Help! Financially strapped,but addicted to WDW!

[noopy]

Since our first trip in April 2004, my dd and I are completely addicted to WDW! It's so magical and such a happy, happy place to be! My dd is 7, and she gets so caught up in the fantasy of it all - me, too! We went again this April, using my tax return and borrowing a little.
I'm a single mom, no financial support, and a teacher (my salary almost makes us low income in my county). I don't live beyond my means, but WDW just calls me back, especially while my dd is young! We go on 1 vacation a year, and now nothing compares to WDW. Anyone else out there like me?

 

[McDISer]

WDW is unattainable for a lot of people.

Watch for codes to come out over in the resort boards if you want to stay on site. Maybe save your money and go every 2 years, that way you wouldn't be borrowing money. Sign-up for mousesavors.com they get special discounts on tickets with reliable ticket sources. Good luck. I haven't been there in 2 years and it is very hard to come up with the money.h

 

[robinb]

Another top to consider is if you go once a year an annual pass may save you $$. It can be good for 2 annual trips as long as the 2nd trip ends less than 365 days after the first one begins. Plus, you can get Annual Passholder rates on WDW resorts which will dave you money .

 

[MidgeD79]

I am also a single mom who works with special needs pre-schoolers. I am down to 2 children at home (out of 6). We have been going to WDW about every other year for the last 6 years, all of them off-site and driving from SE MI. Our next trip is scheduled for summer of 2006 and we are aiming for a POP stay. I pour over every bit of info and tips that I can find and budget as much as I can. The biggest unknown for me is budgeting for food. Our off-site hotel has always had a full kitchen so we brought alot of food with us. My ds 7 (adhd) has a poor appetite and I am always calorie/quanity conscience. My ds 11 is a huge eater so hopefully it will all work out. My house is emersed in Disney and I'm on these boards alot to get my Disney fix. I love reading trip reports! I am so grateful that I am able to go when I can. Most people in our neighborhood have never even stayed in a hotel. Some times threads on these boards can be so petty wanting everyone to be perfect middle-income vacation-savy people. I think ther are many families like us out there--they're just to afraid to post anything.

 

[michvin]

Even though we are your "typical" middle-class family: mom, dad, 3 kids under 6, we are tightening the budget to make our first family trip this October. I'm not sure what you're own finanical situation is, but I am a stay at home mom and we live on a pretty strict budget...the only thing we usually buy is the necessities: food, clothes, gas, doctors, etc. and extras are always from whatever may be left over...pizza and a movie have been our "family nights". I think that people are surprised that once they write down what they spend their money on they are surprised how easy it is to spend $5 here, $2 there...and how much it adds up. My big thing is we don't do fast food...I pack food for everywhere, park, beach, day trip, whatever. I don't drink coffee on the run, or soda, or iced tea. We are big water drinkers, and milk for the kids. If you buy a soda once or twice a day at work...that adds up. Or lunch out every now and then. Or, going to the mall.....I hardly ever go to the mall...you always see a "deal"...Target, TJMaxx, Marshalls, clearance online...most of our clothes come from there...good clothes but you've got to know what you are looking for. We just went to dinner the other night...with a chain coupon and got the kids dinner and ice cream. This is like once ever couple of months. Coupons at the grocery store. Also, look at your monthly bills...cable, phone(do we all really need all those extras, trash collection, magazine subscriptions, newspapers...we have basic, I mean like 13 channels cable, and a bundle package for phone, internet and cable. I'm down to two magazine subscriptions (from 5) and don't buy the paper except Sunday for the coupons. Fun stuff to do? I have a zoo membership that allows you to enter most zoos nationwide free or a small fee. Look around locally for free goings on at parks...we just went to a local parade today and don't take any cash with you...those balloons and other stuff is easier to buy if you have money in your pocket. The library has pretty decent movies to rent for free too. Gift for other people...make a budget and stick to it. I've gotten great gifts for all sorts of people at the discount stores mentioned above ...even target and walmart...you just have to know what you are looking for.

I guess my bottom line advice is: look at where you are spending money...try to change any money eating habits you may have and put that money in a jar, or better yet an account. Sometimes I find myself looking at something I think I need, whether at the clothing store or grocery store...and thinking...do I really NEED this...I could put this money in the savings for vacation. Look at the bare bones budget you are willing to go to disney on...you and your daughter could stay at the value resorts, get a fridge...stop at the store and have breakfast and lunch yourself and rotate table service and counter service dinners. How much extra spending money do you think you really need....I mean there is sooo much to do at Disney and the resorts. Do you want to fly or drive? Check out the cheap rates on this web site and others....okay, that's my bit of advice. Good luck. I'm sure that I will be addicted too once we take our kids.

 

[bairdbeth]

I too am a single mom who is a teacher. Santa brought us annual passes for Christmas 2003. We activated them July 2004, went back for a few days in December 2004 and are getting a third trip in before it expires!. It has saved me well over what the purchase price was. I have gotten good discounts on resorts and at World of Disney. I make my reservations well in advance ( and change when codes come out) and pay a little each month. That way I am paid off or close to it when we go. We love to escape to WDW and my DD(9) still believes in the magic of all the characters. We will cruise in 6/2006 and I have paid off about a third of that already. We are addicted to Disney!

 

[ellenmiele]

Lots of us out here are just like you!
One reason that we bought Disney Vacation Club is that WDW keeps calling us back, too. And when we really thought about it, there isn't anywhere else that we'd rather go on vacation. You should look into DVC. We did it partly because we really like to stay onsite and because it's like paying regularly over time instead of having to come up with all the $$ for accomodations all at once. Since you and your dd could stay in a studio, the through-Disney minimum purchase of 150 pts could get you 2,3 or even 4 trips a year (depending on when you usually travel). And Disney has decent financing options, too. For most of us, it's money you'll spend anyway but it's easier to do it in smaller incremements over time and that's what DVC can be. I put ALOT of time into calculating how much $$ we would spend going to WDW with DVC and without, and taking into account the discounts that are out there, the times during the year that we can travel, and approx inflation rates (just NOT going to WDW is just NOT an option) and the numbers really worked out for us. Of course, I have no idea what your financial situation is, but do the math, work your numbers, and you might find out that affording a few WDW vacations every year could be easier than you think.

 

[rhodisney]

I have decided to use my earned income credit and tax refund every year for our Disney trip. This nets me back about $1500. Enough for myself, DH, and DD7 and DD24 to go.At least for 4 days. Driving from La. to Fla. We'll go at value time and stay at one of the All Stars. None of us eat breakfast or snack a lot, so I just budget food for lunches and dinners. We always buy the refillable mugs from the resort we are staying in. We purchase Disney themed clothes, bathing suits,beach towels,etc. for each other for birthdays and Christmas gifts..so by the time Feb. rolls around, we have our Disney trip wardrobe already. We also ask for Disney dollars instead of a lot of presents for birthday and Christmas. We use these for the kids to spend on souveniers I also spend countless hours on these Disney websites to find hints about free souveniers and cheap places to eat, stay,shop. I joined the Rainforest club 2 years ago and get free appetizers evertime we eat there in AK, Downtown Disney and in Dallas. So that saves money. We also usually go in Jan around my DH's birthday. He gets a birthday button when we go to the park and gets free desserts when we eat at a sit down resteraunt. Just keep reading these boards and you'll come up with more money saving techniques than you can hold in one notebook! Enjoy your trip!

 

[crazyj4488]

The Annual Pass has already saved me a good amount of money...I highly suggest it if you plan on going to WDW. The room savings are amazing...heck, I just got back from an April trip and I'm flying back out there for another week this month. I wouldn't be doing this without an annual pass. It's costing me next to nothing to stay at POP for a week during on-season.

Hands down, the deepest discount with an annual pass is on the deluxe rooms. I calculated well over $500 worth of savings on a deluxe room for a week's stay and would have stayed in one for my last trip if every room wasn't full when I was trying to book. Most people shy from these resorts because they are so ridiculously expensive...not saying that they aren't special and neccessarily worth the extra money, but they are not within most people's budgets. The annual pass really makes it possible for average middle class families to stay in a deluxe.

The next time I go out there with someone, I will stay in a deluxe now that the annual pass makes it such a good deal. Solo trips will be value resort stays for me.

 

[Leota]

Check out the Budget Board here - there are lots of great tips & hints that help you save money for & on your WDW habit.

My DH doesn't love WDW as much as DS & I do and only goes with us every couple years. So I fund my in between WDW trips out of my very small income. I have gotten alot of great ideas from the Budget board on how to save money.

 

[Johnfish]

I know just how you feel Noopy. I am a single Dad raising my DS on my own. Last year I used my tax return on a WDW trip and we are both hooked. Fourtunately this years tax return was enough to finance this years trip also. I was surprised at how much we both fell in love with disney. I wasnt sure a 16 year old would be into it. But he loves it and actually likes WDW better than universal. I wish I could afford to buy into DVC but thats out of the question right now. Im still trying to figure out how to finance college for son. I got him into the college savings program but tha only pays tuition (only about 1/2 the total cost).

John

 

[Selket]

And remember you can't take it with you!

Well that really isn't helpful. We do as others have done - I bought my first AP just to save money on a deluxe room for our trip earlier this month. We are going back in July and it is saving us money on that hotel stay at the CSR - but that is for a conference. We aren't doing the park but a day or two.

At least at present the AP doesn't save you much money on hotel stays except at deluxe resorts so unless you plan to go to the parks more than once a year it might not be worth it. I'd think getting AP's and doing value resorts might be a good combo - you'd still save a bit on your room. You can also get the DDE card if you have an AP and that saves you 20% on meals in many places at WDW.

Good luck!

 

[loriandmatt]

ok - here is what we did, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea -but it does get us there more often.


invest what you would spend on your next WDW vacation and get yourself a pop up camper. (you can get a nice used one for 2 to 3 grand) You can cut your lodging budget to WDW (and pretty much any other place of attraction in this country) by staying in your camper at a nice campground. Don't worry about hauling it and setting it up alone. i have done it. your a strong independant woman, you can do anything. (that was my Helen Reddy moment - sorry )

drive (you have to haul that camper anyway). even with low air rates and high gas prices, driving is still cheaper.

since you are driving down, you can bring along food to eat at least one meal a day at your campsite or you can pack it and take it to the parks with you. also can pack snacks and water - which add up at the parks.

use the tip someone else posted about Annual Passes. we buy them and initially it hurts, but if you take two trips in one year they more than pay for themselves. stager your trip so that the last day of your 2nd years vacation is the day your AP's will expire.

Use the AP to get a discounted rate on that campsite!

Go only at off season and with a discount code. (OK - you might not be able to do this one as you are a teacher and i know that they encourage you to plan things during the summer when there are no classes. For us that work 12 months out of the year, it dosen't much matter when we take off. I do take my son out of school -it has never been a problem as long as he makes up the work and writes a report before his return.)

like i said - might not be your cup of tea - but that is how we can afford to visit more often.

- lori

 

[crazyj4488]

Someone mentinoed on here, not too long ago, just purchasing one CHILD annual pass and still being able to get all the discounts.

Now, that's a goooood deal. Something to think about if you are looking to stay on-site for a deal.

 

[bobcat]

Single teacher mom here as well. I make our WDW vacation a priority every year. I have taken on extra duties at work that pretty much pays for our hotel and passes this year. I also take one paycheck for our vacations. It's the least I can do for myself and my family when we spend the rest of the year busy with school activities, sports, my work requirements. My kids are getting older and I can see a day when they won't want to vacation together or their commitments won't allow them to vacation with me. And as someone else said you can't take it with you. I will always have bills and other commitments but my kids won't be at home forever.

 

[Johnfish]

I agree with you Bobcat. I have been fortunate that I can afford these trips. I know I have work that needs to be done around the house (carpet, paint etc) but my son is 16 and he will be off to college soon. I thought last year was going to be a once in a life time trip for us. But we got so hooked on WDW I had to find a way to go again this year. Who knows what next year will bring.


John

 

[we3disneygo]

You are not alone-we are a one income family of 3-- we go every couple of years--have been saving for a year and next trip will be in 2006. I watch for sales at the disney store for t-shirts etc.

 

[sk!mom]

Is teaching summer school an option for you? I'm a teacher, also, and I have several friends who teach summer school every June to pay for their annual vacation.

 

[LoriMistress]

DH and I are exactly like you. We work, but we can't afford to go back to WDW this year. So for now, we are having a Disney fix by going to DLR in September for three days. That should hold us off, until we plan a big trip for WDW.

 

[crazyj4488]

I've got to give props to all you busy parents out there who truly buckle down and work their butts off to take their families to WDW. You guys are great!

I'm sure the memories of WDW your kids take with them will enrich their lives forever. My grandparents lugged myself and my Sister to the Magic Kingdom for the first time back when I was 8 years old and my Father took me twice in the late 80's. The memories from those trips are some of the best childhood memories I can think of and WDW wouldn't have such a special place in my heart, as I turn 30 this year, if it wasn't for the hard work and patience it took my family to take us to Florida.