No trip for awhile :(

[iluvmickey2008]

I just have to vent....I have a 2 year old and a 19 year old and I've been to Disney about 6 times and of course love it!!!

But my husband has been out of a job for about a year and half and with the economy the way it is, it could be awhile. Thank God for unemployment $$, and I'm thankful that we have enough to live on and we are not struggling.

It seems that everyone I know is going to Disney because they have good deals going on!! I just want to cry when someone tells me that they are going. My son is 2 (I took him when he was about 8 months) and I would rather wait until he is alittle older anyway (at least that is what I keep telling myself!!). The 2 year old is quite the handful, and not sure how much he would really enjoy it at this age (he is sometimes afraid of rides).


It would be so easy to charge a trip, but I know that I would not enjoy the trip at all if I charge it.

I think that I'm going to start a Disney fund and just put alittle in it each month. Maybe by the time we get back on our feet, we will have enough to go.

I just had to vent. Thanks for listening and Happy Halloween!!

 

[luvsJack]

Vent away! I know just how you feel. We are fortunate that we both have our jobs but dh's income has been cut so much that it has really been hurting. We wanted to go back this year but it looks like maybe 2011. (and that's if I get going on the saving for it)

My niece and her family are going at Thanksgiving and I so want to go with them. But, I know we can't.

Actually around here its not just going to WDW, it seems like no one else is having a recession but me and dh! I keep wondering how many are doing it all on credit cards.

I have a co-worker that is just planning several different trips (one to WDW), buying huge amounts of Christmas gifts and eats out every day. I know she is doing it on credit cards and loans and I just can't help but wonder what she thinks is going to happen when all the bills start rolling in!

 

[Aliceacc]

The reason the deals are so great is because SO MANY others are in the same position you are-- they simply canNOT afford big vacations-- or any vacations.

We're both teachers, and our jobs are stable. But we figure it will be 3 more years before we head back. In the meantime, we're busy anticipating our next vacation-- upstate, to a cabin on a lake. Not exactly the Magic Kingdom, but it's tranquil and we'll all be together. And we'll have a magical time.

 

[Derby4me]

Vent away! We get it. Just happy to hear that you all are able to make ends meet during this difficult season. This hiatus will only make your next trip more magical!

 

[DL55]

You are NOT the only ones not going to Disney. Please don't charge it. Right now you are managing, hopefully things will turn around for you soon.

 

[Liberty Belle]

You know, we went last in 2005. I really miss it, but I know sometime in the future I'll be able to go again. In these times of lay-offs and unemployment, I'm happy we both have jobs. Disney is not very important in the grand scheme of things.

I'm sorry it makes you so sad, though. Maybe you could have a little Disney party with your family or with some friends. You could get a little bit of a Disney fix that way.

 

[Kay1]

Just know you're doing the right thing. Yes, start saving and planning if you can - Disney will still be there when you're ready to enjoy it. Btw, I feel the same longing for a Disney cruise, but the time is not right.

 

[carrie1626]

I feel your pain!!! It's been 3 yrs since my last trip and I have the ungodly benefit ( LOL) of having a single adult sister and my parents who go EVERY year and will be leaving the first week of DEC. (AGAIN:) I get to take care of the cat!! Yahoo

But I have to snap out of it and be thankful that my parents love Disney, instilled that love unto their two daughters and now that mom can't walk the parks like before, my sister has the time to go with them!!

I'll be there in AUG 2010

 

[shortbun]

Good luck with the job thing. WDW will still be there when you get back on track and that's a promise!!!

 

[scanmom]

DH and I were supposed to be arriving at WDW today!!! I had booked a FD trip for the 2 of us. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I was going to get the gift card and use it for gifts for the kids. But, we were in WDW in July, I had a nasty fall and fractured my patella (kneecap). I just got the brace off 2 weeks ago, and am still doing PT, there is no way I could walk all over WDW right now. Plus, money is fairly tight right now. We have 2 DD's in college that we have to pay for 100%. That really puts a damper on vacation funding! At least I get to have my new grandson spend the night with us tonight! Even though I keep thinking things like "I would have been at O'Hana right now!".

 

[beansmom]

i think the fund is a GREAT idea and there is no way on EARTH I would take a 2 yr old to disney. We took my 4yr old niece in May and she was terrified of the characters, whiny and exhausted. Nope...no way.

Lots of people are wondering how they'll eat or keep utilities on. I know this is important to you..but, honestly, this isn't the worse thing to have to do without.

 

[singitalto]

I can sooo relate.Heres my vent:

We haven't had a real family vacation in 3 years. When we visited my sister(she lives 1 1/2 hours from WDW) back in Feb we squeezed in 2 days at WDW. It was fun but it was a teaser- not the "Disney vacation" I yearn for- hey, I cooked the whole week.

Now my DH has been working 3 days a week and has asked for a raise or more work days but nothing yet. I am happy for him to at least have a job. We make ends meet and are not in debt anymore. But we do not make enough to get ahead and have virtually no savings. We cut up our credit cards, so I can not be tempted to charge our next vacation. (which is the first thing i would have done before)

The thing is my sister bought into DVC and goes to WDW every MONTH!!! Yes I am NOT exaggering. Monthly!!!!! I just wish i could go once a year- to Pop Century.

Oh well- next year I turn 50 and I told DH that I reallllly want to be at WDW on my Birthday. I hope we can!!!!!!

So don't feel so bad- its not just you!!

 

[eliza61]

It seems that everyone I know is going to Disney because they have good deals going on!! I just want to cry when someone tells me that they are going. My son is 2 (I took him when he was about 8 months) and I would rather wait until he is alittle older anyway (at least that is what I keep telling myself!!). The 2 year old is quite the handful, and not sure how much he would really enjoy it at this age (he is sometimes afraid of rides).



I think that I'm going to start a Disney fund and just put alittle in it each month. Maybe by the time we get back on our feet, we will have enough to go.

I just had to vent. Thanks for listening and Happy Halloween!!

Just put things in a little perspective. The previous poster had it right. Disney is struggling, 3rd quater earnings at the parks are way down and that's the reason for the deals. Even with the deals, they still are not breaking even and with all the cost cutting, many folks are beginning to notice the decrease in quality.

The fund is a great idea, it will give you a goal to work for and they do work. I started a 50th birthday party fund 3 years ago for Paris (I've always wanted to go) sure it took me 3 years to save but I've got a trip planned it May.

Count the blessing you do have. I know it sounds corny but it does help.

 

[mousebymarriage]

I understand. My DH works for Chrysler and as everyone knows they have been in trouble for a while, so things have been tight for over a year. Our last trip to Disney was in Jan 2008 and it was a disaster, we went with DD's best friends family and they complained about everything (room, buses,food,lines,rides etc.). We did make a trip back to Florida in March but, that was for my moms funeral so not exactly a vacation.

My DH & I decided life is too short to spend all of our time worrying about money. We are never going to be rich and as long as our kids have food in their bellies, clothes on their backs, a warm clean bed to sleep in and a place to call home we are happy. We have a trip planned for Feb. but, the kids don't know about it. We have been saving as much money as we can so that we can pay for the trip completely without charging it. If things go well we will know before Christmas if the trip is going to happen 100% and we will surprise the kids on Christmas Day. If not we will try again for 2011, the kids won't be disappointed because they weren't expecting to go anyway.

Don't worry you'll get to go back to Disney just have faith that everything will come together when the time is right.

 

[mrsklamc]

This could come across as 'poor me' but I hope it helps.

10/22 I had surgery for cancer. I can't drive because I can't turn my head far enough. For 8 days I couldn't take a shower because I couldn't get the glue holding the would closed wet. It goes a little less than half of the circumference of my neck.

I spent a lot of the time planning a trip to Hawaii that I can't afford yet (and won't take until I can.) It made me wish I had more cash.

As I stepped into the shower yesterday, I thought to myself 'I will never again feel poor, as long as I have the ability to step into a hot shower and then drive myself somewhere.'

 

[satorifound]

About two years ago we went to Disneyland. We had this trip planned and paid for for a few months, we got back and BAM no more job. It was within a week of getting back. That sucked.

We got lucky I had just graduated college and the power plant here was waiting on our class to graduate before filling their few open positions. Still, I know how you feel. Two years before that DH was out of work for 6 months. It is scary.

Hopefully some jobs will open up and you guys won't have to deal with this for too long. I wouldn't charge the trip. It won't be fun worrying about paying it off later.

 

[penni520]

I go to disney every year. What I do is 13 months before I want to go I put down my deposit $200.00 and then I take that total and divide it into 12 months and just make monthly payments online.

The money that I pay on each month that is the money I would use to go out to eat, extra shopping and so on.

I also put $100.00 a month into savings for my spending money while I am at disney. I always have money left over and put my downpayment again for another trip.

This year is a very big trip because I am paying for my mom and my 2 daughters but I told them they will pay there own airline tickets and spending money.

PS the money you put into savings will also pay for your airline and what extra stuff you want to do at disney like the halloween party, food and wine, mickey christmas party.

Everyone can take a trip every year if they just put there mind to it and say WE ARE GOING....Never charge a trip and never use credit cards while on a trip use your debt card.

 

[MrsPooh]

Everyone can take a trip every year if they just put there mind to it and say WE ARE GOING.

Sorry to disagree but not "everyone" can take a trip to Disney every year. Two major family illnessness in less than one year left us with tons of medical debt. Three job losses and one cut in pay in less than three years left us with little money and oddly the state we live in requires us to feed and clothe our children in order for us to not be accussed of child neglect! We make only a small percentage of what we used to make and now have bills that take up more than our income each month. All the savings we had have been spent and the very small retirement funds have been cashed in. There is nothing for emergencies much less a trip to see the mouse. Medical issues prevent either of us from working more than just our full-time jobs although I do earn a little extra from internet work I do. We cannot really just choose to save some for a trip - can't cut clothing budget since dds get used from thrift/consigment or hand-me-downs and dh and I haven't gotten much clothing in nearly three years - heck we haven't even gotten new underwear or socks in three years! Can't cut utilities because they are at a minimum now and truly a necessity. Can't cut food because our food budget is already very low considering I shop sales, coupons, rebates and Aldi and we still barely have enough food on hand sometimes. We drive old clunkers with liability only insurance and I try to drive as little as possible because we don't have much of a budget for gas other than to get to work. I must pay for health insurance and daycare - those are not possible to cut. Gift budget is basically non-existant and we don't eat out. Even with insurance our medical copays run $30 - $100/month and drug copays average about $85/month. If we are able to find even an extra $5 it must go for paying bills. I suppose we could sell our house but even it if would sell the rent we'd pay to live somewhere else wouldn't be much of a savings and we don't have much equity thanks to housing price drops.

Do I want to go back to Disney? YES! I have an almost four year old who talks daily of wanting to go to Disney. She begs to meet the characters (and loves local ones she meets). She's a daredevil and loves rides. I have a sister whose family goes once or twice a year and another who just took her family this fall. I'm just dying to go and know it will be years before we make any headway on debt and can expect to go, even on a budget trip, thanks to all of the debt that ran up while we were ill and unable to work.

Sorry to take this off-topic but comments like this just really bug me since they are so far from my own reality and that of many people I know. Sure, it may sound simple to simply pay a little each month and save a little each month but it is not always possible - and implying that it is simply a matter of really wanting to go is like telling a cancer patient that they would be better if they just had a better attitude!

Just to get to Disney would be a two day drive or nearly $1000 in plane tickets - we can't even afford to get there much less stay or get in the parks.

To OP, I really understand where you are. We have Disney at home as much as possible. We don't do DVDs since our player broke last year but we have most of the older Disney movies on VHS. We have regular "movie nights" and theme the dinner to go with the movie and do other fun Disney stuff. We went to see the Christmas Carol train when it was in town last summer. I keep an eye out for whenever Radio Disney is doing anything nearby and we stop in. It is not the same but it is the best I can do right now. The thought of someday going back to Disney is my motivation to keep plugging along. If dh's new job holds and we keep on our current budget we might be able to go back in 2020 - not anytime soon but at least a goal.

Oh yeah, I also stopped entering to win a trip to Disney because we couldn't afford to miss work to go so no point in winning.

 

[beansmom]

*gets in line behind MrsPooh*

I concur...everyone can NOT take a trip every year ...or some people EVER. I, fortunately, am not in that position but lots of the people i know are. A friend must choose on a regular basis what things to leave behind at the market in order to survive each month. Some people choose between groceries and car payments (which must be made because we ALL have to go to work) and utility payments. Forget 'luxuries' like new clothes and the word 'vacation' has been inked out of their dictionaries.

I don't mean this rudely but I think that comment was a bit arrogant. Yes, many people CAN do it by just determining to...but for lots, there ISN"T anything to put aside. It just...isn't...there.

*clmibing off the soapbox now*

 

[luvsJack]

*gets in line behind MrsPooh*

I concur...everyone can NOT take a trip every year ...or some people EVER. I, fortunately, am not in that position but lots of the people i know are. A friend must choose on a regular basis what things to leave behind at the market in order to survive each month. Some people choose between groceries and car payments (which must be made because we ALL have to go to work) and utility payments. Forget 'luxuries' like new clothes and the word 'vacation' has been inked out of their dictionaries.

I don't mean this rudely but I think that comment was a bit arrogant. Yes, many people CAN do it by just determining to...but for lots, there ISN"T anything to put aside. It just...isn't...there.

*clmibing off the soapbox now*

Very, very true. When we plan a trip, I do the same thing as the pp. I pay $200 down and then pay x$ each month to go. This year there is no $200 to put down and there is no x$ to pay each month. And that is the way it is for a LOT of people.