[sendme.todisney]

Over the past few years, we've tried unsuccessfully to plan a trip for our family of 5 to get down to see WDW. Hubby and I have both been down with our families when we were younger, one time each.

For many people, I know Disney is a yearly or even bi-yearly event. For us, this really will be a once in a lifetime vacation. I have no doubts that it'll cost us more than we've spent in the last 5 years on small family vacations, and that by the time we save up enough for another trip, the kids (or at least our older kids) will be married, and out of the house.

When we've planned a trip in the past, it always came down to not being able to save up the money. It was more of a half-hearted hope on my part, rather than an actual trip planning.

Now, though, we have the financhial ability to save up some money to try and do it.

I'm starting off with a decent chunk of change that I won online (can't say how much, cause the contest winnings change at that site from month to month, and I had to sign a non-disclosure paper when I accepted the winnings). Aside from that, with the help of 4 small quarterly profits bonuses (usually 1-2% of hubby's yearly salary), and 1 nice Christmas bonus, plus the rebate this summer, we're going to get it put away.

Half of each bonus will be going into the account, including the Christmas bonus (last year, we had a takehome bonus of about $1300, but it was based on his income of the year, not salary, and he only started there in April- this year, his income raised, and he'll be there the entire year, so bigger Christmas bonus). I'm hoping that the bonuses alone will get us around $2,000 for the fund.

Then, we're planning to put away $50-100 every month from our regular salary. We're also putting 50-75% of the summer tax rebate away.

That, coupled with the money I have set aside already, should put us at around $3500-4000 for the trip. After that, we'll use money from our tax returns next year to make up the difference.

I have my change jar started (I always keep one anyway, and usually have about $35-50 a month in it- but I plan to start adding in $1's, too).

Then, I do make some minimal money online in the form of Visa or Mastercard gift cards, and cash. That will also go towards the trip. The gift cards sometimes have fees, so those I plan to just turn around and buy Disney gift cards with. The cash will just be deposited, though.

All in all, I'm really hoping that once the Christmas bonus comes in, we'll have around $5,000 in the bank.

We're tenitivly planning for the last week of April, 2009. One upside/downside (depending on which side you look at), is that my oldest daughter and myself have a birthday that week.

While I like the idea of a few perks for celebrating down there (the cakes are gorgeous, plus the freebies you can sometimes get food wise, and special recognition) are great in my book, I am not sure it's fair to the younger two children, either. I don't want them to feel like we're going because of our birthdays, but not theirs.

But, we want to go in April because of a few things- weather, for one, rainfall is a concern. Also, by the end of April, it's less crowded, but without the concerns of rides closed for refurbishing. It's past Easter by enough that Spring Breaks will be over with. It's warmer out, but not boiling hot. So, that's our major reasons for wanting to go in April. Easter next year is April 12th, so the week before and after are out of the question.

What else... my FIL is planning a move to FL sometime soon. His mother and brother each live in Homosassa, but he is looking at Orlando, or within 30 minutes of Orlando (not sure where Homosassa is) for job reasons. His office was bought out, and while he's still on the payroll, he's done working for now, so he can move now, or try to find another job in NC until then.

He's actually going to be in FL visiting his mom and brother over the next month and he plans to look at houses. If he finds one, he's intending to buy it now, and move when he's off the hook in NC. That means we have a place to stay.

Except- darnit, I really would like to stay on-property! I know it adds tremendously to the cost, but I love the idea of the resort. And the dining plan! And the pool. Just the overall atmosphere. When I went to Disney at 17, I looooved the atmosphere of the hotel, and the people all over, and how nice it was to not worry about driving there, parking, finding the car at the end of the night, fighting traffic, etc.

Anyway, that's my story. Hopefully I'll manage to keep the savings going, and we won't have to worry about a car dying this summer, or bills that are unexpected, etc.