UPDATE rental didn't rent - but we went!

[ilovediznee]

UPDATE: Hey everyone! Well, as the post says, my DH asked if we should still go and I said YES and we did. We didn't do the parks, saw three different groups of friends and actually had a good time. I was fine not going to the parks, although I did miss them a few times riding the monorail past them, but I still had fun. We swam, ate, rode the monorail, went to Downtown Disney, Boardwalk, etc. We still go the QS dining plan but it paid for itself and actually had some leftover as one of our friends took us to b'fast at Boma, so we had stuff to bring home. I even brought home some money. Thanks for everyone's comments. Diane


OMG - that was our agreement. IF the rental didn't rent, we would go and just not do the parks - relax, resort hop, swim and then today when I tell him, he says that - burst my bubble!

Yes we have the gas and still food, but we can control everything else and have been a million times so I don't need a bunch of souvenirs, but what I do need is REST! I work FT and PT to pay for our DD's cheerleading and yes, we have bills, but if I don't get physically away, I will crack! Stayvacations do not work for me - I will end up working or cleaning and not relaxing.

I just want to go to my happy place to get away! I would appreciate any kind words of encouragement and no flames please to make myself feel better

Thanks- Diane

 

[zy144622]

Go and enjoy! If doesn't want to go sounds to be like a girls trip is in order. We have a cabin a couple hours north of where we live. I go there when I don't have extra money every chance I get. Have to feed the family here or there so it makes no difference. As for the gas a few extra $$ is worth my sanity.

 

[elaine amj]

I'm rather frugal-minded. So I would likely be the one saying that lol. The two of you need to sit and take a hard look at your budget and see what you can afford. Perhaps it would work if you stayed in a place with a kitchen so you could cook most meals? Even buying and reheating frozen stuff from the grocery store could save a bundle and make a difference. Food is always the biggest item on our vacation budget. Buying several days of prepared frozen meals is typically equivalent to 1 meal out.

Not denying your need to get away - see if there is a way to compromise and still show him you understand his worries.

 

[Marionnette]

OMG - that was our agreement. IF the rental didn't rent, we would go and just not do the parks - relax, resort hop, swim and then today when I tell him, he says that - burst my bubble!

Yes we have the gas and still food, but we can control everything else and have been a million times so I don't need a bunch of souvenirs, but what I do need is REST! I work FT and PT to pay for our DD's cheerleading and yes, we have bills, but if I don't get physically away, I will crack! Stayvacations do not work for me - I will end up working or cleaning and not relaxing.

I just want to go to my happy place to get away! I would appreciate any kind words of encouragement and no flames please to make myself feel better

Thanks- Diane

How hard have you tried to rent it out? Have you tried to just rent out the points instead of the existing reservation? Did you go to any of the brokers like David's to cast a wider net for renters?

Your husband may feel that you dragged your feet on renting out the reservation in order to be able to take your trip anyway. If money is tight, he might prefer getting anything for those points rather than spending more money for gas and food. Sort of throwing good money after the bad.

Places like David's are very good at moving points. You would probably be able to rent them out through them, even if your points are in holding or distressed. You may want to give it a try before you give up on renting them out.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm sorry, I don't get the question....rent what? Are you saying you have a place to rent, that no one rented? Will you be staying there yourself? I am not sure of OP's question....

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OMG - that was our agreement. IF the rental didn't rent, we would go and just not do the parks - relax, resort hop, swim and then today when I tell him, he says that - burst my bubble!

Yes we have the gas and still food, but we can control everything else and have been a million times so I don't need a bunch of souvenirs, but what I do need is REST! I work FT and PT to pay for our DD's cheerleading and yes, we have bills, but if I don't get physically away, I will crack! Stayvacations do not work for me - I will end up working or cleaning and not relaxing.

I just want to go to my happy place to get away! I would appreciate any kind words of encouragement and no flames please to make myself feel better

Thanks- Diane

I know exactly what you mean. I work FT in hospital. My job is physically demanding and emotionally draining. To me, getting away isn't an option; it's a must to keep my sanity. We don't get snow days and have to go in now matter how much ice & snow, etc even if we have to sleep over. (Those with more difficult commutes do.)
By March I'm usually losing my mind so back in the fall I started planning a 3-nt cruise for mid March. When none of the rest of my family felt they needed a getaway and a friend/travel buddy couldn't commit, I continued planning to go alone. That's how much I need to get away. In the end, ds14 opted to come along as well as my travel buddy. I think secretly dh regrets not going too because he already added on for my fall escape.

I completely understand how a staycation just turns into getting work done at home, and yes sometimes that's needed, but not when you need an escape. It really doesn't have to be long for me. 3-4 days of relaxation is perfect. IIRC, while sitting on the beach in Castaway Cay in March, I think I said, "This is JUST what I needed." at least 5 times.

Was your rental for DVC and now you're stuck with using it or losing it?
Then yes, I would go and relax. Once you've been there enough times souvenirs are not even a consideration. With DVC you can prepare simple meals to cut costs.
I wouldn't even need to visit parks or have character meals. It's so nice to just get away and have some down time. It completely recharges me down to my soul.
I say go for it! Unwind & enjoy!

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I totally get what you mean about staycations! I end up doing tons of stuff around the house and long over due errands and don't get any rest!

I'm even bad at vacations in general haha. The only time I can make myself unplug from work emails is on cruises where it would cost and arm and a leg to access Internet!

I say go and enjoy. I'm sorry you hubby isn't understanding. Sometimes a vacation really is a need

 

[hsmamato2]

again,still confused, but I get it about getting away...I have to DRAG DH away from everyday life, or he'd work himself to death! AWAY is the only thing to do with him...so every few months, I do that,for the sanity of us all. It could be a weekend camping trip,or a big trip somewhere for a week,as long as it's 'away'. If it's a DVC rental,as mentioned, why not stay there...it doesn't cost anything more that way,right? Esp. if you don't go to parks (?)

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

I can tell you "want" to go, but can you afford to go? If you are working extra just to pay for cheerleading, maybe you don't have tons in reserve? Gas is super high right now, so that won't be a minor cost. I suggest you talk it through with your husband, calmly and with an open mind.

 

[eliza61]

Your husband sounds very level headed. Whatever you were trying to rent didn't work out, that means loss revenue. Now you also say you are working 2 jobs, once again I'm making an assumption based on this info that money is tight.

Disney is not the only place on the planet were people can relax folks.

Sorry mom, I'm with dh, this is a "want". Don't try to justify it if you really can't afford it.

At least listen to his reasoning.

 

[ilovediznee]

Thanks everyone! To clarify, yes it was a DVC rental and it has been both FB and Disboards per their requirements of when it could be listed.

We talked at lunch and we are going - just no parks. Gas will be the most $ and dining plan - QS - was already booked and paid for. Level headed, yes, at times but with DVC you have to make plans as you know so we did what we thought would work and that was a rental.

All is going to be fine and we started packing some today as we have a busy week ahead before we leave.

I enjoyed reading the post the person who also works at a hospital said and the others - good to know I am not the only one with sanity issues.

Di

 

[mommycrawford]

There is so much to do even without the parks!...It is one of my dreams to do a no parks visit!

Mousavers has a great list, and I put one together for my Mom a few years back....I always looked forward to her telling me of her adventures while DD and I were in the parks!

Have a great rest!

 

[lauradis]

My DH would feel bad for going and not being able to afford to go into the parks if he wanted too.

So my answer would be not going.

 

[Judique]

Thanks everyone! To clarify, yes it was a DVC rental and it has been both FB and Disboards per their requirements of when it could be listed.

We talked at lunch and we are going - just no parks. Gas will be the most $ and dining plan - QS - was already booked and paid for. Level headed, yes, at times but with DVC you have to make plans as you know so we did what we thought would work and that was a rental.

All is going to be fine and we started packing some today as we have a busy week ahead before we leave.

I enjoyed reading the post the person who also works at a hospital said and the others - good to know I am not the only one with sanity issues.

Di

You are in South Carolina? So gas shouldn't really make or break the trip. Dining plan is paid for and the room is yours. Go and enjoy relaxing!

Where are you staying? Some of my favorite quick services are the one at Contemporary, Captain Cooks, Wolfgang Pucks, Pepper Market, and Boardwalk Bakery. Gasparilla Grill while at GFV was pretty decent also.

I picked a week at Hilton Head that is conflicting with my family's jobs. They really want to go and can't. I'm two weeks out and right now I'm going. Probably solo. Won't bother me to be solo but I have a one bedroom and room for 5.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thanks everyone! To clarify, yes it was a DVC rental and it has been both FB and Disboards per their requirements of when it could be listed.

We talked at lunch and we are going - just no parks. Gas will be the most $ and dining plan - QS - was already booked and paid for. Level headed, yes, at times but with DVC you have to make plans as you know so we did what we thought would work and that was a rental.

All is going to be fine and we started packing some today as we have a busy week ahead before we leave.

I enjoyed reading the post the person who also works at a hospital said and the others - good to know I am not the only one with sanity issues.

Di

It's very short notice now but have you ever tried mouse owners
. com ?

I have rented from there a few times and seems like a more active board than the rent board here on dis.
You might as well use it than have the points go to waste. Also I don't know what $ you were asking for your points, but for us we won't pay more than $11 pp. There are plenty asking more than that but I've always been able to stay within my limit. Our BCV stay in March was only $9 pp. The owner had just enough left for our 1 nt stay so he was willing to let them go.
I think if people are asking close to what David's is renting for, a renter might as well go with him and have an instant reservation. jmho

 

[kristenrice]

I know exactly where you are coming from. I am a full-time paramedic and DH is a police officer. We *NEED* time away, just to stay relatively normal. When we bought DVC (with some inheritance money), we chose AKV as our "home". I knew that park tickets and travel expenses would continue to rise and we may not always be in a financial position to afford it. I figure that we can drive down (from Michigan) for about $1000, which includes three hotel nights on the road, and fuel. If we drive, I can pack food from home which I don't count as an added expense since it is groceries we would have eaten anyways, had we stayed home. If we want to eat out once or twice, we can. We can have a perfectly enjoyable and relaxing trip at our "home" for about $1500. I also have a vacation account set up that gets $60 every two weeks, automatically from my paycheck. I never see it so I don't even miss it. That gives us $1560 every year to put towards vacation. I supplement it by doing online surveys, shopping through rebate sites and using credit card rewards. That gives us enough to take a decent trip each year.

OP, I say take your trip. At this point, if the gas money is all that it is going to cost you, consider it the price you need to pay to recharge and keep your sanity.

 

[crisi]

I know exactly where you are coming from. I am a full-time paramedic and DH is a police officer. We *NEED* time away, just to stay relatively normal. When we bought DVC (with some inheritance money), we chose AKV as our "home". I knew that park tickets and travel expenses would continue to rise and we may not always be in a financial position to afford it. I figure that we can drive down (from Michigan) for about $1000, which includes three hotel nights on the road, and fuel. If we drive, I can pack food from home which I don't count as an added expense since it is groceries we would have eaten anyways, had we stayed home. If we want to eat out once or twice, we can. We can have a perfectly enjoyable and relaxing trip at our "home" for about $1500. I also have a vacation account set up that gets $60 every two weeks, automatically from my paycheck. I never see it so I don't even miss it. That gives us $1560 every year to put towards vacation. I supplement it by doing online surveys, shopping through rebate sites and using credit card rewards. That gives us enough to take a decent trip each year.

OP, I say take your trip. At this point, if the gas money is all that it is going to cost you, consider it the price you need to pay to recharge and keep your sanity.

Shows people are different. I will gladly ignore a messy house to avoid three days in a car. It take a lot just to get me on a plane for four hours. I love the being there part of travel, but the getting there part of travel is rough.

We have a friend with a wonderful house about four hours north on Lake Superior. We can use the house pretty much whenever the family isn't using it - and our friend wishes we would - we pay a little to rent it to cover heat and taxes and its an expensive house to own. But I really can't stand the ride more than once or twice a year. Yes, its beautiful and relaxing when we are up there, but in the four hour drive I can get my house more than clean enough to veg in for four days, and I'd rather clean than ride in a car.

 

[Judique]

Shows people are different. 'snip snip' I'd rather clean than ride in a car.

I'd rather pay someone to clean and I will ride in a car for as long as it takes ....you are so right that we are all different.

 

[eliza61]

I'd rather pay someone to clean and I will ride in a car for as long as it takes ....you are so right that we are all different.

I think that brings you bring up a good a point, "vacation" means a ton of different things to different people. Having to "make sandwiches" and cook is work for me. If I have to eat in or snack then I'm staying home until I can.
Now me, I don't want to go to Disney on a wing and a prayer simply too many things I want to do there so it's not the place I pick if I'm doing a "budget" vacation. I'm also lucky that iv live in a region where I can take a great long weekend, very relaxing for a couple hundred bucks.

 

[eliza61]

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