If I can save the money???

[eyor44]

If you do a yard sale, do it the first weekend of the month. A lot of people get checks the first of the month and look for yard sales for items they need.

I save change.
Take breakfast, lunch, soda and snacks to work.
Use coupons. Join a coupon train to help maximize the coupons you can get.
Limit eating out.
Once you pick your dates, watch for discounts.
Join MyPoints. Collect points and save up for GCs you can use on your trip.
Join InboxDollars. Extra cash.
Join Sunshine Rewards. Extra cash or GCs.
All three sites, you read emails and do surveys. Also, if you do any shopping online, you can earn points or % back for purchases.

Good Luck in your quest for Disney. You'll make it.

 

[Fyrefly]

Please go in January, like everyone else is saying. I went the dates in my sig and had a fabulous time. I got to do what I wanted for my trip, the room was cheap, and most of the decorations were still up.

Comparison, searching at Disney right now before tax:

If you go during Value Season, which in 2011 started January 2, it was $82 a night on weekdays and $92 on weekends. That exact same room is $164 a night during Holiday Season.

If you put off your trip just a week or two, you will literally pay half the price in hotels alone. That and I've heard the food is more expensive during the popular seasons (not sure if this is an urban legend or not but I wouldn't put it past them) and it will be SO crowded I'm not sure you'd get anything done.

TBH if you are living paycheck to paycheck its dicey to do a big vacation anyway, but if you are determined to do it, the least you can do is make it so you'll only have to raise half the money...

My suggestion is do a budget for a month or two if you don't already. Track every single cent you spend, from a candy bar at a vending machine to gas on the cars. Figure out where your nonessentials are, then cut them. If you already do that, then saving your change would be good, also possibly looking into some high-yield savings accounts? You could also ask family give Disney gift cards for birthdays, xmas in lieu of other gifts and those can be put towards food, etc. A more experienced poster would need to tell you if they can be used on hotel and park tickets.

Also, pick a date as early as you can and then whenever you see an airline have a sale, you'll know what dates to book it for. I got a really good Southwest deal on my trip, and that might help you too.

 

[deezeealum]

for those of you who do my points or quick surveys, I have a question. can you receive an Amazon gift card thru these sites and then use the Amazon card to pay for a Disney gift card? Probably a silly question, but have never done this. TIA

 

[Marionnette]

for those of you who do my points or quick surveys, I have a question. can you receive an Amazon gift card thru these sites and then use the Amazon card to pay for a Disney gift card? Probably a silly question, but have never done this. TIA

Amazon doesn't let you buy a gift card using one of their gift cards. Some people are able to get Walgreen's gift cards and then buy Disney gift cards with them at the store. But it depends on the store. Some allow it and others won't.

 

[bigmama67]

If you put off your trip just a week or two, you will literally pay half the price in hotels alone. That and I've heard the food is more expensive during the popular seasons (not sure if this is an urban legend or not but I wouldn't put it past them) and it will be SO crowded I'm not sure you'd get anything done.

I can vouch for that being true about the meals. We went the day after Thanksgiving in '07, and on Saturday I booked a breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Since it was still a holiday weekend, that breakfast ended up being inflated in price (even more than usual, LOL)...it cost us more than our LUNCH at CP did the following Wednesday! So, yes, they definitely boost the rate at holidays.