Affordability....grrr

[pillow]

I agree with all of you! We're pretty much travel poor - would rather go on our twice yearly vacations than buy new furniture or pave the driveway. However, I have to say that we're planning to back off on some of the Disney trips so that we can go other places. There are just way too many interesting places to go in this World. Epcot's Italy just doesn't compare to the real deal - ha!! I only feel guilty when I know that we really can't afford a trip. Great memories can be created on cheap non-Dis trips too!!

 

[Anal Annie]

I feel guilty pangs at times but then I get over it. I mostly feel guilty because we both have a lot of family members who can never afford a vacation at all, let alone a Disney vacation. And I have a brother who lives in a trailer up a holler in WV. So I also feel guilty that I live in real house. But I finally decided I can't help it. I cannot feel guilty about all these things all the time. I can't save the world.

We like to travel and it's a vice we're doomed to live with! We have next door neighbors who take 3 - 4 nice vacations per year AND they have a beach house they use for the majority of the summer. We're no where near that bad! We're lucky to get our week to 10 days and we were fortunate enough to have been able to buy into the Disney Vacation Club awhile back so our vacations aren't as much of a hit as they COULD be. That said, I got laid off at the end of Feb. and haven't found a new job yet. So boy oh boy am I extra super happy that we had our DVC membership which covers a lot of this years expenses. Everything was already booked before it happened and it would've been a real bummer to have had to cancel plans that were in the works if we didn't have it.

To hopefully get over some of our guilt, we are planning to take an extended family vacation to WDW next summer to share with our families...utilizing our DVC membership to it's fullest. I just hope they will all be able to go!

Go and enjoy what you can while you can!

 

[Pennyguy23]

We just suck it up and go. Have fun

 

[QJ411]

I feel guilty sometimes too, especially being a SAHM and living on one income sometimes I ask myself "what the heck are you doing?!" but like many of the PPs, I get over it. The excitement in our DD's eyes when she even hears about Mickey's boat or Mickey's house is enough for me to feel the thrills and not the guilt. We decided to get into DVC as well and it helped tremendously with our Disney vacations, we travel during off peak months and although when we're on DCL we book catagory 5 cabins, we don't usually do any of the excursions directly through DCL to save money, we try and watch for airfares when it's at the lowest and we have an annual pass for WDW so with the DVC and APs, we get to spend some time in WDW as well. While some of our family members travel to Italy, Hong Kong or Australia, we're very happy going back to DCL and WDW again and again. Last November we brought my mom along and she had an amazing time spending quality 'magical' time with DD and DH & I got to spend some quality quiet time as well. None of us will ever forget that cruise. In a couple of weeks, we're sailing with my whole family and I know it will be special and the memories we create will be worth every penny we've spent.

I never regret any of our vacations, I agree with everyone here, vacation time is the most memorable time to spend with family and I never forget that.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sometimes I think I'm crazy, addicted but then I look at how fragile life can be and I know I'd rather have the awesome memories than "stuff."
My grandmom (91) always tells me I'm doing the right thing. My grandfather kept putting off things and said he'd do it when he retires and died suddenly of a heart attack at 66 so he never got to do any of it.
Also my uncle (son of same gmom) just passed away last year 6 mos. after retiring. Certainly not long enough to make up for all the years of hard work.They had just taken a trip to Germany and even if it cost a ton, I'm sure they have no regrets.
Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
My dearest friend that I've known since we were 5 lost her mom when we were in 1st grade. She now says she has very few memories of her. (They owned a restaurant and worked a lot.)
I want my kids to have these happy memories and when they look back on our time together, they will know they had a fun mom.
My mom is a 2 time breast cancer survivor so I'm also all about making happy memories with my parents and my kids together.
I couldn't care less to own a Mercedes and act like a snob which is really what it's all about since it's such an ugly car anyway.
If I won one in a contest, I'd sell it for cruises.

 

[castlegazer]

fragile life can be

I couldn't care less to own a Mercedes and act like a snob which is really what it's all about since it's such an ugly car anyway.
If I won one in a contest, I'd sell it for cruises.

 

[cats mom]

My DD just brought home a school assignment. She had to come up with 5 possible ideas for writing a paper about the most exciting thing she has ever done.
3 of her 5 ideas were cruise related.

Guess what my answer is.

 

[SnowWhite2]

In reality, this is all a bunch of cr$p. You can make lasting memories with your family without spending a bunch of money on vacations to Disney. There are a lot of activities that are inexpensive around your hometown that you can do as a family and grow up with wonderful memories. We are all trying to justify spending the money we do on an overpriced, over-indulgent vacation.

Don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with taking that vacation. But I don't feel like I have to justify it because I do have my financial house in order. And we make wonderful memories at home doing events together as a family. Wonderful memories do not equal spending lots of money.

 

[TinkerbellTris]

In reality, this is all a bunch of cr$p. You can make lasting memories with your family without spending a bunch of money on vacations to Disney. There are a lot of activities that are inexpensive around your hometown that you can do as a family and grow up with wonderful memories. We are all trying to justify spending the money we do on an overpriced, over-indulgent vacation.

Don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with taking that vacation. But I don't feel like I have to justify it because I do have my financial house in order. And we make wonderful memories at home doing events together as a family. Wonderful memories do not equal spending lots of money.

Very true. However, soon your child will outgrow it and soon you will run out of things to do in your town. It will only last so long. I don't think anyone is trying to justify the money the spend on trips. It looks to me like everyone here is agreeing with the trips the choose and how much they appreciate the time they get to spend with their family on that vacation. Memories have no price, I agree with you there, however some choose elaborate vacations for their family, and go places where others only dream of one day going. I think it's fantastic. More parents should take their children out on these trips to give them a good taste of other countries and what all is out there in the world. It's a wonderful world, and there are a ton of memories to be created.

 

[cats mom]

In reality, this is all a bunch of cr$p. You can make lasting memories with your family without spending a bunch of money on vacations to Disney. There are a lot of activities that are inexpensive around your hometown that you can do as a family and grow up with wonderful memories. We are all trying to justify spending the money we do on an overpriced, over-indulgent vacation.

Don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with taking that vacation. But I don't feel like I have to justify it because I do have my financial house in order. And we make wonderful memories at home doing events together as a family. Wonderful memories do not equal spending lots of money.

I understand where you're coming from. I do think your opening statement here might be just a bit harsh though.
I didn't think any of the posts I read suggested that taking an expensive vacation is the ONLY way to make lasting memories.


I will say that we tend to do things when we're on vacation that are probably more memorable than what we would be able to experience at the local museum, or park, or what have you though.
Do I hope my DD remembers that we took a snack and went to the park where I spent over an hour shagging volleyballs while she worked on her serve today? Sure, we had a great time time together.
But is that as likely to make it into her school paper as the time we swam with the stingrays, or went on a zip line, or went parasailing in the caribbean?
Doubtful

Given the OP's original question (specifically the part I took a bit of license with and bolded) I think folks are answering appropriately.

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.

Every time we plan a vacation we look at our overall financial situation and of course we have limits.

I will say that you need to take into account the fact that you're making the jump from a family of 4 to a family of 5. Sorry to say, but that's a big deal financially when it comes to a DCL vacation.

 

[alwayslisad]

Good morning - this is could be a hard thread due to opinions- but everyone has shared amazing point of views.

Prior to 2003 DH and I would scrimp and save and want to be like the Jones' - get all the goodies and save save - vacations??? NEVER - too much to do - to many jobs to get done. Then on a saturday in March as we were ripping carpets out of our dining room and pulling drywall down - I dropped to my knees in pain. I got up and kept working the NEXT day I was rushed to the hospital and with in an hour in surgery - my colon had exploded and I was one step away from death. I spent quite a while in the hospital for the next year - but when I came out of ICU my DH informed me that we needed to stop and smell the roses and enjoy life so the day I got out of the hospital I booked a land and sea vacation - Our DD was 10 and had only been to the ocean a few times on day trips - her FIRST real vacation..... We had a ball even though I was still very sick..... A few months after my recovery DH fell ill and was not expected to make it - thankfully he pulled through and with meds is doing very well.

From that time on we opted to vacation once a year. DH even bought a timeshare so that we WOULD always have the opportunity. Over the past 5 years we have been on two Disney Cruises - one more to come in 2009 as well as exploring the Grand Canyon / Sedona / Las Vegas / and a few other things. In two months we will leave for 21 days to to Bryce / Zion for a week then House Boat on Lake Mead for a week.

DH and I looked a the cost impact on all of these trips recently and he said to me

"I am rich in love and happiness and memories, we have a house over our heads, average cars, average lifestyle but the memories and happiness was worth every penny"

I know vacations are so expensive and yes we do make memories in Laconia NH as well as in Cape Cod / Stowe, Vermont and even when we go to the grocery store and goof off - but to feel my heart swell and the smiles on the face of DH and DD is worth all the money in the world....that is just my opinion though

 

[msmayor]

In reality, this is all a bunch of cr$p. You can make lasting memories with your family without spending a bunch of money on vacations to Disney. There are a lot of activities that are inexpensive around your hometown that you can do as a family and grow up with wonderful memories. We are all trying to justify spending the money we do on an overpriced, over-indulgent vacation.

Don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with taking that vacation. But I don't feel like I have to justify it because I do have my financial house in order. And we make wonderful memories at home doing events together as a family. Wonderful memories do not equal spending lots of money.

In my mind, there is a huge difference in the mental 'break' between staying in my hometown to do things versus travelling away.

My family doesn't always spend a ton of money for vacation. Some years, we rent a modest house in the Poconos and spend the week walking in the woods, hanging out by the lake and doing jigsaw puzzles at night. Could we do these things at home without spending the $1,000 on the house rental? Yes, quite easily. But to really re-connect as a family, we need to remove ourselves from our regular routine and surroundings.

Some of our best memories are of the simple and sublime things we've done. One particularly great moment was when DH and I just sat on a bench and watched our two kids play tetherball on the beach. Our boy and girl, almost three years apart in age, laughing and joking and having fun. The sun was setting and we felt all the blessings of our family wash over us. We wouldn't have had that moment at home.

 

[castlegazer]

but is there a monetary amount you reach before you say enough is a enough??! Just curious.

I failed to really stress in my last posts that yes, there is a limit for me.

If I were not able to find a way to save the money for the trip or if our trip gets to be above about $6k (for a trip every other year or even at this price every three years), I do say, NO, there are other ways to go away. I had to adjust that choke limit to $6K recently with a family of four - it used to be $5K every two years. I definitely don't do this every year.

We go to WDW about every year, but we do it very economically one year and then blow out the next year by staying on site or going on the cruise. Cruising for us needs to be about every three years apart because of the huge cost.

This is the first year that we are not going to WDW, not going on a trip anywhere. We bought a new home in December and are saving for our cruise next year. We will be going to Maine and the Berkshires for weeks here and there, but this year needs to be about vacationing close to home.

 

[MGM94]

Good morning - this is could be a hard thread due to opinions- but everyone has shared amazing point of views.

Prior to 2003 DH and I would scrimp and save and want to be like the Jones' - get all the goodies and save save - vacations??? NEVER - too much to do - to many jobs to get done. Then on a saturday in March as we were ripping carpets out of our dining room and pulling drywall down - I dropped to my knees in pain. I got up and kept working the NEXT day I was rushed to the hospital and with in an hour in surgery - my colon had exploded and I was one step away from death. I spent quite a while in the hospital for the next year - but when I came out of ICU my DH informed me that we needed to stop and smell the roses and enjoy life so the day I got out of the hospital I booked a land and sea vacation - Our DD was 10 and had only been to the ocean a few times on day trips - her FIRST real vacation..... We had a ball even though I was still very sick..... A few months after my recovery DH fell ill and was not expected to make it - thankfully he pulled through and with meds is doing very well.

From that time on we opted to vacation once a year. DH even bought a timeshare so that we WOULD always have the opportunity. Over the past 5 years we have been on two Disney Cruises - one more to come in 2009 as well as exploring the Grand Canyon / Sedona / Las Vegas / and a few other things. In two months we will leave for 21 days to to Bryce / Zion for a week then House Boat on Lake Mead for a week.

DH and I looked a the cost impact on all of these trips recently and he said to me

"I am rich in love and happiness and memories, we have a house over our heads, average cars, average lifestyle but the memories and happiness was worth every penny"

I know vacations are so expensive and yes we do make memories in Laconia NH as well as in Cape Cod / Stowe, Vermont and even when we go to the grocery store and goof off - but to feel my heart swell and the smiles on the face of DH and DD is worth all the money in the world....that is just my opinion though

What a fantastic view. I can't even think of words good enough to comment further.

 

[pillow]

In reality, this is all a bunch of cr$p. You can make lasting memories with your family without spending a bunch of money on vacations to Disney. There are a lot of activities that are inexpensive around your hometown that you can do as a family and grow up with wonderful memories. We are all trying to justify spending the money we do on an overpriced, over-indulgent vacation.

Don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with taking that vacation. But I don't feel like I have to justify it because I do have my financial house in order. And we make wonderful memories at home doing events together as a family. Wonderful memories do not equal spending lots of money.

Snow White, I had to laugh at your post (cause I was thinking the same thing). I agree 100%! Perfect example - my brother and his family don't have lots of money. He is a police officer and his wife doesn't work. They also have 4 kids (so you can see why theres not lots of extra cash). He owns a small hunting cottage with some friends and will take the kids up there occasionally. Thats pretty much the gist of their vacations. His oldest son LOVES going to the cabin with dad. When it comes down to it, the things kids remember are spending one on one time with dad. We've taken him with us to Disney before, but if you ask him which he'd rather do, he'd pick going to the cabin with dad. I think that says a lot. You don't have to be able to afford a Disney vacation to have wonderful family memories!! As a matter of fact, if the highlight of your day is dreaming of your next vacation, then I think its time to make your days more interesting . . . you know, living in the moment. Sorry for turning this into the Dr. Phil show - think I'm making up for skipping that philosophy class in college!!

Jodie

 

[westjones]

Yes, I am starting to worry about the amount of money we spend on vacations. The DCL will be the first to go. We used to go once a year (for 8 years), but now we are skipping a year (this year) and will be going in March 2009. That will probably be our last one for while (I say probably, because I am so very strong at resisting rebooking onboard ).

BUT as for WDW.....I have decided that it is VERY important that we go there and this is why........

I have decided that is going to be our "family" spot. The place that when my h and I are gone, our kids can go and still remember us there as a family. One day, our house will be gone (sold--I hope to get something smaller when we retire), our cars will be gone, and yes, my h and I will be gone. And when my kids are in their retirement years and they take a trip to Disney, they will still "see" us there all together.

For me (both of my parents are gone--they both died before I was 40), Kennywood Park is that special place for me. Now I have to admit, I haven't gone there since I was a kid, but I have seen clips of it on the Travel Channel, and I do hope to go back there again one day when my kids are older and I can just go with my husband. But as a kid, that was the only vacation spot my parents ever took me (which was fine, money was tight and my dad gave us a good life on what he made working in a factory and those summer visits to Kennywood Park were magical in my mind). My parents house is gone now (someone bought it and totally remodeled it--I hate looking at it now), their cars are gone, BUT one day I am going to go back to Kennywood Park---and yes, I know it won't look the same as it did when I was a kid....BUT my parents will still be there with me when I go (I just hope they don't close the park before I make it back, I don't live close to there anymore).

I think WDW will be around for a long time, and for my kids, that will be OUR place for years to come.


So......the money we are spending on our trips to WDW is important...BUT I also think we can scale back (which we will be doing over the next few years since we have college expenses coming up in 4 years and high school stuff is costing us a LOT more).



(Oh I do want to add that we own 150 points at BCV that I bought with the money my mother left to me when she passed away; so that is the only reason we have been able to afford to go to WDW year after year. If WDW was not something we could fit into our budget, I would pick another place to be that special spot for our family. It doesn't have to be WDW. But for us, our first trip to Disney was paid for by my mother when my kids were 4 and every trip we have taken since we have bought into DVC has been a "gift" from my parents. But if it was not something that could fit into our budget, I would pick somewhere else, probably the Smokey Mountains. It doesn't have to be WDW).

 

[DisneyCruiseFansMc]

SOOOO MANY people say to me "why is the DC so much better than the other cruiselines to justify the $$$". I say it IS the Magic & memories that is so great for my kids. We've been cruising every other year since they were 4 & 7, and now they are 11 & 14. Every time they walk away with a different experience. I DO keep the price down by pre-booking onboard & going in January but I won't sacrifice my verandah room!!!

This year was particularly tough to justify the expense since right after we got back my DH lost his job (he has since found a better one ) but the guilt for months after I got back added to the post-cruise letdown made me wonder is it worth it?? But then I look at the pictures & hear my kids talk about it all the time, I say yes it IS worth it. Especially since my DS's goal now is to work aboard the DC (yah!! discounts for us ), it has been a HUGE part of their childhood.

To compliment the quote about memories vs. Mercedes. Yes, it is the moments not the days we remember!!! And I love throwing at my kids at random times......FAITH, TRUST & PIXIE DUST, I get eyes rolled at me but you know they "get it".

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

In reality, this is all a bunch of cr$p. You can make lasting memories with your family without spending a bunch of money on vacations to Disney. There are a lot of activities that are inexpensive around your hometown that you can do as a family and grow up with wonderful memories. We are all trying to justify spending the money we do on an overpriced, over-indulgent vacation.

Don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with taking that vacation. But I don't feel like I have to justify it because I do have my financial house in order. And we make wonderful memories at home doing events together as a family. Wonderful memories do not equal spending lots of money.

I don't need to justify anything. No one ever said they were spending more than they could afford. I'm just saying that if given the choice between "stuff" or vacations, I'd choose vacations. We all have a passion for doing something with our $$, whether it's investing, boating, jewelry, shoes, etc. I choose vacations as my vice. We don't drink, smoke, gamble, buy lots of clothes, have a big home or fancy cars b/c we like to travel.
A coworker went shopping during lunch a returned with a $300 Coach bag. While all the ladies ooo'd and ahhhh'd I couldn't help but blurt out, "We didn't pay that much for all 4 of us to fly to Florida." (this is true with Ding fares and credits with SWA.)
Call me crazy but I just don't care about some dumb bag. To each his own.

Yes, we do things close to home to but it's not the same. We're an hour drive to the ocean but that doesn't "feel" like a vacation to me. That's a family outing.
Yes, you can cruise cheaper and do theme parks close to home. We've had season passes to our local Six Flags and cruised on Carnival. We feel it's worth it to spend the extra money to have a much more enjoyable experience.

Ds11 has a classmate who never goes anywhere. Not even the zoo for pete's sake. Maybe all of his memories will be sipping lemonade and chasing crickets with his mom. I doubt it though since most weekends she's dragging him around to visit her old friends where they used to live 1 hr away. Even Mother's Day made him go to a tea party with her girlfriends.
I happen to choose travel for my kids memories.

 

[dursin]

I don't need to justify anything. No one ever said they were spending more than they could afford.

Let me be the first....I'm spending more than I can afford! Paid for my first DCL cruise with cash and that's what got me hooked. Second one was 50/50 and the last was all on the good ole' Disney Visa! We have a 4th booked now and that one I'm hoping to have paid off without using any credit cards...of course, paying it off will mean I'm not going to be paying off cruise #3 anytime soon, but there's time for that!

I'm just saying that if given the choice between "stuff" or vacations, I'd choose vacations. We all have a passion for doing something with our $$, whether it's investing, boating, jewelry, shoes, etc. I choose vacations as my vice. We don't drink, smoke, gamble, buy lots of clothes, have a big home or fancy cars b/c we like to travel.
A coworker went shopping during lunch a returned with a $300 Coach bag. While all the ladies ooo'd and ahhhh'd I couldn't help but blurt out, "We didn't pay that much for all 4 of us to fly to Florida." (this is true with Ding fares and credits with SWA.)
Call me crazy but I just don't care about some dumb bag. To each his own.

Very good points...someone who might complain about the cost of a Disney cruise may not think twice about wearing a 'rock' on their finger worth that or carry a handbag that's only expensive because of the designer tag on it.

Yes, we do things close to home to but it's not the same. We're an hour drive to the ocean but that doesn't "feel" like a vacation to me. That's a family outing.
Yes, you can cruise cheaper and do theme parks close to home. We've had season passes to our local Six Flags and cruised on Carnival. We feel it's worth it to spend the extra money to have a much more enjoyable experience.

We live in Orlando and have been to Disney, Universal and Seaworld dozens of times...along with countless trips to the beach and while everyone typically had a great time, I really don't think any lifelong memories were being made. What I expect the kids to remember when the grow older are the Disney Cruises...or the trip to Paris and London....or the long weekend in Niagara Falls last summer. I know some of my strongest childhood memories are of the vacations we took together as a family....including our one and only trip to WDW in the early 70's shortly after it opened.

 

[trimix]

Prior to 2003 DH and I would scrimp and save and want to be like the Jones' - get all the goodies and save save - vacations???

When I have been able to get to know people well enough, I have consistently found the people who are trying to 'keep up' or 'keep ahead' are people who put pride ahead of good financial management. The people I know who are genuinely wealthy are the least likely to own an excessively large house or luxury cars.

I have decided that for myself, freedom from debt and eventual freedom from work is a better option than trying to put on a good show for the neighbors - neighbors who are so in debt they couldn't afford a three day in a cat 12!