I can't look away, HELP ME!

[mom0299]

I can't stop going to the WDW website and pricing trips. We were there last Christmas and are not planning to go back until 2014. We told ourselves we were NOT going to travel this year until our family reunion at the beach next summer. We are trying to pay off bills so we can be debt free!!! We already have a beach house booked for next summer's family reunion and that vacation will be pretty inexpensive for us. I keep thinking we could squeeze in a quick 3 or 4 day trip to WDW, but I know we really shouldn't. We have commitments for summer 2013 and I just don't know if I can wait until 2014 to get back to WDW. I keep telling myself that by 2014 we'll be debt free and FLE will be finished, but I can't stop looking. Help me!!!!

 

[Marionnette]

I can't stop going to the WDW website and pricing trips. We were there last Christmas and are not planning to go back until 2014. We told ourselves we were NOT going to travel this year until our family reunion at the beach next summer. We are trying to pay off bills so we can be debt free!!! We already have a beach house booked for next summer's family reunion and that vacation will be pretty inexpensive for us. I keep thinking we could squeeze in a quick 3 or 4 day trip to WDW, but I know we really shouldn't. We have commitments for summer 2013 and I just don't know if I can wait until 2014 to get back to WDW. I keep telling myself that by 2014 we'll be debt free and FLE will be finished, but I can't stop looking. Help me!!!!

You know in your heart that you should not be taking a Disney vacation any time soon. If it is really tortuous to go to the Disney website and plan a trip that you cannot afford, then stop going there.

In fact, you might want to back away from the disboards for a while. It only makes it more painful when it looks like the whole world is planning a trip and you are not.

I'm not saying this to be snarky. I know how it feels to miss the mouse. But when you know that you shouldn't go and you continue to rub salt in it, the wound doesn't heal.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I can't stop going to the WDW website and pricing trips. We were there last Christmas and are not planning to go back until 2014. We told ourselves we were NOT going to travel this year until our family reunion at the beach next summer. We are trying to pay off bills so we can be debt free!!! We already have a beach house booked for next summer's family reunion and that vacation will be pretty inexpensive for us. I keep thinking we could squeeze in a quick 3 or 4 day trip to WDW, but I know we really shouldn't. We have commitments for summer 2013 and I just don't know if I can wait until 2014 to get back to WDW. I keep telling myself that by 2014 we'll be debt free and FLE will be finished, but I can't stop looking. Help me!!!!

I know how you feel. I keep doing the same thing, except I've used a giftcard to make a deposit on a package for next year. I promised myself that we'd take an onsite trip after our mortgage is paid off next year, and it will be paid off by this December, but there are so many things that we could be using the $$ for, instead of a trip, so I'm conflicted. I don't have to pay the balance off until July, so I'm going to keep the reservation and see how much we've managed to save between now and then. If our "cash reserves" have been built back up to a comfortable level, we'll take the trip. If not, then we'll have to cancel.

 

[willowsnn3]

Ohhh, I feel you're pain. We just got back from a short visit & renewed our annual pass, now kinda wishing we hadn't as we will feel like that money was wasted if we don't go before expiration. Money is getting tight & job situations are are iffy, but maybe we'll be able to go again with the AP discount or room only discount.

 

[mom0299]

Thanks! I'm trying to stay strong. We don't live too far from Dollywood so DH and I are considering season passes for next year. We could easily get our money's worth out of those and they are much cheaper than a trip to WDW. I guess that will have to do until 2014.

 

[Evi]

I say feed it feed the need!!! Ok well not to much. But why not make it about saving up for things you want to do? Like essentially plan out the trip. Pick the resort you want to go to and get an idea of what its going to cost to stay there. Factor in things like food and other expenses extra things you may want to do, maybe other parks or extra stuff. Either way come up with a number and then spend the next year saving for it. Find special Disney activities for your family like theme nights, movie nights playing games etc. Think of all the ways you can save up for this trip. Once you meet that goal your going to be super happy because you know this will be the very best trip ever. Since your making an extra effort to have everything paid for you know it will not cost you anything extra and you'll come back not owing a penny towards it. Plus your family will be so excited to go since you spent the year building it up.

 

[Dominus]

I feel ya. We were just there in mid August, and I'm already wanting to go back. I've also said that we won't go back for a while, maybe 2014 for my 40th birthday . But it's so hard not to look and plan. I love planning for the trip as much as the trip itself. Maybe I have a problem.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I say feed it feed the need!!! Ok well not to much. But why not make it about saving up for things you want to do? Like essentially plan out the trip. Pick the resort you want to go to and get an idea of what its going to cost to stay there. Factor in things like food and other expenses extra things you may want to do, maybe other parks or extra stuff. Either way come up with a number and then spend the next year saving for it. Find special Disney activities for your family like theme nights, movie nights playing games etc. Think of all the ways you can save up for this trip. Once you meet that goal your going to be super happy because you know this will be the very best trip ever. Since your making an extra effort to have everything paid for you know it will not cost you anything extra and you'll come back not owing a penny towards it. Plus your family will be so excited to go since you spent the year building it up.

I second this! I say if you can budget and save for it without having to owe on the vacation once you get back then go for it!! We NEVER charge our vacations and spend about a year saving up, by the time we go on our vacation we are more than ready and feel like we have accomplished our goal!!

 

[Zhoen]

For the time being, imagination is still free, and in the vacations you imagine when you look on the planning sites, it's never too hot, it's never rainy, the children never melt down or get lost, and there's never a line. It's quite possible that imaginary vacations are the best kind!

I have been planning our trip next May (2012) since March of this year (2011). It began with a dream of taking our littlest girl to WDW for her 4th birthday, but it was too quick a turn-around to make it happen the way I would want it... so we started planning for next year. I hop on the DIS whenever I have time, and it's been soooooo much fun. By the time we actually go, I'll have already taken the trip in my mind a million times, and that's free! Yesterday I was looking at the info on the Fireworks dessert party and considering adding that to our Birthday-girl's itinerary if they are still doing it when the time comes... seeing her in my mind on that pretty balcony with all kinds of desserts half-eaten, half-smeared-on-her-face... exhausted, but too excited to rest while she waits for the fireworks... it was a wonderful diversion from the stress of my day.

...meanwhile, we signed up for the Disney Visa and are using the heck out of it (paying it off each month.) It's only been a few months, but we were up to 105 points last statement... Pretty soon that will be a free birthday dinner at CP! And the $200 gift card they gave us for signing up is going to more than cover her Birthday breakfast at the castle with Cinderella... I'm getting all glow-ey just thinking about how happy she'll be.

As much as we feel we're going all-out for her (it's her fifth, after all...), we are staying off-site in a place we were able to book a year out, the MINUTE it came up available. We've already bought and tucked away our auto train tickets... next up will be park tickets after 1 October, then we can make our ADRs on 28 November. It's bookmarked on my computer and written on every paper calendar we own.

We are also NOT keeping it a secret, trying to teach the lessons of careful planning and delayed gratification. We've already picked up princess dresses for both girls to wear on clearance and we keep our eyes out at yardsales for trading pins. Both girls have started to point out the "hidden mickeys" in the world around us-- that's free-- and their new obsession that pancakes must be "mickey" shaped has made eating in more appealing to them than eating out...

So while waiting does, indeed, stink... it can be made to stink less... and while there is a big difference between waiting one year and waiting THREE, I say "don't stop dreaming." Enjoy those imaginary desserts and see the fireworks over and over in your mind. Come hang on the boards every time you need it. It's not that you're never going to go again, you're just not going YET... In the meantime, close your eyes and enjoy that $4000-a-night cabana on the beach at the lagoon, and guess what? They've upgraded you to a free night in the Cinderella Suite!

(And, Gatlinburg's a pretty awesome place for a stay-cation, too...)

 

[elcodfish]

I find that it helps to make lists and charts of goals and dates. I really find it easier to make decisions once I can visualize everything. So maybe making a chart for each year with your goals you can "see" what you need to accomplish and you can put your needs before your wants.

 

[monkey30]

I feel for you we got back almost 2 weeks ago and I was already looking. Then DH mentioned he found a deal for Disneyland last night for october.... ummmm I really had a hard time saying no!