nt

[mickeyfan2]

It's always been a little more then that.

Are you talking refund or rebate? Your refund is for your 2007 taxes and the rebate is for the 2008 one time tax credit (not sure if that is the exact wording).

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Are you talking refund or rebate? Your refund is for your 2007 taxes and the rebate is for the 2008 one time tax credit (not sure if that is the exact wording).

I think that's my refund that is higher then $600. I don't do my taxes myself, someone else does them for me so I'm not 100% sure.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I think that's my refund that is higher then $600. I don't do my taxes myself, someone else does them for me so I'm not 100% sure.

You are getting two things from this year confused. You will do your taxes, not you but somebody for you, and you will file them. The IRS will send you a refund, if owed (the amount you get that is greater than $600). Then later this year, from May to July, you will get a rebate check for $600. It is from that stimulus package that the government just passed. It has been all over the news and the DIS. That is the $600 I am referring to.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

You are getting two things from this year confused. You will do your taxes, not you but somebody for you, and you will file them. The IRS will send you a refund, if owed (the amount you get that is greater than $600). Then later this year, from May to July, you will get a rebate check for $600. It is from that stimulus package that the government just passed. It has been all over the news and the DIS. That is the $600 I am referring to.

Okay, we were talking about two different things. The rebate and refund will pay for my vacation completely. And maybe even most of my student loans.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Okay, we were talking about two different things. The rebate and refund will pay for my vacation completely. And maybe even most of my student loans.

Some people who are married, make below $150K and have 4 kids will get a $2400 rebate. The alone could fund a WDW vacation for that family.

 

[disneyjunkie]

After years and years staying in cheap places, it's been nice to graduate to really nice suites. We did it by joining DVC 12 years ago. So we do our share of laughing too...at people who squeeze into dinky hotel rooms or unremarkable condos while we luxuriate in WDW quality and our hot tub in our room. We get our bus service when we want it, wake up calls from Mickey Mouse and fireworks off our balcony.

Your post is just as bad as the OP's post.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Your post is just as bad as the OP's post.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Oh, let's not use the word "bad". How about the phrase "not carefully worded". I don't think either one intentionally meant to insult anyone.

 

[jodifla]

I was just playing off her wording.

(But really. A two bedroom OKW villa....way better than an offsite SkyAuction condo...IMHO.)

 

[dvcgirl]

Have you even ever been to WDW? (I haven't gotten a chance to read the whole thread yet, sorry. From your message, it sounds as if you haven't been yet, by calling it yoru one and only trip.) Disney hotels offer a lot of service and vacation value that you won't get at a plain jane hotel.


After years and years staying in cheap places, it's been nice to graduate to really nice suites. We did it by joining DVC 12 years ago. So we do our share of laughing too...at people who squeeze into dinky hotel rooms or unremarkable condos while we luxuriate in WDW quality and our hot tub in our room. We get our bus service when we want it, wake up calls from Mickey Mouse and fireworks off our balcony.

Well, as my name implies I was a fan of the DVC. We sold our membership a few years back though because we could no longer see ourselves vacationing at WDW at least every other year, which is where you get the best value.

And while I agree that DVC is a good value for those *who can already afford* a vacation at a moderate WDW resort, it still doesn't explain how "real" or average people afford a WDW vacation. And the fact is that many people I know financed their DVC purchase taking their "break-even" point much further out.

Many in this thread have said that they travel despite carrying debt, or because the kids are small only once. Now, I'm not picking on these people...I think that what they are doing is by far more common than people who cover all their financial bases before spending on "wants" such as a vacation at Disney. However, I would say that the real answer to the original question is in the truest sense of the word "afford", well, that not all "real" Americans can't afford the trips that they take to WDW.

 

[the Fidge]

OK OP wants to know how I afford Disney, well here's what I do:

(1) ebay body organs ie: kidney
(2) knock over the local liquor store
(3) I do not pay any bills and leave in a Sears Kenmore Box
(4) I use other peoples credit cards
(5) I refinance my Sears Kenmore box
(6) I rent out my vacation villa Kenmore box
(7) I work in a school and steal kids lunch money
(8) I auction DH off at tag sales , still waiting for a bid
(9) I sell pints of my blood
(10) I jump into the fountains at night at malls and take out all the money everyobdy tosses in. Have a had a problem with security but I put my Mickey ears on and they leave me alone!

 

[mickeyfan2]

(10) I jump into the fountains at night at malls and take out all the money everyobdy tosses in. Have a had a problem with security but I put my Mickey ears on and they leave me alone!

Don't forget to take the hotel soaps and bath in the fountain while you are coin diving.

 

[madge]

(But really. A two bedroom OKW villa....way better than an offsite SkyAuction condo...IMHO.)

way better? I'm not sure I agree with that.

We have visited the 1BR units at OKW, and have stayed at HGVC Sea World, Vistana Villages, and Silver Points (the newer section of Silver Lake). Of the 3, the units at HGVC Sea World and Vistana Villages were just as nice as the unit we saw at OKW. Did we have on-site transportation? No. But, we had a car that took us to the parks when we wanted, often times faster than the WDW buses. (Vistana Villages) And we didn't have to wrestle our stroller on an overcrowded bus. Did we have Mickey Mouse wake up calls? No. But we don't have them at the Swan & Dolphin or Shades of Green, so we don't miss them. LOL. What we did have at those two resorts, were very nice, 2 BR condos at a fraction of the cost of staying onsite. Our unit at HGVC was $249/week and the one at Vistana Villages was less than $400/week.

I know that some of the resorts on Skyauction, AFVClub, etc aren't as nice as the DVC resorts ... but, to say that the 2BR units at OKW are "way better" is a matter of opinion.

 

[the Fidge]

Don't forget to take the hotel soaps and bath in the fountain while you are coin diving.

SO I take it you were the security guard from Thursday night huh????

 

[jodifla]

way better? I'm not sure I agree with that.

We have visited the 1BR units at OKW, and have stayed at HGVC Sea World, Vistana Villages, and Silver Points (the newer section of Silver Lake). Of the 3, the units at HGVC Sea World and Vistana Villages were just as nice as the unit we saw at OKW. Did we have on-site transportation? No. But, we had a car that took us to the parks when we wanted, often times faster than the WDW buses. (Vistana Villages) And we didn't have to wrestle our stroller on an overcrowded bus. Did we have Mickey Mouse wake up calls? No. But we don't have them at the Swan & Dolphin or Shades of Green, so we don't miss them. LOL. What we did have at those two resorts, were very nice, 2 BR condos at a fraction of the cost of staying onsite. Our unit at HGVC was $249/week and the one at Vistana Villages was less than $400/week.

I know that some of the resorts on Skyauction, AFVClub, etc aren't as nice as the DVC resorts ... but, to say that the 2BR units at OKW are "way better" is a matter of opinion.

And I do realize that, which is why I put in the IMHO.

I've been going to WDW since 1972. For many years, I lived 90 minutes away and just did day trips. When I started going on my own, I did the Days Inn cheapest room available thing. I camped. I stayed at friends' houses. I think that's a totally cool way to do Disney. Did it for many, many years myself. I occasionally stayed onsite when I got a Florida resident deal.

But the OP wanted to know why people would spend the big bucks for a WDW hotel room, and I'm trying to explain.

Because I've been to the park 50 or 75 times, now the RESORT is the thing. The SERVICE is the thing. The AMBIENCE is the thing. And now that I'm older...well, I'm just done with the cheaper room thing (if at all possible. I'm still sleeping in friends guest rooms in many other parts of the country!)

And I know for me, and likely many others, it's a COMPLETELY different feeling staying onsite at WDW than offsite.

To me, that's what the OP doesn't get. Many people are happier offsite for many reasons probably particularly cost and space....but there's a reason WDW has expanded it's hotel inventory so vastly and it's DVC inventory.

You just really are immersed in the magic, which is just worth it to some of us.

 

[JoyG]

I was just playing off her wording.

(But really. A two bedroom OKW villa....way better than an offsite SkyAuction condo...IMHO.)

Well I've never stayed at OKW, but the condo I rented two summers ago at Emerald Island was the most luxurious place I've ever stayed. On any vacation. Ever. It didn't have Mickey theming, but I can't imagine it being any nicer.

 

[jodifla]

Well I've never stayed at OKW, but the condo I rented two summers ago at Emerald Island was the most luxurious place I've ever stayed. On any vacation. Ever. It didn't have Mickey theming, but I can't imagine it being any nicer.

With a 6-year-old, staying at "Mickey Mouse's House," which is what my DS calls it, has premium value, so it works much better for my family.

 

[mickeyfan2]

SO I take it you were the security guard from Thursday night huh????

Is a security guard a "real" person's job? If so, then it was not me, since I am not a "real" person.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Is a security guard a "real" person's job? If so, then it was not me, since I am not a "real" person.

I must've missed something. Why aren't you a real person?

 

[the Fidge]

Of course it is not a "real" job silly you forgot already??? I am but a mere figment of my own imagination uh duh!