How do you people do it?? (multiple trips)...

[ZIPBAGS]

Let me start this by not condeming anyone. I love Disney and if possible would go like others all the time. But, I have read of people who 4+ times a year...and they don't live anywhere near Disney. I just wondering how people do it? My wife enjoys Disney. But, I am lucky to get her down their once every year. The cost alone is what prevents us. I have spoke to people who go all the time and they are not wealthy by any means. So is their some trick....magic fairy dust...deals that I am missing?

I need some more fairy dust to make my wife as obsessed as my kids and I.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Well, for us it started with buying AP's for the first time. That turned from 2 trips over 12 months into 4 trips over 12 months. One was an accident, $39 airfare, couldn't resist. The next one is a girls only trip for me and a friend who's never been, we got $.93 a night hotel rooms on something a hotel messed up. Then their is the 4th and final which is the honeymoon I never had with my dh for our 5th anniversary.

I think the downfall is the purchase of the AP's. Don't do it! No matter how much money you think you're saving, you're just getting sucked in further and further

Seriously though, with the frequent trips we find ourselves spending less and less on souvenirs and with the AP it's not like we're buying tickets everytime and we stay as cheap as possible and use the AP discounts all we can. We also only go if airfare comes down below $150 r/t.

Also, disney is a priority for us. We cut corners where we can because we love our family trips. That means scrimping here at home but we do at least one good 7-10 day trip a year on a normal year (this is NOT a normal year for us!)

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I think we are fairly typical of the families that you are refering to. A family of three (smaller than most), middle income, etc. Yet last year we did 5 disney trips, with a total of 5 weeks on-site. Loved it, and wouldn't mind repeating it.

So how do we manage it ?

* We use annual passes. That greatly reduces our admission cost versus other media.

* We are DVC members. This takes care of at least half of our accomodations. We also enjoy other disney resorts, and have taken advantage of whatever discounts that are available to stretch our stays.

* We owe on nothing except our home, and pay our c/c in full each month.

* We drive down (company minivan.) Travel cost = $0

* We have been to disney enough to know what restaurants we like, and which we don't, and the ones that are the best values. ALot of guidebooks mention that a family of four will often spend $200 a day for food. Even when staying non-dvc we have never come close to that. When staying in a dvc resort we spend even less.

* We're lucky that none of us would be considered very materialistic. We like nice things, bu have no desire to buy everything we see. The souveniers from our last trip were some shirts and other things from the outlet store offsite in the premier mall, and some antenna toppers. I want something to remind me of the trips, so that I can experience the memories again.

* If there is something we want - but don't need at that moment - we wait for it to be reduced to a price we are willing to pay, or have saved the money to pay for it. I've found that if you are willing to wait for a purchase that getting something for half off is usually just a good starting point, but you can often get it for less.

* We've made vacations a priority.

I hope this helps. Good Luck !

 

[smjj]

We will take 3 trips in a years time. We are DVC members and that helps. We have been so many times we know what we like and don't so we don't spent a lot trying things unless its new. We are now just two(kids are grown). Our last trip last Nov. we spent 4 full days there and never went into the parks. Sourvinors are just little things for the kids and grandkids. We share breakfast at Olivias, and a few other meals and that saves a lot. We are both on diets and some restaurants the serving are more than enough for the two of us. It still cost us to get there, we fly but by watching the airfares, we usually get a desent rate. The little things add up but its still not cheap, you just need to make a commitment like us and others on this board have done..smjj

 

[disneyholic family]

If we lived in the US, we would be there at least 4 times a year.
However, now that we live on the wrong side of the Atlantic Ocean (and the wrong side of the mediterranean for that matter), and have to fly for about 16 hours to get to WDW, the best we can do is once a year.

That's why we've usually gone for 3+ weeks each time. Unfortunately, this year we can only manage a 2 week visit. But it's better than no visit at all.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I'm a 4x a year person. How do I do it?

Buy an AP

Get a value resort at discount ($49-79/night)

Cheap airfare ($130-150 round trip, from Boston)

With an AP, it gets SOOOO easy...and I'm not wealthy by any means. I just tend to save for Disney, instead of buying that new $50 video game, or that $100 DVD set I can just get through Netflix. I just don't spend a lot on other things, happily knowing I'm saving for the mouse.

N.E.D.

 

[crazyj4488]

I'm a 4x a year person. How do I do it?

Buy an AP

Get a value resort at discount ($49-79/night)

Cheap airfare ($130-150 round trip, from Boston)

With an AP, it gets SOOOO easy...and I'm not wealthy by any means. I just tend to save for Disney, instead of buying that new $50 video game, or that $100 DVD set I can just get through Netflix. I just don't spend a lot on other things, happily knowing I'm saving for the mouse.

N.E.D.

NED is in the same boat as me. I'll be taking my 3rd trip in September this year and I, basically, swing it just as NED does. Get the AP and get on Mousesavers. I usually budget $1000 per person and it works out pretty well. It's doable but I do understand taking an entire family out there multiple times may get a little ridiculous.

By the way NED....didn't you write a SOLO report?? I think it was yours that I read that inspired me to write my own and take a SOLO trip. Kudos to you and thanks. Take a gander at my reports if you feel inclined. I'm working thru my first solo trip now.

 

[HeatherC]

We too have been going a lot. My trick is that we always stay offsite in a villa. I know a lot of people would not like to do this, but with three small kids, we would need two hotel rooms anyway if we wanted to get any sleep!

We have found awesome deals on villas in places like SkyAuction. Last year we rented a 2 bedroom villa that was just beautiful at Orange Lake Resort - which is extremely close to Disney property for only $261 for the week including all taxes!!! Plus, we like the laundry in the villa as well as full kitchen to save on some meals.

I also try to "KNOW THE CODE" for rental cars. We leave this Thursday for another week and my rental car for a full size for 8 days is only $14 a day - $112 total!

The passes are what are the most expensive things for us. We still haven't gotten AP's yet, but have bought the 7 day park hoppers with plus options. These have been good for two or three trips...so that saves us money.

We also save all our change which is extra spending money at vacation time.

I guess my one piece of advice that has worked for us is....plan, plan and then plan some more. Also....book things as early as possible and then keep watching the prices.

We keep going back to Orlando because we have found it is so much cheaper than many other places for a family of 5. For example, this past February we stayed at Cypress Pointe Villas for $75 a night including tax. Where else can I take 5 people in a 1400 square foot villa for that price in a warm climate in the middle of winter? So...we booked another trip for next February.

Hope this helps answer your question a little.

Happy planning!
HeatherC

 

[dgaston]

APs were the beginning of our multiple yearly trips to WDW. It gets easy to say "look the airfare is really cheap" or "wow look at the free dining plan." It took a Ding flight to show up on my computer, but we're doing a long weekend for DH's Extravagant Birthday II in September. We are getting the "free" Dining Plan and will eat at California Grill for his birthday supper. We do plan to visit Arizona and the Grand Canyon next April, so we do visit other places too.

 

[Leota]

Vacations are a priority for us. We budget rather tightly on other things at home so we can have nice vacations (WDW or elsewhere) As stated above, we don't spend alot frivolously on CDs, DVDs, fancy clothes, etc....we save change, I deduct a set amount per month for our vacation account, use AP's.... We tend to go in groups of WDW trips lately to take advantage of AP savings. This was a WDW year - next year, not so much.

 

[MelanieC]

We go twice usually.

We buy AP's, stay at a value resort and drive down. We don't spend lots on souvenirs. Our biggest budget is food as we do eat very well down there. Usually lunch and dinner at a sit down. We eat breakfast in the room. We have also been lucky enough to go for two weeks the past few trips. By having AP's it really cuts the cost down.

I think everyone has different priorties and it depends on where you put your money.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I agree with everyone else, AP's were our downfall, lol! We only live 5 hrs. away, so we drive. The last couple of trips we've stayed at the WL, but usually stay at a value or moderate. We've taken 5 trips in the last 12 months, with another one (although to US/IOA this time, free room in Sept. thanks to my BiL) in Sept. and another for dd's birthday in Dec. We don't live extravegantly, budget for everything, and plan, plan, plan.

 

[PamNC]

we're not wealthy, although we're very comfortable, and we go an average of 2x a year. How do we do it? With AP's, AP discounts on the rooms, a little prayer and pixie dust, and more than anything we make it a priority. It's part of our budget and it's important to us.

PamNC

 

[lllovell]

For us - its a combination of many things - we live "close" enough to drive...we bought AP's (which we will certainly keep as long as financially reasonable)....this past year we bought into DVC....and we don't eat breakfast out and tend to also eat sandwishes for lunch. Having two small children, so far all of that is fairly easy to do. Our one big expense per trip is a meal a day, which doesn't have to be hugely expensive as we are willing to go off property or go to the places we KNOW our sons will eat. One "toy" per child per trip is also the rule and since our boys LOVE Lego's, it tends to be from LegoLand, not WDW. (we stop there last, which also keeps us from dragging around toys for them the whole trip and trying to keep up with them).

We also know we will be going back. I think a lot of people that really spend a fortune are there to really blow it out on a vacation. You spend a ton because you don't want to cook or eat cereal every morning. Those same people also burn themselves out being at the parks from open to close and I honestly don't think I could do that several times a year with young ones (5, 3 and one on the way). WDW has become about relaxing for us. We enjoy more than the parks, spending time at the wonderful resorts, swimming, etc on every trip now.

 

[Tinks]

I have a friend who asked us the exact same question! We are comfortable, but not wealthy by any means. She is the same, I'd say. My DH might make more than hers now, I'm not sure. We have the same number of kids, go to the same school, etc..

We go once a year with the kids. Over the last 2 years, I also went in January to do the 1/2 marathon. When she asked this question, I didn't know how to respond. We are careful with our money. We didn't buy the biggest house we could. I didn't have my house completely furnished immediately. We don't trade in our car every 3 -4 years like we see loads of our friends doing. It's just common sense in my book!

About 3 months after she asked this, she was driving a brand new Lexus SUV. Gee, I wonder why you can't afford to go to Disney every year????

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I'm wondering how those of you with children in school do it - if you are going to have multiple stays for a week at a time.

We have one week of school vacation in February, one in April, and one at Christmas. I guess if we went at each of those times, and once in the summer, we could get up to four times a year.

I'm just wondering if anyone who does do the multiple trips has had issues with teachers (assuming you live far enough away that a day trip isn't logical)...

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Dh and I enjoy traveling. However, with 3 young children, this is not as easy as it once was. Our youngest is 2.5 yo. This pretty much limits us to trips to the beach or Disney. (We're not nearly as brave as we were when we had only one child and could still visit other places!!) AP's make several trips a year to WDW a possibility. Since we didn't make our annual family visit to the beach at the beginning of the summer, that frees up $$ we normally spend on that week for a couple of weeks at Deluxe resorts. So far this season, we've spent 8 days at AKL in May and 1 night at CSR. We have 4 days scheduled at POR at the end of July and 9 days at WL in Oct. Now, if we could only get some of the cheap airfare that was available last year.

 

[SC Minnie]

We will be taking 3 trips over the next 12 months plus we were at Disney's Vero Beach Resort in April and are going to Disney HHI Resort over July 4th. We are DVC owners and we are able to drive down. DH and DD are there right now and I am flying down this Friday to spend the weekend. We are going back in November for SSW and then Spring Break next year. We have Annual Passes so no new park tickets, our rooms are taken care of through DVC. For what we would have spent on one nice trip a year for the past 4 years we would have paid for DVC. We wouldn't be able to afford the cash rate for the rooms we stay through DVC. We will have these great accomodations until 2042!