Breaking Point for Disney Cost

[cleophus12]

I am in agreement with a few of the PPs. While the cost of WDW has gone up, so has eveything else. We usually go to Myrtle Beach once a year for a long weekend. One of the places we have always stayed offered a reasonable rate in May ($129/night) so we booked it and went. Much to our dismay, the hotel has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair and just wasn't up to par. Needless to say, we were disappointed in the property. So when I began to research other properties that would be more desirable, the costs went up considerably. To stay in a nice place we would need to pay upwards of $300/night. I told my DH then that if I am going to pay WDW prices, I'll just go to WDW. So I am. Tomorrow. Can't wait. I can stay at Pop for less than we stayed in Myrtle Beach and have a much better time.

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

I am in agreement with a few of the PPs. While the cost of WDW has gone up, so has eveything else. We usually go to Myrtle Beach once a year for a long weekend. One of the places we have always stayed offered a reasonable rate in May ($129/night) so we booked it and went. Much to our dismay, the hotel has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair and just wasn't up to par. Needless to say, we were disappointed in the property. So when I began to research other properties that would be more desirable, the costs went up considerably. To stay in a nice place we would need to pay upwards of $300/night. I told my DH then that if I am going to pay WDW prices, I'll just go to WDW. So I am. Tomorrow. Can't wait. I can stay at Pop for less than we stayed in Myrtle Beach and have a much better time.

Coral Beach Resort & Suites - goes for under $150 a night in Myrtle Beach and it's a top 10 property. Also the beach is free. At Disney, you're paying over $1,000 for a week of park access for a family of 4.

 

[MasterGracey84]

Well... interesting and thought provoking questions. This is fuzzy math, but the breaking point for me would be when I couldn't afford the least expensive resort on site along with park-hopping for 5 nights and 4 days. I currently can only get to the World once a year, so I like to experience everything I can. 4 days, 4 parks.

 

[grandmomhop]

After our last 10 day "no destination" vacation, (not my idea) and near divorce experience of no hotel under $250 and bad directions driving 30 extra miles to a hotel, I am all about a planned out, everything I need is right there, and I get to see Mickey vacation. (I will never go without reservations and some kind of plan again)

As for going to Disney, value resorts are great if that's all I can manage that trip.

 

[Alexsandra]

Well... interesting and thought provoking questions. This is fuzzy math, but the breaking point for me would be when I couldn't afford the least expensive resort on site along with park-hopping for 5 nights and 4 days. I currently can only get to the World once a year, so I like to experience everything I can. 4 days, 4 parks.

I would have to agree with this. Until I can't afford the value resorts or the park tickets for 4-5 days, WDW will keep me coming back. I think the luxury resorts are way overpriced for what you get vs moderate or value resorts and the food hikes during busy season are ridiculous. Food should stay at same prices all year round. Also I looked into DFTW for a vow renewal and the prices are ridiculous. It is obvious, they are trying to nickel and dime you for everything your worth.

 

[dallastxcpa]

We are DVC owners and bought in 2004. Now if I had to buy in at today's prices I am not sure I would. But for now we are locked in until 2054. There may come a day when we no longer enjoy the parks or are priced out but we have many wonderful options with our points. I can use them at Hilton Head, Vero Beach, or Aulani. I can and have traded them out for DCL and through RCI to vacation in places like San Diego and New Orleans. The cost of the tickets are alot when you are buying multiples all at once and that is why i have a vacation savings account. It doesn't hurt as bad when you can take it a little at a time. On food we are still comfortable with at least 1 table service a day but we also cook in our villa at times.

 

[Planogirl]

My breaking point also involves amenities and attractions more than cost.

We have been slowly turning WDW from a total trip to a side visit. Disney has completely ruined Epcot for me and DHS needs some work. I had set up to visit only MK and AK during our last trip but we had hoppers so a fellow traveler talked me into going to Epcot. That visit didn't change my mind. I just don't enjoy many things as much as I used to.

But everyone's tastes and needs are different of course. Personally I'd rather be somewhere in the mountains than at any theme park.

 

[Dizlvr]

One is not so much cost but what they're eliminating, the lack of available ADRS and fps, and the wait times = less bang for the ever (rapidly) rising buck. There are a lot of Disney fans I have been speaking to who are of the same mind. I love it and miss it but no longer worth it to us. We absolutely hate fp+ And how it has affected our touring style.

This is how I feel too. Its not really the overall cost of the trip but whether I feel the cost is worth the experience of the trip. I feel like it isn't anymore for my family. For a quick trip with just dd (who loves WDW as much as I do) it would be fine.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

We have our second trip coming up. It will be our last trip for awhile since youngest will be 3 after the trip. We will probably go again before oldest turns 10. I think the "adult" price for tickets and meals is a joke for a 10 year old. (Our 5 yo eats like a toddler now.) My goal for this trip is under $2500 for tickets, value resort and airfare (have some vouchers for Southwest.) I think that's very reasonable, but I know once we add another kids ticket, it won't be.

 

[eliza61]

The issue isn't cost as much as it is value. I spend less and less at the world because the product is becoming worth less and less for the price.
Food?? mediocre 85% of the time at inflated prices. usually have to do signature meals to get a meal even close to what we would say is "excellent".
Hollywood Studios is a shell of a park that needs major upgrades.

We enjoy our trips but mainly because our dvc keeps cost down and we eat off site but we're finding more and more value elsewhere also

 

[mummabear]

If you'd told me in 2000 how much I'd be spending for a trip in 2015 it would definitely have been far below that!

Frogs in the slowly warming water don't see it that way

 

[SimbaLover]

We have already cut back on our trips a lot. We take our RV and park it at a local campground instead of on site hotels. Much cheaper and we have a full kitchen plus the back area for the kids instead of a tiny hotel room where we can barely walk around in. The last trip we ate the food there we were just meh about almost every single meal. I would rather be meh about a sandwich that costs pennies instead of a ts meal that cost hundreds. So we don't eat on site anymore. I just set the crock pot before we head out for the day. And I find we enjoy our trips a lot more now because I'm not trying to make it worth the cost. We can afford the hotels and on site food but we just weren't enjoying them anymore so that was our breaking point. I'm just grateful the two teens are still happy to go with us.

 

[fbb]

DS15 just asked me the other day why isn't there anything for boys at WDW.

He's not whining about it or upset....it was just an observation when I pointed out that DD was doing BBB and CRT.

It was free to chat up the world showcase CMs when I was 15, and it's free today. Better than BBB by a long shot

 

[crostorfer]

I thought about this long and hard, and my answer is that I already have reached my limit. It isn't a cost issue, as much as it is a value for my dollars issue.

There was a time when I would have scoffed at the idea of staying offsite. Now, every trip is a 50/50 split with US, where I find that my overall experience often exceeds my investment. I feel so strongly about this that I bought a US annual pass, which is an OUTSTANDING value in comparison to a WDW AP. I can stay at the Portofino Bay Resort with an annual pass discount for less than a WDW moderate, and there is absolutely no comparison to the accommodations and amenities between those. If the Pop really does go for over $200 per night, I can stay at the Royal Pacific, with Express Passes, in a much nicer resort for $25 cheaper per night, within walking distance to the park gates.

 

[916chipndale]

I am there right now, but not only because of the cost. Paying more for less, (except the crowds, those are definitely more! No slow time anymore) FP+, and just other small miscellaneous things that add up. Like EMH, they use to be great. Use to be 1 park in the morning then another at night, and the night was 3 hours! Now you get one morning or one night, and the night is only 2 hours.
Maybe I will return in 2021 for the 50th when Hollywood Studios should be pretty much all new and who knows, maybe Epcot will be a decent park again by then. The two biggest breaking points for me are the crowds and FP+. Sounds crazy but I really wouldn't mind paying a lot if it meant the parks were less crowded.

 

[Monykalyn]

I'm beyond there, not because of the money but because of the constant closures and things being removed. The announced Baymax' removal the day after my required final payment was made. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I have a 4 year old son. The concept of boys is currently lost on Disney. They remove the Incredibles and Baymax within a month of one another, months after I was required to make my dining plans for days I had planned on being in DHS. Following that up they announce a new boutique for little girls to get all princessed up. Just seems like a slap in the face to parents of young boys. Aside from the Princess Marathon in February (3 days) this will be our last trip until there are new attractions that aren't princess related. I'm guessing that means we'll be back in 2025.

THIS! Even all the "girly" stuff is getting too much for my girls!





We did Star Wars Weekends specifically for our last trip(well-just as much for DH and I as our son lol). It was a ton of fun! But I feel no rush to go back right away...On the other hand-we also did Universal last trip. WOW! for the less than the price of a Deluxe at Disney we did Club level at RPR - and much more for kids and both genders of all ages. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is amazing (although Diagon Alley only has one ride-the interactive wand and casting spells-my kids could have spent much much much more time here). My son loved the Men in black ride (with Express pass we did it multiple times in a row). Transformers, Spiderman, Mummy, Shrek, Minions-yeah US has a lot to offer boys (and girls-my middle was much much happier at US than WDW this year).

DC can be enjoyed at any age. There are interactive areas in the museums such as the national bldg museum and American history museum geared to the 12 and under and it's free. There is the national zoo. Even a tot can ride to the top of the Washington monument and take a priceless photo. The Easter egg roll if you can get tickets is for young children. There are various parades and the kite festival. DC should be visited as often as possible. There is so much and it's amazing at any age.

May have to pick your brain-this is my oldest's choice for our mom/daughter trip her upcoming senior year! I have never been to Washington DC (she went on an 8th grade trip).

Last year was only our 2nd family trip to WDW. It came about as we had a national meeting to attend in Orlando, and thought it was a great time to bring the kids (hadn't been back in 10 years). We traded our timeshare into Marriott Grande Vista. Had a blast but I came home wanting more. Immediately started planning a trip for this year-we did a 13 day trip with 6 days onsite, 6 days offsite (+1 overnighter at US RPR). This year we ALL came home satisfied at what we saw and length of trip. And no burning desire to return soon. Epcot is just sad-we did love WS and actually got to enjoy it much much more with both older kids and the stay at BC. With everything closing at DHS -why bother anymore? US has a drop ride. We live near Silver Dollar city and get free tix at least once per year-Outlaw Run is hands down one of the best coasters in the country (better than EE and RnR). So for OUR family that point of value vs cost has crested. If prices continue to go up without more stuff to do (extra screens/capacity at Soarin and TSMM do NOT count as more rides) then it will be a long long time til we go back as more than a side trip. I am not sure it is just about money but more ROI.

Looking at a cruise in next 2 years-we can cruise a holiday week, 2 cabins on RCL + a couple days at US for what our trip this past June cost us. And-bonus-not near as much planning and more relax time

ETA:-have really enjoyed reading the responses. I was feeling a bit odd coming home this year without wanting to return. Enjoyed our trip very very much, but wasn't bitten by "Disney bug" like last year.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I am there right now, but not only because of the cost. Paying more for less, (except the crowds, those are definitely more! No slow time anymore) FP+, and just other small miscellaneous things that add up. Like EMH, they use to be great. Use to be 1 park in the morning then another at night, and the night was 3 hours! Now you get one morning or one night, and the night is only 2 hours.
Maybe I will return in 2021 for the 50th when Hollywood Studios should be pretty much all new and who knows, maybe Epcot will be a decent park again by then. The two biggest breaking points for me are the crowds and FP+. Sounds crazy but I really wouldn't mind paying a lot if it meant the parks were less crowded.

Not crazy at all; I'm with you on that!

 

[helenm29]

We live in California so we have much easier access to Disneyland but as far as Disney world goes, we only get to go if for some reason we have "extra"money or have saved for a couple of years! we have been with the kids a total of four times and because it's such a special trip we went all out...probably spent $12,000 dollars for a 10 day trip split between AK/POLY, the best meal plan there was, all the water parks for 5 of us and paid $1500 for air fair a few years ago. This time it will just be the two of us and it's going to be around the same amount but just 10 days at Port Orleans French quarter, air fair, food plan, food and wine fest goodies and air fair for $900.00. Yes, prices have gone WAY up but it's not like we didn't already know that when we booked all this. Just try and be realistic and watch prices.

 

[batmansmom25]

We don't take a big vacation every year so the "splurge" this year is at Polynesian at the end of August but with a great magical deal. I could justify a deluxe resort for the price we paid but after food, airfare and goodies we'll be looking at a $6,000 vacation. OUCH. Kids aren't getting any younger and we don't do this every year. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. lol

 

[lindsmom]

For me, it's a question of how each aspect of the vacation breaks down, and then determine if the sum total is worth the effort of going.

What I mean is, we like Discovery Cove. For the 4 of us, with Dolphin Swim and a cabana (fairly spoiled), it will be around $1200. That's a lot. But for us it is worth it. YMMV most definitely because I realize most people wouldn't pay that.

We probably wouldn't do MNSSHP because we did pirate and princess party forever ago, and I don't feel the need.

We need at minimum a 1 bedroom (ideally 2 bedroom) because for our family it's not a vacation without the personal space. We stay offsite, but it became cost prohibitive that would be a deal breaker.

Ticket costs, we're flexible on - between park hopping (which to the kids "feels" like 2 different full park visits) and then with the Discovery Cove we get Seaworld visits - we can fill a one week vacation easily.

Once the math adds up, I ask myself "can I relax on a vacation with this budget?" There have been times - not just disney - when the answer was no, and we cancelled or changed our plans. If I (or hubby) are going to be stressed about nickel and diming ourselves "sorry kids, no mickey bars cause it's not in the budget" then the experience is NOT worth it for our family.