How do you all DO it?

[BambiTamby]

I'm like others, also, on this thread!

Since I own a retail store, EVERYTHING I purchase is put on my AX card, thus, racking up anywhere from 8-16K points a month!
Doesn't take rocket science to figure out how many free Airline tickets with SW I get a year!
Also, with 100 credits, you automatically receive a Companion Pass, which I've done three years in a row!
Thus, my DH flies for FREE with me, where ever I fly, even if I'm flying on a REWARD Ticket!

Then, there's the APs!
The best deluxe, and concierge, discounts can be had only with these little buggers!
But, warning! They will BURN a HOLE in your pocket!!!!!
In other words, without having to pay for passes everytime you go, and with free airline tickets, all I have to do is get a great AP rate, and we're on our way!
Bottom line.....we can go to WDW about 3-4 times a year!
sometimes I'll even Priceline the first and last night, to cut costs.
Our flight usually gets in late, and we usually leave very early on our departure day...so there's no reason to be paying even AP rates on a room you're not going to be in for more than a couple of hours!

I hope this explains how I can afford to do WDW so much!

 

[BambiTamby]

And, the comment you made about credit cards - ain't that the truth!!! We paid off and got rid of all but one cc with a very low limit - those things are like crack!!!

ROTFL!

That's another thing....pay the trip off BEFORE you go!
At least, that's what we do!

AX requires FULL payment, every month! I like that!

Debt sucks!

 

[yecats]

Most of my life I have been lucky enough to go about once every 3 years. Honestly, Disney isn't cheap. For instance, I have taken a 10 day cruise once each year for the past 3 years. Each of those cruises cost $700 to $800 per person and included room, meals, port charges/taxes and nightly entertainment (not included were shore tours, massages and alcohol but when I add those in it was still cheaper than my Disney vacations). DVC would be something to look into if you have a family and intend to go yearly or every other year.

My past 2 Disney vacations (12/02 and 11/03) were each also 10 days in length. The one in 12/02 cost about $2,000 and the one 11/03 cost about $1,600 (courtesy of the Fairytale Package) and are always in the off season.

The 12/02 vacation I bought a 7 day PHP pass for Disney and a 5day consective pass for Universal Studios. Those passes cost nearly $400. I bought my hotelroom off of Priceline (check out a site called biddingfortravel.com which is great to study before bidding on Priceline - gives prices for hotels that people have won in the WDW vicinity). Even though I was off property for 10 nights, my bill was under $500 and the hotel wasn't bad (it was clean and had amentities but certainly did not have the Disney feel) and was one mile away from Animal Kingdom. We drove that vacation so we had our own vehicle. I spent about $120 in gas getting to WDW and another $70 in parking fees. The other $900 dollars was in food and souvenirs. We ate out most days 2 to 3 times per day which really made for a great vacation (and we didn't eat at any of the cheap restaurants other than breakfast at Shoney's). We paid good money for character lunches and dinners at better rest. on Disney property.

My last vacation was solo for 10 days courtesy of the Fairytale package which cost me $800 for 8 days on Disney property at the Port Orleans. I decided to extend my vacation and purchased 2 additional days hotelroom off of Priceline and went shopping in DTD and just enjoyed the hotel I was at. If you bid on Priceline for WDW vicinity in the resort hotel category, the DTD Hilton and DTD Wyndham frequently sell rooms on Priceline for $60-$70 plus tax.

I would tell you to check out the budget board for ways to save. For instance if you eat lunch out at work all the time you can save your $5 (lets say normal lunch cost) at least 3 times per week. If you manage to save that over the length of a year that is almost $800 saved for a vacation - not to shabby.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

BambiTamby

Amen, sister!! I always pay it off before we get there now - no guilt while having a magical day!!

I think we could start a grass-roots movement, "Just say NO!!" We'd have a celebrity spokesman get on TV and tell how credit cards are ruining young people's lives, start a "war on banks."

 

[EdDome]

Like alot of others we're DVC. We also plan well in advance so we're able to put aside most of what we think we'll spend.

 

[QJ411]

And, the comment you made about credit cards - ain't that the truth!!! We paid off and got rid of all but one cc with a very low limit - those things are like crack!!!

k&a&c'smom
Hee hee...it's true isn't it?! But I did the same thing, we actually shipped some Pop-Tarts and Peanut Butter/bread and cereal to the WL before we arrive...just so we can munch on those instead of spending a whole heap of money when we just want a snack. And we bought the free refill cup and that worked out great too!

And yeah, when people make fun of us, we just brush it off, they're always like..."uh..you know there's OTHER places the exist besides DISNEYWORLD" HMPH...How dare they!
No appriciation for the magic!


I love this site too...isn't it great, we share all these secrets and tips to get to our one true love!

 

[BambiTamby]

And yeah, when people make fun of us, we just brush it off, they're always like..."uh..you know there's OTHER places the exist besides DISNEYWORLD" HMPH...How dare they!
I love this site too...isn't it great, we share all these secrets and tips to get to our one true love!

Soooooo TRUE !!!
Every word!

 

[10drum]

What is the value of feeling 10 years young for a week or so each year?

We always drive 20 hours(one way), stay in a deluxe, if we can get a rate, otherwise a moderate. Our trips takes about 6 months of saving to pay for.

We are not rich, we just value our trips to wdw each year.

 

[leighe]

Oh - this is sooooo awful. I can't believe I'm admitting this. I plan all our trips and am in charge of the checking/savings accounts. DH is pretty close to cluless about how much a trip to Disney actually costs. I had to beg him to go on his first trip and he really liked it once he got there, so now it seems to be a regular vacation spot for us. He is more frugal than I am and I'm not sure he wouldn't keel over if he saw the grand total. I pay for our trips a little at a time so it's never a huge hit all at once. As long as I put so much money in savings every month he never asks at all. If he asked, I'd tell but he hasn't so..... Having AP's makes the room rates close to reasonable. We want to go on a cruise this summer , but with our last minute WDW spring break trip and taking my parents for their 30th anniversary in summer 2005, I don't know if we'll be able to or not.
I try to justify his not knowing by remembering that right after we got married we had this huge fight over how much I spent at the grocery, which ended with me making him do the grocery shopping and him learning that no, two adults cannot survive on only $40 worth of groceires a week. I just assume that his under-estimation of what things should cost applies to vacations as well.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Does every new couple have that fight?
We too had the same fight. He just could not understand how I spent so much Money!!!!!It's not like I got alot. He then stormed out to the garage. I emptied every thing I purchased from the bags and onto the kitchen floor. And went to dinner BY MYSELF. When I got home all the groceries were put away and not another word was said.

For the rest of you! Repeat after me.... Credit cards are your friend....Credit cards are your friend.....

 

[leighe]

Twinmomplus2now - (gosh, that's long)
That is soooooooooo funny! I guess every couple does have that fight - my mom told me that my dad made this budget when we were little ( I have a younger brother and sister) and he budgeted $30 a month for clothes - for the WHOLE FAMILY. Mom said she about fell in the floor laughing and he got all mad, so the next time one of us needed school clothes she sent him shopping with $30 dollars and he came home with one pair of jeans and 2 hair barettes. Needless to say, he changed the budget

 

[nigel-bigel]

Credit card miles are wonderful, but I have a different problem.. I hate to use them!

I have over 150K miles/points on my AMEX and credit cards combined. I can't bring myself to use them! They never seem to save me enough money to justify using them. We are going to LA this spring and I was all set to use them to buy us 4 tickets, but I found us flights for $230 each, which I thought was a pretty good price from Michigan. So, I would rather save the points.

I then looked into using points for hotels on the same trip, but the same thing happened.

It's like I hoard them .

Anyone else have this problem?

Nicole

 

[old lost boy]

DW and I have gone at least once a year since 1986. We brought our sons until they decided they were to old. We almost always drive (1021 miles from my driveway to WL). We usually couple it with some time in Clearwater Beach. We don't do anything else very extravagant the rest of the year. We stay either in a WDW resort (never pay rack rate) or a Disney Village resort. Last September we paid $20.04 for Courtyard by Marriot. We don't try to cut corners when we are there, I don't want to pack a lunch. We go at off peak times. Sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do.

 

[luv2nascar]

not everyone on these boards goes to disney every year or multiple times
I have only been once in nov 2000. Over three long years since I've been. But we have had another little girl in that time and financial obligations.

We don't go into debt for vacations (no charges). We are hoping to go in nov 2004 for baby's first trip. Fingers crossed that nothing else pops up like car trouble etc to eat the vacation money up.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by 10drum
What is the value of feeling 10 years young for a week or so each year?

You nearly made me cry....with this one sentence. What an eloquent way of summing-up my feelings! Thank you. Truly, what is the "value" of FEELING like a child again? No worries...no stress...no REAL WORLD?! Absolutely PRICELESS.

I do not want to even go into what our trips cost (Total)...as we are traveling for more than two months each summer (during our annual trip to WDW). Just a week~long cruise on the Disney Magic/Wonder cost us $8000 alone! I can attest it is worth every RED CENT, and we are planning our third. Of course, it can be experienced and enjoyed for much less $$$, (depending on the time of year, cabin accomodations, and excursions). We too, always fly first class using the wonderful DELTA skymiles program. Using the points we obtain with our platinum accounts, we save more than $7000.00 on our airfare. We only pay for the "upgrade" charge for our tickets.

*NICOLE~(Nigel-Bigel) I too, hoarded the points, until using them for FIRST CLASS travel. The coach price for LAX to MCO is $261 R/T. The same fare for FC is $2,861 R/T PP! So...I use them for this, as I LOVE flying FC. ^_^ I would never use them for coach, as the fares are so low, it's better to buy them and save the points. But for FC? The points offer us an incredible opportunity and TREAT!

We purchase the PAP's, which cost us about $1600.00, but only once every two years. We are not DVC members (but seriously considering it), so we pay through the nose for our Villa at Vero. Our suite at the PBH is pricey too...but well-worth the extra. We also save some $$ with AP rates @ the Dolphin, and other Disney Resorts, as we always stay in suites w/concierge service.

We seem to travel frequently, and are quite nomadic at heart. We fully enjoy "Living-it-up" while in Orlando, & enjoy life to the fullest. I guess planning a year in advance seems to offer the best opportunity to indulge while there. I do not regret one dollar expended on travel/entertainment. I do not go into "debt" for these trips, so I'm well-prepared in advance. So many of our friends think we are "nuts" for returning to Disney, and taking such lavish & lengthy vacations. Yet, one by one...the curiosity/intrigue seems to get the better of them, and they begin asking us for HELP with their own WDW plans! (LOL). Once they have visited, most of them understand...and "GET-IT", as we all do on this forum.

It's truly not about the $$$, or how little/much you spend on your trip(s) to WDW. It's the experience you enjoy while there, and the lasting memories you have forever. We know friends whom visit and actually "camp" in fort wilderness. They just can not comfortably afford anything else, but they have a GREAT time! They do not feel they are missing anything, and have as much fun as anyone.

This is the secret...(IMOHO) the key to the "X-FACTOR" of WDW, as it is in life. The Disney Company strives to provide so many different and varied types of accomodations, & offers to suit any budget. AS we stroll around the parks, side by side, no one is aware of "where" anyone else is staying, etc. We are merely ALL content to be in the MAGIC TOGETHER! Just as in life, as you shop the grocery stores and visit businesses where you reside, no one knows (or cares) what type of car you drive, where you live, or the size of your bank account. (LOL) These things should only matter to each of us...individually, and truly be a matter of choice.

I'm so thrilled to be able to experience WDW annually, and know how blessed we are. I'm always amazed and impressed to see how many others make numerous trips to the MAGIC each year! With all these trips...they've nearly REVERSED the AGING-PROCESS~!

luv2nascar~Congratulations on your new addition (DD!).
I'm sending some extra PD your way {{******}} in hopes everything goes swimmingly, and you are able to travel to WDW in November! First trips are VERY important. Hope you enjoy every moment, and have a memorable time.

TTFN...DF99

 

[KELLY]

One thing I will say is i was a very lucky young girl. My parents brought me to Disney every year since I was in 3rd grade. I'm know 28 and it was so much fun. We never stayed in A disney hotel until I was in High School I think we usually stayed at Quaility Inn on Internatinal Drive and we rented a car The first years we went there was only MK,Epcot,Sea World and Bush Gardens finally in 1989 MGM and Universal. We never went to a character breakfest we always had a fast food lunch in the parks and in the evening sizzler,ponderosa,pizza hut etc. And I never once thought I was missing anything. I have two younger brothers my youngest brother went every year since he was 2. I had the best time that I could cry right know. When you are a kid you don't know the difference at all. You just know you are on a special vacation. When we were a little older we did stay at Disney Hotels and Know I'm disney hotel hooked. I have gone every year and yes I finally went to my first character breakfest in 1998 at Chef Mickey's. My parents worked very hard my father has worked in the same factory for 35 years and my mother has owned her very sucssful bussiness since I was 6. But I'm sure they went without to make those vacations happen. But I never rember not getting everything I always wanted. So if you can only go one time try to make it happen no matter were you stay. It is the Happiest place on earth.

This year I'm going to stay at POFQ for a week and just me and my mother are going.

Kelly

 

[colleen costello]

Kelly, your post was so sweet and how nice that you and your mom are doing a "girl's trip." My family also went to WDW repeatedly. My Mom was/is a WDW nut and every summer we camped at Ft. Wilderness. One year we stayed at the Polynesian and I remember I felt like a QUEEN! Those WDW trips are many of my fondest memories. I can remember when Epcot was just planned and you could see little models of it in "The Walt Disney Story" on Main Street. I remember the long lines for the submarine ride and the cheesy way Tomorrowland used to look! We always had SO much fun and never wanted to leave. Not much has changed!

Wait til YOU have kids -- it's wonderful to bring them to WDW! Mine are 9 and 5 and they LOVE Disney!

 

[CarrieAP]

We're fortunate to make a decent income so we can offer our two children privileges we never had. They particpate in the trip planning, including the financial aspects. I want them to understand that the choices we make throughout the year allow us to afford our vacations.

My oldest daughter comments that I need a new car (guess parent embarrassment starts at a younger age now) but I explain that driving the old one saves us money (driven for 6 years after being paid off saves approx. $4800 yr). Do we see every movie released? No, we pick 1 or 2 top picks for the year (Disney of course!) and rent videos for the others. Do we go out to each weekly or even monthly? No, perhaps a nice family dinner out 2-3 times a year.

These types of savings, combined with wise trip planning, allow us to enjoy the luxury of wonderful family vacations. I am usually penny pinching right up to the end, but it usually works out. We use APs, discount codes (can't beat the $74 mod/ $124 AKL rates of last May), don't rent a car, plan a grocery store stop for juice boxes, water etc. and budget only a small amount for souveniers.

It is all worth it as we cherish our precious family vacations while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

 

[tddalton]

People think we're insane. My best friend has been to several islands and continents - I've been to EPCOT. What can I say? I love it.

My mom bought a rental property in Kissimmee a few years ago. She has since sold it, but we were all bit so hard by the bug that my sister, mom, and I go (together or with our respective spouses/kids) at least once a year. When my DS was my OS (only son) he went, literally, four times per year.

Here are some tricks that I pulled:

1. Find a conference/convention that is meeting at WDW that relates to your job. SELL SELL SELL. I am an educator, and I was able to weasel four extended weekend trips within five years through school. They paid for the whole sha-bang! It was great.

2. Get bumped from your flight whenever possible.

3. Buy an AP, and if you go 7 (?) days, it pays for itself. It's really easy to convince yourself and DH/DW to go if "the tickets are essentially free now!"

4. Look for deals everywhere you can find them. Sometimes it doesn't take a whole lot to get there, especially if you can stay off property!

5. Spend time at WDW outside of the parks and save your days from one vacation to the next. Again, easier to "sell" a vacation if you have three days left on a multi-day pass.

You can do it. Just don't eat for the month of July!

Denise

 

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by DF99.....
This is the secret...(IMOHO) the key to the "X-FACTOR" of WDW, as it is in life. The Disney Company strives to provide so many different and varied types of accomodations, & offers to suit any budget. AS we stroll around the parks, side by side, no one is aware of "where" anyone else is staying, etc. We are merely ALL content to be in the MAGIC TOGETHER! Just as in life, as you shop the grocery stores and visit businesses where you reside, no one knows (or cares) what type of car you drive, where you live, or the size of your bank account. (LOL) These things should only matter to each of us...individually, and truly be a matter of choice.

and....

I'm so thrilled to be able to experience WDW annually, and know how blessed we are. I'm always amazed and impressed to see how many others make numerous trips to the MAGIC each year! With all these trips...they've nearly REVERSED the AGING-PROCESS~!

DF99....you always know how to say it so eloquently....
and honestly!