Woman visits Disney World every month, donates plasma to cover costs: ‘I can help somebody’
Liz Gramlich is a huge Disney fan.
In fact, the 28-year-old from Philadelphia loves Disney so much that for her 2022 New Year’s resolution, she set a goal to visit Walt Disney World in Orlando once a month with her sister.
The couple has already visited the resort in January, February and March with their latest “magical” adventure booked for April.
Gramlich, who works in inside sales, told Fox News Digital that her regular visits to Disney began in 2020. As Covid-19 hits the US , she and her sister noticed that the prices of flights were dropping significantly.
Now, with pandemic restrictions lifted and travel fees rising, Gramlich has gotten creative to cover some of the costs.
Liz Gramlich, 28, of Philadelphia, is going to Disney World once a month in 2022 with her older sister. (Victoria Danilo)
‘Something to which we are bound’
Gramlich said she and her sister visited Disney about a dozen times in the past two years.
“I was like, ‘Why don’t we do this every month?'”
In 2020, Gramlich realized that flights from Philadelphia to Orlando were only two hours, so she would head out for a day trip to the theme park.
So far, Gramlich and her sister — who lives in Baltimore — have visited the resort in January, February and March. Their April trip is already booked. (Victoria Danilo)
For Gramlich, it was her first time at the resort since she was 3 years old.
Grandma was surprised by the family at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for her 70th birthday
“It was brand new for us,” Gramlich told Fox News Digital.
Gramlich said the visits became “a little extra thing to bring some magic and fun into our lives with everything going on in the world right now.”
Gramlich and his sister began visiting Disney World regularly in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. (Victoria Danilo)
“It became something we bonded over,” he added.
In January of this year, Gramlich said he had an idea: “I was like, ‘Why don’t we do this every month?'”
Saving on expenses – and earning extra income
When Gramlich and her sister began visiting Disney World in the summer of 2020, round trip flights were as low as $25 from Philadelphia to Orlando.
“It was cheaper than gas for a round trip,” Gramlich said.
The cost of the flight eventually came to about $50 for a round trip, but it was still less expensive than an Uber or Lyft from the airport to one of the Disney World parks, Gramlich said.
Minnie Mouse trades in her iconic outfit for a pantsuit
However, as fuel prices have risen, so have flight prices, Gramlich said. For her and her sister’s April visit, their round trip flights cost $150.
When Gramlich and his sister first visited Disney World, the flights were cheap. Also, the flight from Philadelphia to Orlando is only two and a half hours. (Victoria Danilo)
“It’s shocking compared to what we’ve paid in the past,” Gramlich said. “So we’ve had to adjust to make sure we can cover those costs.”
Gramlich said she plans her monthly visits to Disney based on the cheapest flights. In addition, Gramlich donates her plasma — the liquid part of blood without blood cells — twice a week, which helps her cover the costs of flights and hotels.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I can help someone by donating plasma instead of doing something else.'”
Depending on when she goes, Gramlich said she makes between $500 and $1,000 a month, which varies based on a number of factors including whether there is a shortage in her area. .
Gramlich said his clinic didn’t pay for his plasma, but instead paid for his time. It takes Gramlich about 30 minutes to donate, eight times a month.
At one point, the money Gramlich received for donating plasma covered “the entire cost of being able to go to Disney World,” including flights and other expenses.
Previously, Gramlich and his sister only went to Disney World for the day. Now when they go, they stay for the weekend. (Victoria Danilo)
With flight costs rising, her plasma donations are still covering a large portion of the trip, but she sometimes has to save a little extra for a longer visit or an upgrade to a deluxe resort, she said.
“It was cheaper than gas to get around.”
According to the American Red Cross, plasma donation can benefit adults or children with cancer and people with liver or clotting factor disorders. It can also help someone who is suffering from burns, shock, trauma and other medical emergencies, Stanford Children’s Health explains on its website. “Proteins and antibodies in plasma are also used in treatments for rare chronic conditions. These include autoimmune disorders and hemophilia,” the website explains.
Gramlich is pleased that plasma donation can potentially serve a life-saving purpose.
Mother and son pose in the same spot as they did on Disney’s opening day in 1971.
“When it came down to it, I was like, ‘Oh, I can help someone by donating plasma instead of doing something else,'” she said.
To help cover costs, Gramlich donates plasma up to twice a week, which helps cover flights and hotels. (Victoria Danilo)
He added that his donation center is clear that plasma donation should not be one’s main source of income, as there is never a guarantee that you can donate.
As for Gramlich, she said she is sometimes put off donating because her pulse is too high, “because I get a little nervous,” she said.
Gramlich also has other cost-saving methods.
The sisters also had annual passes for a time, which gave them discounts, Gramlich said. However, he added that his annual pass has expired and A FOX Business Report Beginning in November, non-Florida residents can no longer obtain annual passes.
She and her sister’s day trips to Disney helped them save on hotels. Now, they’ll stay longer — mainly on weekends — but they split their hotel room, often at a value resort. They also split the ridesharing costs, Gramlich said.
‘Always keeps you coming back’
Gramlich’s recent visits to Disney World have taken place during the pandemic. He noted how since then, the park has been constantly opening, or reopening new attractions.
“It’s just been a way … to add a little magic to your life.”
“Every time we go, we experience new things,” Gramlich said. “There are always new experiences that you discover, and it becomes your favorite park or your favorite thing.”
Some of Gramlich’s recent favorites at Disney World include the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride at Hollywood Studios, and Ohana Restaurant for breakfast at the Magic Kingdom.
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Gramlich said his monthly visits to Disney World have offered some much-needed relief after a tough few years.
“On a Disney trip, I never feel like we get to experience everything we want to experience,” Gramlich told Fox News Digital. “So it always keeps you coming back.” (Victoria Danilo)
“It’s definitely become a great place to be,” Gramlich said. “We’ve been sitting in a pandemic all this time… and it’s just been a way, not to survive, but to add a little magic to your life.” of.”
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Gramlich said that even though she’ll be visiting Disney more often this year, she doesn’t think she’ll get tired of it.
“Maybe we won’t go often [as every month] After this year,” she said. “But I always feel like Disney opens up something new and gives you a new experience.”
“On a Disney trip, I never feel like we get to experience everything we want to experience,” he added. “So it always keeps you coming back.”
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