How high is too much for you?

[jcemom]

Disney will still be our go-to destination for longer trips. The ticket prices aren't that bad at all, per day, when you're buying an eight day ticket. The cost of a two or three day ticket is pretty high though. I didn't even realize how expensive it was because we have been buying eight or ten day tickets for many years now.

 

[Makayna]

Which parks? Not being snarky, I'm really curious.

Six Flags, St. Louis is $52.99. I'm sure there are others if I tried to find them. Granted, they're only open March through October, but that's because of the weather. Again, I'm sure there are others if I ventured to look. I just chose that one because I knew for a fact that it was extremely cheap.

 

[jhaig]

Disney will still be our go-to destination for longer trips. The ticket prices aren't that bad at all, per day, when you're buying an eight day ticket. The cost of a two or three day ticket is pretty high though. I didn't even realize how expensive it was because we have been buying eight or ten day tickets for many years now.

And yet you still can't buy a ticket for longer than 10 days? Why exactly is that?

 

[TJBerry]

We still eat 1 lunch at the sci fi and plaza and QS for pretty much everything else. We are also renting DVC points to stay deluxe this time. It's just tough to justify the buffet prices for our 3 year old on the character meal front.

I understand how hard it is to justify Disney dining prices for a child that is considered an adult at WDW.

 

[pmaurer74]

Probably never. We most likely will get a DVC that should decrease expenses and get an annual pass and stagger our trips to take advantage of that. Worst case scenario we go fewer days or start staying at lower price resorts.

 

[TJBerry]

Disney will still be our go-to destination for longer trips. The ticket prices aren't that bad at all, per day, when you're buying an eight day ticket. The cost of a two or three day ticket is pretty high though. I didn't even realize how expensive it was because we have been buying eight or ten day tickets for many years now.

For my family, it would cost just under $1500 plus tax for 8 day base tickets, just to walk through the gates. I may be alone, but I find that steep.

 

[jaykorf001]

One thing I've learned after joining this board, is there are a lot of people that go to Disney A LOT. I guess I was a little surprised because I also became very knowledgable about how much the resorts, food, and tickets cost. I think it's a lot. Really, it is a lot. Im really really looking forward to our upcoming Disney trip but I want to take my son all over our great country like my parents did for me. I know we cant afford Disney annually and afford to do these other things. I guess some people just do Disney?? I don't mean that snarky like. We all spend our money as we see fit.

A certain percentage of people will continue to go regardless of any Disney price increases and Disney knows this. You can see it based on the defensive responses on this board. It's similar to some of the responses you might see in a thread if someone mentions a bad Disney customer service issue. I've seen so many people beat up on these threads if he/she even mentions a poor experience.

I went to Disneyland as a teenager. I enjoyed it but found it smaller and with fewer rides than my local amusement park. Maybe I'll be Disneyfied after this, my first, WDW trip. We'll see. Obviously if money grew on trees ...

 

[TJBerry]

One thing I've learned after joining this board, is there are a lot of people that go to Disney A LOT. I guess I was a little surprised because I also became very knowledgable about how much the resorts, food, and tickets cost. I think it's a lot. Really, it is a lot. Im really really looking forward to our upcoming Disney trip but I want to take my son all over our great country like my parents did for me. I know we cant afford Disney annually and afford to do these other things. I guess some people just do Disney?? I don't mean that snarky like. We all spend our money as we see fit.

A certain percentage of people will continue to go regardless of any Disney price increases and Disney knows this. You can see it based on the defensive responses on this board. It's similar to some of the responses you might see in a thread if someone mentions a bad Disney customer service issue. I've seen so many people beat up on these threads if he/she even mentions a poor experience.

I went to Disneyland as a teenager. I enjoyed it but found it smaller and with fewer rides than my local amusement park. Maybe I'll be Disneyfied after this, my first, WDW trip. We'll see. Obviously if money grew on trees ...

Yes, some people only vacation at WDW.

 

[North of Mouse]

So you're firmly in the "will pay whatever they charge because it is Disney" camp.

'This' is us! The cost of living increases every year, likewise most everything else. We count on most prices going up about 3 - 5 %, so no, we will not stop going to Disney, or anywhere else just because of price increases.

Gas prices are the worst for us, but adding a few $$'s on ticket/food/lodging per year is not going to make or break us. Disney vacations are not/never have been 'cheap', so as long as we go on vacations anywhere, we will take the rising prices, and have not set a 'break us' cost increase.

Do we like it? No, but we are conservative by nature, and once at the parks, spend far less than I hear others talk of spending, without consciously cutting back. We never buy souvies (don't want them) nor do we spend on any 'additional cost' things to do within Disney.

And no, we don't just do Disney. We go to the National Parks and other interesting places each year. We enjoy Disney, but it's definitely not the only place we enjoy going.

Actually, when I see the cost of some vacation destinations, I 'do' feel like we get what we pay for a Disney. We never spend $100 per day ticket, because we always get many more days than that, or sometimes AP's if we want to go 3 times like we did this past year - Apr. '12 - Apr'13.

 

[TJBerry]

'This' is us! The cost of living increases every year, likewise most everything else. We count on most prices going up about 3 - 5 %, so no, we will not stop going to Disney, or anywhere else just because of price increases.

Gas prices are the worst for us, but adding a few $$'s on ticket/food/lodging per year is not going to make or break us. Disney vacations are not/never have been 'cheap', so as long as we go on vacations anywhere, we will take the rising prices, and have not set a 'break us' cost increase.

Do we like it? No, but we are conservative by nature, and once at the parks, spend far less than I hear others talk of spending, without consciously cutting back. We never buy souvies (don't want them) nor do we spend on any 'additional cost' things to do within Disney.

Yes, the COL increases every year. Many wages/salaries don't, though.

 

[jaykorf001]

Yes, some people only vacation at WDW.

Well, all I can say is I was pretty stunned at the prices -- especially the resorts. Then when you tack on the food, tickets, souvenirs and so on you're getting up there. I've travelled quite a bit so when I see the prices of the GF and Poly I'm thinking those are Four Seasons prices but the hotels don't look like Four Seasons quality.

Now, having said all this I am trying to figure out a longer trip for my son and family. I think he's a great age to enjoy Disney. But we're also considering Hawaii. If they're close in price Hawaii will win out.

 

[TDC Nala]

I buy one annual pass, use the DVC discount and all my Disney visa dollars for the year on it. I buy the pass for under $200 out of pocket. It will be awhile before they price me out at that rate.

 

[TJBerry]

Well, all I can say is I was pretty stunned at the prices -- especially the resorts. Then when you tack on the food, tickets, souvenirs and so on you're getting up there. I've travelled quite a bit so when I see the prices of the GF and Poly I'm thinking those are Four Seasons prices but the hotels don't look like Four Seasons quality.

Now, having said all this I am trying to figure out a longer trip for my son and family. I think he's a great age to enjoy Disney. But we're also considering Hawaii. If they're close in price Hawaii will win out.

I agree with you regarding the WDW hotel prices vs. the quality.

 

[jaykorf001]

I buy one annual pass, use the DVC discount and all my Disney visa dollars for the year on it. I buy the pass for under $200 out of pocket. It will be awhile before they price me out at that rate.

Yeah, I've figured out if Disney is a priority one can do some things to make the prices more palatable. My neighbors are DVC members and go at least once a year. I was just talking to them about our trip this morning. I just know that wont be feasible for us with the other things we like to do.

 

[North of Mouse]

During our 1 day trip to Cedar Point last year, I just kept saying, "This ain't Disney, folks!" due to the scowling ride operators, less than appealing restrooms and food options, and practically no air conditioned reprieves (but mostly due to the scowling ride operators). Disney has an unmatched show compared to other theme parks with lower ticket prices, and that's a lot of what we like. As long as they keep that going, we'll try to keep going!
.

Exactly the way we feel. There IS no comparison. We went to Silver Dollar City with some family in AR and it was awful because we kept 'comparing'. It was run-down and tacky to us. We didn't say anything (of course) because to them it was great (they've never experienced Disney).

Hands down, Disney has the highest standard in parks - there is none others to come close to comparing, whatever the size - our opinions, of course.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yeah, I've figured out if Disney is a priority one can do some things to make the prices more palatable. My neighbors are DVC members and go at least once a year. I was just talking to them about our trip this morning. I just know that wont be feasible for us with the other things we like to do.

It would be different for a family that needs to buy multiple passes. They would not save nearly as much. The thread was questioning what would price YOU out, not what would price the average family out...I'd bet a family that needs admission for multiple people would be priced out long before I would. Especially regarding annual passes, now that the children's passes are the same price as the adult passes.

By the way, expecting Four Seasons quality from the Disney deluxe resorts is setting oneself up for disappointment. At Disney, most of the value of the deluxe resorts is proximity to one or more of the theme parks...not hotel luxury or amenities. apparently it is easier to get a "real world" hotel experience while staying onsite at the Swan or Dolphin, as they are chain resorts (Westin and Sheraton).

 

[pigletto]

We have a figure we like to stay under for the total vacation. It is getting to the point where that figure is being stretched thinner and thinner. It's not just the ticket price increases, it's the food price increases, the room price increases, the ticket price increases, and the airfare prices increases. On top of that are the dwindling discounts. Our income doesn't allow the extra $1000 per trip.
What it all means is getting more creative about where to cut costs. Maybe that's less days, driving instead of flying, switching to a different season for better discounts or changing the way we eat on vacation. Maybe it will need to be all of those.
So far they haven't priced me out but they are changing the way we've traditionally vacationed with them so we can continue to go.

 

[TJBerry]

It would be different for a family that needs to buy multiple passes. They would not save nearly as much. The thread was questioning what would price YOU out, not what would price the average family out...I'd bet a family that needs admission for multiple people would be priced out long before I would.

I was referring to however people do Disney, whether that means solo, a couple or the entire family.

 

[jaykorf001]

Exactly the way we feel. There IS no comparison. We went to Silver Dollar City with some family in AR and it was awful because we kept 'comparing'. It was run-down and tacky to us. We didn't say anything (of course) because to them it was great (they've never experienced Disney).

Hands down, Disney has the highest standard in parks - there is none others to come close to comparing, whatever the size - our opinions, of course.

The Silver Dollar City outside of Branson, Missouri does not seem run down to me at all. We were just there. Now, of course I can totally see how some would find it cheesy or tacky. It is based on the old fashioned hillbilly way of life and is completely different than any park I've ever been to in theming. A major portion of the park relates to tradesmen such as leather workers, blacksmiths, et al. I would assume MK would be much larger as well.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm already priced out but I still do my best to go. My priority is the parks so staying and dining offsite is fine. Plus we have the expense of two themepark resorts too.

My biggest problem is the cost of flying. The airlines are definitely pricing us out particularly since I hate flying to begin with!