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[Falon]

K, I want to go to Disney World with my family. Problem is, of course, is the cost. I don't want to pay an arm and a leg to get there so, any idears? It's really important to me that my family goes. I'm growing up and my parents are getting older. I just want to have some fun with them in a place where you can forget how old you really are or what awaits you back home. I really want us to use this as a bonding time before I go to college. Does that make sense? Anyway, I'm rambling. Point is, I would really really really LOVE to go with my folks, but have no idea where to start...especially price wise. Please help!

 

[cinjam]

You can check out the free dining promotion that is going on right now. For us, food is usually a huge cost.

Go during value season. Stay at a value resort (POP, All Star Music or Movies. The web site I point out next will let you know when value seasons are.

Check out this web site: http://www.mousesavers.com This is one of the best Disney web sights I've come across.

Would you drive or fly? Are you limitted as to when you would go because of school?

Do you have siblings that would be going with you?

Go to Disney's web site & get a quote - just so you can see a ballpark figure of what the hotel & park tickets would cost: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index

 

[JenEeyore]

Falon -
Feel free to browse the DIS for budget saving tips etc - we have a wealth of knowledge here on the discussion boards, but also on www.wdwinfo.com, where there is excellent information to get you started in planning.

Then come on over to www.DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com when you do want a quote of what things will cost. If you book through Dreams verus directly with Disney you will get a Travel Consultant assigned to you that will help you with itinerary planning, and helping you make sure you get the best deal you can. If a better rate gets released once you are booked, Dreams agents will call Disney for you and see if it can be applied to your room during your dates. Also Dreams agents will make all your Advanced Dining Reservations for you, saving you the long distance phone calls to Disney. And all the agents at Dreams are very experienced Disney travelers that can give you invaluable tips and tricks to make your trip special. You'll get the same pricing as if you went to book at Disney directly, but a lot more individualized service.

Happy planning!!!

Jennifer

 

[Falon]

Would you drive or fly? Are you limitted as to when you would go because of school?

Do you have siblings that would be going with you?

I was thinking that we should fly...but, the tickets are kinda expensive. Now, my dad's company might opt to pay for that or for a rental car and we can drive there ...it'd be long drive tho (i live in VA). But hey, there's always a good chance. Btw, I have a sister who is going to be 15
. Oh ya, when I did the quote thing, the price came around $3,000. Now that I have a general idea, how do you think we can raise the money? We're middle class sorta people, but we're not millionaires and can't cough all that up at one time. Do you guys have any ideas where we should start when it comes to raising the funds to go to WDW? Thank you for your help and for the websites!

 

[dbarker]

Start saving money. A lot of families save all their spare money for about a year or more to be able to afford a trip to WDW and stay onsite at a Value Resort.

Get your whole family into saving money. Create a "Disney Jar" or something and dump in all spare change, etc. Have garage sales and sale stuff on e-bay. Maybe you and your sister could get part time jobs to help pay for this. (I babysat while in HS). Cut back on expenses and put that money into the Disney Jar.

 

[cttjones]

Believe me I am right were you are! Our family of five is taking our first trip ever in a month. I simply decided that we were not going to have any, or very little, extras for the first few months leading up to our trip. You would be surprised at how much you can save that way. I figured up how much we spend each month in Starbucks, movies, unnecessary trips to Wal-Mart, etc. and put that amount asside each month. I then decided to have my direct deposit put that much into a vacation savings acct we open. It didn't go to regular checking so we lived off of what we had. I won't say we didn't feel like we have gone without a few times, but it will be worth it. I have you know in about seven months we save $3,000 for our trip. I was amazed! Our whole trip is paid for already. Also, check out the different websites to see what cost saving tips you can come up with. If you can do DDP that will help as well. We have serveral character meals planned, so we don't feel like we are being cheated on our trip. Everything is included in our price.

 

[Falon]

Ahhhh.... Good ideas! I will definitely take them into consideration. Thanks again! Woohoo! I'm so excited now. And I haven't even started yet! Lol. Thank you!

 

[cinjam]

As a PP suggested, you just sock money away whever you can. For us it may be skipping our Friday night pizzas (we make it instead), skip the movies, cut coupons.

I sell stuff on ebay - just before you sell search eBay for a similar item that you want to sell to see if there is a market for that item and then how much you can get for it. Or if not eBay, then how about a garage sale?

If you know a ball park on how much it's going to cost for the 4 of you, sit down with your parents and talk about ways to save up the money. I find it easier for me to focus on a goal if I write down what I want and what I (and DH) have to do to get there.

Good luck!

 

[nettii]

We have always used a travel agent and she seems to always get our package price 500 or more $ cheaper, Ive also heard talk on the buget board about using AAA.
We give up alot when we decide to take a trip the whole family has to agree that this is what they want- we keep each other on track with spending- we dont buy lunches we always pack we rarly order out, we dont go to movies,we cut coupons and save change. If I get an extra $20 I stick it in my lil Disney box for slushies or something. The free dinning would be the way to save a ton! Also I book our flights thru Spirit out of Detroit and this last time I got tickets for $44 one way ($88 round trip) if you shop around the air lines you can get great rates you just have to be abel to say ok Ill take them on this day because they are usually limited sales.
Good Luck I hope you and your family can make this happen!

 

[Falon]

Thanks a lot everyone!

 

[Benducci]

Not to knock your ideas, you sound young. Have you talked to your parents to see if they are even vaguely interested in this? Just because you want this doesn't exactly mean they want to. Talk to them, if they are interested, you might surprise them with your interest & they might already have money saved up. I don't think any of us here are wealthy, we all are here because we are looking for ways to save money to go to Disney also.

A lot of the ideas here are good- break down what you need for the trip & go from there - transportation, lodging, food, tickets, misc. Get a ballpark figure for each area & then see if you can hunt for a better price. Do you have an idea of when you want to go? The free dining is this year but it doesn't seem like you will have the funds or planning ready for this year. There is a lot of planning but it can be done! Good luck! Talk to your parents & let us know how you do.

 

[Falon]

Well, here's the deal. I did talk to my family about it. My sis wants to go, my dad's still thinking about it, and my mom wants to know where the money is coming from. So, I figured that since I was the one who brought it up, I would look for ways to support my argument that we should go to WDW. You're right, it's not set in stone, but it could be if I found a way to raise money...with help of course.


Side note: I am the family enigma. I always seem to do things differently from what other people do. I'm not saying I'm crazy, I'm saying I've put my parents at their wits end concerning me and my wistfullness (I'm a dreamer). To put it plainly, I never seem to do anything right in their eyes, so I wanted to do something that would kinda sorta help them to accept me for who I am and understand that all I want is for them to be happy. I don't think I explained that properly, but I hope you get the gist of it.

 

[cinjam]

Another thought, when/if your parents are ok w/going, you can make the reservation, and then make monthly payments to Disney. Final payment on packages are due 45 days before you arrive.

This works for us because each month I have a "mini-goal". For example: in March I made a reservation for February 08. Final payment will be due in late December. So each month I pay about $300 to Disney (this is not including airfare; it's for room, meal plan, & park tickets; and assuming I am going to pay rack-rate).

Anyway, it's like you've put yourself on a payplan

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Garage sale

After school job. I would highly recommend something that isn't straight hourly pay. I used to work at a shoe store and there was perks on different types of shoes you sold. So, if you were very motivated you could make a lot.