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

[Strings]

My husband works in the computer industry, and I am a RN. I work 24 hours every weekend, and satay at home with my 4yo DD. We are able to go to WDW every 2 years. When katie is in 1st grade, I'll go full time, and that wextra money will go towards our vacations. Time is short, so our memories of family vacations are precious. WDW happens to be our destination of choice at the moment.

 

[mamalle]

my husband is a firefighter/medic and Im a RN. we work flexible hours, I work for a higher rate of pay and take my benefits thru my husband. I will work a extra shift if need be for our trips. we usually take our trips on dh's 5 day off week that he gets every three weeks. so no vacation time is needed. we live in fla and thats the biggest perk of all. we only go when their are fla resident rates. we will usually go for 3-5 days tops. we have been able to go 3 times this year and will go in dec for a short 3 day trip. right now our kids are young and our vacations consist of road travel and the two places that we go are either WDW or the Fla keys. three hour drives are our limit right now. If it wasnt for being able to drive and the discounts- Im sure we would not go as much as we do.

 

[HenDuck]

My DH and I are attorneys. I work for the government so I don't make much as far as attorneys go. My DH has his own practice so his income varies.

Our property values in Hawaii are high so our mortgage is too.

Other than the mortgage we only have one other debt - a car payment. Our other car is paid off and hanging by a (tire) thread.

We pay for DS to go to private preschool.

We also have a college fund for DS, I have retirement accounts, and we have a modest savings.

We do not live luxuriously. We think out every major purchase we make.

When we go on vacation, my mom and I search high and low for values. We use our frequent flier miles when we can. We scrutinize every aspect of our itinerary and often make changes when we find better deals.

Even though we talk about staying at a Deluxe resort or even just any Disney resort, when I look at the values I can get off-site, I just can't get myself to spend the money to go on-site. When we can get a suite with free full breakfast for less than the price of a moderate or the DL hotel, we take it and are more than happy there.

I have other friends who live off their credit cards. I'd rather drive a Toyota rather than a Lexus and stay at an off-site hotel rather than the Grand Californian than have tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt. (JMHO)

This is a great thread. I am glad it was revived!

Thanks!

 

[MinnieMouse51]

I think the person who originally started this thread was inquiring as to the people who were going to places like Grand Floridian and Polynesian and those who go very frequently. I think you must be very well healed indeed to go to those two places or to go frequently, because it is very very expensive no matter what you save.......but this is a nice thread to hear from people all over....I agree....have a magical day

 

[BethR]

PLEASE, I have asked once, let's not turn this interesting thread into a political debate!!!

I would hate to close this thread because it is getting off topic...

 

[Took]

This is a truly inspiring thread!

My DH and I are professors at small IL colleges. We earn a good income now and have only one DD. We have a mortgage and two Saturns we are paying for, but we're pretty comfortable. We take two trips a year to WDW and always stay at moderate or deluxe hotels on-site (though we budget and save to get these).

But even when we were struggling grad students, working as adjunct profs part time and making very little money, we found ways to make a few WDW trips happen (extra teaching in summer, value resorts only, short trips, asking for Disney tickets for Xmas, whatever!). One reason: DH's closest friend and mentor (a 40ish prof.) died suddenly when DH was working on his PhD; he was devastated and vowed to enjoy time with his family while we were together and healthy. And that's just what we've done. Those who say "live now" are so right! Of course, I believe in planning for the future and not going too far in debt. But, as a couple of characters say in the film, _Risky Business_, "Sometimes you just got to say 'What the h%*l!" So true.

Took

 

[floridagirrl2]

DH and I live in Florida and have Florida Resident Seasonal Passes (only $200 each for a year of park-hopping! There are black-out periods, though), so we have gone 5 times in the last year --will be 6 times when we go again 2 weeks from now.

I'm a healthcare professional and DH is self-employed as a computer tech. We are not rich but we don't have any kids and have a solidly middle-class income. We live small--no big house or expensive cars--and consider Disney a financial priority, right up there with saving for retirement and saving for new siding/painting our house and remodeling our bathrooms.

I do think the key to going to Disney a lot is living so close!

 

[Lucky4me]

It's funny reading what I wrote over 3 years ago. Especially since I did manage to squeeze in a trip that year and a couple more since. My husband also has come around. I think he loves WDW as much as I do. Really, what choice did he have? It was that or get left behind. He can't get over how cheap this years trip cost and loves to tell everyone just how much money I saved us. Now that's the way to think about it!

Oh yeah, I don't care if Bugs Bunny gets elected, I'LL STILL BE GOING TO WDW!!