Disney is a good value

[Gumbo4x4]

True. I feel like we know how to get the best deals for our WDW trips. I find it much harder if we've never been someplace before. I'd say our average per day cost for our last 8 trips to WDW is roughly $250 for the 4 of us. Our last trip was probably closer to $350 / day as the prices just keep getting higher.

As of 2 days ago, I couldn't find a hotel in Boston within short walking distance of Berklee for much less than $300 per night with taxes / fees. The DL / SoCal trip is so high because airfare will run us at least $400 pp. So that right there is $200 /day. If you've got any tips for me Gumbo, I will gladly take them! I'm totally stressed out and need to save all the money I can!

Timing is a factor too. I had 2 beach destinations picked out.

Over Christmas:
Place A $289 per night
Place B $91 per night

In July
Place A $289 per night
Place B $290 per night

And of course Place B was our preference (we're going in July). So, we had to move on to Place C. Mind you, we've paid that and more for a night, but as per the topic at hand, we don't find $290 per night at this particular location to be a good "value".

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I disagree with those who say the Disney parks are a rip off. While pricey, you get a lot of entertainment for the money. I do think that kids, seniors or disabled should pay less, though. Remember the ticket books? Those were fair, since not everyone rides the big rides.

I recently paid $120 per person for a field club seat to a SF Giants game. In comparison to paying over $25 more than a Disneyland ticket, compare 3 hours of entertainment to a full day/night at Disneyland!

I rest my case.

I completely agree with you. Going to our local baseball games cost a decent amount of money, and I'm usually bored! lol

 

[Suelala]

I don't know if it's really a great value, but there is nothing else like a Disney vacation. As long as I am able to, I will save up for a WDW vacation. When I don't feel like I am getting enough fun for my money, maybe I won't go anymore. But for now, I still get excited to book my Disney trip! And that is what matters to me. Just sayin'.

 

[MillauFr]

I compare Disney to LEGOLAND. We went to the one in California a few years back. It cost the 4 of us $200+ to get in. The lines were long, the rides not nearly as good, and the food cost about the same. We thought it was a ripoff and have never gone back.

We also went to our local state fair. We spent $100+ on ride tickets for my son and daughter. They blew through the $100 in only 40 minutes and the rides are lousy. Complete ripoff. The food was just as expensive and actually worse than the Disney food although I didn't think that was possible.

Compared to these two places I think Disney is a great deal.

 

[DizMe]

I compare Disney to LEGOLAND. We went to the one in California a few years back. It cost the 4 of us $200+ to get in. The lines were long, the rides not nearly as good, and the food cost about the same. We thought it was a ripoff and have never gone back.

We also went to our local state fair. We spent $100+ on ride tickets for my son and daughter. They blew through the $100 in only 40 minutes and the rides are lousy. Complete ripoff. The food was just as expensive and actually worse than the Disney food although I didn't think that was possible.

Compared to these two places I think Disney is a great deal.

I agree. If you're comparing Disney to other amusement park-type venues, Disney is miles above most of them (all that I've been to!). However, I find fairs, carnivals, and a lot of amusement parks to be expensive family entertainment, Disney included. Disney is great family entertainment and in that way you can call it a good value. However, there are certainly many other wonderful vacations that don't break the bank the way Disney does, so it really does become a difficult question to answer!!

 

[GracieB]

I so agree!

 

[GracieB]

I avoid state or county fairs for the reasons you stated. I paid almost $10 for one funnel cake at a fair--outrageous! The rides are ordinary and very pricey.

I paid $20 to park at Six Flags, and other than the cirque show, nothing was special.

I have blown $100 at an Indian casino in an hour or two, with little return. I have paid $28 for the aquarium in SF, for a few hours. These are just a few examples of poor value.

 

[Nayan]

As far as value goes, I agree with those who say it's how you travel and what interests you. While I like Disney, if it wasn't for the fact that they offer the special Florida Resident tickets and room rates in the spring, I would never go. I don't (can't because of health issues) go on very many rides, my fave park is AK and an annual pass is a waste of money to me as I really don't feel like going over often enough to use it. I do like to camp and do that often, I also enjoy gardens, nature trails and historical sites and feel the money I spend on those types of outings are a much greater value than Disney.

 

[eliza61]

I avoid state or county fairs for the reasons you stated. I paid almost $10 for one funnel cake at a fair--outrageous! The rides are ordinary and very pricey.

I paid $20 to park at Six Flags, and other than the cirque show, nothing was special.

I have blown $100 at an Indian casino in an hour or two, with little return. I have paid $28 for the aquarium in SF, for a few hours. These are just a few examples of poor value.

But you are not comparing apples to apples.

Do you really consider a trip to an indian casino a "vacation"? I would consider it more along the lines of some thing to do for an evening. Like going to the movies.

Same thing with the aquarium. That is not a vacation. that is an activity.

Plan a week long stay in SF with multiple activities and hotel stay then compare it to a wdw vacation.

For example:
a 5 night stay at a disney deluxe (contemporary) with the 25% discount in May is running me 387.00 bucks a night. what am I getting for that money? basically close proximity to the MK. (did not factor in entertainment because I need to shell out for park tickets). Now If I were to compare that too the Orlando Waldorf Astoria right next door, would the disney resort come out equal value. For me it would not. Considering I could stay at the WA for almost 100 bucks a night cheaper (274 with my AARP discount, for 339 which is still cheaper than Disney I could have booked a deluxe suit with 2 queen beds), it's a true deluxe, better food etc. Now I fully accept the lesser value at Disney for the ability to use the monorail and the extra park hours, for me right now that has value.

My point is you can't compare a baseball game to a wdw vacation. If you did you would have to compare it to a 1 day ticket which is outrageous!! and in no way could be considered a "value" price wise.

isn't parking at disney some thing like 20 bucks also? I know it went up recently? what is it now?

 

[MrsPete]

It's all relative. For us, driving to FL, staying offsite, cooking many of our meals, and carrying food into the parks, Disney was still far and away the most expensive US vacation I've ever been on. It was a GREAT time, but given the cost, it was just a so-so value. Had we flown, stayed onsite, and eaten Disney meals, it would have been anything BUT a good value

You bring up a valid point: You can lower the cost of a Disney trip by making budget choices -- driving, staying off site, bringing your own food. But the ticket prices still make it an expensive trip, when compared to your other options.

I love Disney and I love going. Not sure if it is a good "value". I guess I don't care all that much about "value" on vacations. We love going and if we can make it work and afford it, then we will continue to go. It is one trip all 6 of us enjoy. It is certainly more than some vacations and less then others!

I agree that value for the dollar, bang for the buck, getting a good deal isn't my #1 consideration when I'm planning a vacation . . . but it IS the subject of this discussion.

Anything, no matter what the price, "is a good value" if the customer thinks the product/service is worth more then what they're paying. Disney certainly offers value to the OP, and many posters on DIS.

I don't know. I'm willing to pay for certain things, even though I acknowledge they are expensive choices.

Examples:

- When we went out West, we took a Buffalo Safari in Custer State Park. Our guide drove us around the park in a jeep, showing us the buffalo up close and telling us fascinating things about how they live and how the park manages them. That cost something like $400 for the four of us (plus a fat tip, which the guide well deserved), and it lasted perhaps an hour and a half, but it is something about which we still talk. It wasn't a particularly good value; rather, it was a worthwhile splurge.

- Our daughter wanted to attend a university two hours away. She could've lived at home and commuted to a closer school, a school that -- honestly -- would've given her the same quality education. But she wanted the experience of going away to school, and she preferred the more distant choice. It's not a good value for us, but she love it and is succeeding academically.

I think that the best value for my entertainment dollar is probably still a good book from the library, a bubble bath, and a glass of wine. The combination of Netflix, Amazon Prime and RedBox is a darn good deal as well. For my get away vacation, the best value for my entertainment dollar is a friends vacation home - we do pay, but its not much and its beautiful. I personally love museums, which are almost always a bargain compared to Disney or a sporting event - and a week away in a different city in a moderate hotel visiting museums and eating in local spots is almost always cheaper than Disney. There are always cheap concerts and plays at the high schools and colleges around town. In fact, while we enjoy Disney, I can't think of entertainment and vacation options we've done that are less of a value - both emotionally and financially - it was a nice easy trip when the kids were little and had emotional and effort value there.

Yes, this captures the spirit of "good value". I think a lot of people are talking about "it's worth the cost to me" rather than "good value". I continue to think many people should be saying, "Disney is a carefully chosen, worthwhile splurge".

I avoid state or county fairs for the reasons you stated. I paid almost $10 for one funnel cake at a fair--outrageous! The rides are ordinary

We went to the State Fair a couple years ago, and that was a particularly BAD value! The entertainment value was rather low, and everything was expensive. I'm not sorry we went -- once -- but we probably won't return. We also won't ride rides at places like that -- not rides that're disassembled and thrown up in another location every couple weeks.

 

[crisi]

I don't do our state fair. Minnesota has a huge one and EVERYONE goes - and I hate it - in part because I hate seeing money leave my pocket in that manner, in part because I find the food disgusting and the midway disturbing (I do like weird chicken day, but the weird chickens aren't worth the rest of the experience - and then there is the llama costume day - I've never been, but some day I might go just for that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo1QnEGNG8c you have to go about 3 minutes in to start seeing the costumes). My mother in law loves it, so my husband takes her and the kids. I think that sort of experience is best for people who don't keep a tally in their head for every $6 Deep Fried Twinkie on a Stick.

 

[JanaDee]

Value is in the eyes of the beholder. DH and I are going to Mexico for less than half the cost of Disney, and all our entertainment, as well as food and drink is included.

 

[HM]

This year for spring break we drove to the Florida Keys via St Augustine. We probably spent about as much as we did for a trip at Disney for our lodgings and food, but to us the value was better, because we were seeing new places and having new experiences.

The price increases at Disney have me looking at other vacations for future years. It used to be a lot cheaper for us to do WDW than other vacations, but no longer. The desire to go back is just not there for us right now.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I avoid state or county fairs for the reasons you stated. I paid almost $10 for one funnel cake at a fair--outrageous! The rides are ordinary and very pricey.

I paid $20 to park at Six Flags, and other than the cirque show, nothing was special.

I have blown $100 at an Indian casino in an hour or two, with little return. I have paid $28 for the aquarium in SF, for a few hours. These are just a few examples of poor value.

OTOH, I can purchase a season pass for Six Flags for less than the cost of a 1-day Disney ticket - and pass holders get free parking. There is shade in the parking lot making a picnic lunch a real option, and numerous food options within 5 minutes of the parking lot.

Do we like Six Flags as much as Disney? No. But, it's probably a much better value.

 

[kymom99]

I think the people who are mentioning the prices of day activities have a point. If we go to the beach or Gatlinburg, we essentially pay for entertainment a la carte. We went to the beach last summer and paid for a day at Busch Gardens, a day at a state park with an airboat ride, and a day parasailing. Several hundred dollars right there. If you totaled it all up, it was probably less than Disney, but not by much. We saved by eating a lot of meals in the room, but the cost of the room was about the same as a moderate at Disney. The value in the beach trip was that it was relaxing. At Disney, by having park tickets and an onsite room, you would have a hard time running out of things to do and the entertainment lasts all day.

I DO agree that prices are climbing too fast for my liking, but I will probably always feel that Disney gives a lot of bang for the buck.

 

[GracieB]

I see your point, but while those activities aren't vacations, they are things I have done at home or while visiting someone. I don't go on vacation to sit on a chair doing nothing. While a beach or lake is scenic, I prefer activity. Museums, sightseeing, famous restaurants, horseback rides, amusement parks, Broadway shows, historical sights--those are things I do in any locale. Most are not free.

I live in a very expensive cost-of-living region, so my perspective on price differs from those in a rural or suburban area, also.

 

[GracieB]

I disagree. I had free season tix to Six Flags. Half a day is enough for me. The rides are not a total experience as at Disneyland. They are thrill roller coasters and can be exciting, but there is no real imagination or theming. Universal is the only other park with imagination.

 

[sheetz]

Disney may be a better value than some other places, but if you do a little research there are some amazing deals for non-Disney destinations.

A couple off the top of my head:

1. Washington, DC.--You can stay at an inexpensive hotel in Arlington (like the Americana Hotel) for under $100/night and visit all the free sights.

2. Las Vegas--Play the MyVegas facebook game and get most of your food and lodging for free.

3. Museums--Become a member of a museum that participates in a reciprocal admission program and gain free admission to hundreds of museums.

4. National Parks--Get a National Parks annual pass and receive admission to 2000 national recreation sites. Cost is $80/year for adults, but if you are 62 you can get a senior lifetime pass for only $10!

 

[tikitorie]

In 2010 our family of 5 went to Disney for the first time. DH and I planned it for no other reason than we figured "everyone has to take their family at least once". DH, who by the way is the cheapest person I know, was shocked at the cost. To make a long story short, we went and fell in love with the parks, characters, people, POR everything.Immediately started to plan the next trip which happened this past Nov. Fell in love all over again! Hoping next trip will be Jan. 2016. To us Disney can't be a yearly trip- simply can't afford it. However, even though it's expensive it was well worth it to us. DH especially loves that we stay on site and do the dining plan so everything is pre-paid. By the time we arrive we pay for vey little out of pocket! Not going is not an option...We're hooked!

 

[havaneselover]

We used to do a few days at WDW. I thought it was a good value. We had no expiration park hoppers (still have a few days left) and could stay at the Contemporary right after Thanksgiving for $240/night.

We haven't been since 2009 and I just don't see much value at WDW now for my family. We live close to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and we go regularly.

I think Disney Cruise is a good value (although not nearly as much as it was).

It's so subjective.