Disney is cheaper than going to the beach

[disneysteve]

I wish I could go away somewhere for 2 whole weeks. I'd even take the Jersey shore

We did our first 2-week vacation in 2005 when we went to Disneyland. I totally understand that it isn't something everyone can do either due to cost, vacation time, or other responsibilities, but it is SO much nicer than a 1-week trip. It takes a few days to really start relaxing and by then your trip is almost over and you start thinking about home again. With 2 weeks, that doesn't happen. It really lets you escape from the everyday stuff. I wish we could do it every year but we can't.

 

[luvmy3]

Sure. Any time. My wife, daughter (16) and I went for 2 weeks in 2009, 2010 and 2011. We didn't break $5,000 on any of those trips. And I don't think we've ever broken $2,500 on a one-week trip.

ETA: I see that you have 3 kids so that would obviously affect your numbers. There are only 3 of us, not 5. Though if you can drive there, transportation and accommodations remain the same price. Only food and park passes go up.

2 of my kids are considered adults, according to Disney anyway, so our vacations can get pricey. Driving is not an option since we live in NY and I don't even do well in the car when we go to New Hampshire!
We haven't been to WDW since 08 but we have been talking about going again soon since my youngest was under 5 at the time. I'll definitely look for deals, and since we went to Orlando for Spring Break in April, I got to see all the hotel choices offsite that may work for us. We would do WDW and Universal in the same trip, so I wouldn't need to stay onsite, although I would definitely prefer it.

No, I understand that for some people cost may not be a concern, and they may not want their vacation to be cheaper. I even understand why someone would look at their other options, as you said you did, and decide that onsite is worth it to them. I also understand how some people fall victim to the Disney marketing machine and do not consider staying offsite because they are convinced you have to stay on property to have a good WDW vacation. I don't understand why these particular friends of ours, who do not have unlimited budgets and are willing to research any other purchasing decision extensively, become so overwhelmed and confused by the thought of looking into onsite options that they don't want to look into it.

Gotcha

 

[disneysteve]

Driving is not an option since we live in NY and I don't even do well in the car when we go to New Hampshire!

If you don't drive, that certainly shoots up the cost, especially for 5 people. We drive from NJ every year which is part of what keeps the price down for us.

I got to see all the hotel choices offsite that may work for us.

I would urge you to explore the offsite rental market. Head over to the Orlando Hotels and Attractions board and you can get tons of advice (though the options can be overwhelming so be prepared). We just got back from 8 nights in a 3-bedroom townhouse at Windsor Palms and spent just over $100/night for a great place and I know there are even cheaper options. We just decided to splurge a bit this year since we were only going for one week.

 

[rigs32]

On site vs off comment - in January 2011 we stayed at Pop for a week w free dining upgraded to the regular plan. If we had stayed w my partners mom 20ish min from Disney were would have saved a whopping $15 per person per night when you factor in meals as we would have eaten and the cost to park. Gas was not a factor and would have cut into that. Te convenience and privacy were well worth it.

 

[gina2000]

You know, this isn't just about cost - it's also about vacationing lifestyles. For instance, we get a house right on the beach - we do that because we love it and also because we have family members who can't make the long walk in the heat. That adds a huge amount to the cost of a rental verses 4 or 5 blocks in or the bayside. This compares to offsite and onsite cost at WDW. How about the quality of the accommodations? Everyone has different needs and wants. Many forego one luxury for another.

Also, we don't share meals when we eat out. We enjoy ordering whatever we like, take it home and reheat the next day. Others never eat out. Some eat in luxury establishments, others grab a slice of pizza and call it a meal.

Unless you compare apples to apples, family vacationing style to family vacationing style, it's probably not a valid comparison.

 

[disneysteve]

On site vs off comment - in January 2011 we stayed at Pop for a week w free dining upgraded to the regular plan. If we had stayed w my partners mom 20ish min from Disney were would have saved a whopping $15 per person per night

Certainly you always need to run the numbers. Then you need to decide if the offsite savings is worth it to you. $15/person/night could be enough to make the difference of affording or not affording the trip for some people. If you figure 4 people for 7 nights that's $420 saved offsite.

 

[disneysteve]

You know, this isn't just about cost - it's also about vacationing lifestyles.

Unless you compare apples to apples, family vacationing style to family vacationing style, it's probably not a valid comparison.

Very true. If you want a luxury trip, Disney will be costly. Just a room alone may be a few hundred dollars per night. If you want to eat out 3 meals/day including table service dinners, alcohol, etc., the costs can really skyrocket.

 

[DOREEN1779]

I wish I could go away somewhere for 2 whole weeks. I'd even take the Jersey shore
(Not a DIS on the shore, in fact we are leaving for LBI later this afternoon )

I love LBI! I'll see ya there in 1 1/2 hours. Make it 2, I want to stop by Jersey Freeze!

 

[mrodgers]

You also have to compare apples to apples. If I compare Disneyworld with our Myrtle Beach vacation, for a room, I spent a fortune to sleep in a closet at Disneyworld while I had a 2 room plus kitchen suite and balcony overlooking the ocean for a mere $600. I spent over $600 for dining at Disneyworld, which yes, was excellent food for the sitdown restaurants, but I ate fresh seafood every day at Myrtle for around $250. As for the entertainment, you have to pay for Disney, but I will say the park tickets are not outragously priced for what it is, but entertainment at Myrtle because we are there for the beach, not to ride amusement rides, is free.

In total including travel (by car) I spend somewhere around $1200 for 6 days in Myrtle Beach. With Disneyworld the year before, I spent $2200 that didn't include travel.

Big difference comparing the fruit with the room and eating. Bottom of the barrel at Disney room for twice the cost and comparable dining at twice the cost coupled with must pay for entertainment vs. no-cost entertainment on the beach.

 

[Scotico]

Try staying a week in the Keys. We stayed at a nice resort there for 5 days and must have spent $3000 (room, food, activities, etc...). Personally I would take any week at the beach over a week at disney but I have to do what the kids want (They are actually burnt out on Disney now). Disney can be affordable but you have to do some serious budgeting. We had some friends stay there and they spent about $4500 for 5 days total but they stayed at a really nice hotel, ate out every night and bought a ton of souvenirs.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I was speaking with someone today who just got back from a week at the Jersey shore with his wife and son. He was telling me that they had fun but it was so expensive. Between the house rental, meals, Boardwalk entertainment, water park, etc., they spent about $3,500.

I couldn't help but tell him that my wife and daughter and I just got back from a week (actually over a week) in Disney World and spent under $2,500.

I'm always amazed how many people perceive Disney as being unaffordable, only to go and take a trip that is actually considerably more expensive. Of course, Disney won't ever promote this fact because doing Disney cheap involves things like staying off-site and eating at least some meals off-site which doesn't benefit Disney at all.

It's just a shame that folks like this don't take their families to Disney when they actually could perfectly well. Disney can be an affordable vacation. Sure, you can spend bundles of money if you want to but you can also do it for a lot less if you need to. And I'd take a week at Disney over a week at the beach any day.

ITA!!!! My dh and I say this all the time! People are like how can you afford to go to WDW and we're like well it costs less then what you spend in 1 week at the NJ shore and we get sooooo much more for our $$$(more bang for our buck), plus we always plan a day trip to one of the FL beaches while we are at WDW(and the Fl beaches are sooo much nicer than the NJ beaches!)

 

[ceecee]

Exactly. Many people have the perception that a week at Disney is way more than it actually is. I've spoken to people who were assuming it would be a $5,000 trip for them to take their family. They were pleasantly surprised when I told them they could easily do 2 weeks for less than that much.

Over the years I've spoken to many people who wanted to go and thought they couldn't afford it when in reality it was no more expensive, or even less expensive, than vacations they were already taking.

I have found that as well. People just assume WDW is expensive. Even when you try to explain. My neighbor said she only wanted to do Disney if they could do it right and spend 10,000.

 

[disneysteve]

My neighbor said she only wanted to do Disney if they could do it right and spend 10,000.

I guess we've been doing it wrong all these years.

ETA: Actually, I'd love to take a 10K trip to Disney because that would mean we were staying for 4-5 weeks.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

I agree with the OP. Here in Michigan, my friend and her family rented a basic condo in South Haven on Lake Michigan for a week and spent $3500 just for the condo! And while the complex is on the lake, her unit wasn't beach front or anything. DS and I can do Disney for a week (with flight) for WAY less.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

I have had several people comment on how they 'wish they could afford to take their kids to Disney'. The comments started before we even took our first trip with the kids. And, let me tell you, we got some strange reactions when we went back a second time earlier this year.

People automatically assume that Disney is expensive. Yes, it can be. However, planning ahead and going in the off-season definitely can make it possible for a lot of families.

Both of our trips were 7 days, value resort, free dining plan (one table, one quick). We never felt as if we were doing Disney 'cheap', we were just doing Disney! Sure, I would love to stay at the Grand Floridian someday but honestly, I could go to Disney twice for the price of staying there once, so why would I want to do that? We spend little to no time in our rooms so 'luxury' isn't important to me. Plus, we are used to camping, so staying in a value resort IS luxury!

Our first trip, including round trip airfare from the midwest to Orlando, cost $2,500 for the entire week. Airfare, lodging, tickets, transportation and food. The trip this year cost $3,000 thanks in part to rising airfare and changes in the free dining offer (we had to upgrade our free dining to include table service...ok, so I guess I do like luxury a bit...fast food for a week is NOT a vacation to me...)

Anyway, these same people who so desperately want to go to Disney (hey, not everyone does and that is PERFECTLY fine too!) don't realize that they spend the same, or more, on their other yearly vacations. It IS doable if you really want to do it. And it does NOT mean you have to stay off-site or never eat a nice meal (hello - La Celliere, Biergarten, CRT, etc.).

I am already searching for a third trip with the kiddos...can't wait to hear what they have to say about us now!

 

[eliza61]

I don't know Steve, People that go to the jersey shore are not going there because of the cost. Sorry, I live here in South Jersey and the Jersey shore is a tradition. You could give away a trip to Disney and they would still pick the Jersey shore. Never could understand it because imo Jersey beaches are not that spectacular, but I'm telling you they flock to the shore like salmon returning upstream to spawn. I'm sitting here in Au bon Par, waiting for the traffic to the shore to let up.

Now for the way I travel disney is very expensive. I went to Paris france for 5 days, stayed in a true deluxe resort, ate way better food and went to Disneyland Paris for almost the same cost as what it cost us to stay at the Grand floridian and that was with airfare from Philly.

just depends. Now if she spent 3500 for a week at Ocean city, she went top shelf. I've done Jersey shore for 700 bucks this summer for a week. The beach is just like Disney, you can spend a bunch or a little.

 

[disney1990]

I was speaking with someone today who just got back from a week at the Jersey shore with his wife and son. He was telling me that they had fun but it was so expensive. Between the house rental, meals, Boardwalk entertainment, water park, etc., they spent about $3,500.

I couldn't help but tell him that my wife and daughter and I just got back from a week (actually over a week) in Disney World and spent under $2,500.

I'm always amazed how many people perceive Disney as being unaffordable, only to go and take a trip that is actually considerably more expensive. Of course, Disney won't ever promote this fact because doing Disney cheap involves things like staying off-site and eating at least some meals off-site which doesn't benefit Disney at all.

It's just a shame that folks like this don't take their families to Disney when they actually could perfectly well. Disney can be an affordable vacation. Sure, you can spend bundles of money if you want to but you can also do it for a lot less if you need to. And I'd take a week at Disney over a week at the beach any day.

We used to spend a week in Ocean City, Maryland, in the summer -- until we found it was less expensive to vacation at Disney World.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

But if you're renting a place at the beach, you don't have to pay for the beach ALSO, do you?

There are not many places you can rent right on the beach at the Jersey shore. LBI is the exception to this rule

 

[bookluvingbabe]

My boss has a beach condo that he loans out at no cost so we can do a week at the beach for the cost of getting there. We spent $500 on dining out, dining in (some of which we would have done at home), ice cream and video games and had a great time.

I can't do a week at Disney for $500 for 3 people no matter how I slice it!

 

[disneysteve]

I don't know Steve, People that go to the jersey shore are not going there because of the cost. Sorry, I live here in South Jersey and the Jersey shore is a tradition. You could give away a trip to Disney and they would still pick the Jersey shore.

Sure that is true of some. I'm not talking about those people. I'm talking about the ones who would like to go to Disney but think they can't afford it but proceed to spend just as much if not more to spend a week at the shore.