What types of things can I "pre-pay?"

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Ok, here's the thing....dh and I are planning a trip to Disney in the summer of 2008. (I know, sounds like a long way off, but we are having a ds......due any day now!!!, and we want him to be a little older when we go.)

We want to stay on-site, and so we are trying to save some money now- problem is, if we have cash laying around, we will spend it long before our trip!

So far, I have gotten some DD, and I am using my Disney Visa for the rewards, and are saving change.....my question is, what can you suggest for gift cards so that we can "prepay" our trip as much as possible? I thought maybe I could get a variety of gas cards that you can add to the balances, because we are planning on driving down. I am stuck on what else I can pre-purchase though.

Thanks for your help!!

Lisa

 

[Lewisc]

Buy some hopper tickets. They don't expire and Disney tends to increase the price every year or 2.

 

[Cinders]

I second what Lewisc said.....Buy your hoppers now!! Avoid the price increases. I wouldnt get any restaurant gift certificates because of the expiration dates. Maybe earmark the change for off site restaurants....like on your drive down. Use extra cash to get a WalMart shopping card that you can add to to pay for pretrip expenses like film, batteries, sunscreen, water, film, snacks for in the parks, sandwhich makings for the drive down, toys, glow items, coloring books, did I mention film And around here we have one WalMart that if you use their shopping card when purchasing gas at their station you'll get it $.03 cheaper than stated on the pump. The Disney Dollars can pay for everything onsite.....resort, meals at WDW restaurants, and souvenirs.

 

[Lewisc]

READ THE FINE PRINT. Some of the pre-paid shopper/gift cards charge a monthly service fee after a period of time. You might set up a bank account, or buy some savings bond. Much too early to be prepaying for a hotel or meal vouchers.

You might get a FF credit card and start accumulating miles for free flights. Read the fine print, SW requires that you accumulate your points within 12 months and you must use the ticket within 12 months.

 

[frannn]

If you have time and a computer, you can join some of the rewards programs that are "click and earn". It will take a lot of time to earn these rewards, but by the time you go, you could have accumulated gift certs for food, etc. DH laughs at me, but two trips ago I clicked my way to two 25. gift certs to Rainforest Cafe. Now those were some good WDW meals!

 

[Shells9]

Tickets, tickets, tickets....Maybe consider buying an AP voucher now to lock in at the current price, and then you'll be able to use it for discounted rooms when you go (provided that benefit is done away with by then!)

 

[disneysteve]

As you accumulate cash, go to http://www.ussavingsbonds.gov/ and buy I bonds using your rewards credit card. They start at just $50. You'll get your reward points and be earning a decent interest rate on your investment. When its time for your trip, you can cash the bonds at your local bank.

Steve

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Disneysteve, what a fantastic idea!!! Way better than Disney Dollars long term, since the interest goes into our pockets! I didn't know you could buy US savings bonds with a CC, though - silly me! They are good for almost everything else, why not?!?!

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[mmeb144]

Why wait until your little one is "old enough"? We went to WDW when my youngest was just about 3. She got in free to the parks and got to eat free many places. It was a lot of fun!

Marie

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by disneysteve
As you accumulate cash, go to http://www.ussavingsbonds.gov/ and buy I bonds using your rewards credit card. They start at just $50. You'll get your reward points and be earning a decent interest rate on your investment. When its time for your trip, you can cash the bonds at your local bank.

Steve

don't forget that the bond is a $50 face value that you purchase for $25. There is no shipping charge so be sure to buy a bond each time you save atleast $25.

 

[jlp651]

I started a "Christmas Club" savings account about a year ago...it was the best thing I have ever done!
I can't get to the money until say October-otherwise I loose out on the interest. At the end of the year once it matures you can roll it back over into the same account...you could stay on site, eat at Victoria and Alberts every nite and do what ever you wanted if you were saving until 2008! There is no minimum to put into it...its has worked very well for us!

 

[NancyIL]

While savings bonds do earn a better rate of interest than most cd's these days...you need to hold them for at least 5 years in order to not incur an interest penalty upon redemption.

 

[NancyIL]

Originally posted by prncess674
don't forget that the bond is a $50 face value that you purchase for $25. There is no shipping charge so be sure to buy a bond each time you save atleast $25.

Steve was talking about Series I savings bonds that are sold at face value - minimum of $50. EE savings bonds are sold at half their face value - minimum of $50 costing $25.

 

[figment95]

I agree with going sooner. My youngest was 3 during her first trip to DW. She loved it and we all had a great time. You're never too young (or too old) for Disney World!