Disney is cheaper than going to the beach

[lady_hlh]

We first started going to WDW every year after my DH told me that our beach hotel trips to Cape Cod cost much more than our 1st Disney trip. After that conversation I was hooked on taking a WDW trip every year instead of going to the beach. I thought maybe we wouldn't go back in 2014 but our 11 year old DD is also hooked now and begged me to book the bounceback free dining offer while we were there last week. So next year we're going to be trying CR for the first time at my DD's request.

 

[beansmom]

well,i twould say it all depends on HOW you vacation. DH and I went to a costal town this past weekend and spent about $1k for a 3 day weekend. That was $400 for a night in a luxury b&b, 2 nites ina budget motel ($400 more because..well, Newport RI ain't cheap in the summer), $30 for the gas down and back and food. That's for 2 of us.

We can, however, take a day trip to the beach for less than $100 for our whole family. Lodging at the beach is a killer if you are staying in hotels instead of renting a house.

Our Disney trips for the next few months will average $3k per trip--$3k for 6 days for 4 of us including everything. Another $1700 or so for our December trip for 2-that's because we will be renewing APs for $800 or so which offets our free hotel room and free gift cards for food. We also got cheap airfare because Jetblue opened a new route in Providence.

and another $2k for our February trip of 3 days to introduce dgd to the Magic Kingdom--that includes air/lodging and food.

Yeah, we're going to Hawaii for $3k in October...Disney is about average in my book and much nicer than taking a vacation in Detroit or St Louis.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I was shocked earlier this week when I saw the daily beach fee at Seaside Park was $10. Maybe that's to discourage the riff-raff and steer them to next-door Seaside Heights. ($5).

Most definitely! When I was a badge checker, Seaside Park didn't sell daily passes, to keep the riff-raff away. Because Island Beach was such a good value, it would often get too crowded and close by mid-morning. We used to know it was closed when the "bennies" started coming to our beach and asking to purchase daily tickets. We'd then steer them up to the Heights.

Nice to know about those free beaches. It's amazing that in this day and age, some things in Jersey are still free!

 

[mill4023]

Great minds think alike! We are a family of 5 and also stay at Indian Creek(even cheaper for us as we split the rental with the in-laws!) can't beat $475 for 10 nights with a private pool and gameroom and 10 minutes drive to the parks! Also do YES tix. (love those programs and the ticket discount!)
We are cheap though and only spent about $1000 for food and such!

There are things I really love about staying on-site, but with a family of 7, I just can't justify the cost of two rooms at Disney, even value rooms, when we can get a big house with a pool for less money. It was a totally different kind of vacation for us. Much more relaxing with much more down time. Of course, having 2 weeks makes that much easier to do.

We drove 600 miles each way in a Suburban, so a big chunk of that 2k for food and misc was gas.

 

[goofy Jr. 88]

Cheshire Figment


thanks for making the magic

 

[Janilou2012]

Last January, we booked and paid for eight days at WDW, staying at Caribbean Beach, with the free dining plan, park hopper tickets, water parks and more, and spent just at $1000 per person including airfares. When I told my banker our vacation was costing us just about 1000 per person, he thought I was pulling his leg! He said, "No way, what's the catch?"
Uh, there isn't one!

We had a blast! So much fun, we went back in June, and we're going again in December. You can't beat it for entertainment value for your dollar. I love the place! This trip is still coming in around $1100 each, so I'm very happy. I work around 100 hours a week between my two jobs, so I look forward to my vacations!

Jan

 

[KC78]

Each trip I seem to save more and more! We are staying on property for 17 nights in Oct/Nov (at AoA, CSR and POP) and so far we are only at about $2700 for 2 adults and 2 children (16 & 7). That includes flying from the Northeast, staying ON property and 8 day Park hopper/water park tickets. It's like $40 per person/per night!!!! Obviously food is quite costly...but because we got everything else so cheap we can maybe splurge a little on our meals...or if i want to be cheap, we can make them budget meals with lots of sharing! Disney CAN be done on a budget!!!!

 

[crisi]

Well I guess it depends on your idea of a vacation, because that sounds a lot like my everyday life.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

That's our "beach" vacation.

We drive four hours to the North Shore and stay with friends. There is no TV, no internet, and no grocery store within twenty minutes. We read, we hike, we play cards and games. We sit on a North Shore rock beach (and don't swim - its Lake Superior just South of the Canadian boarder!). We have campfires and dance parties. With three families, no one is doing too much cooking or cleaning - you take your shift and are done for the day.

My daily life involves going to work, hustling around kids, making two or three meals a day and cleaning up after them - and my downtime involves a screen. I don't take time to read, play cards with friends, go for a two hour walk in the woods or roast s'mores on the beach. It isn't Disney - we sleep in, and sometimes barely get our butts off the couch all day (last year there was a declared jammie day, no one got out of their PJs). If your regular life is like that - I'll trade you.

 

[beansmom]

sometimes barely get our butts off the couch all day (last year there was a declared jammie day, no one got out of their PJs). If your regular life is like that - I'll trade you.

i won't trade but i DO consider my most successful days in life the ones that do not include putting on a bra.

 

[beansmom]

Each trip I seem to save more and more! We are staying on property for 17 nights in Oct/Nov (at AoA, CSR and POP) and so far we are only at about $2700 for 2 adults and 2 children (16 & 7). That includes flying from the Northeast, staying ON property and 8 day Park hopper/water park tickets. It's like $40 per person/per night!!!! Obviously food is quite costly...but because we got everything else so cheap we can maybe splurge a little on our meals...or if i want to be cheap, we can make them budget meals with lots of sharing! Disney CAN be done on a budget!!!!

well, i have to hand it to you then. We fly down from the Boston area, too (either outta Logan or TF Green). Staying at values, buying tickets for 2 of us...2 of us have APs and tickets to MNSSHP is running me between $3500 and $4k.

I'd love to know your secrets.

 

[AJ1983]

My Disney breakdown:

5 nights at Pop - $740
Airfare - $1400
3 day park tickets - $515

So, we're at $2655 before we eat. That's also not including the $350 for 2 days at Universal with shuttle transportation. I think it would actually be cheaper if we were bringing kids lol.

 

[CarlisleMom]

For my family of 3...I can go to the Jersey Shore 2 weeks for the cost of 1 week at Disney and that does not include the airfare to Florida.

I just went to Wildwood in August - Peak Season and spent less than $2000. This included motel, food, entertainment, gas, tolls.

It all comes down to where you stay and what you do.

 

[KC78]

well, i have to hand it to you then. We fly down from the Boston area, too (either outta Logan or TF Green). Staying at values, buying tickets for 2 of us...2 of us have APs and tickets to MNSSHP is running me between $3500 and $4k.

I'd love to know your secrets.

Roundtrip airfare from T.F. Green for 4 people: $89 (signed up for Southwest CC for 50,000 points. $69 for CC fee and $20 for airfare fees)

AoA-LM(3 nights), CSR(10 nights on points $5pp) and POP(4 nights with current discount) total of 17 nights: $1800

4 Y.E.S. 8 day hopper with waterparks tix: $880

 

[disneysteve]

My Disney breakdown:

5 nights at Pop - $740
Airfare - $1400
3 day park tickets - $515

So, we're at $2655 before we eat.

Wow! That's more than we spent for 3 of us for 10 nights including food.

1 night each way on the road driving from NJ
8 nights in a 3-bedroom house in Windsor Palms
5-day hoppers
All meals, snacks and drinks

The airfare and the expensive hotel really shoot up the cost.

 

[missesdisney]

Disagree.

For any vacation destination, you can find an example of someone who did a budget trip and an example of someone who did an over-the-top trip. In my opinion, $2500 is low-to-moderate for a Disney trip, whereas $3500 for a beach trip is an all-the-frills included trip.

The differences:

-- Some beaches are expensive, while some are cheap. In my area, Myrtle Beach (also known as the Redneck Riviera) is super-cheap, whereas Hilton Head and Kiawah Islands are easily 3-4Xs more.
-- Some people will go out to eat "big" for every meal, while others enjoy cooking meals together leisurely as a family. Those choices will make a huge difference.
-- Some people will spend all their time on the beach, which is free. Others will feel the need to take part in paid activities, which can add up in a hurry.


So, while a beach trip can be expensive, overall the average Disney trip is going to be more expensive.

We're renting a three-bedroom condo at the beach this Thanksgiving, and our rental cost is around $800 for four nights. We'll cook, be glad to have our college daughter home, walk on the beach, visit with family who live in the general area. We'll eat out probably twice.

I am in agreement with the OP's comments as I also live near the Jersey shore and can't tell you how many times I've had the same conversation with people.

I cannot comment on other beach trips but for those in the NJ/Phila area a week at the Jersey shore is a very common vacation. It is also perceived as cheaper than a vacation where a family might fly to because it is usually within an hour or two drive depending on which shore. The house rentals are very high and MOtels most of which are not very nice are crazy - like 200 a night for a place most of us wouldn't dream of staying.

Most of these families that I know do cook some in their rentals but there are usually beach tags to purchase (very few are free) and the boardwalk is the biggest money sucker out there. It is often a nickel and dime money sucker so you don't even realize what you've spent until you are way too far in.

I don't think that the price the OP quoted is an 'all frills trip'. They probably rented a house for that price not a nice hotel. There aren't a lot of them except in Atlantic City.

Also don't think the price for the Disney trip was a no frills trip. We have always done Disney trips cheaper than most because we take the time to plan and find the deals on the places we can.

 

[brunette8706]

Disagree.

For any vacation destination, you can find an example of someone who did a budget trip and an example of someone who did an over-the-top trip. In my opinion, $2500 is low-to-moderate for a Disney trip, whereas $3500 for a beach trip is an all-the-frills included trip.

The differences:

-- Some beaches are expensive, while some are cheap. In my area, Myrtle Beach (also known as the Redneck Riviera) is super-cheap, whereas Hilton Head and Kiawah Islands are easily 3-4Xs more.
-- Some people will go out to eat "big" for every meal, while others enjoy cooking meals together leisurely as a family. Those choices will make a huge difference.
-- Some people will spend all their time on the beach, which is free. Others will feel the need to take part in paid activities, which can add up in a hurry.


So, while a beach trip can be expensive, overall the average Disney trip is going to be more expensive.

We're renting a three-bedroom condo at the beach this Thanksgiving, and our rental cost is around $800 for four nights. We'll cook, be glad to have our college daughter home, walk on the beach, visit with family who live in the general area. We'll eat out probably twice.

*
I have never been to Myrtle beach, but I never heard anyone call it "Redneck Riveria"? Can you give me more details on why you state this? I thought it was a golfing area, that have great beaches.

 

[chigirl]

My WDW trips have been pretty affordable...for our trip next week I got super-cheap Southwest fare from Chicago and a pinned offer. We are staying at ASMo w/free QSDP 9/13-9/19. Our total trip, including airfare, is $2100.

In 2009, we went to Cedar Point and stayed at the Breakers, an on-site historic hotel. We had tickets included in the price, which for 3 days was $800 for 4 people. The food at Cedar Point is super-expensive. The Chick-Fil-A "value meal" is $18, when that would be like $6 at any CFA in Chicago. Cedar Point was very expensive. We spent $1400 on that trip, and it was 3 days!!! That is a lot to me for 3 days and no airfare. Cedar Point IS fun, but wow.

I know people who got to Wisconsin Dells, the local tourist trap place 3 hours North of Chicago...that place is super-expensive! I know people who have spent as much for a week or less there than I did at WDW, and they drove.

I find our WDW trips to be full of value...we are not huge eaters, so QSDP is fine for us, we don't eat a ton of snacks, so we have little out of pocket for food. We maybe spend $100 between 4 people on souvenirs.

Our family has taken a yearly vacation since our daughter was 2 (she's 19), plus one weekend each month of at the lake in Michigan every summer (3, 2-day trips each summer). WDW and DL were 4 of the trips. We've been to Cedar Point, California, Door County (Wisconsin), Marco Island (Florida), Washington DC...as a family we have not been to Europe or Mexico. Our WDW trips have been the best!!!! California (which included 3 days at DL) was our most $$$ trip.

 

[beansmom]

Roundtrip airfare from T.F. Green for 4 people: $89 (signed up for Southwest CC for 50,000 points. $69 for CC fee and $20 for airfare fees)

AoA-LM(3 nights), CSR(10 nights on points $5pp) and POP(4 nights with current discount) total of 17 nights: $1800

4 Y.E.S. 8 day hopper with waterparks tix: $880

ah...i see...i wouldn't fly southwest on a bet...

so, in all actuality, you are paying $2680 for hotel and park tickets...IF you had to pay for airfare ( and kudos on not paying this time even if it is southwest), that would have added another $1k right? plus food...

we are 4 for a total of $4k -ish for a week isn't bad...besides there is no way we could be away from work for 18 days...

 

[missesdisney]

Honestly though - you could do a cheap trip or a crazy pricey trip to Disney or the shore or anywhere. I think the OP was referring to the perception of the price of Disney. No it isn't cheap and there aren't deals on park tickets.

But it can be done reasonably if one wants to - for example - we have friends who have a family of 6 who go and they drive down from NJ. We did this for about 8 years ourselves to save money and be able to go more often.

It's about $400 round trip from South Jersey driving straight through in a gas guzzler 8 cyl truck when gas is nearly at $4/gal. We are a family of 3 and always rent a car whether on site or off. So part of our cost includes the rental so airfare even fairly cheap and rental car for our 11 or 12 day trip is easily $1000. We pay for DFIL and DMIL when they come because they do so much for our family so then it's more like $1400 or more. Driving is a huge savings and for our friends with the larger family the only way they can go.

Same friends rent a house for the trip for about $1100 for the week. They eat breakfast in the room and cook many dinners and take lunch into the parks. So the total cost for the family of 6 is very reasonable. The largest expense is park tickets for them.

We are DVC members so we have a kitchen when we go (and we do 12 day trips so part is in a Marriott on hotel points I earn from work travel - usually vacation club or residence inn so also a kitchen). We always make breakfast in the room and take sandwiches, drinks and snacks into the park. We save money but it's a huge timesaver for us as well. We often barbecue some dinners and we do go out to eat also. And I have never felt like we've missed anything when we do that. I am just as happy off site as on site for different reasons. We do both every trip.

I can't say it's more or less for sure to do one trip over the other but I know that I can personally go to Disney for a trip even if I were paying for hotel for less than so many people I personally know who spend 2500 - 3000 for a week at the Jersey Shore. Not everyone but my personal experience. Yes I'm a Disney nut so I'd never spend that on the shore but some people would rather do the shore than anything. It's the hairy eyebrow about 'you are going to Disney AGAIN' as if we are rich when the same people ARE spending thousands on a shore vacation and acting as if it's a bargain and they can't afford Disney. That's what personally gets my goat.

BTW no one on this thread has acted that way at all Just want to be sure no one takes offense - it's people I actually know that send me on this particular rant

 

[beansmom]

well, we COULD drive but time is money and dh can only be away from his patients for so long...and then there's the bail money i'd have to pay as a result of being locked up in a car with him for 2-3 days straight...