Hawaii more expensive than WDW?

[DawnCt1]

I have often heard that assertion mentioned and after nine days at WDW, I believe that it is a major misconception. It is costly to get to Hawaii if you are traveling from the east coast, but we use miles to get there, so we don't have the transportation issue. I also use United miles for interisland flights so that is a "half of an" issue. Soon the interisland ferry will be on line, so the price of getting between islands will be cheaper, and I think that the airlines will compete. We have gotton great rates on Island Air for the tickets we did have to purchase. Accommodations come in a variety of price ranges. We found great rates on VRBO, a good deal from Outrigger and of course there is the Hale Koa or the Kilauea Military Lodge for those who qualify. Costco now exists on every island. Safeway cards lower the price of groceries close to those on the mainland and restaurant prices are as varied as they are on the mainland. Plate lunches are a budget way to go, fast food restaurants are available and the range continues upward. Its $10 to gain entry in the the national parks, a lot of sight seeing can be done on your own and car rentals, when reserved way ahead, rival those rates in Florida. In fact, with no theme park passes to pay for, Hawaii may be cheaper. Any thoughts?

 

[cardaway]

I agree Hawaii costs more, but we're not going there because it's a cheap place to travel. I do however tend to beleive that WDW can be a cheap place to travel.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It's all dependent on a number of factors. Either one can be done fairly reasonably or really extravagantly.

 

[DawnCt1]

I agree Hawaii costs more, but we're not going there because it's a cheap place to travel. I do however tend to beleive that WDW can be a cheap place to travel.

I guess I didn't make my position clear. I think that Hawaii is actually more affordable than WDW excluding transportation to Hawaii. If one has frequent flyer miles than it definately is more affordable.

 

[DawnCt1]

It's all dependent on a number of factors. Either one can be done fairly reasonably or really extravagantly.

I also have the philosophy that the nicer the destination (natural resources, scenery, climate) the happier I am with less extravagant accommodations. The less I feel the need to eat out. One of our best meals was a cooler full of tuna sandwiches on the Kalalau trail with bottles of water.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I also have the philosophy that the nicer the destination (natural resources, scenery, climate) the happier I am with less extravagant accommodations. The less I feel the need to eat out. One of our best meals was a cooler full of tuna sandwiches on the Kalalau trail with bottles of water.

Everyone's vacation styles are different. To us, vacations are typically times when we eat out a lot and try different things. We also like nice resorts and a lot of amenities. But everyone has their own way of vacationing.

 

[pyrxtc]

well let's see? I can got to WDW for 7 days and spend no more than $4,500 for all 6 of us to lodge, enter the parks and eat all week inlcuding airfare.

for me to take the famil to Hawaii, It will cost us more than that for airfare alone! plus car rental since the is no free transportation from/to airport or around the island like you can do at WDW. meals are an added expense plus entertaiing ourselves each day since I'm not one who can just sit ona beach or hike every day. I want my kids to surf and hula lessons and see the sights.
I ahve been researching for a while and nothing is going to get us all there for less the $12,000 including most everything i can think of but not everything I'm sure.

 

[lillygator]

well for us, since we live an hour and a half away from Disney I think the answer is obvious!

 

[Youarehere]

Excluding flights I tend to agree. We spent less in Hawaii than we did in Disney. But if you compare paying for each full vacation and the extra flight time/ time off work to go to Hawaii, it is pretty close. I can def do Disney cheaper in a value, no hoppers and good flight prices. Like Bob said- it depends.

 

[Parkhopper]

Well for us WDW is cheaper than a trip to our local beach because we own DVC (lodging is paid for)and we all have annual passes (no additional admission charges). If we fly Southwest and get a DING! we only have to pay for our inexpensive flight and our food while there.

Suzi

 

[cardaway]

Beyond the obvious travel cost I also happen to believe that comparable rooms are much cheaper in WDW as well. Hell, the comparable rooms in WDW are cheaper hten they are here in Seattle.

And when it's all averaged out, I would say entertainment and food is cheaper at WDW as well. But that's a really hard one to make a case for since they are totally different experiences and meal types.

 

[DawnCt1]

well let's see? I can got to WDW for 7 days and spend no more than $4,500 for all 6 of us to lodge, enter the parks and eat all week inlcuding airfare.

for me to take the famil to Hawaii, It will cost us more than that for airfare alone! plus car rental since the is no free transportation from/to airport or around the island like you can do at WDW. meals are an added expense plus entertaiing ourselves each day since I'm not one who can just sit ona beach or hike every day. I want my kids to surf and hula lessons and see the sights.
I ahve been researching for a while and nothing is going to get us all there for less the $12,000 including most everything i can think of but not everything I'm sure.

Six of us, plus one extra, stayed at the Ka'anapali Alii, a very upscale condo located between the Westin and the Marriott for 9 days for a cost of $3200. We had full use of the in condo washer and dryer, free parking, full use of the cabana area complete with several gas grills and tables. Our car rental for that period did not exceed $320 (Ford Explorer). We stopped at Costco, had lunch at our favorite local places, (Lae Lani's, Aloha Plate Lunch, Maui Taco, etc, dinner out half of the time, Roy's, etc and we thoroughly enjoyed cooking out and having dinner in the dining area along the boardwalk. Most of the sights can be enjoyed on your own, the Hana Hwy, Oheo Gulch, IO needle, snorkeling from the beach. Surf lessons are readily available at a variety of prices. The Entertainment Book was worth the price alone for a sail to Molokini and snorkeling. On our Na Pali Coast sunset cruise, we enjoyed a 25% discount with our Entertainment coupon. Luaus can be deeply discounted if you look. The most expensive thing we ever did in Hawaii was the flight to Molokai and the mule ride down to the leper colony of Kaulapapa. It was also one of the best things we ever did.
On the Big Island of Hawaii, there are as many opportunities; the volcano, the Tsunami Museum, Akaka Falls, Waipio Valley, green sand beaches, hieus, kayaking on your own to Captain Cooks monoment, The Place of Refuge was affordable and interesting. I agree that airfare is expensive and if it weren't for our airmiles, via Delta's program and my American Express Delta Sky Miles card, six of us would have made it there only once.
I aggressively accumulate miles, using my card for everything and taking advantage of every double and triple mileage promotion available. DH and I have flown first class twice, (DSs in coach) for a total of four trips. We have enough miles to go again. One trip pays for another and miles accumulated at Disney go to Hawaii.

 

[DawnCt1]

Beyond the obvious travel cost I also happen to believe that comparable rooms are much cheaper in WDW as well. Hell, the comparable rooms in WDW are cheaper hten they are here in Seattle.

And when it's all averaged out, I would say entertainment and food is cheaper at WDW as well. But that's a really hard one to make a case for since they are totally different experiences and meal types.

I disagree. We have gotton great rates for Hawaii. Shoppiing early, booking early, reserving a car early are always an advantage.

 

[pozey]

I have often heard that assertion mentioned and after nine days at WDW, I believe that it is a major misconception. It is costly to get to Hawaii if you are traveling from the east coast, but we use miles to get there, so we don't have the transportation issue. I also use United miles for interisland flights so that is a "half of an" issue. Soon the interisland ferry will be on line, so the price of getting between islands will be cheaper, and I think that the airlines will compete. We have gotton great rates on Island Air for the tickets we did have to purchase. Accommodations come in a variety of price ranges. We found great rates on VRBO, a good deal from Outrigger and of course there is the Hale Koa or the Kilauea Military Lodge for those who qualify. Costco now exists on every island. Safeway cards lower the price of groceries close to those on the mainland and restaurant prices are as varied as they are on the mainland. Plate lunches are a budget way to go, fast food restaurants are available and the range continues upward. Its $10 to gain entry in the the national parks, a lot of sight seeing can be done on your own and car rentals, when reserved way ahead, rival those rates in Florida. In fact, with no theme park passes to pay for, Hawaii may be cheaper. Any thoughts?

Well, you really aren't doing a fair comparison. To truly determine the cheaper vacation, you have to compare all the same variables.

Like airfare.......Yes, you can use your miles, so you are throwing out that variable. Well, in order for it to be a true comparison, you have to throw out airfare to WDW as well. And since we don't have that many frequent flyer miles, we would have to pay for airfare.

And just as a quick comparision, I searched Expedia for the cheapest fares from Tulsa, OK to both Orlando and Honolulu. I just randomly chose September 1 - September 8. Flights to Orlando were $364 per person, Honolulu was $675. And with 5 people in our family, that is a difference of over $1500 just in airfare alone.

Anyway, my point is that I am sure that you can go to Hawaii on a budget, but you can do the same at WDW. And at both places, you can spend a LOT of money as well.

One of these days I will take the family to Hawaii.

 

[Art Vandalay]

My family did the comparison a few years back and found that we could go to Hawaii and stay at nicer places for less money. This was not budget planning in Hawaii by any means. So we went to Hawaii and had a great time.

 

[helenabear]

I guess I didn't make my position clear. I think that Hawaii is actually more affordable than WDW excluding transportation to Hawaii. If one has frequent flyer miles than it definately is more affordable.

Ah but there lies your problem. Your average American who doesn't travel for work, won't get FF miles. I know for the two of us to fly out there it would be $1200 give or take. That's not including hotel stays. I can go to WDW for much cheaper than that combined! Even then, I think if you are doing hotel stays, WDW could be done cheaper. There are offisite hotels and homes that rent for dirt cheap (homes for $500/wk and hotels for $40-50/night). I haven't heard of that in Hawaii.

However that said, I would never compare WDW to Hawaii in any way when it comes to travel. I might compare Hawaii and a Caribbean stay. I might compare the Caribbean to Hawaii in terms of costs you'll incur, but not WDW.

 

[Banshee]

Out of curiosity not including airfare how much was your trip to Hawaii? We really want to go I was looking at the Turtle Bay resort but renting a condo never even crossed my mind.

 

[zulaya]

Not everyone has frequent flyer miles. Not everyone chooses to have the FF credit card and do business with FF businesses or various reasons. If you can do that so that you have FF miles to use ~ and be able to use them!~ then kudos to you.

I know that out of MSP...the chances of getting FF seats are slim to Hawaii.

 

[DawnCt1]

Ah but there lies your problem. Your average American who doesn't travel for work, won't get FF miles. I know for the two of us to fly out there it would be $1200 give or take. That's not including hotel stays. I can go to WDW for much cheaper than that combined! Even then, I think if you are doing hotel stays, WDW could be done cheaper. There are offisite hotels and homes that rent for dirt cheap (homes for $500/wk and hotels for $40-50/night). I haven't heard of that in Hawaii.

However that said, I would never compare WDW to Hawaii in any way when it comes to travel. I might compare Hawaii and a Caribbean stay. I might compare the Caribbean to Hawaii in terms of costs you'll incur, but not WDW.

DH travels to some degree but I accumulate the bulk of my miles with the Delta Sky Miles card. I use it for gas, groceries and anywhere they take Amex. Major appliance purchases, home heating oil, etc. With the double miles opportunities, miles add up. The comparison comes in when evaluating the costs of popular family vacation destinations.

 

[helenabear]

DH travels to some degree but I accumulate the bulk of my miles with the Delta Sky Miles card. I use it for gas, groceries and anywhere they take Amex. Major appliance purchases, home heating oil, etc. With the double miles opportunities, miles add up. The comparison comes in when evaluating the costs of popular family vacation destinations.

I am glad you can afford to spend that much money to accumulate that many miles. We have no major appliances we have purchased in the last 6 years, none we will purchase for at least 5-10. We have no heating oil to pay for. We have a budget of $500/month on our credit card. I have looked and I know that won't get me FF miles. Plus I refuse to pay for Amex fees. Sorry.... but I still think leaving out the cost of air is a bad way to compare. You need apples to apples... not apples to bread.