1 Year to SAVE!!!

[Marionnette]

UPDATING:

Our plans had to change due to a friend's daughter getting married on the same weekend we had expected to go to Disney. So, now we're going during the F&W Festival.

PAID I just booked 5 nights in an SSR studio, 5 nights for 56 points @$11/pt. for a grand total of $616 for the room. I wish that I could have gotten BWV, but I knew it was a longshot. We're on the waitlist and if it comes through, we will have to pay an additional $66.

PAID We had enough SWA RR points for 2 RT tickets. I had to pay the 9/11 fee, which came to a grand total of $10. I might add the EBCI for another $40 but I'm not sure whether I want to spend the money. Maybe I'll just do it for the return trip.

PAID Leftover non-expiring tickets from previous trips, so I don't have to spend anything for park passes this time around.

PAID Food budget is $600. I have $40 in Landry's GCs to pay for lunch or dinner at Yak & Yeti. And I have enough Mypoints points to order another $50 GC. There's also another $388 in Disney GCs and $305 in Disney Rewards Dollars. This should be enough to pay for our meals.

?PAID? I have a rental car reserved for just under $100. I haven't cashed in my coins yet and I'm pretty sure that I can cover the cost of the rental and gas with what's in my jar. Once I cash them in, I'll know for sure. But I'm confident that I have more than enough in just quarters to pay for this.

So, it looks as if I've reached my goal! Anything that I save from here on out can be put towards little extras or set aside for the next trip!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

We are in the exact same situation switching from Spring to Fall. Going to be a long 18 months. Good luck with your saving!

Oh, you "ain't" kidding! LOL! Thank goodness for the Disboards to help pass the time...

Six months next week (ADRs can be made on the 25th woo hoo!) and I'm steadily reaching my goal.

$2000 goal
$1505 saved
-------
$495 left to go

May have to increase my goal amount if I can't find any cheaper flights or if free dining for October doesn't come about. I'll be looking at saving another $400 - $500.

That is awesome, you are doing great in reaching your goal!!! I have yet to officially start, but will hopefully get to this weekend (fingers crossed)!

Our trip is not until September 2013 but starting to save now and planning for Disney makes me happy. (even though I'm sure I annoy the crap out of my husband!!)

Goal: $4200.00

Saved: $223.00

Amount left to save: $3977.00

Our 1st family trip to Disney World was last September and we fell in love so our plan is to go every other year.

Oh, I know exactly what you are talking about. After we went last March, we were HOOKED! You have a much better jump on your savings than I do. We have had to do some major financial adjustments as DH has gone from hourly to salary...no more overtime pay. I am hoping to start chipping away at the savings mountain this weekend...my teaspoon is ready to dig in!

UPDATING:

Our plans had to change due to a friend's daughter getting married on the same weekend we had expected to go to Disney. So, now we're going during the F&W Festival.

PAID I just booked 5 nights in an SSR studio, 5 nights for 56 points @$11/pt. for a grand total of $616 for the room. I wish that I could have gotten BWV, but I knew it was a longshot. We're on the waitlist and if it comes through, we will have to pay an additional $66.

PAID We had enough SWA RR points for 2 RT tickets. I had to pay the 9/11 fee, which came to a grand total of $10. I might add the EBCI for another $40 but I'm not sure whether I want to spend the money. Maybe I'll just do it for the return trip.

PAID Leftover non-expiring tickets from previous trips, so I don't have to spend anything for park passes this time around.

PAID Food budget is $600. I have $40 in Landry's GCs to pay for lunch or dinner at Yak & Yeti. And I have enough Mypoints points to order another $50 GC. There's also another $388 in Disney GCs and $305 in Disney Rewards Dollars. This should be enough to pay for our meals.

?PAID? I have a rental car reserved for just under $100. I haven't cashed in my coins yet and I'm pretty sure that I can cover the cost of the rental and gas with what's in my jar. Once I cash them in, I'll know for sure. But I'm confident that I have more than enough in just quarters to pay for this.

So, it looks as if I've reached my goal! Anything that I save from here on out can be put towards little extras or set aside for the next trip!

WAY TO GO!!!!!

 

[jcmaro]

Update -

Just under 7 months to go and -

We Need - 5000 (hoping for free dining to lower this number)
We Have - 1504.84
Left to Save - 3495.16

 

[scnrc00]

Wow it's been a long time since I posted here. A lot has happened and we have changed our plans. Our DD will be going into 7th grade this upcoming year and with it being her first year of Jr. High and being in advanced band we have decided to not take them out in Sept. and going to wait until Dec. so they will only be missing 3 days of school instead. So we are going now from Dec. 15-22 and we are hoping for free dining but if not we will manage. But this means our goal will be a lot different now.
$4000.00 Goal
$200.00 Saved
$3800.00 Left to Go

 

[LSU25]

We try and go to Orlando every 6-8 months- we absolutely LOVE it, as I'm sure everyone here does. We have a 24 month old, who loves everything Disney as well. Every time we go I keep a tally/fund/budget thread on another website BUT I just stumbled across this site and haven't gotten out of my seat for the last 2 hours! ( the babies napping and that's how excited I am I found this and all of you fellow Disney lovers)

We've gone at almost every holiday EXCEPT Halloween, so that's when we are headed there this time. We just went in January and had the time of our lives. Coming with us will be my husband and our son as well as FIRST TIME DISNEY GOERS my brother, his wife and their two kids (4.5 y/o & 1 y/o). They are flying, we are driving - they are also paying for the room and a friend of ours works for Disney so we are able to get comped tickets to all the parks. ( I know how lucky we are trust me, its a true blessing)

Current Expected Costs:

Gas $400 (husband will cover this)
Universal 1 day 2x$85=$170
Sea World 1 day 2 x $72 = $144
Disney 5 day- Park Hopper Comped / $0
Food $700
Epcot F&W 2 x $150 = $300
Souvenirs $300
Mickeys NSSHP 2 x 70 = $140
Old Town $150
= $1,904

 

[LSU25]

Current Budget:

$834.91 / $1,904 ~ 43.9%

5/7/12 Beginning Balance 181.00
5/8/12 A- coaching Card 250.00
5/9/12 Cam Mom Day 40.00
5/12/12 Grocery 5.00
5/12/12 Random 24.00
5/13/12 Mothers Day B&D 80.00
5/15/12 Extra 2.53
5/15/12 Extra 1.58
5/16/12 Extra 0.80
5/16/12 Disney Giftcards DMR 50.00
5/16/12 Disney Giftcard trade in WD 200.00

 

[Marionnette]

UPDATING:

Our plans had to change due to a friend's daughter getting married on the same weekend we had expected to go to Disney. So, now we're going during the F&W Festival.

PAID I just booked 5 nights in an SSR studio, 5 nights for 56 points @$11/pt. for a grand total of $616 for the room. I wish that I could have gotten BWV, but I knew it was a longshot. We're on the waitlist and if it comes through, we will have to pay an additional $66.

PAID We had enough SWA RR points for 2 RT tickets. I had to pay the 9/11 fee, which came to a grand total of $10. I might add the EBCI for another $40 but I'm not sure whether I want to spend the money. Maybe I'll just do it for the return trip.

PAID Leftover non-expiring tickets from previous trips, so I don't have to spend anything for park passes this time around.

PAID Food budget is $600. I have $40 in Landry's GCs to pay for lunch or dinner at Yak & Yeti. And I have enough Mypoints points to order another $50 GC. There's also another $388 in Disney GCs and $305 in Disney Rewards Dollars. This should be enough to pay for our meals.

?PAID? I have a rental car reserved for just under $100. I haven't cashed in my coins yet and I'm pretty sure that I can cover the cost of the rental and gas with what's in my jar. Once I cash them in, I'll know for sure. But I'm confident that I have more than enough in just quarters to pay for this.

So, it looks as if I've reached my goal! Anything that I save from here on out can be put towards little extras or set aside for the next trip!

It has been a good rewards week. I received the $50 Landry's GC from Mypoints on Monday.

And then I got my Big Fat Check from Ebates on Tuesday in the stunning amount of $38 and change.

Yesterday, my Chase Sapphire bill arrived (which wouldn't normally be a reason to celebrate) and my 50,000 bonus points have been added to my account. That's $500 in cash or I can exchange them for 50,000 Rapid Rewards points, which would be worth $833 in Wanna Get Away fares. I haven't decided what to do with them so I'm going to wait a little bit to cash those points in. I might do a combination of both.

With the added rewards money, I'm thinking that I need to plan another trip!

 

[Lemurone]

Fun thread! I have gotten some good ideas, especially the one about taking your savings to get a Disney gc so you don't spend the money. I got a Target redcard last week for the 5% discount, so my money gets me a teeny, tiny bit more My timeline is a little more crunched, as I have to have my trip paid by 8/15 and I have a set goal in mind to reach before I tell DH that I've booked this trip (yes, he doesn't know--I wonder if he has noticed money disappearing!).

Hotel/Tickets/Dining Plan cost: $2200
Amount Paid: $1190
Amount Remaining: $1010
Tell Husband at: $500 remaining
$510 to pay by end of June, and then $500 by August 15!

I feel like we are just bleeding money lately, so getting our balance down to $500 hasn't been as easy as it seemed it was going to be. I've had some dr bills, DH has been landscaping our yard and I couldn't tell him "no new sod, that's Disney money" since he doesn't know about Disney! I've got summer camp fees now too, even though we are using the most affordable option I could find (YMCA), it's almost going to cost $1k for the summer. I threw a kindergarten carnival for the kindergarteners at school last weekend and am slowly getting my money back from parents, but they sure are slow in sending in their contributions I'm not the best saver in the world--I go back and forth from Scrooge to acting like I have all the money in the world! However, we just got our first ALDI and I am all about some ALDI now that I spent $68 for my family of 4's weekly grocery list!

 

[Fantasmic23]

i LOVE this thread and I have subscribed. Thank you to the creator for starting it and thank you ALL for your wonderful tips and suggestions!

We're going to Universal this coming November (which is already all paid for), but we aren't going to WDW until November 2013 (week after Thanksgiving). Let the saving games begin!

*I tend to be able to save more during the summer. The kids are off from school and there's less money to shell out for school-related expenses like book fairs, book clubs, school supplies, field trips, "Mom, I want to buy the hot lunch today", fund raisers, etc., etc. This also means that no one (including me) has to sneakily dip into the Disney coin jar for "I just need fifty cents!"

*I have a lot more time to focus on reward/survey sites because the crazy driving around town to activities lessenes during the summer. Also, on those too-hot-to-be-outside and rainy days, it's nice to be in the cool comfort of the computer room.

*I get more inspired to save when I see/hear people around me going off on summer trips to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Jersey Shore, Hershey Park, even WDW, etc., etc

 

[Angie789]

I've read through this whole thread, and I'd like to join, too! I actually decided to save for a Disney trip for my family last July. DH & I got the Southwest credit cards that will pay for the airfare for our family and right at the same time we got a check for an insurance adjustment for about $400. So I decided I was going to figure out ways to fund the trip entirely outside of our budget - not a penny was allowed to come directly out of our paychecks.
Well, less than a year later, I have saved enough for our 1st trip!!! We aren't going until December 2013 (we want both kids to be old enough to enjoy it - they'll be 4 and 2 then). So I am keeping it going & saving for trip number 2! I got my eBates refund yesterday, so I'm adding that to the total.

Trip #1 - December 2013 - $3400 - SAVED!!!
Trip #2 - May 2015?
$271 +
$16.52
--------
$287.52

I am getting a big check any day now for gold that I sold (read the gold-selling thread if you haven't yet!!!) so that number will be going up soon!

 

[taymorel]

We are planning to go to Universal and Disney for Spring Break 2013. I am planning to save at least $3,800 since we want to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge again.

Goal: $3,800
Saved:$120

That equals a long way to go!! But, it will be worth it.

 

[Lemurone]

Made an unplanned payment this morning

I took 3 boxes of kids' clothes, shoes, books, and toys to the consignment store last night and earned $47! I spent $6 right there on a pink Bambi t-shirt for DD (saving it for our trip) and two books for DS. Then DD and I went to return a few things to Target, because I found DS some perfectly good Goodwill outfits and didn't need the new summer clothes I had just bought him anymore. $25 back on my debit, and then I used my Redcard to buy a $50 Disney card for $47.50. I'm SO close to owing in the 3 digits now but won't make another payment until payday

 

[LSU25]

Update

Current Expected Costs:
Universal Tickets + Food $245 Current: $180/ $245
Souvenirs/Misc $400 Current: $162/$400 *(pending $100 Disney Credit Card / Gift Card)
Sea World Tickets + Food $220 - Paid
Epcot F&W $240 - Paid
Disney Food $350 - Paid
MNSSHP $140 -Paid
Hotel Gainesville $200 - Paid


$1492/ $1,795 = $303 dollars to go

 

[DianeW]

Just got back, and already looking ahead to next year's trip!

Time to start the savings plan.

Great thread for motivation and accountability. I'll be back often.

I think my starting savings is about $50 right now. I have a looooong way to go.

 

[LSU25]

Diane I've learned its NEVER to early to start

When are you guys going back?

 

[Angie789]

Time for an update! This is a BIG addition to the fund!

Trip #1 - December 2013 - $3400 - SAVED!!!
Trip #2 - May 2015?

$287.52 SAVED +
$1122.80 selling old & broken gold +
$336.73 unexpected pay DH earned for a project
------------------------
$1747.05

 

[Marionnette]

Time for an update! This is a BIG addition to the fund!

Trip #1 - December 2013 - $3400 - SAVED!!!
Trip #2 - May 2015?

$287.52 SAVED +
$1122.80 selling old & broken gold +
$336.73 unexpected pay DH earned for a project
------------------------
$1747.05

Awesome job, Angie! And you're not even going on your first trip for another 18 months? You're rocking your Disney savings!

 

[mammomommie]

I love this thread! I need to hop on the wagon.
We are going in Oct. and I had to give DH $300 of Disney money for trip to see his family.
All is paid for except for gas, food and spending. 2 days for travel time. Staying for 7 days at condo so we will be eating off site a lot. Thinking that I need about $350 gas
$250 for hotel and food for travel down and back
$1,100 for food and spending

I have $1,400 saved.
I need to squeeze $300 out of an already tight budget. We are pinching our pennies already. Not sure how I can do this.

 

[Cierese]

Well, it happened.... my poor little ticker has got to be changed Went from 118 days left to go to 483! LOL Had to reschedule my trip for Oct 2013 now. Not 100% sure. So, now I'm back to having an extra year to pay of my trip. Sad I'm not going this year, but happy that I will be able to save more and be able to book our YES tickets before they close next year. Praying they have them the week we are there. Ok... its late. Good night

 

[Marionnette]

It has been a good rewards week. I received the $50 Landry's GC from Mypoints on Monday.

And then I got my Big Fat Check from Ebates on Tuesday in the stunning amount of $38 and change.

Yesterday, my Chase Sapphire bill arrived (which wouldn't normally be a reason to celebrate) and my 50,000 bonus points have been added to my account. That's $500 in cash or I can exchange them for 50,000 Rapid Rewards points, which would be worth $833 in Wanna Get Away fares. I haven't decided what to do with them so I'm going to wait a little bit to cash those points in. I might do a combination of both.

With the added rewards money, I'm thinking that I need to plan another trip!

Okay, I wasn't serious about planning another trip (just yet!) but things have changed. My brother is heading to Orlando with his two kids for a 3-week vacation at Disney and he sent an open invitation to all family members to join them at some point. I wasn't going to take him up on the offer for a number of reasons but my daughter convinced me to make one more Disney trip with her before she starts medical school in August. No time off for good behavior once she starts - it's 4 straight years of nonstop studying with short breaks between modules.

So, we leave Friday morning at the crack of dawn to join them at the BWV (2 bedroom unit) for 4 nights! Yes, that's just 5 sleeps away from being in Disney! I shuffled through my gift cards and tickets to make sure that I have enough to cover both trips and there's plenty to do it. I cashed in my coin jar and added another $262 to my cash reserves plus I deposited $200 in $1 bills from the same stash of savings, which gives us money for food and a little bit extra.

ADRs have been made and now we're trying to figure out a way to surprise my niece, who doesn't know that her favorite aunt and cousin will be joining them.