If you received some unexpected cash after you set your trip budget...

[blanq]

what would you do?

I can't believe it but at work yesterday I was notified I am getting a $2500 bonus (less after dreaded taxes, of course) in my check this Friday. This is totally unexpected, but it is very welcome of course!! My DH made this surprise even more wonderful by telling me he thinks I should do whatever I want with this money!

We have set our trip budget for our May trip, and everything is either paid for, or will be (i.e., through existing budget) by the time we head out for our trip. There are three of us on this trip (me, DH, and DS-9). This is our budget so far:

$748.50-Airfare
$1107.00-Resort
$229.00-Cirque du Soleil
$550.51-4 day (with 1 plus feature) hoppers
$700.00-Food
$90-Towncar Transfer
$100.00-Souveniers
$50.00-Tips/Incidentals
Total: $3575.01

That budget was based on a 7-day studio at BCV, and eating some of our meals in since we would have the small kitchen, however we found out yesterday that we will not be staying in a villa after all. We were going to rent points from a DVC member, but there is no availability for the full week we wanted, so that fell apart. We have no clue where we should stay now. We have stayed at WL, CBR, OKW, and the Swan before and we know we want to try a new resort this trip.

So the good news is we have extra cash, and the bad news is we have nowhere to stay on our trip yet.

If you were me what would you do? Would you blow this newfound wad of cash on your trip? If so, what would you spend it on? What would you go all out on? What resort would you stay at? Or, would you do the practical thing and invest/save the money?

I am looking forward to your feedback!

 

[Mortlives]

I'd probably put 1/2 into my retirement fund. And then, if I had enough left over, I'd probably splurge for an AKL safari view. Anything left over after that would go to extra souvenirs and tours.

Ciao,
Mort.

 

[rlduvall]

I agree with the above post. Put 1/2 back and upgrade resort. The only thing about AKL, the Savannah view is pretty cool, but the rooms are alot smaller than at any other deluxe resort. We stayed there one night in September of 2001, hated the size of the room and the darkness and moved over to FQR for alot cheaper. Not near as luxurious, but felt like the same size room because of the smaller beds. Polynesian looks incredible. You also might enjoy renting one of the small boats (I think it's called a watersprite) on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Enjoy the $$$$$$

 

[JOC]

Too bad your BCV ressies fell through. We stayed at the Polynesian Concierge last month at a great rate and enjoyed it. Can you get any discounts at the resorts with this short notice? Whatever you decide, have a great time!

 

[Pat_Elliott]

blanq,

I'd give another vote to bank half of it. I think it's always important to pay yourself, so you can go to Disney when your 80.

But here's a novel idea: You've already got a decent amount set aside for the resort. Take what you need to get what you require for this trip, then start the kitty for the next trip? Always think ahead......

 

[mickeysaver]

Well, for me the money would all have to go toward the vacation fund. I really love buying Disney collectable pieces and my honey is a Stitch fanatic, so we tend to go all out on goodies.....roughly $250/day. We also tend to take tons of pictures and that means we spend about $400 on film and developing for just one trip. We budget roughly $100/day for food. We also tend to save on the hotel room by staying at the All Stars, but we are considering trading up to POR this year. We don't have kids, but we are large expensive children. Do what you feel is right for your family, but I would have to have some fun with any extra money that fell into my lap. Mickey

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

I would put it back into my vacation fund so I was that much closer to my next vacation.

 

[kayeandjim00]

I am with mousesaver! We go crazy on our Disney trips with souveniers and eating at all of the restaurants so we would probably put all of it towards our trip so we could have even more fun!

 

[blanq]

Thank you for all of your replies! I always appreciate the advice on this board! Anyway, I think I have decided what to do. I booked a standard view room at AKL. With my DC discount the price is $1678.88 for the week. Yikes! That is over $500.00 more than it would have cost us to rent BCV from the DVC member we were working with. I looked into BC for the week, and well, I won't even tell you what the cost would have been, but trust me it was nauseating. I am praying for a code, but if not, I'm prepared to plunk down the money at AKL anyway. I also have decided that we won't bring any food with, and we will eat out all our meals. In the past I have always brought breakfast and snack stuff with us for the room, so this will be a big treat. Even with these plans, I'll still be able to save some of my bonus for a rainy day (maybe another disney trip, or who knows what).

 

[JulesMom]

Instead of upgrading this trip, I, too would save for the next trip

 

[tink2dw]

You know we loved staying at Holiday Inn and Family Suites,the adults had a master bedroom with a door and tv,the Kidsuite had Bunkbeds,tv,speakers in the bunks ,nintendo 64, a large bathroom, a combo parlor with sleeper sofa,tv,table & chairs, microwave,bigger small refrigerator,lots of cabinets and sink.

HIFS is on a very unbusy road,just 1 mile from the WDW gate near Ebcot,Swan Dolphin area. A Rental car will be needed.
http://www.hifamilysuites.com/index.html?

Then I would buy Annual Pass,for free parking and More trips to WDW later in the year!!

 

[dcfromva]

blanq

With my DC discount the price is $1678.88 for the week.

Do you like to go to Disney every year or two and do you like to stay at DVC property? (Or is this a trip of a lifetime?) Had you ever thought of joining DVC? I was thinking between your bonus and what you were planning to spend on your room anyway, you would have over 20% to put down on it--you could see if there was availability at another DVC resort and make your own ressies and then be wait listed for the BCV... They have a program called magical beginnings which offers an incentive to join--I don't know if it would be something that you could take advantage of and still get a ressie for this year.
I know there was a great big discussion about this before--and DVC is not for everyone, but I was thinking that maybe you would be one of the people for whom this would be a good deal--and it doesn't hurt to ask...


-DC

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

I p.m.'d you


herc.

 

[robinb]

I have to agree with dcfromva ... have you thought about buying into DVC? I see that you have been to WDW a lot. You could buy a small 150 point contract at BCV. As you know, a week in a studio at BCV (and BWV pref-view and VWL) in May is 123 points. The DVC salespeople can sometimes work a bit of magic and get you into your home resort .

Also, did the DVC member look into BWV or VWL for you? Both are very nice resorts and are the same price. I have pictures of a VWL studio if you're interested.

 

[MELSMICE]

I personally like the idea of joining DVC with your bonus - but I'm a Disney fanatic.

Anyway, did you look into a cabin at FW? I bet your DS would love it. There is so much to do there. There is also a full kitchen so you could still save on food & the rate may be less expensive than the AKL.

Regardless of what you decide to do, I would put some aside for your next Disney trip. Any bonuses or "found" money that we get we put some aside in the "Disney trip fund". (Even if it is only $100 or so) It's always nice to have a head start for the next trip when we return from a current one!

 

[Gillian]

AKL is a great choice, especially since there are only 3 of you! Hopefully you can get a lower rate than $239/night for a standard view. I think for march (peak season) they were $189 with a code, and in the fall they were $119 or so. It's likely you will end up lower than your original budget & have $500 extra to put into next year's Disney fund!

Did you buy your tickets already? If you think you might go back within a year, consider spending some of the money on upgrading to APs.

Be sure to try Boma on flank steak night! It's yummy.

Buying DVC would be great if you could buy over the phone before you go.

 

[catwho]

Well, you only have $100 budgeted for souveniors. I can do that much damage way too easily! LOL!!

Now what *I* would do is start investing it in the next trip. My dh and I are going down (sans kids) in October for our anniversary. So if he were to suddenly get a $2500 bonus I know that I would go ahead and book my room for then.

But you seriously need more $$ for gifts!

 

[blanq]

Okay let me just say that you DVCers are a very bad influence on me! I am already weak in the knees when it comes to disney, have been pushing the tempting thought of buying into DVC out of my head for the last three years, and here you all go getting me all worked up about it again. My DH will not be happy with you!

The AP vouchers are good suggestions. I'll tell you what I told Hercamore when I responded to my PM: every time we go to WDW we say "this is the last trip to WDW we are going to take for awhile". And then in no time at all, we are all itching for another trip. At some point I am just going to cave into this obsession, and come to the realization that AP's make sense for us.

Regarding souvenirs, my family is an anomoly. We vacation 3-4 times every year (not just to WDW) and we just got tired of hauling all sorts of stuff back from our trips. Get this, when we went to WDW last year, we gave our DS (who was 8 at the time) $25.00 to spend on whatever he wanted...he came back home with the entire $25!! Go figure! Who has ever heard of a kid who will not jump at the chance to buy all that WDW stuff that gets waived in your face at every turn?

Gillian, for SURE we're doing Boma's, and I will take your suggestion and try the flank steak!

 

[Bunchkin]

I can't see dumping a good portion of this extra money into a deluxe room. I mean...it's *only* a room. IMO
You stated that you plan on now going out for all your meals instead of bringing food along. So how much time will you plan on spending in your room anyway??
And since you aren't big shoppers, I would consider either doing something special with the $$....like a behind the scenes tour or socking it away for the next trip or a rainy day.

 

[HunnyPots]

Do you have a really good camera and/or camcorder? If not, you could invest a portion of your money there. This way you are spending for your trip, but not ONLY for your trip.
Just an idea...