Do you ever get sick of...

[Cinderella822]

I also don't think Disney is too expensive. I hear many people complain about that, and I just disagree. I've attempted numerous times to plan vacations elsewhere and they always add up to more than I spend for a wonderful week at Disney! I do agree that you get what you pay for and I find no other place that offers the superb vacation that you get at Disney. I think its a great place that can be tailored to each person's financial needs. My DD and I went for a week last summer and stayed at POP and didn't eat at any of the higher priced restaurants and we kept the cost down very well. Kids can add to the price if you let them. If you feel the need to overindulge, but then that's every parent's right to do or not to do. I still say dollar for dollar, you can't beat a vacation at WDW! Guess that's one of the reasons I keep going back.

 

[java]

This is how we end up at Disney every year. We price something else (like smugglers notch in VT) and we end up saying wouldn't you rather go to disney for that$$$.

 

[llij]

I think Disney is a great value for the $ spent there! If you looked at some of the prices for entertainment around our area then Disney looks very inexpensive!

 

[Hippychickali]

I actually think that WDW is reasonably priced. For us, the expensive part is the airfare. This is also a pet peeve of mine - when people complain about the cost. Nobody has to go to WDW. If you think it costs too much, don't go. Simple as that. Vacations are luxuries and not necessities and WDW is a company.

Ali

 

[HappyLawyer]

I think disney is expensive, with good planning and these boards you can cut costs down, i think there are fun ways to complain, i started an old thread about what is the most expensive thing you bought that you would never buy at home, i complain but i still go, i think there is a difference when a person just gripes on disney we all know before we go that it is not dirt cheap,


ps, it is the best money i have ever spent.

 

[mom23boys]

I also feel Disney is not overpriced. We live outside Philadelphia, we have Hershey Park, Six Flags and Sesame Place near us. We never go, they are overpriced. We also vacation at the Jersey Shore the off Disney years.

We usually spend $2000 per week for a 4 bedroom on the beach house. That does not include food or fun. It comes out to about $286 a night. Now we do belong to DVC so our room is paid for (every month) but $286 a night for the Jersey Shore is out of control. Just my 2 cents.

 

[mjmcca]

It is expensive but so is everything that you do for entertainment.There are ways to cut expenses. In value for the dollar i think there is no better vaccation.

 

[kandeebunny]

We divided out a military 10 day non expiring premium park hopper and it came down to like $40 a day!

I can go to Canobie Lake Park in Salem, NH which is like 1/3rd of the MK for $38.99 a day and pay the SAME high prices for food, get nothing but rides and bozo the clown.

Disney is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, they have something for everyone now, and they now have cheaper passes that expire to save some people $ as well as all different classes of resorts. A burger is $6.50 just about ANYWHERE you go thats sit down. TGI Fridays charges $7 for a burger as does Outback and a lot of other national chains. The merchandise is expensive, but you are paying for the Disney name.

We go 2-3 times a year normally, we are NOT Florida residents (yet hehe) and we find it can be VERY affordable.

We also find it works VERY well for our family, as I have special diet needs, and I do have a physical disability.

Regardless of the expense we keep going, and have been since I finished my treatments. I can remember my first trip to Disney after them in which I had very little hair, all the characters and CM's were SO nice. I was able to forget that I only had an inch of hair on my head, and was able to lose the hat (In toontown fair in the judges tent they brought all the characters in to one room for me to make it easier and Tigger stole my hat not realizing, I had a look of complete shock and horror on my face then Cinderella came over, hugged me and said I looked wonderful, and even better without the hat and it stayed off until we got home where it was too cold to go without one.)

We all believe you get what you pay for and the same is with Disney. If you plan well, use a Disney visa, get rewards, and take advantage of the tips on the boards Disney can be very affordable! Plus where else could you see Broadway quality shows and parades and go on rides for UNDER $60 a day?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

IMO, if you must complain, then you should not go. That money can probably be better used somewhere else in your budget.

That is funny that people would complain about the high prices, but still go to Disney, thereby increasing demand, and thereby helping to justify any future price increases.

Yes, Disney is over-priced, as you all have said, but it's not impossible or out-of-reach. You don't have to stay at GF on all your visits and eat at Victoria & Albert's every night. The ticket prices are shocking, but like I said, the demand is there, so why not take advantage of it???

Linda

I fully agree. It's important to look at your budget before deciding on ANY high-end vacation, whether it be Disney or Hawaii or that cruise you've always wanted to go on.

I think it's an indication of today's mentality, that if it's out there, everyone should be entitled to a piece of it. We work hard, we deserve it. "Everyone else" gets to go, so why can't I? And many people go into deep debt in order to attain everything that everyone else has. How do I know? I've been there. I go to Disney on credit, and spend the next 3 years paying it off. Terrible. I know. But still, I go. And because I love it, I'll go again. So, yeah, it's expensive as heck, but because I love it so much, I get more than my 3 years of debt worth every single time.

 

[maxaroni]

I also feel Disney is not overpriced. We live outside Philadelphia, we have Hershey Park, Six Flags and Sesame Place near us. We never go, they are overpriced. We also vacation at the Jersey Shore the off Disney years.

We usually spend $2000 per week for a 4 bedroom on the beach house. That does not include food or fun. It comes out to about $286 a night. Now we do belong to DVC so our room is paid for (every month) but $286 a night for the Jersey Shore is out of control. Just my 2 cents.

We are outside of Philly as well.....Hershey Park isn't bad, IMO but Six Flags....you've got to be kidding me. It's a horrendous place that is so overpriced and not a family atmosphere...blech. We did the Jersey Shore one year (Ocean City) and spent a fortune, for what? The boardwalk rides are incredibly expensive and not worth it.

 

[maxaroni]

This is how we end up at Disney every year. We price something else (like smugglers notch in VT) and we end up saying wouldn't you rather go to disney for that$$$.

We did Smugglers Notch once....way overpriced for what is there. My DS loves the kid camp but we thought we were saving money after going to WDW 2 yrs in a row....it was more expensive. Now, we stay "off-site" of Smuggs and still put him in kid camp...still expensive but more do-able.

 

[maxaroni]

We waited to go till DS was 8 and many of our friends went the prior year and came back saying it was outrageously expensive. We booked our trip to WDW and when down there, both DH and I said that it certainly isn't inexpensive but you get what you pay for and you can make it as much or as little as you want...to a point.

With that being said, we knew what we spent on 2 trips in '01 & '02 and it was more than we wanted to spend this year. We started pricing other options but DS kept saying that we promised to take him back in 3 or 4 yrs. Well, it's 3 yrs and he's 12 and still very much into WDW....we priced it out and were shocked at where the numbers actually fell for a pkg of a room & tkts. Very much in line as to what we wanted to spend. The only difference is that this year we are driving...taking a couple of extra days to do that but what the heck?

It's a quality vacation, great family vacation and well worth every penny.

 

[princessknb]

I have to say I have with the original poster!!!!!

 

[lclark0621]

I totally agree with the OP.

And what else bothers me is people will drop thousands of dollars on other vacations without giving it a second thought. (No them spending their money does not bother me).

But then when you mention Disney World you get a lot of "Oh my god it is so expensive there! I could never justify the price."

I know people who went on a 7 day cruise with their kids last month. They spent about 3 times what they would have spent at Disney. But all they ever do when I us going to Disney World, is tell me how crazy I am for spending that much.

Maybe if people would just do some research they would see Disney is not as expensive as they think it is!

And as for complaining about the price, I figure it is a vacation. There are all different levels of vacations. You can do Disney cheap or all out expensive, it is all a matter of how much you want to spend.

And personally, I think the tickets a very resonably priced for what you get in Disney, and really the food is not any more expensive then any other vacation spots.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

One thing that DH and I have talked about repeatedly is how much it takes to run "a city" like WDW.

Besides all the fabulous rides, and shows and fireworks (which I am sure cost a fortune) and maintenance inside the parks, think outside the parks for a moment. They have roads to maintain and signs to keep pretty. WDW has their own electric facility (so we were told by a bus driver when we were there over Hurricaine Charlie) not to mention their own Waste Management facilities. I also know they upkeep a fire company. Whole bus fleets to keep up for free transportation around the WDW resort. All of these things that we don't see but have come to appreciate cost money.

OK, rant over.

 

[Bayshore Bandit]

The food is waaay overpriced. I'm sorry to disagree, but the food stations
at the resorts are terrible. There are some decent deals at some of the
sit-down restaurants, but food is usually our biggest budget buster.

The value of the parks is a very good deal, especially for annual pass
holders like ourselves. We have been lucky enough to have been able to
make 2 trips per calender year for a couple of years now, so it works
out to about $22.00-$25.00 per day at the parks. We can't go to the
movies for that.

 

[Jcricket Fan]

I live in CT and I find most things here to be expensive so the cost at WDW doesn't bother me one bit....I always find the discounts and never pay full price for many parts of the trip.

WDW makes me so very happy....I don't remember ever feeling that way about living in CT!

Colleen

 

[Hippychickali]

I don't think the food is that overpriced, Bayshore Bandit. Sure it's not dirt cheap but chicken fingers and fries for $6.59 at Cosmic Rays or a quarter-pound cheesburger with fries for $5.79 at Pecos Bill's is about the same as eating at McDonald's here.

Ali

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Disney doesn't have to be expensive. We go a lot. Of course, there are 3 in my family and generally it's just DD and I who go. I can see how a large family would think it's cost prohibitive. But, if you have 4 or less people, it doesn't have to be that much. We went to NYC last summer for a long weekend. I spent more money there than I do on an entire week's stay at WDW. I told my parents, I never want to hear anyone utter how expensive WDW is again.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Thanks everyone for responding. Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't feel like it's overpriced!

The other question I pose to those who DO think it's overpriced is what do you all feel it should cost? None of the peole who ever complain about prices say what it should cost (outside of comparing it to other vacation spots which IMO are not comprable)

I respectfully disagree with the sentiment that Disney World is not overpriced.

I believe it is overpriced.

What should the prices be? I think about 60% of what current rack rate is. I think that leaves the rooms at a fair price. Not dirt cheap, but not $300-$400 a night for the deluxes. I don't believe there is EVER a time of year when Disney's value resorts are worth more than $100 per night.

ETA: While I do believe it's overpriced, I'm not complaining. This thread asked for an opinion, so I gave it. If I really had that much of an issue with it, I simply wouldn't go.

Also, I only spoke of rooms earlier. I think that tickets are a great value if you buy multidays. I think the 1 day tickets are really overpriced. If they can afford to make $40/day on a multi-day ticket, there's no need for a $60 one day ticket.