Florida residents, do you agree?

Xennia · May 24, 2015

I cringe when I read what others pay for park entrance fees and hotel fees. Am I the only one? If I didn't live here I would cry.

I'm happy I'm an annual pass holder.

No, I'm thankful.

The amount I see people are spending. Plane rides, entrance fees. And anything else I have no idea what they spend on.

our rates are fabulous. But that's how they "get" us. And I'm not mad about it.

lost*in*cyberspace · May 24, 2015

I would cry if I had to live in Florida!

Traveliz · May 24, 2015

Well we still do the back and forth so I do have airfare but we are residents (in Disney's eyes) and when I do hear the AP prices I am thankful for our prices and our TIW...but yeah I would also hate to factor in parking rates for trips!

Liz

havaneselover · May 24, 2015

We lived in FL for 14 very long months. While living there we took a Disney Cruise (Florida resident rate) and bought FL resident tickets and got Fl resident rates at the Boardwalk Inn. Great discounts, but that's probably all I miss about being a FL resident.

WDW is too expensive for me (i.e., I don't see the value). I will scrimp and save for a Disney Cruise every other year but I'm too much of a planner and need to sail when the kids are out of school so FL discounts wouldn't help me anymore anyway.

worm761 · May 25, 2015

I am thankful for the Florida resident rates. But that makes it harder to justify vacations to other places. For instance, we are going to New York for a few days this summer. Nothing fancy and nowhere near the city. Upstate in the wine country to visit family. This trip will be 2 days driving there, 3 days in NY, and another 2 days driving home with a brief stop in Nashville to visit with my sister. This trip is costing the same as my trip to Disney World in September for 8 nights/9 days. 8 hour drive to Disney, 8 nights at Pop Century, FL Seasonal AP, all food including Food and Wine Festival budget. I looked at going to DC and almost cried. Would love to go to New Orleans but that looks like a $500 weekend.

scrapquitler · May 25, 2015

Xennia said:
I cringe when I read what others pay for park entrance fees and hotel fees. Am I the only one? If I didn't live here I would cry.

I'm happy I'm an annual pass holder.

No, I'm thankful.

The amount I see people are spending. Plane rides, entrance fees. And anything else I have no idea what they spend on.

our rates are fabulous. But that's how they "get" us. And I'm not mad about it.

We only visit WDW every few years, so it's a 'big' vacation for us. It does cost a lot, but on the in between years, we do local-ish driving vacations that are fairly inexpensive.

Its all a matter of perspective though, because you mention going to New York, and how much that is going to cost you...for us, that's a day trip, and one of the local-ish things we do a few times a year.

CalDisneyMomof2 · May 25, 2015

I'm not a Florida resident but I actually don't think my rates are too bad. I'm staying 5 nights at AKL for $974- over half off rack rate. Food and tickets will be 15-17% off factoring in gift card discounts. Transportation from airport and between parks is free. Yes, flights aren't cheap but I'll be paying for flights anywhere else we go besides San Diego, Vegas or Nor Cal a few times a year.

I was able to pay for about a third of the cost of our flights by opening the Barclay's card. The cost really isn't that bad.

I have friends and coworkers ask me how I'm able to afford it and when I tell them my family of four can stay at a deluxe hotel for 6 days, fly there, eat and go to the parks for well under $4,000 they are amazed. We went to the Bahamas in February and spent about the same amount of money. We are looking to do an Alaskan cruise next summer and it's going to cost us about $4,000 AFTER our free fights from Jetblue points. So my point is that Disney is no more expensive than many other vacations.

onenursebrandy · May 26, 2015

I CRINGE nearly every time I see what others are paying for their vacations!! I am frugal (sometimes excessively)....each Disney vacation we have taken has been less than $2000...and each trip was at least 7 days. That's the MOST I am willing to spend. I am not talking about applying "free" money to bring the total down, I mean the total is less than two grand regardless of where the money comes from!!! I read posts, and think "wow, these people are WEALTY!!!"

DawnM · May 26, 2015

It was a HUGE shock going from living in Southern California and getting the $99 SoCal season pass to having to drive to FL and pay for a hotel, and gas, and dog sitting, and park entrance fees.

I understand even SoCal prices have gone up a huge amount, but when you don't have to take a week off of work, drive down, stay in a hotel, etc.....it is still WAY cheaper to live close enough to a park to pop down for an afternoon.

DawnM · May 26, 2015

onenursebrandy said:
I CRINGE nearly every time I see what others are paying for their vacations!! I am frugal (sometimes excessively)....each Disney vacation we have taken has been less than $2000...and each trip was at least 7 days. That's the MOST I am willing to spend. I am not talking about applying "free" money to bring the total down, I mean the total is less than two grand regardless of where the money comes from!!! I read posts, and think "wow, these people are WEALTY!!!"

I used to be able to do it for around that or less but not anymore. The park pass prices have gone up considerably, and even with YES homeschool passes, the 5 of us pay around $1,200 for tickets. Last year it was $1,280 for 7 day park hoppers with water parks for the 5 of us.

Add in $600 for a 14 night condo (SkyAuction)

Then add $300 or so for gas and parking

We eat a lot of our own food and try to only use our regularly monthly budget for eating out, but we sometimes go over.

So we average around $2,000 but sometimes go over.

HM · May 26, 2015

The discounts for Disney (and other parks) would be a great thing for a Florida resident. I can't think of many reasons why I'd want to live there though.

And I agree that prices have gone out the roof. I just can't justify a yearly trip any more. We had already changed from a week to 4-5 nights there and were still paying twice as much as we did in the early 2000s. No trips planned at this point and it's been about a year since my last visit.

Marionnette · May 26, 2015

onenursebrandy said:
I CRINGE nearly every time I see what others are paying for their vacations!! I am frugal (sometimes excessively)....each Disney vacation we have taken has been less than $2000...and each trip was at least 7 days. That's the MOST I am willing to spend. I am not talking about applying "free" money to bring the total down, I mean the total is less than two grand regardless of where the money comes from!!! I read posts, and think "wow, these people are WEALTY!!!"

Not everyone wants to camp out or cook all their meals in order to take a Disney trip. You seem to enjoy it, so that's all that matters for you. But some of us prefer to have a little pampering when we take a trip. A $2K budget (before "free money") for a Disney trip would not be a vacation in my eyes. I'd rather stay home if that's all that I could spend. So, if y'all want to cringe at the price tag for other people's trips and make assumptions about their incomes, that's on you. We all set spending limits that we're comfortable with.

JanaDee · May 26, 2015

lost*in*cyberspace said:
I would cry if I had to live in Florida!

Exactly what I was going to say. I'll pay a bit more for my weeks vacation rather than having to live in Florida.

mondragon · May 26, 2015

I love living in Florida but would never want to live near the parks having to deal with the tourists. Down near the Miami area we don't get the type of tourists you get in Orlando. Love the perks as far as discounts at the parks and love the idea of waking up early Saturday morning and driving to the parks in about 3 hrs. Don't understand why people hate Florida so much. Great weather, no snow, beautiful beaches, great food, tons of entertainment. Where else can you get that.

Judique · May 26, 2015

mondragon said:
I love living in Florida but would never want to live near the parks having to deal with the tourists. Down near the Miami area we don't get the type of tourists you get in Orlando. Love the perks as far as discounts at the parks and love the idea of waking up early Saturday morning and driving to the parks in about 3 hrs. Don't understand why people hate Florida so much. Great weather, no snow, beautiful beaches, great food, tons of entertainment. Where else can you get that.

Sometimes right here in the Washington, DC area. Having lived here for the last 30 years or so, I've seen winter without snow (you didn't say anything about freeze your tail cold). Beaches are a short drive. Food is probably better than Florida. And, no lack of entertainment.

I absolutely love some of Florida also! But I wouldn't move just for discounts. As DVC, I get an unrestricted annual pass for the same price you do.

Marionnette · May 26, 2015

Judique said:
Sometimes right here in the Washington, DC area. Having lived here for the last 30 years or so, I've seen winter without snow (you didn't say anything about freeze your tail cold). Beaches are a short drive. Food is probably better than Florida. And, no lack of entertainment.

I absolutely love some of Florida also! But I wouldn't move just for discounts. As DVC, I get an unrestricted annual pass for the same price you do.

I could have written the same thing except about living outside of Philly!

I love being close to NYC, DC, Baltimore, the beaches of NJ and DE, beautiful lakes in PA and MD, historic landmarks, great theater access, some of the most amazing public gardens in the USA and outstanding dining options within minutes of my home. We also have access to some of the most advanced medical care in the country.

While I love visiting FL, I hate heat, humidity, bugs and the threat of hurricanes. I'd rather deal with the occasional snow than mildew, love bugs, flooding, wild fires and storm damage.

msb578 · May 26, 2015

mondragon said:
?...Great weather, no snow, beautiful beaches, great food, tons of entertainment. Where else can you get that.

I've been in Orlando in August. Great weather, it was not.

I'll admit that in February each year, I'll say "we need to move", but then baseball season comes and all is good (it's not actually about the baseball, but the time of year).

I get uncomfortable above 80 degrees, so I'll stay here

Narnia_girl · May 26, 2015

Xennia said:
I cringe when I read what others pay for park entrance fees and hotel fees. Am I the only one? If I didn't live here I would cry.

I'm happy I'm an annual pass holder.

No, I'm thankful.

The amount I see people are spending. Plane rides, entrance fees. And anything else I have no idea what they spend on.

our rates are fabulous. But that's how they "get" us. And I'm not mad about it.

Where a family lives is based on a ton of factors, of course. I know it would be nice to have a discount on Disney when we go, but I live in the Midwest, and I cringe when I see how much more it costs to live in Florida than my area. So there is a trade off--I pay less for every day living, but more for Disney vacations. And I'm okay with that.

mondragon said:
I love living in Florida but would never want to live near the parks having to deal with the tourists. Down near the Miami area we don't get the type of tourists you get in Orlando. Love the perks as far as discounts at the parks and love the idea of waking up early Saturday morning and driving to the parks in about 3 hrs. Don't understand why people hate Florida so much. Great weather, no snow, beautiful beaches, great food, tons of entertainment. Where else can you get that.

I don't hate Florida, just don't want to live there. I actually love snow! I can't describe how wonderful it feels to be tucked into a cozy home with your family, fire crackling in the fireplace, soup simmering, and know you don't have to go anywhere because it's a snow day! :grouphug:

I also love the distinct changing seasons we get, and I really dislike heat, humidity and bugs (we get those but Florida wins on quantity). So Floridians--enjoy your state and we'll come see you once in a while! :wave:

mondragon · May 26, 2015

Judique said:
Sometimes right here in the Washington, DC area. Having lived here for the last 30 years or so, I've seen winter without snow (you didn't say anything about freeze your tail cold). Beaches are a short drive. Food is probably better than Florida. And, no lack of entertainment.

I absolutely love some of Florida also! But I wouldn't move just for discounts. As DVC, I get an unrestricted annual pass for the same price you do.

Food better than Florida.....HAHAHA. Orlando food is not good but come down to south Florida or the keys and you will have some of the best seafood. Also really don't care for disney discounts. We don't have to pay state income taxes.

Iam.Goofy · May 26, 2015

Something that would be useful as a Florida resident? I wouldn't need to drive 2 days to get to Florida. It costs around $500 each way after gas, food, and hotels. The driving costs tend to hit my vacation budget pretty hard. But driving remains cheaper for my family versus flying.

Florida residents, do you agree?

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