How can people ever afford Florida holidays??

[bazzanoid]

Echoing a LOT of the responses on here, we do everything barring begging, borrowing and stealing to get to florida! We try to go every two years, so we calculate how much we can save between 'now' and when we are going based on spare monthly income after bills etc, and work it out that way. Next year, it's costing us £3500 each, and that's including all flights, accommodation, car hire, petrol, tolls, tickets, food, spending money. Normally we go as a group but it looks like just two of us - if more come then the individual cost climbs down a little as we'll be splitting the car, parking, tolls, and accomodation costs between us all.

 

[orangetiggs]

We are on one main wage and then any money i get from my scentsy business and we dont have credit cards si we save hard but like to go every year, my girls are going for their second visit this nov and they are coming up to three. I even went 24 weeks pregnant with the girls as i didnt want to miss it

 

[zippy99]

Our first trip in 2004 saw my children 3&5 and was £600 at DLP - my Husband was always keen not to spend loads on a holiday when they were so young. We had 2 further trips to DLP in 2005 and 2006 - the last was an all out first class travel, 4 nights with two Christmas meals at the Disneyland hotel - £3500 (23/12-27/12) - in fact it scares me we spent that lol!

On a £ per £ basis USA is so much cheaper (sadly getting there is expensive) - have a look on Disney direct and Complete Orlando - some good prices there and for 3 of you neither charge 'under occupancy'

We loved Paris but from a personal level did not want to do 2 week holidays with young children. If it wasn't for the first trip to DLP (which DH really did not want to do) we'd have never got the bug.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

Question - How can people afford Florida holidays?

Answer - Credit Cards

I think if you'd have read all the posts you would realise saving is the preferred option for getting to Florida, but if putting it on a credit card is the way you like to do it then thats fine too

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

Question - How can people afford Florida holidays?

Answer - Credit Cards

I think if you'd have read all the posts you would realise saving is the preferred option for getting to Florida, but if putting it on a credit card is the way you like to do it then thats fine too

It's not that I don't like using credit cards. believe me my DH would say the complete opposite It's just that for holidays we prefer to pay it in cash i.e. from savings and save to take our spending money in cash i.e. travellers checks or pre loaded money cards so that we can completely relax about the money on our holiday and we have no holiday bills to come home to

 

[scottishgirl87]

It's not that I don't like using credit cards. believe me my DH would say the complete opposite It's just that for holidays we prefer to pay it in cash i.e. from savings and save to take our spending money in cash i.e. travellers checks or pre loaded money cards so that we can completely relax about the money on our holiday and we have no holiday bills to come home to

Same here. Neither of us even own a credit card or have any debt whatsoever, but again, that's one of the (few) benefits of still living at home with my parents at 24. I personally, don't want to get in debt for a 2 week holiday.

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

I have today signed us up for a new boiler and can hardly bear to spend the money as all I can think of is that the amount we are paying is almost a trip to WDW!

Agree with everything everyone has said. In October we are taking our son for his fourth trip (he is 6) after going many times before we had him. We could really do with a new kitchen, I really don't like our leaded windows and our bathroom is downstairs (old terraced house) but I can't bear to spend the money on the house and give up a holiday to WDW!

A couple of years ago we visited a friend who lives in a beautiful big house with her daughter. On the drive home my son asked why we didnt live in a big house like that one. I said 'Well some people choose to spend their money on a big house or posh cars and some people choose to spend it on going to Disneyworld like us'. He was quiet for a minute and then said 'I ALWAYS want to spend our money on going to Disneyworld'.

He never mentioned a bigger house again!

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

A couple of years ago we visited a friend who lives in a beautiful big house with her daughter. On the drive home my son asked why we didnt live in a big house like that one. I said 'Well some people choose to spend their money on a big house or posh cars and some people choose to spend it on going to Disneyworld like us'. He was quiet for a minute and then said 'I ALWAYS want to spend our money on going to Disneyworld'.

He never mentioned a bigger house again!

I remember years ago when on a very rare occasion that I collected Josh from infant school ..... he asked me why I couldn't be like all the other mummies and take and collect him from school every day rather than the child minder. I told him he could make a decision he could either have the child minder take him and collect him from school OR I could give up work and take and collect him from school but we would also have to give up the holidays to Disney and lots of new toys. He thought about it over night and then early the next morning told me to "get up and go to work as he want to keep the Disney holidays "

 

[joolz1910]

I remember years ago when on a very rare occasion that I collected Josh from infant school ..... he asked me why I couldn't be like all the other mummies and take and collect him from school every day rather than the child minder. I told him he could make a decision he could either have the child minder take him and collect him from school OR I could give up work and take and collect him from school but we would also have to give up the holidays to Disney and lots of new toys. He thought about it over night and then early the next morning told me to "get up and go to work as he want to keep the Disney holidays "

It's all about priorities. My house is in dire need of some tlc, but I would rather have a holiday of a lifetime. My kids will remember WDW for the rest of their lives (hopefully) but a new carpet/sofa would be largely ignored. I earn my money so I decide how it's spent.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

It's all about priorities. My house is in dire need of some tlc, but I would rather have a holiday of a lifetime. My kids will remember WDW for the rest of their lives (hopefully) but a new carpet/sofa would be largely ignored. I earn my money so I decide how it's spent.

That's exactly the way I look at it and it seems to be working. Both boys now want to do the International College Program that Disney offer. Josh (the eldest) wants to be a Marine Biologist and says his dream job would be working in EPCOT at The Living Seas and Ethan (the youngest) wants so be a Disney artist.

I think all the WDW holidays have been worth every single penny

 

[flortlebap]

I remember years ago when on a very rare occasion that I collected Josh from infant school ..... he asked me why I couldn't be like all the other mummies and take and collect him from school every day rather than the child minder. I told him he could make a decision he could either have the child minder take him and collect him from school OR I could give up work and take and collect him from school but we would also have to give up the holidays to Disney and lots of new toys. He thought about it over night and then early the next morning told me to "get up and go to work as he want to keep the Disney holidays "

ITA. I'm a lawyer and work my butt off, and my OH is an MD who works 6 days per week. We don't save that much, but we do like to spend money when we have it simply because we work so hard and it'd be a shame to get no reward (although it's not that frequently unfortunately )

I always feel awful telling the kids I can't go to their school events (most of the mums in our school don't work so go to EVERYTHING) but I figure we are installing a good work ethic in them, plus they get a lot of treats they wouldn't get if I quit work. I feel bad sometimes but I think our decision is for the best

 

[tinkertaylor05]

I agree with the comments that it's all about priorities, its all relative how much people spend in their day to day lives. You'd be amazed what you can do when you put your mind to it

I'm a single parent, I just am sensible about my money, I cycle the 6 miles each way to work a day, on the days I don't feel like it I remind myself how much money I'm saving

 

[jtlover]

I just find the family holiday memories out way spending my money on anything else and it is the only place I want to save to go on holiday

 

[wayneg]

Question - How can people afford Florida holidays?

Answer - Credit Cards

I don't mind using a credit card but could never pay interest, I have to pay it off every month.

A couple of years ago we visited a friend who lives in a beautiful big house with her daughter. On the drive home my son asked why we didnt live in a big house like that one. I said 'Well some people choose to spend their money on a big house or posh cars and some people choose to spend it on going to Disneyworld like us'. He was quiet for a minute and then said 'I ALWAYS want to spend our money on going to Disneyworld'.

He never mentioned a bigger house again!

A few years back(10?) we put an offer in on a big house, 5 bed, 1/2 acre land with orchard, double garage, stables etc. we offered £115k, they wouldn't drop below £120k, problem was it wanted another £40 on renovations. It would have meant our mortgage rising from £40k to £120k and no holidays for many years. We have since had many fantastic holidays and still in the same house for 22 years.

The house we almost bought came back on the market a couple of years ago, sold for £500k. Financially we probably made the wrong choice but holidays mean so much more to our family than a big house.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I just find the family holiday memories out way spending my money on anything else and it is the only place I want to save to go on holiday

110% agree with every word

 

[kerstfan1]

bye saving for it and i cant understand u are getting it so cheap im paying for 2 weeks
- dream cruise
1 night room only
9 nights pop with free dining upgraded to deluxe
park hoppers 10 days and flight im getting to at least 3000 euro's this is for one person

 

[2Tiggies]

I remember years ago when on a very rare occasion that I collected Josh from infant school ..... he asked me why I couldn't be like all the other mummies and take and collect him from school every day rather than the child minder. I told him he could make a decision he could either have the child minder take him and collect him from school OR I could give up work and take and collect him from school but we would also have to give up the holidays to Disney and lots of new toys. He thought about it over night and then early the next morning told me to "get up and go to work as he want to keep the Disney holidays "

I can relate to that. I think a lot of the time we under estimate our children's ability (even at a very young age) to grasp the concept of sacrifices here for gains over there. I had similar conversations with my then 6 year old around the time of our first trip and told her "I have to say no at home so that I can say yes in Florida" when she would ask for things. I gave her a decent allowance and taught her to save her own spending money. By the time we came back from that trip she was all motivated for saving again and quite honestly, although I know we go without a LOT of things that are very simple parts of most folks' every day life, it's become a lifestyle to the point that we don't miss them.

It's all about priorities. My house is in dire need of some tlc, but I would rather have a holiday of a lifetime. My kids will remember WDW for the rest of their lives (hopefully) but a new carpet/sofa would be largely ignored. I earn my money so I decide how it's spent.

Don't worry Joolz, there is always duct tape to keep the buildings together and upside down beer crates (nicked from a dumpster dive so as not to have to purchase the beer with Disney money) is perfectly adequate to sit on I really can understand why people think I am weird with what I will do for my love of Disney - but it's not just Disney - it's OUR special place where we go every year to make memories that nobody can take away from us

 

[gemma85]

bye saving for it and i cant understand u are getting it so cheap im paying for 2 weeks
- dream cruise
1 night room only
9 nights pop with free dining upgraded to deluxe
park hoppers 10 days and flight im getting to at least 3000 euro's this is for one person

I've seen online with Thomson, for 2 adults and child 3t plus all in one package comes with 14 day Disney ticket, 2 park Orlando ticket, car hire with dining quick service comes to 4150 which I thought was good

 

[diddldonna]

Have a Disneyworld fund (an account which is just for Disneyworld), Put money into it each month, have carboots, sell stuff on ebay. Put in some money that you get from birthdays, dont go on holidays for a while and save what you would normally spend on a holiday in your account. Have a tin which you put loose change in and put that in your account, spend less on family at christmas/birthdays, spend a little less on shopping each week. The amount soon counts up. You can do it if you really try. Thats what i am doing so we can do it together Also keep close eye out for deals and spend lots of time searching for them.

As for dlp i can see where everyone is coming from but its not a bad place to go and i enjoyed my visit but yes i prefer disneyworld by miles.

 

[diddldonna]

I've seen online with Thomson, for 2 adults and child 3t plus all in one package comes with 14 day Disney ticket, 2 park Orlando ticket, car hire with dining quick service comes to 4150 which I thought was good

Have you tried Disney prices direct to get an idea? So you want price for 2 adults and one child? correct?