Listen, I’m going to level with you.
When I asked you all to weigh in on whether it would be better to take a trip in 2020 vs 2021, I thought you all would be on my side. I thought, “surely the SavEars will give me many well thought out, intelligent points to bring to Mr. B about going in 2020.”
Well. You all certainly made well thought out, intelligent points. About 2021. Never have I been so betrayed! I mean, you were all 100% right. There will be more new rides open in 2021. There will be some amazing, exclusive shows and entertainment. There probably will be 50th Anniversary overlays and special character interactions. Everything you said was true. But I want to go nooooooooow. Which I recognize is not enough of a convincing argument.
Side note: some of y’all suggested we go in 2020 and 2021. Which would be lovely. But you know, for the money part. We live far enough away from Florida and our children are young enough that we need to fly, which adds anywhere from $1000 to $1500 on to our trip expenses. And trip expenses just seem to keep getting more expensive between the hotel, food, park tickets.
The reality is, the older our kids get, the more we realize that we don’t really have the financial means to be a Disney every year family. Realistically, we’re more like a Disney every few years family, maybe every other year if we play our cards right. So if we go in 2020, we’re looking at not going again until 2022 at the earliest. Same with 2021. Our next trip would be 2023. Maybe 2024. (Which, am I crazy or do those seem like space numbers? The fact that we’re planning a vacation to take place in the 2020s makes me feel like I am living in the last scene of the Carousel of Progress.)
But lately it seems like everywhere I turn, I keep seeing that Disney commercial that plays “When You Wish Upon a Star” and it’s a little girl dressed as Tinkerbell and the commercial is like, “Right now she’s young and loves magic, but sooner than you realize she’s going to fly away from you, so take her to Disney World while you can.” Or something like that. And I know it’s all marketing and it’s designed to make me go, “Ahhhhh, I have to get my kids to Disney NOW before they grow up.” But it works! I am totally feeling that!
The Glass Slipper told me just the other day that on our next Disney trip, she does not want to wear a princess dress. She just wants to wear regular dresses, no costumes. Y’all she is SIX. This sent me into a spiral of “we have to do Disney now because she still hasn’t done Cinderella’s Royal Table and I want it to be magical for her and she’s already outgrown Princess dresses and what if she outgrows wands and meeting princesses and liking parades and pack our bags we have to go to Disney RIGHT NOW.”
When you wish upon a staaaaaaaaar.
So while my brain is telling me 2021 might be a better bet, and the pennies rattling around in our Dimes for Disney jar are telling me 2021 might be a better bet, my heart is stuck on 2020.
2021 (2020??) Family Trip
Goal: $8000
After Last Deposit: $6598.03
Total Deposit: $15, from tutoring
Still Need: $6583.03
Slow week with just tutoring funds. Anxiously awaiting my monthly app cash outs.
How often would you go to Disney World, if money was no object? Every year? Every month? Every day? Let’s fantasize 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!
Jennifer says
I am in the same boat as you! I had every intention of going this year… but DH decided financially we should wait until 2021 :( I feel like my heart is BREAKING! We just recently went on our very first trip to Disney in December, but we went with a large group (my in-laws, sisters-in-law and niece, my husband and our 3 children) so I was really excited to do things with just our family of 5 (and stay ON SITE this time!!!
If I could, I’d go every year. Unfortunately, I think my husband will prefer every 3-5
Kristen says
Big trips are fun, but nothing beats just your little family! And I’m a sucker for onsite every time. The good news about both of us pushing back to 2021 is that we have a lot of time to plan! ;)
Linda says
I would love to go ever year but it would be amazing to go everyday. But I like you get to go if lucky every other year
Kristen says
At least we’re in good company, Linda. ;) I feel like once a year would be perfect. Just enough to miss it a little bit.