Since we are 3.5 hours away we can make frequent trips. A lot of that lunch money goes into the pot for our next trip. When I have to renew I have to be extra careful with savings, but after that it's just hotel, a tankful of gas and food money. I renewed my tickets for this trip and we'll be there from Wednesday through Sunday. We'll bring in sandwiches with us. We are also planning a long weekend in early December to see all the decorations.

IF only I lived so close! I hear about the tables for five, we have three grown children but used to take many trips when they were little. Everything is okay for a family of four, hotels etc...but when you need five beds it can get pricey. Now it is just the two of us and we never get the DP, too much food, kids all grown and if they want to go they can go on their own. However, they all still get mad when we go and don't offer to take them. Some trips are meant to be just the two of us! So, I have no need to carry in anything but myself, and my husband usually wears cargo shorts for the extra pockets to carry the camera, phones, etc. Refreshing way to visit, that is for sure!

 

[dopeylover]

As for trying to save, I've found the best way to save, at least for us, is to learn to make my groceries stretch. We're pretty decent savers, and don't have a lot of extravangances, and those we have I'm not ready to part with for the sake of a vacation. You need to enjoy every day life too! Little things like buying a whole chicken for dinner, then using the bones to make stock for soup for lunch that week, buying meats in bulk (saves us a lot since we buy organic most of the time), and ESP. eating meat free several times a week have really helped tighten our food budget. My husband is a meat and potatoes guy, but I don't think he's even noticed I've done a lot of meat free meals lately.

Also- If you don't get a good enough tax return to pay for the trip, could you get a second job in the meantime? Even something like babysitting or with the holidays coming up (doesn't feel like it, but in retail they will start hiring for seasonal work fairly soon) a part time retail job could help you on your way!

Consignment shops are great too. I didn't really get it until recently, when I had 15 storage containers of my DD's clothes to part with! I found a local group of Moms on FB that had started a group, and I have made great money posting pics of my daughers clothes and selling them. It was time consuming at first, but totally worth it. I brought the rest to the consignment shop down the street from me and made a killing there too. I've made enough that I've bought all my DD's Fall wardrobe with that money, as well as gear and clothes for our son who is due in a few weeks. I'll be selling stuff in the Spring again (and throughout the year on FB), and that money will go towards kids clothes and our vacation.

I hope some of this helps! Don't lose hope, you'll get there!

 

[CrazyDisneyLady]

Another thing to do is online sites like quickrewards and swagbucks. On quickrewards you can get Disney gift cards, rainforest cafe, landry's(rainforest, trex and Y&Y)and Starbucks all of which are accepted at WDW. With swagbucks you can get Starbucks or money put into your Paypal account and then transfer to your bank account.
Here is a referral link for quickrewards anyone is welcome to use it...http://quickrewards.net/?r=slwittm
Couponing is great also and what ever you save from coupons you put into a Disney fund.

 

[Herah]

Look at offsite house rentals, too -- at weekly rates you can get 3 or 4 bedrooms and a private pool for less than an onsite room. We did this originally because we were traveling with grandparents from both sides, and rooms for the whole party was just too much. We still do it because we just can't beat the value.

We drive our own van down and stay in a development 10 minutes from AK. We mix up the dining, eating in the parks when we do a long day, but sometimes going in later after an early lunch outside, or leaving a little earlier for a late dinner. Having a full kitchen helps.