Is this a Crazy idea???

[twinkles0819]

I KNEW this would happen, I don't even know why I am surprised that I am willing to do this.

I just got back from Disney last friday(aug 20th) and I want to go back SO badly that it's killing me(well, not really but that's what it feels like) now I see myself trying to go back THIS december.

I'm a college student so my budget isn't that big but I do not think I can wait another year or even more until I can go back again. My best friend and I went for 9days/8nights and spent a little over $2000 between the both of us(which is great,IMO)

But that is a budget I cannot acquire anytime soon so here's a plan for me to go back and my budget.

Party size of 2(my best friend and I)

Sunday dec 5th, to Wednesday dec 8th(4 days/3 nights)

Gas- $70

Hotel-(off-site probably through priceline) $125.00

MVMCP tix- $80

Food- $80(this is budgeting how much we spent on my past trip)

Misc. & Souv- $ 95

TOTAL- $450

that's good right????

$225 per person for a four day stay.

Now does it seem like I'm crazy. I would be driving down Sunday, then probably do some touring of the resorts I haven't seen and laying low on Monday, Go to MVMCP by 4pm on tuesday, and driving home wednesday. I'm trying to do this as budget as I can and still get my disney fix. I'm a crazy

Please help me......sorry for the LONG post

 

[RumpleMom]

As a Mom I just have to ask, don't you have college finals in Dec.? My DD does. Would you be missing any classes or tests? Do you already have college tuition in the bank? Do you have to work during college vacation or during the year to pay for college?

These are the questions my DD would have to answer before taking another trip.

 

[bethzfl]

Did the $2000 include your hotel?


December is a great time to go if you decide to! Maybe though, if you waited a little longer, you could save more money and have a less rushed vacation ? Good luck

 

[tcw02]

I don't think you're crazy. Short trips can be fun! Plus the parks are not crowded that time of year! I think I'm crazy because I am going 12/18 - 12/26!

BTW - how long does it take to drive from Charlotte? We live southwest of Charlotte in York, SC and are planning on driving to disney when we go in Dec.

 

[twinkles0819]

Yes...$2000 included hotel. My dad works for Starwood so I got to spent 5 nights at the Swan for $69/nt.

Fortunately my last day of classes is the previous friday, and all my finals are during the regular term and not during "finals week"(they all occur the last week of classes) College tuition is paid by my schloraship funding. I actually received more schlorship money than I anticipated(I try to apply for EVERYTHING I am eligible for) And even got a refund that paid for my books, my rent for this semester and then some left over. I work on average 15-20/wk, but not to pay for tuition or anything, is basically for spending for what I want and I want to go to DISNEY

If I just put aside about $50 per paycheck until then it would be around $400 which is more than enough to fund that trip.

Believe me, I wouldn't try to budget for a vacation if I couldn't really afford one. But since I won't be going back for a couple of years(think fall 2007) I figure if I can budget a short trip when I can really afford it then I should.

 

[twinkles0819]

it actually took us about 8.5 hours closer to 9 though...this was with one stop for gas/food(eating food in the car) I hate to stop while I am driving a LONG way, doesn't seem so bad when I am use to driving about 11hours to NY about 3 times a year

 

[cooldisneymom]

Go for it twinkles!!!! Have a great time!!! I know what you mean, we just got back 4 weeks ago and we're not "officially" going back until next July!!! (yea, right, like I can wait THAT long!!) So I'm doin what you are, trying to figure out how to get back sooner. I'm a retail store manager, so Christmas season unfortunately is out, but I've been at Christmas and you're going to LOVE it!!! I think your budget is great BTW.

 

[trracers]

We booked our September "yearly" trip. Then Independence Air came to town with $39 flights each way to Orlando, then they offered $25 off of each ticket if you sign up for their frequent flyer program which is free...yes, that is THREE round trip tickets to Orlando, tax and all for $215!! We are going for the weekend at Halloween, we are going for the weekend that DD6 gets out for Christmas Break and are considering a weekend in January when she is off for a Friday teacher in service day...NUTS, , who me?!?

 

[PattiPB]

That, IMHO, is what college is for!!!! Scrimp and save this semester, finish your classes with great grades, and REWARD yourself with a quickie trip!

I remember plenty of relatively impromptu, relatively nuts weekenders during my college years!

 

[Leota]

I am trying to figure out how to afford at least one weekend trip with my high school son between my solo trip in Oct & our family trip in Aug - so I don't think you are nuts at all!
If I lived in driving (well, reasonable one day driving) distance, I'd be going alot more often, that's for sure!

You must have an AP, right? I didn't notice passes in your budget....

 

[miste76]

You're not nuts... You are perfectly rational to me! I'm a college student too (an older student at 28 yo)
We just came back in Early August from our 2.5 week annual summer vacation. Now my DM, DSis and I are going back in November. I'm so excited!!! There's no way that I could wait an entire year. I'll be saving every penny too!
Have a great time!!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

As a mom with a DD who will be a college student in a year, I say GO FOR IT! You've worked hard, have the scholarship $, have a job for your spending $ and deserve the trip, however short it is. Since you have tuition figured out and like Disney, I'd even consider adopting you!

Your misc and souv amount might even be a little high, but better that than going over your budget. I'm good at budget trips (and also good at not-so-budget trips) and it's actually fun to see how little $ can be spent. Last trip I took my 4yo and met my sister and her husband was amazed at how little she spent on food.

Have fun!

T&B

 

[twinkles0819]

I'm glad you are all with me on this

T&B- Getting adopted from someone who loves Disney....Where do I sign up!!! (My parents preferred trip is to Las Vegas, they love the $.05 slots, and the Penny slots for that matter I've been but do not enjoy gambling however little money they spend, which is not much)

I wish they enjoyed Disney like me.....I went on my last trip with my best friend because my parents do not go on the "big" rides that I want to go on.....this was the only way I could do Disney my way.

BTW....I just got promoted to "merchandising specialist" at my job, which means working 30-40 hours a week, but I get a raise, so in between classes, which are only MWF....I will most likely be working ALL the time....but they said if it gets a bit overwhelming they can cut some hours for me. I only plan on making about $400 a month but now with the promotion I'll probably be making over $800 a month. More money for Disney

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Great job on the promotion!

My DH does not share my Disney obsession. He likes going every few years, but that is often enough for him. He grew up 2 miles from Disneyland, so I just don't think it's special to him.

My older 3 kids haven't been to WDW in a few years, but I brought my 4yo in Feb and will bring him again in December. Actually, I'll be there with him, my big sister and my 81yo mom (her first WDW trip!) when you are there. We're also staying offsite at a timeshare that my mom has so I won't be spending a lot on that trip. (BTW, my mom also likes the nickle slots and goes to Nevada with her senior friends sometimes).

We have been to Universal Orlando a couple times--once in April and once the year before. When we were on this last trip my 16yo daughter told me that nobody had asked HER what she wanted to do on her spring break and that she'd rather be at home with her friends. I was not a happy mommy right about then and decided that she wasn't going with me to WDW any time soon. I figure that I'm grooming my 4yo for the role of Disney buddy. And I'm going to surprise my 10yo with a trip this winter (he's a great kid, makes super grades, is active in sports and deserves some mom and son time).

Have fun planning! And I'll send the adoption papers in the mail!

T&B