Seriously, how do you afford the Poly?

[Dopey420]

I have a 15 year anniversary coming up next year and we want to go for a week to the Poly. The prices for 2 of us for a garden view room, with park hopper passes (no water parks) is over $3,000. That is BEFORE food or any spending money.

We must be really poor or all of you who go all the time and stay at the Poly must be really rich.

Am I missing something?

I have said this before many times. There are a lot of people at Disney World that have A LOT of money. Often it is family money. Disney draws more rich people than Six Flags.

 

[jodifla]

We stopped staying at the WDW resorts when the prices for even the special deals for FLa residents climbed over $100.

We switched to DVC and are SO glad we did.

 

[designermv]

I hate to hear what sounds like judgement sneaking into this topic. We're not "rich," but we also have pretty low living expenses. Very affordable mortgage, one child whose preschool is very inexpensive, and jobs with no commute. Money that we would put toward a larger mortgage, higher gas bills, expensive day care....we can allocate it elsewhere. I don't think that staying in a deluxe makes you "rich" or extravagant/careless with money any more than staying in a value makes you "poor" or overly-frugal. Different strokes for different folks. Sweeping generalizations are tough because every family comes with their own set of financial circumstances and personal priorities.

 

[jeanninepl]

We are by no mean rich either but stay at the deluxes. We take the family on vacation every other year so when we go we like to splurge. We are fortunate that my husband, usually, gets a bonus at his job and that is what pays for our vacation.


We really feel the amenities and relaxed feeling at the deluxe resorts are worth it.

 

[livie1205]

we are NOT rich at all....my dh is a cop and I stay home......we dont stay at the poly but we LOVE the AKL and we just saved all year and paid on it...the good thing this is that we got 1500 from the rebate and we used that to pay our trip off this year..

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I am fortunate to have enough disposable income to easily stay at deluxe resorts but I don't believe in throwing money around. I'm not sure if the Poly is worth the price for our family. When we do WDW, we tend to be a bit park commando so we spend morning till bedtime at the parks. The monorail is nice but we always have our car to avoid the busses. We have previously stayed at moderates (CBR, POFQ) and deluxes (Poly, WL, AKL). I have been happy at all of them but I have to say, when staying at the deluxes, I always have this vague feeling that I am wasting my money. I know my whole family would enjoy a day spent at the resort, enjoying the pool and other activities, but we never do it - the pull of the parks is too strong. For our next trip, I think we may go back to the mods. Also, for the same rack rate as you pay at the Poly, you can stay at much finer resorts elsewhere.

 

[mickeynut1]

We wanted to stay at the Poly FOREVER but just couldn't do it . Then we FINALLY took the plunge in September '07 during free dining . Yes, we paid rack rate for the room ....but we ate for free.....which would have cost us $1100 (we would have gotten the DDP regardless of when we went). Plus we had park tickets from previous stays, so all we needed to buy was the one day to be able to get the dining plan. So keep looking for deals because they're out there . All of our trips since December 2003 were taken on some special Disney was running (Fairytale Package in 2003....pay for 4 nights/get 7; 2004 we stayed at the WL CL for what it would have cost us for a standard room; 2006 & 2007 went during free dining ). Not sure when you are planning to go, but like a pp said.....value season makes a difference in price. I priced the Poly for 7 nights mid-June/early July (regular season) vs. late July/early August (value season) and the latter was around $500 cheaper......so value season makes a BIG difference. Good luck. Here's hoping you can take your anniversary trip to the Poly .

 

[DisFlan]

I have a 15 year anniversary coming up next year and we want to go for a week to the Poly. The prices for 2 of us for a garden view room, with park hopper passes (no water parks) is over $3,000. That is BEFORE food or any spending money.

We must be really poor or all of you who go all the time and stay at the Poly must be really rich.

Am I missing something?

We joined DVC. We don't stay at the Poly - at least not anymore. $5000-6000 or more for a WDW vacation was just nuts. We think we moved up a rung - and we spend a LOT less to do it. The deluxes now feel small, cramped and without enough amenitites - the Jacuzzi and W/D in a DVC villa make it hard to go back.

DVC isn't for everyone, but it's sure decreased the costs of our vacations. (Another doctor's wife, here, too.)


DisFlan

 

[MickeyNicki]

We go when the prices are cheap and pray for discounts. We have reserations for August at $202 a night including tax because of a discount postcard we received....no way would I pay full rack rate.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

We must be really poor or all of you who go all the time and stay at the Poly must be really rich.

Am I missing something?

I just save a lot for a long time. Like anything else in life, if it's a priority you make a way.

 

[Kteacher]

I agree that it is all about choices. We also do not eat out much during the year, rarely go to movies( maybe once a year ), and save for vacations. I work a second p/t job, and those paychecks go directly into a vacation acct. I also book trips way in advance. I booked Columbus Day Weekend for '08 last November. Ultimately only you can decide what you're comfortable spending. Happy anniversary in advance, and have fun planning your trip

 

[LukenDC]

I always travel during value season and make sure that I at least get a AAA discount. I also make my reservation a year in advance and pay for the trip month by month so that I am not hit with a huge bill all at once.

 

[monorailsilver]

We only go in Value season & we are on the 3 year plan these days-vs going every year or every other year.

I don't splurge on lots of things outside of Disney. We also don't go on vacations anymore other then Disney.

And we also bring our own breakfast & some snacks & eat them in our room.

It is still expensive but we enjoy it there & we are not rich!

OH & we stay in a GV room & not concierge/club level.

 

[PamNC]

We afford the Poly by never paying rack rate at the Poly. I just can't see paying that much for any resort. We're staying at the Poly in September - booked a bounceback rate of $238 a night. We've stayed there 2 other times, both 4 years ago...in Feb we paid $199 (annual pass discount) and then $239 in July.

That's the only way -

PamNC

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

We stayed at the Poly last Christmas and it wasn't that bad, money-wise. We did a split stay with 3 nights at the POR (which totalled $197 for all 3 nights) and then the Poly for 5 nights ($222/night)

My brother is a cast member, so we get 50% off hotel rooms plus free admission into the parks. Without those perks, there's no way we would be able to afford to go to Disney.

Good luck!

 

[Lovetherodent]

I'm so tight I squeak . . .
I can squeeze a nickel until the buffalo poops . . .
Never met a garage sale I didn't like . . .

And my last 2 trips to Disney, I've stayed deluxe (AKL and Poly). Upcoming trip, I'm doing it again. Here's how . . .

Watch for codes.

Go with the cheapest view. My AKL room overlooked the parking lot. While you're in the parks or at the resort pool, who cares what's out the window anyway?

Only stay during value season.

Don't go every year.

Stay for shorter periods of time (this trip is 3 nights beach, 4 nights Disney). I'd rather shave off a night or 2 and stay where I really want. Other people think of the room only as a place to crash. Different strokes.

Get lucky. I stayed at the Poly as a POFQ refugee--was booked POFQ when Disney closed it for rehab. Found out here that I could call and request a move to deluxe for a very small charge. Jumped on that.

In the end, though, it's about choices--just like everyone else has said. My dds have been competative gymnasts for the last five years. It is an unbelievably expensive sport, BUT the benefits they got from their years in the gym far outweighed the benefits of a week in Disney every year, so we chose the sport. I also chose to give 10% of my gross to my church. Again, something I value more than a vacation (even if it is Disney). How do so many afford the Poly or Club Level or a Suite? It's important to them, so they make it a priority. More power to 'em.

 

[Nancyg56]

I hate to hear what sounds like judgement sneaking into this topic. We're not "rich," but we also have pretty low living expenses. Very affordable mortgage, one child whose preschool is very inexpensive, and jobs with no commute. Money that we would put toward a larger mortgage, higher gas bills, expensive day care....we can allocate it elsewhere. I don't think that staying in a deluxe makes you "rich" or extravagant/careless with money any more than staying in a value makes you "poor" or overly-frugal. Different strokes for different folks. Sweeping generalizations are tough because every family comes with their own set of financial circumstances and personal priorities.

I agree with this. It all comes down to personal choices. My DH is a truck driver, we have one income, unless you count the amount my DD pays me to watch my DGD during the day. We do not incur much debt, we eat out once in a while but I generally cook, I refuse to buy a new vehicle, my furniture is not top of the line and we live in the same house my DH had when we married. My DH works overtime when possible but we never add this into our living expenses and we have a small farm. So we work very hard, do not overextend and enjoy some of the extra in travel. I will add that it took years to get to this point in our lives. We never could do this when our family was young.

I have a cousin who said she would never spend in excess of $300 a night for hotel room, but she is driving a $70,000 vehicle. That thought make my poor heart skip a beat

See, we all make spending choices that work for our own family. She has a lovely car that I would be terrified to leave in the grocery store parking lot and I stroll from my room at the Poly to hop on the monorail. IMO, it's all good

 

[Tonyspad]

I asked myself the same question yesterday when I was reserving a room at the Poly for April 2009....... WOW, it is pricey. But I must say that it is worth every penny to us. We have stayed at the Poly for the past three years but decided to try the Boardwalk to save some $$$$ in April 2008. We thought the hotel was ok, but they seem to cater to DVC much more an hotel guests. The pool area is nice and neat, plus you are close to Epcot and the Studios, but........
For the money we saved it did not move us to stay there again. When we are at the Poly it gives us the feeling of a vacation within a vacation. The grounds, pool area and beach are worth the price alone! Our children are growning up fast and we realize that our oldest will be going to college in five years, so we look for codes and stay four nights instead of five to afford the Poly.


Life is short, enjoy the ride!

 

[tink_lover]

Tonyspad - if you were booking the Poly for April 2009, you were having to pay the highest rate of 2008 - it will get adjusted when 2009 pricing comes out. We are going through the same thing right now.

As a family of 5, we are limited as to where we can stay on property. I agree with those who say it is all about personal choice. DH and I both work hard during the year and we usually take one big vacation. We want to relax and enjoy ourselves and so far that have enjoyed all our stays. We budget and cut where needed. This past year we did not buy a new car, lost one phone line, stopped eating out more than once a week and eliminated all but the $15 basic cable TV package. For us it is worth it.

 

[Coconuts]

We aren't rich, but we waited several years to go to WDW and when we booked Poly, we could only stay for 4 nights. I wanted to stay longer, but only if we stayed at a cheaper hotel.