In my first installment of Saving 4 Disney Saturday I discussed defining your Disney Vacation Dream, in my case my next runDisney Challenge…Coast to Coast in 2019 via the Walt Disney World Marathon and the Disneyland Half Marathon.

With my dream defined it was time to sharpen the pencil and get a good estimate on the financial means needed to cover that dream.  I shared with you a great online tool found on the Disney Vacation Account page…

The Account Budget Estimator

But I had simpler suggestion, being an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner & Affiliate of Academy Travel/mickeyvactions.com, let me build you a free, no obligation quote on a Disney Vacation of your dreams.

I estimated that to make my dream of

come true it would cost me around $5400, plus a whole lot more in training hours, sweat and tears. Broken up monthly I would need to save about $250 a month over the course of the next 18 months. The question before I start addressing the HOW to do this without tapping into my already tight household budget is WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY SAVINGS.

If you are like me I will have saved some money specifically for a purpose and then life throws me a curve ball and the money is gone. I need a better way of separating the money I am specifically saving for my next Disney dream vacation from my Dave Ramsey emergency fund (which should be the first thing you have funded before you even think about saving for a Disney vacation).

How have I decided to keep my Disney vacation money separate from my other savings, since apparently the method I am using is just not working?

DISNEY VACATION ACCOUNT

After a couple of weeks researching the pros and cons of the Disney Vacation Account in addition to other savings account options, I have decided that the Disney Vacation Account meets everything I am looking for…

• Must be Free and have ZERO FEES
• FDIC-Insured Bank (Chase)
• Savings Account Separate from my current savings account for the sole purpose of paying for my next Disney vacation
• The money is always mine and easily accessed should I need to withdraw the money for an emergency (but not so easily accessed that it just becomes a place for a slush fund) …money is refunded in the original form of payment with a 3-4 Day processing time
• Pays some type of interest so my Disney pennies are growing while I am saving
• Allows me to save over time and make as many deposits as I want, even automatic deposits from my current checking/savings accounts plus being able to add all my Disney Gift Cards that I earn from my “Disney Penny Apps”
• Be able to track my saving progress

The Disney Vacation Account is simple you set up your account online, you make payments as you wish either randomly or automatic, you take the money out when the time comes and pay for your vacation.  The great thing is that if you start now for a vacation a few years down the road you will have the money you need when it is time, if you make the deposits.  Disney will also pay you 2%, which I could not even come close to with high interest online savings accounts.  Of course, Disney will pay you in the form of a Disney gift card for 2% of whatever you spend on your vacation. So, I could be earning and extra $100 for my Coast to Coast Challenge, which in Disney terms means 20 more Mickey ice cream bars, the perfect way to refuel after a runDisney event.

Since I am a half empty type of gal, what are the downsides of a Disney Vacation Account?

• When you are spending your money on a Disney Vacation you must either purchase directly through Disney or through an Authorized Disney Vacation, like myself…no third party cheap ticket agencies, discounted hotel websites…but why would you use those anyway when you get complimentary concierge level trip planning services when you book your Disney vacation through me.  Sure, you are saving a few dollars, but doing a lot more work that involves lots of time and research that simply you don’t have to do (unless you are a planning nut like me).
• Money is not available during your Disney Vacation, so should you be saving for spending you would need to request a withdrawal prior to travel, which can be requested in the form of a Disney gift cars which takes 4-6 weeks.

Like everything you do, read the fine print before you decide if the Disney Vacation account is for you. Also, don’t take my word that the Disney Vacation Account is a good savings plan, do your research.

Next week, I will walk you through setting you your My Disney Vacation Account and we will begin saving!