Cost of a beach vacation vs. a Disney vacation

[ajwolfe]

I find it interesting how many families are content to just sit on the beach. Even when we do a beach trip we still do other excursions; kayaking, dolphin cruises, mini golf, etc mixed in with our beach trip. We simply our just not the type of family that would be content to chill on the beach for 8 hours a day. Plus to us part of vacation is trying new foods/places, so I can't imagine a vacation where we would eat all our meals in the condo.

Interesting to see how families do things so differently sometimes.

 

[neatokimmo]

Our costs for beach and Disney are about the same.

MB rooms are about $150. So are values. Gas is about the same, I don't have to drive once I get to Disney. My family runs me everywhere in MB.

So then you get to the food. We go to Disney with FD. We take groceries to the beach and eat out maybe 3 times. So that is +$150 for MB for dining out, and +$100 for the groceries we eat. We have yet to buy any food while on a dining plan ooo.

Then you have $900 in park tickets. I had $650 in disney points which brings those down to $250.

So there you go. For our family, how we vacation, there isn't a big difference.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

All the times I have priced it, Disney is cheaper.

Now, here is why:

Flights from MSP to MCO are cheaper than flights from MSP to almost anywhere else. I can still get to MCO for about $200/rt. Pricing out flying to a "beach destination" (we looked at Outer Banks, Hilton Head, and Tybee Island), is about double that.

WDW - we don't need a car. So, saves $250 or so right there.

We don't do the parks most trips these days. So, that right there is a good $2000 we don't spend. At a beach, we would be content to do "the beach" every other day or so, but we would be running around doing mini-golf, fishing, boat rides, and the like, too. Which, would eat up $$$.

A lot of the stuff we do at WDW is super cheap or free. We spend a lot of time at the pool, playing ping pong (Pop), watching the animals (AKL), playing tetherball, watching the blacksmiths, watching the horses, laying on the beach (Ft Wilderness), or perusing the Boardwalk.

We bring breakfast stuff, snack for lunch, and a sit down dinner. I hate cooking on vacation, so we would probably do the same for a beach vacation.

So, for us, WDW is always the cheapest option.

But, I REALLLLLLY want to do a beach vacation on of these years. Maybe when my boys are a little older and enjoy "down time" a bit more.

ETA - we did a "beach vacation", Wisconsin-style a few weeks ago. Cabin on a lake. We dropped the same amount of money we would have had we gone to WDW the same week.

Of course the fact you skip the parks is what really makes WDW the cheaper option "for you". Naturally, that IS one way to visit WDW.

 

[worm761]

We don't typically do the beach because I live on the Gulf Coast and can hit the beach any time I want. Last year my in-laws asked us to meet them in St Augustine. I rented a 2 bedroom house about a block from the beach. We cooked most meals either at the house we rented or the condo the in-laws rented. We followed that with 4 nights at AKL. We are Florida residents. Got an amazing deal. Both parts of that trip cost about the same with the exception of souvenirs.

Now, this year we went to visit the in-laws in upstate New York. 2 days to drive up, 5 nights there, 2 days to drive home. I refuse to stay with MIL 24/7 so we rented a room in a hotel. Nothing fancy. It was a Days Inn because that's all there was. Most of this visit was visiting and a graduation party (the reason for the trip). The only fun things we did were a hike (free), went to the winery and got wine and a few souvenirs ($60) and then hit Dinosaur World in Kentucky on the way home. Friday we leave for 9 nights at Pop Century. That NY trip where I did nothing but visit and gab cost more than my budget for Disney.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I find it interesting how many families are content to just sit on the beach. Even when we do a beach trip we still do other excursions; kayaking, dolphin cruises, mini golf, etc mixed in with our beach trip. We simply our just not the type of family that would be content to chill on the beach for 8 hours a day. Plus to us part of vacation is trying new foods/places, so I can't imagine a vacation where we would eat all our meals in the condo.

Interesting to see how families do things so differently sometimes.

I'm not a real "sit on the beach" kind of guy, but DW & the kids love it. Plus, the place we stay has tons of free activities.

 

[kirstenb1]

We spent $2300.00 for a 3 br 4th row rental in Virginia Beach in August. Rented a kayak for the week for like $70. Probably spent more than usual on groceries for a week. We just enjoyed simple stuff like kayaking, throwing a football/baseball/lawn darts/frisbee etc around, building sandcastles. We would have rented surfboards for probably $300 or so, but the waves were pretty tame. We brought our own boogie boards, sandtoys etc.

WE're DVCr's, so I won't even factor that in. But the same week in say, a moderate room, with say 5 days worth of tix, is a small fortune. Not to mention, at the beach, we don't all share the same small bedroom and bath. They're completely different vacations, so to compare them is hard. We drive to both, so transportation costs are pretty small.

 

[star72232]

I find it interesting how many families are content to just sit on the beach. Even when we do a beach trip we still do other excursions; kayaking, dolphin cruises, mini golf, etc mixed in with our beach trip. We simply our just not the type of family that would be content to chill on the beach for 8 hours a day. Plus to us part of vacation is trying new foods/places, so I can't imagine a vacation where we would eat all our meals in the condo.

Interesting to see how families do things so differently sometimes.

We don't just sit on the beach. The beach we go to isn't on the ocean, it's on Lake Huron. There is hiking, canoeing/kayaking (we own kayaks), and other outdoor activities as well. We do use the beach quite a bit, but only for a few hours at a time (a whole day is rare). My kids are still pretty young (4 kids between 3 and 10), and that is enough for us right now.

 

[Marionnette]

I find it interesting how many families are content to just sit on the beach. Even when we do a beach trip we still do other excursions; kayaking, dolphin cruises, mini golf, etc mixed in with our beach trip. We simply our just not the type of family that would be content to chill on the beach for 8 hours a day. Plus to us part of vacation is trying new foods/places, so I can't imagine a vacation where we would eat all our meals in the condo.

Interesting to see how families do things so differently sometimes.

Well, we're not just "sitting on the beach". But if I wanted to do excursions, I'd be on a cruise. If I wanted to kayak, I'd go camping. You would have to hold me at gunpoint to get me on a mini golf course. And if I want to get adventurous with my dining, it will be in Paris not Wildwood! The whole purpose of our beach vacations is to do the exact thing that you can't wrap your head around: to just chill out and do nothing! It's relaxing to wake up in the morning with nothing on your to-do list and no need to rush anywhere.

Yes, it's very interesting how other families vacation.

 

[loves to dive]

Well, we're not just "sitting on the beach". But if I wanted to do excursions, I'd be on a cruise. If I wanted to kayak, I'd go camping. You would have to hold me at gunpoint to get me on a mini golf course. And if I want to get adventurous with my dining, it will be in Paris not Wildwood! The whole purpose of our beach vacations is to do the exact thing that you can't wrap your head around: to just chill out and do nothing! It's relaxing to wake up in the morning with nothing on your to-do list and no need to rush anywhere.
Yes, it's very interesting how other families vacation.

So true. When I go to the beach it is to do just that, sit on the beach, relax with a good book, listen to the waves. When I go on land based dive trips there usually is a beach there but the only sitting on it we do is either to take off our gear or at night. If I want to hike, I go to the mountains, which costs just about as much as Disney does for me, I'm at a point in my life I don't have to do discount and I'm not cooking, cleaning or doing laundry on vacation. If I want to fish, we go down to the keys and go out deep sea fishing, which we don't do much any more I enjoy seeing the fish underwater. It's all what floats your boat.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Well, we're not just "sitting on the beach". But if I wanted to do excursions, I'd be on a cruise. If I wanted to kayak, I'd go camping. You would have to hold me at gunpoint to get me on a mini golf course. And if I want to get adventurous with my dining, it will be in Paris not Wildwood! The whole purpose of our beach vacations is to do the exact thing that you can't wrap your head around: to just chill out and do nothing! It's relaxing to wake up in the morning with nothing on your to-do list and no need to rush anywhere.

Yes, it's very interesting how other families vacation.

My husband and I would be perfectly content to just sit and enjoy peace and quiet while at the beach but our teens want to do stuff. So we end up spending extra and getting a beach house with a pool, hot tub and pool table. And then of course they don't just want to sit there all day, they want to go do stuff, so we tend to get places near shops which makes them a little pricier. Luckily though now they are older and can venture out without us. But still the cost certainly isn't cheap. We do try to eat in, but that ends up being mostly work for me. So it's like a mini vacation. I don't stress too much though, before I know it they'll all be moved out and then we can have our peaceful beach trips.

 

[kathy884]

I think if you hang out at the beach most of the time and are entertained at a beach and are mostly walking the beach, reading, playing beach volleyball pick up games, making sand castles, doing snorkeling with your own equipment, a beach vacation is going to be quite a bit cheaper. My beach vacations are typically more expensive, but we do tours, we do scuba diving, we rent boats, we do deep sea fishing, and really just hang at the beach for maybe an hour or two each day. // We're into quite a bit of activity on a vacation and the tours, diving, fishing we do can easily match theme park ticket costs.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I can do a week at an all inclusive in Mexico (rivieria maya) cheaper than Disney.

This is where it depends on your family. We are going to do Disney in January for about 2,500. We stay moderate, but get a military discount and the military salute tickets. We do one TS and one CS oop/per day. We can drive to Disney in a day.

Mexico was $3,500 for the room and then $800 for flying.

The differences for us: January is prime time for Mexico and low for Disney, our toddler is free at Disney and not in Mexico, flying vs. driving.

Last time we did mountains with extended family and they wanted to eat out every meal and we spent a lot more when you added in all the activities everyone wanted to do, 12 -15$ here and there a few times a day (per person) and we might as well gone to disney.

Yes, Gatlinburg gets pricey quick. Especially if you want to visit Dollywood and it's very hard to find a discount hotel in that area, whereas depending on the time of year, it can be very easy in Orlando.

I find it interesting how many families are content to just sit on the beach. Even when we do a beach trip we still do other excursions; kayaking, dolphin cruises, mini golf, etc mixed in with our beach trip. We simply our just not the type of family that would be content to chill on the beach for 8 hours a day. Plus to us part of vacation is trying new foods/places, so I can't imagine a vacation where we would eat all our meals in the condo.

Interesting to see how families do things so differently sometimes.

I agree with this! We are considering a beach vacation next August and are having the toughest time finding a beach that has enough to do with the caveat that we're hoping I'll be pregnant.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I also wanted to point out that a lot of people who find their beach vacations half the price seem to be staying on site. You can get a house in Windsor Hills similar to one you'd find on the beach for a comparable price.

 

[talulabelle]

The larger the family, the more savings a beach vacation is over a Disney vacation. We are a family of 7, so a beach vacation is WAY cheaper for us since we can rent a house rather than 2 hotel rooms or a villa. The house usually costs us about 1/2 of what 1 hotel room would be for a week, and we would need 2 hotel rooms, so that is 4 times as much for Disney and that is BEFORE we buy park tickets. ALso, we cook in most nights at the beach, where at Disney we tend to eat out more (even if we have a kitchen). Once you have rented a house at the beach and paid for your lodging, the beach is free. At Disney, once you have paid for your lodging, you are just getting started and still have to buy tickets which cost as much as lodging sometimes. If you can only vacation in the winter, there are plenty of Florida beaches that would still be a savings over disney. We like the St. Pete area on the gulf coast.

 

[chewysmom]

A beach vacation is always, always cheaper for us! In fact, that's where we were heading this October until this spur of the moment trip was planned less than 2 weeks ago. My dh had quite the little almost meltdown we it was decided to go to WDW instead of the beach. He'd go to the beach any day over Disney. He's the one that gave the go ahead for our WDW trip though, so he can't complain too loudly.

At Myrtle, we usually stay at Dunes Village in an OV Queen room. For our dates, we were looking at ~$6-700 for a little less than a week vs. $1900 for this upcoming disney trip. I would use the $ I normally spend on groceries to buy stuff there, so that doesn't really count. (Yes, I cook breakfast and lunch while on vacation at the beach. ) Obviously I can't cook in the ASMu rooms, so there will be the added expense of QS for lunch. Plus, we live about 3.5 hours away from Myrtle vs. 12 hours from Disney so a lot more gas, etc etc.

As far as entertainment at the beach-that's why we stay at Dunes Village. They have 2 *indoor* waterparks on site. (In the bottom of each of the 2 towers.) It doesn't matter how cold it is outside, it's always steamy and nice at the waterparks. We literally barely leave the hotel b/c the kids have so much fun there. Giant hot tubs, lazy river, etc and it's all covered indoors. At the end of our beach trips we're so relaxed we're like jelly-vs. Disney where we need another vacation just to rest.
But I understand what you're saying OP. The same people who look at me like are the same ones who eat out no less than 5 times a week, tons of alcohol throughout the week, etc. We don't do that, and that's how we're able to go somewhere nice like WDW.

It's all about priorities.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

But I understand what you're saying OP. The same people who look at me like are the same ones who eat out no less than 5 times a week, tons of alcohol throughout the week, etc. We don't do that, and that's how we're able to go somewhere nice like WDW.

It's all about priorities.

I think sometimes when people exclaim "how can you afford that?!?" with regard to a Disney vacation, they don't literally mean what they say. There are a lot of people who don't *love* Disney the way many here do. I think exclaiming about the price is sometimes a value judgement over a shock of the actual money.

Even though I like Disney-it's not somewhere I would ever want to vacation (I'm a local). It's great for a weekend activity or quick 3-day staycation, but for that to be the entirety of a week long plus vacation would be miserable for me.

The amount people spend on Disney vacations boggles my mind. But it's because I see the value in Disney in a completely different way. I've found sometimes people use "how can you afford that?" As code for "I would never spend my money on that."

 

[hsmamato2]

@FairestOfThemAll37 you made a good point there.... it's in your backyard,and to you,it's a quick day trip at best. That is the beach to me. Or anywhere that is nearby and easily accessible to me. I like lots of my local stuff to do(heck a day trip into NYC is just another thing to do here) the beach is great,and I can still spend days or weeks just enjoying it, or I can go visit other,more exotic beaches.... I still value our Disney trips as a different thing altogether.
For me a Disney trip is about equal to a cruise.... I pay a price,and for that price I get excellent accomodations,plenty of great food choices,easy entertainment,all packaged up and waiting for me. I get good value for my dollar wherever I travel, that includes a beach,Disney,or wherever we go. I think even If I was a 'local' at Disney, I would still visit a lot. It's not just an amusement park,it's more of the entire destination thing for me,(again,think like a cruise package) that we all get to enjoy(various family members of different ages- when you have older parents or teens who want lots to do,it's perfect) I can enjoy sitting on a lounge chair just about anywhere I go!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I also wanted to point out that a lot of people who find their beach vacations half the price seem to be staying on site. You can get a house in Windsor Hills similar to one you'd find on the beach for a comparable price.

We stay offsite at WDW at a very cheap place ($568 for 8 nights in 2012, $393 for 8 nights in 2015!!), and a pretty expensive place at the beach ($1,500 for 5 nights in 2014).

But tickets & food are what makes WDW (or Univ/SW) a lot more expensive for us. Even with a kitchen at WDW & no kitchen at the beach, we have so many cheap food options on site at the beach, or we can walk down the street for a $10 pizza.

 

[Marionnette]

I also wanted to point out that a lot of people who find their beach vacations half the price seem to be staying on site. You can get a house in Windsor Hills similar to one you'd find on the beach for a comparable price.

Offsite vs. onsite, for me, is the difference between a Florida vacation and a Disney vacation. That's a whole 'nuther topic for discussion. I could also point out that I could stay at a hotel that is a 10-minute drive from the beach and I would save a heck of a lot of money over the cost of my ocean-view 3-bedroom condo rental. But that would be the difference between a vacation in New Jersey vs. a beach vacation.

 

[TwoMisfits]

It's not close - beach vacations, no matter how many extras are thrown in, are at least 2-3x cheaper for larger families.