Adventures by Disney-- How do people do it?-- It's so much $$

[ekatiel]

I know there are people out there who make a lot more $$ than DH, but we are comfortably well-above the household national average for income. I can't even fathom paying for an Adventure by Disney trip. Just for kicks and giggles, I priced out a couple: $14K for a week trip to Arizona and Utah for our family of four. $24K for a week trip to England and France (I don't think airfare is even included-- although, when you're paying $24K, what's another $5K on airfare?!). Is there a secret here I'm missing about how to make these trips even-semi affordable? It seems that a lot of people who take them are DVC members-- can you use points for the trip? I'm not even interested in taking one, just more curious about how people are affording these trips, and why they would choose to blow that much $$ on (at least for the Arizona/Utah trip) what could be a $3K road trip.

 

[donac]

I often wonder the same thing. My dsis and her dh go to DW multiple times a year and have been cruising up a storm the last year and have a couple planned for next year. I keep wondering where have I gone wrong.

But "Comparison is the death of joy" was a quote one of my students made in her graduation speech last year. This is something that has been helping me not be so envious.

 

[tchrrx]

We have been on three Adventures by Disney trips. Yes, they are very expensive, but they are wonderful. DH works hard all year, and this is how we choose to spend our money. We only take vacations with Disney (WDW, DL, Disney cruise, or ABD). We feel that the quality we recive is well worth the money. Yes, we could take the trip for cheaper, but we would have to do the planning and driving ourselves. We enjoy getting to relax and let someone else take care of the details.

Yes, you can use your DVC points towards a trip, but we haven't. We bank ours so that we can return to the parks every other year.

 

[Marionnette]

I know there are people out there who make a lot more $$ than DH, but we are comfortably well-above the household national average for income. I can't even fathom paying for an Adventure by Disney trip. Just for kicks and giggles, I priced out a couple: $14K for a week trip to Arizona and Utah for our family of four. $24K for a week trip to England and France (I don't think airfare is even included-- although, when you're paying $24K, what's another $5K on airfare?!). Is there a secret here I'm missing about how to make these trips even-semi affordable? It seems that a lot of people who take them are DVC members-- can you use points for the trip? I'm not even interested in taking one, just more curious about how people are affording these trips, and why they would choose to blow that much $$ on (at least for the Arizona/Utah trip) what could be a $3K road trip.

Just like the people who stay concierge at the GF, you don't know what ABD tour members' stories are. They could be wealthy. They could have saved for years just to take that one trip. They could be in debt up to their eyeballs and don't care about the cost. But whatever their circumstances, they are willing to spend that kind of money for the "Disney difference". Not everyone puts that kind of value on the "Disney difference" but enough people do it that Disney can charge that amount and fill their tours.

DVC members don't get a discount, but they are guaranteed "opening day" pricing as long as there is room for them in the tour they wish to book. As demand for a trip increases, the price rises for everyone else- sometimes up to $1000 pp! Members can also book using their points, but it is generally considered to be a poor return on your points. You would do better to rent out your points and use the cash for your trip.

 

[sheetz]

While the tours are expensive they aren't impossibly expensive. I would think anyone making $200,000/yr and/or retired could scrape enough money together to do one. That said, I get the impression that ABD is really a niche operator so they don't get huge numbers of guests on their tours.

 

[tchrrx]

We booked our last ABD while on a Disney cruise, and we were able to save 5%.

 

[crisi]

We took one.

Almost every family on the tour were dual income professional families. Doctors, lawyers, corporate executives, highly paid IT specialists. There were zero one income families. There were no families where at least one person did not have a graduate degree (M.D., J.D. or MBA).

 

[ekatiel]

Just like the people who stay concierge at the GF, you don't know what ABD tour members' stories are. They could be wealthy. They could have saved for years just to take that one trip. They could be in debt up to their eyeballs and don't care about the cost. But whatever their circumstances, they are willing to spend that kind of money for the "Disney difference". Not everyone puts that kind of value on the "Disney difference" but enough people do it that Disney can charge that amount and fill their tours.

DVC members don't get a discount, but they are guaranteed "opening day" pricing as long as there is room for them in the tour they wish to book. As demand for a trip increases, the price rises for everyone else- sometimes up to $1000 pp! Members can also book using their points, but it is generally considered to be a poor return on your points. You would do better to rent out your points and use the cash for your trip.

LOL about the Grand Floridian example and not knowing people's stories. You may have noticed that my ticker is for the GF . DH will be attending a conference there, and we're tagging along , so his work will pick up the hotel tab (which is an already discounted conference rate). Maybe I can find a conference for DH to go to with ABD .

I am surprised that there are several ABDers on the budget board. I guess it is all about what you find value in . I just don't think I could stomach those prices, even for the "Disney difference."

 

[pfp258]

But single income families with one parent at home raising the children could take one if they desired. And you certainly don't have to have a graduate degree to do one either. Our children are too old for that kind of trip now. (Freshmen and junior in college). But we still enjoy Disney cruises and traveling to Europe. We also continue to go to Disney World at least once or twice a year. So yes we could afford an Adventure by Disney, but the trip destinations are either someplace we have already been or someplace we don't care to travel to.

 

[tchrrx]

We are a two income family, but not really. I teach in a small private school and could probably make more serving fast food. However, my work is a ministry and I wouldn't change it for the world.

We only have one child, and she isn't'the involved in any sports or clubs. I know some families pay hundreds of dollars a month for those type of things.. We have two vehicles, but both are over ten years old and were paid in full at the purchase. So, we have no car payments. DD doesn't have a phone, and DH and I both have basic old school flip phones. That's a big savings compared to some people's data plans. So, it's all about how and where each family chooses to spend their money.

 

[crisi]

But single income families with one parent at home raising the children could take one if they desired. And you certainly don't have to have a graduate degree to do one either. Our children are too old for that kind of trip now. (Freshmen and junior in college). But we still enjoy Disney cruises and traveling to Europe. We also continue to go to Disney World at least once or twice a year. So yes we could afford an Adventure by Disney, but the trip destinations are either someplace we have already been or someplace we don't care to travel to.

Sure, you could - if the one income was sufficient and you prioritized or you had other resources (like an inheritance). But on our trip there wasn't anyone who fit that description. IME, the people who take these trips have TWO incomes each well above the median household income.

 

[tchrrx]

On our latest trip (Costa Rica) we had four single parent families there with their teenaged children. We also had a dad whose wife stayed home while he brought his three daughters and a friend of one of the daughters. It was like their tenth (or some crazy high number like that) ABD trip.

 

[crisi]

On our latest trip (Costa Rica) we had four single parent families there with their teenaged children. We also had a dad whose wife stayed home while he brought his three daughters and a friend of one of the daughters. It was like their tenth (or some crazy high number like that) ABD trip.

What did they do for a living?

 

[tchrrx]

What did they do for a living?

I was trying to remember, but I can't! I want I say one was in financial stuff and a couple were computer/IT, but I'm not positive. We had four doctors in our group, but it was two married couples.

 

[crisi]

I was trying to remember, but I can't! I want I say one was in financial stuff and a couple were computer/IT, but I'm not positive. We had four doctors in our group, but it was two married couples.

Our experience was a bunch of highly paid people - and all of those jobs have the potential for highly paid. We certainly were (and are - Computers/IT). Our couples with kids were dual income and married.

They are expensive trips - even the domestic ones - so its something where you either make a lot of money, have a windfall to blow, or save for a long time. It isn't something you are Swagbucksing you way to while you vaccuum in order to do every year

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Not snarking, just curious. What makes these trips different in such a way that would price them so high? $14k isn't just a lot more than a typical week in AZ. It's a lot more than a typical week at Disney.

 

[Marionnette]

Not snarking, just curious. What makes these trips different in such a way that would price them so high? $14k isn't just a lot more than a typical week in AZ. It's a lot more than a typical week at Disney.

http://www.adventuresbydisney.com/north-america/grand-canyon-vacations/

Upscale accommodations. Private tours. Most meals included. Unique experiences.

All transportation is provided from the time that you arrive at the airport until the time that your depart.

There are a lot of busy people who don't have the time or inclination to plan and research all the details of a Grand Canyon trip. It's one-stop shopping and very stress-free. It's also not meant to appeal to everyone. Disney is definitely targeting a client with a large vacation budget. It's similar to their Golden Oaks community. It isn't meant for the average home buyer.

 

[JanaDee]

Not snarking, just curious. What makes these trips different in such a way that would price them so high? $14k isn't just a lot more than a typical week in AZ. It's a lot more than a typical week at Disney.

A 4 day/3 night trip to Nashville would be almost $10,000 for our family! That is insane. Since anyone over 12 is considered an adult, that jacks the price even higher.

IMO, the handholding Disney does throughout the trip is what makes them so expensive.

Oops, don't forget to add the expected $200-300 extra dollars in tip for your guides for the Nashville trip. For the Alaska trip (a place we would actually consider going), the expected tip for both guides is $500-$600).

 

[hollypoast]

"Comparison is the death of joy"

Our family is interested in going to Glacier and Banff next year. Just out of curiosity, I priced out the ABD trip (each eliminate as close as I could without knowing the vendors they use) and our family of 5 could do (almost) the exact trip for just a little over the cost of 1 with ABD. I'm not knocking it... I'm sure for some people its awesome. If you have a "big" job and not a lot of free time I'm sure its a no brainer.

However, I really enjoy planning out our trip and looking for deals. I think having someone else do it all would take some of the fun out of it for me.

BTW, love the above quote donac... I'm writing this one down to look back on.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I do not believe the price is the updated accommodations, you could get that on your own. I believe it is for the "handholding" not having to worry about organizing everything on your own. Some people aren't comfortable in foreign countries and they are willing to pay that price. I enjoy planning our trips so for me, it isn't a hassle to research how to make the logistics of a trip feasible once I get to that country.

A few months ago when we were trying to determine what we'd do for our 2015 "big" vacation and one of the options was an African safari. We checked into ABD. The cost for us two (DH & I) for the trip through ABD (including tips and buying airfare on our own) came out to $21,700. We the identical itinerary down to staying at the same hotel in Capetown and same game reserve when you did the safari. Our cost to do on our own was $12,500. For us to do the same itinerary as ABD we could not justify spending $9K+ more. But we are comfortable traveling in areas we don't speak the language.