Breaking Point for Disney Cost

[DisneyPrince1982]

I work for a lot of wealthy surgeons. Disney, to them, is a once in a lifetime trip that they give their children because they feel it's a must. But just once.

Yes they do it big by staying in a villa, doing club level, great view. They just book. No renting points. No searching out deals. Their wives make dining reservations. They may do a tour to avoid lines.

But that's it. They won't go again. They prefer to go to Atlantis, Greece, Italy, etc.

It's us commoners in the office that do WDW over and over again. Most "rich" people I know don't want to bother with WDW.

Totally agree. The same with wealthy attorneys.

 

[srauseo]

For me, I agree with PP who said it's the plane tickets more than anything. It really burns me that I had to pay $450 for a flight from Boston to Orlando. Why? For me the ROI for a plane ticket has gone way down. Flying is miserable. I'm paying $150 an hour to be squeezed into a tiny seat with a tiny bag of pretzels for a snack. Forget about extra costs for parking or shuttle service or bag fees, etc. And don't even get me started on the security process.

Once I get to WDW, my fixed costs for my next trip are $275 a day ($506 for my half of a room for four nights at CSR and about $350 for a 3-day park hopper). For me, the value is there. I'm getting a shuttle and luggage handling to and from the airport. I'm getting transportation around the property by bus, boat and/or monorail. I'm getting to go on fun rides and go to entertaining shows and watch parades and meet characters and see fireworks. I'm getting to swim in multiple pools and soak in the hot tub and jog around the lake or hit the fitness center. I get someone to clean my room for me on a daily basis. For a longer trip, my cost per day would probably be less.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Of course there are wealthy people who travel to WDW often. And bargain hunt and what not. But I do think there are a lot of wealthy/upper middle class people who go to WDW as a one-time thing and aren't picking over the prices like a frequent traveler would. The "once in a lifetime!" trip. These are the people who WDW loves. No matter what your income level, you are more likely to start looking at your WDW budget critically on your subsequent trips, not your first or even if you go once every few years. And the more often you go, the more you realize what is worth the money and what is not.

 

[Chipmunks2271]

I have a unique relationship with the parks and I don't know if there is a "set" breaking point- possibly when I have to pay "full price" or can't get CM family discounts, but I really don't know. Until my purchase of an AP in March, I never actually PAID to enter the parks. Ever. The idea of paying to get in is still weird to me. (I don't mean to sound haughty- I realize 99% of people buy tickets and that's how it works, I just didn't ever need to). I've always had family that was a CM or was a CM myself. We can still get room discounts of 40-50% off and 50% of the dining plan- so Disney is still very affordable for us (fiancé and I). But, the more and more Disney cuts back on discounts for CMs will effect us- that's ultimaetly why I purchased an AP, there were so many blackout dates which conviently fall on summer breaks and school holidays (I'm a teacher) made it challenging to take advantage of cast discounts. I LOVE Disney, but like many of us, am frustrated with what is and is not happening in the park sight now.

All the construction and the removal of attractions and meet and greets without any substantive replacements is getting rediculous. The past three times I've been since December, I kept thinking how, if I was on a "once in a lifetime" trip, paying rack rates, I'd be so pissed. Studios is a shell of its former self, a half day park at best.

A lot of magic is lost when you are herded like cattle backstage to alleviate crowding around the hub expansion construction walls that are building a special seating area to reserve 180 days in advance to watch fireworks.

I realize I have a unique relationship with the parks- becuase of my "connections" I have a much more relaxed and informal relationship with WDW. I can be visiting my parents, and my stepmom and I will try and grab some fast passes and head into whatever park for a few hours, then grab a random ADR, have dinner, and head home. OR, we go to Orlando specifically for Disney and try and stay in the bubble and have it be more like a real vacation.

Within the next two years, we are getting married and trying to have kids- so the three trips we have planned for this year will probably be the last for a while because I am not doing Disney with a baby! Kids will have to be at least 3 or 4 before we bring them. Hopefully by then Studios will be revamped, and all the construction dust will have finally settled.

 

[Darcy03231]

I've hit my breaking point and, like previous posters, it has nothing to do with the cost, but the value.

We used to go at least once a year (sometimes twice and one year three times). While I tend to be a planner, having to plan out rides 60 days in advance and meals 180 days in advance is just way too much work for me. Add on the rising costs and no new attractions, closing of old favorites with nothing to replace them, getting rid of some of the little things that made a WDW trip "magical," and the lower quality of things, I'm done.

We doing 10 days in Orlando in August and not setting foot in a Disney park and I'm ok with that. So far the only things I've had to do is book our flight, rental car, vacation home and buy tickets. We can wing the rest of it when we get there. That's a vacation!

 

[DougEMG]

We're not even close to hitting our breaking point. Compared to other vacations we'd do a trip WDW is still a good deal and we don't actually spend that much money at WDW. We normally go once a year for 4-5 weeks. For myself there aren't a lot of other places I'd be willing to spend that much time at.

For the room, we own DVC which is fully paid for, so just have the MF to pay for. For food, we always have breakfast and a snack in the room so only eat out once a day and that is usually a quick service meal. For tickets we get the annual pass and then plan two trips with it, once at the start and one at the end, so we are getting 8-10 weeks of park access from one pass. So even if I just enter Epcot for a walk I'm not worried that it is wasting a park ticket.

What would effect us the most is if they significantly changed the annual passes such as tripling the prices or even eliminating them all together.

 

[chelseabun76]

Also depends on the currency conversion at the time. Right now to get $100 USD it would cost me $130 Canadian. That's pretty steep, especially when talking of a trip worth thousands of dollars and not just hundreds!

 

[Ngwira]

Totally agree. The same with wealthy attorneys.

My husband and I are both Attorneys and we are considered "wealthy" based on our income. We go to Disney every year! We stay deluxe (Grand Floridian) but on a deal ($292.00 a night bcos of "magical deal"). We drive used Hondas ( me a 2002 Honda Accord, hubby a 2006 Honda CRV). Many smart wealthy people don't flaunt their wealth because there is no need to impress people.I agree that the Millionaire Next Door was a great book and applies to our situation. I believe in the saying that it's not how much you earn, but how much you keep, that's important.

I may not be a wealthy surgeon but I am a wealthy anesthesiologist (with my family hitting the 1% for the first time this year). Myself and one other anesthesiologist I work with go to Disneyworld over and over again. And believe me, I am hunting for deals left and right between gift cards, Disney vacation account, free dining, etc. I've never stayed in a villa, except at the much cheaper Hilton Head resort with extended family. And tours? No way! Too much money!

My wife isn't doing any of the planning. I have a husband who also works full time. We have never gone to Atlantis. Greece, or Italy. And we both drive 2008 Honda CRVs (got mine used!)

Please reconsider what it means to be rich and what your assumptions and stereotypes of high earners are. There are plenty of high earners with little wealth and plenty of low earners with lots and lots of wealth. We aim for high earning and lots of wealth.

May I suggest The Millionaire Next Door? Great reading for everyone, regardless of your income level.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

My husband and I are both Attorneys and we are considered "wealthy" based on our income. We go to Disney every year! We stay deluxe (Grand Floridian) but on a deal ($292.00 a night bcos of "magical deal"). We drive used Hondas ( me a 2002 Honda Accord, hubby a 2006 Honda CRV). Many smart wealthy people don't flaunt their wealth because there is no need to impress people.I agree that the Millionaire Next Door was a great book and applies to our situation. I believe in the saying that it's not how much you earn, but how much you keep, that's important.

The "wealthy" surgeons I work for do not flaunt their money.

They just feel that Disney is something they are obligated to do for their children ONCE. That's it. So they do it on their terms to make it as painless (like a pp said) as possible. To make the experience as comfortable as possible because they'd rather be elsewhere.

For them Disney is not a priority vacation destination. It's a one and done deal so they do a once in a lifetime trip.

I believe Disney thrives mostly off of the middle class. That's the point I was trying to make.

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

I believe in the saying that it's not how much you earn, but how much you keep, that's important.

Can't take it with you though.

 

[AquaDame]

Once we can't afford a trip there and elsewhere in the same calendar year we are out. We thrive on variety and can't easily take all our vacation in one lump.

 

[twoplustwins]

With four children, I'd say we're about there.

 

[BigHeroKen]

I just reached the point where the cost was more than the expected experience. I just canceled our trip.

However, I am going to be booking a new trip that will be $1400 less and gives my family of 5 unlimited access to Aquatica, Sea World, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Wet and Wild (up to 14 consecutive days, we only had 2 day park hoppers and the party with the trip I just canceled) as well as one night at MNSSHP (we had our best day at one of last year's parties). This also includes free breakfast and a room that is twice as large as what we would have had at Disney along with an additional night.

Don't get me wrong, I love Disney, I just don't think I am getting my money's worth out of the Disney parks for the things my family enjoys, with the exception of the Magic Kingdom, which is why we are only going to the party this year.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

We have hit that point. Just returned from 8 night trip to Orlando and did 1 Disney themepark day. Granted it was a 17 hour day from Epcot at 9 to Magic Kingdom until 2 in the morning.
Some of our party had old hoppers with pluses and some bought new 1 day hopper 2 plus tickets. Then we did 2 Disney waterpark days. 1 last trip to Disneyquest before it closes. A day at Gatorland with Zipline and a trip to Escapology.We even stayed 4 nights at Disney hotels but 1 Disney day in July is enough for us. No Universal because we have done 3 Universal trips in last 3 years.

Next Orlando trip is Discovery Cove with Dolphin swim/SeaWorld/Aquatica. Then a cruise.

For airfare I kook at it as paying extra so I spend less time traveling. A 3 hour direct flight is much better than 5 hours with a connection in Baltimore.

 

[Ngwira]

The "wealthy" surgeons I work for do not flaunt their money.

They just feel that Disney is something they are obligated to do for their children ONCE. That's it. So they do it on their terms to make it as painless (like a pp said) as possible. To make the experience as comfortable as possible because they'd rather be elsewhere.

For them Disney is not a priority vacation destination. It's a one and done deal so they do a once in a lifetime trip.

I believe Disney thrives mostly off of the middle class. That's the point I was trying to make.

Got it.

 

[buzznina]

Let's just say that next year will be the first time in 10 years that there is a very good chance that we will not be going to WDW We have usually gone 2-3 times a year, it helps a LOT being able to drive there. I also think that they really need to reclassify their resorts, because the cost of the values no longer equals that anymore. Between the rates going up and the extras (EMH, Discount % etc.) going down, it's a lot harder to justify the cost.

 

[dlavender]

Our breaking point will be cost and experience based. Our breaking point to stay on site is $100 per night. Our experience breaking point will be when we cannot ride what we want with wait times <30 mins during value seasons.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I just reached the point where the cost was more than the expected experience. I just canceled our trip.

However, I am going to be booking a new trip that will be $1400 less and gives my family of 5 unlimited access to Aquatica, Sea World, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Wet and Wild (up to 14 consecutive days, we only had 2 day park hoppers and the party with the trip I just canceled) as well as one night at MNSSHP (we had our best day at one of last year's parties). This also includes free breakfast and a room that is twice as large as what we would have had at Disney along with an additional night.

Don't get me wrong, I love Disney, I just don't think I am getting my money's worth out of the Disney parks for the things my family enjoys, with the exception of the Magic Kingdom, which is why we are only going to the party this year.

How did you get unlimited access to all those parks?

 

[StuckInKS]

We spend close to $3,000 on a 10-day trip JUST FOR TICKETS!

The cost is absolutely insane, but luckily we can control most of the costs except for those pesky tickets. This past trip in May we were able to do $75/day on food by spending $50 on CS and then $25 on snacks later with lots of sharing. We are also starting to dabble in timeshares or VERY cheap Wyndham condo rentals off ebay (We got a full week at Bonnet Creek in a 2-bed for $450). I'm closing on some resale timeshare points now, which I hope will help us get our first Disney Deluxe stay in the future, since the price for two value rooms is nearing $300 a night.

All said, we probably spent $5,000 on our 10-day trip in May, but that is a BUDGET trip for us. Even Free Dining costs us around $7k.

Now if we could just get cheaper tickets...

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

Cost wise it's still a excellent value, we can do a week for around $2500. If we were to drive to any "vacation spot" and pay for activities and food everyday we would spend a lot more. A holiday weekend can be $1500. That being said, there are a lot of cut backs and I don't feel like we are getting as much as we used too. This is the first year I can't seem to qualify for any discounts...