how people afford those disney world vacations

[Irin997]

Can I book just the Resort Lodging only.. and then come back later on and add the park tickets?

If they come out with a free dining promo, maybe I could add the rest then. I've also seen them have promos like buy 3 nights and get 3 nights.

Ummm as far as I know Disney NEVER has promos for the week between Christmas and New Year's as it is one of their busiest travel times (ie most expensive times to visit too).

 

[angierae]

I totally agree with this. We stayed at POP Century for our last trip and we had a perfectly good time, but for our next trip we're taking DD17 (then) and her best friend, and we've decided to get a suite at All Star Music for significantly more money because we want to be able to spread out, but don't want to risk not getting connecting rooms.

Could we go cheaper? Sure thing. I think it's like $1300 more to stay in a family suite than one room at a value for the week we're going. But it will make a much happier vacation for us.

Actually, not everyone goes just for the parks. But if you do, that's all good. People who go to Disney only for the parks are usually happy to stay at the values or an offsite hotel. However, there are some people for whom the resort is as important if not more important than the park. So they may choose the Poly or the Grand because that's what their idea of a vacation is. I don't think that I'm spending "money like it's going out of style" when I choose to vacation at a deluxe. It's what I prefer and it actually makes for a happier vacation for me. All things considered, the resort price is only a fraction of the cost of trip when you take into consideration the cost of the flights, tickets and food.

But I agree that being able to get back to Disney begins with finding the best possible price for your trip that you can possibly get.

 

[DZNEE4US]

I think another factor in deciding where you stay is HOW LONG you will be staying. We usually go a week, and if you were going for a shorter amount of time, then you might adjust your plans for the added conveince price. I just can't justify spending over $300 a night on lodging that only includes one room. Now I am not talking about the All Stars or Pop, I'm talking the deluxe resorts. There are 5 of us, (2 of whom are only 3 years old) and we need more than the typical room.

 

[dmccarty]

Do not play "Keep Up With The Jone's" and go into debt.

After our last trip last century, we had ONE vacation until our first trip this century.

We lived and still live pretty cheaply. We might have take out once or twice a month. The newest car is 6 years old and we only have it because our old car was totaled in an accident when a lady did not yield and hit our car. Our big splurge is a WDW vacation. But we pay cash and save all year to go. We did buy into DVC when we started going back to WDW this century. DVC is a heck of a savings if you want to vacation every year or so at WDW.

If we had paid cash for our WDW trips this century we would have spent more than what DVC cost us. At this point we are past break even with buying into DVC. Our dues are about $800 and that gets us a week or so at WDW, roughly $100 a night at a deluxe. We stayed at a Hampton Inn over the summer for a few nights and that cost about $150 a night.

This year we might not make the trip. By this time of year we would have booked the room. Some bills popped up and we are waiting to see how things get resolved. If we do not have the money, we do not go.

Renting DVC points is a good way to save some money.

Later,
Dan

 

[Arielle22]

DH and I save for our trips. We usually go every other year and save for the 2 years. In between we go on a smaller trip using our tax refund.

Our trips have grown as our income has grown. We started by staying offsite for a few days and have grown into 7-10 day trips at a Deluxe. We always use a code and look for the best airfare.

For us, the resort is part of the vacation and we spend time in the room and on the resort grounds.

 

[ANIMO]

Even though we are dvc members we can still only go every other year. It costs approx 4500 for the 5 of us to go. I am currently saving for our next trip which we are planning for August 2012. Besides my change jar which fills up pretty good and gets us about $1500 I am saving cash and each time I have enough I purchase a disney gift card so I am not tempted to "borrow" the cash I am saving.

 

[disneymom2one]

We are always looking for a way to save money so we can go BACK. So the best way to go back is to save money on the current vacation!
We always look at the people staying at say the Grand Floridian, and say "Yes I could stay here and just put it on my VISA and they would accept it. However, I would rather do other things with my money!" It's their choice to spend money like it's going out of style. Who knows maybe it's their only "trip of a lifetime". I know it won't be mine! I will have change left over in my pocket, so we can go back next year. When all is said and done, aren't you more interested in the parks anyway? I'm not saying we cram 5 of us into a standard hotel room, but we look at all of our options -which exclude staying on property for all 5 of us now.
So look at all of those people throwing thousands of dollars on their vacations and remember it's their choice to do that- you don't have to spend that way to have a good time!!!!

The parks are probably my least favorite thing about Disney. Give me my balcony at a DVC resort and I'm a happy, happy person.

 

[briarose]

Well we are a one income family (and that income is not very much at all!) and we stayed at the Poly last time with the three for four discount which was an incredible deal! And we will stay at the Poly again purely for convenience (and a 40%percent code thank goodness). I don't see it as throwing money away at a Delux I see it as a vacation "I" really enjoy. I am one of nine raised in a one income family and we vacationed every year, my mom always said cooking and cleaning on her vacation was not her idea of a vacation so I guess it rubbed off on me.
How do we do it well first we don't live beyond our means in everyday life, if I don't have the money in the bank to pay for something by the end of the month we do not buy it-we do not have credit card debt and paid cash for our "used cars"(which people always assume are "new"-we are fortunate to live in an area people trade in their leases to have the "latest and greatest" we gladly buy these trade ins ). We use coupons, reward programs, rebates, ebates--- we take our kids to the libraries, parks and playgrounds not to the movies(we do redbox) and we stay out of malls. I shop clearance for kids clothes for the next year and for myself I hit the salvation army. For our last trip to Disney I did surveys, several focus groups and my husband and I did alot of secret shopping --all this money was thrown into short term cds to gain interest until we had to pay the bill. I kept a budget sheet in excel which was fun to watch the vacation being paid off. I booked the trip on my disney visa $200 deferred for six months then when I charged the balance of the trip right before we left, we had another six months before that was due. However all the money was earned before we left that was my goal.

Everyone has different ideas on how others should or should not spend their money no one should judge anyone for how "one" chooses to spend their hard earned money. There are always ways to cut corners and save but it is an individuals decision. Hey if you go to starbucks everyday that could be about $4 bucks a day -that adds up but if that is what jumpstarts your day who am I to say don't do it. For me I cherish the family vacations I have had (especially because I have lost my mom, dad and a brother) and I will continue to view vacations as a very important part of my life. So I am willing to give up things that are not as important to "me" in my everyday life.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

hmmm so how does this work??

THe website quickreward is a pay for survey website. You can do as many surveys as you can qualify for in a day they pay between .60-1.00 or sometimes you get special surveys that pay 1-10 dollars. You can cash out through paypal anytime you like or you can save up for various gift cards from vendors like Chili's, Target, Applebee's or Disney giftcards. I have always gotten my giftcards within a week no more than 2. ''

You wont get rich doing it and it takes a couple of dedicated hours to get surveys, but it is definetely good for some extra disney money.

 

[crazelion]

THe website quickreward is a pay for survey website. You can do as many surveys as you can qualify for in a day they pay between .60-1.00 or sometimes you get special surveys that pay 1-10 dollars. You can cash out through paypal anytime you like or you can save up for various gift cards from vendors like Chili's, Target, Applebee's or Disney giftcards. I have always gotten my giftcards within a week no more than 2. ''

You wont get rich doing it and it takes a couple of dedicated hours to get surveys, but it is definetely good for some extra disney money.

That is how pay for most of my vacations is with quickrewards.net . Do a lot suverys paid to click sites, swagubucks.

I still amaze the things I can buy on amazon.com using my free amazon gift cards that have save me hundreds of dollars.

 

[homedad]

open a vacation account at a credit union and put in an amount that you can afford when have enough for a trip u want then pay cash and start all over again

 

[Paul005]

How to people afford those disney vacations. I never can save enough up to go on the vacation I would like. I wish there was a way you could just put a down payment on your vacation quote and pay it out each month until your trip. That would help alot!!

I too agree with you, Disney world vacation is quite expensive. There are few affordable Disney world vacation packages; you can just have a look at them. You can also save quite a good amount of money by choosing cheap Disney world hotels. Internet is the best place to search for them.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

How to people afford those disney vacations. I never can save enough up to go on the vacation I would like. I wish there was a way you could just put a down payment on your vacation quote and pay it out each month until your trip. That would help alot!!

I do surveys, return our soda cans, any found money (money I wasn't expecting), all of our coins, I work part time and we live only on DH salary. I say no to many, many things so I can say YES to our vacation. Incidently we are a family of six seven when my mom comes so we always have to get two rooms.

 

[Aliceacc]

The killer for us is airfare.

I think the resort prices are very reasonable; we're paying as much this year for rooms upstate as we would at a Deluxe in WDW.

And, sure, the parks aren't cheap.

But to start off with MINIMUM $1000 in airfare is what really tips the balance for my family. (And who am I kidding, that was 2 years ago. I'm guessing that now we're looking at minimum $2500) I know we could drive. But then we would need bail money. I love my kids. But a pair of twenty four hour drives would NOT bring out the best in any of us.

When he's not teaching, my husband does photography. When I'm not teaching, I do freelance writing, primarily educational. And I search like a crazy woman for the best possible deal. Twice I've found it.

 

[tinkermom23]

The killer for us is airfare.

I think the resort prices are very reasonable; we're paying as much this year for rooms upstate as we would at a Deluxe in WDW.

And, sure, the parks aren't cheap.

But to start off with MINIMUM $1000 in airfare is what really tips the balance for my family. (And who am I kidding, that was 2 years ago. I'm guessing that now we're looking at minimum $2500) I know we could drive. But then we would need bail money. I love my kids. But a pair of twenty four hour drives would NOT bring out the best in any of us.

When he's not teaching, my husband does photography. When I'm not teaching, I do freelance writing, primarily educational. And I search like a crazy woman for the best possible deal. Twice I've found it.

Totally the same here! Airfare costs us more than the room & food... Whenever I suggest that we drive, DH gets that glazed look and suggests we skip the vacation all together.

 

[HS3kids]

We went back in October for 7 night/8 days. It was the first real vacation we had since our last trip to Disney in 2004! This was for 5 people at FW Cabins, park hopper/water park passes for 8 days and full dining plan. We did end up getting a 40% room code though so that helped. We flew from Boston on Jet Blue.

How we did it: I had been researching and pricing out trips for a while, so when we got our taxes done in late February and knew how much of a return we were getting, we decided to book. We had been saving and also had 6 months to save more, since the balance was due in August. I couponed, only bought neccesities (clothing etc) and saved every week (direct deposit) plus worked overtime once a month and put that in savings as well. We were able to pay cash for our entire trip, including airfare.

This year, as much as I would love to go again (and we have added the big ole Disney Jar to our savings strategy this time around as well) we are replacing our flooring instead (it reallllllllly needs it bad!) So hopefully next year we can swing it again. Our daycare costs will be going way down (yay Kindergarten! lol) so that will help a bunch, no doubt. Good luck OP! You can do it if you work at it!

 

[Paul005]

Yeah, Disney vacation trip are quiet expensive. You need to plan your trip well in advance and the book the ticket through online agencies. It is better to select combo packages that include hotels rooms, food, flight tickets etc. And also you get discounts if you book the ticket well in advance.

 

[VAN]

How do we afford Disney vacations?

When our children were younger, we camped at Fort Wilderness (it was more economical back then) and because the ticketing price structure was different, would just buy a 3 or 4 day ticket and only go into the parks every-other day. We'd also fix our own meals at the campsite and take snacks into the parks.

So, in other words, we went on the "cheapy" plan.

Now that our children are grown and we have a little more discretionery income (we still live in the same house we purchased 22 years ago ... did not fall into the trap of buying a bigger/newer home that we didn't need like others did) with the kids out of college and the mortgage paid off, we still choose to stay at the value resorts and take advantage of promotional offers that WDW offers.

Basically, we try to live within our means. We also do not have expectations and/or desire to add all the deluxe aspects to our visits to WDW. Many folks just won't go if they can't stay in a deluxe resort, take their kids to BB Boutique, get the DDP, etc. Not doing these things does not negatively impact my WDW experience at all. What would really negatively impact my enjoyment would be to spend money that I do not have.

Anyway, just my comments regarding how we can afford to go to WDW every year even though we live 1,200 miles away.