None of my business question about how people afford WDW

[WDWHound]

Mandy and I start saving a year in advance (we go every other year). This makes the payments manageable and keeps us from having to go into debt to pay for it.

We also grab a little extra income by being proctors for the Texas teacher certification exams. In fact, we are doing this tomorrow. Every other month or so we spend a Saturday handing out the tests, watching the teachers and student teachers as they take the test, then collecting the finished exams. Its deathly dull, but it pays enough in one year to cover about 1/3 of our vacation costs.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I try to plan at least 1 significant vacation each year - not always to WDW. My DH is a workaholic and will work as much over time as his job will allow. Last year it was over 600 hours So in order to make him spend at least 2 weeks of quality time with our boys - we travel!

I use our tax refund and my bonus from work for most of it. We consider that "found" money. We also live well within our means and have no credit card debt - just a mortgage and now a car payment.

We feel it is important for our kids to get to see different areas of the country. My DH did not travel at all as a child so he enjoys going new places too! We're going to Hawaii this year - then to Lake Havasu with my DSis later in the summer. We've already planned another Disney Cruise for next spring break.

 

[leanne2255]

DVC and DH works for an airline. Hotel and airfare already paid for. I buy 4 or 5 day park hopper passes with an annual bonus which usually lasts us for 2 trips. We eat in breakfast and some dinners, so our cash outlay is not very much.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by BambiTamby
What can I say...dreamflight99 and I were separted at birth!

~And I MISS you my Dear SISTER! ~

Work hard...play HARDER! That's my life's philosophy. Give thanks where it is due...and appreciate every moment.

We also have PAP's to DL, and are visiting this weekend. We only live about an hour away, and sometimes just hop over for the day...or to stay overnight (CGH).

LIFE...is one BIG VACATION...surrounded by a little work/sleep!

TTFN...DF99

 

[crazelion]

I have one word: Weekend trip. That's how I can afford to go. I do not go every year. I go once every 5 years or less. We love weekend trips. We stay in a value resort or offsite to save money. We eat only two meals a day. Bring snacks from home to eat. We also drive to save money.

When not going to WDW we going Atlanta which is only two hours a away. Another place we like to go Gatlinburg which is also a two drive for us.

We not going anywhere this except for a out town wedding if we can afford to Memphis TN.

We do not charge vacations. They is consider luxarys to us.

We have some many free and cheap things to do in Chattanooga that we take advantage of.

I just bought two tickets to the cirsus for 24.00 total. We went the cheap night

 

[lynetteSC]

three words ... travel agent discount!

Most of the trips we have been fortunate enough to find either a travel agent discount OR a discount using a code/something we found online here or at mousesavers.

Also, we have been married 10 yrs and no kids until this May! That helps as well. All of our friends want to know the answer to this question I am sure!

We took some frineds with us last trip and they were amazed how economical WDW can be ... if you know how to plan and save $$$$$.

 

[slo]

We always stay at the Poly every year and this year we are doing the concierge package for the first time.

My husband and I budget for our vacations the minute we return home from the previous vacation. We justify the spending by believing that we deserve it because we don't smoke, don't drink, barely go out, and barely go out on shopping sprees and therefore we can afford to go to Disney. .

 

[ScarlettO]

Originally posted by auntpolly
There's another thing I forgot about -- that tax refund!

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

Gosh....how did that happen? Everyone had a tax cut....who did your taxes???

 

[WDWLVR]

Our vacations are important to us and so they have become a priority.

DH and I are DINKS, don't smoke or drink, own our modest home and drive cards that are paid for. We own DVC and use annual passes when it makes sense in booking trips over a one year span.

I set up a vacation fund in Microsoft Money and "transfer" funds into it when paying the bills from what is left over. The money never really leaves the checking account and is always there for us.

DH and I also use our trips as birthday and Christmas presents to each other. For example our cruise this December is our Christmas present to each other as have our trips to WDW the last two years.

It is all about what is important to you. I have co-workers that complain about how many trips I take. They live in bigger, fancier homes, get new cards every couple of years, and go out for dinner and drinks a couple of times a week. I choose my lifestyle they choose theirs. Neither is wrong.

 

[Nutsy]

Well we can't afford it period

 

[Mamu]

With a US Population of some 290 million people. Then tack on foreign visiters, it's a wonder you can get a room.

As for myself, my children are grown and self-supporting. We have no mortgage, own both our vehicles and the only bills we have are monthly expenses.

It wasn't always that way. I raised 4 children and there were lots of years when a trip to WDW was not even in the planning stages. We took our vacations, but a Disney Vacation took years of saving for.

 

[lenshanem]

Originally posted by crazelion
When not going to WDW we going Atlanta which is only two hours a away.
We have some many free and cheap things to do in Chattanooga that we take advantage of.

This is funny. We live in Atlanta and have often gone to Chattanooga for a weekend. The opposite of you!

 

[peachgirl]

Everyone had a tax cut

LOL! That was meant as a joke, right?

 

[Chattyaholic]

I'm a waitress and my "real" paycheck is my tips each night, but I still do receive a paycheck from the restaurant every other week which usually amounts to about $100. That money goes into the "vacation fund", plus I have a "$10 per night" envelope and each night I work, when I bring my tips home, $10 comes right off the top and goes into that envelope. I generally work 17 nights per month, so there's another $170 per month so I "average" saving $370 per month for our vacations.

Plus I have a "change jar" and put my tip change in there each night as well.

Unfortunately we don't do WDW as often as we'd like to, as (gasp!) there are other places we like to go as well. Right now I'm saving for a 2-week cabin vacation in the upper peninsula in August, then I'll start saving for a cabin rental in Gatlinburg, TN.
We probably won't go to WDW again for 2-3 more years.

 

[HANDYMOM]

Originally posted by peachgirl
LOL! That was meant as a joke, right?

Unless you or your spouse got a very significant raise or windfall (taxable) this year, you did pay less tax overall. Compare your actual tax liability (total tax due) to your gross income (before adjustments for both years and you'll most likely have paid less. It may not feel like less if you got the advance payment of the child tax credit in early '03, but that was cash in hand.....

 

[barbeml]

Don't have kids so no refund or advance refund adjustment or whatever the doublespeak it was called for us.

Had to pay a fortune to Uncle Sam this year.

 

[HANDYMOM]

Originally posted by barbeml
Don't have kids so no refund or advance refund adjustment or whatever the doublespeak it was called for us.

Had to pay a fortune to Uncle Sam this year.

No deductions....okay go ahead and figure your tax percentage anyway. Total tax owed (not what you had withheld) divided by your gross earnings? I bet the percentage is still manageable especially since you have none of the costs that come with having children.

Also, how is "Child tax credit" doublespeak? It's a per child deduction from your taxes owed. Before you answer remember, this tax credit has been around longer than President Bush.

Isn't it nice that you had a job that provided you with so much money over the course of 2003 that you owed a substantial amt? I bet there are lots of people who would gladly change places with you...

If you want your use a tax refund as a vacation savings plan you can always up your withholding.

 

[tc]

Our first trip was in 94, kids in middle school. We inherited money from Grandma (before she passed away) and she said to do something fun, not sensible. Went through a travel agent, and spent way too much money. We thought this would be our one time trip. We loved it so much that we started saving as soon as we got home. Went again three years later, still using travel agent. Then I found the Internet and the Dis. Subsequent trips were booked via the Internet using codes and discounts. Then the inevitable happened, DVC!!!! We purchased DVC after our youngest graduated from High School. Now we average one trip a year. We by AP's and go two times (once late September, then again mid September) on one pass. Then buy another AP the third year. This year we are giving our daughter our points for her honeymoon, so won't be going this year (although I am secretly watching airline tickets for a short trip in September).

If we don't use the rest of our DVC points this year, I'll bank them and get a one bedroom next May for our 25th Wedding anniversary. I love my WDW trips and can't imagine not going every year. It's my way of destressing.

 

[barbeml]

Handymom---

I just made a comment, did not ask for a lecture.

You do not know enough about me to judge or make assumptions.

 

[HANDYMOM]

then consider it a freebie!

Lifes to short to whine!