How much could you spend on WDW vacation?

[gigi1976]

My DH and I had a conversation last night about him possibly getting a big raise and our next trip to WDW and he jokingly said spend it all on the trip...which got me thinking, we are a pretty average middle class family with 3 kids (8, 5, 1)... And I don't think we COULD spend $20,000 on a vacation at Disney even if we wanted to, typically we stay value, and with airfare, a weeks stay, tickets, and food, we are about $3500. So not counting souvenirs and having only 4 people on your trip, could you spend 20k on a week trip?

 

[leadfootlevi]

...could you spend 20k on a week trip?

Yes! Would I? No.

 

[woodkins]

I could EASILY spend $20K on a week long trip to WDW and that would be for my family of 3!! I would book at least a 2 bedroom CL suite at the Poly or GF, personal tour guides for each day at the parks, Wine & Dine Platinum Dining Plan, Fireworks Cruises, Spa time at the GF, Cabana rentals at the pool, Full package at the BBB for dd, a bunch of personal tours etc. Never mind all of the shopping that I could ring up!!!

 

[Kathi OD]

My DH and I had a conversation last night about him possibly getting a big raise and our next trip to WDW and he jokingly said spend it all on the trip...which got me thinking, we are a pretty average middle class family with 3 kids (8, 5, 1)... And I don't think we COULD spend $20,000 on a vacation at Disney even if we wanted to, typically we stay value, and with airfare, a weeks stay, tickets, and food, we are about $3500. So not counting souvenirs and having only 4 people on your trip, could you spend 20k on a week trip?

Probably.

But the question really is WOULD I spend $20K on a one week vacation. The answer to that is probably not.

 

[momto2inKC]

I'm sure I could easily plan a WDW trip and spend that much, but would I, no We typically go during free dining and stay at a value resort, it works for us

 

[walkdmc]

Not for a week. I spent just over $15,000 for 11 nights for a party of 6, 2 BR BLT, DxDP and PH tix (max days).

In retrospect, I wish I hadn't spent that much. We're not rich by any means. Even though I paid for the trip in full, I often think it would be nice to have that money now, esp. since I want a new car. Although I'm not sure I'd give up the accommodations.....that 2 BR was heavenly.

Anyway, my point is, just because you "can" doesn't make it a wise decision. And, I'm a huge opponent to counting your eggs before they hatch. I'd at least give it a year, at his new salary level, to see if 1.) it will continue into year #2 and on 2.) what your new expenses will be. And don't forget to take taxes into account. A $20,000 pay raise, might only equal $14,000 in the bank.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Could I? Sure I suppose. I can't imagine that I would. I suspect it would have to be rack rate over Christmas for a suite at Poly or GF and booking things like the Chef's Table at V&A, Dining with an Imagineer and other such extravegances that I wouldn't normally do plus several tours that we normally skip. Of course I'd have to bring an extra suitcase for all the Dooney's I'd be bringing home. LOL

Boy, and I thought I was splurging on my upcoming Poly CL stay with 2 rooms for a week. We're nowhere NEAR that much even with figuring all of our meals added in.

 

[Kat77]

Unless it was some sort of "last hurrah" for myself or a loved one there is no way I would spend that for a week of vacation. I can think of lots of things I'd love to experience with that money though

 

[curseofcurves]

I never would spend that much, but I probably could. I would:

- Stay deluxe, probably a suite.
- Do the dinner shows and eat at all the nice restaurants without worrying about what I ordered...including drinks!
- Do lots of tours throughout the park, including VIP tour guides
- Fireworks cruises
- Buy lots of souvenirs

 

[Sinderelly]

Shopping!!!!!!!!

 

[SaraJayne]

Could I? Probably.

Would I? Absolutely not.

 

[akcire]

Could I spend 20 grand in a week at Disney....

Nope.

I would upgrade your hotel from a value to at least a moderate. Also I would rent a car if you don't do so already--the buses are too slow. That would not even come close to $20K. We have stayed at all levels of hotel, and generally just avoid the values now. We only do this to stay away from the big groups. The facilities are fine, (I love Mr. Potato Head at POP) we just don't want to stay next to 1500 screaming teenage......cheerleaders, foot ball player, band member, visitors from Brazil, you can pretty much insert any large group here. It is worth it for us to stay moderate to ensure excellent sleep.

Here is my thing. Disney is a theme-park. Once you pay admission, and airfare to get there, everything else is about customizing to your families experience. Disney's food is ok, not great. We are not huge eaters, nor do we want to do 3 sit down meals (takes up too much time) so all the premium food packages are wasted on us. We live in Chicago and travel a lot--so we have access to great food. Most of the extra experiences, spa, boat rentals, can be done closer to our home on a weekend, while not using up valuable vacation time. We do like the water parks, and visit one nearly every visit (weather depending) and also probably do mini-golf 3 times in a week--those things just aren't $20K expensive.

Disney's best hotel, is nowhere near the best hotel in the world. Husband travels for work, and unless they are assigning you your own human being (not even kidding) it is not even near the top of the standings. Not that their Deluxe resorts are bad, they are just on par with a mid-level Marriott. The Deluxe hotels are only deluxe because of their proximity to the parks. Is staying at the Poly nice, sure; but it is really nice when you have kids who need an afternoon nap and can take the monorail or can walk back to the Contemporary. Even still, a room at the deluxe hotel is only $300-400 a night, which works out to $2000-$2800 a week, not $20K. Plus if you are there to enjoy the parks, you won't spend all that much time in your room. Club level, is just a cocktail bar and light buffet. If I want food or a drink, I can buy it made to order for me--and not have to eat after some kid with a runny nose. Sorry, it's cold and flu season.

Would I do the BBB or pirate thing for a kid sure, but that is no where near the $20K mark. As an adult I enjoy the tours, and have done a couple of them. Once again no where near $20K.

I can't really comment on a private tour guide, it would really depend who gave that tour. I have been to WDW so many times, I wonder if the guides would be of any help, other than avoiding lines. Since I save my time other places, never go during the summer, and am an avid fast-pass user, I don't mind waiting for a ride.

As for shopping. There may have been a time I could spend a ton of money at the parks on stuff. Now most of the things they sell are of lesser quality. I remember as a kid the jewelry store on Mainstreet selling diamond mickey rings, and the jewelry store in the Contemporary have tons of really cool custom jewelry. They do occasionally have a nice item, now; but certainly not $15K worth--what I would need to spend on souvenirs to make up the $20K challenge.

***If they ever rented out the Cinderella castle suite and did a bi-costal vacation with access to Club 33, I may be able to spend that in a week.

 

[secretpantssam]

I probably could if I really wanted to, but I think it would be a challenge. I pride myself on getting good deals and getting the most for my money and spending $20k for a week would go against everything I believe in

 

[gigi1976]

OP here just wanting to clarify that I am not considering it, just imagining it. And when I imagine it I feel like Brewster trying to spend his million!

 

[disneygirl 17]

I wouldn't do it - I would take about $5,000 for myself and then donate the other $15,000 - if my budget permitted that is

 

[NMW]

Well, I'm not sure. WDW is pretty pricey for our family as it is. We are a family of 5 so we always stay in a deluxe resort-always an Epcot resort (BWI/BC/YC) last 2 trips have been at the YC~its my favorite.

We always do tickets for the max days w/the hopper option and the deluxe dining plan. My sons count as adults (14 and 12) so that's 4 adults, 1 child.

We do about 5 signatures a trip, several TS lunches, and breakfasts every day. We spend a small amount of money OOP on food, including lunch at ESPN our arrival day, and of course alcohol and tips.

We bring spending money to buy pins for my DD, some clothing, etc. We fly down, so we purchase airfare.

Really there is nothing we want to do or buy on vacation that we don't do...so I'm not really sure if we could get it up to $20,000. Our trips cost about $12,000-$13,000 and that's doing everything we want.

I suppose as another poster stated, we could do a 2 bedroom suite, which I'm sure would get me to 20,000. I just don't think I would want to spend that much on a hotel room. For me to spend that much I would have to have so much money that it would mean very little to me...I'm talking lottery money!

 

[KristinU]

Sure! There's a new camper I'd like to have that runs about $16-17k, that leaves $3-4k for admission, site fee at Fort Wilderness, food, gas, souvenirs (and oh yeah, I'd get to keep the camper for lots of future adventures )

 

[kayrosek]

I could I'm sure. My big splurge would be the Platinum dining plan. Even though I could I can't imagine that I would.

 

[crisi]

Could I? Sure. Not even hard.

Think about it. First class airfare - no squeezing yourself into an eighteen inch seat. A limo ride to your hotel - no queuing for Magical Express. A suite at the Grand Floridian for a week - a seperate room for the kids and a room for yourself. Fresh flowers greeting you in your room every day. A day of being pampered at the spa with your daughter while your husband and son go bass fishing. Room service breakfast each morning. Signature dinners. Don't worry about the $200 bottle of wine, its in the budget. Four tickets to Cirque, best seats in the house. Fireworks viewing on the Breathless.

Would I? I have other things to spend my money on at the moment, but when Warren Buffet dies and leaves me all his money (what, charity, he's leaving it to charity!!!!!), not a problem.

 

[nrpofp]

If I could afford it why not. I think I will be spending about 11,000 on our first trip to wdw, but its for 2 weeks. I am in healthcare and work extra shifts to pay for our vacations. Vacations are the only thing that motivates me to work more hours. So I look at is overworking to overspend if that makes sense.