Affordability....grrr

[missmdr]

We are/were a family of 4 and we go on a Disney Cruise or Disney vacation every year for the past 5 - we spend $4k'ish each year on average....I'm pricing a cruise for next February and b/c we will then be a family of 5, our Disney cruise experience (incl air) will probably exceed $5k....it's SO hard to justify $ 5k on a yearly vacation when we have a million other things we could be spending money on (3 kids college ed funds, retirement, new car, new dining room set etc).

Does anyone else suffer guilt everytime they vacation and add up the money spent every year?? I mean, we could be driving a Mercedes for the amount of money we've spent over 5 years. I love my winter vacations; they create unforgetful memories, but is there a monetary amount you reach before you say enough is a enough??! Just curious.

 

[mmouse37]

I hear ya!!! We have done a Disney vacation just about every year since 1979 (had our honeymoon at the Poly)... 40 plus trips to WDW, a few to Disneyland and 16 DCL cruises and hubby keeps telling me we would be millionaires if we didn't take so many vacations.....I do feel guilty at times...but, we are not starving, the last kid is almost out of college, I have no other vices so I can justify vacations in my mind because a happy wife makes a happy husband!

I have scaled down on the amount of trips but it is my one real passion...travel, especially with Disney. I do not need a fancy car, or a McMansion or expensive jewelry.

I have passed on vacations....last year we did not do Disney so I am really looking forward to our cruise this October.

I do not regret any trip we have ever taken because we have wonderful memories of all of them...but, the one thing I do really regret when I add up how much money we have spent over the years on Disney is that I did not buy DVC when it first came out....I would be way ahead of the game if I did!!!

 

[msmayor]

I'd choose memories over Mercedes any day of the week. I like to think of our vacation spending as an investment in our family's health and well-being.

I prefer not to look back on vacation spending and think "What if?" We treasure our time together as a family and look to create traditions our children will remember with happiness.

I'm sure we've spent a fortune on Disney vacations and the like. But that's okay. You only get so many trips around the sun, and only so many chances to enjoy magical moments with your kids.

 

[dursin]

We are/were a family of 4 and we go on a Disney Cruise or Disney vacation every year for the past 5 - we spend $4k'ish each year on average....I'm pricing a cruise for next February and b/c we will then be a family of 5, our Disney cruise experience (incl air) will probably exceed $5k....it's SO hard to justify $ 5k on a yearly vacation when we have a million other things we could be spending money on (3 kids college ed funds, retirement, new car, new dining room set etc).

Does anyone else suffer guilt everytime they vacation and add up the money spent every year?? I mean, we could be driving a Mercedes for the amount of money we've spent over 5 years. I love my winter vacations; they create unforgetful memories, but is there a monetary amount you reach before you say enough is a enough??! Just curious.

How many days do you cruise for? We're also a family of 5 and after taking 7 day trips the past couple years, we're going back to a 4 day. For two connecting cat 10's (SPH!) in January I think our total is $2500. If you factor in the $150 per stateroom credits we have then it's $2200. Fortunately we are only like 35 minutes for Port Canaveral so airfare isn't a factor. I agree with the previous poster too...the kids aren't going to remember the new dining room set or riding around in the mercedes when they grow up....they will however remember the family vacations!

 

[BCV02]

I'd choose memories over Mercedes any day of the week.

That has to be one of the best lines I have heard in a long time!

 

[trekkie518]

I agree, the memories, and the fun while there are much better then a Mercedes. We started takin the kids when they were little, they are teens now. We ask them if they would like to go on a vacation somewhere this year, or wait 2 to go on a Disney vacation. They still choose Disney (I have secured the next generation of Dis fans) Normally, we go to local amusement parks, and with their ages, we split up, and meet up. At Disney or on the cruise, we all enjoy being there together, experiencing, going to new islands, etc.

I wouldn't trade my memories or disney vacations for anything in the world.

 

[Donald&Tinkerbell]

I understand your feelings. We don't have kids, but we don't have much of a retirement plan either. My compromise is saving the money for vacation. That way if an expense comes up before vacation, I can pay it and skip the vacation, if it doesn't I'm not going in debt for the vacation.

But in today's life, it is so hectic, a vacation is the only time you can really concentrate on each other, with the sole point of doing something you enjoy and spending time with each other. Every relationship, be DH/DW, Parent/Child, even siblings. I'm 55, and we were military so we moved around a lot, but I remember the vacations the best.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Dh and I both agree that the biggest things we remember from our childhood were not the day to day little things but the special times that were spent together as a family---that not only includes the big trips but the little getaways to relax and unwind as well. We live in a fast paced, over scheduled world and unfortunately our kids feel the stress from that as well.

We try to plan our trips for value season times (if possible) or we book them two years in advance. It's a lot of money to spend for one week but my DH and I feel that our vacations together as a family are a chance for us to make a memory with the children that will cherish for a lifetime.

 

[kingdomkeeper]

I look at it this way , with my children already being young teens I know there are only so many more vacations that they will agree to come on with my husband and I before they start wanting to travel with friends. I want to make the most of our whole family together times while I still can. When they are older and have families of their own Im sure they will want to vacation with us again (especially if we pay),but with differnt schedules it could be difficult to get everyone together at once. So make the most of these times while you have the opportunity because who knows what tomorrow will bring.

 

[brianjoy81]

My husband and I are planning our first cruise, ever, and first family vacation, ever! He is having a fit over the price, but I remind him how much our kids will love it. We didn't get to go on fun vacations when we were kids, our parents couldn't afford it. So, we are fortunate to be able to do things for our kids like a disney cruise and disney world, eventually. I agree with everyone else, the memories and quality family time are priceless. My husband is in the military and gone from home alot, sometimes for months at a time, so these vacations are extra special for us.er

And, now we are taking my mother on the cruise with us when we go. She is just like a kid, so excited. She hasn't left the southeastern states, much less something like a cruise! It is our way of showing her how much we appreciate her.

 

[WDWLVR]

I'd choose memories over Mercedes any day of the week. I like to think of our vacation spending as an investment in our family's health and well-being.

I agree 100% We don't have kids and we are lucky to have our home paid off and we both contribute to our retirement. I'd rather have a great vacation every year than a new car every year or a bigger, fancier home. Our vacation is a time for us to enjoy each others company and really get quality time together. We have friends who question why and how we do big vacations every year. Yet these same friends/family get new cars every other year, go out to dinner or drinking 3-4 times a week, go to fancy salons, go out to the movies every week. These are things that they enjoy but aren't as important to us. Every family has to decide for themselves what is important and for us it is vacations!

 

[dcladdict-ohio]

I am also a 100% "vacation believer". A friend of mine lost her father a few years ago and she told me that her best memories of him were that he would take her on trips with him .... not the kind of car he drove or where they lived. I want DD to have those memories too.

Don't get me wrong, I would love the Mercedes but given the choice I will take the Bahama Mama at the sail away party any day of the week!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I'd choose memories over Mercedes any day of the week. I like to think of our vacation spending as an investment in our family's health and well-being.

I prefer not to look back on vacation spending and think "What if?" We treasure our time together as a family and look to create traditions our children will remember with happiness.

I'm sure we've spent a fortune on Disney vacations and the like. But that's okay. You only get so many trips around the sun, and only so many chances to enjoy magical moments with your kids.

Very well put

Rob

 

[trimix]

Does anyone else suffer guilt everytime they vacation and add up the money spent every year??

I only feel guilty over some of the trips I take without my family.

If you need to, there are a lot of options that can save you money. If you are a regular with one airline, look at their mileage credit card - some will give you a $50 or $100 companion certificate. For me, on Alaska Airlines, two of my tickets to Orlando this summer cost $164 each after the $65 credit card fee, $50 companion fee, and $49 taxes. Since I only have to pay for two tickets, I was able to afford first class for the red eye flight. Without those coupons I might not have been able to afford the trip at all.

For cruises, there is always a cheaper cabin until you hit level 12. For the parks, there are cheaper resorts until you get to Disney's value resorts - at which time there are cheaper off site hotels.

And look at your philosophy of life. If you believe in an afterlife, you can't take anything with you after this life but character, memories, and relationships. So make the best you can in each of those categories!

 

[TinkerbellTris]

I never feel guilty, and I never regret it. It is so seldom we can do these fabulous things all together as a family, one or 2 times a year. We did a big trip last year family of 3. Myself, Hubby, and at the time 8 year old son. We did 4 nights at the Wilderness Lodge and 4 day park hoppers, then a seven day cruise western Catagory 6. We had a Limo transfer, and did a big excurssion on each port of call, and then we did 2 nights at the Hard Rock Hotel and 2 day park hopper at Universal/Islands of Advent. plus airfare, plus some food, plus a ton extra in souveniers. And we blew a mere $8,400. In one trip.I do not regret it at all. We all knew what we were spending. I think you need open communication and discussion with your husbands or wifes, and determine what you are comfortable with. We always have the same rule... DO not ever skimp on memories.

 

[Hayloburger]

I am a Disney addict and my husband is half-an-addict....he likes it, but he could travel elsewhere............However, this is what we say about vacations.....if we didn't spend money on Disney vacations, we would be spending more money on therapy or divorce lawyers !! HaHa! We return from our trips in a fabulous state of mind! Renewed! We do take other trips, but none compare to Disney...especially the cruise line. Now, we may feel differently about this as our kids get older....but for now, DCL fits our family perfectly!

There are alot of things that we need...new carpet...new living room furniture...but the pleasure/relaxation we get from Disney is worth going without these things!

 

[Capt.OneLeg]

As long as you're not starving in retirement, I always say grab life by horns while you can still grab! I have a friend dying of a brain cancer with 3 kids from 5-11 yrs old...why wait to have fun if you have the opportunity to enjoy it now?

 

[castlegazer]

My husband and I were just having the same discussion over our upcoming cruise plans next year. This is going to be a whopper of an expensive vacation - much greater than any prior to now (my daughter will be 4 instead of a baby and we are cruising in a vacation period and we're addicted to verandahs).

We have, gasp, in years past paid for some of the vacations we take on credit cards and paid them off over time. This vacation we are doing cash because we have just recently gotten rid of all debt on credit cards to prepare for the possible (or as I say, the already here) recession.

So, not only will this be a whopper of an expensive vacation, but we also are trying to save enough to pay cash for the whole thing - and we don't live close to FL so airfare is going to be HUGE in a vacation week.

Things happen throughout the year like my car just needed over $1K worth of work to it, groceries are killing me, and we just furnished a new home.

So, to answer you, yes, the overwhelming nature of the expense is weighing on me.

That being said, we also, like previous posters, make the decision that these vacations are extremely important to us. We make the sacrifices to do them and we do not regret a single trip and truly know how much these vacations will be cherished not only by us, but by our children.


We're over 2/3rd of the way there in our travel savings account!!!!!

 

[Hayloburger]

I totally 100% agree with Capt.oneleg!!!

 

[frdeb1999]

For us our 2 of our dd's are going to be on their own completely soon so we feel like you live and make the memories while they're all still home. I love the fact that we can look back at all the wonderful WDW and DCL memories we have had. Deffinately worth the money....even with things so expensive now days. Memories are priceless though!