None of my business question about how people afford WDW

[auntpolly]

....but I can't help wondering.


We went to Las Vegas a few months ago and I was thinking about all those people in all those expensive hotel rooms. My daughter and I then started thinking about WDW -- and how many times we've called and whole resorts there have been booked up. And how about all the other vacation destinations and all of those expensive hotel rooms --

who are these people with all this money?

Like I said, I'm just being nosey, and maybe this is a better question for the debate board, but do you think people are spending beyond their means to go on vacations like these -- or do you think that the economy's not so bad as they say -- or what?

We can afford WDW -- I don't go into debt to go there. But that wasn't always the case -- my daughter was in grade school before we could afford to go.

OK -- just tell me to MMOB if you want!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'm sure that some people go into debt. I'm sure that many others, like me, consider Disney such an integral part of life that they budget it in with all of their other necessary expenses.

As for us, we have a vacation fund that we each contribute to biweekly. Any bonuses, tax refunds, or "found" money goes to our vacation budget as well.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

When I was growing up...we could afford to go but my dad never wanted to go anywhere like DL or WDW. So when me and DH got married we decided that before we have children, we want to travel. For us that means Disney. We put money away each month into a travel fund and we don't buy each other gifts for b-days, anniversary's, x-mas etc. We would rather travel. This will probably be our last trip to WDW for awhile because next year we are going to the Cook Islands then it will be time to start a family. We will still try to put money away so that eventually we can take DS/DD but it will be a few years.

 

[mbelec]

I've been saving the money DH earns in the Reserves (monthly amount), plus any overtime, reimbursements (day care, medical reimbursement accounts set up at work), refunds on purchases made, etc. (anything extra, not in the ordinary budget) for over a year to go. Also sold the kids outgrown summer clothing (all 3 have outgrown last year's stuff), plus a few odds and ends around the house that I didn't use for about $700.

For us, Disney would be way too expensive if it was a spur-of-the minute vacation. This took planning that started years ago.

 

[DawnAK]

I work a second job on Saturdays and when I get my paycheck, I cash it and put it in the "Disney Fund" envelope. Also, living in Alaska we get a dividend check every October for each person who lives in the state. The check averages about $1000 but changes every year. This money is usually used for vacations to get the heck out of town in the winter months! By using mileage or companion fares, we buy our airline tickets for about $400 each (which is a great deal!). I think for many of us, Disney vacation becomes a priority and we budget for it, to make it happen. Dawn

 

[auntpolly]

Well, that's one thing I really overlooked -- we all love it so much that we save, save, save for it! That's nice to hear!

 

[Stitch Inside]

Two words; Tax refund.

 

[Davids-Coco]

We were just married nine months ago and will finially be taking our honeymoon in September (1 year and two months after the wedding). Most people have their wedding and honeymoon and more all at the same time... but we are fairly young and just starting out on our own.

We couldn't afford a honeymoon right away, and didn't feel as though it was right to register for one (especally since we needed the household goods). Instead, since before the wedding, we have been putting away any money we could. We had also bought a house about four months before the wedding. It was a great thing though because it meant we got more tax money back. Our tickets will not cost anything because we were on a bad flight (emergency landing thing) and they gave us free tickets.

I don't think many people just say, hey lets go! And do it unless there is some savings involved. It is amazing though to think of all those full hotel rooms... or in the peak summer months, that all those people paid admission to the parks.

 

[georgedean]

We just booked last minute thanks to a nice tax return, some money put aside for such an event and I am sure some overtime with my work! Anyway ,I heard that time and money are two important aspects of life that rarley occure at the same time.
Family is the most important thing we have on this earth and in life. We do not need these type of things to bring happiness , but I can not wait to see my wifes eyes watching my daughters delight @ WDW!!!!!!!!! That ,I personally will never be able to place a price tag on !
Hey good luck and God bless . Take care
George

 

[k&a&c'smom]

You are not the first to ask this question!! There was quite a long thread last winter on this subject.

When we first started going, we could only afford one trip every couple years. We reserved our room months in advance and paid a little at a time 'til it was paid for, then we drove our family of 5 down, no airfare.

Fast forward to today - DD(14) is the only child who wants to go anymore, DH is motion-sick and doesn't enjoy WDW so we fly. We are able to book more at a moment's notice than before, and we have since paid off our home, and our family cars, so we have more "disposable" income than many people we know. We could go back into debt to buy the newest model car, or a bigger, fancier home, but we prefer to have the freedom to do other things that we enjoy!! Everybody has their priorities, there's no right or wrong answer, IMO. DD and I love WDW, and she won't be with me forever, I'm having a lot of fun making memories with her.

 

[auntpolly]

There's another thing I forgot about -- that tax refund!

The government wanted more blood from us this year -- no refund for us!

 

[MEM]

We don't smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol and the cost of those habits alone (for 2 people) would pay for an annual trip to WDW. Like others have said, WDW is a budget item for us. Our cars are a 1985 Chevette and 1996 Windstar, both in great shape. Paid cash for the Windstar because once car #1 was paid for, we continued to bank the monthly car payment. We also own our home outright with no mortgage -- DH followed the "Banker's Secret" of overpaying every month on the mortgage so that in 10 years it was paid for. I know that is not realistic for most people, but it allows us to live on one modest salary (mine).

We also buy annual passes which have enabled us to stay on-site in deluxe hotels for as little as $109 a night. If those rates don't appear, we move down to a moderate.

Its all about priorities! My sister and her husband have 2-3 times my income and live in a city (Pittsburgh) much less expensive than the one I do (Boston suburb). They always seem to be broke and have never been to WDW, even though their kids are now 12 and 13.

I also enjoying planning a trip to The World almost as much as taking one, and watch for deals all year long.

 

[cooderbrown]

Tax refund - when we go, we like to go nice - and 3 dependents helps! So when we go, we go for a kids birthday, and allocate that years refund to the cause. We really couldn't afford to do it any other way.

 

[Aisling]

I just book the resort a year ahead of time, even if I don't know how I'm going to pay for it! I just make up my mind that I will have it paid off by the time we go, and it so far has always worked out. I pay it off in bits and pieces, and I don't usually feel it leaving my check book.
I also use codes, track air fares carefully, and use all the money-saving tips I can find.
For spending money, I save $25 a week in a vacation club account, and in a year's time, I have a nice pocket -full of cash!

I think we won't be going next year because I want to save for a Disney Cruise, so our 2005 vacation will probably be visiting relatives on the farm instead of WDW!

(BTW, Universal is a lot less expensive than WDW. The hotels are beautiful, just like Disney deluxe for half the price, tickets are much less, and front-of-the line-access for hotel guests is unbeatable. This could be a wonderful option for budget-minded people. It's surely NOT Disney, but we still had a fantastic time there!)

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by k&a&c'smom
You are not the first to ask this question!! There was quite a long thread last winter on this subject.

I'll have to do a search and look at it -- and I thought I was being original! (on top of nosy!)

 

[decker96]

Staggering payments for expenses is what works for us for Disney or any other vacation we take. We book the accomodations first and then once we've either paid off or put the money away for that, we look for airfare. Ditto on paying it off and then get a car if needed (we don't for Disney). That means once we actually leave for the trip all we need is money for food and souveniers. Everything else is already paid for. Of course this only works for us because we plan our trips at least a year in advance. Yes, I am an obsessive planner!

 

[Disney Fool]

the other two words: annual pass.

 

[waughzee]

I am a SAHM. My DH is a dairy farmer, and therefore has no time to take a vacation. That being said, I do not like to take money that DH earns for DS and I to vacation without him so I started taking the crafts I make to shows, and selling on consignment at gift shops in the area. I also do Ebay and yard sales.

DS and I normally stay in a value resort to further save.

 

[horner5]

Annual pass (we went 3 times in a calendar year on them), tax refund, bonuses, overtime, major garage sale in the Spring, and like someone said earlier, we stagger everything.

Right now, we're paying on the hotel, next tix, then airfare (if low enough, or we'll drive).

We also learned after a few times in DW, how to keep food costs down (grocery stop, food courts, sharing large meals, eating dinner during the latest lunch hour, etc)

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by waughzee
I am a SAHM. My DH is a dairy farmer, and therefore has no time to take a vacation. That being said, I do not like to take money that DH earns for DS and I to vacation without him so I started taking the crafts I make to shows, and selling on consignment at gift shops in the area. I also do Ebay and yard sales.

DS and I normally stay in a value resort to further save.

That's so cool, waughzee! You know, a few times when my daughter and I went without DH (not as big of a fan as DD and I) I started pocketing all the change (including out of DH's pocket) I could find for months before we went and throughing it into a coffee can. You wouldn't believe how much it came to!

My grandparents were Dairy Farmers, so I know how that is -- poor grandpa never went anywhere -- not that he wanted to -- he would have missed his cows!