TJsMomSarahJane
WBC in Dec 2022
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2016
So this thread is a balance of me holding myself to our savings goals, and to share how I manage to get up the funds to go to WDW.
We're a family of three - two adults and one Disney kiddo. My wife and I both work from home, which lets us do a lot of the savings apps I mention below. We started saving for this trip right after kiddo went back to school after Christmas break.
Here's our expense list, based on rack rates for the approximate same time this year:
9-day Park Hopper Tickets $1,612.00 10-day Non-Hopper tickets $1519.00
14-nights All Star Music - Standard $1,960.00
Photo Pass $150.00
14-nights Disney Dining Plan $2,510.00
PVD to MCO RT Flights on Southwest $900.00
Merchandise $700.00
Alcohol $420.00
Tips $325.00
Pre-Flight Hotel Room $90.00
Tours $90.00
3rd Party Stroller Rental $100.00
MNSSHP Tickets $250.00
Touring Plans Subscription $16.00
Travel Insurance $160.00
So that adds up to just under$9300 $9200.
Discounts are potentially looking at:
The time we're going is historically a time for free dining - if we do get that deal, we'll be upgrading the plan from the QS to the DDP. This will reduce the overall cost to just under$7500 $7400.
Last time, the travel agent we used gave us a free subscription to Touring Plans, so that's another $16 off.
Here's what we've saved so far:
Disney gift cards - $575 (All earned by converting Swagbucks into Walmart gift cards, then using them at Sam's Club online to get their Disney gift card packs.)
Sam's gift cards not used yet - $133 (Waiting to hit $143 so I can get the 3x$75 DGCs from Sam's.)
Vacation savings account - $1113 (A high-interest Synchrony account that pulls $50/week from my checking account, going on and off since our last trip in 2018.)
Total earmarked for Disney so far - $1821
I track everything in a spreadsheet (image linked here).
Plan going forward:
Continue to earn Walmart cards through Swagbucks, to convert at Sam's to DGCs.
Cash out some Swagbucks for Amazon cards. Use those cards to buy Southwest Airlines gift cards. Use those to buy our flights as soon as that date range is released.
Purchase discounted Landry gift cards through Raise.com, and use these for tips at Yak & Yeti, T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe.
Purchase discounted Uber gift cards for the 3-4 Uber rides we take during the trip. (Usually for when we are having a meal at another resort and don't want to do the 'bus>park>bus' thing.)
Use our Target credit card (or other high-rewards credit cards) to purchase more DCGs at a 5%+ discount if needed.
Request not to have mousekeeping during the trip when we check in. Last time, this banked us about $120 in DGCs and paid for quite a few pins, slushy drinks in France, and face painting for little guy.
Update #1
Update #2
Update #3
Update #4 - Officially Booked!
Expense List Update
Update #5
We're a family of three - two adults and one Disney kiddo. My wife and I both work from home, which lets us do a lot of the savings apps I mention below. We started saving for this trip right after kiddo went back to school after Christmas break.
Here's our expense list, based on rack rates for the approximate same time this year:
14-nights All Star Music - Standard $1,960.00
Photo Pass $150.00
14-nights Disney Dining Plan $2,510.00
PVD to MCO RT Flights on Southwest $900.00
Merchandise $700.00
Alcohol $420.00
Tips $325.00
Pre-Flight Hotel Room $90.00
Tours $90.00
3rd Party Stroller Rental $100.00
MNSSHP Tickets $250.00
Touring Plans Subscription $16.00
Travel Insurance $160.00
So that adds up to just under
Discounts are potentially looking at:
The time we're going is historically a time for free dining - if we do get that deal, we'll be upgrading the plan from the QS to the DDP. This will reduce the overall cost to just under
Last time, the travel agent we used gave us a free subscription to Touring Plans, so that's another $16 off.
Here's what we've saved so far:
Disney gift cards - $575 (All earned by converting Swagbucks into Walmart gift cards, then using them at Sam's Club online to get their Disney gift card packs.)
Sam's gift cards not used yet - $133 (Waiting to hit $143 so I can get the 3x$75 DGCs from Sam's.)
Vacation savings account - $1113 (A high-interest Synchrony account that pulls $50/week from my checking account, going on and off since our last trip in 2018.)
Total earmarked for Disney so far - $1821
I track everything in a spreadsheet (image linked here).
Plan going forward:
Continue to earn Walmart cards through Swagbucks, to convert at Sam's to DGCs.
Cash out some Swagbucks for Amazon cards. Use those cards to buy Southwest Airlines gift cards. Use those to buy our flights as soon as that date range is released.
Purchase discounted Landry gift cards through Raise.com, and use these for tips at Yak & Yeti, T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe.
Purchase discounted Uber gift cards for the 3-4 Uber rides we take during the trip. (Usually for when we are having a meal at another resort and don't want to do the 'bus>park>bus' thing.)
Use our Target credit card (or other high-rewards credit cards) to purchase more DCGs at a 5%+ discount if needed.
Request not to have mousekeeping during the trip when we check in. Last time, this banked us about $120 in DGCs and paid for quite a few pins, slushy drinks in France, and face painting for little guy.
Update #1
Update #2
Update #3
Update #4 - Officially Booked!
Expense List Update
Update #5
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