Breaking Point for Disney Cost

[Flamingeaux]

We are at or very close to ours. Our November trip will be with a room only discount and we are using an old 6 day pass. The room will be paid for using our Disney reward dollars. This is going to be a cheap trip. Also leaving DW and DS home. hahaha

 

[scard192]

for my family it's not a specific cost that is a breaking point. we just don't go as often. in 2013 we stayed at POFQ and it took me 4 years to save enough for the trip. 2016 we will be at a Value (POP) so only 3 years between trips. I still want my kids to experience the Magic of WDW, just not as often as the prices continue to rise.

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

My breaking point so far hasn't really been cost. We've been mostly going about once a year for the last 15 years or so (and I've been going since the early 70's as a kid, with some breaks for a year here and there due to lack of vacation time, etc.), and costs have risen dramatically over that time, even including discounts. We justified that by saying that we got a lot for the money. My breaking point is if the value we're getting for the money drops. That has actually been happening for a few trips now, with all the extra planning needed to get the most out of a WDW vacation. And that is for overall less to do for the money, with Disney closing favorite attractions in EPCOT and DHS with little or no announcements of replacements. Now with FP+ and literally planning individual rides at 60 days out or probably missing out on them, our upcoming October trip which I foolishly booked over a year ago, I'm seriously considering not returning afterwards. All that scheduling seems too much like work for my taste. We can luckily afford to still make a trip to WDW once per year, but other destinations are looking like better values for that money.

This is where I'm at. We moved farther away a couple of years ago -- while we lived farther South I could take my girls down for weekend trips to do MVMCP and MNSSHP (drive down Friday, go to the party, spend Saturday either at DTD or a water park and drive home that night or Sunday morning), and we did family trips every couple of years. This is our first full family trip in a while and, while I consider myself to be an uber-planner (spreadsheets make me happy.....), having to schedule FP+ 60 days ahead of time takes all of the spontaneity out of our trips. I had to change the plans for my parents just this week (they decided to add a day to their trip with us in August) and trying to make sure I could get them FP+ and ADRs since we're inside the 30 day window was stressful. We worked the old FP system and were able to do multiple rides on our favorite rides each day, and if we wanted to be spontaneous and park hop on the spur of the moment, we could. I feel like that kind of spontaneity is decreasing because wait times are increasing for so many things that didn't used to have long wait times. My husband doesn't like feeling so locked in and overscheduled and I honestly expect that he's going to want more resort time on our trip next month than in past trips. Prices are going up SO fast and really, it's insane how much Disney is charging for some things. For us the vacation is about being together with family and having fun, being able to relax and enjoy ourselves and ride our favorite rides until we can't see straight anymore...LOL....and so I'm really worried about how our trip will go next month. We aren't extravagant (use military discounts, military salute tickets, don't eat TS every day, share meals because we're not big eaters), and we're driving down instead of flying, but even so, our trip (four park days, one non-park day) is costing a lot more than our longer trips have cost in the past.

And then there's the value aspect. With so many things closed, no replacements, lengthy refurbishments, insane length of time just to build a parking garage, etc., I feel like the value isn't what it used to be. We've noticed a definite decline in customer service, park cleanliness, and overall maintenance since our first trip (either 2007 or 2009 -- can't remember now what year our first trip was!).

Our kids are getting older -- older DD will turn 21 this year and younger DD is 16, so the days of family vacations with just the four of us are probably coming to a close in the next few years.... My girls are asking to do a cruise next and my husband wants to do an all-inclusive somewhere on a beach, so I think we'll start looking at that for our next family vacation. My older DD and I are the big Disney fans -- my husband and daughter are more "along for the ride" and would prefer to try other types of vacations, and so I think that's what's going to happen for our next couple of vacations. I think I'll push for another WDW trip after the DHS renovations are done, so it will be a few years.

I still want to go down and do the Princess 5K with some girlfriends, so I may have some weekend trips of my own in the next few years, but I think this is our last family trip to Disney World for a while.

 

[Goofy'slady]

Prices go up for all kinds of vacations and different vacations mean different things to different people. I took my daughter last year to Mexico for her then sweet 16 and I spend about half for that trip than I am for our trip to Disney in a few weeks. However, that trip was just the two of us and this one includes her baby sister, it was only for 5 nights and this one is for 9. Flights for the two of us were more expensive but that is to be expected because it was considered international and business class for the pair of us. Food and beverages (both alcoholic and non versions) were included but the only outside activity that we did do other than what the resort provided in the way of entertainment (which all was nice - but nothing to get to excited over) was a zip lining excursion. So for the price of this vacation verses last year's I'm only spending a little bit more - and that's with the addition of my youngest daughter and buying the DDP and a longer resort stay. Can't beat that with a stick as far as I'm concerned. However, with all that being said - the experience of taking my daughter to Mexico for her bday and going to shows, laying by the pool, having great meals, massages, zip lining over the jungles of Mexico, swimming in a cenote and giving her Beyonce concert tickets for a show after we returned home was friggin AMAZING.

I've already started pricing out our London trip for same child next year when she graduates from high school. I already know it's going to be expensive and since I'm not rich I have to save for almost an entire year to be able to afford to experience this with her. However, I've already started putting away my coins (ok, dollars) for a short Disney trip for when my youngest finishes elementary school which happens to be next summer as well. Talk about being broke for a while!!! For me it's all about the memories and we make memories no matter where we go. We're a traveling lot and when we have our hearts set on going somewhere we go or as my daughter says..."mummy, you always make it happen".

For me it's not about the price of something - it's how badly do I want to experience it and if I want to do it bad enough then guess what? I'll save for it. I'm soooo tired of hearing how expensive Disney is becoming for some - ok, we get it so if it has for your family move on to experience something that you deem more affordable or worthy of your dollars. To me that is something I thought all financially minded people did. If you still want to experience Disney then figure out how you can do that without making a huge impact on your current situation. And for heavens sake, your love for everything Disney should not hold you to only taking Disney vacations. There is soooo much of this world that you can explore in place of or right along side Disney. Make that happen!

 

[BudgieMama]

For us, it is likely to be the flights that make us hit breaking point, unless Disney drop their special offers for UK guests.

We are booked for next August, 14 nights staying at Coronado Springs, with a free QS Dining Plan, 14 day tickets (the UK tickets include both park hopping and the water parks and more option), a free $200 gift card and free Memory Maker. It works out just over $3900. That's for two adults, and for us, that's great value. We're unlikely to venture offsite, so that's all our transport thrown in. That's around $140 per person, per night, all inclusive. That's great for us.

We're looking at needing to spend another $3200-ish for the flights for the two of us. When we went last summer, we $2200 on flights, but they've shot up, and bargains on direct flights from London to MCO during school holidays are few and far between. That's what will break the budget. That's for economy class flights- no frills there! And that's what will break us, unless Disney withdraw the free dining offer. Our offer is significantly better than the one on offer to US guests, but without it, the trip becomes unviable.

 

[lizard1]

I've reached the breaking point, and it wasn't because of cost. Granted, it is frustrating that I have to have a bigger room because we have a party of 5 which makes it much more expensive (where most places I have found will let you get a cot or let you just have that other person in the room). The real issue for me is that my last trip just wasn't enjoyable...when you are at MK and all you can think is that you would rather be at work, there is an issue. I don't know if I could pinpoint one thing, after all, we had the desirable dining reservations, the desirable FP reservations, etc., and I really didn't care if we made it to any of them. I think part of my issues are the need for so much planning and their system that isn't so great with that- from being on the phone with tech support for over 5 hours to fix issues that weren't caused by me that I was told would be fixed but weren't, to not being able to link certain reservations, to going back and forth with CMs on the phone because the reservation number I gave them didn't correspond to the day I wanted a dining reservation (split stay), it is just frustrating.

Add to that the issues experienced while there. At AKL for instance, I had to go to the front desk multiple times to request a TV remote that was missing from my room. I also had to go multiple times to request a lint screen for the dryer and had to go in to detail about what a lint screen was to multiple people because no one understood my request. Then there were the issues with busing- for as much as a room there goes for, I would expect buses at non-peak times to have room on them and not be standing room only EVERY time (park open, park close, rain showers, etc. I get...4 in the afternoon and other random times I do not). I also tried BC a few days on my last trip and was awakened every morning at 9 by the hammering from construction beneath me (the resort was totally full, so I couldn't move). Add to that the maid who decided to clean our room on checkout day before checkout time...I expect more from a "deluxe" experience I'm paying for.

I just feel like Disney is SO much work. I never feel like I've had a vacation when I return because I have "appointments" to keep while I'm there. I know I don't have to make every FP (and we skipped many on this trip), but I'm not about to pay $50 to miss a meal that I planned 180 days in advance because I just don't feel like being there.

Who knows, maybe I'll do Disney again someday. Right now, the little I get from the experience doesn't justify the cost (in both dollars and the amount of work I have to put into it).

 

[margot31]

The very first thing for me is deciding if we are going to go knowing it won't be cheap. Then I get on the Disney website and start looking at cost, length of stay, resorts and flight. Then just start working the details into what I am willing to pay. Lenght of stay is more important to me that the resort. In the past we have always stayed for 10 days at POP. That was more important than say, staying 5 days at a deluxe. Then I try and tweek the details to get a cost I'm comfortable with.

This is how I do my trips to disney. I haven't been back since 2012 due to my husbands work, having a kid and other trips and the cost. We are going this dec and I have been researching the heck out of things. I also held on to when certain discounts would be available to me and go from there. We had to change some things for this trip since we have to fly compared to when we could drive. But I am also a person who looks at what I have available and can I afford it in general. I am a person who saves money. When I went back in 2010 and I went with my family it cost me almost 1000 just for me alone with room, food, and anything i bought. I knew that trip was coming up and I really wanted to go so I saved my butt off for what little job and money I had coming in was the play money for myself.

This upcoming trip I am not liking what airport or flights we have at the moment due to being further away from my parents. My parents will be watching my son while my husband and I go. I would rather use the airport closer to them but it cost us way too much money so we have to go further out and even than the times are not great but it is the cheapest we can get at this moment.

I keep telling my husband we need to get stationed (he's military) back in FL so the cost wouldn't be as bad for us.

 

[coconutprincess]

I'm starting to get to that point with the WL. But with two little ones the convience wins. It may be our last trip at WL and back to POR next time. We'll have to see.

 

[PrncessA]

I don't think there is a breaking point for our family. It is our one time to take a break from the world outside and that is priceless. We might scale back on our trip or go less often if we have to but the cost is worth it to us.

 

[pilferk]

We're sort of getting to that point.

The biggest problem for us is the school schedule and how that interacts with the costs, both hotel and airfare. Now that our kids are getting older, we are more reluctant to pull them out to go to WDW. Unfortunately, the way the prices are jacked up during the school break weeks, both for accommodations and airfare, we are probably up pushing our limit as to what we are willing to spend.

The only week we are left with that has lower crowds, lower prices and no school is the last week of August, but the weather is miserable.

Anyway, it's a perfect storm of school, crowds, weather and prices coming together to make it harder and harder for us to go.

We're approaching that same spot. My kids will soon be 13, 11, and 9. We are DVC owners.

Our school system has 7th - 12th grade together, and 7th grade is a BIG transition year (the whole "moving around for classes" thing starts then).

We're going, this year, in Mid Oct (10th - 19th) because we have Columbus day and an in-service day back to back...so we get some "freebies" for the kids.

We won't have a trip in 2016 (work commitments for me) or through the 1st half of 2017 (my son will be in his 7th grade year and my oldest daughter will be in her freshman year). We're already pondering how we'll manage a late 2017 trip. And after that? We're going to have to manage trips around breaks or HOT weather. It's not ideal.

Luckily, once the kids are grown up and it's just me and my lovely wife, we'll go regularly without them. But for the next 7 years or so...it's going to be interesting to find times to go that we'd actually WANT to be there. We'll have to deal with crowds or melting. I'm not sure which I prefer, yet....

 

[fairy oma]

DD & I were just talking about this very subject. Her goal has been to go every 2 years with her DH & 2 DDs but she and I both agreed they are really pricing themselves out of even that plan.
We are going this year because I wanted to honor my parents' wish to go on a big family vacation and unfortunately my sibling was never willing to participate so this vacation is a gift to our children and grandchildren.
Disney seems to be losing a lot of the magical essence in the last 2 years and that is unfortunate but I do not think anything will change until people speak with their feet and their wallets and walk away. To raise prices to the extent they have and yet have so many attractions shut down, resorts under major construction without discounts, monorails down for refurbishment on a regular basis and such long construction times for new attractions...Avatar and the rumored Star Wars attractions makes it seem as if Disney has lost Walt Disney's vision altogether.
I do love Disney but DH and I have decided if we go again it will be in a Mod resort and we will only do CS where we don't have to do so much early planning.

 

[DisneyFive]

Family of 5 here. $6000 is my upper limit right now for any annual family vacation 7+ nights, all expenses included.

Dan

 

[KEVD]

By staying off property in a condo we only spend about $700 - $800 for an entire week of lodging and also save a ton of $$$ on food. And I'm always able to get a great rate on a car rental. The high cost of the park passes is worth it in my opinion when you consider how much time you can spend in the parks.

For us, airfare rates are our breaking point. In 2016 rates more than doubled what we paid in 2015. We were one of the lucky few who were able to get that extremely cheap rate through that "Google Flights" deal that lasted about a half day. If not for that we would not be going in 2016.

 

[ain0004]

I just priced a vacation at hocking hills. Getting a cabin for our family. It was over 3,000 and it was for 4 nights. Good grief that didn't even include food or entertainment. Which is driving to your hiking location. Everyone thinks disney is far out there on price. On some things yes. But I can tell you I live 2 hours from Cedar point. It is 60.00/day. And there is no entertainment. Just rides and food is about the same cost and yes its 15.00/ day to park

 

[JimmyV]

Everyone thinks disney is far out there on price.

Most of those complaints pertain to hotel costs. I just checked rates for next April, nowhere near anyone's Easter break, and rates at the Contemporary, Poly, Yacht, Beach and Boardwalk started in the $600 range. Sorry, but no.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

When it costs less for me to fly to Paris and go to the Disney park there.

 

[BudgieMama]

When it costs less for me to fly to Paris and go to the Disney park there.

That will never happen. DLP is damned expensive. It's currently better value for us to spend a bit extra on flights and travel to WDW than to go to DLP which is significantly nearer!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

What's your breaking point for deciding the cost no longer justifies the experience?

I have reached the breaking point for Chef Mickey and most of the other restaurants. Way to expensive for sub par food.

 

[katibosch]

I'm not at the breaking point yet, but we've only been once, and so the novelty is definitely still there.

One thing that I really like about Disney that a lot of other vacations don't seem to have is the amount of control you can have over the price. You can make it as cheap or expensive as you want to, depending on what you're willing to do. For DD & me trip this fall I really wanted to stay Deluxe (always been a silly dream of mine) and honestly we have the money that we could have done it, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much. Next trip, maybe.

 

[smiths02]

The thing for my family is that we live in GA, so we can drive. This makes Disneyworld more attractive as a destination. Other things that we can drive to are not really as magical, fun, "being in a bubble" as Disney. None of the alternatives fit my family well right now.
1) Cruise...this is the most likely alternative that we would like. Giving us that "bubble" experience. (Plus we can drive potentially if leaving out of Florida) I'd like our kids to be older for this (old enough for everyone to go to kids clubs, etc.) We are going to Disney next year, and then we are thinking of taking a few years off to save for a nice cruise (probably not DCL as we probably can't afford that-or are not willing to afford it)
2) Beach vacation (probably FL)...this could be cheaper than Disney, but I don't like the beach. (I grew up near the beach. Sunbathing=skin cancer, I hate swimsuit shopping, my kids aren't good swimmers, etc.) Renting a condo at the beach just feels, to me, like extra work...I'm still cooking, cleaning, watching kids, but somewhere else.
3) Camping/woods. My ILs live in the rural NC mountains. DS is in Cub Scouts. We get enough of that.
4) Washington, D.C. ---All the kids aren't really old enough to appreciate a trip visiting historical sites

Nothing else I can think of that is really in driving distance strikes me as a "destination" vacation for a young family.