Disney isn't looking all that expensive

[aka-mad4themouse]

Isn't it funny how the perspective can change, depending on where this question is posted? The same discussion is taking place on the Budget Board and the general opinion there seems to be that Disney IS becoming too expensive.

Is Disney becoming too expensive?

But like the OP of this thread, I've priced other vacations and when it comes to value for your dollar, Disney wins hands down. We vacation at the Jersey Shore for a week every summer. We get a nice townhouse (BIG kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths, just off the Boardwalk). That alone will cost us $3.1K. Then there's the cost of food for 7 people ($1K for the week - and most of that is eating in), entertainment on the boardwalk (family 4-pack of rides/waterpark for $200), miniature golf, go-karting, batting cages, etc. In all, I would estimate that we spend close to $5 for the week. And I get to cook, clean and do laundry for that privilege!

 

[appleorchard]

Funny, we were just discussing this yesterday while walking through Epcot, remembering how we used to tour the first few times we vacationed at Disney. We spent a LOT more money then than we do now, due to the perspective that this was a "once in a lifetime" event, or that we wouldn't be back for another ten years. We ate EVERY meal out, including a sit down breakfast and a "nice" restaurant for both breakfast and lunch in addition to dinner. We were shareholders and got the shareholders discount on rooms, which was nice (too bad that's disappeared over the years.
Now, 20 years and numerous trips later, we own at DVC, so our rooms is free(well, almost--at least it's paid for!). For weekends, we can switch to Shades of Green for $119 a night to avoid high point charges. We eat breakfast in the room, and eat counter lunches. We're not afraid of "missing" something, since we know we'll be back again soon. We don't have to eat at EVERY good restaurant on property in one trip.
We don't have to pay for a limo ride or rent a car; we just use ME. We buy an AP using our DVC discount, and we don't buy all the waterpark options, etc, that we rarely used.
Disney is much more affordable for us now because we vacation in a completely different way. A lot of first and second timers drop a LOT of money because they're afraid they'll miss something--we did!

 

[chickenskin]

My family started going when I was a kid in '72, my best friends family could never afford it, but we started going together about 3 or 4 years ago. We're now at a point where we can't imagine not going at least once a year and really don't consider going anywhere else. Some might think that's crazy but both her and I have been to Europe and most of the other regions of the US, and I've been a bunch of places out of the country on surf trips, we just don't get excited for any other place the way we do for Disney.

 

[Chester's Mum]

As usual, Disney wins by a landslide...
Aren't we Disney fanatics SOMETHING ELSE??

Yes we are. Last May we finally stayed in the Contemporary Resort (3 nights, $100 off a night), and when I told my kids what it cost, they said "Wow, imagine how rich we would be if we never had any fun!"

 

[rotlex]

This is the exact same conclusion my wife and I come to every time we decide to go "somewhere else" on vacation. We planned a similar vacation to Virginia beach for last August. By the time we were done, it would have cost us nearly $500 more than a Disney trip! Well, we decided to go to the World again, LOL. (And that would have been with a hotel not even equal to a value at Disney).

We have pretty much come to the conclusion that we will be visiting Disney on a regular basis for our vacations for a very long time to come. There is just so much to do and see even after multiple trips, that we just can't justify spending even more money to go somewhere else!

 

[rotlex]

Isn't it funny how the perspective can change, depending on where this question is posted? The same discussion is taking place on the Budget Board and the general opinion there seems to be that Disney IS becoming too expensive.

Is Disney becoming too expensive?

But like the OP of this thread, I've priced other vacations and when it comes to value for your dollar, Disney wins hands down. We vacation at the Jersey Shore for a week every summer. We get a nice townhouse (BIG kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths, just off the Boardwalk). That alone will cost us $3.1K. Then there's the cost of food for 7 people ($1K for the week - and most of that is eating in), entertainment on the boardwalk (family 4-pack of rides/waterpark for $200), miniature golf, go-karting, batting cages, etc. In all, I would estimate that we spend close to $5 for the week. And I get to cook, clean and do laundry for that privilege!

I so know what you mean regarding the Jersey Shore. We live in PA, so it's only a 2-3 hour drive depending on the shore point, but I think our days there are done. We visited in '06, and spent MORE for a weeks stay than we did for a week in Disney at CBR with dining, park tickets and air fare. Thats just NUTS!

 

[ElizabethB]

What seemed really expensive to me was when we tried to do a couple of days at WDW before leaving on a cruise. Ticket pricing now make absolutely no sense unless one buys a 7-day park ticket. I understand why WDW did that -- their entire strategy these days seems to be to make sure no one leaves the property to visit the enemy (Universal, SeaWorld, etc). But, $75 per person when one is traveling with a group of 12 just to have one day at MK was not something I was willing to do. We had some past park hoppers with days left and used those, but next time we cruise out of Port Canaveral, we'll go straight to Cocoa Beach, with no stop at WDW.

And, call me crazy, but I find WDW hotels to be extremely expensive, unless one gets a 40% off coupon or is able to stay on interline rates. We can rent two beach condos in Kauai, and house a family group of 12 for 7 days for $2,400. The equivalent at WDW would be a 1 bedroom villa plus a 2 bedroom villa (excluding the grand villa option). Depending on which resort and the time frame, I estimate somewhere around $1,000 per night for that or about $7,000. Of course, we could do three value rooms, but that hardly equates to two condos with full kitchens, living rooms, balconies and laundry rooms.

I've always thought WDW was terribly expensive. Still do.

 

[MainStreetFireman]

We have spent many years as a family renting a beach house at the Jersey shore. We had literally rented a house every year for the last 10 years.

I grew up as an NYC kid whose family rented a house in Lavallette, NJ every summer. After college, I did the same thing. When I married my wife, she grew up the same way, so we continued to do the same. Since we were DINKs, we never noticed the real cost. Once we had our family and had to plan our shopping, meals and activities, it began to seem like less of a vacation every year.

Yes, Disney is not cheap. But we actually found the cost of staying at The Poly (yes, the 2nd most expensive property at Disney, but usually discounted nicely at the time we usually went in August) and the airfare to be cheaper than what we used to pay in rental "down the shore".

Yes, meals are more expensive at disney than shopping at the local A&P. But can you compare the requirement of having to shop, cook and clean with the carefree fun of the Hoop Dee Doo Revue or doing the napkin dance at CM? Not for us.

As far as variety is concerned, this is our 4th family vacation to WDW since first going in 2001 and we are calling it The Undiscovered Disney Trip where we stay and eat at places we have never been and highlight attractions that we have not seen yet. We are not bored yet!

 

[mom2aredhead]

We vacation at the Jersey Shore for a week every summer. We get a nice townhouse (BIG kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths, just off the Boardwalk). That alone will cost us $3.1K. Then there's the cost of food for 7 people ($1K for the week - and most of that is eating in), entertainment on the boardwalk (family 4-pack of rides/waterpark for $200), miniature golf, go-karting, batting cages, etc. In all, I would estimate that we spend close to $5 for the week. And I get to cook, clean and do laundry for that privilege!

I so know what you mean regarding the Jersey Shore. We live in PA, so it's only a 2-3 hour drive depending on the shore point, but I think our days there are done. We visited in '06, and spent MORE for a weeks stay than we did for a week in Disney at CBR with dining, park tickets and air fare. Thats just NUTS!

Me too. I went down the shore as a kid every summer for about 2 weeks... usually somewhere in LBI...the price of the rentals there are crazy. We've brought my son to Wildwood Crest for a week every summer since, but it is not a "cheap" vacation. We may actually skip it this year and go back to FL. The hotel prices in July are about the same as in WDW, food is the same (or sometimes more depending on where we eat)and boardwalk and water park tix are not cheap. Really it's the difference of plane and park tix, so I can get flights for about $118 r/t like we did in Dec, we'll probably go back to WDW. Or a few days in WDW and a few days in Clearwater and hit Busch Gardens. I also priced Beaches and the Atlantis, and WDW at a deluxe was still cheaper for us.

 

[Disneyholic]

I'm SO with you guys on this one!

The funny thing is that I honestly think they're nuts for thinking it's a "been there, done that" kind of place!

The funny thing here is that the first time we went we went for 2 weeks and came back saying been there, done that and over it. Two years later we went back for a week and really enjoyed ourselves. We've found that a week and a half seems to be just right for us now. The first time by the end of week 2 we were burnt out. I'm just so glad we decided to go back and try it again.

 

[MouseTriper]

Wow I really should have my DH read this thread!!! He is not the Disney-loving type that I am but I know in all reality it is cheaper for us than other vacations he is interested in.

 

[angelmav]

I think that there is a bit of a disconnect on topics like this. For whatever reason, a very large majority of Disboard members seem to be from the east coast where everything costs more. Heck the NJ shore example is probably mentioned in more disney = affordable discussions than any other destination on the planet. That said, I think you do get 'Value' for your entertainment dollar at disney.
Given we are too big a family to fit the 1 room at a value scenario, I could name many more affordable vacations. I guess I dont see how some people pull off a vacation to Disney as cheaply as they do.

 

[septbaby]

We have pretty much come to the conclusion that we will be visiting Disney on a regular basis for our vacations for a very long time to come. There is just so much to do and see even after multiple trips, that we just can't justify spending even more money to go somewhere else!

Shh, don't let those DVC people find you. You've almost sold yourself a DVC.

 

[rotlex]

Shh, don't let those DVC people find you. You've almost sold yourself a DVC.

Trust me, I did the tour our last trip and eh, we are still thinking about it!

Honestly, if it wasn't for the current state of the economy, and my fear of flight costs going sky high over the next few years, I would probably be buying into it!

 

[MainStreetFireman]

I guess I dont see how some people pull off a vacation to Disney as cheaply as they do.

Living on the Eastern Seaboard between Boston and DC is some of the most expensive living there is in the U.S.

We put a little bit away every two weeks (the DKs actually get to count it) and plan a trip every other year. We make all of our necessary purchases on the Disney Visa in order to bank a little spending money that way. We always watch for and get some sort of code. We buy snacks and water at a warehouse club and check the box as luggage. It all adds up over the 2 year time frame.

 

[jagwebb1]

This thread is really interesting to me because although we live in FL (relatively close to Orlando...approx. 5 hrs. northwest) - we rarely visit WDW. We tend to go on cruises for vacation because to us - they are a lot of fun and a really good value. However, enter in the picture our first daughter who is now 18 months and a cruise isn't a great option this year because she wouldn't be allowed in the pools or kids clubs due to her age/diapers. So, I have feverishly been looking for an alternate vacation this year. When I initially priced WDW - I was shocked at the prices of staying onsite. Honestly, we could take a 7 day cruise in a balcony cabin for what it would cost to stay 4 days at a deluxe. And that is just for the room - no food or extras. But what I have found doing my research is that everything else is equally expensive. Especially when you throw in the fact that we live close enough to WDW to drive and would likely be flying anywhere else. So...what do we do??? We are staying at Beach Club Villas in May. So yes - - Disney is very expensive (at a Deluxe) but so is almost every other alternative vacation. And this is coming from someone born and raised in the South!