WDW and The Economy About This Page:

[ilovejack72]

know where your comin from I just found out my son needs braces and it will cost $170.00 per month plus all my other bills and where heading to the world in dec but I just said what the heck have all paid for I just plan on not buying tons of stuff while I'm there. It shocks me that the country is in such bad shape with money but we went out to dinner last night and it was packed and my friend said to me I thought people were hurting for money. And when where in disney I'm sure it will be packed just not sure where all this money is coming from we sure dont have any of it.

[trixiedixie]

Remember the perspectives of the media and their goals for this election year, that is what is helping keep me calm.

[stretch2864]

If I were you, I wouldn't feel badly about going on vacation. As others have said, it doesn't sound like you are frivolous when it comes to spending money. Plus if it is all paid for and you would lose money to cancel, it doesn't sound like that would be in your best interest.

The entire time my DD was growing up, I was a single parent so money was always an issue. However, I did my best to save money so that we could go on vacation and do some special things together. There is only one window of opportunity to do things when your children are young. If you miss it, you can't get it back. I think you have to do the best you can to balance current needs, future needs, and enjoyment of the here and now. Every family is different, so only you know where that balance lies. My vacations when DD was little were always paid for with money I earned working overtime. That way I never charged a vacation. I don't regret a single vacation that we ever took. Many of them were to WDW, and we have some wonderful memories. That is the same reason that I spent the money this past January to spend a long weekend with DD in WDW to celebrate her 21st birthday. Because she doesn't live here anymore, I don't get to see her very often. So to me it was money well spent to spend a quality weekend with my DD. I guess that is something you just can't put a price tag on.

Anyways, go and enjoy your vacation with your DH and DS.

[Happymommy]

We're right there, with ya. I'm not feeling too good about going to Disney in May. I figured I'd be starting a job by June or July, but now I wonder if any hospital will be hiring new nurses with this economy. I haven't bought our airfare yet--- and dont' know if I'm gonna.

[scottjs]

Well if your gonna wait for the economy to improve your gonna have a very long wait. This country is hurting. But I think the economy is also very much on a individual/family level! I would say if you can afford to go--then go! We have cut back plans but are still gonna go to Disneyland next year. I still have some money in savings. I still have Disney dreams. And I still have a 401K(I hope). Go!!!

[simbarel]

Originally Posted by loubell

Thanks for the pixies, Simbarel -I just hope that by Feb of 2010 we're trying for a munchkin...that's the goal! I know I've told you before, but I just love that picture of your DS! What a cutie-pie he is!

Awww, thanks! More to you. Munchkins are worthy goals, imho!

And hey, maybe there's a silver lining to all this financial distress: the realization that what is truly important in life is not a huge house, fancy cars, and state of the art electronics.

We've definitely been working towards more a self-sustaining life, and it's actually really fun! Much more rewarding than "stuff."

Many many thanks to those who have posted. We all have a lot to think about! I have a habit of sabotaging my WDW trips, I don't know why. I'm hoping against hope that I'll be able to dive into the magic and just enjoy it as a last "hurrah" for a while. It looks like WDW is nearly all booked, so I probably won't be the only one there.

[simbarel]

Originally Posted by trixie lamb

Remember the perspectives of the media and their goals for this election year, that is what is helping keep me calm.

If I hear "Wall Street meets Main Street!!" one more time, I will gouge my eyes out. Find a new metaphor, already!!!

[Happymommy]

You know--- something else I was thinking about. If we all start cancelling our trips, stop going to restaurants, stop shopping (I'm not a shopper anyway) it's really only worse for the economy. Maybe I can look at our next trip as my contribution to helping our economy?

[mcc0313]

I think you should go and have a great time. Things are tight but I work overtime, or take some freelance jobs and that all goes into my traveling account. For the first 12 years of my oldest daughter's life we never got to go anywhere....and what I have learned is that you need to live for that moment because as others have said it will just pass you by.

My mom is always telling me another trip you have planned...but my bills are paid, I am already paying towards my school loan and I am still in school, my kids have what they need, I have insurance, I put money into my 401K plan and since I do not plan to buy a house this is my mortagage....

I feel that for everyone it has to be what works for them. If you have the money, you have moeny put away then you should just go and enjoy....if we wait for the economy to pick up we could be waiting along time....

[eff051102]

I think if you continue to remind yourself that your DS will just love this trip
and in turn you will love seeing it through his eyes that will get you through.
I say go on the vacation and enjoy yourself.

Sometimes you just need to turn off the "Doomsday" thinking and remember that
life needs to go on no matter what. Also if nothing else this could be the last
trip for several years so it needs to give you magic to last.

I try very hard to remember that it's my response to things (good or bad) that
DD sees and can/will remember. While I'm a glass is half empty type of person,
I don't want to raise my DD with just that outlook but with a well rounded one.

Just my 2 cents.

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by wheatenwalker

Rachel, you are financially resposible- you have insurance, you're not behind on bills, I read how careful you guys are- I worry too but I think you should go...

This is exactly what I think too, Rachel.

You've run the numbers, you can pay it off before you leave, you know you will enjoy it and is what your hard-working honey needs.

Go, go, go, go, go!!
Eileen

[Disneydiana]

Originally Posted by eff051102

Sometimes you just need to turn off the "Doomsday" thinking and remember that
life needs to go on no matter what. Also if nothing else this could be the last
trip for several years so it needs to give you magic to last

That's a great way to look at it.

Thanks for the post, simbareal. I was feeling a little guilty/bad too. Everyone is talking about how bad the economy is and here I am going to WDW. I’m all paid for - I had planned on using the Disney Visa, 0 interest offer (one of the ways I talked DH into) But I was able to save the money so I can just pay off the trip in full. Plus, I already paid for the plane tickets and I am setting money aside for meals. We’re not hurting but just as you said this could be money that we might need. I figure that as long as we are not dipping into our savings or charging a crazy amount we are fine. So then what's the problem? Guilt...

I haven't even told some family that we're going. I don't want to hear them say "What? You're going again? you just went last year. Didn't you see everything already. Why do adults w/ no kids want to spend a week at DW? We have a bad economy and you're going to spend lots of money to visit Mickey Mouse and ride a rollercoaster!"

Sigh....Whatever...

[trixiedixie]

Originally Posted by Happymommy

You know--- something else I was thinking about. If we all start cancelling our trips, stop going to restaurants, stop shopping (I'm not a shopper anyway) it's really only worse for the economy. Maybe I can look at our next trip as my contribution to helping our economy?

Here HERE Ill toast my diet RC to that one!!!!!

[Minnie Lor]

I'm glad that you posted this Rachel because I've been feeling it too. We leave in 17 days. We've bought airline tkts but they're SW so they could be converted. We have our tickets (mine is an AP and will expire in Dec) and DH's tkt hasn't been used yet. We don't have anything else paid for but we have the $ in savings.

I keep wondering if I'm stupid to go with the looming financial crisis. Yeah, I read too many forums giving worse case scenarios. I haven't packed a thing yet. Normally by now, I'd have little piles of things to pack. I guess, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. My trip may still get cancelled if things crumble even more between now and then. I won't be out very much money if we do.

Everyone has given you great advice, Rachel. You haven't been in quite awhile and your little guy hasn't been. Your trip is paid for and you'd loose $ if cancelled. You should go.

[jimmymac]

Definitely go. Who knows what next year will bring?