Am I the only one who thinks Disney vaca prices have gotten out of hand?

[lyncecelia]

Yeah Disney is expensive. However, it's worth it to me. I love it there, and if it means I go on vacation less but actually enjoy it, so be it.

I'd rather vacation every other year at a place I want to go than go every year to a place I don't really care for, ya know?

 

[eliza61]

Add me to the mix. Even with our dvc, disney isn't cheap by any standard. My problem is that it's getting more and more mediocre.
Cuts in entertainment (fantasmic, live entertainment, gutting of DTD)
stores are all homogonized. same stuff no matter where you go.
Food is so-so

 

[vicki_c]

We went to the beach this summer for 3 days / 2 nights (not even on a weekend). The hotel & our food costs for that trip were equal to a trip to Disney. I think many vacations are expensive, but I don't think Disney is out of line with other destinations, or similar destinations at all.

 

[zalansky]

Well, I agree with the OP, the prices the two weeks right around Christmas through New Years are outrageous. We are DVc members but I was going to pay cash for a one night stay between Christmas and NYE to save on points. HA! A one night stay at Wilderness Lodge was $550!! Add to that the holiday price increase for character meals. Its a lot more to go during the holidays.

We used points instead.

 

[MissBritt]

I guess if you are out of state, travel peak season, stay Deluxe, eat only character and signature meals, parkhop, and stay for a week, it can be pricey. If that's your vacationing style, that's fine. But there are PLENTY of places to cut back costs, and trips can be had for a fraction of what you are looking at if you really just want to go to WDW.

 

[crisi]

Its expensive, its always been expensive, it will continue to be expensive.

Sometimes deals can make it less expensive. But its never cheap.

In GENERAL vacations that involve hotel stays are expensive. We are looking at Vegas with friends, it isn't cheap. Thought...well, maybe New Orleans - not much cheaper.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I never pay retail. id wait for a pin code

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I have never stayed on property for this reason. For what Disney charges for 1 room w/ queen beds & a daybed . I want at least 2 rooms for that price, not to be crammed in a room with my family of 5.

We are staying in a 3br TH on our next trip. 7 nights for $671.22. My dh almost croaked when he heard the price on the Disney tickets. $1123.00 for 5 4 day non hopper passes (with the mousesavers discount). I think that is a bit much! I tried to convince him to get the 10 day non expiring instead, since our twins are turing 10 right after our trip, that would save us some $$ on a future trip. He doesn't want to spend the extra $$ now on a trip we may or may not take in the future.

 

[cseca]

I guess Disney IS expensive if your vacation style usually consists of sitting on the beach all day and cook meals in your rental house/condo... (nothing wrong with this style btw, just doing comparison) or going camping/rv-ing.

You can do disney cheapER by doing value resort and eating QS meals or staying and eating offsite. Or going to the park less days and spending some days hanging out by the resort pool, DTD, checking out other resorts, going to the boardwalk area, etc..

There are always options of doing disney cheaper. But comparison with other vacation spots I don't think they are over the top expensive. New York is expensive, even Chicago gets expensive if you add entertainment, food, transportation to the mix. Heck going to Cedar Point can get expensive also and they have 1 park with extremely limited entertainment/attraction/food options.

 

[eliza61]

There are always options of doing disney cheaper. But comparison with other vacation spots I don't think they are over the top expensive. New York is expensive, even Chicago gets expensive if you add entertainment, food, transportation to the mix. Heck going to Cedar Point can get expensive also and they have 1 park with extremely limited entertainment/attraction/food options.

See I guess this is where I'm having problems with Disney lately. You're right a vacation in NY is just as expensive but... You can stay at the Waldolf astoria for the same price as a Disney deluxe and we all know that Disney deluxes would not stand up to the outside world. many time it's cheaper than the Grand Floridan. Yes, the food is just as expensive but let's not even get into where the better food will be. The price of park tickets for me would definitely get me into a few broadway plays. I'll admit we get park hoppers. but Bronx zoo and museums have free days. Go to Washington dc and every thing Smithsonian is free.

I'm going to Paris France this May for almost the same price as my August trip to Disney. The only thing that is making it more expensive is the airfare to Europe is crazy expensive. I'll have 2 days at DLP and let's not even go there with the quality of food, now in all fairness Paris is known for it's food so any place would have a hard time comparing and just as much entertainment.

I think the cutback to Fantasmic times and then getting rid of the tips on the DDP really opened my eyes and had me considering other places. 5 years ago you would have had to seriously force me by gunpoint to go some where else.

But like I said before, I'm getting scared because Disney is starting to fall further and further behind in a standard they created and that scares the beejuz outta me because it was my Happy place.

 

[eliza61]

Its expensive, its always been expensive, it will continue to be expensive.

Sometimes deals can make it less expensive. But its never cheap.

In GENERAL vacations that involve hotel stays are expensive. We are looking at Vegas with friends, it isn't cheap. Thought...well, maybe New Orleans - not much cheaper.

but once again if you compare apples to apples, it's scary. We're going to LV during New years eve. Where are you staying. We're staying at the Venetian, very deluxe, very nice. cheaper than Grand Floridian and it's over a holiday weekend.

I'm more of a "getting the most" for my dollar as opposed to getting the cheaper price.

Now we got a great deal on Cirque du soliel tickets. We're seeing 2 shows Ka and mysteria for 300 bucks, not bad.

 

[ceecee]

We think it's a great deal. We do the moderates and find them very nice. We did a second vacation this year and realized how spoiled we were with Disney. That hotel cost a lot more and was much less, all the activities we did cost as well, so we easily had $1000 in 4 days.

 

[cseca]

...

But like I said before, I'm getting scared because Disney is starting to fall further and further behind in a standard they created and that scares the beejuz outta me because it was my Happy place.

The difference between waldorf astorias, zoos and museums of the worlds vs. Disney is that Disney is a comprehensive place, where you don't have to get out to get your food, or lodging. And for that they are charging more $.

You say that the price of tix you can go see broadway show, but the show is only for a couple hours. You can spend a whole day in a park without spending another penny if you don't want to.
Heck, people have brought in meals to the park so they don't have to spend additional cash.

If you go for 7 days, adult tix is $250. $36/day. That includes 1 park a day plus transportation in the resort. You can spend a whole day from 8am (or 9am) to at least 5pm (some parks may open until midnight or after). And afterwards you can hop over to DTD and hang out until 2am before you go back to your room. And you don't have to spend another dollar for additional activity if you don't want to.

We were just in our local zoo a couple months back. Spent $15pp and I swear we were there for a total of 3 hours. Afterwards we didn't know what else to do. There were 1.5 eating places, a couple shows and animals to see. That's it, oh wait, and 1 kiddie train ride. OK I think that's about it.

I don't disagree that the quality of entertainment has declined but still compared to other comprehensive vacation spots Disney is not crazy expensive.

Now, if you want to be blown away by Disney park go to Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea. They are absolutely the most well cared, well themed, well managed, Disney parks in the world. No comparison... Walt would be proud.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We find it pretty affordable but people ask us all the time how we can afford to go every other year and this is the reason. We don't go high end. We have 10 nights at ASSp with free QSDP and 6 day base tickets and we are paying $2200 for 2 adults and 1 junior and 1 child. (Our oldes tis on her grandparents room and have graciously said they will pay her way this trip since it is her last with us.) We are driving and sleeping in the can if we need a break, no hotel on the way down or home. I am sure it isn't some people's ideal vacation but it works for us.

So, it depends on the vacation but it can be affordable.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Holy cow!

A little background: We haven't been to WDW since 2004. We have gone to Disneyland many times since then, as we love Disneyland and Southern California in general. So, after 6 years, we finally decided to book another Christmas vacation to Disney World.

I almost FELL OVER when I started researching prices of the onsite resorts! OMG! We've been to WDW several times over the peak holiday season, but now that they have apparently done away with being able to check in before the peak rates kick in and have those prices hold for your entire stay, it is completely unrealistic! $400-500/night for AKL? And that's not even concierge! lol I think it's going to be off-site for us for the first time ever! And the dining prices...holy moley they have gone up percentage wise at an unbelievable rate! I'm glad we have all the onsite and character dining memories of so many trips when our kids were younger (5 trips when they were younger) because we certainly couldn't afford to do it now! And I should add we are in a good financial situation (no debt except mortgage, and my DH is extremely fortunate to have a very, very well paying job). But no matter how much we could afford to spend on a vacation, there's no way I can justify those onsite costs! Wow!

Nope! I won't pay those prices for that quality hotel. Sorry Disney.

But the worst part... they KNOW. Disney has taken a time honored retail tradition and transported it to the hotel industry.

It's like the oriental carpet store down the road. It's been going out of business for 10 years and everythings marked down 50%. Of course NO ONE ever paid that full price. They marked it UP first so they could mark it down and make you think WOW a deal!

Disney is the same. But the problem is the Mark up is so high that even at 40% off IMHO it's a rip off. My last two stays... the CHEAPEST Disney Deluxe was $250. The Swan $169. Yes I had a resort fee and parking. So that added $20. Still $61 a night cheaper then Disney for better beds, a great location etc.... My next stay the Hilton DTD with a Facebook Promo for $65

My next stay. Probably the Marriott Village unless Hilton comes through again (they have a sale this Sunday!)

Honestly the "magic" disappears when I realize "I am being ripped off for this quality hotel"

 

[kirstenb1]

Yes, I think WDW costs have gotten out of hand. The country's been in a recession the last 2 years. Yet, my cable bill, and WDW tix prices have continued to go up. When I lump WDW in with the cable company, that's not exactly a flattering comparison!

 

[D&DDisney]

I think they are REALLY getting out of hand. Especially park tickets - WOW.

We've done trips to DC, Denver, Mt Rushmore and Hershey PA and and come in under $1000 for the 4 of us to travel, stay, eat and find entertainment - and that's for 1 week of vacation. We can't do Disney for less than $2000 even if we drive. And every time we seem to find a discount Disney makes sure that they change it or charge for it the next year

 

[crisi]

but once again if you compare apples to apples, it's scary. We're going to LV during New years eve. Where are you staying. We're staying at the Venetian, very deluxe, very nice. cheaper than Grand Floridian and it's over a holiday weekend.

I'm more of a "getting the most" for my dollar as opposed to getting the cheaper price.

Now we got a great deal on Cirque du soliel tickets. We're seeing 2 shows Ka and mysteria for 300 bucks, not bad.

The hotel room isn't that much. Food and shows is what makes Vegas expensive. Shows are like park tickets - we don't gamble, but we see a show every night and eat really well. And airfare for us is high.

Ka is great, by the way.

 

[disfan07]

And we were just saying how inexpensive it is this year!! It was cheaper than going anywhere else.

we are going, Dec 15th-21st 5 Adults
2 rooms at Pop Century
5 7 day PH tickets
Free QS Dining
$2950

Whats crazy is airfare...$1200 for 3 of us to fly Burbank to Orlando

If you want a deluxe at holiday time of course you are going to pay more. That's kind of a given. Heck, we went back to Herndon, VA last december for 4 days before christmas to visit some people and we paid $300/night for a room. And while it was a nice hotel, it was nothing compared to teh Disney hotels. So I will say that no, I dont think prices have gotten out of hand but obviously thats JMO.

It's all about how you vacation. As a PP said, if you want deluxe everything, you will have to pay. We dont see a deluxe hotel or sit down meals everyday as being necessary.

I dont think that $4200 for 6 nights in Disney for 5 people including airfare is that outrageous.

We spend almost $1000 when we go to DL for the weekend. I think WDW is much more worth it.

 

[gillenkl]

I guess Disney IS expensive if your vacation style usually consists of sitting on the beach all day and cook meals in your rental house/condo... (nothing wrong with this style btw, just doing comparison) or going camping/rv-ing.

My family generally vacations camping - it's very economical for us. While it's still economical at Disney it's not all that cheap either. I priced out a week at Fort (no tickets or meal) $665 - the same week at Pop $961. Roughly $300 difference and keep in mind that I bring my "room" with me, make my own bed, clean my own bathroom (I'm my own maid). Campsites also don't get pin codes or free dining either. The campground is 1st class though among campgrounds. We like the quality of disney and we'll continue to go and pay the $$$.

Is Disney expensive, yes. Compared to other parks, about the same. By the time I price out camping at Sandusky, Hersheypark or Dollywood it's really about the same in the end.