DW cancelled our trip! (update pg. 6, we're going!)

[SleepyatDVC]

I'm not sure I'm ready quite yet to have her read this. Soon. Still staying off the soda, and walked 2 miles last night. Checking out http://www.daveramsey.com. Interesting stuff. Reserved Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace audiobooks from the library.
I have to say I get a little bugged by the folks who say "don't go, save the money" and then I look down at their sig and they've been to WDW 20 times! LY-MI.

Congratulations on staying off the soda and the motivation to get in shape.

I'm one that has been xx number of times also. I totally understand your being bugged! I'll be the first one to admit that I am extremely blessed.

As an only child I travelled a lot with my parents and still do sometimes. Now that I have a family of my own, I still love to travel. However, traveling to vacation is a luxury, no doubt about it. We pay off every single vacation before we even leave the house. We try to use cash but anything put on a credit card gets paid off in full when we get back.

As I mentioned, I'm lucky to be able to afford to do this. I understand that many can't afford to do this easily. I truly admire those that find travel vacations important enough to find creative ways to financially do it. If they can save for it or manage to pay it off responsibly afterwards then good for them!

Personally, I feel that travel vacation money should be disposable income, meaning money left over AFTER everything else is paid. If I couldn't pay for the trip, then I just wouldn't go. I would just have to vacation at home or locally.

Obviously, this may not be how others feel since it might mean that lots of people may never go away on vacation. My utmost respect to those that manage to save up the money to do it anyway based on a limited income.

I am EXTREMELY fiscally conservative about money, except for vacations, of course!

My parents have been self-employed with their own business all my life. They worried about money constantly when I was growing up. I never wanted for ANYTHING and had a very comfortable childhood. But you'd be surprised at what kids hear and learn sitting in the back seat of the car. I "worried" along with them. I saved all my money in a piggy bank and then later in a real bank just waiting for that "rainy day."

Later when I started helping out in the family business, I really learned what worry was. We always had enough money to live and eat. But when we "worried" about money, it wasn't about thousands or even tens of thousands, we were talking about hundreds of thousands and even millions.

Praise God that as a famiy we got through that period but I learned that I never wanted to have to be in that position of worrying again.

My husband knew how I felt about money and security when we got married. We don't carry any debt. No car loans - we bought our one car outright when we had the cash. No mortgage, no house - I'm a property manager with free housing. We do use credit cards, especially for the reward points, but we pay it off every month. Sometimes, if the card has special 0% financing for cash advances, I take advance of that, but once the interest kicks in the total balance gets paid off

DH has a steady job with "decent" pay. I get a paltry "nominal" salary, but the benefits are great, housing, utilities, cable, dsl, family health insurance, flexible hours and lots of vacation time.

We wish we had a house but we really can't afford the NYC prices and it was silly to pass up free housing and then for me to have to commute back to work. So, we are saving the money we would have paid for rent for when we actually do buy one day.

Because we don't have to worry about housing expenses, we are lucky, lucky, lucky... to have the disposable income that many do not to spend on vacation without having to make tons of sacrifices.

I'm certainly not suggesting that someone has to be as lucky as me to be able to go to Disney but obviously they can't go as many times as I do if they really can't afford to.

I can see both sides of the picture and can relate to both DisDon and his wife. I can totally understand how much DisDon wants and really "needs" this vacation. It's not just a vacation, it's nurishment for his soul/heart/mind. Something to look forward to in order to motivate him that life can be good and can get better.

On the other hand, I understand how worry about money and finances can consume his wife. For me and probably many women including DisDon's wife, money represents security. Security for the home, for the children, for the future. If you start worrying about money, you start worrying about the kids, about their future, about your future. Everything seems hopeless and bleek. When your spouse doesn't worry WITH you, you feel alone and less secure and thus, money becames an even more important focus in trying to get some security back.

I am secure now but I still do worry about money sometimes because I NEVER want to be in the position of having to worrying about pay check to pay check. I can only imagine how his wife and many other women (and some men) feel when they have more expenses than income and there just doesn't seem like any solution. Paying for vacations would be the last thing on my mind. A real vacations would be not having to face the bills this month.

However, it helps a 1000 times to have a supportive spouse. When you know that there is someone else to shoulder the fears and worries, you realize that money isn't everything and won't solve everything. You learn that there is security to be found in relationships and family. Even if you lose everything, if your family is together, supporting and helping each other, and healthy, then you have what's really important.

It takes a long time to get to that point sometimes. You have to learn to transfer your feelings of security from money to your spouse and family. This is hard to do if you feel that you can't "trust" your spouse to understand your fears and your need for security and a secure future.

Sorry to get so long winded. Many people don't understand why some people feel so strong about being able to afford paying for a Disney vacation. Many people do it on credit and have no problems with it - I guess that works for them. But if someone is "worried" about money already and is worried about affording a trip to Disney, then it's hard for me to imagine how the additional expense and the weeks, months, and maybe even years of worry over the added financial burden won't overshadow a week's worth of memories and fun.

Yes, I agree that memories for the kids are priceless, but I also know that tensions and worries at home over money and finances can affect the kids without you realizing it and can last a lifetime.

Didn't mean to come accross harsh at all. Just trying to share another point of view and maybe shed some light over how your wife may be feeling. Don't know you or your wife so all these are generalizations and may not even apply.

Again I hope everything works out. It sounds like you are trying to improve many aspects of your life. Good for you! I hope you succeed.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Just caught on to this thread and only read some. SleepyatDVC has some good points. I know I'd love to go to WDW every few months, as it seems so many Dis'ers do. But we just can't afford it. So we go every 2 - 3 years. This gives us a chance to save up and stay at the Deluxe resorts. If the op can't afford to go to WDW now, maybe the family can do what I do. I am always planning for the next trip while I'm saving up our money. I have a vacation folder, I post and read the Dis boards daily, etc. This always gets me excited to go, and motivated to save. We don't currently have dates set, but I'm still planning for a trip in late 06 or early 07. Here's to saving up the money!

 

[crisi]

Sleepy, you and me are a lot alike.

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

I just wanted to let DISDON know that he's not alone. This vacation..is sort of out of our means as well this year. My hubby is in school finishing the last 2 years of his Masters *in Accounting/Finance*, I stay at home with my dd, so we are scraping this year saving for our vacation and he is working alot of overtime this summer while school is out. (i had to beg him to take the summer off school instead of taking summer classes and now I can't get him to leave work.!) Its hard. DD and I miss him terriably ALOT< but...we have to go through this right now so that we can have better things later. We both gained weight when I was pregnant. I...100lbs.(yikes!)Lost 60, and then gained 40 back! ( ) and he gained about 70lbs. We are now doing ww, trying to get the weight off, and hopefully will be able to start fresh by the time he graduates..we will have more money, more energy. But in the meantime...uphill battle. I really really hope that you are successful in all you are trying to change in your life. Its not an easy thing to do..changing anything. So good for you for admitting that a change needs to be made..and working towards changing it.
I am sure you have heard all this before in your 5 pages of resoponses..but I thought one more vote of support couldn't hurt.
Good Luck..and keep us posted.
Nicole

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I just wanted to let DISDON know that he's not alone. This vacation..is sort of out of our means as well this year. My hubby is in school finishing the last 2 years of his Masters *in Accounting/Finance*, I stay at home with my dd, so we are scraping this year saving for our vacation and he is working alot of overtime this summer while school is out. (i had to beg him to take the summer off school instead of taking summer classes and now I can't get him to leave work.!) Its hard. DD and I miss him terriably ALOT< but...we have to go through this right now so that we can have better things later. We both gained weight when I was pregnant. I...100lbs.(yikes!)Lost 60, and then gained 40 back! ( ) and he gained about 70lbs. We are now doing ww, trying to get the weight off, and hopefully will be able to start fresh by the time he graduates..we will have more money, more energy. But in the meantime...uphill battle. I really really hope that you are successful in all you are trying to change in your life. Its not an easy thing to do..changing anything. So good for you for admitting that a change needs to be made..and working towards changing it.
I am sure you have heard all this before in your 5 pages of resoponses..but I thought one more vote of support couldn't hurt.
Good Luck..and keep us posted.
Nicole

Nicole sounds like you are busy people!! Success will come to those who work for it!! Pretty soon that masters will allow him to take you to Disney...for two weeks...concierge!!!

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

Nicole sounds like you are busy people!! Success will come to those who work for it!! Pretty soon that masters will allow him to take you to Disney...for two weeks...concierge!!!

awww..thanks for the kind words made my day! Thanks. Best Wishes to you and yours.
Nicole

 

[DisDon]

Robin, Grace, Nik's Mom, crisi, Nicole, thank you all for your input. I think I'm seeing the same disconnect in thinking here that I have with my wife.
1. The thought that we're drowning in debt vs. the thought that we're burdened with debt but maintaining.
2. The thought that this trip will plunge us far deeper into debt vs. the thought that, except for the WDW tickets, this trip is almost within our normal budget, and that the WDW tickets vs. normal Christmas expenditures is a fairly even trade.

I totally agree that, if you're drowning in debt, on the edge of bankrupcy, gonna lose your house, etc. you probably shouldn't go to Disneyworld, but I also think that if you are working hard, raising 5 kids, paying your bills, a very frugal trip to orlando is a nice reward, and would be very memorable. To tell the truth, the last few Christmas mornings kind of run together, nothing really seems to have been that memorable to me.

I think maybe the cancellation was a bit of a wake-up call for me, especially on my diet and exercise habits. If nothing else, "one thing's for sure, we're all gonna be a lot thinner" (was that Han Solo or Leia in the garbage masher?).

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Robin, Grace, Nik's Mom, crisi, Nicole, thank you all for your input. I think I'm seeing the same disconnect in thinking here that I have with my wife.
1. The thought that we're drowning in debt vs. the thought that we're burdened with debt but maintaining.
2. The thought that this trip will plunge us far deeper into debt vs. the thought that, except for the WDW tickets, this trip almost within our normal budget, and that the WDW tickets vs. normal Christmas expenditures is a fairly even trade.

I totally agree that, if you're drowning in debt, on the edge of bankrupcy, gonna lose your house, etc. you probably shouldn't go to Disneyworld, but I also think that if you are working hard, raising 5 kids, paying your bills, a very frugal trip to orlando is a nice reward, and would be very memorable. To tell the truth, the last few Christmas mornings kind of run together, nothing really seems to have been that memorable to me.

I think maybe the cancellation was a bit of a wake-up call for me, especially on my diet and exercise habits. If nothing else, "one thing's for sure, we're all gonna be a lot thinner" (was that Han Solo or Leia in the garbage masher?).

yes waking up thinner sure feels better than ANYTHING!! And i agree on the Christmas thing...we are going light around the holidays this year. Last year we spent MORE THAN OUR POLY WDW vacation on Christmas for our kids and not one of them can really remember anything they really got...they get so much all the time but WDW they will surely remember forever

 

[MrsPete]

I have to say I get a little bugged by the folks who say "don't go, save the money" and then I look down at their sig and they've been to WDW 20 times! LY-MI.

This will come out sounding mean, and I don't mean it that way, but: What does that have to do with your family?

Seriously, each of us have different resources and priorities. My husband and I have ZERO debt (not even a mortgage -- we worked very hard to make that happen), I have only two children, and I'm close enough to drive to Disney. Of course I have more opportunity to go to Disney than you do! You cannot compare and expect everyone to be equal. It'll never happen.

Here's my bottom line: For people who can afford a Disney trip, great! Have a great week. But if it puts a strain on your family budget for the other 51 weeks of the year, don't do it. And -- more importantly -- if it puts a strain on your marriage, don't do it.

While vacations, family memories, and dreams are important, are they MORE important than HER dreams of being debt free, having a secure future for her and for the kids, and just being free of the stress of worrying about money all the time?
.

This makes soooo much sense to me. I have many dreams for the years that my girls are still at home, and many of them do involve travel (not just Disney). But if I had to say what's most important, it would be that my girls learn to love Jesus, that they are happy and healthy, and that they get a college education. It's kind of like a dream-priority. I'd gladly cut out the "lesser dreams" before I'd sacrafice a whit on the really important ones.

The thought that we're drowning in debt vs. the thought that we're burdened with debt but maintaining.

Don, you've made up a little phrase here to make debt sound acceptable: You're "maintaining" your debt. NO! You don't "maintain" debt; it doesn't stay the same -- it grows! Unless you are actively paying it off, it is increasing. You said in the same sentence that it's a BURDEN and DROWNING. Debt is bad. It's hurting your marriage. It's costing you your dreams. I suggest that you slash the phrase "maintaining the debt" from your vocabulary. It's giving you permission to stay stagnant in the problem. (It's always easier to see other people's mistakes. Feel free to come over to my house and be blunt about my poor housekeeping skills -- anytime -- I can take it.)

 

[crisi]

We have only a year left on our mortgage (and neither of us are 40 yet). No debt. Good incomes. Money in savings. Money in investments.

My husband was complaining to my father "your daughter keeps telling me we are broke. I look at the balances in the accounts. There is money here, there is money there, how can we be broke?!" My father laughs.

My DH is a wonderful person, but he needs to be reigned in. If there is a balance in the checkbook, he'll spend it. He is very generous and will give it away (to his family, where they all spend money faster and more irresponsibily than he does). So I stash it. He's a short term guy when it comes to money, my job is the long term planning.

And the long term planning is - we don't yet have enough stashed to get two kids through college, which we both value (and I understand not everyone thinks they need to pay for, or can afford to pay for, their kids college, we do). We don't have enough stashed yet for retirement, and both of us would like to "semi-retire" early and comfortable - play golf, travel. We want to, as the kids get a little older, do some international travel - I'm stashing away money for trips to Europe and Asia.

But probably most telling to his "we have lots of money" and my "we're broke" -- When I was growing up, the recession cut deep and one of the girls I went to school with moved away - both parents had lost their job and they were all moving in with Grandma into a little tiny house. Which is why I've been paying off the mortgage. I want to get my life to the point that we can keep our house and feed our kids even if the only job I can get is stocking shelves at WalMart. If that happens, the early retirement goes, the trip to Europe goes, but I still want those kids to go to college - might mean a state school rather than the private school we are currently saving for.

And Mrs.Pete is right. We have different resources and priorities around here. You can't compare yourself to someone with no kids, semi-retired, living within driving distance to WDW. You can't compare yourself with someone who has two or three times your income.

 

[minnie61650]

This will come out sounding mean, and I don't mean it that way, but: What does that have to do with your family?


Don, you've made up a little phrase here to make debt sound acceptable: You're "maintaining" your debt. NO! You don't "maintain" debt; it doesn't stay the same -- it grows! Unless you are actively paying it off, it is increasing. You said in the same sentence that it's a BURDEN and DROWNING. Debt is bad. It's hurting your marriage. It's costing you your dreams. I suggest that you slash the phrase "maintaining the debt" from your vocabulary. It's giving you permission to stay stagnant in the problem. (It's always easier to see other people's mistakes. Feel free to come over to my house and be blunt about my poor housekeeping skills -- anytime -- I can take it.)

From my understanding Don has already said he is not increasing his debt and he is paying off student loans and credit cards.
So if he still has X $ in loans he is "debt" because he still owes on them but
student loan "debt" does not increase unless he misses a payment.
Part of managing money is knowing an opportunity when it is before you.
DisDon has already stated most of the trip is well within his budget.
It was the price of the tickets that was a concern.
The tickets were going to be Christmas gifts.
At first he was thinking the cost of the tickets would be about $1000 to $1100 and that was out of his budget, but with suggestions from posters he was considering Mickey's Christmas Party as his day at Magic Kingdom and a one day pass for another park which would cut the price of tickets in half.
AS DisDon said they have never canceled Christmas gifts before so he didn't see that happening this year.
Maybe if some of the posters would read the entire thread they would not have jumped to the conclusion that DisDon is drowning in debt. He said he has some debt but is working on it and does not want to increase it.
Please read the entire thread before you respond !!!
DisDon keep up the great work on your new goals. I am cheering you on and I know you will achieve much
in the coming months.
Keep us informed of your progress.
Heres some pixie dust
Linda
94 days

 

[dtsaos]

Robin, Grace, Nik's Mom, crisi, Nicole, thank you all for your input. I think I'm seeing the same disconnect in thinking here that I have with my wife.
1. The thought that we're drowning in debt vs. the thought that we're burdened with debt but maintaining.
2. The thought that this trip will plunge us far deeper into debt vs. the thought that, except for the WDW tickets, this trip almost within our normal budget, and that the WDW tickets vs. normal Christmas expenditures is a fairly even trade.

I totally agree that, if you're drowning in debt, on the edge of bankrupcy, gonna lose your house, etc. you probably shouldn't go to Disneyworld, but I also think that if you are working hard, raising 5 kids, paying your bills, a very frugal trip to orlando is a nice reward, and would be very memorable. To tell the truth, the last few Christmas mornings kind of run together, nothing really seems to have been that memorable to me.

I think maybe the cancellation was a bit of a wake-up call for me, especially on my diet and exercise habits. If nothing else, "one thing's for sure, we're all gonna be a lot thinner" (was that Han Solo or Leia in the garbage masher?).

Han Solo.

 

[crisi]

Maybe if some of the posters would read the entire thread they would not have jumped to the conclusion that DisDon is drowning in debt. He said he has some debt but is working on it and does not want to increase it.

His wife apparently thinks they are. Which, frankly, is WAY more important than what any of us think about their financial situation.

Perhaps you are comfortable (and it is fine if you are) with being, say $10,000 in debt this year and next year still being $10,000 in debt. That's maintaining your debt level, and from what I'm reading, that's what Don says he is doing and what he is comfortable with.

But I have a feeling Don's wife wants to be looking at it next year and saying, "wow, this year we are only $8,000 in debt, and at this rate, next year we will only be $5,500 in debt!" (I have a feeling she WANTS no debt at all right now, but is rational enough to recognize that its going to take time and sacrifice, the more sacrifice, the faster she gets to a debt free goal).

 

[minnie61650]

His wife apparently thinks they are. Which, frankly, is WAY more important than what any of us think about their financial situation.

Perhaps you are comfortable (and it is fine if you are) with being, say $10,000 in debt this year and next year still being $10,000 in debt. That's maintaining your debt level, and from what I'm reading, that's what Don says he is doing and what he is comfortable with.

.

No, I am not comfortable with debt.
My husband owns his own Multimillion dollar business.
He pays off the credit cards every month. We have a 5 bedroom,4 bath home on a private road.I have wonderful view of the private all sports lake . We own 2 boats and a jet ski and have a heated in ground pool with hot tub and slide. The golf course is right across the street. I watch the golfers teeing off every day.
Eveything but the house is paid for and we put more than 50% cash down when we bought it 11 years ago.
Does that make me any better than the rest you.
NO!
More fortunate than a lot? Yes!
I never live beyond my means. I consider our home an investment in our future.
The money is there if we ever need it.
I drive a 3 year old Buick and love it.
I shop at Wal mart and Target and Sears.
We have put 3 children trough college and our youngest is currently entering her 4 th year.
When I go to Disney which is every 3 or 4 years I can well afford a deluxe hotel but we stay at the ALL Stars. After all we're just sleeping and using the pool there
I don't need a fancy hotel to soothe my ego or make me feel better than others.
Anyway I love those huge icons.They are pure Disney. I'm a big kid at heart.
When I was growing up we only took family vacations every 5 or 10 years but I will never forget the trip we took to California in 1959 when I was 9 years old.
We went to Disneyland and I fell in love with in it. My Mom bought one of those souvenir maps and hung it up in my room.
Each night when I went to bed I would dream about someday going back to Disney. My first trip to WDW was mid October 1971. It was BRAND NEW and my hubby took our DD age 2 and I there for the day. It was a DREAM come true.
So I know how much a once in a childtime trip meant to me and I can relate what it would mean to DisDon's children.
Pixie dust to Don and his family
Linda

 

[robinb]

Maybe if some of the posters would read the entire thread they would not have jumped to the conclusion that DisDon is drowning in debt. He said he has some debt but is working on it and does not want to increase it.
Please read the entire thread before you respond !!!

Oh, I read the entire thread from the beginning. Don said in his very first post (bolding mine):

We're always just scraping by, have quite a bit of credit card debt and student loans that we're maintaining.

Part of managing money is knowing an opportunity when it is before you.

ITA. However, I think we disagree on the "opportunity" that is being presented. I think it's the opportunity pay down existing debt. You think it's to spend over $1,000 on a vacation.

One thing I think the OP is missing is that his airfare is not free. My step-father worked for United Airlines and we used his "companion" tickets many times. Don will have to pay, at the very least, taxes and 9/11 fees on his airfare on tickets for all people over the age of two. I estimate about $60 per person x 6 (the baby is free on a lap) or $360. In addition, those "free tickets" are usually all stand-by. That is you only get on the plane if there is room for you after paying passengers are boarded. In addition, people are allowed on the plane by seniority. People who have worked longer will bump Don and his family off a flight. Add the need for 6 seats (on stand-by), with at least 2 seats together (for 1 parent and the pre-schooler) and the possibility that the remaining children over 5 may be scattered all around the plane ... this is not a pretty picture.

minnie61650, I know where you and the others are coming from. I really do. It's human nature to help someone get involved with something we have a passion for. However, I cannot join your merry band of Jiminy Cricket Evangelists and think that if we all wish real hard, Don's dreams will come true.

 

[Disneyrsh]

I think this thread just degraded from helping DisDon with this quote:

"minnie61650, I know where you and the others are coming from. I really do. It's human nature to help someone get involved with something we have a passion for. However, I cannot join your merry band of Jiminy Cricket Evangelists and think that if we all wish real hard, Don's dreams will come true."


"Jiminy Cricket Evangelists" is a nasty, personal insult that does nothing to further this thread.

I don't know Minnie61650, but I'm darn sure working towards being like her.

DisDon will tell you himself, I'm sure, that debt makes you stressed, angry and afraid. I speak also from personal experience here. Once you no longer are in debt you feel FREE and light and joyous, and that's reflected in Minnie's post.

Are you in debt, robin? Because it would explain why that post was so ludicrously nasty.

 

[robinb]

"Jiminy Cricket Evangelists" is a nasty, personal insult that does nothing to further this thread.
{snip}
Are you in debt, robin? Because it would explain why that post was so ludicrously nasty.

Well, obviously I disagree on the "ludicrously nasty and personal" nature of my remark. Jiminy Cricket himself said: "When your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme." and many of the people who are "helping" Don seem to have that attitude. I also think there is a very strong Evangelical component to their help. They all love Disney and they want Don's family to find and love Disney as much as they do. So that's why I said what I did. I didn't mean it to be nasty or personal and I'm sorry you took it that way.

I need to finish packing for a camping trip so you-all can carry on without me .

ETA: You can look at a previous post here about how much debt I have if you're really interested.

 

[minnie61650]

I think this thread just degraded from helping DisDon with this quote:

"minnie61650, I know where you and the others are coming from. I really do. It's human nature to help someone get involved with something we have a passion for. However, I cannot join your merry band of Jiminy Cricket Evangelists and think that if we all wish real hard, Don's dreams will come true."


"Jiminy Cricket Evangelists" is a nasty, personal insult that does nothing to further this thread.

I don't know Minnie61650, but I'm darn sure working towards being like her.

DisDon will tell you himself, I'm sure, that debt makes you stressed, angry and afraid. I speak also from personal experience here. Once you no longer are in debt you feel FREE and light and joyous, and that's reflected in Minnie's post.

Are you in debt, robin? Because it would explain why that post was so ludicrously nasty.

Disnyrsh,
Thanks for your support and kind words.
I was quite taken aback by robin's insult.
But I guess for some reason my posts must have upset her.
Heres lots of pixie dust for your kind words
Linda

 

[minnie61650]

Well, obviously I disagree on the "ludicrously nasty and personal" nature of my remark. Jiminy Cricket himself said: "When your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme." and many of the people who are "helping" Don seem to have that attitude. I also think there is a very strong Evangelical component to their help. They all love Disney and they want Don's family to find and love Disney as much as they do. So that's why I said what I did. I didn't mean it to be nasty or personal and I'm sorry you took it that way.

I need to finish packing for a camping trip so you-all can carry on without me .

ETA: You can look at a previous post here about how much debt I have if you're really interested.

Hi Robin,
It's the " I also think there is a very strong Evangelical component to their help. " that I take very personal. I would never say that to anyone .
The thing is I remember my trip to Disneyland in 1959 at the age of 9. It is one my fondest childhood memories.
Have a great time on your camping trip and Pixie dust for you and your beautiful daughter.
Linda
Only 95 more days

 

[disneymom3]

I am a little confused. Yes, being completely debt free is a good thing, however it doesn't mean that everyone in the world must be debt free to be happy. I think that if Don can do an "economical" trip to WDW (meaning he is not staying at the Poly, he is not planning all meals onsite, etc.) AND his wife is comfortable with the trip too that the fact that he is not completely out of debt is not that big of a deal.

However, if his wife is uncomfortable and will be stressed the whole trip than it's not worth it. And if they are drowning in debt, that is another issue too, but I really didn't get that feel from the first post.

Bottom line, they need to do what is right for their family and none of us really know what that is.

Oh, and my BIL is a pilot and all of his immediate family fly free(yes, paying taxes etc) but they fly with an actual ticket. They are not standby. This is for his wife and kids. He can get other tickets and then you are standby and it's the same as Robin said that seniority rules. Now, he is wayyyy up there in his airline. (As attested to by the fact that the Salt Lake City clerk was shocked out of her mind at the level of priority my standby ticket held when my dad died.) And I would guess that this policy would vary from airline to airline. Good advice to make sure what you are getting.