Anyone else frustrated?.........

[Pegasus928]

As has already been said one of the biggest factors is the time of year you go - and I appreciate that this isn't always down to choice, especially when work and school holidays have to be factored in.
We have been lucky enough to be able to fit 2 trips in this year. When we went in February we got flights for 4 of us (Virgin, Man-MCO), car hire and villa all for a little over 2K. We didn't scrimp on anything - the villa was probably the nicest one we have stayed in yet with conservation views, great location and facilities. When we return in October the flights alone have cost us over 600 pounds each.
We also have a son who has special needs and this is one of the main reasons we continue to fly with Virgin while others are being put off them. Up to now their special assistance program has been fantastic.
I am no expert but I would guess that the exchange rate has a lot to do with the overall cost of a holiday this year - and possibly the quoted prices for next year. Last May we were getting $2 for a pound - in Feb we weren't.
Up to now the prices we are seeing haven't put us off going this year or next, but I think it's fair to say we won't be staying onsite any time soon.

 

[PudseyChancer]

The cost of our holiday next year has risen significantly from my other trips to Orlando - the main cause of this is that we're flying during school holidays in August. Staying onsite at OKW and getting free dining mean that we're happy to pay extra, though the cost is such that I'd certainly look to avoid the school holidays next time we go.

I have to say that the cost is significant compared to holidays to other destinations, but the experience at WDW is on another level, so I don't mind the scrimping and saving in other areas, if a WDW holiday is the result.

 

[doverfox]

The added complication for us is Julie is a teacher. Though she could be working for an agency soon she wouldn't get paid if she took time away from that - Joshua taking time out of school is actually straight-forward as he goes to a special needs centre.
However, 6 weeks off is still the logical time to go in the summer, would be daft say taking Josh out of school say late May or early June, he would only be back for a few weeks before he was off for 6 more.

It's the whole package also, as all of you know, not just the flights/fly-drive - accomodation, spending money and more, we are lucky and can afford to go but when it's getting to £6000 or even more, it's just crazy money.

we have the opposit problem my wife cant have time off when the kids are. she works for a local wildlife park, so we have to take the kids out of school if we want a family holiday. my understanding from a mate whos newly qualfied as a teacher is agency pays better for the work you do but of course the are no guarantees of work week to week.
dave rachel and the girls

 

[Laurafoster]

Im lucky that we were able to buy into DVC last year so accomodation is really just however much annual dues cost us. At the moment we are lucky as we dont have any restrictions for when we go.

Flight bargains are there to be had but they do seem few and far between now. Unforunately its never been an option for me to fly UC or even PE so we always fly in economy. That being said when i booked the holiday i was looking at flights for £480 pp (November) and one day the prices came down to £350

The only slight sacrifice i had to make was that im on the late flight instead of the early one which i prefer but i couldnt justify an extra £100 a person to fly 2 hours earlier!

 

[Julia Ann]

I am completely with you on the frustratingly high prices for next year.

I rationalise my spending like this.

1. It is my hobby as well as a family holiday.
2. We do not regularly go out for meals or clubbing, the money saved makes a big holiday more affordable.
3. My daughter will only be young once and the memories we are making a really priceless (corny isn't it!)

QUOTE]

i absolutley agree - with 1. 2. and 3 - althou DD only 20 months so waiting till she is a about 6 (lots of reasons, including money!) but that will be my reasoning on spending so much on a holiday even if it will then be every other year. We don't like beach holidays or holidaying in the UK (weather!) so it will be Disney or nothing for us

 

[Lizzybear]

I haven't looked at 2010 prices yet but this year's hol has been our most expensive yet, though not down to Orlando which is actually working out to be the cheapest of our 3 destinations 'all in' (factoring in accomodation, food and entertainment) New York and Boston are expensive cities which has really pushed the total price up and that was with shopping around! We're flying indirect one way (don't need to for the other as New York is always a direct flight from the UK) and in economy plus we can travel outside of school hols so that does give us a lot of flexibility and this year's flights were actually cheaper than the past 2 years (last year was the west coast though so not really a fair comparison) I don't think anywhere in the US can be considered a cheap holiday from the UK but I don't begrudge a penny we've spent. I've seen too many people in my family pass away or be incapacitated and unable to do things they've put off so as long as we can afford it we'll be on that plane every year

 

[disneyholic family]

...........with the price of holidays to Florida these days.

I know you can cut corners on in-direct flights and save £££ here and there but with Joshua's needs in mind we really have to look at direct flights and Premium Economy, for his health reasons.

Miles & money for next August comes in at £3244 or so just for flights only, car rental with usrentacar for a minivan is currently £561 - was £350 for this April's holiday.
A fly-drive with Virgin Holidays comes in at £5057.
PE adds about £1770 to the cost so that's one of the obvious reasons.
Adding say villa around a £1000 spending money, etc etc - cost is just getting crazy.

We love Florida and have been fortuntate to go many times, and whilst we can afford to go it is just getting to the stage now where it's far more than I want to pay...anyone else feel the same?
I am not asking for cost cutting ideas, just assuming many others are in the same situation, especially being restricted to summer holidays.

i nearly had a coronary last week when i saw the prices - and that was using frequent flyer points to upgrade from economy to business..

the price was stratospheric.....

so high in fact, that it will definitely make us think twice about any future trips!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

i nearly had a coronary last week when i saw the prices - and that was using frequent flyer points to upgrade from economy to business..

the price was stratospheric.....

so high in fact, that it will definitely make us think twice about any future trips!!

Definitely , my question has certainly been answered as many are feeling the same way about the prices.

 

[irenep]

I know what you mean - I am watching the prices going up every day but can't book anything for next summer yet as I am not sure if DD is coming with us as she may be going on holiday with friends.

As for M+M fares - well, I just travelled using them a couple of weeks ago and when I first looked at 11 months out the prices were pretty similar to what you are looking at for next year i.e. over £1000pp. However a few weeks later they dropped to just over £800pp for the same dates in August.
Not sure if they went up/down after that though as I didn't want to look so maybe its worth waiting a while to see if the prices come down like they did last year.
I know its a bit risky in case they sell out but otherwise it's just crazy money.

 

[HeresYourEars]

Just did the £ to $ calculation and that comes to over $8,000. WOW. Couldn't imagine spending that much money for a vacation more than once or twice in a lifetime, even if I could afford it (and I can as well). There are simply too many other things in life for me to save and plan for the future.

But if want to come over here to the US so badly for your holiday, and nowhere closer is an option for you, it's obviously important to you and your family. I guess you can't put a price on certain things. I'm sure you'll find a way to justify the cost and make it happen.

.......
A fly-drive with Virgin Holidays comes in at £5057.

 

[Kath2003]

Just did the £ to $ calculation and that comes to over $8,000. WOW. Couldn't imagine spending that much money for a vacation more than once or twice in a lifetime, even if I could afford it (and I can as well). There are simply too many other things in life for me to save and plan for the future.

But if want to come over here to the US so badly for your holiday, and nowhere closer is an option for you, it's obviously important to you and your family. I guess you can't put a price on certain things. I'm sure you'll find a way to justify the cost and make it happen.

You can do it cheaply, it's just that some people here have specific requirements (e.g. they need to fly in a better class than cattle; they have young children so a connection would be inappropriate; they need a car etc.). The person you quoted has very specific requirements which significantly increase the cost of his family's vacation. A number of people in this thread also stay in very nice hotels (Wilderness Lodge etc.) whereas my hotel (very nice also) comes in at under $80/night.

My partner and I enjoyed 11 days in Orlando last year for $3000 total for two people. This year we are enjoying 10 days for just under that amount. This is during the school vacations also. We are fortunate in that we are able to connect on the flight (which saves us $1000) and that we have no desire to do Disney so a week's worth of Universal Studios is just over $100 for us.

Oh and we had PLENTY of cocktails on that $3000 amount

Conversely I paid $1500 for a week in Spain at the beach in a very similar hotel standard. It was nice, but there were no rollercoasters so literally all there was to do was to sit on the beach or by the pool. In that respect, Orlando is significantly better value for money!

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

I've realised how expensive things are getting especially this year as I have been offered a job teaching at a sixth-form college and so would be restricted to school holidays. The price is a whopping increase isn't it? One holiday for the price of two or three outside of term time! I also sympathise with your additional needs with your son. Before being offered this job, I was studying to be an educational psychologist because of amazing experiences I had teaching drama to a couple of young kids (3 - 10) with autism and how much they developed verbal and social skills through the classes. I can understand how, with where josh is on the spectrum, you feel that holidays to Florida are so important. There is so much visual and auditory stimulation as well as all of the intereaction around Disney!

I have to admit, my parents took me out of school for my trips to Florida. I was at a private school so there was no risk of them being sent to court or anything and at times I had to go to Florida for treatment for my health (a heart condition) as there was no treatment like it available here. So if they didn't take me out of school at certain times, I wouldn't have got through my GCSE's, A-Levels etc two months or so later because of my health. With your wife being a teacher though, even if its an option for Josh, its not an option for her. I do think its about time that something is done about unfair price hikes during school holidays. If they were more on a level all year through, parents wouldn't take their kids out of school and there would be less disruption. Plus its daylight robbery isn't it? The one thing my Dad did that wasn't hugely disruptive was to take me out of school in the summer just three days early or so. For example, one year school finished on the 3rd July so we flew out on the 31st June. With it being a private school, we finished earlier than the state schools and so on average this let us leave around 3 weeks before school holidays "officially" began. I don't know if Josh's school holidays are any different to mainstream schools?
This year, all my family intend on getting Virgin MBNA cards as my Dad got one at the beginning of the year and already has 45,000 miles and we are all members of the flying club. I suppose miles would be the only way to help you with your premium economy requirement but even then it wouldn't make much of a difference. I agree though, it is frustrating.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

The prices seem to be rocketing recently, the holiday we have book for next year is already £900 dearer for those booking now.
After this trip we will not be able to go back for a few years, well we could stick it on the cards which is something I refuse to do.

 

[buzz for boys]

I understand why you prefer PE we have had to forego that luxury and with cam with aspergers we were really dubious however I can honestly say we didnt notice the difference !!! We explained to virgin about Cam and we were put in the front of economy behind the PE downstairs - as we always chosse to sit downstairs we felt we actually had the same in terms of meeting cams needs as we did in PE !! we were boarded forst and allowed to leave first !!! I defo wont be doing PE again. Also got bulkhead seats so we didnt really notice the differnce in seat pitch !! Just my opinion and obv Joshua has vry different needs to Cameron but if you need any more info on our experience ill be happy to share.
I can honestly say even tough next year is costing us £2000 more than our trip this yr we would never think twice about doing disney as its the place that our whole family have a smile on their face and Cam is a different child - he communicates more when we are there and in 2 weeks we had only a handful of meltdowns that means we would pay all the money in the world to continue to go as often as we can!!!
My kitchen is despertly in need of being replaced but i always think if anything ever happens to cameron we are never gonna say wish we had done tht kitchen - but we will defo say wish we had done disney one more time with him x x x
Louise x

 

[HeresYourEars]

You can do it cheaply, it's just that some people here have specific requirements (e.g. they need to fly in a better class than cattle; they have young children so a connection would be inappropriate; they need a car etc.). The person you quoted has very specific requirements which significantly increase the cost of his family's vacation.

Yeah, I do understand that. It's obviously important to his family to come over here rather than someplace closer or cheaper, so I'm sure the cost is justified to them. Happy family memories are priceless!

Too bad there isn't a WDW in Europe with just as good weather and just as much to do and see. (Well okay, actually as an American I'm glad it's ours and not there )

My family and I are going in late October for a week.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

As for M+M fares - well, I just travelled using them a couple of weeks ago and when I first looked at 11 months out the prices were pretty similar to what you are looking at for next year i.e. over £1000pp. However a few weeks later they dropped to just over £800pp for the same dates in August.
Not sure if they went up/down after that though as I didn't want to look so maybe its worth waiting a while to see if the prices come down like they did last year.
I know its a bit risky in case they sell out but otherwise it's just crazy money.

Yes we did think that too, just kind of thinking that even though summer is expensive it is also popular so there may be no flights left.

Just did the £ to $ calculation and that comes to over $8,000. WOW. Couldn't imagine spending that much money for a vacation more than once or twice in a lifetime, even if I could afford it (and I can as well). There are simply too many other things in life for me to save and plan for the future.

But if want to come over here to the US so badly for your holiday, and nowhere closer is an option for you, it's obviously important to you and your family. I guess you can't put a price on certain things. I'm sure you'll find a way to justify the cost and make it happen.

Yes it is a lot of money - we don't have many other luxuries or an active social life or anything so holiday's have been important for us over the years. We went at Easter this year but could barely fit a 2 week holiday in, ideally we would like to go for 17 or so nights but irrespective of that summer is still the logical time to go. Joshua can be taken out of school, we looked at June as an alternative but he would be off for 6 weeks starting from July anyway so it just wouldn't make sense.

I don't know if Josh's school holidays are any different to mainstream schools?
This year, all my family intend on getting Virgin MBNA cards as my Dad got one at the beginning of the year and already has 45,000 miles and we are all members of the flying club. I suppose miles would be the only way to help you with your premium economy requirement but even then it wouldn't make much of a difference. I agree though, it is frustrating.

Joshua goes to a special school but generally the holiday times are comparable with mainstream schools yes.

The prices seem to be rocketing recently, the holiday we have book for next year is already £900 dearer for those booking now.
After this trip we will not be able to go back for a few years, well we could stick it on the cards which is something I refuse to do.

Agree completely yes.

I understand why you prefer PE we have had to forego that luxury and with cam with aspergers we were really dubious however I can honestly say we didnt notice the difference !!! We explained to virgin about Cam and we were put in the front of economy behind the PE downstairs - as we always chosse to sit downstairs we felt we actually had the same in terms of meeting cams needs as we did in PE !! we were boarded forst and allowed to leave first !!! I defo wont be doing PE again. Also got bulkhead seats so we didnt really notice the differnce in seat pitch !! Just my opinion and obv Joshua has vry different needs to Cameron but if you need any more info on our experience ill be happy to share.
I can honestly say even tough next year is costing us £2000 more than our trip this yr we would never think twice about doing disney as its the place that our whole family have a smile on their face and Cam is a different child - he communicates more when we are there and in 2 weeks we had only a handful of meltdowns that means we would pay all the money in the world to continue to go as often as we can!!!
My kitchen is despertly in need of being replaced but i always think if anything ever happens to cameron we are never gonna say wish we had done tht kitchen - but we will defo say wish we had done disney one more time with him x x x
Louise x

We have actually only flown PE three occasions, on the return home in 2006 which was our last visit before this April's holiday when we flew PE both ways.
Had a 2 and half year break between 2006-2009 having effectively been every year for a number of years.
We did have bulkhead seats in standard Economy, and have had them a few times. Unfortunatley Joshua also has a mild epilepsy condition which he very rarely has a problem with, the last occurrence though was 5 hours into our flight > Orlando on that 2006 holiday, sat in bulkhead economy.
We vowed then we would never put him through that possibility again, though there are a number of factors which brought it on that may never happen again.
Flying PE not only gives him more room and a bigger seat but also has meant we can get up later in the morning and he can have breakfast before we leave for the airport. As he doesn't eat much on the plane it helps to get something inside him.
Checking online can obvious help but we always feel obliged to get to the airport early to ensure we get the economy bulkheads as strictly speaking they are not 'guaranteed' - flying PE means no rush and just helps us in a few ways on top of the extra comfort on the plane.

Thanks again everyone, I have read ALL the responses.

xxx

 

[scojos]

As another parent of an asd child, i totally understand where you are coming from, all my kids adore disney (not as much as there mom) but josh is "normal" there, and this makes a happy more relaxed family break (its hardly a holiday though is it??
We have booked into SSR with free DDp with cost me less than last years PORS- due to the 42% discount on the wdw website.
HOWEVER - the costs of flights for aug next year (the few i can find, are v expensive! we dont NEED to travel direct, and with 5 of us travelling, if a few hours stop over will result in saving a grand, then we ll stop over, however i would prefer to travel direct. The 700£ flights that are around at the mo are well out of our range...
Johnny, i did supply for 1 term, and yes, you earn good money, however, you work when needed so not guaranteed an income, some BAD schools, and you dont get payed for holidays, supply didnt do it for me, i preferred to know the kids i was teaching, some people swear by supply, i found it soul destroying...
i am price checking everyday, wayneg - the resident guru on flights, suggested some websites which im watching (kelkoo, travelsupermarket.com and orbitz, and im watching for sales info, so if anyone hears of a sale, please let me know!!
im hoping to travel from manchester but again flights are currently coming up cheaper going from london (hey, b ham would be great, but i doubt that..)
Wayne has also suggested flying BC with delta or continental, again, something im looking into, dh was well up for that after i showed him waynes pictures!!
we travelled economy with VA and were also put in the small section right behind PE, way out was fine, there are only about 20 seats, and they were all familys with different SN, however on the way back was a knightmare, we got onto the plane and someone was sitting in our bulk head seats, they refused to move, VA staff were given verbal abuse "why are those kids sitting in our seats, we paid for them.... they had to sit directly behind our kids, and the proceeded to kick the kids seats directly. crew threatened to kick them off before we even left the airport, it was awful.. Because they were severley obese (hey, im not thin , they said they had no room (which they didnt) awful awful journey, and i would consider upgrading next year too, but at the right price.
hope you get your holiday johnnny...
Tracy

 

[crazysitch]

we were going 2010 but it was to expensive so we will go in 2011 and hope the prices go down and we'll save the money up for flordia, it was expensive with virgin as they add taxes and fuel chargers it add up in price lol

 

[VailaTigger]

Just did the £ to $ calculation and that comes to over $8,000. WOW. Couldn't imagine spending that much money for a vacation more than once or twice in a lifetime, even if I could afford it (and I can as well). There are simply too many other things in life for me to save and plan for the future.

But if want to come over here to the US so badly for your holiday, and nowhere closer is an option for you, it's obviously important to you and your family. I guess you can't put a price on certain things. I'm sure you'll find a way to justify the cost and make it happen.

Our holiday next April will be around that price too, probably much higher! This is due to a combination of factors, some of which are out of our control, and some of which are our choice. We could definitely have done it cheaper. But we know the costs involved, and are committed to saving up and paying them, because we want the best holiday we can possibly get, as we might not get the chance again!

No SN children involved, but 2 kids who've never been on a plane longer than about an hour...

Price increases out of our control:
The value of £ to $
Having to go during school holidays
The fact that there are 4 of us (only ever been with 2 before), and one kid is virtually considered an adult as far as prices go!

Price increases in our control:
We are staying onsite at Disney (if it's the only time we'll go as a family of 4 I want it to be the best I can manage. If we manage to go again, we'll stay offsite.)
We have hired a car, even though we won't venture out of Disney an awful lot (it's there in case of emergencies, and for the flexibility to jump in and head off somewhere if the weather is against us, or if the Disney buses are too busy!)
We are flying direct (a 12 year old and an 8 year old who've never flown any longer than an hour... they just wouldn't cope with an indirect flight and another airport to kill time in)
We are flying from our local airport (same as above!)
We've booked with Virgin Holidays (apparently more entertainment on the flight for the kids, and the backup of a rep over there should we need one)
Booking tickets for other shows and parks, not just Disney (but this might not happen, depends how much gets saved up before we go!)
Eating in Disney restaurants most days (same as above!)

Everyone has their pros and cons I guess, and we know we could have booked a much cheaper holiday, but as I said, we want it to be the best we possibly can...

We do have Disneyland Paris, which is much closer to us. BUT I still think that is expensive (not that much cheaper than Orlando!), there isn't as much to do, the weather isn't as predictable (or as warm and sunny), and I don't think the French have quite the right Disney attitude... I've not been, but I have friends who have been a few times and are absolutely sure that it would never live up to WDW, and perhaps spoil my whole Disney experience.

We pays our money and we takes our choice
I don't drink, smoke, go out clubbing, eat out very often, shop very much... I save my pennies for my WDW vice

I also tried planning for the future, and saving for the future... and it ended in an expensive divorce, and me losing a HECK of a lot of money. Not again. Life is too short, live it now, you can't take your money with you, and I want to travel while I'm still fit and able! I think I'm lucky that I can manage to save to be able to show the kids something amazing.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Having priced up various options it's clear it will be expensive whichever way we approach it.
Premium Economy is a must have so having priced up a fly-drive with Virgin Holidays where you have the basic car included, but book your own independantly anyway and not take the VH one - essentially as it's better value for money - it's still £1000 more than miles & money with Virgin Atlantic for what is really the same thing PE flights there & back.

So we will probably do that at some point, dates aren't avaialble yet so don't know if we will book in early September or leave for a while.

Have looked at possibly a few nights at the Swan, combined with a couple at the Grand Floridian before rest in a villa.
Will just see how the cost comes in etc - staying on-site may have to be dropped - it is purely down to variation of the holiday really. As I have said many times Joshua doesn't always want to go out in the evening so just trying to give us on-site options for a few nights...though that just adds more £ and $.
Having the whle holiday in a villa is something we have done so often now - that said we are lucky to have done that as many cannot.

Thanks for all the replies anyway.