Where I went wrong.

[jdads2]

I was just thinking with the amount of times that we have gone to WDW and the amount of trips we have planned we could own a new sportscar or two if we just would have taken the kids to the Disney Store and told them it was Disney World.

Just an observation.

 

[Oh Kay!]

I have a friend who's been doing that exact thing! Though now that her dauther is in pre-school, she won't be able to keep that up too long.

 

[tonysgal34]

The obvious answer is to go to Disney ONCE. Then buy yourself the new car!!

 

[jdads2]

Going once gives me ...uh, I mean THEM, a taste that I ..uh, I mean THEY, can't refuse!

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I can sympathesize! Recently I took my girls for a 'visit' to the toystore - thankfully they are at an age where they don't realie that the toys are there to be purchases - they really just enjoyed 'visiting' them!

 

[casmanuel]

Going to Disney ONCE is like eating one big, expensive potato chip!

 

[Cindymere]

I agree~! LOL

Disney is becoming elitest, with the average family unable to afford the trip.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I have a somewhat different problem. I took my DD (then 3 1/2) last October when I was 6 months pregnant with baby #3. After we got home and her Mickey baloon deflated she kept saying we need to go back to get another baloon and to see Donald Duck because we missed him. I told her we had to wait til the new baby was a big girl(3) and she'd be a really big girl(7). So now when she talks about Disney she says she has to wait til she's a big girl like her friend's big sister. So now that I've got a trip planned for January that I haven't told her about what will happen? Will DD not want to go because she isn't a big girl yet or will she think she's like a 12 year old because she's going to Disney? I have a feeling she'll want to go.

 

[todddebtd]

What a wonderful surprise! I am sure she will understand that Mickey was looking for her...

 

[Belle1962]

LOl my grandson (2.5) thinks the Disneystore is Disneyworld--he says "go to Dineyworld now Ganma??" (of course--he never leaves empty handed so to him it probably it is 'The World".)

 

[jdads2]

I'm not sure I would put WDW in an elitest category. I'll agree that it can be very expensive and that not everyone can afford it but there are ways to make it much less expensive. Driving instead of flying, staying off-site, eating off-site or making your meals and going during value season are all great ways of saving a significant amount of cash.

Unfortunately, I never follow that advice and we always spend quite a bit. However, we put ourselves in a position of being able to spend more on vacations by skipping things that other families choose to do.

 

[ahutton]

We've done much the same thing... I'm not driving an older car to and from work each day. It is highly reliable but no fancy by any stretch imagination. We have a nice home, but I'm a hopeless bargain shopper. We are doing our home decorating in baby steps, and making many decisions along the way to save money. But at least once a year we leave it all behind and head to WDW to see our entire family (aunts, uncles, cousins - everyone!). Sure I would like a new car, or to hire someone to come in and do the painting, tile work and such in our home. But many years ago DH and I made a decision to invest some of our savings into DVC points, and we plan to make a point of using them! By the way - if you are hooked and going back each year, that is a wonderful way to make it affordable. With taking two trips on an annual pass, using DVC points for rooms, making breakfast each day, and driving unless there is a really good reason to fly, we probably spend about 1/2 or less of what other families spend.

 

[JulianneP]

What will your children remember more...your shiny new car or the wonderful times you spent together at Disney!

My kids use to ask to got to the Disney Store thinking it was The World however since our week long trip in September I'm not going to be able to get away with that anymore. They now keep reminding me that they don't tease each other anymore so they should be able to go back to WDW soon. Our coin jar of change is starting all over again.

 

[tonysgal34]

It is so fun to read all the posts about "affording" Disney. Please please count your blessings, folks!! It has taken us YEARS to save up to go to Disney and we are going to have the most inexpensive trip that we can, but let's face it, we usually only camp once or twice a year because it's cheap. We WILL only go once because we can't afford $2500 to $3000 every year to go on vacation. It took us 15 years of marriage to finally own a home. We are very proud of where we are......we have done it all on our own-no help either financially or with babysitting, laundry, etc. from family. Everyone our age(35-40)seems to have had their parents give them their first car or the down payment on their house, or free daycare while they work. I have nothing against any of you, but as I said before, PLEASE count your blessings and realize that millions of people have never and will never see Disney. It will be the first time for our family. I want them to remember it fondly, not expect to go back year after year. Then it isn't as special anymore, IMHO. If something happens and you can't go one year, will your child be upset? I made the mistake of taking after my husband's family and having parties every year for my kids on their birthdays. Now they expect it and we can't always afford it. Good Luck to all and thank you for putting up with my lengthy reply!! God Bless!

 

[Gretchen]

Here, here tonysgal! I consider myself soooooo fortunate and lucky to have what we have. We live in a great country, are healthy, have a great family and a home. We also do it all on our own, with no help from family. We paid for our house, we pay for babysitters and we work our behinds off to have what we have. We are also very blessed that we choose to afford a big vacation, not every year, sometimes yes, but we do get to get away. We've been lucky enough to be able to go during the less expensive times of the year, get discounted rooms and airfare, etc. So, we do save up for our trip and have a great time, and of course just as soon as we get home, we want to go back!
It just means we enjoyed our vacation!
Gretchen

 

[jdads2]

I agree tonysgal34,

Although this is our 4th trip coming up, we realize how lucky we are. We also play the cheapest route game. We try to take advantage of the Annual passes. Those are the most expensive part of our trip. It costs us alomost $2000 for them. That makes the other visits during the year much easier to afford. We ussually end up spending $1500 each trip excluding passes.

We could probably afford to go once a year evry year but if we skip a year we can afford to go 3 times in the yrs we do decide to go.

As far as my original post about keeping the kids in the dark about the true WDW, well, you all know I was joking.

My dad used to tell us that you shouldn't do anything for your kids until they're 16 because they forget anything anyway

 

[MELSMICE]

I think my DD's would rather have the the trip to Disney than the shiny new car!!!

 

[jdads2]

MELSMICE, Unless that shiny new car is for them!!

...and, howdy neighbor!

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by tonysgal34
It is so fun to read all the posts about "affording" Disney. Please please count your blessings, folks!! It has taken us YEARS to save up to go to Disney and we are going to have the most inexpensive trip that we can, but let's face it, we usually only camp once or twice a year because it's cheap. We WILL only go once because we can't afford $2500 to $3000 every year to go on vacation. It took us 15 years of marriage to finally own a home. We are very proud of where we are......we have done it all on our own-no help either financially or with babysitting, laundry, etc. from family. Everyone our age(35-40)seems to have had their parents give them their first car or the down payment on their house, or free daycare while they work. I have nothing against any of you, but as I said before, PLEASE count your blessings and realize that millions of people have never and will never see Disney. It will be the first time for our family. I want them to remember it fondly, not expect to go back year after year. Then it isn't as special anymore, IMHO. If something happens and you can't go one year, will your child be upset? I made the mistake of taking after my husband's family and having parties every year for my kids on their birthdays. Now they expect it and we can't always afford it.

I took the OP as a joke and thought it was pretty funny!

Don't worry I certainly do count my blessings every single day in every aspect of my life, not just that we can go to WDW, and we never take our trips for granted either. We scrimp and save and do without to be able to go just like you did.

We are very proud of where we are too, and we have done it all on our own with no help either financially or with babysitting, laundry, from family just like you have.

I have nothing against any of you either, and I do realize that millions of people have never and will never see Disney and that's really sad for them.

But I'm certainly not going to feel guilty that my family can scrimp and save and go to WDW more than once. Why should I?

I totally disagree with you that if you go to WDW more than once that it isn't as special anymore. Every one of our 4 trips (5th in 32 days!!!!!) has been VERY special in it's own way. Each year, our DD's get something new out of it! If something happens and we can't go one year, our DD's will certainly be fine. They'll live. They have waited a year to go and then 2 to 3 years to go with no problems whatsoever. It's all in how you bring up your kids, IMHO.

Congrats on your first and only trip to WDW!!! I hope you have a blast and make many great memories!!!

Sorry for ranting but your post rubbed me the wrong way. Sorry if I took it all wrong. I do that sometimes with the written word.

 

[DisneyBrat]

I am just truly thankful God let me be born to a wonderful family in the USA ... I was an only child and have been pretty much spoiled all my life.... After reading your post It makes me stop and take a closer look at my life and perspectives. We usually spend 5-10K a year on vacations.. Money that could REALLY be spent towards well deserving things. Look at all the less fortunate who would think it a luxurary just to eat out at McDonalds... I am so excited you are getting to go to Disney for your first trip... IT IS EXCITING and you will TREASURE every moment there.. My ex hubby and I use to go at least twice a year.. I did get bored to be honest... same ole rides same ole scenery... Now I space my trips to every 2 - 4 years there.. Always something new to see and do Good luck and God bless you

Lew