How do you guys afford it?

[danny1649]

We did invest in DVC (Disney Vacation Club) in 1992 so that enables us to visit more often than we could before.When we bought in 92 we got free park tickets on our visits until 2000.That helped a bunch.Now when we stay at OKW we have a full kitchen with pots,pans,plates,etc.So we can cook many of our own meals and that saves us money alsther than that we just look for good airfares and tips from others on how to hold down the expense of our visits to WDW.We like to go at least once a year and twice if we can work it in.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm single, have no kids, split any non-DVC resort room costs with friends or my mother, own a PAP and DVC, and have three metro airports within 50 miles, all of which have reasonably priced flights to Orlando daily.

I stay onsite and don't usually rent cars (I will if my flight times are very early or very late). Offsite with a car isn't so overwhelmingly economical for one person, and I get bus transportation to PI at night so it isn't necessary to be the designated driver.

I go to WDW pretty much whenever I would like to.

 

[schweig]

CAFETERIA DUTY!

Yes, this school year I have done cafeteria duty with the K-1-2 students in our building. Thirty five minutes of supervising six full classes has paid for over half our 5 night stay at the Grand Floridian in December. I teach 3 and 4 year olds - the older students have been a lot of fun to be around, but the noise.......

I will think of all the spilt trays, sick kids, table washing and noise when I am at the spa.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704
Are you all wealthy? Our trip is costing approx. $5,000 without food! Is that normal?

I just realized that you said WITHOUT FOOD. What could possibly bring the cost up to $5,000 unless you are staying deluxe. If you tell us your plans, it's very possible we may be able to help you cut costs

 

[kathyclownfish]

$5000 is definately on the money. Tickets alone are at least $1200! We are spending $3100 this November for a family of 4....BUT are really, really budgeting AND this includes free airfare using miles. No real nice dinners or on site resorts for us! But, that's okay its our 3rd trip.

Have a fun Trip! (and try not to worry about the money)

 

[morphi]

We are DVC members and live within driving distance. We use our 310 points every year for 2 full weeks each year. (We use cash for some Friday and Saturday nights to make our points go further.) We also vacation in the off season (Sep and Jan) so we have cheap point for that. We stay in a 1 bedroom villa at Beach Club in Sep and a 1 bedroom villa at Wilderness Lodge in Jan.

We buy annual passes every 2 years and get 3 out of 4 vacations in on those passes over a 2 year period. For the fourth vacation when we do not have an annual pass, we go to a park only 2 days during the week.

We have 2 adults and 2 kids (6 and 2 1/2 years). (But my numbers below for tickets assume we buy a kids pass for our now-2 1/1 year old.) This year we will get the FL resident pass so the numbers I show below for ticket prices are an average between an annual pass and a FL resident pass.

We have the Disney Visa card and earn the maximum dollars each year ($750) due to extensive travelling expenses, etc. So that shows up as a -750 expense below.

My numbers do not include food, souvenirs, or extra-charge events.

Here are the numbers for one calendar year during which we take 2 1-week vacations:

DVC Dues = $1,150
Original DVC Investment = $530 ($20,000 spread over 40 years)
Cash Room = $900
Park Tickets = $760
Gas = $190
Visa Disney Dollars = -$750

TOTAL = $2,780 <--- For 2 1-week vacations each year

So, at a deluxe resort with a huge bathroom, separate bedroom/family room, full kitchen, washer/dryer, etc. and with tickets to the parks just about every day, a 1-week vacation costs about $1,390.

That's only $200 / day!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

$5000!!!! Okay, that seems REALLY high without you having factored in food! I know that DH and I are going for 7 days and 6 nights for just a tad over $1300 on our next trip. Now we're FL residents and get a great deal on passes and rooms, but even without those rates, it would still only put us to about $1800 if I did rack room rates, regular 4 day hoppers instead of play 4 hoppers, but still keeping my food budget the same.
Do some research and let us know how to help.
To answer the question how do some of us go so often....I don't. You can see by my signature, that the last time I visited was May of 2001. I live right here in FL, but my budget doesn't "allow" yearly trips to the world. I'm okay with that though as I get more out of my trips by NOT visiting as much.
Check your figures, visit mousesavers as some have suggested and also visit MENUS FROM AROUND THE WORLD to get an idea on what food will be costing you. Keep us posted!!

Denise

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704


Our trip is costing approx. $5,000 without food! Is that normal? Am I just cheap?

yikes! the most we have ever spent is about 2300 total/10 days and that included 2 APs...we spent the about the same this time with just my hub. and I as we always had with the kids along....course we *had* to buy more gifts for those at home( especially for first grandchild due this summer....about $300 more than I "planned "for that! ) and we were not as "thrifty" as usual this past trip

 

[mad4themouse]

$5,000 is a pretty hefty price tag! We spent less than that on our 7-Night Disney Cruise and we had a cabin with a veranda!

But, a lot of that cost could be influenced by when, where and how long you'll be staying as well as how many of you are going.

If you're really interested in cutting those costs down to a more reasonable amount (or if you want to plan another trip when your bank account recovers from this one), hop over to the
Budget Board .

It's not people looking to stay at cheap hotels and eating peanutbutter sandwiches everyday. This group really knows how to knock the $$$ off the cost of a trip. Some of the biggest hints I've gotten from there include:

• Always compare the cost of a package vs. booking the parts yourself.
• Go during Value Season whenever possible.
• Seek out the room codes and re-book your reservation when one comes out that applies to your stay.
• Buy your passes from a reputable ticket broker for less than you would pay Disney at the gate.
• Reserve your rental car early and keep checking codes, coupons and online specials for a reduced rate.
• Set up an ING savings account for your Disney fund. The money is harder to get at than money in your checking account because they don't have ATM cards. Get $25 if someone refers you and get $10 yourself for each person you refer.
• eBay away you unwanted stuff and stow the cash in your savings account.
• Save your change.
• Purchase meal vouchers for some of your meals and get more food for less money.
• Eat a big lunch and a light dinner. Lunch menus are similar to the dinner menus at most places but the prices and portions are smaller.
• Sign up for the Mousesavers.com newsletter.

There's a lot more you can do to make the trip more affordable, but you get the idea. Our next trip is a deluxe one with concierge service and plenty of sitdown meals. We're staying 11 days in Orlando and I won't be spending more than $5,000 for it thanks to the Budget Board people.

 

[WhispyPixie]

I agree that does seem exceptionally expensive and I have a family of 6!!!!!

When we plan on doing Disney, we always purchase a family pass and then make several trips throughout the year. We use the AP rates to get the best rates we can and usually stay onsite. We always prepay for our hotel, so the only expenses we have are food and extras. We usually snack and do 2 large meals a day and very rarely spend over $180 per day on meals and we ALWAYS eat well. We dont scrimp and we dont try to save.

Even the inital trip when we purchase the passes, and stay in a deluxe ON SITE, we are not pushing 5K, but more like 4K.

I am happy to say we are taking a trip for 9 days/8 nights in June, staying at the Poly, have PS's for the Rainforest Cafe, Crystal Palace, Alfredo di Romas, Ohana's, Sci-Fi, Whispering Canyon Cafe & Chef Mickey's, doing the Marina Family Plan and i KNOW that we will spend less than 3K this trip. It simply takes planning and organization! Look for codes, book things at particular time and you will never have to scrimp!

In all honesty, I wouldnt worry about what you spend. If it is something that you can do no worries. These are your families memories, we are just able to do it less expensively!

 

[gjerseygirl]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704
This will be our first trip as a family and DD is 9 yrs. old. I see alot of you guys go every year. My DH and I make a fairly good living, but we could never afford it.

Are you all wealthy? Our trip is costing approx. $5,000 without food! Is that normal? Am I just cheap?

I agree. I look on these message boards and think how do these people do it? I wish I could. We're going in November (value season). Yes, we are staying at the Polynesian but its one of the only hotels that fit 5 (2 adults, 3 children). I'm purchasing an annual pass which makes me get the room for $179 a night. We're going for 8 nights. Between WDW tickets and Universal tickets, I got a AAA discount for the train ($600) for 5 of us, food, rental car and meals it will cost us $6,500. I have to admit that we don't skimp on anything. We do it in grand style but that's because we can only afford to go down once every 6 years or so. Even if we gave ourselves a smaller budget it would still cost about $4,000 to $5,000. I say, heck, if I'm spending that much I'll go for the extra and not worry about where I eat, etc. I don't want to count pennies every time the kids want a bottle of water. If the water is $5.00....so be it. I can't figure out for a family of 5 how to go much cheaper. And believe me, I've used every trick from mousesavers.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704
This will be our first trip as a family and DD is 9 yrs. old. I see alot of you guys go every year. My DH and I make a fairly good living, but we could never afford it.

Are you all wealthy? Our trip is costing approx. $5,000 without food! Is that normal? Am I just cheap?

I'm actually lower middle to poor as far as salary goes in MA. I have some debt (more than average, but not unmanageble one credit card and a car payment). It's just me and my boyfriend (whom I live with) and we don't have any children (by choice) and we live very cheap in our day to day lives.

But I have a steady income that is very unlikely to go away, rent a very cheap apartment, don't spend a lot of money on other things (ie. dining out, fancy clothes), don't drink or smoke, rarely go to the movies or other costly events like concerts, and keep on top of my bills (I've never missed a payment on my credit card, and always pay 3X the minimum every month). In fact, I've actually locked the card up in a safe because I have not used it in about 6 months (I have it for emergencies, unfortunately I had two emergencies in the span of a few years that I'm still paying off; otherwise my only debt would be car loan on a reasonably cheap car).

Going to WDW is a priority to my boyfriend and I. It is our vacation time and we live pretty hectic lives with work and a very long commute. We make going to WDW at least once or twice a year a priority to get away from it all. Yes, I could put my entire salary towards paying off the credit card and car but you know what? I don't want to live like that, I'd go insane if I could never have a little fun.

I know I can't afford a house for at least another 10 years (down payment) but I don't really care because I like where I live now. We are renting an apartment that is not big but not a closet from someone we know and trust. I like the relative ease of not having to deal with home payments and tax. So that isn't a priority to us. Maybe someday that will change. Who knows.

We also go to WDW in the off season. We usually stay off site at his mothers time share that runs about $500 a week for a huge condo. When we stay onsite this early Dec we are staying at Pop and it's only about $359 a person for hotel/UPH passes. I coyuld have done it even cheaper than that if I'd felt like putting the effort into it. We're still looking for a good deal on airfare, but it's still kind of early for a Dec flight.

We alos pay as we go. When we booked the room, we paid it, then airefare will be next. We plan it so that when we get there all we need $$ for is food and souveiners (if we chose to buy them, which we likely wouldn't).

When we're there we eat two meals a day, and we have no desire to eat in fancy restaraunts. V&A's is not something we'd enjoy. We're more "Sci FI Diner" people. We also don't buy a lot of souvieners.

WDW is actually a lot cheaper than most people think. If you can live without staying in the concierge of the GF during peak season and eating at the finest restaraunts, you can make WDW really affordable once or twice a year. But if staying in a deluxe and going during a busy time is important to you, it may be that you have to wait longer between trips, and there's nothing wrong with that.

We just spend little to no time in the hotel when we are there, so it's not a big deal to us where we stay.

 

[maroney495]

We plan to go twice a year as long as it is possible. DS and family live 2 hours from Orlando so we combine a trip to WDW with our visit to them. We only stay value, take breakfast stuff,snacks and sandwich stuff to eat in the room, only buy one meal a day in the park(and this is counter service). We do buy APs so we can come and go in the parks each day if only for a couple of hours. We spend very little if any on souveneirs. We drive as air fare would be very expensive($350 - $400 per person X 4). For this trip I did purchase hoppers for the grandkids and hope they can join us for a day or two, but don't always do this.

 

[SamanthaL]

$5000 does seem a bit high to me too. We are renting a one bedroom villa for 5 nights and spending $900. Airfare for 3 $525. Passes will be about $400. That brings the total to $1825. We are a party of 3 also. My DS won't need a pass to the parks, he will be 1 1/2. Other than that we have the same expenses as you. I am thinking a $1000 for food and gifts.
Total is $2825 or maybe a bit less.
If you need some help with your plan please let me know. Maybe Ican help.

 

[my3princes]

I can easily do 2 14 day trips for $5000 including food. We are a family of 5. We drive from VT towing our camper and stay at FW. We eat only one meal per day in the parks and carry snacks with us. We do 4 - 5 PSs during our trip. We try to buy most souveniers at the Belz Outlet Mall. We have great trips and don't feel that we miss out on anything. In fact with our camper we can bring everything including the kitchen sink. LOL. Before we had the camper we tent camped at FW. It was a lot hotter, but still fun. We love the magic and can't stay away.

 

[SamanthaL]

Come back and give us more detail. Maybe we can help lower the bill!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Has anyone noticed the OP has not been back to reply? LOL.

I think we are all pretty well aware that, yes, WDW is a pricey place to go- in some aspects- you could go somewhere else, but might not get as much for your money, there are lots of ways to save money, we all feel we have an edge on the average Joe-schmoe out there.

The very first time I went, (last Aug) I got lucky and fell into a great deal, the 7 for 4 at CBR with Ultimate PHs.

I didnt think we were going to be able to go back very soon, and stay where we wanted during the Spring, but low and behold, I learned about codes- bought myself an AP, skipped Mears and got a round trip sedan, flying Spirit Airlines, etc.

Everyone works the system differently, because we all place a different value on different items. For some, staying off-site for $30 a night is no problem, others, cant do anything less than a delux. Or maybe you are willing to drive instead of fly, or perhaps you cut back on food, whatever it is, we all think our angle is best because it works for us and we want so badly to impart this knowledge we have picked up on to (what we consider) other poor souls.

I have no idea what your $5,000 includes. Maybe you dont want to get 2 rooms at a value resort, or maybe tours were really important, or you are flying when rates are really high. There are always ways to cut back.

My husband and I are going for 7 days, 6 nights, in May (peak season) and we are staying for aproximately $2000 (that includes the price of my annual pass) so next time (assuming we go again within a year) my park tickets will be "free"

I am willing to bet you can chisel out some money from that $5,000, maybe it means changing somethings around, or maybe it means keeping your eyes peeled for codes (moving your reservation to Dreams Unlimited might help- they search for codes and discounts for you) at the very least- join AAA for $60 and save 15% off your room, if you havn't already.

Or, if you have already done all of that, really enjoy your trip to the World, and tell yourself its worth every penny!

(I know, my posts are always long, I hate condensing words)

Sincerely,
Nicole

 

[Disrookie0704]

Well, I guess I can see where I've gone wrong!

When I booked this trip, my mindset was to do it "BIG." I figured we wouldn't be able to do it again, so I wanted to do it right.

We chose summer because I don't believe in pulling my daughter out of school for vacation. We're staying 10 days at CBR.

We have a rental car so we could eat meals off site to spend less money plus we have tickets for 2 days at Universal and 1 day at SeaWorld.

Our airfare ran about $650 for the three of us from Phila., PA. I think one of the mistakes I made is getting the 10 day hopper pass when I really only needed 7 because of Universal and Sea World.

Anyway thanks for all of the wonderful advice!

 

[tassie42]

I have a question.. can you use a AAA discount along with other discounts?

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by gjerseygirl
I agree. I look on these message boards and think how do these people do it? I wish I could. We're going in November (value season). Yes, we are staying at the Polynesian but its one of the only hotels that fit 5 (2 adults, 3 children). I'm purchasing an annual pass which makes me get the room for $179 a night. We're going for 8 nights. Between WDW tickets and Universal tickets, I got a AAA discount for the train ($600) for 5 of us, food, rental car and meals it will cost us $6,500. I have to admit that we don't skimp on anything. We do it in grand style but that's because we can only afford to go down once every 6 years or so. Even if we gave ourselves a smaller budget it would still cost about $4,000 to $5,000. I say, heck, if I'm spending that much I'll go for the extra and not worry about where I eat, etc. I don't want to count pennies every time the kids want a bottle of water. If the water is $5.00....so be it. I can't figure out for a family of 5 how to go much cheaper. And believe me, I've used every trick from mousesavers.

Definitely wouldn't compare to the Poly, but if cost is an issue, have you considered POR or two value rooms? Either would sleep 5 and the two values would give you an extra bathroom for less than you'd be paying at the Poly.