Look, it’s no surprise to anyone that a Walt Disney World vacation is expensive. They are. But there are ways to do it and make it work for you and your spouse/partner/family so that you can make it happen. Here’s one way that has worked for our family, and I’ll give a couple of different scenarios.
Scenario #1: My family of 3 would like to spend Christmas 2024 at WDW. We’d like to stay at the Port Orleans French Quarter for 5 nights, with 4 day Park Hopper tickets. My Travel Advisor (in this case, me) quotes me $4,729.97. I place the deposit of $200 that is due today. The balance of $4,529.97 is due by 11/23/24 (Today is 1/14/24). That is 316 days from now. 45 weeks. Each week I put $100 towards the balance, except I’m not spending $100, I’m only spending $95 because with my Target Red debit card I get 5% off Disney gift cards. By the time I have paid this trip off in November, I’ve paid $4,303.47 for my Moderate level stay during Christmas week, a savings of $226.50 AND you haven’t put yourself in debt. This may work for you. It might not.
Scenario #2: My family of 3 would like to go on a Disney Cruise for spring break (first week of April) in 2025. We have chosen a 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Fort Lauderdale. My TA (again, me) has quoted a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with our preferred seating time for dinner (second seating). The total cost comes to $3,376.58. I pay the 20% deposit of $300.80 today, leaving a balance due of $3,075.78 that is due 1/3/25. That is 355 days from now, or 50 weeks. Same method as before. Each week I’m putting $100 towards the balance, and again, it’s really only $95 because I’m using my handy dandy Target card and by mid/end of August you’ve got the entire cruise paid off and you’ve saved a little over $150 from using the Target card method.
Again, it’s never too early to start planning. We live in a world where instant gratification is the norm and everyone is Veruca Salt. Slow down. Plan ahead. It’s totally worth it.
