I think we're going to have to cancel our trip!

[jenr812]

DH and I had a conversation last night that just blew my mind.

Background - we got PINNED and our 6 night/7 day package with MYW dining and hoppers is just over $2100 for our family of 5 (DH, me, DD11, DS6, DS2). We were talking about ways to save for spending money and just general budget stuff.

He said that he won't be happy unless we have AT LEAST $1500 to spend AFTER paying for gas and mousekeeping I was completely flabbergasted. What on earth does he think we are going to spend THAT MUCH money on??? We agree that we don't want to come home with a bunch of souvies - we have soooo much clutter as it is and are desperately trying to get rid of it on a constant basis. My DD's bio-dad took her to WDW last summer and EVERY SINGLE souvie she brought home EXCEPT 2 has gone to goodwill or elsewhere. (not without her permission of course!). I am not going to waste money just so he can be the nice guy. He wants to equip our children with $200+ a piece to spend as they please. I was thinking $100 and whatever they save on their own (gifts, etc) would be plenty.

We are only able to do this trip because of a nice tax return and the incredible deal we got. I wish my husband would just accept our financial situation for what it is and stop trying to be what he's not. It is so frustrating. I am trying so hard to plan this trip so that we enjoy ourselves but I have a feeling that no matter what I do, he is going to be disappointed, and believe me when he's not happy, NO ONE is.

Anyway, I just wanted to vent and cry Thanks...

 

[minmate]

Well, I feel for you on your situation. But I'm not sure why you say you may have to cancel your trip (or was that not so serious... and just frustration b/c you can't imagine spending $1500 extra while there?) -- If it makes you (or him) feel any better, my dad was with us last time we went and he took each kid to the store to pick something out and each one took FOREVER looking but each decided on $20 or less worth of stuff (add about $25 each for the rest of the trip on hats, etc.) and they each spent maybe $50 a piece... and this was with Grandpa who put NO limits on them... They could've bought the store! So, I agree, the lesser amount should be fine. Then take lots of pictures and those can be addt'l souvies (but don't mention the cost of film to dh!!!!)

Good luck! I hope all turns out okay!

 

[SueOKW]

You have my sympathy! good luck!

 

[mickeyluv]

I am sooooo sorry!! Maybe you can try to talk to him again and to try to make him see that just going to WDW is a souvenir within itself, in a way. Tell him that the memories your family will make will be so much better then any souvenir that the kids will bring home. They will have magical memories that will last a lifetime, and if he still doesn't want to go, maybe you could suggest that just you and the children go (don't know if you would even consider this, but it was a thought). Good Luck!!!

 

[pezpam]

I'd sit down and find out what he wants the money for. If food is mostly covered by the dining plan, you should be able to have a heck of a lot of fun for a lot less than that. You're right that kids don't need that much money - I think my daughter spent less than $50 during 8 days last year, and that includes the $25 beach towel I sprang for figuring we could use it at home as well as at the resort pool.

Is he hoping for rounds of golf or some other special event? It's easy to get carried away when planning a Disney trip, but just being there will be the memory of a lifetime, even if you never get to any of the extras. The best I ever did for DD was a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's and she's still talking about that 2 years later! I managed to save enough to go again this year, but we're still on a budget and she's good with it.

Find out what he can't live without and see if you can find ways to save pennies to cover that. Maybe he'll drop the $200 per child once he realizes how cool the trip will be......

Good luck!

 

[Drewandwendi]

Jen, I don't know when you are going, but we are going next weekend(yep, crazy). There are 4 of us, and we are going on less than $1500 for the week (after tix and hotel). If the 4 of us can eat and play on less than $1500, I'm sure you can too. I'll report when I get back so you can show him exactly what we did for the money. BTW, we have 5PS's (probably wont keep them all) and I am planning a little surprise taht will be around $200. Souvies will be whatever the kids want(they have their own money) to purchase themselves, PLUS 1 item that we will splurge on. Thsi will probably be either a tshirt or stuffed something. Maybe he is just being cranky. If not, maybe yu can find a way to make some extra cash.

Hope it works out for you!!

 

[ncbyrne]

Are you sure your DH and mine aren't twins!? My DH is the same way. Our next trip is just the two of us - we have a package with My Way dining added. We're flying free (Skymiles) and our package will be paid for in advance. The ONLY thing we'll need money for is "stuff" and yet he is insisting that we'll need $2K extra! I have a feeling that he just doesn't get it that all the meals, including tip, is already paid for! He won't listen to reason. But hey...as long as HE comes up with the $, that's fine by me, cuz it will just go in the bank towards our next trip when we get home!

 

[Selket]

Maybe you could save $1500 if you left him at home?

So giving the kids $200 apiece is $600 - what is the rest for? $450 apiece for the parents? Extra snack money? Perhaps it would help to sit down and break down the budget for that $1500 to see if that is really what you need. I agree you don't need $200 apiece for the kids to spend on toys and junk.

Good luck!

 

[Mitzi]

Sounds like he protests too much..Leave him home..I too can't figure why he needs to have so much extra..But talk it out or tell him to stay home, BUT I WOULDN'T CANCEL TRIP !!!!!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

As I was reading your post I wondered if he felt like he needed to "keep up" with the trip she had with her Dad last summer? Men, even the good ones, can be very competitive. I know my Sister goes through this with her ex and her husband. Her new husband is a great stepdad, but he does not make as much money as her ex, and it can be a problem sometimes. If this is the case maybe if you talk about how much the kids want to be there with him and the $ don't matter he will feel better. I hope it works out for you!

 

[jenr812]

Thank you all so much for your support, advice, and posts. I've just read them all and hope to come update/post more soon - I am so sick and I'm trying to get some rest. Thank you This place is so wonderful

 

[laurabelle]

Just wanted to say...my kids (11 & 8yrs old) save up their allowance for Disney. They use it to buy any souveniers, and special treats, like candies from the countries in World Showcase (i.e. they don't spend their money on hubby and I buy the typical snacks and of course meals). We've been to WDW many times and believe it or not, as big Disney freeks as we are, we don't feel the need to buy alot, just certain special things. Heck, I hardly have any Disney stuff in my house, if I didn't keep the spending at Disney in check, I couldn't afford to go as often!

 

[LauraAnn630]

Two words for him.....OVER TIME! It sucks but thats what Im doing!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

ETA : Ooops. I just saw that you have the MYW dining package so you don't need the money for food.

In that case, I don't know. I have no idea what the extra 1500 would be spent on...

 

[WDWJWEB1]

jenr812


You may want to tell your husband and Disney kids that there is a new store at DTD and everything there is $ 10.00 or less. They could actually get more items for less money!

Just a thought

 

[jenr812]

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling a bit better today (not well enough to catch up on my housework yet but well enough to DIS!)

Well, I feel for you on your situation. But I'm not sure why you say you may have to cancel your trip (or was that not so serious... and just frustration b/c you can't imagine spending $1500 extra while there?) -- If it makes you (or him) feel any better, my dad was with us last time we went and he took each kid to the store to pick something out and each one took FOREVER looking but each decided on $20 or less worth of stuff (add about $25 each for the rest of the trip on hats, etc.) and they each spent maybe $50 a piece... and this was with Grandpa who put NO limits on them... They could've bought the store! So, I agree, the lesser amount should be fine. Then take lots of pictures and those can be addt'l souvies (but don't mention the cost of film to dh!!!!)

Good luck! I hope all turns out okay!

It is part frustration and partly because my husband doesn't know how to save but loves to spend. We won't have $1500 to spend there. Period. But if we don't have it, I don't want him to (a) have a rotten time and (b) ruin it for the rest of us. Thankfully, we've got a digital, so no film Thanks for your post!

 

[jenr812]

You have my sympathy! good luck!

Thank you - I appreciate it!!

 

[jenr812]

I am sooooo sorry!! Maybe you can try to talk to him again and to try to make him see that just going to WDW is a souvenir within itself, in a way. Tell him that the memories your family will make will be so much better then any souvenir that the kids will bring home. They will have magical memories that will last a lifetime, and if he still doesn't want to go, maybe you could suggest that just you and the children go (don't know if you would even consider this, but it was a thought). Good Luck!!!

Thank you! I do plan to talk to him again. I like the way you put that....it is a souvenir in and of itself. That is exactly how I feel. Me and the kids going alone isn't a possibility! Though sometimes... Thank you for your support!

 

[jenr812]

I'd sit down and find out what he wants the money for. If food is mostly covered by the dining plan, you should be able to have a heck of a lot of fun for a lot less than that. You're right that kids don't need that much money - I think my daughter spent less than $50 during 8 days last year, and that includes the $25 beach towel I sprang for figuring we could use it at home as well as at the resort pool.

Is he hoping for rounds of golf or some other special event? It's easy to get carried away when planning a Disney trip, but just being there will be the memory of a lifetime, even if you never get to any of the extras. The best I ever did for DD was a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's and she's still talking about that 2 years later! I managed to save enough to go again this year, but we're still on a budget and she's good with it.

Find out what he can't live without and see if you can find ways to save pennies to cover that. Maybe he'll drop the $200 per child once he realizes how cool the trip will be......

Good luck!

Thanks! I did ask what he thinks we will need that kind of money for. He insists that there will be things we want to do that cost money. We have watched the planning DVD, looked at UOG, Passporter, here, WDW.com, etc and the only thing that we want to do above and beyond the parks is a $30 carraige ride at our resort (POR).


I just don't think he "gets" that it's basically all inclusive. I mean, really, it's not like we will have a lack of things to do It is Disney for heaven's sake!

 

[jenr812]

Jen, I don't know when you are going, but we are going next weekend(yep, crazy). There are 4 of us, and we are going on less than $1500 for the week (after tix and hotel). If the 4 of us can eat and play on less than $1500, I'm sure you can too. I'll report when I get back so you can show him exactly what we did for the money. BTW, we have 5PS's (probably wont keep them all) and I am planning a little surprise taht will be around $200. Souvies will be whatever the kids want(they have their own money) to purchase themselves, PLUS 1 item that we will splurge on. Thsi will probably be either a tshirt or stuffed something. Maybe he is just being cranky. If not, maybe yu can find a way to make some extra cash.

Hope it works out for you!!

How exciting that you're going this weekend (yep, and crazy LOL). I look forward to hearing your full report Thanks!