how often do you save up and do Disney?

[sherabby]

We've gone every year now since 2007 and had a bonus second trip last summer when my mom and I split a room and took my son too!
We usually use our tax refund to offset the costs and save up for the airfare.

 

[tadamom]

We had always been going every 3 years (to save the money). We went in 2007 and decided that we were ready again in 2009 and decided that we would try to do every 2 years instead after that. But, we just sold our Jeep and decided that we would use that money for just our family to go (instead of all of DH's family that usually goes). If we go in October and we go again next year with his family it will be every year. I think I could get used to that!

 

[mousebymarriage]

We have gone almost every year for the past 14 years. We usually go in Jan. Feb or March and pull the kids out of school. Our trips are approx 1 week in Disney and we stay in Value Resorts, we would also spend a few days visiting family on the gulf coast of Florida. We usually do the dining plan and the kids use their own money for souveniers( they get Disney dollars for birthday, christmas, valentines day etc. plus any cash they have saved).

For years we always flew to Disney but, a few years ago DH was tired of spending the money for airfare and then a small fortune on a rental car (need the rental to go see the family), so we decided to drive. Driving is the only way for us now! Driving for us is usually cheaper than flying plus there is no need to spend the money on a rental. I can also pack whatever I want and not have to worry about it. I also think driving is part of the fun!

How we pay for the trip:

1) save up our change which always covers the cost of gas and tolls (both ways) and sometimes a bit extra.

2)we usually don't have to buy souvies for the kids because they have their own money (minimum of $100) and they are much more careful about what they buy when it's their own money. Their money is disney dollars and some cash received for birthdays, christmas, valentines day etc.

3)We pay for our trip using our Tax return. DH has extra taken out of his check so that we get a bigger refund. I know that we could take the money out every week and put it in the bank so it earns some intrest but, honestly that probably wouldn't happen.

*We don't have another trip planned at the moment but, we are hoping to go in August 2011. DD13 starts high school in Sept and no longer wants to be pulled out of school. We will probably decide about the 2011 trip by Nov. or early Dec. We of course are saving our change just in case. We are undecided because DH wants to go to Florida for 2 full weeks(plus a couple of extra days for travel to and from)in 2011 so the expense is higher. He says he has never taken a 2 week vacation and would really like to do it next year. Keeping my fingers crossed but, we will see how finances are.

 

[kahblue]

This year will be #3 in a row. DH says as long as there's free dining and he has a job we can keep going back. We can't go anywhere else this "cheap".

And, I started saving for this year's trip as soon as we returned from the last.

KIM
POP Century 08/25-09/03

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

We have a vacation fund that we add to every payday.

We used to go to WDW every year but after our trip in 2004 we decided to do WDW every other year and go to different destinations in the Disney "off" years. One place we like to go is Destin, FL.

This is an "on" year for Disney so we are going back to WDW in October. I think the next non-Disney destination will be New England (Newport RI, Boston MA, Maine).

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I can go every year for the single reason I stay in the value resorts (the All Star resorts). If I can spend $82 instead of $150 or even $300 a night for a room I only sleep in, it allows me the ability to return yearly. Also I save my change for the year which pays for most of my expenses while down there.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We were married in 1992. We've been to Disney in 2003 and in 2005. We're going again in October. We only do other small vacations (camping, cabin, beach, etc) other years. Some years we're lucky just to be able to go camping.