How do you guys afford it?

[~Czarina~]

This year we left on January 17th and got home on Febuary 1st.

$2000.00 for a trip for a 16 yr old girl, 12 yr old boy, 8 yr old boy and two adults. 11 nights in downtown Orlando in a house with private pool (next door to people who work at Epcot and MGM), food, four night in hotels (two each way, we drove), food, gas and souviners.

Most of the regular visitors get annual passes and then plan two trips so the ticket can be used for both trip which really knocks down the price.

Eating one BIG meal at the park say at the Crystal Palace or Cindy's Table or some thing to cool off and get a great meal is a great way to save money because then you don't have to leave the park and re-enter so you get to see more and can stay for the night shows plus you aren't buying water at all the stands because you sat down at lunch and chugged the nice ice water with your meal. Also, if you plan to eat a little after 1:30 you are inside for the hot part of the day.

Next time come on the board before you plan and we'll see if we can get you there again next year.

 

[loriandmatt]

We have gone every year since 2000 and sometimes twice a year. We are by no means loaded and have plenty of bills to pay.

I get giddy joy out of going to WDW and spending as little as possible on things we do not consider necessities for a great vacation. For example:

- We camp at FW.
- We generally only go in the off season.
- I scour the discount boards for codes on campsites. (getting to be less frequent.)
- We buy AP's. ( i know that sound like more of an expense, but if you schedule your yearly trips so that the one "next year" ends before the one "this year" began, you get at least two vacations out of those APs. Far cheaper than Park hoppers for two trips and the AP discounts can be very good.)
- Utilize our AP discounts when ever possible. (food, logding)
- Since we are camping, some of our meals and snacks are either packed at the campsite or eaten there.
- We drive. Not only is this cheaper than my family flying, but it is the only way to get the camper there.


Our adverage WDW vacation (all expenses included) costs us less than half of the 5K. you just mentioned. We don't deny ourselves a great time at WDW though.
We do eat out alot. We do character meals. We buy souvies, but don't go hog wild. We rent mouse boats. We plan at least one special event for each trip. (family fishing on bay lake, Richard Petty driving experience for DH, hot air balloon ride by an off site company, gatorland visit, air boat ride.......)

We are buying a new house in a few weeks and we will be having a baby a month after that and it may take us a while to financially recover from those two things. Because of that, we may not be back next year, but with my "less expensive" plan above, i plan on being back to our once a year trips in 2005.

- lori

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

gjerseygirl, you mentioned getting the Poly for $179 for November. Just wondered how you got that rate. I didn't see anywhere that there are AP rates that far out. Looking for Oct and haven't seen it yet.

 

[Maleficent2]

Several of us over there have had FREE or virtually FREE WDW vacations Come give us a look and maybe you will stay awhile and earn a FREE WDW vacation also. Not as easy as it used to be but it can be done!


http://130.94.75.33/forumdisplay.php?forumid=35



Mal

 

[ptrbryant]

Is it really possible to earn a free trip to WDW with reward programs anymore (I mean, taking less than 10 years to do it! lol) I used to be a reward program pro back in the fantastic days of pointclick, freeride, jaboom, etc. Since then, I haven't found anything that really pays out more than, if you work at it, $10 a month. Given that our WDW trips tend to run about $3000, it's a looong stint!
Karla B.

 

[ptrbryant]

We're certainly not a wealthy family. I homeschool our son who has some learning disorders, so that leaves just my husband's salary--which isn't bad, but is on the low end for a household income. WDW is such an incredible experience for our family that it's become a priority goal. Our DS is now 8 and we've gone 3 times already. We save as much as we can, utilize the discounts from mousesavers.com and then end up having to put the balance on credit cards. Right now, we're paying it off (went in January -2004), but I'd happily pay the interest rather than wait until DS was like 12. We've created memories he'll cherish for his lifetime...he'll remember our WDW trips more than what he got for his birthday when he turned 7, etc. We have relatives who are extremely frugal and, basically, they don't go anywhere with their kids. Everything just goes into the bank and stays there. My mother died in an accident when I was 23 and it taught me that everyday of your life is precious. While you don't want to be financially irresponsible, it's good to have pleasure in your life as well.
I'm also trying to sell stuff on eBay to pay for our next trip..probably fall of 2005.
JMHO!
Karla B.

 

[ttichenor]

Jus an idea to fix a cost that we use on every trip....

We give each DD $50 for souvenier(s). Theirs to keep. If they find something to spend on - great. If they want to come home and bank it - great. Eliminates the "gimmes" and makes them ponder what they really want. Since we've been doing this they really treasure the items they pick out.

 

[carone0318]

We go yearly because we bought DVC. We are a young family (at least I think so ) We have 2 young children, dd (7.5) and ds (3) and can not image any other place we would want to take our kids. I work my monthly budget to consider such things as APs and food/souveniers. I have 2 extra pay checks a year (which I usually put towards this), our tax return and dh is a soccer coach and gets paid for it (goes towards our trips.) One thing that I do not see us doing is going to Disney around Christmas time. I can't seem to work my budget to be able to cover the costs of both Christmas presents and WDW. I'm still working on this one, as I would love to see the decorations, maybe some day!

Anyway bottom line, without DVC, we couldn't go every yr.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by carone0318
We go yearly because we bought DVC. We are a young family (at least I think so ) We have 2 young children, dd (7.5) and ds (3) and can not image any other place we would want to take our kids. I work my monthly budget to consider such things as APs and food/souveniers. I have 2 extra pay checks a year (which I usually put towards this), our tax return and dh is a soccer coach and gets paid for it (goes towards our trips.) One thing that I do not see us doing is going to Disney around Christmas time. I can't seem to work my budget to be able to cover the costs of both Christmas presents and WDW. I'm still working on this one, as I would love to see the decorations, maybe some day!

Anyway bottom line, without DVC, we couldn't go every yr.

Try going earlier in Dec. The first week things are decorated and pretty but it's not as $$ and busy as the actual Christmas week.

 

[carone0318]

That is when we would actually go, if ever. There are some other factors as well. Unlike all the other children talked about on these boards, my child struggles with reading and I just can't take her out of school for an extended period of time. I have thought about going around Thanksgiving, but being so cheap that I squeak, I just can't pay those inflated airfares. I don't know if I could deal with the crowds of between Christmas and New Year's, nor do I think that I could pay the points that I would have to for DVC. I would also like to experience MVMCP. If the party would continue to happen between Christmas and New Year's, I'd probably suck it up once and just go. I am working it from every angle. I might pull her from school on a Friday and Monday and make a short weekend just to experience the festivities. From previous yrs at her school she's in 2nd grade, she has off on immaculate conception (she goes to catholic school) so I might see if I can work with that weekend. We'll see. It could just be an adults only short trip, but just the thought the guilt kills me.

 

[keriannhoward]

Carone,

I am going for MVMCP for a 4 day weekend December 2-4th. I'm going to take my 13 yo DD out of school for Thurs and Fri, that's why we're going early in the month so she'll be back in time for exam reviews.

I think a Friday-Monday weekend is very doable, inexpensive (relatively) at that time of year and also in December, a lot of time is taken up for Christmas crafts, projects and programs that aren't completely academic, so I don't feel quite as bad as if I were doing it in February when they're in the thick of academics.

 

[shady]

Im sure Im going to repeat others advice but heregoes.

We average 2 days a month in the parks. (FLA RES, so we drive) We stay at all levels of resorts just to experience all of them.
We are a family of 3. Dad, mom, 3 yr old son.

Ways we save money-
1- We bring a cooler. In it we keep snacks,sodas, milk and juice (and maybe a bottle of wine)
2- Breakfast. 1 day in the room with food from home. Bagels, bananas, apples, etc. 1 day in the food court splittling a meal. Usually order 1 kids breakfast (eggs, sausage patty, bacon slice, potatos, biscuit) and 1 side of scrambled eggs. Drink juice or soda brought from home. It's plenty for 3 people. In fact, we usually have some leftover.
3- We take our own snacks to the parks. A ziplock bag of nuts or trailmix (stay away from cheezy covered snacks, too messy) maybe a piece of fruit.
4- Lunch in the park at a counter. Again, we split the meal. We get 1 salad for mom and day to split (again, they're huge) and a kids meal without the extra stuff (you can get them without the souvenires, cups etc and it's MUCH cheaper). Sometimes we get a double cheeseburger at Pinnochios and split it with loads of toppings.
5- No souvenires in the parks. We go to the outlet store or find inexpensive items in Downtown.
6- We utilize every free entertainment offered. Movies at FW, story time at AKL, nightvision tour at AKL, strolling th eboardwalk etc. There is soooooo much to do that is gratis.
7- Dinner. We eat off site often. But there are ways to save onsite as well. Levy's restaurant group (fultons, Portabella, Pucks) has a Levy's preffered card that gets us a discount. Free to join. Always always always split some portion of the meal. Either salad or entree. Doesnt matter.

It requires lots of planning to save sometimes, other times it's just using common sense. But it's doable.

Everyone else that chimed in about your rate is deadon. You're paying wayyyyyy too much for lodging.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Well, my mom is a cast member and lives in Orlando. BAM! Instant discounts and admission to the parks. If I come alone to see her, I just stay with her at her home... this May, three of us are coming and we are staying at Pop... actually, we're staying at 5 diff places that week to save money. We don't mind moving at all, and I quite enjoy checking out diff places =) We're also doing Vero Beach and Universal since we do the WDW parks so often.

Way to save money:

- eat breakfast in your room or make it a big brunch and skip lunch
- eat counter service for one meal
- split split split meals! they're huge and you can't usually hold onto leftovers
- don't deny yourself sit down places, just split meals and eat it at lunch when prices are lower
- try to avoid packages and book things individually. you can usually save money this way with all the discounts out there
- buy souvenirs at the outlets
- bring in your own water. we usually carry one cold and one frozen
- leave the park and eat offsite. oftentimes the food is better! =)
- scout out discounts and never pay rack rate for hotels
- buy snacks and drinks for your hotel when everyone gets the munchies =)

I think $5k is a bit high for just three... unless you're going all out. Prior to mom working there, we took a family of 5 vacation there (all teenage kids), had two rooms at Caribean Beach, and spent 4k total with air and food. And we ate well =) This was first of June, btw.

I am sure everyone would be thrilled to help you cut down your costs if you're interested in breaking dwon things for us... we love to help if possible! Teh less you spend on this trip, the sooner you can return and do it again!!!!!!!!!

 

[Disrookie0704]

You guys are such a great help. I wish I had found your site before I booked everything!

I started getting package costs with Expedia and then my DH did some work for a travel agent who said she could give us a good deal. That's who I went though. Well....live and learn!

I wish now that I had booked everthing separately because I'm a control freak anyway. The total was $4,200 with the hotel, airfare, car, Ultimate Park hoppers, Universal for 2 days and Sea World for 1 day.

So, I guess with food and souveniers (thanks for the idea about giving the children one set amount to spend!!!!), it will probably run a bit over $5,000.

I know one thing for sure.... WE WILL HAVE A MAGICAL TIME!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Disrookie, you really do live and learn and that's all part of the fun. You will all have a blast and it will be a memorable trip regardless. ONce you're there, check out some of the money saving things and other resorts for future reference. Then when you make your next trip, you'll know which hotels you want to stay in, and which you DONT, what parks you really want to hit, how much you really need for souveniors, etc etc. Its all a learning process =)

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704
I know one thing for sure.... WE WILL HAVE A MAGICAL TIME!!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704
I started getting package costs with Expedia and then my DH did some work for a travel agent who said she could give us a good deal. That's who I went though. Well....live and learn!

Eventhough you've booked thru an agent, you may still be able to save on your room costs....staying at CBR shouldn't be that expensive. Go to www.mousesavers.com and look at the resort discounts and see if you qualify for any. Are you a AAA member? Anyway, once you are armed with the "code" for the discount you qualify for, call your travel agent and tell him/her to try and have the code applied to your reservation.

The total was $4,200 with the hotel, airfare, car, Ultimate Park hoppers, Universal for 2 days and Sea World for 1 day.

Call the agent back and drop the rental car and the UPH. You're spending way to much buying those UPHs when you're not even going to be at WDW for 3 of your days. That's a couple of hundred dollars you're throwing out the window right there.

I know one thing for sure.... WE WILL HAVE A MAGICAL TIME!!

Yes you will!

 

[abline]

BUMP

 

[SamanthaL]

It may not be a done deal. You may still be able to cancel parts of the trip and book differently. Call the TA and inquire. I never met a TA that could do it cheaper than I could!

 

[Disrookie0704]

Thanks again for all the great help! I'll check with the TA and see what she can do. She's a very hands off person. I knew I should've gone with my gut and done it myself.

Hindsight is just so great, huh?

Looking forward to my trip at this price or better!!!