not getting my hopes up...but then again...

[connorsmom911]

Well, I'd like to thank everyone for their opinions...didn't think it would spark such a debate and I'm sorry if some people's feelings got hurt (mine included).

Royalcanadian - I don't like being referred to as being irresponsible with my finances, that was a rude and insensitive comment. Yes, I bought my house with 100% financing but that does not mean I have an "utter incapacity to save any money" and I think every one who has taken advantage of 100% financing would feel as insulted as I do. And when I said that last year's trip wasn't paid off, there's about $300 left, most of it was paid for before we even left. And my motivation for thinking about another trip to Disney is not "based solely on the fact that an acquaintance is planning to go to WDW in the fall and the OP is jealous" as you clearly can read in my post with regards to my mom. And yes, my priorities have very much changed since my October 18th post. Disney may still be around in 2010, but my loved ones may not, and knowing how important that is to me...thanks, you've solidified my decision to go. I will have some money towards it before we go, but some will just be put on that old credit card!!!

And just to set the record straight...there have been times I have been stressed over money, but I generally sleep well at night. I have RRSP's, life insurance, an RESP for DS and a savings account, and I have the best credit rating issued. Yes, I have a line of credit and credit cards, and I don't regret having them. I have used credit to pay for things when I didn't have the money, but I am in no way irresponsible!!! I have had last-minute opportunities come up to travel or study or purchase great things and you know what, I've taken every one of those opportunities because they wouldn't come around again and they haven't come around again.

Thanks you hockeychic "Regardless of what anyone else says, do what is best for you and your family"

Thank you Debbie "Paving will wait. Time with loved ones doesn't always."

Thank you maryliz "I'm a believer in "live for today", within reason " and btw, we still don't have grass either!!!

Thank you GrannyEv "Sometimes you need to go for it, to get away and take a break from things"

Thanks to all of you who posted your thoughts...even those who advised to pay down the debt first. I agree to a certain point. I don't like having debt, but I'm not going to sacrifice everything in order to be debt free. That's why I pay interest.

God, if I'd waited to pay cash for everything I've ever done?!?! I wouldn't have gone to university and got a degree, I wouldn't have gone to Europe, I wouldn't have my son (we paid for all our infertility treatments by credit!), I wouldn't have a car, I wouldn't have my house, I wouldn't even be on the DIS boards because I wouldn't have a computer, and I certainly wouldn't have gone to Disney.

Tracey

P.S. I'll be sure to post my trip review when we get back...oh, and my credit card balance for RoyalCanadian!!!

 

[maryliz]

Well said, Tracey!

Gotta do what works for you, and what only YOU can live with. I too love having my trips paid for in advance, but doesn't always work out that way. That's what my company shares that I purchase throughout the year thru payroll are for.

Hope you get your grass soon! I hate winter, but I sure did like the "frozen tundra" instead of the mud-hole we now have.


MaryLiz

 

[Rebecca P.]

I can't help thinking that if they haven't paid off the vacation from 10 months ago then they really can't afford to take another vacation anytime soon. I'm all for living for the moment within reason. I'm not sure how you enjoy a vacation that you know in your heart you can't afford at the moment. I'd wait and really enjoy a trip to Disney when the finances are in order.

 

[Nagle]

I also think it is poor advice to encourage someone to "just go for it" when there is still outstanding debt from the last vacation even if it is only $300 or so. If you had not been to Disney in many years and this was to be some kind of family gathering with someone who is not well, maybe I would feel differently, but the OP was just there in October. Royal Canadian was perhaps a little blunt with his words, but I really don't agree that he flamed anyone.

I love going to Disney as much as most people, but I don't buy into the argument "but it's Disney. The most magical place on earth so you should go for it even if you can't really afford it."

You want to go without a paved driveway, finished basement, having another child, building a deck & fence, all that for a week in Florida then you don't need permission from people on these boards. Sounds like your mind is pretty much made up.

Good luck to you.

 

[hockey mom]

Another perspective- my 16 yr old bowed out of our last trip. I dread the day when my kids don't think it's cool to vacation with us anymore so while 2 out of 3 still want to go then I want to take them.

Does my house need a wider driveway-yes, new deck- yes, and a hot tub would be nice but I have many years to do those and only a few years left to fill my photo album with great memories so the projects can wait.

I will say though that all my vacations are paid with cash upfront.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Perhaps next time folks soliciting honest and free opinions should let others on this board know exactly what sort of advice they are hoping to receive. In the end so many will apparently be spared hurt feelings.

As for the comment about 100% financing rewarding those who have demonstrated the utter incapacity to save money -- I cannot claim it as my own. Instead I thank the financial advisor Garth Turner and his March 13, 2005 column for that zinger. I stand by his words -- I believe 100% mortgages are a very dangerous way to live, especially with the prospects of interest rate increases on the horizon. There are many people with 100% mortgages who will not be able to withstand the additional pressure that even a small increase will place upon them.

Enjoy your trip Tracey. I look forward to your trip report but would rather not be privy to your credit card balance. The only credit card statements I like to see are the ones for which I'm responsible.

 

[Grumbo]

Wow a really heated thread on the Canadian Forum!!! Who'd a thunk it

I don't know your financial situation, and what you first posted, and then went into much more detail is much rosier, than initially posted.
I think by the timber of the post you want us to say go ahead and do it. Without knowing your salaries, debt load and all kinds of personal stuff I wouldn't even hazard a guess if you should or shouldn't do it

That said I think you're going to do exactly what you want anyway, so guess whatever you decide is "right" for you.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[c&m]

When we went on our trip in 2000, DH and I couldn't really afford to go. DH, who is an accountant, tried to tell me that ever so gently and ever so subtly, so as not to hurt my feelings. But I was firm in my position that we needed to get away from it all, just the 2 of us without the kids. Well, he was right. We spent 8 glorious days at WDW, but when we came home, we were about $3500 in debt. We spent the next 2 years trying to pay down our line of credit, on top of paying our other day-to-day bills. It was a slow road to financial recovery and it was sad how cash poor we were -- all for a week in WDW.

I must say that the positive thing that came out of this experience is that I learned never to live beyond our means after that. If we needed to build memories, we would just go on a mini-vacation. We have some great places in B.C. that we can visit locally and spend nice long weekends.

This year, we finally have the cash to take the entire family to WDW, and we're going in 2 days (!!!). This time, when we come back home, we won't be faced with debt. I don't think Royal Canadian was consciously being offensive (though very direct and blunt), more like just drawing you toward the harsher reality -- which is never a pleasant place to go to -- of the aftermath of a trip like WDW.

Thanks for listening...

 

[nowellsl]

When we went on our trip in 2000, DH and I couldn't really afford to go. DH, who is an accountant, tried to tell me that ever so gently and ever so subtly, so as not to hurt my feelings. But I was firm in my position that we needed to get away from it all, just the 2 of us without the kids. Well, he was right. We spent 8 glorious days at WDW, but when we came home, we were about $3500 in debt. We spent the next 2 years trying to pay down our line of credit, on top of paying our other day-to-day bills. It was a slow road to financial recovery and it was sad how cash poor we were -- all for a week in WDW.

I must say that the positive thing that came out of this experience is that I learned never to live beyond our means after that. If we needed to build memories, we would just go on a mini-vacation. We have some great places in B.C. that we can visit locally and spend nice long weekends.

This year, we finally have the cash to take the entire family to WDW, and we're going in 2 days (!!!). This time, when we come back home, we won't be faced with debt. I don't think Royal Canadian was consciously being offensive (though very direct and blunt), more like just drawing you toward the harsher reality -- which is never a pleasant place to go to -- of the aftermath of a trip like WDW.

Thanks for listening...

Thanks for sharing that - that is exactly what some of us were trying to get across to the OP. While there is nothing wrong with living for today, it's also very important to plan for tomorrow! Especially if you have kids! I've gotten to the place in my life where if I don't have the cash to pay for something, I don't buy it!

 

[SnowWhite]

You lucky person, living two hours north of disney!!!! Then I would have to work for them, because there is no way I could be that close and not spend alot of time there. I would get an AP and go every weekend! Of course most would say when you are there all the time the magic wears off........I would like to try!!!!

 

[nowellsl]

Hi SnowWhite - yes, I love being close enough to make a lot of trips. I just wish the FL resident rates were a little better this time. I would love to work there, but the pay stinks! Maybe when I retire!

 

[SnowWhite]

I mean come on I am more than qualified for it. I can name all 11 dwarfs. Well let me see there is sleepy, dopey, hungover, doc and the medics (they count as four), sneezy, lumpy, bashful, and that other one. LOL see I am qualified!!! That should take care of the low pay issue. Plus I have seen a bunch of the movies and been to the disney stores manytimes. Now I am thinking of a possible CEO position.......

 

[toesmom]

I say no to disney until you've paid off your cc... sorry, believe me, I love disney as much as the next guy and we spent 7 nights at a value, with no parks, and cheap food to save money, and still only going down again in 1 year's time, and this time maybe we'll head into magic kingdom.

You'll enjoy your trip more when you don't worry about spending on your cc only to have to come back to more bills.

And I'm sorry to hear about your mom, maybe you can spend some time together for a nice weekend closer to home.

 

[grover]

If you can swing it without going into debt forever and feel comfortable then go.
Sounds like you nearly have the last trip paid off right? I like to pay bits and peices before I go--could you do this?? I don't judge you-you know what you can handle-sometime life goes forward and the bank account just doesn't agree with your plans right! If I didn't have a credit card we would sometimes have trouble getting things done..but it all gets paid in the end and we do stuff we could've missed out on. Life is short..but you balance it out with planning long term to
Toesmom--you go to disney but not the parks?? Are ya'll golfers or do you go just to enjoy the resort?? Gosh that would kill me not to do the parks-lol!
G in W

 

[toesmom]

We were there 8 days with a 6 yo dd and 1 yo ds, but could not get the 6yo to the parks. She wanted to go swimming with me or her dad and the little one wanted to use his newly acquired walking skills all over pop century.

We had a blast, it's hard to believe. But we've been to most of the parks with her at least once so we were ready to let some time pass.

We bought into dvc so we have years to visit the parks.

But we really saved ALOT of cash and had great family time without fighting the crowds. And we visited the other resorts, but especially visited the stores with the 6yo who had a limited budget.

By saving the money I don't feel so bad about going for 8 days.