For Those Who Go To WDW often

[1204]

I am new here. We will be taking our frist trip in July. When I look at some of the posts I see some of you (alot to be more precise) go quite often. My question is where do you live that you can afford go so many times? We live in California, so it would be quite costly for us to go several times a year or even once a year. Just wondering.



P.S. This Fairytail package will help us alot. Thanks Disney!

 

[Connears]

We live in Boston area and drive to WDW. We are DVC members and travel to WDW at least once a year and often more because we don't pay for airfare.(We also visit HHI resort thru DVC once a year).
Connears

 

[gonga]

We live in NY, (we leave from JFK or LGA airports). We go to WDW at least once per year. Which makes it easier is that we split our trip in the spring. We go to a caribbean destination for a few days then take a short flight (usually an hour or so) to MCO and to WDW. We never go to WDW for more that 4 or 5 days so it makes for a fun trip to split the destination. Sometimes when we need a quick fix from the cold air we will fly down for a long WDW weekend.

I can see how time consuming and expensive it is for you to travel from CA to WDW...that's a big trip. From NY the flight is only 2 1/2 hrs (I think) it goes so fast that I never timed it, so its really not a big deal for East Coasters.

 

[kinggoofy]

Welcome to the DISers....

We live in Chicago. We love WDW and we plan our trip usually in the winter before the summer we are going.

Thanks to these boards...I had never known about codes and discounts and paid out the "you know what" for our vacations.

In or about 1999, we figured out how to save money by splitting our trip up into different segments.

The first couple of years we went back after our Honeymoon (we had no money..new house and all) we always got a package deal and never thought any thing of it.

THEN, one night being bored, I started to put 2 & 2 together.
We never went to the parks on the first OR last day of our trip BUT we were being charged the price of park entrance on our package for those 2 days.

Hence, breaking up the trip. 1st and last night "room only" and the middle of our trip would include the park passes.

Then I came across these boards and all kinds of other discounts and its been cheaper EVERY year we have gone to WDW.

You must do your "homework" . I.E...air fare, where to eat, and how much to spend on souvioners. (Hope I spelled that right)

You cannot just plan your trip "willy nilly". For us the planning starts early. And last year was the first year we went to WDW twice in a year and we hope to make that happen every year in the future.

(PS....another thing that obviously helps...we have NO children.)

 

[SuiteDisney]

We're DVC members and we drive to WDW.

If you keep reading these boards and follow their advice, you'll wind up saving a lot more than the new package from Disney will save you.

 

[jx3smom]

We live in New Jersey and drive to WDW. We are also DVC members. We buy annual passes.

 

[2TxAgs]

Check out this thread on the Budget Board....

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=360456

 

[helenabear]

It's easier for me, I think. Dual income, no kids means not much to have to pay for other than what we want. I get Disney trips and my husband gets his computer stuff. I admit though, this is the first time I will be going more than once in a year. Oh and half the time, my dad gives me free air with his hundreds of thousands frequent flyer miles he has racked up, so that really helps.

 

[tc]

We bought DVC and buy Annual Passes. We go twice on one pass, about a year a part. Then we buy passes the next year, and go twice. Like, we went last year from 9/16-9/25, this year we'll go 9/5-9/14. This way we get two trips on one AP. We live in Colorado, so the most expensive part is flying. However, the last few trips I've found great airfare in September (probably due to 9/11) Last time we flew for less than $300 for two of us.

 

[Barb]

Another DVC member here. We also have AP's. My DH is a private pilot and we have our own plane, so we do save on airfare, too. Before the plane, we drove. Before DVC, we watched for special's on room rates and stayed at the best value for our money. We typically take one family trip and I go a few extra times by myself.

 

[Cinderellafifi]

Some, like me, just have the luxury of living close. I don't know what I would do if I had to learn to wait long periods between trips since I am so spoiled now.

Welcome to the boards!

 

[Denine]

We are DVC members, AP holders and drive down.

 

[Otimon]

I live in the Mouse's backyard!

Have a wonderful trip in July. We'll be looking forward to having you and your family join us for a visit.

 

[Poohbear123]

I live in Miami and I am 3.5 hours away from WDW! I WISH I could go every weekend, but, due to my Job I can't. I try and go at least 4 times a year, so far I went on one Mini-trip in April, and plan on another trip in August. Nov. is my BIG trip for SSW. I also stay at All Star Sports which saves me BIG bucks!

 

[disykat]

There are some West Coasters here who go often as well (I'm not one of them!). If you tend to fly on vacations, Orlando is actually one of the cheaper destinations - just watch for sales. People here tend to fly down to DL, but it's actually usually cheaper (unless they're doing the kids fly free promo) to go to Orlando.

If you're like me and don't fly often or need to save flying for visiting family, you can still have the fun of watching everyone else plan!

 

[holycow]

Welcome! We just moved from So. Calif. 21/2 yrs. ago and used to frequent DL all of the time! Loved it... (we lived in Tustin/Irvine and then Corona for a year...now we're in Jacksonville, Fl so it is just a 21/2 hr. drive the first year here I think we went 1 to 2 times a month but now other things get in the way so we don't go down quite as much...

Holycow

 

[Talking Hands]

Like Poohbear123 I live in Miami. Very easy to hop on the turnpike and take a quick trip to the parks.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We live in Minnesota and usually go to WDW twice a year. We are DVC members, so accomodations aren't an issue, and we shop around for airfare. We also buy Annual Passes so we get about 20-30 park days per pass.

 

[Micca]

We have AP's and a CM in the family which brings the hotel costs down to earth. Airfare is the big expense.

 

[TeresaNJ]

We're DVC members and buy Annual Passes. I shop around for weeks for airfare on the internet until I find reasonable prices. We usually take a few short trips a year, just my husband and I, and take all the kids and a few of their friends once a year. Our two oldest children pay their own airfare, I spring for their AP's as part of their Christmas present or birthday present. I also spread out when I buy the AP's so I'm not paying for them all at once. When you stay at a DVC resort you have kitchen accomodations, so no eating out at every meal. Of course, the friends pay for their own airfare and park passes.