e-mail show - alternate vacations

[G66]

I have to agree with Kathy's comment on WDW being cheaper than some other vacations.

Try taking your family to a major city like NY or Boston, even for a day trip. The money flows out of tour pocket like water. Sure there are ways to scrimp and save, but they generally don't lend themselves to a fun relaxing family outings. You can spend a fortune on parking and tolls alone.

Beach vacations are the ultimate money drain. My beach vacation cost is a $68- NYS Empire Passport, but the storys I hear others tell of summer rentals make you cringe. Try stopping for a snack in Sag Harbor, home to the $6- scoop (think very small) of ice cream.

IMO, one of the best family vacation values is Washington D.C. It's not cheap (nothing is), but you can get good hotel deals just across the river in VA, take the Metro in and out, and most of the actual sights and museums are free.

For me the biggest hurdle of a WDW vacation is the airfare for the family. Otherwise, I think you get relative value for your vacation dollar if you take advantage of the available deals and travel outside the Holiday surcharge periods.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Totally agree. Disney isn't cheap, but big city vacations are worse and the thing with Disney is pretty much you pay up front...if you get a package, it sounds like more because it's all totalled up. When you go somewhere like New York, basically it's just your room up front, but then you have to sit down afterwards and add up all the stuff you did when you were there! And it isn't like you can buy a New York City Hopper pass!

 

[DISNEYNV]

Yes, yes, yes!!!! Every time we price an alternate trip ( like NC or Bush Gardens VA) the price iis always comparable to a Disney trip! And we live in PA so that even includes airfare over driving to our destination. Heck, a trip to Boston for DH and I was denied after i priced a long weekend trip to a B and B. We could have gone to DW for the cost! So DW has an excellent value and there is always something new and fun to do unlike going to the same boring beach town year after year. I know people who do this (and if that is what you love that is great) but don't tell me you can't afford a DW vacation when you really can if you take the time to price it out compared to other hotspot vacation areas

 

[G66]

...don't tell me you can't afford a DW vacation when you really can if you take the time to price it out compared to other hotspot vacation areas

I have to laugh when I hear acquaintances talk about the price of ski lift tickets. I want to ask if character meets and fire works are included for that price?

 

[safetymom]

We love going to DC. There are so many great sights to see and we love the Metro.

 

[AnninIowa]

I agree - when you add everything all up, Disney is often the most bang for the buck! We're in Iowa, and even going to the Wisconsin Dells can be outrageously expensive when you add up travel costs, hotel stays, waterpark tickets, food (their prices are higher than Disney!), and souveniers. When you buy Disney tickets, your entertainment is covered; you don't have to pay for each attraction seperately the way you do at other places. Also, for us, the Disney transportation system is worth the price of the hotel. We do NOT want to drive on vacation and rely completely on Disney transportation. So, for us, that's a major value right there.

 

[G66]

Also, for us, the Disney transportation system is worth the price of the hotel. We do NOT want to drive on vacation and rely completely on Disney transportation. So, for us, that's a major value right there.

I'm with you 100%. Last thing I want to do is rent a car and drive amongst the other out of towners trying to figure out where they are going. Give me Magical Express and Disney Transportation any day.

 

[DVCJones]

Our family of four just went to WDW for a week. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in a 1 BR suite, got the Dining Plan, went to the parks four days, rested by the pool.

We did save a lot by driving from MA. and we used our Disney Visa points

The whole cost was a little less than $2000. (that includes yearly DVC Maint. fees and travel)

Where can a family of four get the same quality accommodations, food and entertainment for that price?

 

[julezdisney]

I agree with this as well. We live near Chicago so we went there for a Spring Break weekend getaway. Let's price it out.

$39.00 2 Adult Admissions to Legoland Schaumburg w/2free child admissions via tour website.

$51.00 1 nt stay via Priceline in a 3 Star. Ended up w/Sheraton Chicago Northwest.

$50.00 4 tickets to Co Co Key Water Resort via ebay- saving $50!!

$68.00 4 tickets to Adler Planetarium & 2 shows.

$80.00 This was extravagant at Rainforest Cafe, since DH bought the $24 steak and 2 drinks at $7/each!!

$22.00 in Parking/Tolls

$15.00 in gas round-trip (we're about 90 minutes or less away)

$22.00 for lunch at "Original Rock-n-Roll McDonald's" on N. Clark
______
$347 for a 2 day/1 nt getaway for four, locally!!!

For pete's sake, none of it was anywhere NEAR the awesome fun @ Disney!!

 

[Bornteach]

This is the number one reason to own DVC for us! We look for airfare deals and go whenever we can!

It has easily paid for itself since we joined and we have 40 or so years left!!


By then, maybe the Adventure's CLub will be open!!

 

[katscradle]

We live in Canada!
A trip to WDW is big for us.
It's the airfare that is the killer.
However if you strat planning far enough in advance you will find a deal
for air, taxes, insurance for about $1600.
We found that we like going once a year.
The room was costing us $2000. for 2 weeks.
We bought DVC and feel it will pay for itself in less than 10 years.
The rooms go up 10-12% a year.
Dues don't go up that much.
We did a lot of studying before we bought.

 

[sandyh67]

I cant agree more! With 5 kids going anywhere is expensive, always needing 2 hotel rooms! DVC has been the only way for us to go-
Just an example, my sister wanted us to join her over Feb. break for a one night stay in a suite at Great wolf lodge. An indoor water park in Niagara Falls. It really is nice, and in Feb. would have been a nice break, but after pricing it out, it was going to cost us about $500 for a one night stay for us
I said no thanks, I will use the YMCA pool and save our money for Disney!