I'm frugal, is this $8000 or $9000 vacation worth it???

[smchan]

Originally posted by jhorstma
I look forward to traveling a bit with them as money and time allows, ... likely Europe...

Europe is one place I've found that can suck money out of one's wallet faster than you can say "concierge suite at the Grand Floridian, please." I've been lots of times and, given the choice, I'd prefer a nice cruise 9 times out of 10. Just got back from an around the world trip where I visited India, Malaysia, Australia, and Hong Kong and - yes - I'd still rather go on a cruise.

I will say I preferred Malaysia and Australia over Europe by far. I found both to be very clean and friendly. Your dollar goes a long way in MY as well. Australia not so much - but not bad either.

Sam

 

[jhorstma]

I agree: fun vacation = DCL (or any cruise for that matter)
unbelievable history/experience = travel/Europe

Yeah, after working my heinie off 50 weeks a year I love the thought of being waited on hand and foot by the pool, at the beach, on the verandah, etc. But I'd also like to see the Eiffel Tower, ride on the TLV, see the Alps, visit the Greek ruins, etc. Maybe an African safari. Maybe the Great Wall of China. Definitely Hawaii. Also Alaska, the Grand Canyon, etc. etc.

I guess the point is that for us our travel decisions are based both on money (about $5K/year for us) and the time we have left with the kids as they grow up. I'm sure as grandparents with luck we'll have the family cruises and other reunions, but while they're still kids I want to experience different new things with them.

 

[CheapMom]

I am so grateful for this thread. I have pre-cruise apprehension. I thought when my counter got to double digits I would be excited- I wasn't. I thought when the cruise balance was paid I would be thrilled. Nope. I am just so dang cheap- I was so sad to watch my ING savings from the past year disappear. I was happy when I got the $55 rate for my post cruise Disney stay.
I am glad to see all these frugal people saying it was worth their hard-earned $$$.

I am extremely cheap but have always found WDW to be a great value. I am hoping I will feel the same way about DCL.

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by Pea-n-Me
This year I found out I had breast cancer. I've finished treatment and they predict I'll be ok, but it really made me realize how fragile life is and how important fun family times really are to everyone. I read here somewhere that vacations "feed the soul" and I do agree with that.

I TOTALLY agree Pea-n-Me! I was just about to say the same thing when I saw your post. I just finished a full year of breast cancer treatments too, and I couldn't agree with you more on vacations "feeding" the soul and that life is so precious! We all don't know how much time we have left at any given point and I believe that we should live life to the fullest! That means spending time (and money) with family having a wonderful time and enjoying the world.

We're all set for our Mexican Riviera cruise on Disney next July and we just booked our plane tickets to LA and we upgraded to FIRST CLASS with frequent flyer upgrades. We just can't wait! SAIL ON!!!

 

[travellady]

We love to vacation, and now have decided cruising is the way to go. I really want to try Disney so booked a 3 day Wonder for 12/16 just before rates go sky high for the holidays. And, booked the Magic for Dec 2005, again, just before holiday rates kick in. I was able to get a Cat 9 on Magic 7-day the for 3 for $2755.00 - not bad at all as it's substantially higher the following week. My son will miss 2 days of school for the Wonder and 1 for the Magic. Essentially, I look for the best deal I can get without impacting much school time.

I consider myself frugal from the sense that I always work out the best deals I can for travel yet still manage to take nice trips and more than once a year. I'm a Priceline user, watch airfares like a hawk and grab them as soon as I see a great deal. And I even offer to get bumped from a flight and have successfully scored free tickets. In fact, our roundtrip from Seattle to Florida this December are on our freebie tickets we got from being bumpled last Feb out of Phoenix.

Continue to be frugal but do travel and cruise. There are ways to make it happen without taking out a 2nd mortgage

 

[momtofour]

Thanks to everyone who took time to share their experiences. Some have asked if I could travel at another time of the year. Unfortunately, I have a high schooler who is taking some extremly difficult classes, and a first grader who is REALLY struggling. So, I am stuck with the third week of March 2006.
Neither can really miss any time from school. So, I am really struggling with this. I know we can afford it. But, it is so against my spending habits to drop that kind of money on one trip. I keep thinking this could really be used to help with my daughter's tuition, or home improvements. Keep your thoughts coming!! I truly appreciate each and every response!!!

 

[Corryn]

We live up here in New York. Before September 11, a lot of people had a different outlook on life. My husband is a retired NYC Police Officer (103 Precinct) and went down to help out in the holes digging. A lot of our friends are cops as well. My daughters friend's father was a NYC Firefighter who lost his life in the Twin Towers.

Now it's three years later. Whenever we're all sitting around talking and contemplating, the subject of September 11 comes up, and right after that the guys start talking about how they view life differently, and how they take it one day at a time living it to its fullest and not looking back.

This past Spring, one of us suggested taking the Disney Cruise, all of us, the whole girl scout troop. All us parents are very close, and I definitely wanted to go, but I thought that no one else would, specifically because of the cost. But then I heard, Yeah, we'll go; us too!
The Reason? September 11. You Only Live Once - If you can afford it, Why Not Do It! Who knows what will happen tomorrow? Of course you should save some money, but what good will it do you if you're not suddenly here to get some fun out of it?

We all booked catagory 11 rooms because we want to spend our money on fun stuff, like good dinners at the parks and some nice souveniers.
We're not rich, so we're all saving up for a good time. Our kids are going to have a blast together. We all work hard every day, whether it be at home taking care of the house and the kids and the laundry or at work and then coming home and doing it all over again. Even the tightwads in the bunch are not thinking about exact pennies that are going to be spent because that's not what life is all about. Life is about working hard and enjoying the fruits of your labor, too. When you get old, don't you want to think back at some fun times that you've spent with your family, whether it be a day at the beach where you spend no money or a week on the cruise where you spend lots of money? Life needs balance - Save a little and Spend a little. I know $10,000 isn't a little! But you know what I mean. It's not every vacation where you'll spend $10,000. But doesn't everyone deserve a little opulence once or twice in their lifetime?

Bills are going to come every month, no matter what. Tuition and home improvements will always be there. Everyone is in some sort of situation. Most likely 99% of the posters and lurkers on this board are working hard and have bills and tuition. That's why we take these vacations - to get us away from the every day - To be in a Disney Frame of Mind! FantasyLand! La La Land!

We just put an extension on our house and a lot of our friends are also busy with home improvements. One of my daughters is also not doing great because of a disability with reading, but everyone, no matter what their situation, deserves a break from the ordinary. The work and bills will Always be there. Just go! Just Do It and Live!

I say just do it. You never know what tomorrow will bring

 

[disneyholic family]

we spent $12,000 for 4 days in the walt disney suite (cat. 1) and 3 days in concierge in the Grand Floridian (that's without airfare or food during the WDW part of the package....)
was it worth it for those 7 days?....yes....every penny of it....

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Just another two cents:

A few years back, our extended family group of 16 people all went to WDW together right before Christmastime. My DH and I along with our two children bit the bullet and booked at the Grand Floridian. Other family members stayed in less expensive hotels onsite, and others booked even less expensive accomodations off-site.

Upon arrival, all of the families visited each other at their own "digs". After visiting all of the hotels and condos that others were staying at, even though many of them very very nice, we were so happy to come back to the GF with its gorgeous Christmas tree, gingerbread house and awesome hospitality.

We were not the wealthiest of the group, actually very far from it. But we felt that the extra money we spent made our trip the most fabulous we had ever been on at Disney.

We have been back to WDW quite a few times but nothing can match that time that we stayed at the GF at Christmas. It was definitely worth the extra money that we spent and even though it took us quite a long time to pay off those credit card bills it is still a trip that we will always remember. We have never regretted it and cannot even remember how much it was that we ended up spending.

That's why we bit the bullet and booked a verandah, REAS package and many excursions for our upcoming cruise - "You only live once- make the most of it!"

 

[rjh8115]

I have to agree with the group here. If I was to use straight logic, we wouldn't have gone on many trips. As it turns out (sue to business travel, etc.), we've been able to spend some time in Germany, France, UK, etc.. Of course it helps when there are family or friends living in the area . . .

Looking at the amount of money we spent on short trips this year, we could have gone on another short cruise. So that's what we're doing next year.

It all comes down to what you feel comfortable doing. For the most part, cruising does not cost anymore than other forms of vacations. What is more uncomfortable is the fact most of the money is spent up front.

Just my $0.02 worth . . .

Rick

 

[ericamanda01]

I believe the key to a great disney vacation is research. You have the time to search out great deals. I suggest you call all the travel agents you can, look online and make sure that you ahve found the best deal. If you still feel that it's going to cost more than your comfortable with then look into something else. But I have to be one of those who tells you I thing it's worth every penny.

 

[goofyforus]

Momtofour.
I have to agree with most. For my family of four, we spent over $10k for our 7 night eastern on the Magic. This does not include extras aboard the ship, excursions, or shopping.
My 17 yr old twins decided that this is what they wanted to do after graduation. To have teenagers want this was very unusual. We have never had any big vacations, so this one had to be special.
I put the new car on hold, reshuffeled the priority of the kitchen remodel and we all had the time of our lives.
We have never before had such a wonderful family bonding experience. We had a cat 5, veranda, handicapp suite (my daughter is wheelchair bound) and Disney made us very happy.
The time we spent in bed talking, laughing, and planning their futures was irreplaceable. In the daytime we would run in separate directions, meet for a game or lunch, separate again, and meet back for dinner to spend the rest of the evening together.
That wonderful week will never be forgotten.
My twins are in college this fall and both wanted to take the photo album with them to show their friends what we did.
We all agree the money was well spent and wouldn't hesitate to do it again, the kitchen can wait!

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Amen to that, goofyforus!

Our kitchen remodel has also been put on hold. I figure that I can re-do it after my kids grow older and wouldn't dream of going on vacation with their old mom and dad.

Meanwhile, we wait (somewhat) patiently for January and our first Disney Cruise!

 

[logan1_2000]

What a great thread! This thread has people exchanging views on FAMILY--and that is what Disney is all about (I know, the cynics will say Disney is all about making a buck, but they only make a buck by providing family-friendly experiences). Yes, DCL is premium priced. Yes, the staterooms, service, programming, entertainment are all family friendly. Yes, the contributors from NYC who mention 9/11 make an excellent point about living life to the fullest today. And yes, again, this is not a budget vacation.

To the poster who says what he will do when he is a grandfather--reminds me of when I used to ask my father to go golfing with me, and he said golf was for retirement. Dad died in his 50's, and my son knows him only from photos and a big marble tombstone. And I never golfed with my father--but I have cruised with my son twice, and will again.

As for other cruise lines--make sure you are doing apples to apples--early in this thread someone posted that they are paying half as much for a cruise next week on a balcony stateroom as for the inside they had on DCL last summer. Hello!! Comparing summer on Disney, when the kids are out of school, for pricing with another line during hurricane season is the ultimate apples to oranges. And everything else is just a cruise--DCL is a DISNEY cruise!

So get a Disney VISA, start accumulating rewards dollars toward the cruise, put all the spare change in the household into a big piggy bank as label it the cruise fund, and find a rebate from some TA like DU, and you will have the sources of two thousand dollars I have accumulated toward the next cruise with four months left until final payment is due. That leaves less than $1400 out of pocket for a family of three in a Cat. 8 on a 7 day Eastern during spring break.

Enjoy your trips everyone, frugal or flamboyant, and enjoy your family and make memories to last a lifetime.

 

[Mr. Bill]

Do you drive a VW or a Cadillac – why and is it worth the difference?

Do you live in a $75,000.00 house or a $200,000.00 house – why and is it worth the difference?

Do you wear a $200.00 Seiko or a $3,000.00 Rolex – why and is it worth the difference?

Do you stay at Motel 6 or the Ritz Carlton – why and is it worth the difference?



It’s a matter of your personal priorities and the amount of disposable income that is available for vacation.

I drive a Buick, live in a $130,000.00 house, wear a $50.00 Mickey Mouse watch, and stay at Holiday Inns/Jameson Inns – (kind of middle-of-the-road on all concerns) BUT I VACATIONED ON DISNEY WONDER!

Bill

 

[ericamanda01]

Here Here Mr Bill! I just wanted to add that you may spend like a VW owner on the ship but you are treated like someone who owns the world! There are no classes on board, everyone is treated the same, like a prince and princess! Disney is quality over quantity.

 

[goofysgirl]

I too have to agree with the previous posters. My DH and I traveled the islands extensively before we had our kids, then it was WDW here we come. Our kids have grown up with the Mouse and have been on 2 4-day and our 3rd 7-day comes up in three weeks.
We traveled when we were "childless" so we could enjoy family time when our kids did come.
We have 3 girls- 16,14, and 10. They love WDW and DCL and this is there Xmas presents. We cruise, we laugh, we live---but most of all these girls are not embarassed to been seen with their parents, and they are very close to each other.

We were in NYC Sept 10, 2001 at a Yankee game and were scheduled to stay over at the Sheraton in the towers. The game was rained out, and we decided to go home, eventhough I was supposed to work out of my NYC office on the 14th floor,Tower 1the next day. I was on my way to the office when the news broke.

Do I think twice about what I spend for a vacation? Yes, I am not rich, but I do spend wisely, I cut corners when I can, and I will always be the first one to say "Let's go to ......" Please please please- go on vacation, is it worth the money? only you can say, but if you decide to go Do not look back and do not regret it for a moment.

Memories are priceless.......

 

[invaderzim]

Just saw this thread and just wanted to add my two-cents.

We have had numerous household repairs that were in desperate need of being done -- roof, windows, siding, sidewalk, etc. I'd love to have a new kitchen and new carpeting, and would love to add an extra room.

But we choose to put our money on vacations instead. Heck, half the time I can't even afford to develop the pictures right away when we get home, but what we saw and experienced and did is priceless. We've managed to do the cosmetic repairs over the years, it just took us longer than some.

We have taken 3 DCL cruises and are scheduled for the CA-FLA Repo cruise next August. We have been to WDW four times -- one time for two whole weeks (saved for 1-1/2 for that one) and are staying at DL next year before the cruise.

I would not trade the money we've spent on these trips for ANYTHING. The family memories are unsurpassed by anything that we could buy for the house or a new car. My daughter will be 18 next year and we know that we are probably coming to an end with family vacations, so every one that we can plan is well worth it.

I have friends who have much nicer houses than mine and better cars, but they never leave the state! They never go anywhere with their family. Year after year, they just go to the Jersey shore and never see the world. I have found cruising is the best way to see as much as possible in such a short time -- and still be waited on hand and foot!

Nothing is more important than family time. The house will always need repairs, you can always get by with your old car for another year or so, and the Joneses don't care about your new carpeting or upgraded kitchen! Enjoy yourselves -- no worries, be happy!!

 

[ll_california]

momtofour -

have you considered a 3 or 4 day disney cruise? It costs a lot less than the 7 day cruise. Plus if you choose to cruise the week before christmas or the week before the school starts, the rate is usually very reasonable, and the kids won't miss any school that way.

we too have 4 kids. we'll be on 12/19 4-day wonder this year. we paid a little over $4k for 6 people in 2 cat6 rooms (I think it would be $2.5k if we booked 2 cat11 rooms instead). winter break starts at 12/18, so the kids won't miss a single day at school if we only do the cruise. however, we choose to visit wdw before the cruise, so they'll miss 3 days at school.

good luck!

Ling

 

[Pea-n-Me]

momtofour, came across this old thread and just wondering how it worked out for you?