Frequent Visitors

[ww52]

I have no idea which forum to post this - I read through the titles of every one twice and still can't decide. It's not based on Theme Parks - but not Resorts either - not budget (but maybe?) - not community etc.

It's a general WDW trip discussion. So please mods - move this to the right place. Thank you.

Anyway -
We are not (by the boards standards) frequent visitors.

I'm having deja vu reading the boards in prep for our July trip - remember the feeling I've had every other time I used the boards to plan / get psyched. It's been 7 years since our last trip; been a member on here since 2001 but probably lurked well before then (or changed my ID?) This will "only" be trip 9 in nearly 30 years (first in 1989). I feel like I've rarely ever been there in comparison to most.

All summer except 1:
1989 - GF (kids were 7, 3, 2)
1994 - BC
1996 - BC
1997 - GF
1998 - GF
(then college for the kids made the Deluxe days go away! Teacher discount to the rescue!)
2003 - Swan
2004 - Swan (Christmas)
2011 - Swan
2018 - Dolphin (Eight of us total. First trip with grandkids!!)

"Swolphin" is not NEARLY as cheap as it was before, but it's all relative. To be so close to two of the parks without paying YC/BC/BW prices is a win for us (AAA or AARP rate helps - teacher discount either not there anymore or not any cheaper; I don't recall)

Anyway - Disney is expensive.

(Off topic: water is wet, too.)

Yet I always see so many people who go nearly every year. Even multiple times. OK - they can't all be rich. So I figure it's priorities. And/or a combination of distance (that is, a relatively easy drive vs airfare for a family) and perhaps vacation club and AP making it more affordable.

For just my wife and I - this is costing over $6,000 for 6 nights. Estimate - including all meals, tickets, airfare, room and a pretty large per day "allowance."

But for frequent "Dis-itors", I guess it's mostly priorities. No other vacations? During our kids' growing years, we also visited California (we're from the Chicago area BTW) as well as a trip to Boston then on a cruise to Bermuda, and a trip to Hawaii. And frequent long weekends to a resort in a neighboring state.

Since the kids have grown we've travelled to Paris/London once as well with one of our now grown children.

Of course, costs go up. I recall our Disney trips (for 5) were about $7000 for 6 nights. We're close to that for 2 now. The other trips were all between 8000 and 10,000 for 5.

And I don't regret any of them. We could afford it - and as I near my retirement years, those memories are truly priceless. Tell me I can have all that money today, compounded at 10% - but remove the memories, and I'd turn that down in a nanosecond.

Anyway, my point (and I DO have one) is wondering if I'm just wistfully exaggerating how many people here go so very frequently. Am I a "weird" one on the boards who "only" have been once every 3-4 years on average?

 

[glocon]

No- we can’t go every year either, even though we would like to. Just not in the budget.

 

[AngiTN]

There are not that many people (percentage wise) who go frequently, and are not local. And you are very far from one of the only ones to go every 3, 4 years.

That said, as someone who is not local but does go 3, 4 times a year it is not as expensive as you are saying. We don't spend anywhere near $6000 for a trip, even over a week. For 3 of us. DH and I just got back from a week with DGD, at BWI CL and didn't come close to $6000, including airfare. Half that. Granted we have AP but even adding in tickets wouldn't have been $6000.

And yes, Disney is the only place we opt to vacation. It's what we enjoy. We don't like the beach. We don't want to travel overseas. We've already been to other US destinations. So we enjoy going to Disney. It's what we know and where we want to go. So we do. Our money, our choice.

 

[MHSweb79]

I used to read these boards and wonder how people even had so much vacation time!

Anyway, we travel much, much more cheaply, though now there’s only two of us. We are going next week using our AP’s and booked flights using points (no need to purchase $$$ tickets). AP discount on moderate resort (French Quarter) so no car rental needed. We have eaten at all the restaurants we care to, so maybe 1 or 2 sitdown meals (typically lunch) and the rest counter service. Sometimes we even split those or I’ll order a kid’s meal if its hot and I’m not that hungry. Not being cheap, just hate to throw away perfectly good food. We rarely order booze so that certainly keeps the cost down too, although I might try a frozen drink in Epcot next week.

We never book dessert parties (can’t justify the price) or other add-ons, although we’ve done a couple of tours over the years that we enjoyed a lot.

 

[AngiTN]

I used to read these boards and wonder how people even had so much vacation time!

To answer for DH and I, we've been at our jobs a long time. We both have over 30 days of vacation time. Strategically placed with Holidays and weekends and you can get in a lot of days at Disney. Plus, we can work 4 10's. Our recent trip just was 10 days but only 4 days off work. Memorial Day, 1 week of 4 10's and 2 weekends.

 

[winnieofpooh]

I think I've been very blessed in terms of recent Disney trips. I'm still fairly young, just out of college. In high school, I was one of those cheerleaders that took over the parks in February, lol. So I went 4 years in a row. Then my fiance and I have been able to go twice over the past 2 years, and will return for a third year in a row for our honeymoon. So I've been lucky enough to go about 8 times in the past 10 years. Sadly for us, is my fiance starts dental school so we will be penny pinching for sure, and won't have any time for future trips for at least a few years after our 2019 trip .

I think the more curious part to me is not how people afford all these trips, but how they get so much time off work! I follow a family on YouTube and they go (it seems) around once or twice a month for a few days. I'm like, what job do you have that you can have a week's worth of vacation every month, and how do I get that job!?

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

We have been to Disney 5 times over the past 11 years and I am going again next week with just dd. We are from Canada so obviously it is much more difficult and expensive to get to. Yes, Disney is an expensive vacation if you choose it to be but also one that can be inexpensive, relatively speaking. Total cost for us for 7 nights (AS Music, 3 day base tickets, direct flights and oop food with 3 TS meals) is right around $3500 CDN. This amount includes a 30% exchange rate on everything but the flights (paid in cdn funds). Some people would never stay at a value and yet others would never stay onsite, opting offsite to save even more. Everyone decides for themselves what their budget is and makes it work according to their vacationing style and what they deem to be important.

Totally agree on the memories......they really are priceless and also seeing my dd (20) excitement as our vacation approaches.

 

[AngiTN]

I think I've been very blessed in terms of recent Disney trips. I'm still fairly young, just out of college. In high school, I was one of those cheerleaders that took over the parks in February, lol. So I went 4 years in a row. Then my fiance and I have been able to go twice over the past 2 years, and will return for a third year in a row for our honeymoon. So I've been lucky enough to go about 8 times in the past 10 years. Sadly for us, is my fiance starts dental school so we will be penny pinching for sure, and won't have any time for future trips for at least a few years after our 2019 trip .

I think the more curious part to me is not how people afford all these trips, but how they get so much time off work! I follow a family on YouTube and they go (it seems) around once or twice a month for a few days. I'm like, what job do you have that you can have a week's worth of vacation every month, and how do I get that job!?

People can manipulate their Youtube feeds to make it appear like they are current videos but are actually old or make 1 trip look like several. I'm certain you realize everything is not as it appears online.
But, as I mentioned, many jobs allow you to work 4 10's, so you get a 3 day weekend. Live close enough and you can go every month easily.

 

[ww52]

My budget - not that it matters:
$300 a night for 6 nights hotel (granted - there are a lot cheaper places to stay - but a lot more expensive too. Walking distance to Epcot and HS and the Boardwalk and a malt at Beaches and Cream...)
About $1000 for 2 five day hoppers
About $500 round trip for 2
About $400 a day for meals and drinks and "stuff" for 2 (hopefully less - but a lot of character meals are in there)
$350 car rental (not necessary I agree - but for convenience)
That's about $6000

I can't see getting that under $4000 without going to a value hotel or offsite and maybe grazing the samples at a local Costco!

 

[bashuck]

We (DW/DD8) go twice per year, once in the summer and once in December for each of the past 4 years. We fly for free using Southwest points for the last 7 trips. We have stayed DVC those last 7 trips as well (150 Wilderness Lodge points resale). Twice someone 'gave' me their DVC points. We stay in studios for an average of 100 points (cost approx. $700) yearly for that number of points but there was an upfront cost of $80 per point. Getting annual passes gets us 3 trips and then 6 months without an AP and then go 3 times. So a regular trip is Airfare - free, Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club $700, AP $225 each (1/3 of AP). So we are at $1500 total before food and shopping but clearly that is whatever one makes of it. I do have friends who seem to think we only go to Disney (but they are wrong, we all went to San Antonio, Denver, Dallas) also flying for free.

 

[mster425]

We are not 3-4 trips a year people but we do rent DVC points, fly on airline points etc which saves a chunk.

I wonder the same about people who always seem to be replacing their furniture, doing remodeling that never even occurred to me like refinishing their stairwell, hiring shelf designers, etc. And I'm sure they think the same about us with 3 deluxe Dis trips in 3 years. Just different budgets and different priorities. My furniture is a mish mash of World Market and Target and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[ww52]

Airline points of course makes a big difference. Our "point" CC is Amex and we've used that in the past to upgrade to club level at the Swan and also a several nights at a Marriott in Sonoma.

I have to say we've never been very good about optimizing our CC expenditures towards rewards. I can see where that can make a huge difference if one focus on a particular reward category.

I should look into DVC for my son's family. Not understanding the complete cost - $700 for 100 points but $80 per point upfront cost. So for $8000 down payment so to speak buys you the right to rent a room at DVC studio for about $700? For two trips? How many night total?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I guess I'd be considered a frequent visitor...
Growing up my parents took us almost every November.
As an adult I've just fallen in love with it even more so I go as often as I can. For example since April of last year I've gone to WDW 3 times and DLR 1 time.
I have a WDW trip booked for December and I'm easily on the way to convincing my sister to go in late August lol. She loves it almost as much as I do.

Growing up Disney was always the "big trip".
Other than that we went to Cedar Point a couple times, Boston a couple times, Lake George a couple times, DC once... those were all just like long weekend trips and since we live in the Buffalo NY area none were terribly far.
Also when going to Disney we didn't stay onsite.

As an adult I've been lucky enough to go to Europe a couple times, Cali a couple times, and Hawaii once.
As an adult going to WDW I generally stay onsite but not in deluxe resorts and they are usually short trips.

I only have myself to pay for so even with the rising costs its not terribly expensive for me.
I also don't go out and buy the latest gadgets or go out to the movies every weekend or go to a ton of concerts etc.
WDW is my happy place so I don't splurge on stuff so that I can afford to go there more.

 

[tlcdoula]

In the past few years since my kids have grown up we have traveled more than before. We travel on a small budget for each trip and stretch it as long as we can. I work a second part time job and that is our mad money to use for travel. Life is to short to not do the things that make you happy, and for me Disney is one of them.

I am also lucky that I have friends that I also travel to disney with so I am able to go a little more than if hubby came each time with me. This last year or so I have definitely been to disney more than I probably ever will again. I ended up getting an annual pass for Disneyland because I knew I would be back at least once more over the year. Well once more turned into 3 more trips Oppppsss.

All of our flights have been on points and or companion fare tickets so that helps keeping our costs down. Our trip coming up to Disneyworld this December I was able to use our Companion Ticket with West jet as well as West jet dollars for everything except for the taxes so that saved us at least $600. We are staying at Pop Century for 8 nights and have park hoppers, we will do a few sit down meals and will order in some water and breakfast foods from Garden Grocer. I expect we will spend around $3000 in total for our trip depending if we add any other meals.

 

[AngiTN]

My budget - not that it matters:
$300 a night for 6 nights hotel (granted - there are a lot cheaper places to stay - but a lot more expensive too. Walking distance to Epcot and HS and the Boardwalk and a malt at Beaches and Cream...)
About $1000 for 2 five day hoppers
About $500 round trip for 2
About $400 a day for meals and drinks and "stuff" for 2 (hopefully less - but a lot of character meals are in there)
$350 car rental (not necessary I agree - but for convenience)
That's about $6000

I can't see getting that under $4000 without going to a value hotel or offsite and maybe grazing the samples at a local Costco!

We paid $1500 for 2 AP, just to give you a very significant cost savings right there.
No rental car. Why? you already pay premium to walk to 2 parks
Why pay for character meals? Poor quality food for characters you can meet for free in the parks. You can spend less for better food
There are many ways to save quite a bit of money. And as for food, we don't graze Costco either we don't even eat QS. We only do TS meals. TiW helps a lot (which takes you back to needing an AP)

 

[AngiTN]

We are not 3-4 trips a year people but we do rent DVC points, fly on airline points etc which saves a chunk.

I wonder the same about people who always seem to be replacing their furniture, doing remodeling that never even occurred to me like refinishing their stairwell, hiring shelf designers, etc. And I'm sure they think the same about us with 3 deluxe Dis trips in 3 years. Just different budgets and different priorities. My furniture is a mish mash of World Market and Target and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Yes, this is a huge thing too
We drive our cars for ages. We buy new mind you but then we keep them till the wheels fall off.
We don't get new furniture or have decorated house.
We do most of our own home improvement work, yard work, painting, etc. It's fun for us.
So all our "play money" goes to Disney. Others put theirs in different places. But that's because others prefer different priorities.

 

[loves to dive]

I've been going 2 or 3 times a year for about the past 4 years. Before that my son and I would go every other year, we had been doing that for over 30 years. When we started going he was just shy of 3, it was 1982 or 83. I was a single parent, secretary at UGA so didn't make a lot of money, thus the every other year. We live within a 7 or 8 hour drive (depending on who is driving) and it would take me two years to save. Back when we started going, if you wanted to stay on site you stayed at one of MK resorts, there was no such thing as moderate or value resorts. We stayed on site because as a single mother, driving was just one thing I didn't want to have to deal with and it was easy to hop on the monorail or a boat to go back for a nap. We just kept staying on site over the years but moved over to the Epcot resorts. After he got grown and married, I started going once a year and he still went with me every other year. I got an AP and then he was able to start going every year instead of every other year so I started going twice a year, F&G with him and F&W for me. Lately we have also been going for 3 or 4 nights the week before Christmas. If I'm going solo, it probably costs me around $1000 for a trip, when he goes around $2000. I've worked for the same company for almost 30 years so had lots of vacation and comp. time, now I'm semi-retired only working 2 days a week. When it was just he and I, we would go on a couple of long weekend trips on the year we didn't go to Disney, all within driving distance of home. After honey and I got together, money was easier and we started scuba diving so honey and I would take a couple of trips a year to dive.

 

[ww52]

Rental car - for convenience as I said. It's clearly a luxury; car's already and after we get out bags we're on our way. If we stayed where the Disney transportation got our bags on took us to the World, we'd rethink that. But the bus system at Disney CAN be inconvenient, especially with small kids. And 350 only gets us so many Uber or Minnie-van rides.

Character meals - debatable topic obviously. Again, very small children who right now are very into Disney. Goin in July. We're going to eat anyway. I think it's a luxury that has a value given overall convenience.

And Disney is VERY smart in pricing. I'm a statistical analyst by profession and I admire their use of data. $1500 for two APs versus $1000 for 2 5 day hoppers. Obviously it pays to to do two trips in less than 365 days. Just like added days to the hopper gets to be about $10-$15 after I think the 4th or 5th day.


I appreciate all the diversity of responses here. Always love hearing from Disney fans!

 

[ww52]

Loves to Dive -
Thanks so much for sharing that. I can tell there is far more love and emotion and memories in that one paragraph than meets the eye at first!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Yes, this is a huge thing too
We drive our cars for ages. We buy new mind you but then we keep them till the wheels fall off.
We don't get new furniture or have decorated house.
We do most of our own home improvement work, yard work, painting, etc. It's fun for us.
So all our "play money" goes to Disney. Others put theirs in different places. But that's because others prefer different priorities.

We must be related somehow lol.
No decorating here, last time new furniture was purchased was in 2008 prior to that was before I was born lol, my dad uses a truck and a station wagon from the early 80's and their newest car is from 2010. They got xm radio for the life of the car and we all joke that the company doesn't realize how long that life will be. Unless something drastic happens to that car I'd say they still have another 10 years lol.
We also do all our own yard work mowing, shoveling... and my dad has "a guy" for house projects.
BTW this is the first time I've seen you on here in a while.
I know you were going to WDW. Did you have a great time?