Huge financial change, have to re plan trip...advice?

[ammag]

We had a three year savings plan for a two week trip October of 16. Now two yeArs out we've had a major (temporary,none year or so of restriction, then we can use tax refund and savings but one year of saving not three). change in finances. We can no longer keep the savings account for the trip....we can still go on a trip but will change it up. I was crushed at first thinking we wouldn't go, and my son wouldn't go as a little kid, but it looks like I can figure it out. Now we had one week gifted to us offsite by my inlaws. This should still stand. The long trip is because I am disabled and I need resting time....half and full days to rest in between, even wiht a scooter. Anyhow we don't have to do the 16 day trip but aiming for 10-11.

Our original plan was to stay in deluxe or a split stay between AoA and a deluxe. Since we've never stayed in deluxe. Of Course that's out the window....I might be able to make a little mermaid room work (size is fine we did it last year for a few nights) but so far going by the 2015 prices it's a stretch.

I'd prefer to be on property but more important to me is going again and sharing it with my son who will be old enough then to remember the trip any suggestions? Is there any place to stay for around $100 a night that isn't a gross place? Clean, pool, restaurant or other food available. Pop is cheaper than AoA but I loved AoA so much pop looks pretty lame compared to it. Am I wrong or being silly? Is being on property worth it to you if you don't love the hotel?

I've been once off property, once on but for a few days. No other experience!

Also..,I promised my daughter she and I would go on the AK safari tour. It's about $400. Would you ask her to save some of her money to help? She will be 9. We've cut out a universal day trip, the nicer hotels, the car (easier for me) and almost all special things we had planned..but this means a lot to her. Am going to do my best to afford it.

I guess any advice is welcomed! Shld I get the disney credit card for some monthly expenses to pay off right away..to get some extra money back?

I know you guys understand the heartbreak of a cancelled trip so hoping you have some good ideas

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I have the Disney premier credit card, and I'm earning about $25 a month in reward dollars. I charge all of my expenses to it and pay it off monthly. So it could be a good option for you. There are also some websites that let you do surveys and things for extra money. Check out the Swagbucks thread in the budget board.

You can still have a great budget trip. You will be surprised at what your son remembers years down the road. It isn't just the big expensive experiences that imprint on their memories.

 

[shruley]

We have the Premier card also. I'm not sure how many we get per month but about $20 or $25 sounds close? We just used it to buy 4 5-day park hoppers for Disneyland, our PhotoPass+, and I think have about $700 left over to use for food.

We have stayed at Pop. It was awhile ago, and I was really worried about it as we hadn't stayed in a value before, but we actually really liked it. We had stayed at the Poly and AKL before, and after staying at Pop I had a really hard time ever justifying the cost difference for the deluxes! We had a great trip there. Never been to AoA, but we liked the themeing (or maybe it was the 80's music they'd play We also stayed off site for the Make a Wish trip. I was worried about the drive time and hassle with that as well as having to go off site, but again it was not as bad as I had imagined it to be. Is it great to go and stay deluxe and never leave WDW? Yes, but I also came to the realization I would MUCH rather spend less and go more often than stick only to the overpriced deluxes. I know you will have a great time no matter where you end up staying.

I don't have any good offsite hotel suggestions, but maybe consider costs for offsite (car and parking) compared to onsite cost. Even if it's Pop, I think you'd still enjoy it. As for your DD, does she get money for birthday or Xmas from anyone? She could maybe save some of it to put towards the safari.

 

[lvillotta1]

If you are staying for that long why not stay off property at Whyndam Bonnet Creek and get the space you need. It is much cheaper than $100/night. You can have room to relax and sleep for what your needs are. You and your family could eat breakfast and come back to have lunch or dinner if that would make like easier. Are you driving or flying? If you have your own car this makes things even cheaper. If you re crunch your numbers I think you can save a lot. If you can not go on the AK boat cruise then I am sure your 9y/o would understand. My kids are 7&10 and I never promise them anything. I like things to be a surprise so if I decide to not do that special thing it is no big deal.

 

[richmo]

If you can drive, I would definitely look into staying offsite. One suggestion would be to look at condos...many in Windsor Hills, which is very nice, are well within your $100/night guideline, especially if you can go at an off-peak time. They also give you the ability to spread out, rather than sitting in a small hotel room.

Hope you can make it happen!

 

[kymom99]

I would also suggest off site because since you are disabled, you should get handicapped parking. That would help get you into the parks easier than if you used Disney transportation.

However, if you want to stay part of the time on-site, you can always visit the various resorts. you can't use the pools but you can enjoy the themeing. All Star movies is so adorable and we got the best pics there.

Have your daughter ask for Disney gift cards for birthdays between now and then to help pay for the safari. Then you can make a big deal to print pictures to send to the folks who helped make it happen. I think this would be a great learning lesson for her.

 

[Marionnette]

We had a three year savings plan for a two week trip October of 16. Now two yeArs out we've had a major (temporary,none year or so of restriction, then we can use tax refund and savings but one year of saving not three). change in finances. We can no longer keep the savings account for the trip....we can still go on a trip but will change it up. I was crushed at first thinking we wouldn't go, and my son wouldn't go as a little kid, but it looks like I can figure it out. Now we had one week gifted to us offsite by my inlaws. This should still stand. The long trip is because I am disabled and I need resting time....half and full days to rest in between, even wiht a scooter. Anyhow we don't have to do the 16 day trip but aiming for 10-11.

Just so that I'm clear on this: Because of a life event, you won't have 3 year's worth of savings to spend on your trip. Instead you'll have only 2 years' worth.

You have 7 nights of accommodations gifted to you but would like to make it 9-10 nights or even as much as 15 nights, if possible.

Our original plan was to stay in deluxe or a split stay between AoA and a deluxe. Since we've never stayed in deluxe. Of Course that's out the window....I might be able to make a little mermaid room work (size is fine we did it last year for a few nights) but so far going by the 2015 prices it's a stretch.

2015 rates are the rack rates. Discount rates for value resorts generally run in the range of 10%-20%, depending on the season. Some rooms are almost always excluded from the discounts. Little Mermaid rooms would be one such room. The rates for 2016 would be anybody's guess.

I'd prefer to be on property but more important to me is going again and sharing it with my son who will be old enough then to remember the trip any suggestions? Is there any place to stay for around $100 a night that isn't a gross place? Clean, pool, restaurant or other food available. Pop is cheaper than AoA but I loved AoA so much pop looks pretty lame compared to it. Am I wrong or being silly? Is being on property worth it to you if you don't love the hotel?

I've been once off property, once on but for a few days. No other experience!

$100/night is 2016 may not be a possibility for onsite in 2016, even with a discount. The cheapest rack rate in 2015 is an ASMu standard location room during Value #2 Season, according to Mousesavers.com. That room runs $104/night before taxes. POP during that same time period in 2015 is $115/night (before tax) for a standard room. The rooms themselves are the same with just a different theme.

IMO, being on property is not worth it if you don't love the hotel. But until you stay there, or at least spend time walking around the resort, you won't know if you will hate it.

Also..,I promised my daughter she and I would go on the AK safari tour. It's about $400. Would you ask her to save some of her money to help? She will be 9. We've cut out a universal day trip, the nicer hotels, the car (easier for me) and almost all special things we had planned..but this means a lot to her. Am going to do my best to afford it.

$400 is a lot of money to ask a 9yo to save on her own. If she couldn't save it, would that mean that no one in the family would get to do the safari? I would tell her that she should save for souvenir money instead.

I guess any advice is welcomed! Shld I get the disney credit card for some monthly expenses to pay off right away..to get some extra money back?

I know you guys understand the heartbreak of a cancelled trip so hoping you have some good ideas

Getting a credit card and churning it for the rewards is a personal decision. Some people do it quite well and have no problems acquiring credit. Others get themselves into serious trouble when they put all of their purchases on a credit card. Only you know whether you are one of those people or somewhere in between.

My own preference is to use some other kind of rewards credit card because I find the Disney Visa's rewards to be too narrow and restrictive (can only be used for Disney and the rewards expire within 5 years of earning them). But again, this is a personal preference and what I use may not fit well with your life. I like my Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa. Flexible rewards and a much bigger sign up bonus. It also has a larger annual fee. I recommend looking at a number of rewards credit cards if you're going to get one. Take the bonuses into consideration but also weigh out what you can use your rewards points for and whether it will be of any use to you once your Disney trip is over.

 

[book_junkie]

The long trip is because I am disabled and I need resting time....half and full days to rest in between, even wiht a scooter. Anyhow we don't have to do the 16 day trip but aiming for 10-11.

Also..,I promised my daughter she and I would go on the AK safari tour. It's about $400. Would you ask her to save some of her money to help? She will be 9. We've cut out a universal day trip, the nicer hotels, the car (easier for me) and almost all special things we had planned..but this means a lot to her. Am going to do my best to afford it.

I know you guys understand the heartbreak of a cancelled trip so hoping you have some good ideas

You know your own strengths and weaknesses; however, which AK tour are you talking about? The Wild Africa trek, which is the $400 one, is a huge stamina one and wears out even physically fit people. Is there a different tour you could take that would be easier on you and fun for you both, and less costly?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/#/park-tours,tweens/

 

[Sunnywho]

...

 

[Bete]

If there is anyway to just stay at the same place as where your in laws have gifted to you; because, this may be your best bet. Maybe, you can buy some extra time there somehow. Talk to your in-laws and see what can be done. Don't expect them to pay for the extra days, but see if you can get more time there.

I say this because moving and having a split stay can be exhausting. Just think about getting everything packed up and getting to another resort and unpacking again. You could lose your day just trying to do all of this based on how you say you feel.

If that is not possible then do the cheapest onsite Disney resort. In October you may be able to qualify for free dining. The idea is to do park time; so, you shouldn't care about the resort. We have stayed deluxe and I prefer value and using the money savings for other fun there. Don't get caught up in the ambience. The memories in the parks is a lot better.

I would absolutely not do the Safari tour. That money can be better spent. It might even give you an extra day at a Disney park. If you really want the Safari tour then you have to see if everyone is willing to give up their birthday gifts and such to make it happen. Is the sacrifice worth it for the tour?

Don't know how you live day to day, but get extreme with saving more until you go on the trip. Cut back on utilities, eat cheaper meals, don't go out for meals, and so forth. You might gain enough $ to take a longer trip and do some special activities like the Safari tour.

 

[ammag]

Thanks for the info! The safari thing, I am forgetting right now what it's called but it's the one where you clip in and get to walk above exhibits it's about $200 per person. We first went when she was 5. Then for two days when she was 6 and she's been dreaming of it and waiting until she's old enough to go. She wants to be a wildlife vet in Africa since she was three and I made the mistake of promising it to her for r next trip. I can tell her we can't so it but I am trying my best to avoid that. I can do the trek with her if I go back to hotel and rest afterwards
We were using three years monthly savings, plus half of two tax returns to have this dream trip. Now we will have about 1.5 years of savings and depending on how things work out one or two tax returns to take some from. I know it sounds wierd.....but can't share more.

I guess I should have been more clear and said budget cut in half, I get too wordy sometimes. Sorry!!!

I didn't know bonnet creek was that low priced! Will start investigating...there's a chance my inlaws won't give us the hotel so that changes things a lot too. They keep wanting to use their points and tend to offer then take it away. Oh well! It could work out really well. But I have it plan for all possibilities.


Definitely right that the parks themselves are really all we need. I've spent the last few years so into WDW, and all of our friends who go do so many extras and whatnot it gets into my head,

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Thanks for the info! The safari thing, I am forgetting right now what it's called but it's the one where you clip in and get to walk above exhibits it's about $200 per person. We first went when she was 5. Then for two days when she was 6 and she's been dreaming of it and waiting until she's old enough to go. She wants to be a wildlife vet in Africa since she was three and I made the mistake of promising it to her for r next trip. I can tell her we can't so it but I am trying my best to avoid that. I can do the trek with her if I go back to hotel and rest afterwards

If you are using a scooter or wheelchair, you won't be able to do the Wild Africa Trek because parts of it are walking across on rope/board bridges.

TP

 

[marmalade]

What is your budget that you have to work with?

 

[kathy884]

The offsite savings deals (Bonnet Creek condos for example) are typically from doing an owner rental. It is typically recommended that you have your own car for transport to and from the park for this option also., so figure that in when looking at costs of this. Posting on the Orlando hotels and attraction forum you can find out who regulars at Bonnet Creed usually rent from for good deals if you want to look into that further.

Although cost per day with multiday park tickets really goes down with longer stays, shortening a trip is always a good way to still go and keep it in your budget.

With shorter trips we find that the parks themselves are plenty special for us. With the exception of the safari which it sounds like you really want to do if you can swing it, I wouldn't do any of the other expensive add ons. We skip those as well as expensive Disney table service meals, focusing on the parks which we think are what offer the fun and the value.

I've made the mistake of promising my son things before that I later realized I didn't want to do for cost / value reasons. Now I'm more careful not to do this. But you are not by any means alone in having done this. And like you I like to keep promises, but I do think that renegotiation is often in the realm of possibilities. Your daughter is still pretty young, so not sure this would work, but maybe you could involve your daughter in the budget planning -- Probably this is only a good idea if you have safari and a non safari choice you are willing to let her pick from. But it could be something like boy I know you really would like to do the Safari. With the budget we have we could do .... and ... and the safari -- seven night six day trip or if we pass up on the safari that is super expensive (tell her how much), we could do 10 days (that would pay for going to the parks x more days) and we could do this and this too. I know we talked about doing the safari on the next trip, but what do you think about skipping that and getting to stay longer or do you think the shorter trip and still doing the safari would be the way to go??

I did something similar, but with Discovery Cove and was very impressed that my son said, wow mom -- I had know ideas Discovery Cove was that expensive. It's not worth doing it for that much. I'm cool with skipping it.

If you do this, though, make sure you are fine with either choice because she might prefer a shorter trip with the expensive tour.

 

[auger]

The offsite savings deals (Bonnet Creek condos for example) are typically from doing an owner rental. It is typically recommended that you have your own car for transport to and from the park for this option also., so figure that in when looking at costs of this. Posting on the Orlando hotels and attraction forum you can find out who regulars at Bonnet Creed usually rent from for good deals if you want to look into that further.

Although cost per day with multiday park tickets really goes down with longer stays, shortening a trip is always a good way to still go and keep it in your budget.

With shorter trips we find that the parks themselves are plenty special for us. With the exception of the safari which it sounds like you really want to do if you can swing it, I wouldn't do any of the other expensive add ons. We skip those as well as expensive Disney table service meals, focusing on the parks which we think are what offer the fun and the value.

I've made the mistake of promising my son things before that I later realized I didn't want to do for cost / value reasons. Now I'm more careful not to do this. But you are not by any means alone in having done this. And like you I like to keep promises, but I do think that renegotiation is often in the realm of possibilities. Your daughter is still pretty young, so not sure this would work, but maybe you could involve your daughter in the budget planning -- Probably this is only a good idea if you have safari and a non safari choice you are willing to let her pick from. But it could be something like boy I know you really would like to do the Safari. With the budget we have we could do .... and ... and the safari -- seven night six day trip or if we pass up on the safari that is super expensive (tell her how much), we could do 10 days (that would pay for going to the parks x more days) and we could do this and this too. I know we talked about doing the safari on the next trip, but what do you think about skipping that and getting to stay longer or do you think the shorter trip and still doing the safari would be the way to go??

I did something similar, but with Discovery Cove and was very impressed that my son said, wow mom -- I had know ideas Discovery Cove was that expensive. It's not worth doing it for that much. I'm cool with skipping it.

If you do this, though, make sure you are fine with either choice because she might prefer a shorter trip with the expensive tour.

Totally agree with this strategy for handling the daughter and the safari decision. This is what we have always done with DD16. It helps kids learn that money doesn't grow on trees and choices must be made.
For our Nov trip, we gave DD the choice between 7 nts onsite with upgrade to DDP along with 2 nts offsite on Choice points, or all 9 nts onsite with QSDP. She thought about what was more important to her, and decided she wanted the TS meals enough to sacrifice two nts onsite.

I think it's a great teaching tool for kids to be involved in making decisions like this, especially when finances are concerned. They learn to make better choices as adults, when they are taught young that you have to work within your budget.

Good luck OP. I hope you are able to work everything out.

 

[LovesTimone]

I would sit down and really look at what you want this trip to be about, and plan from there. You have quite a bit of time to make some decision's, and that means more time to save and get creative with cutting back and making a bit of extra money. Saving money is hard work... But you can do it....

If there is a small chance that the In Laws will back out, Plan for you to pay for the whole trip. If they come through that's a added bonus and the extra can cash can go into a special treat or adventure.

I would have a talk with your DD about the trip and the special excursion, and explain to her the cost, kids are lot more understanding that you think.

I would open a separate saving account for this trip, and have the whole family in on how much is in there and let them know how it is growing. This will also teach them how to save. Have pizza night or tacos or whatever is your families favorite and go over how the savings is coming along, maybe have mickey shaped cookies or something Disney maybe a game, that way everyone is on board, and makes it easier when everyone know where they stand.

Between now and Oct 2016, you could have a few garage sales, all proceed going toward the Disney trip, get the kids involved they will be more willing to part with toys, games, clothing and such if they know the money made will be going into the Disney trip fund.

Also ask for Disney gift cards for holidays, birthdays, report cards, or other events. This way the money does not get spent on something else, and the kids can see the dollars add up for their spending.

There are some on-line site for surveys, find one that has gift cards, for food and gas, to use on your trip. Right now with the holiday coming you can usually get a deal, when buying gift cards, I think Ruby Tuesdays has get 15.00 when you buy 50.00 worth of Gift cards. They are lots of deals like this, just check the expiration date on them.

You also can start buying Disney gift cards each week, my friends do this, some weeks it 25.00 sometimes it 100.00, depending on her DH's overtime, they only do this after all the bills are paid, then they pay themselves with Disney gift cards.

Sell on eBay and other sites.

Take a look at your grocery bill, start meal planning, use coupons, every dollar saved is a dollar closer to your goal. ( my coupon book is a mickey 3 ring binder, just helps keep me focused on my goal)

Cut out eating lunches out, take your lunch. You will save a ton of money here and eat healthier., make sure to bring your drink the drink machine and snack machine are not your friend. ( I had a Disney lunch box another reminder why I was bring my lunch)

Look at your cable bill, phone bill, light bill, look for ways to save, make sure the kids and you become what we call the light police, turn them off.

Get creative you can do this...Let us know how the progress goes..