Nosy question- but how can you afford it? (Multiple trips/Resort stays?)

[Tara8595]

I make a modest income, but my reason is that I tend to go with other people and only pay for myself. Not having kids helps too. But the biggest reason I'm able to go a lot is that this is my hobby. Some people collect things. Some people decorate their homes. Some people buy big cars, tv's, whatever. Disney World is my hobby and it's what I choose to spend my money on. It's a conscious choice. I live in an apartment, I drive an 8 year old Civic. But I take the best vacations ever.

I almost always travel exclusively in value season (October - exception for the Halloween party). I wait til the codes to come out before I book and if I can't book a code rate, I stay at an All-star. I get an annual pass. I exclusively fly Southwest and check their site almost everyday (bookmark the 'hotfares' page), because some of their discounts are only good for short times - I always wait for a big reduction, because one *always* comes up before each trip - it hasn't failed me yet. I periodically check the National Car Rental page and often rebook my car 4 or 5 times before my vacation as their rates change, which they do *constantly*.

But one of the biggest ways to save money is to travel with others. If you travel as a couple, try to get another couple to go with you and split the room cost - this is a huge savings, especially if you're already getting a 40% AP discount on a room. I mean, I just booked Beach Club using the Virginia discount code for September - so a room that in Regular Season is $319. With the discount it's $182 including Tax. That's only $90 per couple. And if it's just a trip for 4 friends, which I do sometimes, then it's only $45/night per person. You can't beat that deal. I would guess if I had a big family, I'd try to go in with another family on a villa, or possibly get a cabin at Fort Wilderness, which seems like an excellent value.

Anyhow - that's my explanation, in a long winded nutshell.

-Tara

Oh - also - I have good credit, and use it. My goal is to die in debt and then all that stuff will have been for free. Heh heh heh.

 

[Hollymom1229]

I afford it by being single w/o kids. I go to Disney about once a year and have about 4 other mini-vacation (4-5 days) elsewhere. I make a modest living, but I continue to drive a 9 yr. old car, because it's paid off. I eat a lot of spaghetti. I only buy clothes on sale, and Payless has become my haven for shoes. I don't get manicures or pedicures, I go to have my hair cut every 3 months, no perms, highlights or anything. My fiancee and I both live simply and buy few things for ourselves. Instead we save the money to do nice things. I have had more than one person lecture me about how someone my age shouldn't be able to afford 9 nights on site at WDW for 2 people, and that I'm not prioritizing. Yet, I've paid for all of this in cash by being frugal, maybe it's them who's not prioritizing. I think most people with a steady income can afford to travel if they learn to live within or below their means.

 

[ColetteN]

HollyMom1229 How unbelievably RUDE of someone to "lecture" you on your choice of vacations (which are supposed to be fun & what the person ENJOYS!) and tell you your priorities aren't right! That's none of their business. And your "age" doesn't matter either. I'm still shocked from reading your post. "Shouldn't be able to afford WDW" - says who????

I'm still relatively young (31) and have come to learn that anything is possible if it's a priority. No matter what someone's priority - it's not your place to judge.

That said - thanks to so many who answered this post with genuine and honest ideas/ways to save for WDW vacations.

I hope everyone has wonderful vacations.

Colette

 

[BigWaveDave]

Hollymom,

Don't let anybody presume to tell you what you should spend your $$$ on! As long as you're not breaking the law, your choices are just as good as anybody else's!

Many people spend their money on things I would'nt, and visa versa. I got a kick out of the person who just spent $15K on dining room furniture tell me how it was "such an extravagence" for me to go to WDW twice in one year! Or the person who just bought a Porsche convertable tell me that he didn't see how you could spend more than $500 for a TV (a few years I spent $1,500 for a big screen projection TV).

Point is, everyone has their own priorities. FWIW, yours sound just fine to me!

Have fun,
Dave

 

[Uncle Albert]

Hey, I agree with you 100%. We all spend money on different things. I have freinds that will spend more than $100.00 on drinks, going out, in one hour. They do it every weekend. I spend my money going to WDW. I'll always find money to go. It's a must for us. Even If I have to get a part-time job.

 

[CarolA]

I found this thread very interesting. I am very lucky in that I have a very good job and since I have don't have kids or a spouse I have more disposable income then a lot of people do. However, I do know that travel is more important to me then some other things. For example, there were several women at my last job with the same position I had (so we all made about the same) and they all kept buying bigger houses while I have stayed at the same small house so that I can go to Disney, Europe and other places. I realize that a bigger house might be a better "financial" investment, but travel is something I love to do. I figure when I am rocking on the nursing home porch I can amuse myself looking through my photo albums trying to remember if I really did ride Tower of Terror!

 

[patsal]

We do have a double income, we own DVC, we carry our lunches to work and I still cook all but two nights per month (both are pizza nights). We consider our vacation time a priority for reconnecting as a unit and we like to share our time with relatives in a way that is more magical than a family picnic. For us it is a priority of where the money goes. I do not have expensive collections of things, I do my own nails and pedicures, I clip coupons to pay for everyday groceries, save up my change and do point reward programs on-line to take the edge off of food cost, etc. With DVC I don't have to eat out unless I want to (which I do because I cook all year so I can enjoy my vacations). We do not buy souvineers, we'll be back next year anyway. We also buy PAP's and try to fit two vacations into a 366 day period.
Our vacations are at least 10 days each, sometimes more. The kids save their allowance and switch it to Disney Dollars at the end of every month. For birthday gifts they often receive Disney Dollars and when relatives don't know what to get us for a gift they often give us Disney Dollars for Birthdays, etc. For many years we were a one income family that vacationed big every five years. We decided we wanted more quality vacations and made an investment in what was right for us. I would not trade my years as a stay at home Mom for anything, but now that the kids are in school I couldn't stay home anyway, I bore way too easily! LOL Until we bought the DVC I did not make a commitment from my income at all. I used it to pay off old stuff. I guess the short of it is vacation time is special to us, and no other vacation destination has ever been more magical for us. BTW your question was not too nosey--better to get the real scoop.

 

[perdidobay]

In our mid 20's DH and I had very little money so we took camping vacations and never ate out or spent money on anything beside gas and camping fees We went to WDW for the first time when we were 33 and 34 and stayed offsite and ate fast food.
As our income has increased over the years, we can spend more on travel (and do) because it is our favorite thing. We are now 45 & 46 and we go to WDW 2-3 times a year, because of DVC, as of 2001. We also go on other vacations (we spend 6-7 weeks a year on vacation)
and spend around 15k a year on travel. I think it all depends on your priorities in life, mine is to enjoy it while I'm living I think expensive clothes and cars are a waste of good money that could instead buy a good trip

 

[PatriciaH]

Travel is a priorty for us as well. We are double income no kids so this helps. We have always driven older cars, love to cook at home and do not mind bringing lunch to work. I am not a big spender when it comes to clothes. I love Marshalls and TJ Maxx and would never buy full price The quality clothes and shoes are there if you look. I have worked in retail and know how much things are marked up! I feel saving for an early retirement and travel are my two priorities. Friends say they are envious of all the trips we take but we think Americans get jipped on vacation time and wish we could take MORE vacation time every year.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

 

[chrisn]

We are a double income family with 2 kids ages 14 and 4.

We go to WDW every year but don't stay onsite because my dad owns a timeshare condo at Westgate Lakes so that saves us the cost of accomodations. Basically, I work so that we can go on these expensive vacations. Every month I put $500 in savings and every November the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, my boss whom I love gives me a big FAT bonus. That goes directly into savings also. Our WDW trips usually run us about $6000-$7000 for about 1 1/2 -2 weeks. We do own a nice home but drive older, cheaper cars (Dodge Neon). I do feel like we sacrifice other nice things to be able to do this but it's so worth it. Back in February, we went on two 7 day back to back Eastern/Western Caribbean cruises. One on Disney and one on RCCL's mega ship Voyager of the Seas and that trip was double the cost of our WDW trips so after saving for that one, this next upcoming seems like a breeze. I must confess, I have been driving hubby crazy about buying me a Dogde Durango or a Jeep Grand Cherokee but I keep thinking that the Disney trips may suffer if he gives in. Well one more year and DS's Daycare costs will be over so I guess I can wait until then for my SUV. I would like to add that the first trip we planned was a dream come true and a once in a lifetime trip never thinking that we would be able to do it every year. I feel very fortunate to be able to have these special trips and memories with my babies and it's just amazing how the power of wanting something bad enough works. Wonders!

 

[christianweecare]

We are not a wealthy family. We are a family with two incomes and now two grown kids. During their growing up years, we tried to visit WDW every couple years or so (especially at Christmas time). In hind-sight this was money well spent. These trips are some of our fondest family memories. It gave us time to spend with each other and just play!

Now that kids have grown up, DH & I are trying to find time for each other. We both work long hours each week, so we make a point to make our yearly week long trip to WDW. Sometimes we include the kids in a long weekend trip. DH & I save all year for our trips. We buy AP's for the two of us and budget our trips so that they are paid for in full. We feel that it is important to give each other "get away time". Plus we love WDW. We have been going back since 1975--our honeymoon!

 

[ceecee]

Yes, a lot of it is priority. We put off new carpet for two years, but we've had GREAT WDW vacations and TONS of family memories. Thinking back to when I was a kid, I don't even remember our carpet, but I do still remember our family vacations.

My girlfriend whines all the time about not being able to go to WDW because she's a single mom (who does get a nice child support ck). She gets manicures and pedicures every 2 wks, goes to the movies every week. And gets her hair colored, hightlighted etc at the salon every 4 wks. And they eat out at nicer places at lunch and dinner time... PRIORITY!

 

[Bob D194]

We are a two income family with an adult son. We travel to WDW twice a year and spend 18-22 days at DVC/OKW. The cost of our on property stay at OKW is only the dues/taxes we pay which is about $80. month. Airfare from Hartford, CT on Delta is about $160. each. Our AP's are about $380. each. Rental car is about $300. and we allow $700 - $800 for food and misc. Total for each trip is about $2,100 - $2,300 for two adults.

Buying DVC is one of the best things we ever did. We have added points and we are looking to add another 100. We are in our 50's and we still look forward to our trip to WDW.

We budget carefully and we look for travel bargins.

Bob D

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says...................................... I just had to skip all the replies, send mine and then go back and read them.
I will bet some of them are doing pretty well, and some are empty nesters. You will probably find some like us who are doing ok, but drive a 10 and 12 year old car, and spend less for clothes in a year than some do in a month. I could buy a Lexxus, pay cash for it, but in 10 years I have a beat up old car. Or I can buy a almost new Prism and drive it for ten years and have a beat up old car, and pay for 7 trips to WDW!! Guess I have to plan three more trips!
I will guess you will find just ordinary folk here who have decided to spend a higher percentage of their money on vacation than most people do.
Back to the original post, if you got a part time job, even one that is only one day a week, you could turn the day trip into an overnighter, and explore the various resorts one by one, and do two park days on every trip, and could go every month!!! Working one day a week! And everyone will read and say how can they go 12 times in one year!!!!!!!! LOL

 

[GeorgeG]

Like so many have already said, it's a matter of priorities.

We both work and my salary is good, but far from outrageous. The kids are all grown and on their own (3 grandchildren), so that makes a difference. Both cars are new, but practical (VW Beetle & Safari van).

We figure we both work hard and my job has a fair amount of stress. Vacations are very important to us and nothing works better than WDW. My wife has told me she can see the stress leaving me in stages as we get closer to WDW with the last disappearing as we walk into Epcot the first day. There's just something special about the atmosphere of Epcot that really suits me.

Some years ago, my brother made the statement that he wished they could afford to go to WDW every year like we do. After sitting and talking about it, I showed him he could, but had different priorities. They're both heavy smokers and enjoy their daily ration of beer, which easily amounted to the same we spend on going to WDW.

It's a matter of priorities... and working you butt off, too!

 

[JulesMom]

OVERTIME!!!! I work extra shifts to pay for it!

We watch to get the best deals, get AP's, & do reward programs

 

[wannagodis]

This has been a FANTASTIC thread! I've been wondering for so long how people manage to do multiple trips to WDW. Thanks to everyone who responded! I'd like to ask a "piggyback" question (not sure this should be a separate thread--but its related). To those of you who responded here...did you also manage to save for retirement/education/home improvement WHILE taking the multiple trips, or did you just put those things on hold for a while? THANKS!

Lisa

 

[bigsis1970]

I have done some home improvements like re-painting , getting a new furnace and some Yard work.. I will say that my tax refund next year will be for major stuff like carpeting and a new deck - however i think i will still be able to manage to save some for our trip in early 2004 ( think i will not be able to save enough for 2003 and do the big repairs.) Michelle

 

[Minnie's Mate]

We save a set amount each month through our credit union. We budget for retirement, home repairs, our kids education, auto insurance and our "dream house". It isn't easy, but it is worth it.

 

[dcfromva]

When we first started going to WDW in 1991, we only went once a year--always pre-paying everything.

Then in 1998, I got this wild idea of going to WDW 4 times in one year--(a week each time). That is a total of 1 month of WDW out of the year! What gave me the idea was the example of someone else on a BB. They said they went to WDW and stayed at the Contemporary Resort for the month of DEC every year. They detailed how they saved all year long and other money saving techniques they used at WDW. That was amazing to me!
That made me understand that probably the most important way to realizing such things was to have a goal and then outline steps for achieving the goal.

These days, I would like to say I am a really good money manager and that's why we can go to WDW a lot--but that really isn't true. WDW is just a top priority to us. And, over the years, it has become a formula and I can usually predict pretty closely what we will spend on a trip because we have done it so many times.

Last year, we went to DL twice and WDW 3times (mostly over long weekends for WDW).

This year, we finally decided to buy into DVC and as a result we received a free 3 night stay plus a free 7 night stay at one of several WDW resorts-- in addition to the DVC points that we received for the year. We already had AP vouchers (been saving them for the right time ). We took our 3 night stay back in May (found airfare 94.00RT per person on SWA!). We had travel coupons for our airfare for our trip to WDW in November (incentives from a credit card company) and we will drive the other two times. Our additional out of pocket expenses will be for food and souvenirs and any shows we may wish to see, and one rental car our Nov trip and 2nights at the Contemp (not covered by points or free stays).

On our next visit, I'm going to try those connections vouchers for some of our meals and see how they work out, I've already purchased a bunch of them.

Disney has not lost any of it's shine to me--I still love it as much as the first time we ever went!

-DC