Disney every year...

[bcbmom]

just curious as to how everyone (well not everyone) but alot of dis members go to Disney every year? Is it just two awesome paying careers in the family or are you willing to sacrifice the little things to make that big trip every year?
We are a family of 5 going for the first time in May. The children will be 12, 10 & 7. We wanted to go when they were much younger but then dh became ill with kidney disease and had to have a transpant...so needless to say a few years off of work really did a number on us. But now we have been doing everything that we can to save that extra money and have a wonderful trip. But I'm thinking even with everything going well now after the trip we know we have two ready for braces & with travel hockey & figure skating etc i'm not sure how long before we'll make it again....and that's what has me wondering about how all of those families do it that go year after year and stay on site, lol.

 

[Iluvthemouse]

I am hoping your DH is one the mend and going to be fine.

We travel twice a year. Once to Mexico for 7-10 days all inclusive beach resort and the other time to either Disney, Vegas, other Caribbean island for 7 days. DH and I do not make alot of money, I work part-time and have for over 7 years. We decided to have only one child. We love to travel and if we had many children we wouldnt ever be able to afford it. So that is our big sacrifice!!! Things will be changing for us when DD gets older and nn braces, goes to private school, etc but we are enjoying our travel time now..

 

[julsmom]

My DH works but I stay at home. Like the other post, we only have one DD. I have to say that helps. I am not against kids, I just couldn't have any more. I attribute everything I have or am able to do to luck. I got lucky with having a great DH.

 

[Stein]

I travel a bunch, so we have "free" airfare, hotel and rental car. The out of pocket portion for three isn't that much, a very moderate vacation actually.

 

[TENIA66]

we try to go once a year, it's our only real together time. i get some mileage checks every now and then and i save them, i put leftover cash check to check in a money jar, i put found money in the same jar.......i buy the 10 day non expiring passes, then wait for value codes for the onsite hotels......we splurge for a moderate instead of value...........we're just a farmer and a healthcare worker...with 3 kids

 

[disneysnowflake]

We are quite happy only going every other year. I mean, we'd love to go every year, but that's not always possible for us.

We skipped 2006. I really want to go, but we're going next year instead.

We set aside $50 a week toward vacation. $50 a week gives us $2600 per year.

We'll save until we have enough to pay in full for the Disney package plus airfare. Then we'll book.

For spending money we save our pocket change, have yard sales, sell a few things on ebay.

I only work limited part time hours, so our income is almost all from DH.

DH's job over over 20 years was shut down. Now instead of 6 weeks of vacation he has 6 days.

Every other year works fine for us.

You are going to have so much fun this May.

 

[DisneyMomJen]

The way I justify going to Disney every year (this year it was 4 times which is a first for us to go that much in one year) is that I sell on Ebay. I am a SAHM with 4 kids DS12, DD10, DD8 and DD4. I started doing this about 3 years when Disney came out with the 4 for 7 Deal (pay for 4 nights and get 7) and we stayed at the Poly LVC which cost us about $3200. Within 3 months, I was able to pay this off before we went. We then bought into DVC and I paid for at least half of that by selling on Ebay. We added onto our DVC twice which again was funded at least half with my Ebay sales. I go to local garage sales, buy and then resell on Ebay. I have slowed down this year since I think I am getting burnt out, but by selling on Ebay we have had some wonderful trips.

Also, I cut back in other areas. Ex: At our community pool over the summer, I do not let my kids buy a snack at the snack bar everyday (Good Humor ice cream is $2.00+ each). I usually bring snacks for them which are still 'cool'. they enjoy, and the same things they sell at the snack bar. They can eat lunch there about once a week. (As a side note, the food is so unhealthy - fried chicken fingers & fries - it takes me at least a day to feel ok after eating here) I have a sister-in-law who has 2 kids and runs a 'tab' at our snack bar, letting her kids eat there many times during the week and snacks at least twice a day. We go to Disney every August and I always hear the comments from her that we should take her kids since they cannot afford to go, or 'How can you afford to go?' All of the little expenses add up and my kids know that by cutting back in some areas we can spend two weeks in Disney at the end of the summer. What would they rather do? Disney, of course.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I go probably about three times a year, but I usually travel solo, so just me to worry about! I stay at value resorts with an AP discount; I take my own car so no rental; I eat groceries I bring with me or at food courts (not too many sit-downs); and I hardly buy any souvineers. There are ways to scrimp and make it very affordable! I joke that I can go to WDW for a week far more cheaply than, say, New England or the shore for like four days.

As a solo, I am probably in a tiny minority on these boards, but there are a few us of out there!

 

[bus driver]

ok iam a school bus driver not a lot of money,wife works but live in a big house and big bills.
1-ap's-400/2=200 every year
2-pull pop up-last aug 32.00 a night for 10 nights
3 -gas for the ride changes every year last year 350.00
4-food nothing.( how) i have to eat if iam home or away cook at the camp site.
5- i bring everything with me
ok bottom line 3 people ap's 600
camping 320
gas 350 total 1270 not bad for a great vac. every year
how you can do it same as me if you don't have trailer you can tent.save even more money.rember that is only 105 a moth you need to save or27.00 a week. hope this helps and hope to see you at disney camp ground soon

 

[utahkennedys]

I find it very easy to save and budget for yearly Disney vacations (even though I hate budgeting generally)! We bought a small DVC contract so that helps, and before we go I have the tickets (we also buy 10-day non-expiring which includes 6 water park days so really 16 day tickets of use), the accomodations, the airfare and spending $ set aside and paid for before we leave. So the only thing we pay when we get home is food and rental car, plus any incidentals. I think WDW trips are the best budget wise -- we have gone on many other vacations which cost more and we felt like we ended up with less (for ex, cruises). This year I found a great deal for 7 nights at the HGVC Sea World in a 3BR villa for $650 total -- amazing deal so we didn't do DVC and saved our points. Our airfare from SLC was only $230 each (x3 b/c DD#2 is only 6 mos. old) and we can barely get to LAX for that if we went to DL instead.

DH makes great money and I work P/T as counsel for a high-tech firm, but we have large student loans, a large new home we just built -- but NO consumer debt and no car payments (we drive an old Lexus and an old Mazda). Vacations are our "treat", our luxury. People ask how we can afford vacations, but these are the same friends who have $1k+/mo. in car payments, spend double what I do on groceries, clothes, eating out, etc.

I opened up an additional ING savings account where I save $ for Disney stuff. Right now I am saving for more DVC points and I am 1/2 way there. I just transfer it out of our regular checking to ING, and honestly, it's fun to have a goal like that. But, I think we would also be ok doing Disney every other year and somewhere close like Park City on the odd years if $ got tighter.

 

[aclov]

DH and I are DVC members so we go every year, but I did go 3x's this year. It was nice to go more than once, since I did a trip with girlfriends which was great.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't. I go about 10 times a year.

I am single, no kids, decent job, metro area with access to 3 major airports, DVC, AP, DDE.

It's very easy for one person to go and stay awhile.

Next month I have two trips to WDW, a weekend in Vegas and a trip to San Antonio, but that is for work and I am not paying for it.

I don't much like to sit at home.

 

[Cass]

I have a credit card that gives me air miles - I put everything through this card, groceries, shopping, cable, whatever - anything and everything I possible can - and you would be surprised how quickly it adds up and you have your airfare paid for. That is a big help.

We don't go every year to Disney, I like to try other places too.

To save money we don't go out for dinner much or movies much, we pretty well just watch TV in the evenings

 

[cab0899]

We go often Dh works full time and I work parttime. I save air miles (this might just be a Canadian thing) I find that in one year I can save enough for 4 free flights (except taxes), 5 day WDW passes and one day Sea world passes. The flights and passes are available with air mile points.

If we stay at a value resort off season with a CAA/AAA rate it's around $70 a night. We don't rent a car, use Magical Express and Disney transport. We do pay for a taxi to go over to Sea world or Universal.

I pack breakfast and snack food in our suitcases to eat during the week. We usually do a couple of nice restaurants but mostly counter service meals. We to busy on the rides to stop for meals any ways. We're not big eaters so often share some meals.

Grandma usually gives the kids some spending money and they save their allowance so we don't pay for their souveniers. So overall the trip is faily inexpensive. Kim

 

[DiznEeyore]

We go pretty much every year. We have a very small DVC contract, and buy tickets we can stretch over more than one trip. My dh is the family breadwinner -- I do things here and there (eBay, mystery shopping, temp jobs) but my main job is homeschooling our son.

Our son doesn't need braces, doesn't do expensive travel sports -- he has a motorcycle at his grandparents' cottage, plays guitar (lessons from his uncle), and mows lawns for his own money. So I guess he's "less expensive" than typical teenagers! Plus, as someone above said, it's much cheaper when you only have one kiddo.

We live in a modest home, drive modest cars and live a pretty simple life. Our monthly "splurges" are are cell phones (*have* to have 'em -- my dh works 6-7 days a week at all hours, so that's how we stay in touch) and the DirecTV basic package. Our DSL internet costs less than most dial-up. I monitor how much we spend on things to make sure we're using our money as wisely as possible.

These are the ways we're able to go to WDW every year. It's our family's favorite vacation spot and we make it a priority to get away together.

 

[shelly3girls]

We invested in DVC. Now that we pay for figure skating we would not be able to swing big vacations every year. Really I should say that we could but choose to spend the $$ on other things like extra lessons, etc. If it were not for skating we could take several big vacations a year for our family of 5.

 

[Belle0101]

I know a family (husband and wife, leave the kids at home) who put their vacation to Vegas on credit. I'm pretty sure there are probably families who put Disney vacations on credit too. Probably not the most sound financial move but it's not for me to say they shouldn't.

I've already told the kids we won't be taking any vacations next year, none. The mortgage went up, gas and electric bill went up, school fees are more than last year ... I worked over our budget and there is just no way we can put enough back to fully pay in advance for any vacation.

 

[michygoomy]

We're a one income family and only can afford to go every three years. It still makes for a great vacation, and I tell my kids all the time how lucky they are to have gone as often as they do!

In between years we go on short road trips, usually just overnight one night, and do "vacation in our hometown" stuff.

 

[rparmfamily]

We go several times a year, we are DVC members and live in Florida. That makes it easy!!!

 

[shellynn24]

The way I justify going to Disney every year (this year it was 4 times which is a first for us to go that much in one year) is that I sell on Ebay. I am a SAHM with 4 kids DS12, DD10, DD8 and DD4. I started doing this about 3 years when Disney came out with the 4 for 7 Deal (pay for 4 nights and get 7) and we stayed at the Poly LVC which cost us about $3200. Within 3 months, I was able to pay this off before we went. We then bought into DVC and I paid for at least half of that by selling on Ebay. We added onto our DVC twice which again was funded at least half with my Ebay sales. I go to local garage sales, buy and then resell on Ebay. I have slowed down this year since I think I am getting burnt out, but by selling on Ebay we have had some wonderful trips.

Also, I cut back in other areas. Ex: At our community pool over the summer, I do not let my kids buy a snack at the snack bar everyday (Good Humor ice cream is $2.00+ each). I usually bring snacks for them which are still 'cool'. they enjoy, and the same things they sell at the snack bar. They can eat lunch there about once a week. (As a side note, the food is so unhealthy - fried chicken fingers & fries - it takes me at least a day to feel ok after eating here) I have a sister-in-law who has 2 kids and runs a 'tab' at our snack bar, letting her kids eat there many times during the week and snacks at least twice a day. We go to Disney every August and I always hear the comments from her that we should take her kids since they cannot afford to go, or 'How can you afford to go?' All of the little expenses add up and my kids know that by cutting back in some areas we can spend two weeks in Disney at the end of the summer. What would they rather do? Disney, of course.

OMG!! What are you selling? I just don't see how selling on Ebay makes some people so much money. What is your secret?

I agree with the little things adding up. Eating breakfast of lunch out everyday or getting snacks everyday can really be a lot of money from your monthly budget.

To the OP, we, actually I, would love to go every year, but we have only gone when there is really good disccounts for military. Now we are DVC members so we will get to go as much as our points will allow us So long as we can stay in a studio, it will be every year, but when the baby gets bigger we will need a one Bdrm and it will have to be every other year, so very sad!! Just keep checking the discount codes, sometimes they are very good.