Should we go?

[kawing123]

I have a trip planned for this December. I did get a great airfare rate, three of us for a total of 150.00. The package I booked is 1200.00 it includes the ddp. When I add the tips, dog boarding, car parking to the package I figure the total with air is roughly 1700.00. We were just there in August and I am really a penny pincher but would love to see Disney at the holidays. Our youngest of two is in her last year of high school so this would maybe be the year to do this. Also, though there is college expenses next year and I am really torn on this trip. I would rather be out 150.00 dollars than 1700.00. Just cannot make up my mind. I worry about the economy a little and think that 1700.00 could feed my family for four or five months if something happened. Maybe I should not be a worrywart.

 

[julluvsdisney]

I say DO IT!! You only live once!! thats not a bad price! Im very envious!!!! Have fun!!!!

 

[leslie826]

You got airfare for $50 pp roundtrip? Crazy good deal. Do it and have a great time!!

 

[Micday]

I agree with the above posters, if you are not putting this on CC's and have the cash GO FOR IT. Life is to short!

Disney is great at Christmas time plus the weather is nice.

Michelle

 

[msmayor]

Its very easy for folks to say "Go for it!" because it does sound like a good deal...but the reality is none of us knows your true financial picture. Do you have an emergency fund? How stable is the employment? If you spend this money will you regret it three months from now because you'd rather have the money in the bank?

I've never been one to spend money just because its a "good deal".

 

[kawing123]

I am just really frugal and for me this would be major not necessarily in the way that we would be destitute but that I spend money wisely. I clip coupons, buy on clearance, and do as much as I can to save a dollar. I probably save enough on these budgeting tactics to take two or three trips, but that is not the point.

 

[QVCshopper]

I am just really frugal and for me this would be major not necessarily in the way that we would be destitute but that I spend money wisely. I clip coupons, buy on clearance, and do as much as I can to save a dollar. I probably save enough on these budgeting tactics to take two or three trips, but that is not the point.

I am also like that (very frugal, clipping coupons, not eating out, clearance, etc.), but recently I am trying to prod myself into spending more. I have saved and saved for many years, and now am lucky enough to own my own house, two cars, and have a good nestegg as well as a headstart on college for my kids.

If you can afford the trip, then take it. Life is short, and it is only money--the thing you use to get what you enjoy and need to live your life.

Plus, Disney is amazing at XMas... my favorite time to go.

 

[edk35]

I have a trip planned for this December. I did get a great airfare rate, three of us for a total of 150.00. The package I booked is 1200.00 it includes the ddp. When I add the tips, dog boarding, car parking to the package I figure the total with air is roughly 1700.00. We were just there in August and I am really a penny pincher but would love to see Disney at the holidays. Our youngest of two is in her last year of high school so this would maybe be the year to do this. Also, though there is college expenses next year and I am really torn on this trip. I would rather be out 150.00 dollars than 1700.00. Just cannot make up my mind. I worry about the economy a little and think that 1700.00 could feed my family for four or five months if something happened. Maybe I should not be a worrywart.

Hello...I am more of a lurker on here but post every so often. I have a dd that just graduated this past June and is in her first year of college. We also have a 16 year old in high school and a 10 year old in 5th. We went last Nov. for 8 nights with the same thoughts. "this will be the last Nov. trip for us for who knows when because of dd going off to college". We also had been in late July and also Jan. same year. OF course we had a great time, enjoyed the holiday atmosphere like we had 3 other Novembers. Then Jan. rolls around and we decide to GO again..same thinking......"this will be our last Jan. trip for who knows when....my as well go one last time". We got cheap airfare and had cheap 99 buck Military tickets so it was just going to be a less expensive trip than our Nov trip so we went. Sure we had a great time again. HOWEVER......I really had TRIP REMORSE after that Jan. trip. I realized WE SHOULD HAVE SKIPPED those two trips probably. It made me look back at all the money we spent by going 3 times a year two years in a row. That Nov. and Jan. trip was like the trip remorse icing on the cake. I vowed to myself to CUT back this year. We went in July for 9 nights and we are NOT going in Nov. so that put us at 2 trips. I thought it would be really hard to NOT go in Nov., but so far I am okay. HOWEVER I booked a 5 night HHI New Year's Eve trip this past summer when we got back from our July trip and felt guilty about that about a month later and cancelled that back in Sept. THEN I did book a 5 night trip in Jan. for me, dh and our youngest son. Our high school son has no desire to go, and dd can't. SO the past two weeks...I start the second guessing for this trip. I think a big part of it is.....having her in college and knowing we have another one two years away from college. I think a lot of us THINK with our Disney hearts and want to go go go to WDW ....and not our brains. LOL Even when you have college money saved for your kids...as they get older they are more and more expensive. Her Sr. year cost us a small fortune and then getting all the stuff she needed for her dorm. People just don't think about the small things and how fast they add up when you are sending your child off to school. SO....from one mom to another I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

I have paid for our return flight in Jan. because I was able to get 59 on the returnn and I didn't know exactly which day we would fly out so I have not purchase the other one way. I am thinking like you...cancel and lose 200 bucks vs. going and spending a heck of a lot more. I am on the fence right now. We are DVC members so we vacation differently anyway now. We don't feel the need to hit a park every day. I think we could go down and go to one or two parks over a 4 day weekend and be fine with that. SO we might go and make it a long weekend vs. 5 or 6 nights. I figure we still get a nice getaway and being there for a shorter period....MEANS LESS MONEY SPENT.

 

[kawing123]

Well today is the last day. I either pay the balance or get a refund. I am contemplating downgrading to the free counter service plan that way it would eliminate about three hundred dollars off the total because there would be no tips involved. Still contemplating though.

 

[edk35]

Well today is the last day. I either pay the balance or get a refund. I am contemplating downgrading to the free counter service plan that way it would eliminate about three hundred dollars off the total because there would be no tips involved. Still contemplating though.

Good Luck....I know it is a hard decision.

 

[3happydancers]

Well today is the last day. I either pay the balance or get a refund. I am contemplating downgrading to the free counter service plan that way it would eliminate about three hundred dollars off the total because there would be no tips involved. Still contemplating though.

Downgrading is always an option to save a few hundred dollars as long as you are ok with that.

In response to your first post, I can only share with you what we do. Our house rule is we are all responsible for saving for our trip. As long as we have reached our goal and can pay for our expenses cash out right, then we do not cancel our trip. If we do not reach our goal, then we simply reschedule for a later date. The money we save is for a specific reason, our Disney vacation and that is where it is spent.

Then we also have other things we are responsible for saving for such as yearly property taxes etc. which MUST be met. This means allocating our money according to importance. That being said, we have no debt other than our mortgage. We too are frugal and watch where we spend our pennies.

If you have saved specifically for this trip, then go as long as you feel comfortable with your finances.

We also believe that making memories with your family is also very important! I live for today because tomorrow is never promised to us.

Whatever you decide, I am sure it will be the right decision for your family.

Good Luck!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Just wondering what you decided to do, OP? As much as I love Disney in December, I'm not sure that I would pull my DS17 out of school to go. Senior year is so important to them and it seems as if every weekend is full of activities that they never get to do again...homecoming, senior recognition, football rallies, Snow Ball, Winterfest, etc.

 

[Jeninindy]

Here's my thought - if you are asking if you should go, something is telling you not to go.......

So, if you are worrying about that $1700 - do you have an emergency fund for those "just in case" moments?

When in doubt, listen to your gut.......it usually is right.

 

[MrsPete]

I have a trip planned for this December. I did get a great airfare rate, three of us for a total of 150.00. The package I booked is 1200.00 it includes the ddp. When I add the tips, dog boarding, car parking to the package I figure the total with air is roughly 1700.00. We were just there in August and I am really a penny pincher but would love to see Disney at the holidays. Our youngest of two is in her last year of high school so this would maybe be the year to do this. Also, though there is college expenses next year and I am really torn on this trip. I would rather be out 150.00 dollars than 1700.00. Just cannot make up my mind. I worry about the economy a little and think that 1700.00 could feed my family for four or five months if something happened. Maybe I should not be a worrywart.

$1700 is an excellent price, but that's not the real question. If you have to ask whether you should go, something's needling you. I'd ask a couple questions about your situation:

How much is $1700 to your family? Is it something you could recoup in a couple months of dedicated saving, or is it a major amount to you? Only you know the answer to this!

How are you set for college expenses? Is your daughter facing student loans? If so, that $1700 would be better spent on her future.

What other expenses do you anticipate in the next year or so? I know that having a high school senior is expensive, but what else is in your financial future? Do you expect to need to trade in a car anytime soon, etc.?

How secure is your job? Is it likely that you'll be fine in 2010, or are you likely to be faced with a lay-off or other negative financial fate?

What kind of emergency fund do you have built up? If you were to lose your job, would it be a catastrophe or just a bump in the road for you?

Through your post, we only see the surface of your situation. YOU know everything. Be honest with yourself, and make the right decision for your family.

 

[TheRatPack]

We are/were in the same position (not exactly but still on the fence). We can cancel and lose 200.00 (we're inside that 45 day window) or reschedule and just have all that money moved on to the new reservation next year. The trip is paid for, but the gas/food for the drive down and back home is another expense. The dog boarding is another, the vet shots for the kennel are another expense, the souvenirs are another, the sit down meals and tips are another....etc. So in reality, while the trip is paid for....once we get there and upgrade our tickets and pay for all this other stuff on the list, we're out 5500.00.....even though we did get free QS dining and we're going during the off peak season LOL That's not such a great deal anymore....especially when we have lost some hours this year in work, and spent quite a bit on our second IVF cycle, had some unexpected medical expenses...etc.

I'm sitting here about to call Disney and postpone our trip till next year....but it's sooooo hard since we haven't had a trip this year We can go to Gatlinburg and see the lights for about 1/4th of what we're spending on Disney....so that's an option too, I just hate to miss Disney until next September

 

[edk35]

We are/were in the same position (not exactly but still on the fence). We can cancel and lose 200.00 (we're inside that 45 day window) or reschedule and just have all that money moved on to the new reservation next year. The trip is paid for, but the gas/food for the drive down and back home is another expense. The dog boarding is another, the vet shots for the kennel are another expense, the souvenirs are another, the sit down meals and tips are another....etc. So in reality, while the trip is paid for....once we get there and upgrade our tickets and pay for all this other stuff on the list, we're out 5500.00.....even though we did get free QS dining and we're going during the off peak season LOL That's not such a great deal anymore....especially when we have lost some hours this year in work, and spent quite a bit on our second IVF cycle, had some unexpected medical expenses...etc.

I'm sitting here about to call Disney and postpone our trip till next year....but it's sooooo hard since we haven't had a trip this year We can go to Gatlinburg and see the lights for about 1/4th of what we're spending on Disney....so that's an option too, I just hate to miss Disney until next September

I feel your pain........and the reason I am back on the fence is because that little voice inside me keeps saying "remember how you felt after last year's Jan. trip". I would love to visit WDW 4 times a year if I had it my way ....but even when we have the money to do it I am thinking more about the WHAT IF's (that happen when we least expect it) Plus.........now that I know there will always be another trip somewhere down the pipe.....I am starting to realize that maybe spending x amt. on a 2nd or 3rd trip in the same year, is not the best spent money even if you have it to spend. Does that make sense????

Good Luck with your decision!!!

 

[kawing123]

The idea is this will be the last time we vacation with our youngest. She is a senior in high school but will miss only two days of school. We are going just to see Disney at the holidays. Money is money and 1700 is alot of money. But I also am probably one of few who thinks one dollar is alot of money. Still pondering.

 

[beansmom]

if you are 'financially stable'..meaning fairly secure with emergency funds in teh bank...then I say DO IT. DH and I have been wanting to take dd for a while...but she's grown now..with work and school and auditions, there was no time. Just over the weekend, her situation changed and the first thing we did today was call her and tell her we'd like to take her after all in December.

Money IS important...but memories are priceless.