Please Read: How do you guys do it??????

[Pegg]

Ok you want to hear from poor folks this is how we have done it.

First off been married 15 years husband made anywhere from $15,000 to $29,000. Two years after getting an Assiociate degree I worked but DD decided to come along. Decided to stay home with her till she was old enough for school. Always dreamed of going to WDW but never got to go. Of course no money we live literally from check to check. Still do.
Anyways, I grew up in California and went to Disneyland many times and really wanted to DH to Disneyland. So finally I got the hair to move to california and we did for about three months. We did go to Disneyland one day while we were out there.

Finally DD old enough for school and guess what my back really screws up and finally require surgery on it. So while she was in the first grade I decided to go back to school for a 4 year accounting degree. Started when she started the second grade now that she will be in the forth grade, I will be finishing up in December.

Ok to get back to DW, Last summer, I was offered a student loan. Since rehab pays for all my school tuitiion and books there is no school expense for me. I know shouldn't take a student loan for DW, but I did. Honestly not sorry I did.

Anyways DD, Dh and myself spent a week long trip in magic WDW. Stayed at All Stars sports and loved it. Totally loved it. Never thought about what we could have been missing with the moderates or deluxes. Yes we spent a little more of stuff t-shirts, etc. than most people. Thinking this is once in a lifetime.

Dh and I decided we were going back again. Saving out of our weekly pay. Just as soon as I made reservations in January to go in August again he got laid off. We were really bummed. Oh well we will get back sometime. Two months later he got a better job making a little more about $1.00 I know not much but it helps. Plus working 2 hours overtime everyday.

Well in April DD, got sick , doctor found a lump on her neck and done a biopsy. THANKFULLY THE TEST CAME OUT FINE. Turned out to be a calcuim deposit nothing to worry about.

But let me tell you the two weeks waiting on that test was a total nightmare. Not knowing if my baby girl was going to be really sick or not. Before the test came back DH said to me if the test comes back ok why don't you and DD go to WDW in august while I was on summer break. He can't get off work. So knowing We don't know what life is going to throw at us, we have decided to return to DW in August.

We are saving a little bit each week. One week buying a ticket, next week putting money aside for Tiffany and so forth. We have three weeks to go and still three weeks of savings to be able to make the trip. So hopfully everything will go as planned.

Do I feel bad about taking the money for dw we could put it in a car, school clothes actually lots of things. NO

We will never be able to replace the memories and fun that myself and DD will receive during this vacation.

Would love to go back in DEcember because DH said we can if I can save it but not sure if we will have the extra money for the annual passes this trip.

so all kinds of people goes to DW even the really poor.

 

[RHONDALEE]

For the last several years I've gone twice a year, once with my boyfriend
and once with one of my sisters and 2 of our niece's. I work full time at
Sears in Hoffman Estates (about 30 miles outside of Chgo) and I also work
part time at Walgreens by my house, averaging 20 hours a week.
My job with Sears pays the bills and
my job with Walgreens buys the frills.

 

[MJames41]

I was reading some of the posts and I just have to put in my input.

I'm a single parent with 2 children (DD 16, DS 14). My wife died 14 years ago. She never got to play with the kids at Disney. When my wife died, I was unemployed, living with my parents. My mom became the kids "designated mom". I spent a few years working, and then went and got a college degree. At one point I had a decent job, making good money in Florida. I worked for 2 years in that position, working at least 60 hours a week. I took one family vacation in that time frame. Then I lost my job. I headed back to Illinois to search for work. It took me 4 months, and then I had to save to bring my kids up. While I was doing that (2/97) my mom died. In July of 1997 I moved my kids up here. In October my son fell out of a tree and broke his arm. In November, my daughter was hit by a car and had to have surgery to reattach part of her ankle bone.

The way I see it, my kids have had it hard enough (and so have I). My dad is still in Florida, so every Disney trip is also a trip to see my dad. As long as he is alive, and as long as I can afford it (even if the bills go on the credit card), I will go every year. Life is fleeting, Death is permanent. We only get 1 chance to do it right, and if I'm doing it wrong by my retirement, savings, etc., I don't care because my kids come first.

My dad used to give me a hard time about this until I asked him one question: Do you wish you had taken more vacations with me and my brother? He hasn't given me a hard time since.

Just my opinion. This and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee, in some places.

37 days and counting

 

[Cindy B]

Some people would call us poor, in the vein of we dont make a six figure income.

I do our trips like this, I work part time at three different jobs. the part time money I make all goes into savings, and trips come out of that... I only work about 15 hours a week right now, so its not that bad, and each job I have it is family friendly, I can take my children with me, so I have zero, yes zero childcare costs at the moment.

We have a roof over our head, two cars, lots of love. We give a lot to charity as well.

I am the queen of cheap. I will only buy groceries with coupons, do rebates, bag lunches for work, movies wiht the coupons, go to free events in the summer, and Its still fun...

our trips we pay cash as well, we prepay everything, tickets, hotel stay, etc.. and then we we go its just food.

 

[CapeCod53]

I am also a single parent & have been since my DD was almost 5 & DS 1 1/2. My ex does provide enough money to pay mortgage & utilities. I pay for everything else by working 2 jobs. I have run a child care in my home so that I could be here for my kids, which I feel is almost more important for teenagers. I also have a home based sewing business. We live very frugally from cutting my DD & my hair, to wallpapering ourselves, to doing all landscaping ourselves, shopping for sales & at outlets, when we eat out we bring half home for another meal, etc. Luckily my parents have a cottage on a lake on Cape Cod & MIL lives at the Jersey shore so my kids do get to vacation places. Except for my brother's wedding 11 yrs ago, we have never stayed at a hotel except for wdw. My father is the only member of his family to live to be over 50 & in the last 2 years 3 members of my mother's family have died including 2 cousins barely in their 50's. Who knows what the future holds but I want to have some fun now & saving carefully every 2-3 years for a wdw trip is important to us. Actually I think the planning is almost as important as the trip itself. So we're going this summer for my DS's 16th birthday.

 

[Muushka]

MJames41, your post made me smile. I was brought up by my dad. He raised 3 young girls by himself (my mother died when we were very young). I have to tell you, you are a very special dad.

 

[Lucky4me]

Another middle classer here. When I was a kid, the family next door had the good fortune to be able to visit WDW. They went one time, for five days, and were the envy of the neighborhood.. I loved the embroidered Mickey ears they got and vowed I'd get my own one day. That day came fifteen years later. My husband (Now ex) and I turned into 8 yo's that day in the MK. I was hooked. We struggled financially but were able to go a few times after that by driving straight through from NY to FL, staying with relatives, packing lunches, and saving coins. Our only really large expense was park tickets.

My current husband does not share my passion for Disney but I'vel managed to talk him into several trips over the last five years. He is a chemical operator at Eastman Kodak Company. He saves 20% for retirement and that lowers our disposable income considerably. I don't work outside the home due to a chronic illness, but I do collect a small disability check each month. We have four children and own our home. We drive older vehicles, save coins, cut coupons, eat at home, and surf the net (especially this site) for travel deals. I am hooked on Priceline and have taken a few trips to WDW that cost less than a weekend at a local hotel. One thing we will never do is go into debt for a vacation.

Even doing all of that, we are not going this year. We have college tuitions to pay and some much needed house repairs. I am already going through major withdrawl and I was just there in December... I'm hoping for a December 2002 visit, but that's not a definite. In the meantime, I come here for my DIS fix and even plan out "fantasy" trips.

I also believe the harder you work towards a WDW vacation the more you enjoy it! My next trip should be darn near perfect!

 

[kristikae]

I'm taking my first trip with my kids to WDW in December. I have gone without them (won the trips) and always promised to take them. Now my sons are 15 and 14, my girls are 12 and 7. As I am planning this I really regret that I didn't make this a priority before. I hear about the things people have experienced with their small children and wish that I had done this when they were younger. I have been a single mom for 10 years (my 7 year old was a big surprise) and have really been poor! Now I have made it a priority and it really hasn't been that hard. Saving money everywhere I can while still planning on splurging a little when we are there!

In response to previous posts about people with money vs people without....I dated a millionaire (owned several businesses, racehorses etc). While his money allowed him to do lots, he is truly an unhappy person inside...always searching for something. I have always been poor but I know who I am and all that really matters to me at the end of the day is that my kids know how much I love them. That makes my life complete!

 

[Robinrs]

I am also a single parent. I have one son who is my entire world.

For the first six years of his life I struggled and made ends meet but never went anywhere on vacation. I just couldn't afford it. Then I got a settlement for a car accident and I read an article about the new park opening at Universal, Islands of Adventure.

My son is a big Dr. Seuss fan and one of the Islands was Seussland! I just had to take him. I got together with a friend of my son's mother and we drove down after purchasing a Universal package.

We stayed for 4 days and it was wonderful but I knew I wanted more. Then I found this site!

Since that fateful trip in July 1999, my son and I have been back SIX times.

It's not easy, it's a commitment. I start planning early, get all the best deals from the geniuses on this site, get trade deals with the radio station I work at, it's the GOAL that matters. When Michael and I are in Orlando, we are the same age, have the same interests and are each other's best friends. I heard him tell his barber the other day that he is so blessed because his Mom does this for HIM.

Little does he know I do it for me, too.

Since that day I've obviously, by my post count, spent alot of time here at the DIS, became a moderator not just for the DIS but for MY Magic Kingdom, the Islands of Adventure. It was that park that brought me to Orlando, and will always be my FIRST love!

 

[Robinrs]

In response to previous posts about people with money vs people without....I dated a millionaire (owned several businesses, racehorses etc). While his money allowed him to do lots, he is truly an unhappy person inside...always searching for something. I have always been poor but I know who I am and all that really matters to me at the end of the day is that my kids know how much I love them. That makes my life complete!

AMEN, kristikae!! I could NOT agree more! Been there, done that, my son SEES the struggle and respects me all the more for it because we share something that does NOT come easy. He doesn't even ask for souvenirs while we're there because he knows that the trip IS the gift! That is a true blessing!

 

[ceecee]

We are RICH...in blessings from God. We have our health and a beautiful little girl, a nice home in a middle class neighborhood, and two cars that run. We have so much to be thankful for.

Money or how much you make is relative-I know people who make a lot of money and spend none, and people that make little money and overspend.

My 48 year old boss (a dentist) was a vegitarian and very health conscience...Only worked three days a week (tried to elimate some stress) He had a massive heart attack and died last month.

Bottom line.....ENJOY life one day at a time. I'm not suggesting to go in debt to pay for a vacation, but go and do it as cheaply as possible. (Isn't that why we read these boards?) LIFE IS TOO SHORT!!!

 

[DiznEeyore]

This is a wonderful thread. I, too, wish we'd known how to do Disney on a budget -- we might've gone years ago, instead of waiting 'til our ds was 5 (he's now 8-1/2).

We are very middle-class -- dh is an IT engineer, and I'm a sahm (tho' I do work part-time from home as our church's secretary). We've bought DVC to try to reduce our trip costs, and have two trips scheduled for later this year, which we've already paid for.

It's important that they're paid for, as dh is laid off as of tomorrow. Thankfully, he has clients on the side, and that (and our savings & unemployment) will take care of us 'til he's got another full-time contract. We thought briefly of cancelling our trips, but since they are paid for and we'd actually *lose* money by cancelling (non-refundable airfare, etc.), we're still gonna go for it. Even if we have to eat every meal in our room!

 

[ROOKIE2WDW]

thanks a lot of guys....i am overwhelmed by how many people responded to this post....i am just amazed by how many people from the budget board repied, this post was actually posted in the disney resort section until it was moved....well thanks again. hmmmm (i wonder how i got so many people to read this post). =)

 

[pentex]

My hubby and I both work full time but are middle-classers at best. We do go to Disney each year for approximately two weeks and are often asked by others in our position how we do it. It's simple in that Disney is our one luxury in life.

In other areas, I clip coupons and wait for sales (and believe me, I am probably half way to Disney on that alone); we don't eat out often; we save wherever we can. We also do little things like bringing lunch to work every day instead of buying out, etc. My Mom always showed me that every little bit can add up to a lot and she is right. Last year, I calculated that I saved over $3,500 in the grocery store alone by shopping smart.

In 1993, we were lucky enough to buy into DVC so now all we pay is maintenance on that (approximately $1,000 a year). That takes care of accomodations. For airfare, I start checking out early and never have paid more than $179 roundtrip pp. Same thing for car rentals.

We also try to spend money the best way possible while in WDW, i.e. we eat breakfast in the room most days (DVC rooms have kitchens but even if they didn't, we'd rather grab a bagel or cereal in room and head out ready to go). Then, we have extra dollars to spend on whatever we want that's fun..shows, other parks, fun dinners, etc.

Disney is a family tradition that pre-dates our children and will live on after they have left our nest, I'm sure. We love it. It's something to look forward to and is worth the effort of saving every penny.

That being said, we also never would go regularly if it would mean financing it, i.e. putting on credit cards and paying off over the years. After seeing a woman at work regularly doing this and then facing an premature death of her husband, I see how credit can destroy someone's life.

So, after all the bills are paid, and money can be saved by being smart, we have always found a way. Just put a budget down on paper, and you will do it before you know it. You'd be surprised at how little you can live on once you try!

 

[TinkerbellRules]

MJames41: You made me cry. You're right, life is too short. You are a special dad, I'm sure

Pegg: I know what you mean about worrying about your child. My 9 yr old DD had to have an MRI a few weeks ago. It was right before the holiday and I thought I'd have to wait til after the 4th. Luckily, the results came and the doc called around 6:30pm on the 3rd. Everything was fine, thank God. She still is going to a peds neurologist in a few weeks, but I think everything will be fine. We think she may have had her first migraine although I think it was caused by some new meds that triggered it. She had numbing and tingling of her hand, arm, leg and mouth on right side. My sis used to go totally numb on one side as well, so I'm not extremely worried about it, but I am, if you know what I mean. It really scared me though.

We're also not "rich" with money as well. We're trying to plan a trip in Oct, but my DD's school is trying to stop family vacations during school time. My DH is going down for a convention so his expenses will be covered. Only makes sense to go at that time. We'll see.

 

[danacara]

This thread has been so interesting to me because I'm 21, in college, and learning some lessons from it.
When I was born, we were very rich. My father was a physician, my mom knew how to make every dollar count.
My parents divorced when I was 6. My father had a nervous breakdown when I was 10, not real sure where he is now or what he's doing, but he's years in arrears in child support and I think his medical license is suspended. So we went from very rich to zero income with no warning at all. We would have been welfare candidates (literally) except that my mother had managed to squirrel away some money during the end of the marriage, and that got us through until she finished her degree and became a teacher. We sold the house and moved to a townhome, and got by on $35,000/yr (for a family of 4 in Northern NJ - that's not much).
My sister and I got scholarships to private high school (she's one year younger than I am), our younger brother was just fine in public school.
When it came time to apply to college, I applied for every single scholarship offer I could find. I was valedictorian of my class so I got really lucky, and actually started winning some scholarship contests. I think almost every Veterans Post in Northern NJ is throwing some money toward my college education. (hee hee) The state of NJ offered to toss in $6,000 per year if I stayed in NJ for college. Two anonymous donors are contributing $1000/yr each (don't know who they are, wish I did, I really appreciate what they've done for me). I won a National Merit Scholarship and a bunch of essay contests. Also Coca Cola and Loreal.
So when I got into colleges, it was all about the money. I took Princeton because they calculate aid packages before they include private scholarships, and then for every scholarship they deduct half from aid and let you save the other half. When all was said and done, I pay less to go to Princeton than I would have to go to my local community college, which was good, because my family literally had about $2,000 a year to contribute to my education. I'd been to Disney World once when I was 10 years old. I held out hope for the next 8 years that I'd get to go again.
My mom's boyfriend passed away of cancer last year (52 years old) and left her quite a lot of money (which means that my family's financial problems have been basically wiped away for the next 10 years or so). Any money I earn during the school year (my part-time job) goes to pay my part of my tuition. Anything I earn during the summers goes to Disney World. This summer, I'm interning at Merrill Lynch in Private Client Group. It pays incredibly well (I am officially making more than my mother at 21 years old) and every penny goes to my Disney Fund, food, and housing. I scrimp on housing. It leaves me with about $4G in my Disney fund every year. So I have one big trip a year where I bring my whole family, we stay at the All Stars and have a great time. My mother loves Florida and Disney and if this is the one thing I can give her to make her life easier and more fun, it is my privilege and my pleasure. Then, I have another trip with my boyfriend, who is from another planet financially. His parents are plastic surgeons in NYC, he works for JP Morgan. When we go together, he upgrades us to a deluxe hotel (usually the BC, my favorite place on the planet) and takes me out for every single meal. He says he likes the look on my face when I'm in luxury. "Anything you want, honey." I love him, and I like it too.
So that's my story. Thank you all for being so honest, I feel like I've learned a lot in this thread.

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi All, Here is my outlook on this..As a single mom working full-time i have been on my own for the last 2 1/2 years gave up my house, minivan and thousand of other things that 2 income families have...but not the trip to DISNEY.. our last trip was 1997 kids at that point were 3ys and 5months-Son(5 mo) was in hospital most of trip and it was awful.. I figure that i owe them a nice trip and have been saving and scrimping since Jan 2001. We will be there in Dec 2001 for two whole weeks... I am asking that for their birthday people give them disney $$ to spend on our trip and i will draw a small amount out of there saving to equal $10.00 a day for spending on whatever they wish.. It will be My mom , my sister,(mom and sister only one week ) myself and kids we are staying off property (HIFS) due to funds- all stars won't let 5 of us be in same room i called and was told due to fire codes!! we will rent a car as we will be doing seaworld 2 days, we have 7 day hopper plus and will also go to the Very Mickey Christmas Party and they will go on the Pirates Cruise.. we have 3 Character dinings reserved and have a few days just for relaxing and shopping! I feel that I ,as much as them, deserve this and have made the sacrafices for it.. There is going to be nothing as priceless as when i tell them- 10/28 at their birthday party-its a surprise trip and they will have to hunt for it.. Then i say let the count down begin to the MAGIC. They are only little once and someday they won't believe in fairy-tales... I want it to last long as it can.. Thanks Michelle

 

[bigsis1970]

to tell that i am doing the trip for $3250.00 and that includes Hotel.Air,Car, All Food Inc. charater dining and extra side trip and tickets.. i am expecting to have about $25 a day just
extra spending $$ .. Thanks Michelle

 

[beansmom]

You people are amazing! It's wonderful to read your inspiring stories.

I, too, was raised by a widowed father from the time I was 11 and my dad worked very hard to provide a home for us. If we traveled it was alway to relatives' homes. My wonderful dad died 5 years ago only six weeks after learning he had inoperable colon cancer. Before he became ill, all he talked about was how he and his wife were going to Disneyworld the next summer. He had made deliveries there as a truck driver but had never been a guest. He died in October.

Having both parents die way before their time (IMO, anyway) and losing a brother when he was only 7 has made me aware that life IS truly never guaranteed. No 50,000 mile warranties here. I am not going to sit around when I'm too old to do anything else and bemoan the fact that I never did what I wanted to...after my next WDW trip, I'm going to Hawaii...I want to visit paradise one time.

DH and I are both (what's not poor but not really middle class) full time workers--I work for a telecommunications corporation and he works for a small business. We have made taking a great vacation every couple of years a priority and try to be careful about whatever else we spend to be able to do that.

I agree, your priorities are what sets you apart from the rest of the world and I make sure mine are what makes life worth living.

 

[catwho]

We are a one income family of 5 (three kids ages 8,5,3) and there was such a long time when we were so poor that a family vacation was a 3-day weekend at home when dh didn't get called in for some crisis. Our first trip to WDW with the kids (then just 2 of them) was a one day trip where his boss (oh let me get down on my knees and bow before him NOT) "let" him take us to Orlando on a business trip and since he had Labor day off we could go to Disney. We had $300 in the bank (which really should have gone to fix the car) and fell in love with WDW with children. 18 months later we went back with my dh holding a new job with a new company and a higher salary. We still had to scrimp to do it for three days, but we swore we wouldn't let a year go by without going. Then I got pregnant again and had to wait a few extra months, so 18 months later we went for 5 days and bought annual passes and are going back again in January.

It isn't easy financing the trips and we don't go more than once a year (alhtough we would love it if we could) But we intend to do one trip RIGHT each year. Our rule is that we deposit any money left over at the end of a pay period into our vacation fund. Some weeks that is $10 other weeks that is $400. We put all birthday and anniversary and Christmas money into that fund and we use our tax return (oh let me get down on my knees and bow before the great and generous IRS - NOT) to buffer that money. We also will deposit money ($15-$25) into our account everytime we talk about going out to eat and then decide instead to stay home. We figure that is the cost of a meal out or at Disney (counter service LOL!) and we would prefer to eat at Disney!

I think the biggest reason dh and I scrimp so hard to make these trips as wonderful as we can is because we both grew up with parents that said, "WDW is too expensive/not worth it/waste of money, etc." We went twice as kids (me not dh) and my only souvenir was a Mickey balloon one year and sea shell from Pirates the next time. I remember my kid brother asking for everything (actually anything) and my dad grousing about "cheap crap, too much money, nickel and dime ya to death." and not daring to ask for anything for myself as I knew the answer would be no. :-( So we work hard so that we don't have to say no (much) And our children somehow realize that we work hard for these trips and truly do appreciate them.

We strive for minimalism in our lives except when it comes to our Disney trips!