help me afford the polynesian

[CathieArms]

I wonder if your best bet isn't to look at your current finances and find a way to come up with that extra $1000 or $1500 (per week) or whatever it is that Poly charges beyond the moderates pricing.

Maybe cut cable for a while? Or maybe cut back on the level of cable you have.

Maybe disconnect internet for a while?

Maybe cut down on grocery bills by cutting coupons or by eliminating the non-essentials. In our household, I buy enough Cokes that I could save about $40/month just by not buying a case of Cokes/week. If I was really creative, I bet I could cut my grocery bill in half for a month.

 

[fla4fun]

I wonder if your best bet isn't to look at your current finances and find a way to come up with that extra $1000 or $1500 (per week) or whatever it is that Poly charges beyond the moderates pricing.

Maybe cut cable for a while? Or maybe cut back on the level of cable you have.

Maybe disconnect internet for a while?

Maybe cut down on grocery bills by cutting coupons or by eliminating the non-essentials. In our household, I buy enough Cokes that I could save about $40/month just by not buying a case of Cokes/week. If I was really creative, I bet I could cut my grocery bill in half for a month.

While I think these are worthwhile ways to save overall, I wouldn't be doing things like this to try to afford a more expensive hotel on vacation. I would try to get some overtime at work, or pick up an extra part time job, or have a garage sale or something along those lines. Of course, everyone has different priorities - but I'd rather have the Internet and stay in a moderate than disconnect the Internet and stay in a deluxe. Life without the DIS?!?

Personally, OP, I would make a reservation I could afford at whatever resort level that might be (value, mod, whatever). Then if something good comes along later in the way of a good discount code, try to change to the Poly. But make sure you are happy with your first choice since you have a 50-50 shot at making the switch. I would probably pick CBR or CSR if I were in your shoes - CBR because it's got a beachy kind of tropical vibe or CSR because of the queen size beds. It's really too soon to know what kind of discounts Disney might offer.

 

[lustergirl]

Here's a plan.

1) Skip one meal out of the house per week. That should save you about $100 per month.

2) No more Mr. Latte. Take a cheap thermos of coffee instead, and pocket the savings -- about $10 per week -- $40 per month.

3) Stop smoking. Conservatively, that saves $3.00 per pack, $21 per week, $84 per month.

4) Take a sandwich to work for lunch. Saves about $4 per day, $20 per week, $80 per month.

How much have we saved so far? About $3648 over a year. That should help take the sting out of the Poly.

geez where are you a? Cigarettes her are 9 dollars a pack. Good suggestions though. The only way I would stay at the Poly would be with a discount as well.

 

[Missoutandabout]

This is the same price you'd get with the 40% off PIN from Disney.

Not if the rooms weren't available to book via Disney. (The 2 separate people at Disney Reservations and 2 travel agents didn't have any GV Poly rooms available for our dates. Even though I didn't have a PIN, the guy offered me the %40 off at Wilderness Lodge instead which had availability. It was nice enough, but we had our hearts set on the Poly by that time.)

 

[robsmith1098]

We love staying at the Poly! Another poster mentioned Magical Vacations Travel (www.**********************.com). Their discounts are awesome! Our agent is Lisa.

 

[kaligal]

Wait another year or two and save.

 

[Priorityonecb]

You could consider a split stay. A bit of a hassle, but if you did say 3 nights at POP (POR...wherever!), and then 4 nights at Poly you'd get the experience and save money in the process. The first part of your trip your kids would be so entralled with the parks that the resort will be less of highlight, then end with the Poly when everyone is a bit tired and more interested in soaking up the fun of the resort. Just a thought.