do your friends get jealous??

[KingdomHearts]

In all seriousness, how do the folks that go every year (or multiple times in a year) really afford it? It is definitely more costly than most other vacations. I know I couldn't do it every year or multiple times a year. Are they all in serious debt?

Last year we were lucky enough to go 3 times. We were married in July then went in October and Late November/ Dec. Because we were married there we got free annual passes, so we didnt have to pay for passes. Then you get good discounts on the hotel which helps, and we always get good deals with flying. Plus we did not have any children, although that will change in 5 months , so that saved us a lot of cash.

 

[doodlesmommy]

I don't think my friends get jealous, they just think......again? Oh crap; that's all we get to listen to for the next six months. I think my constant Disney rambling has made my friends not want to go.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

By now I have learnt which of my friends and family are "disney-abled" and which ones are not.

First time I talked and planned it for over two years. My SIL said to me after our trip "I didn't even know you were going?" Even though santa, the easter bunny and even the tooth fairy gave out disney stuff for two years. We had a calender countdown in the front hallway and modelled our personalized iron-on disney shirts for her. Guess she was just counting down how much longer she had to spend with us at holidays.

 

[Aurora317]

The funniest part is when people think you're crazy for going to WDW AGAIN. Like if you've been there once, there's nothing left to see. Even people that have been there before have said this to me. And I just don't get them. Unless they stayed for weeks, there's no way they could have seen or done everything. And since they've been there before, they should understand how big it is.

Some people get it. Some people don't.

I (somehow) convinced my mother that a big family trip to WDW would be a great way to celebrate the very stressful year we've all had to go through. (Good riddance, 2007!) Three of the kids (my sisters and I) are out of the house and the "baby" is a college freshman, and this will be the first vacation we've gone on together in almost a decade. When we told him of our plans he said "but we were just there!" Yeah Dad, in 1991!!! He doesn't understand how I could go 3 times in 18 months and still want to go back for more. Oh well, maybe our trip this June will show him why I love it so much.

 

[Aurora317]

In all seriousness, how do the folks that go every year (or multiple times in a year) really afford it? It is definitely more costly than most other vacations. I know I couldn't do it every year or multiple times a year. Are they all in serious debt?

During grad school my (then) boyfriend and I needed a break and booked a trip for Disney. He was already hooked, but it was my first real exposure to the Disney magic. Our second and third trips were much cheaper than the first, and we were able to go longer and eat better!
Our biggest money savers:

• We went during off-times (universities start up the semester a good two weeks after K-12 schools, so it was very low volume)
• The Dining plan was free for the 2nd and 3rd trips (one was booked solely because we found out about free dining, it was too much to pass up)
• We learned that after the 5th or 6th day, it was only a few dollars more to add on another day or two, so we stayed for 8 days on those trips, so we were able to pace ourselves better.

Both of those trips cost less than $600 a person, and included lodging, food, and park hopper passes (water parks & more for one of them). I could have spent that money on a massage, a new haircut, a purse and a dinner at a fancy restaurant, but that wasn't something I'd enjoy. My priority is to live within my budget in my daily life so I can splurge every once in a while with a little Disney escape.

Initially my parents were very upset at us "wasting our money" on trips to Disney, but eventually they saw that we were getting the absolute most bang for our buck possible. We had a major need to get away for a while (he was a law student, I was in med school). My mother eventually came around and said "It's your hobby. It's what you love to do. Most people spend a lot more money than that on their hobbies, so you don't have to explain anything." They still don't quite understand why it's my "hobby" but hopefully the trip we're all taking this June will show them a bit of the magic I've fallen in love with.

 

[mpls_mm]

I do get a lot of jealousy. I don't get it. We do have different priorities than other friends and family members, and I own my own business. I do live below my means, I have a new house but small and drive an older car. I prefer to spend my money on investments or vacations but since I don't do the "trappings" they assume I must be using credit cards. ( I owe $200 on all my cards combined)
My MIL is the worst, she got very angry last time we went, she was upset her grandkids got to go to Disney "again" before her. I did buy into DVC so I have thought about inviting her, but I am afarid it would cause too much strife with my SIL. (once MIL bought Disney on ice tickets for her two GD (my DD 8 and SIL DD 9 and SIL had a fit, she insisted she had to go too and be taken to dinner and everyone needed souvenirs. What should have only been three tickets ended up being 4 plus $300 in extras) I am afraid SIL would insist on being taken with her family so a "free" trip for Grandma courtesy of me would cost the poor woman a couple grand.
My other one is my best friend, when I mentioned I bought into DVC, she said great I can't wait, just let me know when you are going so I can find someone to watch my kids so we can have a girls trip. ??!! I can't imagine taking a trip with out my DD8 and DS4.

 

[TravelingJen24]

Most people just make a comment, like "geez, your going again" Ours is mainly to Disneyland because we live out here, but we have been to WDW three times in the last three years. I think people just can't understand why we would go to Dis over and over instead of other trips. Well, because it is our choice. THANK GOD!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Yep, we get the "You're going to WDW AGAIN???" a lot.

I just don't get it. I don't tell other people how to spend their money. Why should they make comments on how I spend mine or what I choose to do with my time???

Our comments come mostly from family members. Several of our friends have been to Disney and they understand. None of our family has been there so they just don't get it.

What really makes me mad is my brother and SIL and their comments. They keep saying they want to come with us, but then we plan the next trip and they are like - oh we didn't know you'd be going AGAIN SO SOON, we don't have the money right now. Well if I waited around for them to have the money I'd never get to go back! And the thing is that I'm sure they make more money than us! They both have great full time jobs. I am a stay at home mom. We live on one income. They have one child, we have two. We just live different lifestyles. We have a new house (it's nothing extravagant), but we live on a budget for everything else. We drive older vehicles, we don't have cable tv, we don't buy our children every new toy that comes out, we don't charge stuff we don't need. This allows us a nice vacation every year. My brother and SIL on the other hand drive new expensive vehicles, buy everything they want, not just what they need, and are now swimming in debt. And I'm supposed to feel sorry for them that they can't afford to go to WDW with us??? I feel sorry for my nephew because he will probably never get to go.

Then there's my dad. I love him, but he really makes me mad on this subject. I asked him recently if he wanted to keep my dog when we go on vacation in May. He said - oh please don't tell me your going to Disney AGAIN?? He just doesn't get it. I have invited him to come with us but he acts like it is the most stupid place in the world! My DH even tries to tell him that there really is something there for everyone, but he won't even listen.

We get all this and more from a lot of our family members. I don't even like to tell them we are going anymore.

We are by no means rich. But we often get the - if I had your money.... - statement from our families just because we vacation at WDW. It's very frustrating!

We sure don't let it ruin our vacation though!!

 

[HonnyDipp]

The first thing out of my aunts mouth was, "Oh God, thats 9 months away, anything could happen" then later she said "its so hot and miserable down there" Unfortunately some people are only happy when they have something bad to say

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

The first thing out of my aunts mouth was, "Oh God, thats 9 months away, anything could happen" then later she said "its so hot and miserable down there" Unfortunately some people are only happy when they have something bad to say

Yep, heard all that before. . .

 

[HonnyDipp]

My DD12 always says, "Don't hate congratulate!"

 

[Goofyz3girls]

I also get the...Again??? pharse and You can't find somewhere else to go??? from my mother.....that gets the wife going .... Hey if it ain't broke don't fix it! I believe there are only two kinds of people those who love DISNEY and those who don't.To bad for the latter ones they just don't get it!

 

[FLVacationGirl]

I just got back from my first WDW trip and have starting planning our second trip for this fall. My husband decided that he's fine waiting another 3 years to go and suggested I ask my mom to come with me and our girls, dd4 and dd1. She's probably going to be travelling at the time so she suggested I ask my sisters. (one already said yes!) BUT, my mom also said, why don't you use your Airmiles to go somewhere besides Disney? She doesn't get it and that's fine. I think I'll use the 'it's my money and my time' line if it becomes an issue. I'm so glad that everyone here gets it!!!!

We live below our means too. Investments are taken care of and we held off rushing to buy a fancy new house. We both work full-time at good jobs and because I work Sat-Sun-Mon instead of M-F like my husband, we only have to pay for one day of day care a week. Vacation is a priority to me and so worth it to have those memories as a family. Love it! And anyhow, our next trip is hardly going to cost us anything.

I'm worried about telling friends that we are going back so soon. I don't think they will get it, minus a few who have gone or are planning trips there themselves. So I probably won't say much and will just post here a lot instead.

 

[dancin_princess]

The funniest part is when people think you're crazy for going to WDW AGAIN. Like if you've been there once, there's nothing left to see. Even people that have been there before have said this to me. And I just don't get them. Unless they stayed for weeks, there's no way they could have seen or done everything. And since they've been there before, they should understand how big it is.

Some people get it. Some people don't.

i work here and still havent done everything.

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

i work here and still havent done everything.

Exactly!!!

And here's a confession.....I get the Disney envy.

We went for a week in February. My MIL and BIL went for a week in March. They're on their way home from the airport right now.

And all week long, while they were there and I wasn't, I was getting the Disney Blues. I wanna be there. Why can't that be me? I wish it was me!!!

 

[gibsontrio]

I have one friend who is very bitter about it. She went to disney with her dd5 but only for a day. When I told her we were going for about a week she said "oh thats it, I thought you'd go longer" .
I was excited about getting the a ohana breakfast ressie and her reply was " We are going to save our money and see the characters in the park that way we dont have to pay a fortune to eat crappy food"
I understand she may be bitter ( her dh doesnt make alot) but there is no need to be nasty about it. I try not to mention disney at all to her , only when she brings it up , but there is no need for her to be nasty about it.

 

[mybabesuz]

Some friends, even some of our family get jealous.
They are like... Your going again????
Well, I spend lots of time planning.
Always do our trips for under $2000.
This year we decided to go because of the tax rebate.

Everytime we start to plan to go somewhere else
the cost adds up and we just say..
HEY for nearly the same price we can go to Disney...
You still need a hotel room, food, and entertainment.
Usually just the airfare is extra we wouldn't spend
on a more local trip. But the Hotel would usually cost MORE if
we went somewhere else.
Life is just way too short to never have any fun...

 

[Liljam]

I just had my sweet little baby boy 5 weeks ago. When I found out I was pregnant, I had posted a message on my myspace account (I may be 31 but I have lots of friends I stay in touch with through myspace ) Anyway, a friend of mine - who is pretty well off - sent me a link to an ebay auction where someone was selling their DVC because she thought I might want to sell mine too now that I'd be having a baby. I couldn't believe it to be honest, but maybe she didn't mean it to be offensive. I just felt like she thought I couldn't afford DVC with a new addition!

And my dad has recently mentioned he was going with us in May and his co-worker told him that SSR was pretty elite and to take a jacket to fit in. I had to show him pics of people in "regular" tees and shorts so he'd even feel comfy!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I just had my sweet little baby boy 5 weeks ago. When I found out I was pregnant, I had posted a message on my myspace account (I may be 31 but I have lots of friends I stay in touch with through myspace ) Anyway, a friend of mine - who is pretty well off - sent me a link to an ebay auction where someone was selling their DVC because she thought I might want to sell mine too now that I'd be having a baby. I couldn't believe it to be honest, but maybe she didn't mean it to be offensive. I just felt like she thought I couldn't afford DVC with a new addition!

And my dad has recently mentioned he was going with us in May and his co-worker told him that SSR was pretty elite and to take a jacket to fit in. I had to show him pics of people in "regular" tees and shorts so he'd even feel comfy!

I was laid off from my part time social work job at a hospital when I was pregnant with our 2nd child. I decided it was the right time to become a stay at home mom. Everyone was like "oh I guess no more annual trips to WDW for you." We were like "no that is why we bought DVC" (and paid for in full, no financing) when I was working. Those trips are mostly paid for now, even if I am not working.

I would love an add on, but that will have to wait until I go back to work. For then it is studios for most trips for us.

BTW we will be at WDW the same time as you (May 2nd to 10th) but we are staying at AKV. Really looking forward to it.

 

[Liljam]

I was laid off from my part time social work job at a hospital when I was pregnant with our 2nd child. I decided it was the right time to become a stay at home mom. Everyone was like "oh I guess no more annual trips to WDW for you." We were like "no that is why we bought DVC" (and paid for in full, no financing) when I was working. Those trips are mostly paid for now, even if I am not working.

I would love an add on, but that will have to wait until I go back to work. For then it is studios for most trips for us.

BTW we will be at WDW the same time as you (May 2nd to 10th) but we are staying at AKV. Really looking forward to it.

I do get that "how can you afford to go now" question a lot now - especially because I haven't decided whether to go back to work or not. And it really does seem to be more out of envy than anything. And why do people think DVC is so "snobby" or something - at least they do around here? We booked a 3 br. GV but that was with our banked points! And we use tax money for spending... One reason we even bought DVC was so that we COULD afford yearly trips to WDW

I can't wait to go in May! I might try to decorate our window while there so if you go to SSR for anything, look for green Mickeys in one of the big windows!!