How do you guys afford it?

[niks81]

How do we afford it? We don't LOL

No seriously, we make it work. We are DVC members so that helps, but flights, passes, food, etc. all adds up. I guess we just look at the budget and figure out what is doable. I do looovvvee my bags and shoes but if it means I quit spending to go on another vacation, so be it. Vacations are a nice get away and there are pictures and memories to last a lifetime

 

[littlestix]

Hi Everybody

I'm taking my first trip in September, I found this board after i booked my vacation and here is what I'm paying.

I booked through expedia and got

4 airlines tickets from Indianapolis
mid-size rental car 8 days,
7 nights in a two bedroom villa at Fantasy world club villa (heard good and bad)

Total including taxes..........1,411.00

seemed like a good deal

My son is 2 years old so we are getting 3 adult 4 day park hopper tickets.....we will have breakfast in our room....counter service for lunch.....unsure of dinners......I know we are doing 1 character lunch at Chrysatl Place....and 1 PS at Rainforest Cafe....thinking of having the buffet 1 night at the trailsend.....

Go ahead......LMK what you guys think of this.....

 

[gjerseygirl]

Originally posted by jstbcuz94
IF the rates stay the same when the codes come out I can save almost $230 even after I spend and extra $75 to upgrade to an AP.

If you can save $230 and you're only spending an extra $75 for the AP I would go for it. Don't forget, you can also book the room for your inlaws at the AP rate. You also get other discounts with the AP such as 10% on National Car Rental, 10% at the Crystal Palace, 10% on The Garden Grill Restaurant (The Land in Epcot). Go on mousesavers and see all the discounts you get with an AP. I would absolutely try to get the code and call. If you don't get the room, you're no worse off than you are now. Now, me on the other hand, if I don't get the AP rate I'll be paying another $1,200 for the poly. But I always wanted to stay there since I was a little girl so what the heck!

 

[gjerseygirl]

Originally posted by Turner5
I was just wondering........is it impossible to book a room at the value resorts when you have a family of five? I was wondering if it is just a ploy to make more money or if fire codes keep a family of five from being able to book a room. Opinions? Thanks!!!

They absolutely will not book a room for 5 at the value resorts. I've noticed that no vacation places are 3 children friendly. I was thinking of going on a cruise. I'd have to book two cabins on certain ships. You want to talk about how can people afford it.

Anyhows, you only alternatives are to book 2 rooms at the value or stay at a deluxe or Port Orleans Riverside fits 5 (moderate). I decided to go for the Poly (they fit 5) and hopefully I'll get the AP rate which is $179 a night. If you book a value at the regular rate it's about $99 a night (depending on the season) so 2 rooms would be $200. If you got the AP it would cut it down to $120 a night for the two rooms. I'm not sure what the rate is for Port Orleans. Go on mousesavers.com and check it out.

 

[JerzeeGirl4Disney]

.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by Turner5
I was just wondering........is it impossible to book a room at the value resorts when you have a family of five? I was wondering if it is just a ploy to make more money or if fire codes keep a family of five from being able to book a room. Opinions? Thanks!!!

How old are your kids? If at least one of them is under 3yo then they are not part of the room count and you can stay at a value resort.

T&B

 

[TINK61]

As you can see how the tag fairy has stated under my name to the left, I would never do it, but I have known others to. You can only get 4 room keys for a value resort room. The just didn't add her name to the registry. Must have been very uncomfortable, because none of these were little kids - the youngest was 11.

 

[HollyJoy]

I've often wondered this same question! WDW is SO expensive, but I think there are certainly ways to reduce your costs. I took up a little side job this year, helping a neighbor out who does daycare, and all of that money is going into this trip. I've also started purchasing Disney Dollars to put aside. I figure that this will be spending money in the parks. Having to pull it all out at once is rather scarey! Won't be such a big shock if I've been doing it all along! We will definately be on a tight budget while there, and plan to do only ONE Character breakfast. The rest of the days we will be eating breakfast in the room. We're staying at Shades of GReen, and there will be a fridge in the room. Perfect for some milk for cereal. WE are also limiting our "special" events, and have only planned for one other PS at the Liberty Tree Tavern on the night we are going to Mickeys Christmas Party. This day will be a light breakfast and a light lunch.

 

[Kitty 34]

We are spending a little over $5,000 on our last minute trip this June which I literally just planned last week!!

But that's with 5 of us going (3 adults, two teens) That's staying at the Dolphin for 6 nights, too!

Airfare isn't too bad for a last minute trip.....$1163 rt for us five. Detroit to Orlando

Also in the price are our two last nights staying at Hard Rock Hotel over at Universal. We're paying an arm and leg for those two nights but the FOTL priviledge will be well worth it!

Also, in the $5000, is our food allowance and rental car.

Now how we afford this??..........we budget a trip in every year with our bills!! This year is more expensive, tho because we're taking our oldest (23) as a college graduation present.

 

[floridagirrl2]

One of my co-workers said to me recently, "You travel more than anybody I know." (DH and I usually go away for one long weekend per month--3 nights, then a one-week vacation once or twice a year).

This is how we do it: for one thing, we live in Florida, and we hardly ever leave (I always say, we live in Paradise, why would we leave on vacation?? )

When we go to WDW (our cool weather destination), we stay offsite at a relatively inexpensive hotel (although we do plan to try the Swan/Dolphin this fall or winter, when we can get the $149 nurses' rate!). We generally only do 1 or 2 Disney sitdown meals per visit--the rest of the time we eat offsite or counter service. We will probably try the Value resorts agian sometime, too.

When we go to St Augustine (our warm weather destination), we stay at an inexpensive but cute waterfront motel, not a pricey bed-and-breakfast. We eat out for every meal but often that means a great diner breakfast or the best pizza-by-the-slice in St Aug. We do love to eat, though, and will splurge on dinners at restaurants with great waterviews.

We save a lot of money by driving everywhere and not having to spend $$$ on a flight or rental car.

Also, as somebody mentioned, it's a matter of priorities. My co-worker's top priority is being debt-free--making double payments on his mortgage. While I think that is a worthwhile goal, I don't mind stretching out my mortgage to the full 15 years or our student loan payments to 15 years. All our debts will be fully paid off by the time we retire when we're 63 (16 years from now). We're also saving an adequate amount of money every month for retirement.

Meanwhile we are having the times of our lives instead of waiting to have fun "someday, when our debts are paid off." Again, I'm not criticizing people who would rather make double mortgage payments than go on vacation--I'm just saying that DH and I have different priorities.

 

[suevee]

I think after you break the ice with the first trip, it gets easier with each trip after. The first one is generally the most expensive because you want to do everything, not miss anything, and just generally wear yourself out because "it is the trip of a lifetime."

However after your first lifetime trip you want another, and another, and...well you see how it goes.

In Feb 2003 we bought AP's because we were staying 10 days. We also bought a 7 day php to use for my sister, well she was only able to use 3 days so we have 4 days left and all the pluses. Then since we had the AP, I found myself going for one day in March and buying a 4 day PH for a friend, who only used one day. Then using our AP we went down for 5 days in June, 1 day in August, and 9 days in Feb. 2004 (which is when I bought another 5 day PHP and have one day left on IT!)

So we have a total of 3 passes, which can provide two people 4 days at WDW. So...what do we do? We find round-trip fares for $270 total for 2, a car rental for $159 total for 5 days, a room at SoG for 350 for 5 days, put aside $750 in spending money.....and my husband and I are going for 5 days over Memorial Weekend for a grand total of....$1500!!!!

Will we be able to go in 2005? Don't know, but my 2 year old grandson thinks he is going to Disney to see the mouse.......

 

[Disrookie0704]

I just love everyone's ingenuity!

I'm just under 60 days now...too too exciting!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704
I'm just under 60 days now...too too exciting!

Please post a trip report when you get back....we want to hear all about it!

Have you ventured over to the trip reports board yet? It's fun reading!

 

[Disrookie0704]

I will definitely check out the trip reports board and also provide one when I get back.

Have fun everyone! I'm planning on it!

 

[donnamerry]

$5000 is definitely too high. Of course, how long you staying? I've never spent that kind of money and have also bought AP's and stay at Deluxe resorts with an AP discount or have used a code discount. Going though a travel agency would be this high. You are better off doing EVERYTHING ala carte! good luck!

 

[Disrookie0704]

We are going for 10 days, but I have learned a good lesson for next time. I will be booking the trip by myself a la carte!

Thanks!

 

[Betty X]

I usually find the cheapest way to do anything. Disney is no exception. We bought Disney Vacation Club by resale in 1999. Have gone every year since. We just have to pay annual dues every year of about $600 US and we get to stay for 13 days every year! We buy annual passes every second year and use airline miles every second or third year unless airfare is on sale. We know how to get discounts and deals using vouchers for meals at WDW. It is pretty easy and we get better at it every year!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Originally posted by Disrookie0704
We are going for 10 days, but I have learned a good lesson for next time. I will be booking the trip by myself a la carte!

Thanks!

You are probably done changing the trip since I'm sure that would make your TA an unhappier camper but...did you consider buying an Annual Pass in order to get the discount on your room? I'd keep the other 7 day PHP's... Given you are staying 10 nights the savings might be significant. The other thing you might consider is dropping the rental car if you have it for 10 days. The first time I went I rented a car for a week and there it sat until the last day...when we used it to go to the airport. You could reduce one for the days you specifically plan to go to Universal and Sea World...if that isn't at the beginning or end of your trip it is possible to rent a car from some of the hotels on hotel blvd...or hire a town car or taxi for those specific days. You have so many theme park days that you won't really have the opportunity to use the car.

I see by your trip dates that this code is at the beginning of your trip but not at the end. I'm not sure that makes a difference.

...From Mousesavers...
WDW Annual Passholders can ask for Code BCG and get special discounted rates for check-ins 4/18/04-7/4/04. So far the following rate has been reported:

Value Resorts - $59
Moderates - $74 standard, $89 preferred
Ft. Wilderness Cabin - $155
Animal Kingdom Lodge - $124 standard, $145 pool view, $200 savannah view, $365 concierge
Wilderness Lodge - $124 standard, $139 woods view, $175 courtyard view
Contemporary - $149 standard view garden wing
Beach/Yacht Club - $214 standard, $280 water view
Polynesian - $229 garden view, $315 lagoon view
Grand Floridian - $340 lagoon view
Other resorts, room types and views should be available at varying prices!

 

[Disrookie0704]

Those look like good rates. I think we're paying around $125 per night at CBR. Looks like we could stay at a deluxe for that price.

How much do the annual passes cost? Do they entitle you to the codes? Is that how the codes work?

I wanted to also have the rental car because I want to try and have some meals off site to try and save money there. Plus I really don't want to worry about renting a car when I'm there, but I probably won't rent a car next time.

It will be nice in one sense because we could drive places if we don't want to wait for park transportation but it is also an extra expense that is really not necessary. Of course that was recommended by the TA.

Can't say it enough...lesson learned!

 

[my3princes]

You should check out mousesavers today. The new AP codes came out today and you could probably change your ressie to an AP rate then purchase one AP to use on you trip. Mousesavers also lists AP Benefits so check it out.