What does your family do to afford Disney Cruises?

[Grendalynn]

Kind of a weird question, but I have been budgeting for our bi-annual Disney trips for a long time. Beinga family of 5 we can barely get out of WDW for less that $4000 or more depending on our desires/dining plan/accomodations and so on. DCL is even more pricy... I am wondering how other families out there afford doing the Disney thing. Not just WDW bute DCL too. We are a family of 5, DH works full time for his own company and makes decent money, I am almost full time and work for the school district, so my pay isnt amazing . I have a son in kindergarten and pay for daycare for him 1/2 time, full time daycare for DS2 and DS9 is into sports (partcipation fees). Being that Disney is so expensive no matter how you look at it, I am curious to know if you skimp and save every extra penny, is it a matter of having a great job or amazing inlaws who pay your way? I hope I am not being too nosey, just curious how other Disney Families do it!

 

[Live4FW]

We are pretty much in the same boat as you are (pun intended ). We just did a wife and I cruise on Wonder and we're hooked. How can we afford to do this every year and take the kids.....

Looking forward to hearing everyone's stategies.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

We are a family of 6. DH, me, dds 17, 15, 12 & 8.
Besides that DH works him little bum off-LOL - I tried to list what I could think of below.

BTW-We used to go to DW every year. Now we do DCL. We figured by the time we added in food, Deluxe resort, and all the extras it costs us about the same. Maybe a bit more. But it is what we save for and choose to do now.

It is cheaper to get 2 cat 11s next to each other than to get suite for 5 or more.
Here is what I do:
(1) I have found the Passporter's DCL book almost invaluable (no I do not work for them-LOL). It has a great section that tells you what rooms cats are and how many they sleep. This helps me plan the best room confirguration for what we can spend.
It also has a budget worksheet.
(2) The biggest thing we do to aford DCL is (except for the EB Panama) we cruise in the off season and take the girls out of school. We have never had a problem with this and their teachers seem to see what a great learning experience this is for them to visit other countries.
(3) We book while on board to get the discount
(4) Then we learned to transfer the on board booking to a TA such as Dreams Unlimited (Tracy) when they are havining good On Board Credit Offers. This money pays for everything for some of the tips to drinks. Hey every dollar counts to me.
(5) I use my Disney Chase Visa to book and pay for the cruises which gives me Disney Rewards Dollars on the DR Card to spend on the ship. Again this can be used for tips, gifts, drinks,...you get it. Every Dollar... Also I put lots of stuff on this card and pay it off every month to accumulate dollars. I had about $500 in Reward Dollars for the EB Repo!
They offer a 6 months same as cash so that gives me 6 months to pay off the card with no interest. I always pay it off before the cruise so the cruise is paid off on the card before it occurs. I do not charge the cruise if we can not afford or pay it off.
(6) If the price drops lower than what I paid I let DCL know it and get refunded.
(7) I book confirmed rooms so I know exactly what rooms and how many they sleep so we are next to or across the hall from our "kids". I am not brave enough to do GTY. I am to much of a planner and detailed.
(8) I buy things on sale at the stores and stock up on basics so I do not have to pay full price. And we get books at the wonderful used books sale store our library has. I never pay more than $3 for the recent hardbacks, buy clothes on sale, BUY ON SALE ...you get the idea.
(9) We do not do excursions. I have found that even after 9 cruises there is still plenty to find to do that does not cost a thing extra or minimal amount done on our own after researching what to do.
(10) We have DVC and although it is not the best way to use DVC points we do.

I am not saying we do not have a good income. We do. But I find that it is so much easier to save here and there. It really does all add up.
For example after all our expenses on the EB Repo (tips, Palos and everything including gifts) I only owed 44 cents after all the room credits. We tipped well to!
I hope at least one idea will be helpful in helping you all afford DCL more.

 

[melc0305]

We alternate years taking a "big" vacation. So this year we are taking a Disney cruise but next year we'll do something closer to home or make sure we get a great deal on something. Then the following year, we'll do another "big" one. This allows us to take a vacation every year, but gives us time to save up for the cruise. We are a family of 4.

Melissa

 

[lborne]

The big advantage we have is living in Florida near the port. That means we don't have the cost of flying and we get resident rates during non-peak times.

And we love to vacation, so that is where our disposable income goes. We don't have a boat or 72" TV or motorcycles or all the latest gadgets or toys. We live in a modest house and don't drive expensive cars. Our cable bill is $15 because we only get 30 channels. You get the idea.

 

[lbgraves]

We look at the cruise as our yearly family therapy session, and really missed it in 2006 when we saved up for the EB Repo. We get inside staterooms, we don't drink much if at all so that saves a bunch, we limit souvies and during the year I do shop clearance and deals for just about everything. Last year I started doing transcription from home to pay for the Repo cruise just so that I would feel better about spending that much on a vacation. We don't eat out a lot, we don't go to the movies except when it is at the dollar theater on base and buy the DVDs on sale [no temtation to buy popcorn et al at the theater]. When the kids start in on wanting to get or do something that is expensive we ask them would you rather use this money for this or save it for the cruise. Hands down they choose the cruise.

 

[NewmanFam6]

My Dh is a Pharmacist who works darn near 7 days a week most of the time. I am a SAHM/Full Time Nursing student. Our annual vacation means everything to us. We joined DVC because we love Disney and there are so many of us. It just made sense for our group. We use our points to either go to WDW or do a cruise. Now most people would argue that it is not a prudent use of points to use them on a cruise. I however say it is a prudent choice for a family of 6 who could not go otherwise

 

[drag n' fly]

We are a family of five from Canada. Flights for us run around 3000.00 every time we go to WDW. If it wasn't for DVC we would never be able to afford a Disney Cruise.

 

[krisngreg]

Our family does other vacations every year. But when we budget for the big Disney Cruise we use our tax return and then take money out of our paycheck every week and save up. My husband and I will pass on presents for our bdays and anniversary to help pay for the excursions that we plan on doing. We also pass on the airfare and drive. Hope this helps.

Kristin

 

[MarkRG]

But I find that it is so much easier to save here and there. It really does all add up.

It's just my wife and I, but this is key to us taking cruises and other Disney vacations. Vacations are the time we pamper ourselves, we don't hold back there. The rest of the time, we cut back in lots of little ways, bringing home prepared lunches to work, not eating dinner out often(as in months apart), rent from Netflix instead of buying dvds, bascially things we spend money on get looked at as do we need that. Even gifts for each other get put by the wayside as we instead look at the vacation as a gift to each other. Cut back on all those kinds of things that don't seem on the surface to cost all that much do add up.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

We book on board and get the discount and also book far in advance . Then it is save, save and more saving. We also do the change jar to help out on excursions

Rob

 

[MelissaE1]

This is a great thread. I was starting to feel like everyone around just had money coming out their ears, lol.

We are a single-income family of four. DH is an engineer and I am a SAHM. We do live in FL, but on the Panhandle, so we can sometimes get deals, but often those do not coincide with when we can go. It's about a 400 mile drive one way, so we have $250 in gas instead of airfare for four, and that helps, but it's still a stretch. DH likes to cruise with a balcony, and he doesn't usually ask for much for himself, so we save extra so he can do that.

When we decide to cruise, we involve our kids. Like lbgraves, we also ask them if they'd rather have fast food for a quick meal after practice, or eat at home and put that money toward a cruise. Top Ramen and a cruise wins every time, lol. We book way in advance for a good rate, save our change, and cut back on other things. We also take our kids out of school to go, summer is just too expensive. We present it to the schools as an educational experience, which it is. My DS is in high school now and it's more difficult, but we asked him before we booked this time if that was OK and he said he'd do whatever it took to cruise DCL again.

In the past we have had a large coffee can that we decorate and when we save $20 on fast food, we put it in there. We also have made a chart with little squares that equal a certain amount of money, i.e. $50 each. For a $5,000 cruise we would have 100 squares. Each time we set aside that much, we color in a square. It's a visual reminder of where you are at.

I find once we put down a deposit it is very motivating... I know how long I have to come up with the rest and I cut back. We only like to cruise by paying in advance... cruising on credit is out of the question for us.

Looking forward to other tips and suggestions... maybe we can go a little sooner next time!

 

[sftnslky]

We do most of what everyone else is doing. DH owns his own Computer Consulting Business. I am a full time stay at home, home school Mom of 4. Because the kids can do school any time, we can go in the off season, we ALWAYS book on board with our Disney Visa card for the 10% discount, the $200 per cabin on board credit, and the $25 booking with Disney Visa card. Then when we get home we transfer our reservations to a DU and this time we got an additional $200 per cabin. So our next cruise in Sept of 2009 we will have a total of $825 credit waiting for us. We also do not drink alcohol, the kids do not like the smoothies on board so we save their, and [no flames please] we do not buy any shutters photos, prefer our own. I save ALL of my change and cash it in near the cruise and divide it up 4 ways for the kids spending money. We book our air fare 10 months out to get the best price, we book our hotel for the day before the cruise 1 year before. We don't eat out very often and we dont' go to the movies except very rarely. Just to get in to the movies for a family of 6 is $75, don't even think about popcorn and soda We use coupons, and shop for all of our groceries at either Costco or Super Walmart.

I guess what it boils down to, is what a lot of folks have said....We prefer to go on one big vacation a year or two and a small one or two the other years, rather then spend our money on other stuff.

 

[DisneyMainah]

..Last year I started doing transcription from home to pay for the Repo cruise just so that I would feel better about spending that much on a vacation..

This may be a little off subject, but how did you get started doing transcription from home?

 

[sandiegosusie]

We also only do WDW and DCL every other year. We live within an hour of DL so we can still get our fix with our annual passports several times a year. Our family is shrinking now due to our college kids, but our two younger kids are still very much Disney enthusists.

DH and myself give up birthdays, anniversary, Christmas to save a little more toward the cruise. We also use our Disney Visa continuously and save our points for our onboard account which will include tips. DU is our agent on the next cruise in 2009, because their OBC was the best.

We save all of our loose change in a jar. We also add in any rebate checks that come in the mail as well. My husband and I don't date (each other) anymore, but we do have pizza with our girls once a week. I refuse to skimp too much on food for the kids for health reasons. We cook at home and try to save money where we can.

I love our Florida vacations more than anything. When the time is right we may buy into DVC but for now, we will just enjoy it when we can...

 

[yazee1]

Pretty much the same goes on here as with the others who are a single-income, change saving, noncable subscribing, warehouse shopping, old-car owning, homecooking, simple lifestyle living people. We also have the flexibility (as homeschoolers) to sail off-peak times. We drive or take the Autotrain (book summer special of up to two free kids per paying adult).

The only thing we haven't done that sftsilky does is involve the kids in the effort. Once I get dh to agree to telling them we have a cruise booked, this might be just the extra effort we need to make our next cruise actually happen. With both of our cars being old, we've had some unexpected and rather hefty expenses. I thank God for a husband that knows how to fix cars, but still catalytic converters aren't cheap!

I almost forgot. I do have a very p/t job two or three nights a week.

 

[keishashadow]

imo, most peeps have a certain % of disposable income that they allocate 'however', for me it's mostly a travel fund . we rarely eat out @ TS restaurants & our newest vehicle is an '02...i drive them until they drop.

i worked & saved to pay cash for our DVC , enough to allow us to visit twice a year for 5 days or so & guarantees that my hardworking DH will actually take a vacation!

im probably in the minority here, luv DCL; yet decided that for cruise last Dec. that i'd rather do Carnival Legend (great itinerary & military rate) and Vegas/Grand Canyon/Disneyland trip (DLH) this summer....combined w/finding some great deals it was nearly the same amount the DCL cruise would've cost us a no brainer for me!

im still on the fence as to 'justifying' booking a 7 day while aboard the end of the month, or just settling for a 3 or 4 day + another 'bonus' vacation.

 

[Anal Annie]

We cannot afford to go often (only once every 3-4 years). I keep a perpetual vacation fund running tho and try to contribute to it on a regular basis. I also dump money from tax refunds into it.

We own DVC so can get to WDW annually with our membership. We did back-to-backs on the Wonder this summer and used 1 1/2 years worth of points for our 4 n. cruise and paid cash for the 3 night one. We booked it 17 months out so we were able to snag one of the "secret porthole" cabins for both. By booking early we got first tier pricing and used DU for the 3 nighter so we got a little OBC. We re-booked onboard this time to take advantage of the 1/2 price deposit and for the 10% discount & OBC but will push the date out until they announce an itinerary we want or until we're sure we can afford it. (Based on what I hear is coming for the 2010 summer we will probably be waiting for 2011 or 2012 on the new ships.)

 

[Mom2PrincessesLinSy]

We do many of the thing that PPs have said.

We are DVC members, and we have used points the last 3 cruises. Definately the reason we have had a balcony for those trips, or we would be below deck or maybe in a life boat! Though, now I hear its better to rent out your points, then pay for the trip with cash, so we are considering it for the next DCL cruise!

DH works alot of Saturdays (he is an Occupational Therapist like I am) and he socks the money away for travel. He is a much better saver than I am! However, I am the deal finder, and usually find many ways to save money in the store.

I never buy clothes/shoes/accessories when they are not on sale, unless its urgent. Can't see spending full price on a shirt when I know in a week or 2 Kohls will have their "once a year humongous sale of a lifetime" yet again! Get the girls lots of clothes off season: bought a whole bunch of cruise clothes for them at Children's place for $3 to 7 a piece!

I make sure to buy the Entertainment coupon book every year. I think its about $50, but besides fast food and restaurant coupons, there are travel coupons, Grocery store coupons, ahir and other "service" coupons, etc. We have saved TONS of money with that book!

We use our Disney Visa to get the reward $$ for Disney Trips. We use the card for any and all expenses, and pay it off each month. Helps keep track of spending, and also gets us the Disney Dollars. We gave up our airline credit cards, just wasn't helping us!

COUPONS!! I started something this year which has really worked out great. I always use coupons, I can't go to the food store without them! I just got "hooked" on couponmom.com where you can also print coupons. Lots of great money saving tips on that site. I just bought the "couponizer" to organize my coupons, and saved $40 on my last grocery trip just with the coupons alone (not counting the Club Card savings and all!) The "new" part is that when I get home from the store, I look at how much I saved just in the coupons, then PUT THAT MONEY IN CASH IN MY BASKET IN THE KITCHEN. I keep the part of each receipt that says what my savings was for the trip, and keep a list. ANY coupon I use, the cash goes into the basket. Even if its Money I get back for a rebate, coupon or rebate at Best Buy, etc. I started on January 1 of this year, and so far (as of Oct. 1) I have saved/earned just over $400!!!! I was averaging about $15 to $20 in coupon savings each shopping trip, but since I got the couponizer, my savings has really gone up. Not affiliated with that product in any way except to say it has really saved me the money for our upcoming trip!!

We also just went through our "monthly" expenses, and made some cuts. Cut back Netflix, saved $5 a month, cut back the alarm company saved $15 a month, Changed from cable to DSL for the internet, saved $30 a month. You get the idea. Little bits here and there do add up overall!

We try to do Christmas shopping and all at the outlets in Delaware, since there is NO tax on anything there. Saves us a bunch and is a nice family trip for a weekend. We also purchase the "big" items in Delaware, as the 6% we save on taxes can add up on a camera purchase of $200, TV purchase, computer purchase of $1000. Only works if you live near a state that has no tax!

Finally (sorry this is a novel!) I have been going on MyPoints.com and getting points for just clicking on a website that they email to me each day. Also look to buy things online through the MyPoints website, so I earn "bonus points" For instance, I have earned 3400 points and traded them in for a Staples reward card for $25. Then in another month, I saved up another 3400 points for another $25 gift card. I took those, plus my Staples reward coupons I had earned for this quarter and bought a new camera (for my birthday) that was priced at $250 for only $129! And saved on the tax since we bought it in Delaware!

It all adds up when you have a goal, and a DCL trip is a huge motivator!!

Good luck!

 

[Grendalynn]

Never did I think that finding a stateroom for a family of 5 would be so darn challenging! I am not "that" behind the 8ball lloking into a late march early April cruse am I?? Either the cruises are booked up for that occupancy allowance or they dont llo 4 in a room!? I keep getting bumped up to a suite totaling $7500 for a week long eastern/wetsern carribean trip. I may as well do DCL if thats the case...

Any ideas or advice out there??

Oops! I meant to post this on the other thread about cruising other cruis line... Sorry about the mix-up. I am really not that loopy!?