A lot of people assume we must have a lot of money because we go to Disney a lot.

Which makes me laugh.

Because the truth is, we don’t really do much when we’re home. At all. We are aggressively uninteresting.

We don’t go out to eat much.
There are no spontaneous weekends.
We’re not out here brunching and bar hopping and trying the new hot spot every Friday night.

We’re home. In sweatpants. Debating whether it’s worth putting on real pants to go pick up groceries.

And honestly? Part of that is because a lot of the restaurants back home are charging Disney-level prices now.

And listen. If you’re going to ask me to pay Disney prices, I’m going to need a character and a hug. Possibly a parade. Definitely a smile and a “have a magical day.”

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The Myth: You “Must Be Rich” to Afford Disney Trips

People see the trips and think:
“Wow, must be nice.”

What most people don’t see is how we afford Disney trips by trading everyday spending for something we actually value.:

• The skipped dinners out
• The boring weekends
• The very exciting activity of staying home and not spending money

We don’t “add” Disney on top of a full lifestyle.
We replace things.

Dinner out becomes groceries.
Weekend plans become movie night at home.
Impulse spending becomes, “That’s worth one Via Napoli.”

Because that’s how we measure things.

Via Napoli is one of our favorite places to eat in EPCOT. It’s a table service restaurant, it’s not outrageously expensive, and for three people, with adult beverages, you can usually eat there for around $100 to a little over, depending on what you order.

So when I look at prices for things at home, I think:

• That’s worth one Via Napoli.
• That’s worth two and a half Via Napolis.
• Nope, that is absolutely not worth a Via Napoli.

It’s a very effective system.

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Disney Isn’t Cheap. But At Least It Knows What It Is.

Here’s the difference.

When I spend money at Disney, I know exactly what I’m paying for:

• Atmosphere
• Entertainment
• Planning
• Intentional memories
• A mouse that understands customer service

When I spend the same amount at home, I get:

• A loud TV
• A rushed server
• A meal I could’ve made better myself
• And a bill that makes me stare at the receipt like it personally offended me

If I’m paying premium prices, I want premium vibes.

Otherwise, I’ll stay home and put that money toward something that actually feels worth it.

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The Boring Stuff That Makes Disney Happen

No, we don’t have a secret trust fund.
We’re not doing anything extreme.
No, we’re not eating ramen in the dark.

We just do a lot of small, unsexy things that add up.

Stuff like:

• Scanning receipts and using rewards for movies and little treats instead of paying cash
• Using credit card rewards intentionally, not recklessly
• Taking advantage of Disney discounts and perks
• Setting the thermostat a degree or two higher or lower
• Watching everyday expenses so there’s less waste
• And a number of other boring money-saving methods

None of this pays for Disney by itself.

But together? It makes room.

This is not glamorous.
It’s not aspirational.
This is budgeting in sweatpants.

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What People Actually Mean When They Say “You Must Be Rich”

What they usually mean is:
“You’re spending your money differently than I would.”

And that’s fine.

We are not rich.
We’re not doing anything extraordinary.
We’re just intentional.

People see the trips.
They don’t see the hundreds of tiny, boring, responsible choices that made them possible.

And honestly? That’s okay.

Just know—if you see us at Disney again, it probably means we skipped a lot of local dinners out, stayed home more than you think, and decided that this was where we wanted our money to go.

And yes.

If I’m paying Disney prices, I’m going to want a character and a hug.