Breaking Point for Disney Cost

[Tonka's Skipper]

Disney is getting more expensive.............yeap it is, yet most any other venues and attractions are also getting more and more expensive...........look at concerts, ball balls, other theme parks, at least the better one like UNI...they are all rising prices left and right.

Yey
Disney still provided much more bang for the buck, with so much small and major magic and pixie dust. Add to that, all the new stuff coming in the next few years, they are going to be blowing all the other theme parks out of the water hands down.

AKK

 

[tnd]

I have looked at other vacation destinations, cruises, etc. and while I don't think Disney is cheap, but it's not that bad comparatively. For us, the breaking point will be when it is no longer the easiest trip we can take. I have a 10 year old, a 4 year old and an 8 month old. There is no other trip where everything is kid-friendly, and there is something for everyone to do pretty much any time of day. When my kids were older, we will do other things, but for now, Disney works for us.

 

[busymommy2pink]

Our issue is the Canadian dollar sinking. So we have to tack on 30% right now to any American price. So we usually stay AKL or BC and wanted to stay Deluxe again this trip, but due to the price difference, we are staying at CBR with free dining and after exchange it's almost the same price as our last BC trip So that's making me a little sad and wondering if we can afford to keep it up. However, Canada also puts insanely high taxes on domestic flights, so we can't afford to travel our country either, which is extremely unfortunate. We live in Toronto and wanted to fly to Vancouver (other side of the country) and the flights were more than flying to Iceland or Europe. So for the price, I think we are doing Iceland next time over Disney.

 

[cjnix29]

We are getting there. Going in October, but staying moderate instead of the deluxe we normally do. We cut our park days back as well. We eat at very few table service restaurants, because we feel the hype of the dining plan has dumbed down the food, and raised the price of meals. Adding the fact that we have to plan our fast passes before even stepping foot in the park has taken away the experience for us. We are doing the halloween party this year, but am astonished at the cost compared to a few years ago. Additionally, since they add so many party nights, it's the only real way to experience the MK at night that time of year, which is really ridiculous as well. It's my favorite time of year at the parks, and we haven't been for awhile, so I'll splurge. But we really are tired of all the capital spending going towards the stupid Frozen sisters, and not towards any other park improvements. We haven't hit our threshold completely, but it's getting close. But...then again, you can drop the same money at the beach for a week too....

 

[Goofey Drool]

We went in 2006,2008,2009 and then skipped a few years. We opted to stay at a pool home in 2012 and went to SeaWorld/Universal instead. 2013 through 2015 we decided it was too expensive with high airfare and having to go during school vacation. I bought tickets to fly in April 2016 but we are not totally sure what we will do. Our past Disney trips were staying 7 days at a onsite moderate resort. We did park hopper and dining plan with a table service each day. Well, the dining plan is out the window and most likely the moderate will be a value. We might even stay off property. Yes, to answer the question. We are getting close to going elsewhere. Its been fun but it may be time to move on.

 

[bcrook]

We payed around $56 a day per person for park tickets this year. I still feel like that's a fair price for a full day at any of the four parks. As for lodging we own DVC, so for less than half the regular cost we get to stay in an enormous room with all the comforts of home (Full kitchen, washer/dryer, 3 full bathrooms etc). That alone makes the WDW vacation worthwhile to me . Having great accommodations and eating at some great restaurants is the best part vacation for me personally. The parks are secondary. In fact as annual visitors we have actually pared back our theme parks days to enjoy the resort and water parks more....so our overall cost is actually going down. Now don't get me started on flight costs though, those keep climbing fairly significantly every year and that really irks me .

I paid $2200 for tickets this year that will come out to about $220.00 per day for my family of 4 to enter the parks for the 10 days we have scheduled. I think $56.00 a day sounds great until you guarantee 10 days of that, and then it is expensive. And I wouldn't even get that low of a price if I didn't commit 10 days. No matter how you shake it, $220.00 every day you enter for my family is a lot.

It's the ticket price that has got me. I like my DVC. I don't mind flying - Southwest has been reasonable. I don't eat as many table service meals. I don't mind the overpriced drinks in Epcot. I simply can't afford the tickets. Too much at one time.

I am going in October for my last F&W for a while. Then I hope to get back to see Pandora some day.

 

[bbjunkie]

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

We are only an hour away from Cedar Point. We can get tickets at our local grocery store for $45, and that is a "ride and refresh" ticket which includes all-you-can-drink soft drinks all day, whenever you want, as much as you want. And there is plenty of entertainment there: two theaters with shows running all day, and a music, dance, laser show every night. All of that being said, Cedar Point is an amusement park, not a theme park. It is full of thrill rides; I think it's appeal is completely different.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Yep I am thinking that whenever my next trip might be it will be in September as that seems to still be consistently low crowds. Of course that can change. It wasn't that long ago that December (besides Christmas-New Years) was a great time to go with low crowds now those are average-above average.

If you love the Christmas decorations and activities, the first week of December still has pretty reasonable crowds. Not Sept low, but very reasonable.

 

[NancyIL]

It's more about my breaking point for what WDW eliminates. I would have said closing the Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse, but since we still go yearly, that's not it. If you told me those were to go AND Off Kilter AND World Showcase Players I'd have predicted that that would do it but that didn't happen. Now since we're Food&Wine people I'd say that if Disney makes Eat to the Beat concerts on weekends only as is Flower&Garden we'd be done. Who knows.

Bill From PA

I agree with you about the entertainment cuts! I used to visit WDW several times a year, and I planned my park days around Off Kilter's schedule. I had already decided to cut back on my WDW trips and not get another annual pass, and the letting go of Off Kilter at the end of September 2014 sealed that decision! However, I still have 7 days left on a non-expiring park hopper, and I'm not throwing that away! I will use my remaining park days for short visits over the next few years - including this December and next. I'm also going to Disneyland for a few days in December, and I'll probably spend several days at Universal in 2016.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't know if the tickets are outrageous.

For example, I was looking for Aladdin on Broadway tickets recently...the cheapest seats are $99 dollars each and those are for the crummy seats. So $400 bucks for my family for a two-hour show. Even this stinky roadside amusement park we have near us, with these rickety carnival rides....$25 pp for a ride bracelet. And that's only from opening to 4 pm or 4 pm to close. Not that you can spend more than two hours there.

I know you get dinged on the shorter-length tickets and there are big differences in price depending on your length of stay. So that's another factor.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We are totally emotional buyers and never occurred to us to do a cost analysis. We have 1400 points across 7 resorts and use them up almost every year. Our kids love Disney and will use them after we die. We only do 1 or 2 bedrooms and feel like we get our money's worth. In one 18 month period I figured out we used 60 nights at an average cost of about 700 to 800 per night when you factor in cost of one bedroom at Aulani which costs about 1000 a night and we stay for 10 nights or a two bedroom at old key west which goes for about 600 a night and we stsy for a week or club level st AKl which goes for about 700 to 800 a night. Would we go to these resorts if we didn't have points? Probably not. It's worth it to us plus we give points to kds and friends who otherwise couldn't afford to go.

 

[Disfan1968]

I know you get dinged on the shorter-length tickets and there are big differences in price depending on your length of stay. So that's another factor.

That's really the heart of it. I feel pretty good about what I pay for ten day tickets.

 

[Mrsjvb]

we hit it last trip. spent more money than our typical cruise( suites only) and had a worse time overall. with FP+ I felt all we did was arrange our day around those times and our ADRs. next time we go to FL it will be to Universal( we wanted to wait a few years for HP crowds to level off)

so we are done. we only went every 5 years or so anyway.

 

[bookgirl]

Worth is very subjective.

People keep saying they could rent a house at the beach or an all inclusive for less. However that vacation would have absolutely no worth to me. I'm sun sensitive, I hate being sweaty, laying around in the sand is pretty much my idea of hell.

Any price for the beach or a tropical resort is too much.

I have enjoyed both cruises I've been on but that's not cheaper for me than Disney.

I have done San Antonio, Chicago and other city destinations but again not particularly cheaper and take more planning (hotels, transportation, food) for me.

So while there are cheaper vacations they are worse vacations that I would not enjoy and that would be a waste of money.

 

[ocalla]

I have to wonder if it's at That Point for many. This summer has been much slower than summers in the past. Could cost be a factor?

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

I have to wonder if it's at That Point for many. This summer has been much slower than summers in the past. Could cost be a factor?

Has it? I keep hearing about ever increasing crowds. Does someone have actual stats which show that 2015 summer crowds are less than 2014?

 

[bcrook]

Has it? I keep hearing about ever increasing crowds. Does someone have actual stats which show that 2015 summer crowds are less than 2014?

There aren't any actual stats. epcot, Dhs, and animal kingdom were so low from July 6-10 that I rode most rides without FP with short waits. Restaurants were empty for breakfast and lunch. Everest was a short 20 minute wait on July 7 and 10 in the middle of the day. The only ride we needed a FP for in animal kingdom was dinosaur.

Epcot was empty except the TT and Soarin lines. Even Soarin was 45 minutes at 6:00 pm for standby. It still took me 25 minutes to get through on FP though. That was weird.

I was surprised. The last time I was at the parks this close to July 4, it was running at peak levels.

 

[Grandma G]

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!).

Sadly, I'm afraid that our family has already reached the point where the end no longer justifies the means. But that we just won't know that until October of 2016:

And it won't be about the money. The fact is that we've never been able to afford our Disney vacations. We've just shown up nonetheless ...

But, the primary reason that we've done that - irregularly, over a span of five decades - has always been the fact that Disney is the brightest, shiniest, prettiest and most soothing/thrilling/delightful/different/familiar place we've ever visited. No scratches, no stains. No dirt. No rips or tears. No peeling paint. Virtually no vulgarity. No empty facades. No vacant lots. No unmown grass. An almost universal civility.

And this thread has made me very afraid that that is no longer the state of affairs in The World.

Too, I've always expected to see a satisfying number of new attractions following several years of absence. And it appears, that after thirteen years away, we will be treated to only one (1) new ride in The Magic Kingdom, one or two (1 or 2) new shows in The Hollywood Studios, one (1) replaced/exchanged ride and two (2) new mini-shows at Epcot and one (1) new ride, one (1) new show and one (1) new nighttime extravaganza in The Animal Kingdom ...

Offset by the closure of several of our favorite attractions, the termination of several of our favorite entertainers, the quarantine of all of those free-roaming Characters that so many times made our day - and - a tree-shorn, paved-over and rented-out Castle forecourt. And I will admit that it is that last that makes me the most angry.

However, I am also fully prepared to be so happily wrong and pleasantly surprised.

 

[bcrook]

That's really the heart of it. I feel pretty good about what I pay for ten day tickets.

Ten day no hopper at AAA are more reasonable than the Annual Pass. Splitting trips up this year cost me an additional $800.00. But I couldn't stay without the hoppers, so I would end spending the extra $256.00 on that too. No way to win without doing much less.

 

[bcrook]

Sadly, I'm afraid that our family has already reached the point where the end no longer justifies the means. But that we just won't know that until October of 2016:

And It won't be about the money. The fact is that we've never been able to afford our Disney vacations. We've just shown up nonetheless ...

But, the primary reason that we've done that - irregularly, over a span of five decades - has always been the fact that Disney is the brightest, shiniest, prettiest and most soothing/thrilling/delightful/different/familiar place we've ever visited. Not scratches, no stains. No dirt. No rips or tears. No peeling paint. Virtually no vulgarity. No empty facades. No vacant lots. No unmown grass. An almost universal civility.

And this thread has made me very afraid that that is no longer the state of affairs in The World.

Too, I've always expected to see a satisfying number of new attractions following several years of absence. And it appears, that after thirteen years away, we will be treated to only one (1) new ride in The Magic Kingdom, one or two (1 or 2) new shows in The Hollywood Studios, one (1) replaced/exchanged ride and two (2) new mini-shows at Epcot and one (1) new ride, one (1) new show and one (1) new nighttime extravaganza in The Animal Kingdom ...

Offset by the closure of several of our favorite attractions, the termination of several of our favorite entertainers, the quarantine of all of those free-roaming Characters that so many times made our day - and - a tree-shorn, paved-over and rented-out Castle forecourt. And I will admit that it is that last that makes me the most angry.

However, I am also fully prepared to be so happily wrong and pleasantly surprised.

That castle forecourt is a shocker. My daughter swears there is AstroTurf instead of grass. Is that true?