How do you justify the finances taking a Disney World trip?

[Bete]

Let me first say that hubby and I have been to Disney World over 40 times throughout the years. We have been very lucky to have gone when prices seemed to be more reasonable in years past. We have not been for 4 years. To me it seems prices have gotten outrageous.

I just started playing around with a budget for hubby and I, our great 2 grandchildren and their parents for a week at Disney World in December 2016. Hubby will be turning 80 soon. He can do the parks with a scooter. I can probably get along without one. If we don't do it now it may never happen. I think the next few years will be it for us traveling to Florida from the Midwest.

Anyway, this looks like it can cost us between $10000 to $12000 staying on site for all of us. This would include transportation and souvenirs and such. I'm looking at either 2 Pop Century rooms or a suite at the Art of Animation. I want to do the regular dining plan; because, we want character meals. This will probably be the only time the great grandkids will ever go. They adore Disney toys and movies; so, we would like to make this happen before they get older and we can't go. Currently, prices are without a promotion and I sure would like to catch a free dining plan. Even if I squeezed the pennies it would still probably be at least $8000.

I keep thinking how the money would be better spent in a college fund. This would be a big amount for us that could go towards their education. I was thinking it might be better to compromise and go to Dollywood and enjoy the Smokies with them for probably half the cost.

The kid in me says go to Disney World and enjoy our grandkids there before it's too late.

So, how do you justify a trip to Disney World?

 

[C-CMom]

Seeing the world and a formal education are both potentially important. (And by "world", I don't mean Disney World, though that can be part of it - IMHO).
How old are the kids?
You mention they might not otherwise go the Disney, would they otherwise likely go to college?
If a financial stretch, would one character meal suffice (or none) if a dining plan offer does not materialize? Those are nice, but that would be the first thing I'd personally delete (but preferences vary...) Dining plan not always a good value.

 

[Bete]

Seeing the world and a formal education are both potentially important. (And by "world", I don't mean Disney World, though that can be part of it - IMHO).
How old are the kids?
You mention they might not otherwise go the Disney, would they otherwise likely go to college?
If a financial stretch, would one character meal suffice (or none) if a dining plan offer does not materialize? Those are nice, but that would be the first thing I'd personally delete (but preferences vary...) Dining plan not always a good value.

I certainly would back away from the regular dining plan if we didn't get the free dining promo. I would agree that doing one or two out of pocket character meals would be enough. The great grandkids will be 4 by the time we go there this year. That was another reason to go now; so, we wouldn't be caught with only going when school is out. We could pick any time to go this year.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I justify it because my kids (well most of them) are still at home and vacations are important. Our last trip as a family was January 2014, my daughter and I went on a special just the two of us trip in November 2015, but our next family trip won't be until February 2017 and at that point it will just be our three youngest children. Our children are at the age where they will all be out of the house is a few years so that's how I justify. Yes we have college expenses now and more coming but I truly thinking spending time together is very important. And Disney just happens to be where they want to go.

Also I guess our situation is unique. We stay at Fort Wilderness is our own trailer, the campsites are relatively inexpensive and we eat a lot of our meals there, plus my kids have no desire for character meals or even table service meals so we can do a trip on a pretty low budget. About $5000 for a week including everything.

 

[C-CMom]

Money has such different relative value to different people, I wouldn't dream of trying to presume where that "cut-off" is for you or anyone, but based on your stated comments, a few thoughts came to mind:

-Our first trip was fairly short, very affordable for us, gave a nice flavor without tackling too much or costing too much. You didn't mention length, but IF money a big issue perhaps could reconsider number of days (probably already done!). Four-year-olds don't really know what they're missing if they don't see it all (and no one can at WDW anyway, so the adults could be at peace with it, too).

-Four-year-olds also probably won't remember much of a trip, but the adults will. Think about the value of that rather than the value for the kiddos. Compare to value of the same time somewhere else. Playing in a stream in the Smokies with a picnic and a snuggle with the Grandparents can be super fun for a four-year-old. But so can Mickey...

-Since was your stated concern - will they likely go to college anyway? Will the money difference you mention change that outcome? Does a trip now cost an opportunity later or just change how they get there?

Good luck with your decision

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Our trips are nowhere near that expensive. We drive down from Lexington, KY at a cost of $200 round trip for gas, we stay off site in a rental house or condo for a week at a cost of around $1000 or less, we buy our tickets from Undercover Tourist or Parksavers, we eat breakfast at the rental and bring water and snacks into the parks with us. We do a few character meals, the rest quick service, and we also eat some dinners or lunches in our condo, depending on what we've got planned for the day. Our food budget for the week is $1000, but we usually come in way under budget.

If a disney trip cost me $10k I just wouldn't go, that seems an absurd amount to me. We usually stay at $3500 or less.

 

[potterfanatic]

Four-year-olds also probably won't remember much of a trip, but the adults will.

I whole heartedly agree with this! Will taking your great grands to Disney bring you joy over taking them somewhere else? I have taken my children to many places but none of them bring me as much joy as taking them to Disney. I am a firm believer in spending your money on something that makes you happy. If it were me, I would make the memories for myself as it would bring me much more joy than putting money into a college fund.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Look into renting DVC points. You might find that this is more affordable for a 1 or 2 bedroom rather than 2 rooms at rack rate. Also, cutting the dining plan would be the biggest money saver. Little kids just don't eat that much. Do just 1 character breakfast and eat the rest of your breakfasts in the room. Little kids have a harder time sitting through long table service dinners, so pack some snacks (we get them mailed to our resort via Amazon Pantry) and grab more counter service meals with a few table service thrown in.

And more to your question, I justify the expense by making sure it is what I am comfortable spending. If something seems like too much, I find a way to cut back until I can justify the cost.

 

[jodifla]

Let me first say that hubby and I have been to Disney World over 40 times throughout the years. We have been very lucky to have gone when prices seemed to be more reasonable in years past. We have not been for 4 years. To me it seems prices have gotten outrageous.

I just started playing around with a budget for hubby and I, our great 2 grandchildren and their parents for a week at Disney World in December 2016. Hubby will be turning 80 soon. He can do the parks with a scooter. I can probably get a long without one. If we don't do it now it may never happen. I think the next few years will be it for us traveling to Florida from the Midwest.

Anyway, this looks like it can cost us between $10000 to $12000 staying on site for all of us. This would include transportation and souvenirs and such. I'm looking at either 2 Pop Century rooms or a suite at the Art of Animation. I want to do the regular dining plan; because, we want character meals. This will probably be the only time the great grandkids will ever go. They adore Disney toys and movies; so, we would like to make this happen before they get older and we can't go. Currently, prices are without a promotion and I sure would like to catch a free dining plan. Even if I squeezed the pennies it would still probably be at least $8000.

I keep thinking how the money would be better spent in a college fund. This would be a big amount for us that could go towards their education. I was thinking it might be better to compromise and go to Dollywood and enjoy the Smokies with them for probably half the cost.

The kid in me says go to Disney World and enjoy our grandkids there before it's too late.

So, how do you justify a trip to Disney World?

Well first of all, we're going to vacation somewhere, so some money will be used for that purpose. You are right, WDW is A LOT more expensive than even 4 years ago. So are most other things. FLying six people anywhere is going to be at least $1,200 at the least. Eating every meal in a restaurant is super spendy. Short of camping or a cabin on the beach, you'll spend a lot to take six people into any venue.

Second, you are doing a deluxe Disney vacation with a lot of add-ons for SIX people. Our trips for 3, even when we fly down from the Midwest and spend a lot, is about $3,500.

If I were you, I'd let go of the dining plan. Super expensive. Either stay off site at Bonnett Creek or rent points for a DVC 2 bedroom room. You'll have a whole kitchen, and that makes a huge difference.

Our budget looks like this:

Flights: $414 for the 3 of us (our Gold Delta card gave us a free companion ticket and free baggage)
Car: $289 for the week through Costco for an SUV
Tickets: about $1,300 (and these passes cover two trips)
Lodging: We don't even count this, but let's say $1,000 in annual dues (DVC -- we bought it 20 years ago)
Groceries: $130 -- includes daily breakfast, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, daily snacks, drinks, alcohol
Restaurant meals: $700
Souvenirs: $20 -- we look for local sales on Disney stuff and buy little there.


Our trips to Cape Cod for the week cost as much as this, and frankly, there's less to do that appeals to a now-teen.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Our trips are nowhere near that expensive. We drive down from Lexington, KY at a cost of $200 round trip for gas, we stay off site in a rental house or condo for a week at a cost of around $1000 or less, we buy our tickets from Undercover Tourist or Parksavers, we eat breakfast at the rental and bring water and snacks into the parks with us. We do a few character meals, the rest quick service, and we also eat some dinners or lunches in our condo, depending on what we've got planned for the day. Our food budget for the week is $1000, but we usually come in way under budget.

If a disney trip cost me $10k I just wouldn't go, that seems an absurd amount to me. We usually stay at $3500 or less.

OP is taking her entire family including grandchildren and great grandchildren. This isn't simply a family of 4 or 5. This could easily be 20 or more people. Also she says her dh is turning 80 soon. It may be physically difficult to sit in a car for such a long time. Depending where in the Midwest the OP is coming from this could easily take much more than 1 day of driving straight through. It's not much of a vacation if you're not enjoying yourself.
Personally, we fly anytime a drive is greater than 6-8 hrs. That's just our preference and wouldn't knock someone for wanting to drive, or someone with fear of flying.


OP, is there some way you can compromise if you feel guilty about spending so much $? Perhaps if you can't get a deal for free dining, offer to pay for flights, hotel, tickets and maybe treat the family to one character meal, with everyone together and let them buy the rest of their meals and souvenirs. That would still be extremely generous.

 

[pens4821]

After factoring in everything (room, tickets, food, airfare, etc) it's been between 7000 and 8000 for the 5 of us. We got every couple years, and start saving right as we come home. That way it's not all at once. We also usually spend about 3500 going to the beach, so when we go to Disney we don't go to the beach so that goes towards Disney.

 

[Bete]

Keep the opinions coming. I know I won't go off site. We've been off site but I want this to be an entire Disney experience for the great grandkids.

The boys are good eaters and so are all of us; so, I think we would get value with the dining plan especially if we can get the free dining promo.

The total in our group would be 4 adults and two, great grandchildren. My budget is based on no deals, right now. I wanted worse scenario. We would do one week.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

OP is taking her entire family including grandchildren and great grandchildren. This isn't simply a family of 4 or 5. This could easily be 20 or more people. Also she says her dh is turning 80 soon. It may be physically difficult to sit in a car for such a long time. Depending where in the Midwest the OP is coming from this could easily take much more than 1 day of driving straight through. It's not much of a vacation if you're not enjoying yourself.
Personally, we fly anytime a drive is greater than 6-8 hrs. That's just our preference and wouldn't knock someone for wanting to drive, or someone with fear of flying.


OP, is there some way you can compromise if you feel guilty about spending so much $? Perhaps if you can't get a deal for free dining, offer to pay for flights, hotel, tickets and maybe treat the family to one character meal, with everyone together and let them buy the rest of their meals and souvenirs. That would still be extremely generous.

I think she was pricing it for 6 people, but I could be wrong.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I have said many times (including to my work superiors) that I only work to go on vacation. We could live on just my husband's salary, or just on mine, but I don't want that. To me, vacation is a life priority. In all honesty, Disney is the "budget" vacation we take every other year to recover (financially and emotionally) from the "real" vacations. After factoring in DVC ownership, racking up points by using both my Disney card and my Southwest card to purchase absolutely everything, and using these boards to scrape up every possible discount, I can make the Disney vacation costs quite manageable.

That being said, we also contribute monthly to our DD's college fund.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Keep the opinions coming. I know I won't go off site. We've been off site but I want this to be an entire Disney experience for the great grandkids.

The boys are good eaters and so are all of us; so, I think we would get value with the dining plan especially if we can the get free dining promo.

Free dining seems to be less likely as the economy has started to pick up again, so I would not bank on an offer, especially in December. That is the busy holiday season. DH and I did the deluxe dining plan 2 years ago and skipped it this past month because we wanted to compare. We ate at more signature restaurants and stayed 2 days longer, but ended up spending less money on meals than our last trip. It was just too much food. When we didn't feel compelled to order an appetizer, entree and dessert with each meal, we found that we just didn't spend that much but were still completely content. We will not be getting dining plans in the future.

 

[jodifla]

Keep the opinions coming. I know I won't go off site. We've been off site but I want this to be an entire Disney experience for the great grandkids.

The boys are good eaters and so are all of us; so, I think we would get value with the dining plan especially if we can get the free dining promo.

The total in our group would be 4 adults and two, great grandchildren. My budget is based on no deals, right now. I wanted worse scenario. We would do one week.

I don't really understand this attitude. Since you won't make any changes in your plan, you won't be able to cut the price of your trip. They are not going going to offer free dining in December; the parks are packed these days.

And I bet your grandkids would prefer a slightly modified trip to WDW vs. no trip at all or to Dollywood.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I think she was pricing it for 6 people, but I could be wrong.

Oops, I missed this. My bad.

Well, then this does sound like a lot of money for 2 rooms at Pop Century for 6 people, 2 being children.
Come to think of it, we spent around $10k for 4 of us to take a Mediterranean cruise on the Magic for 7 nights in 2013. Including 2 cabins onboard, flights, private tours at each port and 2 nights hotel in Barcelona pre-cruise. Sure we used ff miles for 3 seats but still I can't see it costing the same as a Pop stay for 6. That's outrageous.
Then again, the way Disney has priced things lately, I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

As others have said, you will save a lot if you drop the dining plan. It doesn't mean you can't enjoy a few fun meals. In my experience, my kids usually shared meals. We typically NOW (ages 5 & 7) can get by with 2 adult meals and one child's meal and share it all - obviously you can't do this at dinner shows and character meals as the cost is per person but really, I think MAYBE 4 in a week would be more than enough.

And remember, you're at Disney - the kids will likely not eat MUCH at meals when they're snacking throughout the day. We often only eat 2 meals a day. IF we eat lunch we'll get a couple orders of chicken fingers and fries (or the like) and share amongst the four of us. We just are munching throughout the day on our own snacks from home and a couple from the parks.

Are you the primary contributor to your GGK's college fund? I would NEVER expect my parents, let alone grandparents, to pay for my kids' college tuition. In fact, my very well off grandparents do not have my kids in the will (only under the craziest circumstances are they in it) and it doesn't make me the least bit upset. My portion will be split up and go to them(my decision) but I don't expect any more from them.

I, as a grandchild, would MUCH more appreciate a family trip. Not even so much for the great grandkids but for the family as a whole. Memories are so very important to me including overly expensive Disney vacations.

Consider opening a travel rewards credit card to save on costs. Try reading up on the Disney Gift Card Deals thread to learn how to save on Disney gift cards that you can then around to use on your trip. I wouldn't ASK your grandkids to pitch in but if they offer I might accept a small portion (maybe THEIR park tickets, but not the great grandkids).

You can VERY well do this trip for under $7,000 for a week for the 6 of you. Even less if you REALLY try to get some good deals. And then, maybe any amount you come under $8,000 you can contribute to their college funds. Win-win!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

OP is taking her entire family including grandchildren and great grandchildren. This isn't simply a family of 4 or 5. This could easily be 20 or more people.

It's 6 people, not 20.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It's 6 people, not 20.

Thanks, I did see that later. See 3 posts back.