Are Disney Adults Happiest Debtors on Earth?

[DCLMP]

Generational commentary aside, it is undeniable that people go to Disney for escapism, and almost like therapy.


If the only place that makes you whole, complete, understood, and not judged is traveling SOLO to a highly marketed, fake atmosphere amusement park… Perhaps it may benefit you to put in some work in yourself.

That’s what these articles reflect. People who are so stressed out in their daily life and come here for a few days to escape. Then returned back home with all their problems still there.


That is not the same thing as going on a vacation.

If you need to go to Disney for therapy I thinks it time to reevaluate your life.

 

[DCLMP]

Believe it or not, we save up for vacations, including Disney, and go when we have enough to cover the cost. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In the Atlantic article, this might be considered “draining our savings”. Or, since we’re using a cc to book the trip, “going into debt”.

Given that the cited study reports moderate debt amounts (far less than the cost of a Disney vacation) that get paid off relatively quickly, it seems like the Atlantic author is trying to shoehorn loosely related data into her article about 5 people she found who frequently go to Disney.

Why do posters always try to prove that people at Disney aren't going to into debt for the trip. Yes there are going to people visiting the parks that paid cash and people that put it all on card, and a lot of people in between. I'm not sure why it matters.

 

[Minnie1222]

it is undeniable that people go to Disney for escapism, and almost like therapy.....That’s what these articles reflect. People who are so stressed out in their daily life and come here for a few days to escape. Then returned back home with all their problems still there.

Based on whose assessment? The same Texan mother who couldn't afford to take her children to Disney yet wanted to play financial advisor? Does she want to play psychologist, too?

I hope you realize that her title is Opinion Columnist, right? Because it clearly says so right after her name.

Best regards,
Minnie, Disney Adult

 

[AquaDame]

I think the reasons why gen Z is delaying marriage and kids is worth discussing...and it's not as simple as "gen z hates marriage and kids".

This has been a trend for a long, long time... and I don't see why we would assume it would trend down now? I was shocked when we were watching Love Boat last night and in the episode they showed a Mom with a baby struggling and another passenger went off on how she couldn't imagine bringing a baby into the world. It's happening in every developed country as well. It will happen with the generation after gen Z also unless we resolve the whys behind it (and yes, there are many).

the ones i'm familiar with seem to understand and reccognize the time, effort and resources associated with either or both. I prefer that mindset to when I came of age and the expectation was both should be accomplished by one's early 20's (oooooh the number of divorcee's and single parents let alone second and third marriages we had among my graduating class by the time the 10 year reunion rolled around ).

My kids are in the younger age range of Gen Z. One has said she has no interest in ever having kids. Other one isn’t sold on having kids either. And these are girls growing up in an upper middle class family. They will have no college debt. They will probably have money left over for their inheritances to help them get started after college. So it’s not a money thing.

I was also raised in upper middle class (my parents would still claim we were lower, but we never went without anything, and took vacations yearly) and we did not have kids. My university debt was minimal - I got out in '05 before tuition really skyrocketed. Sure there was a sense of financial stability I needed to figure out but all my friends in the same income level easily had kids, and we could have afforded it, but chose not to. If anyone asks I let them know if I could have been a father I'd have happily had kids. Of the women I know who similarly didn't want kids but were roped into it under the agreement Dad would do more than his fair share, it just doesn't shake out that way. There is nothing quite like Mom, and I just don't have it in me to be selfless 100% of the time, and lose my identity beyond that title. That last bit is NOT me talking, that is all the Mothers I know.

There are also a lot of assumptions about having kids that don't hit home for everyone... I'm always asked who I think is going to care for me when I'm older... well, both sets of my grandparents had kids but they still ended up in homes with strangers caring for them! Its so common! Their kids all worked full time jobs and had spread to the wind following their jobs. I subscribe fully to the idea folks should only have kids if they want and feel an inescapable drive to have kids, with no strings or expectations as to who they will be or what they will do for you solidly in place prior. I did not have that inner drive to procreate, and weighing the costs with the gains, we made the right decision for us. I'm now entering perimenopause and still have zero doubts it was the right move for us. We spoil our goddaughter whom I do love, and that is enough. I could give you oodles of TMI that would explain my stance, but this isn't really the forum for that, and I'm one anecdote anyway.

Generational commentary aside, it is undeniable that people go to Disney for escapism, and almost like therapy.


If the only place that makes you whole, complete, understood, and not judged is traveling SOLO to a highly marketed, fake atmosphere amusement park… Perhaps it may benefit you to put in some work in yourself.

That’s what these articles reflect. People who are so stressed out in their daily life and come here for a few days to escape. Then returned back home with all their problems still there.


That is not the same thing as going on a vacation.

This is glossing over the community some of these folk curate. It is not just the vacation, its all the hours spent planning and daydreaming, and talking with other similar minded folk on their own trips that goes into it. That is where you could argue the habit is therapeutic. The trip itself is the escapism but there is so much that happens before and after as well that people hold on to. Especially if you're going solo.... they need humans to see and respond to them, and folk like them fill that need for connection. You can fill in the Disney blank with anything at all.

 

[DCLMP]

It's not that much more expensive than a lot of other vacations. I've priced out several other trips that ended up being comparable.

A lot of people underestimate how many people can afford a $10K-20K vacation every year. There are about 60 million people worldwide who are millionaires. Almost all of them could pay cash every year for a Disney vacation.

Disney has intentionally moved to a model where it's not designed to be for everyone anymore, or at least not on a regular basis. They've actually reduced total park attendance while increasing revenue per guest. For people who can afford it, this is great. For people who can't, they can either borrow or forego it. I don't see this as a problem because it's supposed to be a luxury purchase.

The only people I know that boast about 20k vacations are on this board. Most of the millionaires are boomers and they are not taking 20k vacations that involve walking 10 miles a day in the Florida heat. 80% of the millionaires in this country are over the age of 50.

50+ does not seem like Disney's demographic. When you are looking at the number of millionaires does home assets figure into the stats? What exactly is the definition of a millionaire. Not to mention when your older and not working a million is really not that much.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

The only people I know that boast about 20k vacations are on this board. Most of the millionaires are boomers and they are not taking 20k vacations that involve walking 10 miles a day in the Florida heat. 80% of the millionaires in this country are over the age of 50.

50+ does not seem like Disney's demographic. When you are looking at the number of millionaires does home assets figure into the stats? What exactly is the definition of a millionaire. Not to mention when your older and not working a million is really not that much.

So who is living in Golden Oak? Those are millionaires and they must love Disney.

 

[DanceDisney23]

Why do posters always try to prove that people at Disney aren't going to into debt for the trip. Yes there are going to people visiting the parks that paid cash and people that put it all on card, and a lot of people in between. I'm not sure why it matters.

For starters, I was responding to your comment that “it’s hard to believe that people can actually pay cash (for Disney) or would want to” I don’t find that hard to believe at all. There are still people with disposable income, and Disney targets them. Not everyone is drowning in debt.

Also, someone posts an inflammatory article about Disney adults making terrible decisions every few weeks, because it currently seems to be trendy in the media to bash people over 5 who like Disney vacations. Since this is a discussion board, people will discuss. And you’ll find people who laugh these articles off for what they are: silly, poorly researched opinion pieces.

 

[DCLMP]

For starters, I was responding to your comment that “it’s hard to believe that people can actually pay cash (for Disney) or would want to” I don’t find that hard to believe at all. There are still people with disposable income, and Disney targets them. Not everyone is drowning in debt.

Also, someone posts an inflammatory article about Disney adults making terrible decisions every few weeks, because it currently seems to be trendy in the media to bash people over 5 who like Disney vacations. Since this is a discussion board, people will discuss. And you’ll find people who laugh these articles off for what they are: silly, poorly researched opinion pieces.

I was responding to your millionaire comment which just doesn’t pan out. My comment was mostly a dig at today’s prices.

 

[DCLMP]

So who is living in Golden Oak? Those are millionaires and they must love Disney.

That is an extremely small percentage of the population LOL. I tend to look at overall demographics not a handful of super wealthy people living in a small community.

 

[DanceDisney23]

I was responding to your millionaire comment which just doesn’t pan out. My comment was mostly a dig at today’s prices.

What did I say about millionaires?

Today’s prices are a bit ridiculous, I agree. That is sadly true for a lot of things.

 

[DCLMP]

What did I say about millionaires?

Today’s prices are a bit ridiculous, I agree. That is sadly true for a lot of things.

Oops sorry it wasn't you. It was another poster stating that there are so many millionaires in this country they can easily afford 20k vacations every year. Having a million dollars in assets such as house and retirement accounts isn't that rare for people over 45, but that doesn't always translate to having a big income or big cash bank account. Assets can also fall pretty quickly in an economic downturn.

I believe there are a lot of people using credit to try to maintain the lifestyle they had prior to 2020. I'm not referring to you or anyone on this thread, but credit card debt is rising pretty quickly so there has to be a reason for it. I'm sure quite a bit of it is just people trying to get by.

 

[dreamer17555]

I find it interesting that there are a few frequent posters on this Disney forum who seem to really dislike Disney adults... but they are adults frequently posting on a MB about Disney...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You should be one proud parent!

Thanks! I am!

For all the times we give our kids advice and think that it doesn't sink in, don't give up because a lot of it does sink in. He often tells me things that start with, "I was thinking about what you said..." which is like music to a parent's ears.

 

[crisi]

I understand why a family would go into debt briefly to do once in a lifetime WDW trip with their kids, to cross it off the list. But what Gen Z is doing is different.. This is not the same as making other poo financial decisions, like buying an Owalla cup or going to The Masters once.

I have been on this board 20 years. And I am old enough to be nearly a boomer. I've seen it with each generation. There are people who are Disney addicts - specifically around WDW, and like other addicts they make poor choices to feed their addiction. There are threads of people from twenty years ago not saving for retirement because "I might not live that long." There are people from 20 years ago with three trips a year in their signature wondering how to pay off nearly $100k in debt. There are threads where people's Disney addiction contributed to their marriage failing.

The only thingd that have changed over 25 years is the influence of social media which is more addictive and "sticky" than the old fashioned message boards like this and that it is less and less possible to do a cheap Disney trip to feed the addiciton. Plus, incomes haven't kept up with inflation.

 

[crisi]

My kids are in the younger age range of Gen Z. One has said she has no interest in ever having kids. Other one isn’t sold on having kids either. And these are girls growing up in an upper middle class family. They will have no college debt. They will probably have money left over for their inheritances to help them get started after college. So it’s not a money thing.

Mine (older Gen Z) don't want kids. Who would want to bring kids into a world where daycare is unaffordable, its difficult to afford a home, climate change is going to threaten the global order, real incomes have stagnated, and AI is coming for their jobs.

 

[crisi]

It's not that much more expensive than a lot of other vacations. I've priced out several other trips that ended up being comparable.

A lot of people underestimate how many people can afford a $10K-20K vacation every year. There are about 60 million people worldwide who are millionaires. Almost all of them could pay cash every year for a Disney vacation.

Disney has intentionally moved to a model where it's not designed to be for everyone anymore, or at least not on a regular basis. They've actually reduced total park attendance while increasing revenue per guest. For people who can afford it, this is great. For people who can't, they can either borrow or forego it. I don't see this as a problem because it's supposed to be a luxury purchase.

We've gone to Europe and Africa for less than this year's Disney trip - we haven't done Disney in years. Australia was more expensive due to airfare.

We can afford a $20k vacation every year. And we take them - frequently. But Disney is not good bang for the buck - not for us at this stage. It was nice to go back with adult kids for sentimental reasons. I'm not sure when I'd go back.

 

[DCLMP]

I find it interesting that there are a few frequent posters on this Disney forum who seem to really dislike Disney adults... but they are adults frequently posting on a MB about Disney...

I haven't seen one negative post about Disney adults(whatever that is) only posts regarding the cost, debt and making questionable financial decisions that might effect ones future.

 

[DCLMP]

We've gone to Europe and Africa for less than this year's Disney trip - we haven't done Disney in years. Australia was more expensive due to airfare.

We can afford a $20k vacation every year. And we take them - frequently. But Disney is not good bang for the buck - not for us at this stage. It was nice to go back with adult kids for sentimental reasons. I'm not sure when I'd go back.

I would spend a few nights at Disney every few years if it didn't prohibit me from a bucket list place. Like you said it's gotten to where it cost more than my two week trip to Japan or my upcoming trip to Croatia. I don't have the financial means to do both anymore.

Even if I did I'm not sure it would be a good financial decision to spend that amount of money on something I've done a dozen times. I make more money than I did when we were taking Disney trips, Disney cruises, and trips to Europe in the same year, but everything has just gotten to crazy expensive.

 

[Minnie1222]

Just wrapped up a very fun day at Epcot which involved plenty of rides, food, and fireworks.

I'm happy to report that, consistent with all our previous trips, this one is also entirely debt-free.

Please don't generalize or stereotype all Disney adults!

 

[tigertides]

I'd be more curious to know how a college student amassed $15,000 in savings in the first place...

I would argue that parents should start a college savings fund for their children even before going on their first Disney trip

And put in $1 in 529 for every $1 in WDW vacation

Perhaps, we are focused on the wrong thing. And why comedians keep saying (more truth than joke): this is why China beating us!!!