"I Was Just Shown The Bill..." side comment

[ptrbryant]

I have to say that it makes me a bit sad to think of the many families who, excited to finally plan trip to WDW, go the official website, come up with a $$,$$$ package price and just say, well, we just can't afford it and never go. I wish there was some way to link them straight to mousesavers or here so that others would realize that regular, middle-income families can and do afford WDW vacations...feel like so many are missing out on the magic, KWIM?

Karla B.

 

[WillCAD]

Yup. So many people have the impression that WDW is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that takes years to save for and costs as much as a home mortgage.

 

[pumpkinfish]

I am right there with you! To think about all the money that is being thrown at WDW, and how much I/we save by knowing about "codes" and such...wow. I understand disney has to make money, and I am willing to pay that...but c'mon! $16,000!!! I can't even fathom it...it's the price of my car!

So sad....but I feel better knowing that people know about DIS boards and we are such a family around here, who would jump at the chance to help out those in need!

I feel a group-hug coming on...

 

[alecam]

I can't imagine where I would be without the DISboards!!

 

[GoofItUp]

I've had people tell me they can't go to Disney because of how expensive it is.....which is when I go into DIS mode! One of the great things about knowing all this info is helping other people find out! Then there's a lot of going on!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I gotta agree... My first onsite trip wasn't solo and my share back then in 1991 (or when ever Dixie Landings opened is the same as my maximum total cost is now...about $1200...usually (much) less.

 

[roadtripper]

Can't imagine where I'd be without the DIS...
I was thinking that I haven't spent 16,000 on our four trips that our family of four has taken in the last 3 years (Ok, well maybe if you factor in DVC and today's add-on... )

 

[dixipixi]

I have to say I agree with you all. For the last 10 years or so we have went to Disney every other year. I get comments from people around me all the time like, "how can you afford to go so much?" That's when I also get into the DISmode and try to explain the "cheap way to go".

Over the last 3 or 4 years we have decided that our Disney trips can be even less expensive than other destinations we've tried. I think alot of people's problems with Disney trips is that they seem so expensive up front. If you take into account all the money you actually spend on other vacations by having to buy everything separately, it all seems to even out in the end.

Myself, I would rather know up front how much it is going to cost instead of being "nickeled and dimed to death" for every little thing! I have always been a HUGE Disney fan. DH not so much. But over the last few trips he has come around. As of last year, we are now planning Disney trips every year because he says he feels like he gets his money worth!

 

[mowsluver]

I do the planning/paying for our trips to DL. Myhusband REALLY has no idea how much a GOOD vacation costs!
Considering that we have to rent a van (which adds a lot!) I think we do well, cost-wise. This year there will be 6 of us going to WDW. Only one is in the 'kids' age bracket. Between the tickets/lodging/food/etc I am thinking (knowing) that $5000 is a price to shoot at. The whole trip from start to finish will be about 10/11 days. Does this sound outrageous to anyone else? I always like to have more money than needed--just in case.
How about some feedback on how much (ballpark figure) it costs for YOUR family trips!!

 

[taximomfor4]

Well, since flying was out of the question for my family of 6 (4 kids, 2 adults)...

We are driving my minivan all the way from NE Ohio...about 20 hours. No hotel stay on the way, I think. I'm gonna be TIRED when I get there, lol.

Gas: $260

We are staying at ASMU for 3 nights at rack rate over Easter, followed by 3 nights AP rate...we had to get 2 rooms, with connecting door.

Hotel: $1200

Packed breakfast foods already, gonna eat cheaply one meal/day (small, split-up meals + snacks) $25 and one real meal/day $75 (we luck out because dd2 is free, at buffets, and will split other meals.)

Food:$100/day= $700

I bought an AP for the room discount ($420), and dh and dd11 + dd6 + dd5 + dd2 needed 2adult, 2kid tickets ($880) for 7 day hoppers.

Tickets: $1300

I have been buying little Disney novelty items as I find them for good prices, to replace the candy my kids' Easter baskets will be lacking, lol. So souvenirs will have to be a rare thing.

Souvenirs: $50

Grand Total: $3510

More than I had convinced dh I could do this for, lol. But that was waaaaay back when I booked us for 4 nighs at DTD Doubletree suites, lol. And we were getting 4-day non-hoppers, no AP. He has NO CLUE how much I am spending now. I prepaid ALL the hotel stay, hoping to keep him from flipping his lid. Even so, it'll be tight. I am in nursing school, so lacking my income it'll be tricky. But I was soooo done never having a family vacation. We tried booking other destinations, but with our kids' ages we couldn't think of anywhere that would be WORTH paying good $ for besides WDW.

 

[Savin4Disney]

Well then we should all be wearing DIS shirts to promote the good deals.

 

[mom2of2]

Our 1st trip down in 3/03 I saved forever for and found the DIS about 4 months before our trip. It was 4 of us at CBR with only a general code. We flew, rented a car and had 6 day PH's and 6Q&C's our total cost was around $3100 for 7 days. We went back in 8/03 and drove, bought 3day PH's, stayed at DtD Courtyard by Marriot for 5 nights and 2 nights at ASMu. Total cost with gas $1300. I've been 3 more times since then and have hardly spent anything since I am a AP holder and went off times. I can't imagine spending $16000 but then again when I was researching I did come across this site. I can't imagaine anyone not investigating such an expensive trip.

 

[rhiansmom]

$16,000 is close to my yearly salary (ok not THAT close, but still) and I have managed 2 trips in 2 years as a single parent!

Last year we stayed at the CR and spent 6 nights/7 days in the park, paid for my mom and spent less than $3000

This year it's 7 nights/8 days and DD is doing the Wonderland Tea Party, Pirate Cruise, Cooking Adventures, My Princess Tea Party (yup the $200 one) and 4 or 5 character meals and my budget is $2000 for everything (including airfair and towncar transportation)

I gasped like many of you at that number!

 

[Coach Rick]

We had been many times prior to staying on property in 96. From that point on we swore we would never stay off property again. Our trip in 02 we stayed at the Poly. Total cost of trip through Southwest; $4800 for the five of us. While there I had this naagging feeling that I should buy DVC, this trip definately did it for me. Figuring we were going to finally make this an every other year occurance we figured we would be paying this little debt off very quickly. Now we are going close to twice a year. So much for saving money.

Now our freinds see us as wealthy because we go not only once a year, but twice. us wealthy

 

[luvthatduke]

All I can say is simply this,
We couldn't do Disney without the DIS!

 

[bgula]

We figure it at about $1000 / week. We've been 4 times in the last 2 years, the longest was last July for 4 weeks. That one cost us ~$5000 Canadian: ~$2000 accomodations (FW), ~$1000 annual passes, ~$1000 gas to haul trailer, ~$1000 food, spending, etc.

 

[MrsPete]

Vacations are like having children. Within reason, they can cost as much or as little as you choose to spend on them; and in the long run, it's not how much you spent that affects the outcome most significantly.

 

[the kabuki]

I had to laugh about going into the DIS mode. Does anyone else go into that mode as soon as someone says-"We're thinking about going to Disney sometime next year."?

My poor neighbor said that the other day, and I must have kept her talking for a hour. Plus sending her all my links, including this one, and our 2 dis guidebooks. She must think I'm nuts, I just got so excited for her I pratically had her daily schedule planned by the time I was finished.

 

[Kristi1357]

Vacations are like having children. Within reason, they can cost as much or as little as you choose to spend on them; and in the long run, it's not how much you spent that affects the outcome most significantly.

 

[ybcart7]

My DH was talking to a lady he works with and said "My DW is OBSESSED -- but thank goodness cause she saved us a fortune!! These boards are awesome!!!