How do you guys afford the POLY!

[disneyfanfamily]

We are planning on going in 2-3 years. We would like to go every year, but choose not to because it is an expensive trip.

I really want to stay at the Poly. Never thought we could afford it. However, I am going to try to save enough to go. I am putting anywhere from $30-$50 back every week. I have opened my own savings account for my Disney trip. I put all of my utilities, groceries, etc. on my Disney Visa to accumulate Disney dollars. (I have $100 already since July). I have joined Creations Rewards that give out Disney dollars for doing surveys, shopping through their site (things that would be bought by me anyway) etc. I have $25.00 from them so far (since July).

We will go through AAA again which saved us about $300.00 this past July for our trip. Every bit helps.

But, if we do not have enough saved, we will just get 2 rooms at one of the values or go back to POR. But the goal is Poly!!!

 

[CharlesTD]

We love Disney but can't see paying the rates for a monorail resort that and we just don't really care for any of them to be honest. I may get a room at CR in teh tower for our anniversary in 08 for the wife and I but that would be using our points not cash. I just can't justify the price for the room to be honest that is why we bought DVC but then I am stingy when it comes to many things well other than my hockey equipment LOL.

 

[Tissa]

Oh, now I get it!
I guess my priorities are to live grand all year and skimp on vacation. OK now I feel better. It's just for a week, I'll take the bus ride and enjoy the parks and eat out when I get home too.

That's us. I really want to try the Poly but we take the kids on a lot of weekend trips, sometimes we load up the car get out a map and start driving so to be able to afford the Poly we would have to cut out the other trips.
I could just see the reaction I would get if I asked my boys " wouldn't you rather stay at home all year so we can stay at a resort on the monorail?"
That would be like asking if they want underwear for Christmas.

 

[Sammie]

AND you'll have money to retire on! good for you! Most people spend their retirement money on vacays...bad very bad. I agree - I must say I did love the poly when I was a kid (stayed multiple times) - but NOW - sorry 300 bucks a night for more than a couple days is too much? I'm with you...Id rather live all year long....Poly is not great enought to justify a years worth of scrimping. At least thats my take - others must feel differently.

Another method Ive seen people use - is maybe splitting their vaction...Like maybe only stay 2 nights at poly....adding 600 bucks to your vacation doesnt seem that bad and at least you get a taste. I think I might actually try this next time I go. We are staying at POR in 16 days!!!! whoo hooo!

As I stated earlier in this thread, I sincerely doubt the majority of guests at the Polynesian scrimp all year to stay there. We certainly don't.

Many live well each and every day and on vacation too and have plenty left over for retirement.

If one does not want to stay at the Polynesian for any number of reasons that is certainly their right, but I don't think it's accurate to think many begger themselves to stay there.

 

[Mulan'sMom]

I chose my relatives wisely. When I started planning to take DD5 and my Mom to Disney this past October, I was looking at an All Star resort. My very generous brother, who makes enough $ to need a Brinks truck to take it home at night, volunteered to use his frequent flier miles to buy our airline tickets. He comes back a week later having purchased a full package for us including airline tix, a week at the Grand Floridian, park tix and meal plan! Thanks, Joe - you are the man! Needless to say, Joe will be getting a very nice Christmas present from us this year! Now I'm planning to go back in Nov 2007 (yep, another Jersey girl going for Jersey week.) I'm planning on staying at the Coronado Springs, and estimate the whole trip will cost approx. $3,000. So I've opened a special savings account and will put $30 per week into it for the next 2 years. I loved the GF, the grounds were spectacular and the staff was top notch. But I frankly didn't think that the rooms themselves were anything to write home about - I've stayed in nicer rooms at the Doubletree. For instance, once DD and my mother had packed it in for the night, I had to leave the room to read. Anyway, it was lovely and convenient, but not worth $400 per night.

 

[klinlin]

Right now, the Poly is not a priority for me, but we are doing Deluxe with WL. I find it easier to pay for large expenses if you can break them up over time. I had a pretty expensive wedding, and this helped alot.The further in adavance you can plan, the better off you will be. A Disney package only requires $200 down. I sent them small payments while I waited for SWA to open up its dates. I bought plane tickets with Disney Visa, to add to the $200 in reward points I already had. When plane tickets were paid off, I sent more $ to Disney. Made final payment to Disney using Visa again. One of the best things about this card is that it gives you 6 additional months of interest free financing to pay off Disney Vacation Packages. (I normally don't carry credit card balances.)

Nobody knows but you what will make you happy, and what you can afford. Just my opinion.... Some of these posts have been way too judgmental. There are rich people who are so tight with their money, that no one would guess how much they are worth. There are those with all the toys that are in debt up to their eyeballs. You never know what goes on in other peoples homes, and its not really our business anyway.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I am a teacher, therefore, I have a retirement fund AND I stay at the Poly!!!

I don't think it is fair of someone to say how others are living, ie...if they stay at the Poly they are poor managers of money and do not have any put away...

simpe for our family...my dh pays all the daily expenses and bills, and my job pays for extras, savings, groceries, kids needs, etc...

 

[MHTeacher]

I read through these posts and have to say that I am a little suprised by the tone of a lot of these. I have never stayed at the Poly, but I most certainly do no spite anyone else for staying there. Disney provides resorts with varying costs, so that there is something for everyone. Everyone should plan their vacation and stay where they would like, and where they can afford .(Unfortunately for some of us, the two don't always meet. )


May 2001-All Star Sports
July 2003-CSR
Nov/Dec 2005-Wilderness Lodge 26 DAYS
Nov. 29, 2005-Our Family's 1st MVMCP

 

[JennyMominRI]

Ummm....just because I'm staying at the Poly doesn't mean I'm putting it on credit. I can afford it(not every year). My trip to the Poly which is 7 months away is already paid for so no credit here. I also live way within my means and vacation as we can afford. Believe me, I'm very frugal and spend/save money very wisely.

I never put anything for my trips on CC.We had a slit stay BC/Poly We were 3 adults 2 kids..we paid for the extra adult.But we split the price on the room.We also got the rooms at the Military Rate.I think we paid 189 a night
The other half anf I are going to POFQ alone,for 4 days in Jan using BRP..

 

[Lives4Disney]

I agree that some of these posts have a kind of nasty tone to them. There are people of all economic levels staying at all the WDW resorts. For example, my parents have TONS of money, retired very young, and they stayed at All Star Sports when they met us at WDW! We stayed at the CR concierge!! To them, a WDW trip is NO BIG DEAL and the hotel room is not important. To us, the resort and location/view is a big part of our WDW experience. My parents travel all over the world and spend their time doing what they enjoy and they spend their money elsewhere. They could afford any suite at the GF any time they wanted it, for as long as they wanted it, but the fact is - they don't!! Everyone puts a different value on things in life.

After keeping up on this thread, I realize now I am spoiled! No scrimping here!! My husband has a terrific job with a great income and I am lucky enough to stay home with my kids and go deluxe!!!

I actually really thought the OP wanted some money saving tips for her trip (like APs and AP discounts, DDE, etc.) not that she was literally asking how people afford their trips. That's why I answered originally, several pages back!!

Anyway - Hey OP!! Hope you make it to the Poly & happy WDW planning!! (If I were you, though, I would skip the Poly and try GF!! )

Lives4Disney

 

[SeaSpray]

As I stated earlier in this thread, I sincerely doubt the majority of guests at the Polynesian scrimp all year to stay there. We certainly don't.

Many live well each and every day and on vacation too and have plenty left over for retirement.

If one does not want to stay at the Polynesian for any number of reasons that is certainly their right, but I don't think it's accurate to think many begger themselves to stay there.

Exactly.


Too many assumptions have been made in this thread. And, there really is no set answer to the OPs question because some people work hard and save for their Disney vacations. Some can easily afford deluxe resorts but choose the moderates or values. And some are fortunate enough to simply have enough money for the deluxe resorts, and college funds for the kids, and retirement funds, and for a very comfortable style of living on a daily basis, with no "sacrificing" needed.

 

[FINFAN]

Lives4Disney...THANK YOU! And yes, the orig reason for my post WAS meant for the ways/means of how everyone goes about deals/discounts/etc for their Poly stays. I am not questioning anyones desire or priority choice of resort. Having read so many posts of people who have stayed there, tho, I automatically assumed (I know, I know) that is was a diverse economic crowd...not just folks who are already financially set for life. I mean, c'mon...the place is always booked, it can't ONLY be the very wealthy!That was my question, I phrased it wrong in my post I guess.
So now I have some answers, some do save for years, some cut back on other big ticket items, some travel thru military, some off-peak, alll great solutions.
OK, play nice everyone....and thanks again for all the Poly-points of view.


Pam

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Lives4Disney...THANK YOU! And yes, the orig reason for my post WAS meant for the ways/means of how everyone goes about deals/discounts/etc for their Poly stays. I am not questioning anyones desire or priority choice of resort. Having read so many posts of people who have stayed there, tho, I automatically assumed (I know, I know) that is was a diverse economic crowd...not just folks who are already financially set for life. I mean, c'mon...the place is always booked, it can't ONLY be the very wealthy!That was my question, I phrased it wrong in my post I guess.
So now I have some answers, some do save for years, some cut back on other big ticket items, some travel thru military, some off-peak, alll great solutions.
OK, play nice everyone....and thanks again for all the Poly-points of view.


Pam

we can all kiss and make up!!!

Yes Finfan that is exactly how we do it , we get non hopper tix and stay only 5 nights (last time) and the free dining made it even easier
I am finding it harder to swallow on a peak season, with hoppers and non free dining, that is for sure!! I just do not think we can eat for under 100 a day at Disney with 5 of us, would be hard to do IMO, with just ONE character dining we save!!! Ahhh...free dining!! I was so blessed to be able to take advantage of that so I upgraded from POR to CR then finally to Poly!! That is how we did it!!

 

[oots]

how do you get free meals???

 

[cara loves the poly]

Exactly and many can afford the Polynesian without putting it on credit.

we didn't put it on a credit card. omg, it would take forever to pay it off!! peak season!!

 

[HappyLawyer]

i am going to stay at the poly on my next trip after 06, i think it is so beautiful, so instead of doing another cruise, i wll do liek 4 or 5 days at the poly, i own timeshare in fl so i will go tere after, i save i don't look at it as a waste of money at all.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

how do you get free meals???

it was offered this year on a myw package if you traveled between the months of Aug thru October...don't remember the exact dates.

 

[Pooh1219]

One of the things about this thread that bothers me a bit is that some people seem to try to justify what they drive and where they vacation. I don't think there's any need to justify how you spend your money-if you've got it, spend it as you like. If you can afford a $60,000 car, and that's what you want, go right ahead. It's your money, you earned it, so spend away.

I think the simplest way to explain how some people can afford the Poly is the fact that some of us make more than others of us. It's as simple as that. Family A, dad working and earning $50,000/year, mom at home with 2 or 3 kids are probably going to go to a value or a mod, if they can even afford a Disney vacation. Family B, both mom and dad working and earning $150,000/year might choose deluxe. Family C, husband and wife, no kids, earning plenty, but just love the Disney magic of values, might choose that. I think Disney wisely provided a wide range of resorts to suit almost everyone's pocketbook, and there's a lot of folks out there who have the means to choose deluxe. For us, one year funds are available, and we head off to a deluxe. This next trip, it's tighter for us, so we chose POR.

 

[Kay7979]

To me, the idea of "justifying" an expense, whatever it may be for, comes down to whether or not it seems a reasonable value in exchange for the price paid. It's not so much a matter of "can we afford it" as "do we want to afford it." I think about what tangible things the equivalent money would buy, then compare it to a one night resort stay. I personally flinch at the idea of 1 night stay = five weeks of groceries, or a fine antique clock, a piece of original artwork, or an ounce of gold . . . you get the idea. It's not even that our finances dictate we must choose between one item or another. We can afford to have it all. $400+/day at a resort just doesn't seem an even trade for our money. So, here's where we come down to the differences between us all. To some, the exchange of that amount of money for staying at a great resort seems a fair trade, and is worth equivalent to a piece of art or five weeks of groceries, or whatever their own comparison is. And that is how they "justify" the expenditure. Hey, I may get to that point eventually myself, who knows. But for right now it just doesn't feel like an even exchange for my money.

 

[heatherfeather24]

This is the thread that never ends.

Yes, it goes on and on my friends . . .