How do people do it?

[hjohnson6]

I have been lurking a lot on these boards and I want to know how do people manage to go to WDW 4 times a year and stay at a deluxe resort almost every time.

 

[G00fyDad]

Because they have money out the wazoo. If they tell you otherwise then they are either nuts for spending that kind of cash or they are pulling your leg. Anyone that has $1500 (or more) four times a year just to go to WDW is loaded. However, there are some people that go three or four times a year that only go for a day or two.

 

[ptrbryant]

From what I've read, no one staying at a Deluxe spends a total of $1500 per trip...more like $3000 and up. We scrape our budget and I do eBay to try to pull enough together for 1 trip a year...and the goal is to keep that one trip below $2800. The exceptions are frequent visitors who may be more in the "middle income group" like the rest of us, live within driving distance, buy APs and own DVCs. Then again, we can't swing the expense of buying into DVC at this point!
I'm just grateful we're able to go at all!!!
Karla B.

 

[G00fyDad]

Sorry, forgot that you said Deluxe. Reverse what I said. They're loaded.

 

[minnie1928]

I have been lurking a lot on these boards and I want to know how do people manage to go to WDW 4 times a year and stay at a deluxe resort almost every time.

They have APs, live within reasonable driving distance and are either loaded or very careful with their money. I think it's very doable depending on your situation (kids vs no kids, car pymt vs no car pymt, living below your means vs living beyond your means, etc.).

'Course there is also the possibility that they can't actually afford it and simply charge it!

 

[MrsPete]

We could go to Disney 3-4 times per year, staying in a deluxe hotel each time IF we chose to stop saving for retirement and the kids' college educations, or if we chose to put it all on charge cards. Those aren't the choices we've made though.

 

[copper68]

My wife and I are both professionals and make a decent living. We go to WDW usually 1-3 times a year...one longer trip (7-8 days)and 1-2 shorter ones (3-4 days)...

To me, it is worth it...we do accumulate some debt on CC's that we usually pay off throughout the year...I don't mind having a $200 a month CC payment to enjoy Disney the way we do...

IMO, you only live once...You never know what is going to happen, so I live life while I can...

It also depends on income levels...For people making a household income of $150,000 a year, 3-4 Disney trips aren't that big an impact on the budget...

 

[HayGan]

Because they have money out the wazoo. If they tell you otherwise then they are either nuts for spending that kind of cash or they are pulling your leg. Anyone that has $1500 (or more) four times a year just to go to WDW is loaded. However, there are some people that go three or four times a year that only go for a day or two.

People don't have to be loaded in order to vacation several times a year. They could be very frugal people and their vacations are their only luxury. They could also just be hard working middle class people who don't live off credit and manage money very well. My MIL is far from having money out her wazoo and can usually take 2 or 3 Vegas vacations a year. Believe me, she spends more in one trip than most families do on a Disney trip. It is just what she enjoys doing so she puts her extra money towards those trips.

I think alot of people would be amazed by the type of lifestyles that others have while having similiar incomes!!!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

I think alot of people would be amazed by the type of lifestyles that others have while having similiar incomes!!!

Well said.

 

[delilah]

We belong to DVC and we could stay at our home resort during non-peak times up to three times a year for 4 nights, if we stay in a studio. Last summer, I attended a conference at GF, and my employer paid for the room.
We have an annual pass, and so it doesn't cost any more to go 8 days a year or 12 days a year. No matter where you vacation, you need to pay for food and drink. So, there you are. We eat some meals in the room, and aren't really very big spenders, generally. We like to go to WDW because our families live in Florida, and it gives us a chance to visit with them. We would be going to Florida, anyway, so why not at WDW. (It costs almost the same to drive or fly whether we go to WDW or Ft. Myers, where my brother lives)

 

[patsal]

I can vacation two times per year on what I don't pay out in daycare anymore since the kids school hours are in synch with my work hours--I used to have $6000 plus in daycare per year, now I have that money to do with what I choose. I don't choose to collect things that I have to dust, I'd rather go on vacation. I don't chose to eat out once a week and/or have fast food a few times per week, I choose to vacation. In a nutshell it comes down to choices, I choose to vacation others choose other things. You only live once and so long as your not asking others to cover your costs who cares? I am most certainly not loaded, we have AP's and own DVC, I do not need more things but enjoy family time on vacation--to me that is priceless.

 

[swilshire]

We made several visits last year, but didn't totally break the bank. We went for New Years, Spring break, 4th of July, Fall break and back for Christmas/New Years. We had annual passes, so once we'd paid for the tickets, that was it. We drove and carried some groceries with us (bought on sale and with coupons). We used VKL and Q&C vouchers when we did eat out. You have to feed the kids regardless, so we didn't spend ALL that much more on food than we would have at home. We stayed off-site in timeshares, which is the only way to go for a large family on a budget IMHO.

We won't go back to Disney for at least a couple of years (except maybe for a day or two when we're in Orlando next Fall) and my two older kids are on the verge of leaving the nest. We had a great year. I don't regret a dime of what we spent.

Sheila

 

[MickeyFlirt]

We go several times a year staying in a Deluxe sometimes moderate, but we are within driving distance, have AP's and are past needing souveniors and all those ride pictures everytime. Sometimes we go for 6 or 7 nights but than other times we only stay 2 or 3 nights. I don't think we are loaded just your typical middle to upper middle class family. My husband makes a decent living and all of my money I make as a nurse is our play money translating into our WDW money.
So I don't think you have to be loaded or spending your child's college fund to go or even being over your head in CC debt.

 

[G00fyDad]

...and the flaming of G00fyDad begins...

 

[Ilovestitch]

My bf and I don't make much money at all, we are recent college grads. We bought 2 PAP's and within a 12 month period we stayed at CBR for 9 nights last May, Polynesian for 4 nights in Dec., and will be staying at Polynesian for 9 nights this May.

We can afford it b/c we save every extra penny and put it away for WDW. We save all our extra pocket change (comes out to an extra $200/month), I save my yearly work bonus, our tax returns, and I sell like CRAZY on eBay. I ask any friends/relatives to give us Disney Dollars for b-day/christmas gifts. I always have the trips paid for 100% before we go. It's hard work, but it's fun going to WDW!!

 

[G00fyDad]

My bf and I don't make much money at all, we are recent college grads. We bought 2 PAP's and within a 12 month period we stayed at CBR for 9 nights last May, Polynesian for 4 nights in Dec., and will be staying at Polynesian for 9 nights this May.

We can afford it b/c we save every extra penny and put it away for WDW. We save all our extra pocket change (comes out to an extra $200/month), I save my yearly work bonus, our tax returns, and I sell like CRAZY on eBay. I ask any friends/relatives to give us Disney Dollars for b-day/christmas gifts. I always have the trips paid for 100% before we go. It's hard work, but it's fun going to WDW!!

Ladies and gentelman... I salute these brave folks. THAT is what you call frugel!! Good job you two!

 

[Ilovestitch]

Ladies and gentelman... I salute these brave folks. THAT is what you call frugel!! Good job you two!

I wouldn't say I'm frugal, I just save any extra money that comes my way. I mean, I have a lot of friends who blow their entire paycheck going out to a bar and spending $$ on alcohol and buying every dvd that comes out. I just try to be smart w/money.

 

[Mandabella]

Employment has been up and down for DH and I for the past few years. We're currently SINKs (Single Income No Kids) and we are still managing 3 vacation trips per year. Normally, we'll do 1-2 Disney trips/year, 1 visit to OK to the in-laws, and a few weekend trips to Williamsburg, VA.

Like many others, we are DVCers with APs. We also spread the cost of a trip over months. And no, we are definitely not loaded. We, more like I, made it a priority in our life. My priority is to vacation. I've given up many, many jewelry giving occassions just to go on vacation instead. *sniff* *sniff* DH doesn't get every geeky thing he wants either. I have friends and family members who must have the latest "toys", eat out all the time, latest fashions, etc. I rather go on vacation!

It's really all about how you manage your money.

Of course if I had a job right now, we wouldn't be going to WDW in 80+ days....we'd be going to Paris in April instead!

 

[calie_j]

I wish my inlaws could read this thread as they recently have criticized us for taking these "expensive vacations". I really want to tell them, look we don't have fancy cars, expensive jewelry or clothes, our furniture would be refused by good-will......but I save all yr to take one nice vacation to discover a new part of this world and make memories with our kids". But frankly I think it's none of their business so I keep my mouth shut

Calie

 

[vhoffman]

Oh, so that's where the money comes from--one's wazoo! Why didn't I think to look there? All this time I've just been trying to get money the old-fashioned way--earn it! Never realizing I had a stash all along.

edited by the moderators to remove violations of the word filters