can I save $2,000 by dec

[luv2nascar]

WAHHHHHH
I want to see the 100 years celebration
and would love to go in early december
to see the christmas decorations again

First and only trip was 2 wks last wk nov/ 1st wk of dec 2000
And I am jonesing to go again (okay family is too)

Okay 1st problem is we are buying a new home
Closing will be end of August
Okay that sucked all the money out of our budget
We do a change jar but I've been using that for things
for the house (last was $316 I think)
Okay I currently have $40-$50 in change
Can I possibly save $2000 by December 1

I'm probably dreaming right??
I figured we could drive down from PA (yuck) but probably
the only way since I don't fly & train is to expensive
$200 for gas & tolls
$200 for 1 night stay each way for hotel
$900 for food
$490 for all stars 7 nights at $70 per night hoping for code
$620 for 5 day hoppers for 2 adults & 1 child-dc discount
--------
$2410 for 9 days

okay so I need more than $2000 help
any great ideas???

[*Belle*]

What would work best for me would be to put $100.00 a week into a Disney fund that could not be touch, no matter what anyone's excuse may be. Come Turkey Day you'll have your $2000.00 and the family will once again love you.:D

[lorilori]

First, congrats on buying the house! I would probably take it down to 5 nights onsite or stay offsite for less for 7 nights. Or maybe buy 4 day hoppers. If it comes between going or not going, every little bit helps. Good luck!

[Jinnyboom]

Well...first off....I would have a yard sale...(Yuckk)...I know...but you may be surprised at what you might make...particularly if you have children's toys/clothing that is in excellent condition...
Secondly....my biggest expense..is fast food....we spend a FORTUNE on fast food...due to my working late....cut out all fast food...use what you have to make meals....NO EXCEPTIONS...
Finally...do what the previous poster said...put money away EXCLUSIVELY for this trip......
PAY YOURSELF FIRST..........then attend to your utilities/creditors, etc....
Don't risk your credit rating or your utility service by all means.....just cut back in other areas!!

WHERE THERE'S A WILL.............THERE'S A WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:Pinkbounc

:bounce:

[danareed]

Bad news-the 100 year celebration ends in October! Now I don't know if that makes you feel better or worse!

I live near New Orleans and I'm trying to figure out how to wangle a trip in Sept. I need to figure out the dates, but a bunch of top Chrisitans singers will be there.

Besides, last Feb. I ran out of film and thought the parade would be a repeat that I had pictures of already. WRONG! It was so cute with all the characters is snow globes!

Dana

[B3LM]

I think the 100 years celebration runs through December. Disney typically runs the special events for 15 months, Oct - Dec.

Doing a garage sale is a great suggestion - you'll be surprised at how much you could put away by doing that. I've made $300 in one day.

Beth :sunny:

[Mustangdi]

I think you can be successful if your job can
help you save. I always save my OT just for my
trip. We also save on our budgeted amount after
we get there, especially on food. We only eat in the parks during the lunch time before 4PM
and eat offsite in the evenings. You can easily
save over half of your amount allowed for your
rooms while traveling. I have had great success
with using Priceline. All you need to know is where you want to stop on the way and don't bid
too high. It won't be easy to save $2400 before
Dec. I would just say make cuts where you can
and have a wonderful trip. Good luck!!!:smooth:

[luv2nascar]

Thanks for everyone's tips
I could cut it down by a night or two
But that's a long drive for us (20 hrs)
to turn around & drive home in a few days
Other option to save money on the way down
maybe to stay at my parents instead of hotel
it's not the best option but possible
they live in VA on the NC border only 6 1/2 hrs from here
so the next day we would have to drive 13 1/2 more hrs
I'd rather push it the first day & drive 12-14 hrs
so we could be in disney in 6-8 hrs the next day
I have a few items to sell before we move
like a portable dishwasher, tires w/rims, coal stove,etc.
Not expecting alot from these items.

I'm probably dreaming - DH thinks so.
The thing is we have the money but we don't take out of
emergency savings - you know the 4-6 mos living expense
money for vacation
so I have to find the money some where.

KEEP THOSE GOOD IDEAS COMING

[mooses41]

rent a house/villa offsite, you can probably get it for 200 a week.

[MineeBaby]

Have ramen noodle nights for dinner!!! :) You will save TONS of money!!! Also, it is very desperate, but if you have a plasma donation center in your area, you can make 200 bucks a person a month for only going 8 days...definetely helps us out around here when money is tight. :) Im not sure where in PA you are, but in State College, there is one right in town. :bounce:

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says..............................First thing to do is lop off 200 off your food budget. We are three and budget 75 a day, and have never gone over in three trips. Still got to try places like Cape May, BOMA, 1900 Park Faire etc. Also, if all you are doing is sleeping at the motel you can do much better than $100 a night, if you plan. We just spent one night at the Sheraton at San Francisco Airport, club level, for $109. There are many places that are at least a bump up from budget level that would go for 59-69. Settle for the parents place on the way back, alot of driving gets done that day, and your stay is 0. You've saved 200 on food, 130 on rooms enroute, for a savings of $330. And you didn't cut out a single thing yet! $1670 to save looks better than $2000!
In our family DH and DW exchange a few gifts for Xmas, I found out that doesn't always happen. If it does in your family, swap dinners at Disney, and/or Disney Dollars, that could add another 100-200 to your fund. Try to see if you can't catch one of the specials at DD for rooms, Courtyard for $20.02!!, Best Western for $25. Even if you only do three nights, you save another $125, and still get some magic. Now you only need to save $1400 and have given up very little!!!

[Colleen A.]

I would definitely cut down that hotel budget. Having made the drive from PA to Disney many times, I know you can do a heck of a lot better.:D We usually stay over in NC or SC. When you enter those states, stop in the welcome centers. You will find those hotel coupon books. They have some great deals in them (not at seedy motels either!). We stayed in a Comfort Inn for $29.00 in SC (there were 5 of us). I-95 also has a web site that tells you what hotels are at the exits and I believe it gives you the prices (as well as the local gas prices!)

Also, pick up a electric kettle (heats water). You can have instant coffee, tea or hot chocolate in the morning (you can collect sugar packets at fast food places between now and Dec), instant oatmeal or cream of wheat. Bring bread and PBJ for lunches (or lunachables) and take them into the parks with you. You can also get that Oodles of Noodles soup that come in the little sytrofoam cups and all you do is add the boiling water.

Hope this helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Colleen:wave:

[DiznEeyore]

I just wanted to add that everyone (esp. Disnee Dad) gave great advice! You can do this!

[MEM]

I agree with trimming the food budget -- with only 3 of you, you could trim it to $500 easily and still have one or two character or other sit-down meals. I have found that one character meal per trip is plenty. Eating breakfast in the room is the simplest way to begin trimming the budget...esp. if you bring the non-perishables from home. Since you will have a car, you could bring a real cooler (instead of the soft-sided kind). You could also eat some dinners off-site and share meals eaten on-site. Souvenirs could come out of your Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa budget.

I personally would still plan on staying on-site just to extend the Magic. Use the money saved by staying at Comfort Inns and such on the way to and from Orlando.

I would suggest you conduct a search of this budget forum because there are a wealth of ideas for both saving money while there and earning it before you leave.

[figment95]

DH and I save money by staying off site the first night. We live right on the VA/NC boarder. Sometimes we drive straight through. It takes about 12 hours. There were some great rates available at the Courtyard at Downtown Disney. We usually stay there the first night and then move to our disney hotel the next morning. You could always stay offsite for half of your trip and then move to a hotel onsite for the last part. Check mousesavers.com. I've found some really good deals there. Good luck!

[MineeBaby]

speaking of driving straight through..we are gung-ho people, and drive straight down to DF's(fiance!) parents house in FL from PA..takes between 19-22 hours depending upon how fast you drive..take turns sleeping, eating, and signing to the radio together, or sometimes without! Its doable if you are up for it. :)

[luv2nascar]

I was definitely feeling down about the whole
thing last night
but after reading all these great posts with suggestions
I feels so much better about this
I still think it might be doable.
I am now secretly saving because DH doesn't think we
can afford to go
But if I have the money saved he can't argue with that
It was BLT's for dinner tonight
and probably hotdogs for dinner tomorrow

KEEP THOSE GREAT IDEAS COMING
MY TRIP DEPENDS ON IT

[goofygirl2]

Have you considered getting a second job? Something part time? My friend does this and uses all the money for her family vacation.You could work at McDonalds or wallmart( and to know the money will be for vacation only makes it easier to take. I work overtime for my disney vacation,2 weeks at Poly Lagoon concerige in Nov. I have a change jar but only have $40 so far. I have considered selling some stuff on e-bay as yard sales don't do well here. I am also a mysteryshopper, I get paid to review resturants and my family gets a free dinner out.I take the amount of the meal and

[goofygirl2]

buy Disney Dollars. I know if you focus on this you can do it! Also I say a prayer everynight for us to please have enough money to go to disney. I add you to my prayers tonight. Also congrats on your new home. :p

[travelitis]

Have you thought about staying in a timeshare? There are great offers, and you get accomodations close to Disney with full kitchens. We paid $55/nt for a 2 bed, 3 bath with washer/dryer, full kitchen, huge jacuzzi tub, big screen TV, etc. Another time we paid $100 deposit which was credited back to us after sitting through a 90 min. presentation and got 2 nights in a beautiful room with kitchenette and jacuzzi tub for zero. You just have to be able to say "No", though.

I'd trim the fat from that food budget by planning a menu and buying for it during your grocery trips now. You can precook and freeze taco meat, sloppy joes. Cereal, juice boxes, powdered drink mixes, snacks, sodas, pb, etc. don't need refrigeration just transportation. Just by researching the restaurants you can save $$. My family of 5 eats on no more than $100 per day, and that includes a character meal or sit-down restaurant. If it's counter service we don't come close to $100 per day. At full service my husband and I might split as the portions are simply too big.

We live 20 hrs. from WDW and would take a quick trip there, so I wouldn't be so quick to eliminate that option. I cut back on days to get my kids to Disney the first time and never regretted it.

Do you have family who will ask what you want for Christmas? Ask them to make a contribution to your Disney fund or purchase meal vouchers or restaurant gift certificates. Do you have a birthday or anniversary between now and then? Maybe there are doting grandparents who'd surprise you if they knew you were trying to get their little darling to see the mouse.

Priceline is a great source for inexpensive lodging if you are flexible.

Save all your change in a jar. Don't give exact change, let the dollar be broken then save every bit of change.

Make it do, Use it up, wear it out -- be frugal and stay away from malls or Walmart. Make infrequent big trips with list in hand rather than frequent small trips.

Enjoy the process of saving every dime for this. Make it a game and a challenge rather than agonizing over every cut-back. Take a look at your monthly bills. Is there anything you could sacrifice like dry cleaning or downgrading cable? Are you paying to have your grass cut? Good luck to you! Please update us and let you know how it turns out!

[NancyIL]

There are lots of great money-saving tips here - both for before and during your trip. I think it's easier to save by cutting back on your expenses at home before and after the trip - than it is to deny yourselves at WDW. The garage sale idea is great - especially since it's better to get rid of clutter than it is to box it up and move it to your new house. Good luck!

[luv2nascar]

I am feeling better about it than I was
saving change like crazy & cutting back on eating
out & groceries
I agree much easier to cut out before to save
than to scrimp at disney

I have $56 in change rolled for trip
& found $40 in DD that I haven't spent
don't ask me how I didn't spend $40 in DD but
I still have them.
Today is DD birthday & her $30 she got is being
saved for the trip for her to spend
plus now we have $96
WOO HOO I think we are off to a good start

Keep thinking of me

[travelitis]

You are off to a good start! Congrats! At this rate you'll definitely get that money saved.

While some people would look at my list and think it's scrimping, we don't feel we are deprived at Disney. My money savers have other benefits that are every bit as if not more important to me than the money. BTW I have done the "cut every possible corner" routine to take my kids to Disney, and I'd rather make cuts at home AND on vacation.

We don't want to waste too much valuable touring time sampling restaurants because we go when hours are short. We like a character meal or full service restaurant for an afternoon break. B-fast or supper in the room is a time-saver and more relaxing than sitting in another restaurant. (Pizza delivery or something precooked works great, because I'm not cooking on vacation!)

The fanny packs and water bottles keep my kids happy, and ward off a whole lot of whining and complaining.

Staying at a timeshare gave us a huge jacuzzi tub in the master bedroom, full living room, fully stocked kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a home theater for so much less than onsite. I used to be a hardcore stay onsite gal, but it's so nice to put a movie in for the kids while DH and I head for the jacuzzi. We need our alone time to survive.

My point being that you have to decide what cut-backs work for you and which feel like real deprivation. There's nothing wrong with not getting everything you want, but what works for us might not for other people. Keep the Grand Floridian, we want our romantic tub, plenty of space, and adult quiet time!

[milmore104]

I know you can do this! I am doing the same thing righ tnow. The only thing is I'm going to suprise my DH with the trip. We just closed on our new house and have been in it for 8 days now. So I know where your coming from. I have been saving money fro this trip since we came home from the last one but with a new house you never know what your going to get! I had to spend our trip money on redoing our DD's bathroom. I figured it was better she didn't fall thru the floor. But I am still determined to go. I found that if your anything like me it's hard to save money and say don't touch it. What I do is go to TDS eveyweek and buy $100 in disneydollars that way they can't be used and you'll save the money in no time. Also you can cut that budget down. If your driving then you can pack your own food. Also I know it's great to stay onsite but shop around you can get a house for the week for around $200-400. Also you could cut your hotel cost down when your driving down. either you and your DH take turns or go online and research find out about where you want to stay and find some hotels in that area. You'd be suprised at what deals are only afford online. Also you can go on e-bay and buy your tickets. There are a lot of people that want to sell there unused days on there PH tickets. Or stop at the FL info center. they sell discounted tickets. I believe there is a link on the dis for them.
I hope it all works out for you I know you can do it.

[bethsg]

Ok, you can save money by flying... the fares are great, and you save gas and tolls, and hotel night if you shorten stay. Plus you won't be exhausted. I am sure you can get a great deal now to MCO, and use Mears for transportation. It can really be cheaper to fly.

[MEM]

I agree that flying might be cheaper -- I got tickets from Boston to Orlando for four people, R/T for November 2002 for $160 each including all taxes and fees. And the fares have come down since then. I consider the wear and tear on my car and my family to be an expense and budget accordingly.

If driving for you is the only option, I personally would spend the money on the no-frills hotel on the drive down and back to ensure two well-rested drivers and the safety of others on the road. This is not a budgetary item to cut corners on, IMHO. Your original plan to stop at your parents' house sounds very reasonable.

[travelitis]

We're driving 20 hours to Disney, too, but we will stop overnight. Flying is more convenient, but no matter how cheap airfare gets, driving is going to be less expensive than flying. I used Mears Shuttle once, and won't do that again. I ended up really missing that rental car which is another expense to add to flying. Our transfers saved us very little over the car rental and our new camcorder battery shorted out the first day. Disney was doing inventory and didn't have our very common battery anywhere, so we had to rent a camcorder one day and do without the others. With a car we could've gotten another battery for $40 (Disney's price was $70). Our movies are our favorite souvenir. Flying is less expensive if driving time costs you unpaid time off work or you work for an airline. In case you think this means I don't fly, I've flown 5 of the 7 times I've gone to WDW.

[KJMAX1]

I wanted to add that my husband and I used hotwire.com and priceline.com for our hotel stays on our drive from Seattle to Phx, and LA for Disneyland. Both hotels we never paid more than 40.00 for, and both were suites with an entire kitchen etc.

[izzarelli]

Glad I started reading this thread, everyone has great ideas!

Another thing we do is sell our read books to Half Price Books. Between the 2 of us we have a ton of books just sitting around (or packed in boxes) that we were never going to read again. (and I'm a novel junkie) I took a load of them this week & made $45 that I bought Disney Dollars with.

Good luck to everyone!

[tater bug]

There is very little I can add to these wonderful tips, but if you can, put your $1 up, too. You will be surprised at how fast that pot of money grows. And when you reach a certain $ figure ($50) go the TDS and get DD.

Good luck with the trip and congratulations on the new house!