Cancelled, well, postponed trip Rant!!

[pumpkinfish]

OP again. Thanks for all the support. I'm still having good and bad days dealing with postponing the trip. I cancelled (postponed) trip over a month ago, and I just got up the nerve to change my ticker yeaterday. It was pretty sad, but DD's helped me pick a new ticker.

Planning so far ahead gives me more time to save for the extra things like gas, souveniers, etc. I already have DD's goodie bags put up, and most of the toiletries etc so $$ wise, we're ahead a little bit already. It will be much less stressful next summer. No worries about DD's missing school or me missing school and having to make up work. I'm a college freshman and my professors weren't happy to hear I was taking a week off for a trip to WDW!!

So far, we've paid off one CC totally and we owe $400 on one and $1000 on the other. DH has a loan jointly with MIL from where we borrowed $$ to finish paying off our home last year. The balance is $5000. So total debt is $6400. We agreed if we pay off half we'll feel OK about going to WDW. We're mainly concerned with paying off the CC's 1st, putting $$ in saving as well. Kind of a revised Dave Ramsey plan. MIL is fine with us taking the trip, as long as we pay our monthly loan amount on time.

It will be soo nice to go and not worry about the CC bill that's going to roll in next month. That's how we did our last 2 trips. This time we're using our income tax return, and the $$ we've saved up. No plastic except what we will use for charges on our KTTK . With the cash put back in savings to pay off the bill when we come back form the trip!!

I still believe it sucks, but I'm puttin on my big girl panties and looking ahead!!!

Cash trips feel SOOOOooo much better than credit/plastic trips .

 

[m&m's mom]

I am predicting much better weather next year and less crowds !
There, feel better?

 

[Handbag Lady]

OP again. Thanks for all the support. I'm still having good and bad days dealing with postponing the trip. I cancelled (postponed) trip over a month ago, and I just got up the nerve to change my ticker yeaterday. It was pretty sad, but DD's helped me pick a new ticker.

Planning so far ahead gives me more time to save for the extra things like gas, souveniers, etc. I already have DD's goodie bags put up, and most of the toiletries etc so $$ wise, we're ahead a little bit already. It will be much less stressful next summer. No worries about DD's missing school or me missing school and having to make up work. I'm a college freshman and my professors weren't happy to hear I was taking a week off for a trip to WDW!!

So far, we've paid off one CC totally and we owe $400 on one and $1000 on the other. DH has a loan jointly with MIL from where we borrowed $$ to finish paying off our home last year. The balance is $5000. So total debt is $6400. We agreed if we pay off half we'll feel OK about going to WDW. We're mainly concerned with paying off the CC's 1st, putting $$ in saving as well. Kind of a revised Dave Ramsey plan. MIL is fine with us taking the trip, as long as we pay our monthly loan amount on time.

It will be soo nice to go and not worry about the CC bill that's going to roll in next month. That's how we did our last 2 trips. This time we're using our income tax return, and the $$ we've saved up. No plastic except what we will use for charges on our KTTK . With the cash put back in savings to pay off the bill when we come back form the trip!!

I still believe it sucks, but I'm puttin on my big girl panties and looking ahead!!!

But you have less than a year to go until your trip. I can't plan anything that fast so be happy you have time to squirrel away treats and surprises for everyone.

 

[ksumn1]

Thanks m&m's mom!!! The all mighty Oz (m&m m) has spoken

I was a little shocked at how stressful it was tring to plan a trip so quickly. I think DH said we could book in April and I had to make ADR's May 24th. So not alot of time at all. I was a crazy woman...trying to make an itenerary, picking which park waht day, what meal, etc. I love planning but it was rough. Our meals are mostly decided after debating for our August trip, except we may do 1 more and make it a 2 TS credit DDP meal.

I like having more time to plan. And from a budget standpoint, it's a big help. I have the time to calculate if the DDP is worth it or not and to more accuaratly plan our costs. Extra snacks, drinks, souveniers ets. And to be honest, I plan on double dipping and giving WDW related gifts to DD's at Christmas this year. Their autograph books, some t shirts etc. Killing 2 birds with one stone...and saving a little $$!!!

 

[Ozymoe]

OK, it's official...you are an amazing mom...totally a grownup....and still enabling her daughters to be kids when it counts!

OK...so, my first question is, are you going to be driving next year or flying?

Driving, I hope I hope I hope...

...and where were you staying?...maybe a better deal will be there next year!

And my second question is...are you still hoping to take advantage of the free Disney Dining Plan? (which I think they will still be offering..just my personal opinion)

OMG girl...we got work to do here...barely enough time to plan everything for WHAT...a mere year from now? OMG! What additional unbelievable magical extras are going to be yours for the additional wait time!!!!

YES! Use those birthdays and holidays for Disney Dollars and pre-trip (for-trip) clothes. The girls will love having a "Disney Drawer" in their dresser(s)!

 

[ksumn1]

OK, it's official...you are an amazing mom...totally a grownup....and still enabling her daughters to be kids when it counts!

OK...so, my first question is, are you going to be driving next year or flying?

Driving, I hope I hope I hope...


Yep, driving form GA. It's about a 11 hour drive (if DH drives). It saves money and it's about as quick as driving 2 1/2 hours to ATL for a flight + being there 1 1/2 hours before for security, etc. Plus parking at the airport. Driving is much cheaper!!

...and where were you staying?...maybe a better deal will be there next
year!

Either CSR, POFQ, POP or ALSMO. We're stil debating that one. DH and I like POFQ for the size and theming. Small, easy to get around and kinda romantic even with all the kids around. Kids like CSR for the pool, and all the fountains. I like it for the queen beds. POP and ALSMO for the price and theming. But no hot tub. So we're still figuring that one out. We'd like to do a Mod, but if budget demands a Value, then a value it is. Guess we'll have to see what promos are running closer to the trip

And my second question is...are you still hoping to take advantage of the free Disney Dining Plan? (which I think they will still be offering..just my personal opinion)

If it's offered for free, yeah!! If not, I like knowing everythings paid for except tips and OOP stuff like grown up drinks and extra appatizers. Or at least almost everything's paid for. LOL!! DH has a pretty big appatite and loves buffets, so pricewise it's probably cheaper to do the DDP, since only myself and DD 6 can even share meals anymore.

OMG girl...we got work to do here...barely enough time to plan everything for WHAT...a mere year from now? OMG! What additional unbelievable magical extras are going to be yours for the additional wait time!!!!

That's the plan. We certainly aren't going to go crazy and book a delux, still out of our price range, but a waterpark trip is doable and I may suprise DH and DD's with tix to DQ. They love their video games....me not so much. Or maybe I'll take the girls to Afternoon tea at the GF and let DH go to DQ alone for some uninterrupted guy time. And since DH gets 3 weeks off paid vacation, and DD's and I won't have school, we could actually take as long of a trip as our budget allows.

YES! Use those birthdays and holidays for Disney Dollars and pre-trip (for-trip) clothes. The girls will love having a "Disney Drawer" in their dresser(s)!

The girls love hoarding their $$. They always ask for $$ for Birthdays anyway. They've already started saving up for all the junky little toys I refuse to buy!!!

Seems the like the more time I have, the more stuff I think of I *need* to do!!!

 

[m&m's mom]

Sounds like you have a great attitude and you are going to have a wonderful year planning and anticipating the trip!
Good for you!

 

[englishteacha]

We're planning on going in summer 2010, too. Last year we didn't go far for a vacation-we went camping near Acadia National Park. We had a fabulous time. Maybe this summer you can do a "Staycation" with your girls. Maybe you can camp in the backyard, do some day trips, play tourist in your area. You'll still get a break from everyday life, make some memories, and won't spend much money. It's a win-win!

 

[KAMKIM]

I am also impressed, of course you did the right thing and in your head you know that but your heart is breaking for Disney. The next trip will be here before you know it and it will probably be more relaxing knowing you are in a better place financially. Our SIL had to back out of our upcoming trip in August and she too was very upset about it but she is looking forward to planning the next one so that seems to be getting her through it.

 

[Ozymoe]

The girls love hoarding their $$. They always ask for $$ for Birthdays anyway. They've already started saving up for all the junky little toys I refuse to buy!!!

Seems the like the more time I have, the more stuff I think of I *need* to do!!!

What kind of tickets are you planning to get at this point?

DQ and both waterparks are $50 per ticket add ons (you get 5 water park/DQ days for buying a 5 day ticket so you'd get 10 days of Disney...5 main parks and 5 days of the minor "parks" (DQ, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach) for about $267 a ticket...

...or 14 days (7 main park days and 7 minor park days) for $282...and that's including the tax!

That's an expiring non-hopping ticket.

I mention this because you said these were things you might do with DH and DD's...and a single entrance to a waterpark is $45 plus tax ($39 plus tax for kids). That gets you 1 day. For practically the same price you can do BOTh DQ and a water park...twice...and still have another entrance to use!

Although you can combine them and do a main park in the morning and say, Typhoon Lagoon in the afternoon, my family always used each of the days separately. There is more than enough to do at each minor park for a whole day...and then some! It was very relaxing to know we could spend a half day if we wanted and not feel that we had "wasted" $50 for just a few hours.

Maybe you knew this already, but I thought I'd share the information in case you didn't.

 

[ksumn1]

We're most likely going to get the plus option. Maybe, we're actually considering scaling back a bit. We talked to DD's about it and explained (in basic terms) that we're trying to get ahead financially and that we WILL take a trip, as long as as fancy as we can BUT we're going to spend what we have. We're not going all out and spending $$ we don't have. We promised at least 4 days, 5 nights but of course if we can do more we will. I'm trying to run DDP vs OOP cost since food is a major expense. We really have 3 must do's...CM, 'Ohana and PSB. But of course we'll eat some CS too and I'm figuring out the break even point.

I told DH I'm willing to eat pb&j for lunch if needed!!

On a side note, DH has a week of vacation time that he has to use or cash in before September when his vacation time rolls over. We were going to take the kids to Six Flags and the Aquarium in Atlanta but OMG!! how expensive. Not to mention that SF will just depress me...it's a far, far cry from WDW. So I did a little checking and we can go to Panama City Beach (one of our favorite places) for 5 nights in October during the kids fall break for $435. So we're considering nixing the SF trip and using that money (already saved) toward PCB instead. With 1/2 vacation $$ and the SF $$, we'll have enough to go, eat out once or twice and go to the Safood, Wine and Music Festival. The other half of the vacation money will go to pay off CC and savings.

The (not really) funny part of our situation is that DH has been able to get overtime every single week since we postponed the trip...enough to pay for it. But of course, we've made our peace with not going, so we're not. But isn't like (not) funny that way some times??

 

[Ozymoe]

You're going to Bonnet Creek?