2020 or 2021. That is the question.
Hey pals!
New year, new fund!
Ophf, feeling like I have to shake the cobwebs off a little bit. Let’s recap.
I took a Girls Trip with my buddy Hillary in September. While I was saving for that I was also saving for a Family Trip that was theoretically happening in 2021. On a Fund Post from 8/29, I said:
The original plan with the Family Trip was to make it our dream trip. Give us years to save and do it the way we’ve always wanted to do it. Deluxe resort, 6 or 7 nights, 4 or 5 days of tickets, in October, a month notorious for its rack rate.
But 2021 is the big 50th Anniversary Year. Walt Disney World opened October 1971, so October 2021, right when we were planning on going, will see the kickoff of the 50th Anniversary celebrations and it will be crowded. I mean, let’s be real, Disney World is always crowded, but a 50th anniversary is nothing to sniff at. Record breaking crowds are pretty expected.
Which led Mr. B and I to ponder. Is it better to save up until 2021 and brave the anniversary masses, while also reaping the rewards of visiting during an Anniversary year, namely exclusive, limited time type merch, shows, and whatever else Disney treats the 50th Anniversary revelers with.
OR.
Is it better to move our trip up to 2020? Modify our expectations, stick with a moderate, 5 nights, 2 or 3 days of tickets? It would cut our price almost in half and we’d be able to able to visit the most magical place a year earlier. And with a teeny, tiny bit less of a crowd? Torn on this one, and would love your opinion.
Well, fantastic. Still torn and would still love your opinion!
I’ll be honest, I’m leaning more towards going in 2020 because of the recent boost our fund got.
A lot of my app income went after the Girls Trip went to Christmas and those assorted holiday costs. But once the presents were wrapped and the stockings were hung, it was time to start thinking about our family trip.
I’v spoken before about how a great way to fund your trip is through Christmas and birthday money. My husband’s grandmother called us two weeks before Christmas and asked to speak to me. She and I are very close, so this wasn’t a surprise. The surprise was what she said. “Listen, I love you all and want you to have a happy holiday. But I’m too old to figure out what kids like and I’m too comfortable in my house to deal with the crowds at the stores. So I’m just going to send you a bunch of money. Do what you want with it.”
Firstly, what a cool lady. Secondly, live your truth! We’ll take that money. And as we had already gotten everything ready for Christmas, we knew exactly where to put it. The Disney Fund.
Here’s what our numbers are, going into our big decision about 2020 vs 2021.
2021 Family Trip
Goal: $8000
After Last Deposit: $7584.11
Total Deposit: $584.50
$500, Christmas Check from Grandma
$30, Target Redemption from Playground Crew
$28.84, Grocery Rollover from November
$25.66, Grocery Rollover from December
Still Need: $7000.11
Woohoo! We’re this close to clearing the one thousand dollar mark.
Oaky, I’m dying to know your opinion, just dying. Go in 2020 or 2021? Give me your thoughts in the comments!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!