Wwyd

[CowboyCO]

We went to Disney last September and had a grand time. We did not plan to go back until 2011, when my DW turns 40.

Due to the economy, we're buckling down and trying to get all our debt paid off in the next 18 months.

Here's the quandary: We had a BIG problem on the flight back in September and Southwest refunded our tickets ($1,000) and gave us RT tickets anywhere for the whole family next year. I've already sent the $1,000 to debts.

DW is needling for us to go back to WDW in 2010 since the $1,000 was "found" money and the airfare is free, regardless when we go. We have to use the tickets by September 2010. They cannot be sold.

It would still take another $1,000 ($2,000 total) to do a cheap week in WDW.

What do you think - eat the tickets or go back to WDW? BTW - we don't anticipate using them to go anywhere else.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well if you can manage to pay down your debt to a place where you are comfortable it might be possible, if you can find a good disney deal for room, food etc. Maybe you could also do other stuff to save for a dedicated disney fund..garage sale, etc. etc.

OT: How is little Claire doing??

 

[akcire]

You could consider a quick trip to Disneyland. You have the Southwest tickets, so the airfare is free. It would give you a Disney-fix at a lower cost, since you would not spend a week at the land.

 

[neatokimmo]

Ok so I know this is the Disney board but heck if I'd waste free tickets to go to Orlando.

Go to Hawaii!!!

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Maybe you will be lucky and get a Pin code in the Mail the one we just received had Alice and the White rabbit on it running towards the Castle and was quiet large.

Just received it yesterday so be on the look out.

We can not use the code because it is addressed to my SIL first code we have recieved ever and not addressed to us

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

We went to Disney last September and had a grand time. We did not plan to go back until 2011, when my DW turns 40.

Due to the economy, we're buckling down and trying to get all our debt paid off in the next 18 months.

Here's the quandary: We had a BIG problem on the flight back in September and Southwest refunded our tickets ($1,000) and gave us RT tickets anywhere for the whole family next year. I've already sent the $1,000 to debts.

DW is needling for us to go back to WDW in 2010 since the $1,000 was "found" money and the airfare is free, regardless when we go. We have to use the tickets by September 2010. They cannot be sold.

It would still take another $1,000 ($2,000 total) to do a cheap week in WDW.

What do you think - eat the tickets or go back to WDW? BTW - we don't anticipate using them to go anywhere else.

Has the money already been used to pay down a debt or do you still have it?

If you no longer have the $1000 refund, then you would need to set aside about $200/month for a Sept. 2010 Disney vacation. Can you stick to your debt pay-down schedule and put that amount aside for the vacation? If you can, then I don't see any reason to not take the trip.

If you cannot put the money aside and still pay down your debts, then I would vote 'no' on the trip. You would not really be losing any money since these are complimentary airline tickets. So, IMO, you are not "eating" the tickets by not using them.

 

[gillenkl]

Has the money already been used to pay down a debt or do you still have it?

If you no longer have the $1000 refund, then you would need to set aside about $200/month for a Sept. 2010 Disney vacation. Can you stick to your debt pay-down schedule and put that amount aside for the vacation? If you can, then I don't see any reason to not take the trip.

If you cannot put the money aside and still pay down your debts, then I would vote 'no' on the trip. You would not really be losing any money since these are complimentary airline tickets. So, IMO, you are not "eating" the tickets by not using them.

EXCELLENT advice! - I totally agree with this!

 

[runwad]

mmmm...I guess I'd want to pay the debt but not waste those free tickets. Do you have relatives anywhere that you can go visit? If not, let the tickets go. It's better to get your debt paid off.

 

[DanceRC28]

I say go- free airfare for the entire family is huge! I have free airfare for DH and am considering scheduling a short trip for us so we won't waste his ticket and that's only $200!

 

[CowboyCO]

Well if you can manage to pay down your debt to a place where you are comfortable it might be possible, if you can find a good disney deal for room, food etc. Maybe you could also do other stuff to save for a dedicated disney fund..garage sale, etc. etc.

OT: How is little Claire doing??

Thaks for asking about Claire. I just talked to her mom about 15 minutes ago. Claire will be going in for her 6-month check-up soon. 3 month was clear. Make a Wish sent her to Fashion week in London last month with her family. So far, so good, but the tumour was 100% viable after monster chemo and radiation. They got clean margins in her surgery, so they are hoping for the best. The survival rate at 3 years is 50% and at 5 years, they will consider her cancer free. They are very happy to be home and having a more normal family life again. I ahven't paif much attention to the boards over the last couple months - how have you been with your fight?

 

[CowboyCO]

Maybe you will be lucky and get a Pin code in the Mail the one we just received had Alice and the White rabbit on it running towards the Castle and was quiet large.

Just received it yesterday so be on the look out.

We can not use the code because it is addressed to my SIL first code we have recieved ever and not addressed to us

That's what got my wife noodling me about going. She got two pins this week... Both are for December/January, which is too soon to raise the $$.

We wouldn't be able to get our debt paid off on the same schedule. It would add another 6 months or so go...

There is also Tax refund time coming up, but with the recent change to withholding rates, I'm concerned about how much of my money I'll get back... Which reminds me that I need to make another run to Goodwill!

 

[CowboyCO]

Ok so I know this is the Disney board but heck if I'd waste free tickets to go to Orlando.

Go to Hawaii!!!

Unfortunately SW doesn't go to Hawaii

Maybe I could start a viral campaign here on the Dis and we can get Southwest to add Hawaii!!

Of course, we could go to Vegas. I can get free rooms there (or nearly free). Unfortunately, Vegas isn't very kid friendly other than at the pool, and the adult entertainment can add up $$ quickly!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Thaks for asking about Claire. I just talked to her mom about 15 minutes ago. Claire will be going in for her 6-month check-up soon. 3 month was clear. Make a Wish sent her to Fashion week in London last month with her family. So far, so good, but the tumour was 100% viable after monster chemo and radiation. They got clean margins in her surgery, so they are hoping for the best. The survival rate at 3 years is 50% and at 5 years, they will consider her cancer free. They are very happy to be home and having a more normal family life again. I ahven't paif much attention to the boards over the last couple months - how have you been with your fight?

Thanks for asking. Its been um, eventful. I had to have surgery June 10, July 10th and then the big, painful one Oct. lst. This time I had to have a giant graft put in my stomach. This is not even anything to do with the cancer. I also was doing some physical therapy for my frozen shoulder due to the cancer surgery too. But had to stop due to this other surgery in oct. In 2 weeks I am going to the surgeon who saved my life. He is going to be testing for the vocal cord damage that was done during the cancer surgery. Needles in the neck, scopes etc. Sounds like fun!! Then the next day I am going to the rad. onc. I know in Dec. I am getting a blood test again. I am asking the rad. onc. if she has gotten any more patients with my cancer this year. I was the only one so far. One dr. said it will come back probaly in 3 years. Her other pt. had it come back in 3 months, so I am doing better statistically than him. I just let God take care of things and He is good!! And my wonderful dh is taking me to DW Dec 9-16 at the Yacht Club, no kids yippee!!Thinking of that helped me get through some of the rough times too.

 

[disneymarie]

I think the last few post have so much to do with the decision to go or not.
No one ever knows what life has in store for them, especially 2010 or 2011,

I never knew that short notice I took my younger three kids on in Oct 2006 would be the last trip we would have together. Just a few months later unexpectedly my older daughter passed away.

The last pictures of her I have are from that Disney trip.

Maybe taking a holiday job part time could help with paydown, and pulling lots of plugs in the house for unused appliances, go to Aldies, coupon clip, use every single can good and dry in the house, a quick yard sale, some items on Craigs list.....

But make memories now while you can. Take the trip and be inventive to make things budget.
Di

 

[ksumn1]

I'd go. Airline tickets can be a big expense, so you're saving money on that. Due to your previous posts, I would say go. Sounds like you all could use a break. Just make sure DW knows that you are seroius about the debt payoff and no more WDW trips for xxx years AFTER this trip. Hope you're recovery goes well, and you get your debts paid off soon!

 

[melk]

I don't know your family background, but from your previous posts, I hope your family is doing well .

That being said, I say go. Free airfare is huge and it is possible to do Disney on a tight budget (I would even spend 5 days to hang around the resorts, just go to the parks for a couple of days). There is just so much to do there, you could really have a great time.

 

[hsmamato2]

well....keep paying off your debt as you planned,it's a very good idea. Start researching how much extra you can put away every month in addition to your debt payoff towards a trip then start researching alternate places you can visit and have a blast as a family for less,if you can;t swing Disney. there are SO many places to visit,where you could have a blast,and use your free tix,and enjoy time together!
If you can get to Vegas, you could take your kids to see some wonderful places out west from that area,like the Grand canyon,etc. You could fly to California,visit D.land,and some other places in the area you might never have gone to otherwise! Just imagine,free tix to anywhere they fly...... I wouldn't go to Florida with that kind of freedom... even other countries,if they fly there? oh the possibilites- use the tix,but go somewhere that you can afford,if that's WDW,great,if not, go ANYWHERE!

 

[DawnM]

Would going to Disneyland be cheaper? Could you look into that?

Is there free dining when you are going? Can you go at any time? You said January????

For me, Disney is about the parks. We have stayed on property before but once we hit 5 of us it was much harder. We get an off-site condo through skyaucation for $299 tops (usually around $230), and when we lived in CA we found car rentals for $110 or so for the week. You can eat more of your own food that way too or eat off-property for cheaper eats.

Dawn

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Go.

You have a long time to save, and you can do a cheap trip. Life is for living.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

It sounds like our life too. We have about $1200 in SW credits that have to be used by June 28. So we have to go back to WDW. We are going to stay at a value for 2 nights, then go to the DVC.

Disney is expensive and we dont' want to be in debt. So we planned out the expense, then we did a budget to save each month. If all goes well we will have the money sitting in a savings account before we leave.

Make a plan for your debt, stick with it, then make a budget for Disney.