How do y'all afford it?

[emerymt]

I guess I'm thrifty and can't understand how people can spend up to $500 per night for a hotel room or suite.........

I didn't grow up that way, therefore I'm not used to spending that much for a hotel room.

That's how we feel about it, too. I can afford $4000 for a week at OKW, but I would never pay it. We own a vacation condo in a ski town and trade weeks all over the country- this time it's OKW. But, I'm paying on a mortgage which is an investment. I realize this answer is not for everyone- but even a timeshare might be a reasonable thing to look at over the long haul.

We also utilize business (conference) travel quite a bit. At least the room & one airfare is paid for then.

The other thing we do is accumulate points by charging everything on a Wells Fargo Mastercard, which allows us free nights at a Hyatt or Marriott, and free car rentals. FF miles are essentially worthless to us because there are so many of us- inevitably the "free" seats are on flights that are so expensive for everyone else it cancels out. Priceline is a great way for us to get airfare- they love selling 5 tickets at a time.

Finally, read this article: http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/millionaire/20382

Anyone can live beyond their means, we are no different. I figured out what the problem with our spending/saving by keeping track of it through Quicken. It is unbelievable how much money we waste- before you say you don't- read the article. We saved thousands of dollars in 2006 buy cutting out all the little crap. It's not vacations that break the bank- it's that daily latte, bagel and newspaper.

 

[Day Dreamer]

This is a fascinating thread and I have wondered about the same thing but scared to ask. For me I use direct deposit to a money market account every paycheck. I normally bump the amount up by $25 every so often, this forces me to adjust my budget and spending habits. I now save $350 per month strictly towards the vacation fund. Other than that I use a lot of the same strategies as others. Great money saving tips on this thread.

This reminds me of a guy who asked me how long we were staying at WDW and I said 12 days. He asked where was I staying and I said the Contemporary and he looked at me like this

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Traveling is a priority to us. It is right in line with paying our mortgage and saving for retirement. We don't really have any other hobbies besides travel. Some people think they can't afford it, but in reality, they just choose to spend their money on other things.

BTW, we also don't just go to WDW. We take trips to lots of other places as well. Disney is usually the place where we can get the most bang for our buck.

 

[emerymt]

Right! We don't budget for travel- it's a requirement .
I also completely relate to the poster who mentioned that she lives to plan for vacations- I do, too. I've usually got one or two in the works at any given time, not counting long weekends to the local National Parks. Hmm, that reminds me- it's time to check early bird specials in Yellowstone....

 

[scoolover]

I have not read all the responses but my ex used to work at the Disney store. While she would have made more picking up bottles, the perks were great. Our room was about 1/2 off. We started with two day passes that she got during the year. All the food and gifts were like 20% or so off. That was a fun vacation. Now, I just go it to debt paying them off. Oh well, you have to live.
Scott

 

[sandymandr]

As for me, I have several ways to afford this trip. First of all, my love of planning kicks in. Several years ago I created a budget in excel that lists ALL of my bills and has them tied to the pay period that they need to be paid. Then each pay period, I deduct costs for food, gas, and spending money (based upon a hard HONEST look at what I spend). Then any extra money has been used to pay off small loans, existing bills, then that money is applied to the next highest loanl, etc until my bills (including credit cards ) were paid off....now all of that money is direct deposited (out of sight, out of mind) to a separate account for vacations or emergencies. I have NO ATM card or checks on this account, so I can not easily access it. What I found is that by listing my bills by pay period, every 3-4 months I ended up with a "free paycheck" because I get paid every 2 weeks instead of twice a month. Anyway, another way I pay for this is by never spending change. Whenever I break a dollar bill, the change goes into a jar at the end of the day...it adds up really fast!! And the third thing I do is use a "rewards" credit card to pay for all of my day to day expenses and many of my monthly bills to get free airfare. But, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, I still write down all transactions in my check register like I would if I was writing a check or spending cash so I never spend more than what I have in the account, and can therefore pay off the credit card in full every month with no interest.
You really just have to be creative, set your priorities, and be honest with yourself about where your money is going.... I swear having a good, honest budget saved my financial life! I also agree with other posters about living modestly where necessary because travel is very important to me and I am willing to sacrifice to be able to do it!
Good luck and I hope you get to WDW soon!!!

 

[Dawn77]

thanks for starting this thread.....it's a must for me to at least take two vacations a year. My stratagies are pretty much like very one else's. for my first trip i use tax returns and for my second vacation i use my savings. Each month I put money aside. My vacations are not the most exspensive, as long as my dd is happy so am I.

 

[unicorn1]

I struggle with this issue also. I am VERY fortunate to be able to afford WDW resort trips, but I grew up in a setting where it was out of the question. Therefore, I almost feel guilty spending so much on a hotel knowing full well there are several right down the street for 1/3 the money. My father (and father-in-law) would frown upon how much we spend for a hotel.

On the other hand, nothing can replace the excitement I see on our kids' faces when we tell them we're going to Disney World. Once the essential monetery needs are met, there can't be too many priorities above spending these special times with the kids that we can't get back. My only other concern is I get the idea that the kids think they will be able to do the same thing right away once they're on their own, and I can't seem to get them to understand it doesn't work that way for everyone. By the way, we took very short and modest non-Disney trips in the early years of our marriage while we built up a nestegg. We didn't spend money until we had it.

 

[Tasmen]

The way we are doing it this year, at least, is we are using the disney visa so that we can reserve the trip, have everything locked in and have up to 6 months to pay off all our payments with no interest.

 

[ransom]

we cant even imagine spending that kind of money on a vacation, unless we come into some major money!

I notice you live in Monterey Bay, CA.

I was born and raised in the SF Bay Area.

I now live in Illinois and take vacations.

 

[Disney Davo]

Here is what I did and it has worked out in our favor. 1st we live in Florida about 6 hours away from WDW but time of year helps allot for airfare. I saw some crazy cheap airfare to Orlando when I was flying out to the west coast this last December.

Last year as spring was coming we were planning a trip in March, so I bought the seasonal pass for 4 family members that was $220 each.

Got the Florida resident room only discount for POR 6 nights $120. The AP discounts are just as good.

Went back for 4 days in summer short notice got into SOG for $105.

Went to CBR 5 nights AP rate $119.

I think that is just over $2700 and we have been there three times in 2006. That doesn't include food but I think that is very cheap for lodging and tickets.

I have two daughters 13 and 15 and even though I don't make allot of money nothing is more important to me than spending REAL quality time with my kids. I don't know if I'm going through a mid life crisis or what but it won't be long before they are out of the house and nothing is more important then having fun with your kids.

Planning one more trip this march before our Seasonal Passes run out.

 

[jdsmom97]

Ditto on the priorities and budgeting. Even my 11 year old turned down the opportunity to buy a Nintendo WII last week as he said, "I wouldn't want us to go broke right before we go to Disney!" Also, most of my thanks go to DVC members who've rented me points. My husband refuses to stay at the values again and we save money on food by using the kitchenettes. You can rent OKW Sun. - Thurs. for only $110 per night, no taxes!! I did charge my deposit on a Disney cruise next Jan. (BAD!), but it'll be paid off in 3 months.

 

[ducklite]

My DH has a good job, and I used to have a good one--but I hated it so I quit and found one I was happy at for half the money.

Different people have different priorities. We had one kid. He didn't want college, and chose a different career path. We don't have $40K SUV's that suck down gas like a teenager drinks soda.

We don't smoke. Before we moved to FL we drove fuel efficient Saturns. Now DH drives a 50 mpg Prius and I drive a not as fuel efficient SKY (26 mpg)--but I still fill my tank only every ten days usually.

Anne

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

This is the way I look at it and what I tell me DH(cause he hates spending money):
We only live once and the kids will be grown before you know. Most of us will always have bills, part of life. I just do my best to fit in a vacation every now and then, our bills get paid and no we're not rich, but comfortable. I usually do the best I can on a budget so sometimes that means only 4 day vacations, but it's better then nothing. I know we could use it to pay more on bills, sure, but the looks on my kids face when their having fun, is priceless and I never feel guilty for spending that way. It's worth it to see my children happy, because like I said one day they'll be grown and doing things with their own family. I don't want to look back and wish I had done this or that with my kids. I want to look back and say, look what we did, do you remember this @ Disney and hopefully one day,God willing, I'll be able to do the same thing with my grandchildren!!

 

[DaisyD]

DH makes a great salary. We vacation a lot.

 

[ksoehrlein]

I have not read all the responses but my ex used to work at the Disney store. While she would have made more picking up bottles, the perks were great. Our room was about 1/2 off. We started with two day passes that she got during the year. All the food and gifts were like 20% or so off. That was a fun vacation. Now, I just go it to debt paying them off. Oh well, you have to live.
Scott

That was me, too, before the stores were sold. (Actually I quit a few months prior to the buy-out because we all knew it was coming.) Best thing I did was buy 150 DVC points using my CM discount.

Now we have APs, and the DDE card is almost like my CM discount on food (except I had to pay for the card). Also we just don't buy as many souveniers as we would have at 35% off, but since we go so often we don't "need" as many souvies as other families might. I was really nervous on our first post-Disney-CM vacation, but we used eBay money, didn't buy souveniers, and ate mostly CS meals -- and we still managed to have a great time without blowing our budget.

 

[hrarcham]

We use tax returns and go during value season! We also take our camper to Fort Wildreness and camp... At most ( with all the camping bells and whistles), it's $98 a night - still less than the value resorts - and we can make our breakfast. It allows us to enjoy all the magic and stay for 12 days!!!!

 

[Disney Davo]

I have been looking into the DVC points, and yes that's a great way to save some money if you can make it work. I think it helps if you are flexable on your vacation time.

You can save until retirement and enjoy life latter or you can enjoy it now when you are still young enough to move.

 

[emerymt]

Also we just don't buy as many souveniers as we would have at 35% off, but since we go so often we don't "need" as many souvies as other families might. I was really nervous on our first post-Disney-CM vacation, but we used eBay money, didn't buy souveniers, and ate mostly CS meals -- and we still managed to have a great time without blowing our budget.

1. Ebay money is THE BEST. It allows me to finance my Ebay habit.

2. I totally agree about the souvenirs. I told my kids, "We're buying the trip, the food, the resort, the passes. You buy your own souvenirs (they have allowances)." Amazing how they don't "need" all those souvenirs anymore. And I just don't like to accumulate "stuff". All I need are pictures.

 

[perd]

Just out of total curiousity, and Im probably getting a little too personal, but...

How do you guys afford these vacations? I went online and checked for rates to WDW for 10 days at POP and it was quoted at $1,800 before airfare. This doesnt factor in meals, spending money, etc. DH and I dont make much yearly (about $60,000 a year) and we cant even imagine spending that kind of money on a vacation, unless we come into some major money!

Anyone have any ideas?

I feel very fortunate that DH and I are making the money we are, around $175,000 between the two of us. I know there are people who make less than that and people who make much more. It sounds like a lot to me but it doesn't seem like we make that much. I still wouldn't feel like we could afford to stay at a deluxe (family of 5) for 7 to 10 days. We have debt we are trying to pay off and two kids in college. The last time we went to Disney was in 2002, and we stayed on site. Going this September for 5 nights and staying onsite in a moderate resort. If we were debt free and kids out of college I could see going every year or even twice a year, but till then just can't do it. We don't travel anywhere else, either. We just stay home! If we had been smarter with our money and not gotten into debt we'd have a lot more cash right now available for vacations!