how expensive is WDW?

[disneyholic family]

how expensive is WDW?

it's so expensive that i'm seriously considering skipping WDW completely when i'm at the hyatt grand cypress this october for a conference.

someone must have spiked my koolaid with a bit of heresy

but it's just insane now...the food prices are astronomical, the tickets, the rooms....

am i the only person who thinks it's getting to the point where they're possibly going to kiss WDW goodbye?

 

[baby1disney]

how expensive is WDW?

it's so expensive that i'm seriously considering skipping WDW completely when i'm at the hyatt grand cypress this october for a conference.

someone must have spiked my koolaid with a bit of heresy

but it's just insane now...the food prices are astronomical, the tickets, the rooms....

am i the only person who thinks it's getting to the point where they're possibly going to kiss WDW goodbye?

I understand what you're saying. It's definitely getting to be ridiculous!! I mean, I have seven kids and we priced it out and it was about $17,000 for us to go, if we stay on property.

I don't know why they keep raising these prices!! It's getting ridiculous!!!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I understand what you're saying. It's definitely getting to be ridiculous!! I mean, I have seven kids and we priced it out and it was about $17,000 for us to go, if we stay on property.

I don't know why they keep raising these prices!! It's getting ridiculous!!!

$17,000? Are you staying for a month?

 

[mikelan6]

I agree that WDW can be expensive, but there are ways to save money. You also have to remember that people only visit every so often, so it may be worth the splurge.

 

[NancyIL]

You can spend several days at WDW for a reasonable price if you are willing to travel simply. If you want concierge service at your resort and deluxe dining - then it will be a very expensive trip.

I think WDW's rack rates are pretty ridiculous, but I usually don't stay at a Disney-owned resort. I love the Swan and Dolphin, and some of their discounted rates are the same as or lower than a WDW moderate. However, I'm not that fussy about hotels, and in January I stayed at All Star Music for a week at a great AP rate.

I don't mind counter service eateries for most meals. When I want a table service meal, I usually choose lunch rather than dinner. As an annual passholder, I bought the Tables In Wonderland discount card that saves me 20% on food and beverages at most table service restaurants.

I have an annual pass. The initial outlay is high, but the per-day cost is very reasonable. For several short trips - a 10-day non-expiring ticket is a better per-day value than buying MYW tickets for 3 or 4 days at a time.

 

[NancyIL]

$17,000? Are you staying for a month?

She said she has seven kids!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

She said she has seven kids!

Even with 7 kids, $17,000 would be like a month in WDW.

WDW is as cheap or expensive as you make it.

Go when there are discounts. Or free dining. Stay at a value. Don't park hop.

 

[DCTooTall]

$17,000? Are you staying for a month?

I could see it.....

7 tickets.... plus with 7 kids, onsite, They'd be forced to get a larger DVC Villa in order to house all those kids.... and that'd add up quickly. (Can't do multiple smaller rooms due to the fact an adult would need to be in each room).

Add in meals (or Dining plans), and other misc expenses you need to budget for, and it adds up quickly.

 

[DCTooTall]

Even with 7 kids, $17,000 would be like a month in WDW.

WDW is as cheap or expensive as you make it.

Go when there are discounts. Or free dining. Stay at a value. Don't park hop.

7 kids wouldn't fit in a Value.

i believe Disney would have the same requirements as most hotels with at least one legal adult in each room. 7 kids... plus 2 adults, and you end up with 9 people. There is no way even with 2 rooms packed to the gills that you can fit 9 people in 2 value rooms.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Eight days, seven nights for 2 adults and 7 children (let's say just one is a baby) at SSR is $9300 with free dining.

 

[JessB320]

Even with 7 kids, $17,000 would be like a month in WDW.



I have to disagree and say you must not have a large family. We are a family of 7 airfare alone runs around $4000 , and yes thats in coach using discounts. Lodging for 7 people is easily $300 a night and up, even offsite with discounts, so for a 10 day trip $2100. An 8 day park hopper ticket off of UT is $370.00 so $2600. That already almost $9000 using values and discounts and doesn't include food, transportation, or any extras . And we are a family of 7, a family of 9 would be even more. My point is that yes it is expensive and yes everyone has a choice on how they do vacation and what size family they have, but please don't just assume things or make sweeping statements when you really haven't been in the same situation .

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Even with 7 kids, $17,000 would be like a month in WDW.



I have to disagree and say you must not have a large family. We are a family of 7 airfare alone runs around $4000 , and yes thats in coach using discounts. Lodging for 7 people is easily $300 a night and up, even offsite with discounts, so for a 10 day trip $2100. An 8 day park hopper ticket off of UT is $370.00 so $2600. That already almost $9000 using values and discounts and doesn't include food, transportation, or any extras . And we are a family of 7, a family of 9 would be even more. My point is that yes it is expensive and yes everyone has a choice on how they do vacation and what size family they have, but please don't just assume things or make sweeping statements when you really haven't been in the same situation .

You are right that I didn’t include airfare. Assuming that a RT ticket is $300, that’s still $11,000 for 8 days, 7 nights at SSR with free dining. I’m not saying that’s not expensive, but I’m saying you can have a VERY long vacation at WDW without it being $17k.

 

[zulemara]

go on DCL instead. 13k for a 7 night on the Fantasy in October and that's all inclusive. The only thing you have to pay is shore excursions and gratuities. I'm the kind of person that I like all my costs pretty fixed.

 

[Michele]

Eight days, seven nights for 2 adults and 7 children (let's say just one is a baby) at SSR is $9300 with free dining.

I doubt all 7 of those kids are under 10, so you've probably got to pay for a few more "adults".

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I doubt all 7 of those kids are under 10, so you've probably got to pay for a few more "adults".

When I tested it, I put three teenagers, three "kids" and one freebie.

 

[rwdavis2]

We average about every 4 years. Any more often and I think I would get tired of going. We stayed offsite in 2008 and saved a bundle. 3BR townhouse for about the price of a moderate room. 10 minutes from the front gate.

 

[snowwhitenyc]

It is true that WDW is getting astronomically expensive. I know that Walt was a businessman first, but he did want to build DL and WDW as parks that families could enjoy together. These prices make a trip REALLY prohibitive for some people! A family of four isn't going to get away with less than $1,000 for tickets alone (assuming more than just a weekend visit), and that is some serious bread.

My annual pass is up for renewal in 2 months, and even though I won't be using it as much in the coming year as I have in the past, I still like having it so I don't have to pass up an unexpected Disney opportunity.

Sorry that you're having to make this tough decision disneyholic family! Maybe you could just sneak over to DTD or to one of the resorts for dinner to get a Disney fix?

 

[mdvlprof]

Who knew this would be such a hot topic ..

Anyhoo..One or two days - the passes are expensive. To my mind, WDW isn't worth it unless you're there for at least a few days. On a per-day average its very affordable - esp if you get a free dining deal.

But if you have to pay airfare for a whole family - I see where airfare can be overwhelming. But WDW has no control over that.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

Ya, airfare can kill it for some people. Flights are cheap in the U.S. of A, but even if you're coming in from Canada, you aint gonna get no $300 airline ticket to Orlando.

 

[mad madam mim78]

I think vacationing anywhere is expensive. This year Disney happens to be a decent value for us (with FD). Gotta crunch numbers, wait for discounts. It can be reasonable. This year we get to go for about $75 dollars per person per day. Considering that's food, room, and park tickets, I'd say it's not too shabby. We are fortunate to be close enough to drive (12 hrs away). That saves a ton of money.