How much is too much?

[PJHuntleyCO]

So, yes we have been blessed to be able to go to DisneyWorld and Disneyland with our children in the past, by saving up for about 18months. But the cost seem to be super sizing themselves in the last year. Has anyone else, had to rethink going due to the downturn in the economy?

 

[angierae]

We're going on this trip, but the more I think abotu how much it's costing us, total, the more I realize it's going to be our last trip for a while. DD is graduating HS in 2013, and I think we'll save up for a nice adults-only trip in a few years to somewhere like Hawaii.

I love Disney, but there are other places I want to see, too.

 

[marie1203]

Honestly we haven't found vacations that are much cheaper than WDW. I guess we could go camping but that is more of a weekend than a vacation to us (I am not a big fan). We will not be going back to WDW for a while we have a wedding coming up in May and another big family function outside of the country later this year (since we are spending so much in airplane tickets we are making a long vacation after the family thing). This drain our budget for vacations for this year. The beginning of next year I will be in school so our next vacation will not be until late 2013. Since we don't have much time for vacations in 2013 it most likely we will only take 1 vacation and we are not sure if it will be WDW. We are still throwing ideas around, but we are thinking either a 2 week trip to Vegas, Disneyland and the california coast or road trip up the east coast.

 

[Muushka]

The ridiculous ticket prices, the expensive and not-so-good restaurants have left a bad taste for us.
We have, for the most part, switched to cruising. We used to go to Disney at least twice a year, now just once is fine.
And pretty much dining off site. Non-exp tickets mean we only go into the parks a coupe of days.
Some day we probably won't even go once a year.

Enough is enough.

 

[thebeesknees]

We are a family of 5 and I don't think we will be back for several years, at least. Even if we stayed off-site, just getting there is too costly with airfare, and DH can't take enough time off at once to drive. We will probably just stick to local stuff for awhile, at least until our finances are in good enough shape to feel like we can blow several thousand dollars all at once like that. No idea when that will happen, though. I'm really glad we were able to go when we did, but I can't imagine we'll be back any time soon.

 

[Taja]

Yep. Our last WDW visit was December 2007 and we're looking at December 2013 at the earliest--possibly 2014!

Since it's just my BFF and I (she's in California and I'm in Arizona), it isn't as if we're depriving young children of the opportunity to visit WDW. And we keep saying we want to return, but we're both dealing with financial and health issues (her DH more than her, but it's a financial stress regardless of which family member has issues!). Until we know our jobs are secure and we can pay cash for a WDW visit, it just ain't happenin'! Not to mention coordinating vastly different work schedules! *LOL*

And, you never know. She may have an opportunity to visit WDW with her extended family or I might have a solo opportunity or visit with others. We've been BFFs since age 7 and enjoy getting together periodically. At WDW, we can feel like we're 7, even if we aren't! *LOL*

 

[StephMK]

I know we won't be back anytime soon. The kids (& us) had a blast & it was fun to go back when they were older. But flights are expensive & there are other places on our list. I can see us going back when the kids are teens but not for 4-5 years.

We stay off-site but I agree, the cost/quality of food is not a selling point for us at Disney. I'm glad we've gone when we did but it's not a trip we will take very often or give up other destinations to head back more often. I still like the budget board though & keeping in the loop in case we get a wild hair & change our minds on a trip!

 

[ValpoCory]

I know we won't be back anytime soon. The kids (& us) had a blast & it was fun to go back when they were older. But flights are expensive & there are other places on our list. I can see us going back when the kids are teens but not for 4-5 years.

We stay off-site but I agree, the cost/quality of food is not a selling point for us at Disney. I'm glad we've gone when we did but it's not a trip we will take very often or give up other destinations to head back more often. I still like the budget board though & keeping in the loop in case we get a wild hair & change our minds on a trip!

Not trying to make you change your mind, but if I stayed off-site, I would go back to Disney far less often. Off-site is too similar to every other trip I take. The Magic of on-site Disney immersion is what increases trip frequency, in my opinion.

 

[Muushka]

I know we won't be back anytime soon. The kids (& us) had a blast & it was fun to go back when they were older. But flights are expensive & there are other places on our list. I can see us going back when the kids are teens but not for 4-5 years.

We stay off-site but I agree, the cost/quality of food is not a selling point for us at Disney. I'm glad we've gone when we did but it's not a trip we will take very often or give up other destinations to head back more often. I still like the budget board though & keeping in the loop in case we get a wild hair & change our minds on a trip!

I think you summed up my feelings about Disney. I am so glad that we went all the times we did, but there is more out there!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I am going next week (first time in 3 years), but that will probably be it for a very long time, if I ever return. Sadly the day I get back to work after this trip, there is a big meeting scheduled, and budget cuts will be announced. Since I am part-time, I bet a severe reduction in my hours is coming (most of my co-workers are full-time and unionized and Civil Service, therefore untouchable). So I see a not-too-pleasant future ahead, and Disney will be of zero importance to me when job hunting is all that matters. Sigh.

 

[Muushka]

I am going next week (first time in 3 years), but that will probably be it for a very long time, if I ever return. Sadly the day I get back to work after this trip, there is a big meeting scheduled, and budget cuts will be announced. Since I am part-time, I bet a severe reduction in my hours is coming (most of my co-workers are full-time and unionized and Civil Service, therefore untouchable). So I see a not-too-pleasant future ahead, and Disney will be of zero importance to me when job hunting is all that matters. Sigh.

 

[Pembo]

Our last two trips to WDW have been offsite, which significantly reduced our costs. I thought I would miss the Disney-immersion instead I was delightfully surprised with a much more relaxing vacation.

Disney prices have greatly increased since we first started going in 1999. I remember the trip of $49 room at the All Stars coupled with a $49 one way ticket to Orlando....those were the days........

 

[StephMK]

Not trying to make you change your mind, but if I stayed off-site, I would go back to Disney far less often. Off-site is too similar to every other trip I take. The Magic of on-site Disney immersion is what increases trip frequency, in my opinion.

It might be different if we were a reasonable drive instead of flight. We did try on-site for our 2nd trip but I absolutely hated staying POR in one room. I prefer staying off-site in a timeshare w/ separate bedrooms & living spaces & having a car to park instead of buses. However, if we were willing to pay to stay on the monorail route, then it would be a different story!

 

[ilovemk76]

So, yes we have been blessed to be able to go to DisneyWorld and Disneyland with our children in the past, by saving up for about 18months. But the cost seem to be super sizing themselves in the last year. Has anyone else, had to rethink going due to the downturn in the economy?

For most (high 90%s) of all WDW visitors they do not go multiple times a year, every year or every other year. They might go once when they have kids and then return when they have grandkids.

Anybody who can vacation multiple times a year is also a rare beast. For many a vacation may happen once every other year.

We here have a skewed opinion of where others vacation and if they vacation.

 

[beansmom]

we love disney...but we've been more than 12 times over the last 4 years and, while we still have a trip planned for next October, we do feel we should venture further afield. A week in disney costs us about $4k...we can go to Hawaii or Europe for that.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

My family has been very fortunate not to have been impacted by the downturn in economy but what is affecting our budget is the hike in prices in almost everything in our life. Gas, electricity, water, recreation, food! You name it and it seems like it has gone up in price. While we have not had pay decreases it has been a long while since a wage increase. So no not rethinking because of economic downturns but because of ridiculous inflation of prices all around.

 

[daisy_77]

We have had our trip planned for a long time. We live in Idaho and the cost of our flights is almost as much as the trip itself. And I have never seen a vacation to Disney costing this much without the flights. We have entertained the idea of going to DL instead since it is closer and cheaper to travel there. We still haven't decided either way. If we do end up going to WDW it will be the last trip there for awhile. We will probably stick to DL for our Disney trip fix.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'm 44 and have been to Disney 3 times.

*Disneyland & Universal as a 10-year-old
*DisneyWorld as a 17-year-old (hated every minute there - that was a beach trip with my buddies & some of 'em wanted to go to Disney)
*Animal Kingdom, Sea World & Universal with my wife in '98, no MK that trip.

My daughters are now 6 & 11 and we hope to go ONE time with them. I can see returning to Orlando, but I have no plans for multiple Disney trips. Even this one we're hoping to put together will be as budget-oriented as can be. Low-end Disney resort, or off-site. 1 day at MK, 1 at AK, 1 at each of the water parks. We'll drive rather than fly. We'll pack sandwiches. And even at that it will be far & away the most expensive vacation I've ever taken my kids on.

But, to be honest, even if it were in my budget to go every year, I wouldn't want to & I doubt the kids would either. I want to ride the Silverton-Durango train before the youngest one gets too much bigger. The oldest one wants to see Mt. Rushmore. They both want to see the redwoods, and even my wife's never been to Yellowstone. And on & on & on. Even if I had the $, I just don't have the time

 

[mafibisha]

Not trying to make you change your mind, but if I stayed off-site, I would go back to Disney far less often. Off-site is too similar to every other trip I take. The Magic of on-site Disney immersion is what increases trip frequency, in my opinion.

This.
Stayed offsite last fall for a quick trip with my mom and sister. It was definitely fun in the parks, but at night when we left the parks, it was really wierd, like we hadn't even been in the parks! Like such a jolt back to reality, or similar to other trips we've taken. When on-site the magic never ends and to us, and now my mom and sister, we won't go unless we stay onsite.

Also agree the prices of everything are are ridiculous.

 

[mafibisha]

I'm 44 and have been to Disney 3 times.

*Disneyland & Universal as a 10-year-old
*DisneyWorld as a 17-year-old (hated every minute there - that was a beach trip with my buddies & some of 'em wanted to go to Disney)
*Animal Kingdom, Sea World & Universal with my wife in '98, no MK that trip.

My daughters are now 6 & 11 and we hope to go ONE time with them. I can see returning to Orlando, but I have no plans for multiple Disney trips. Even this one we're hoping to put together will be as budget-oriented as can be. Low-end Disney resort, or off-site. 1 day at MK, 1 at AK, 1 at each of the water parks. We'll drive rather than fly. We'll pack sandwiches. And even at that it will be far & away the most expensive vacation I've ever taken my kids on.

But, to be honest, even if it were in my budget to go every year, I wouldn't want to & I doubt the kids would either. I want to ride the Silverton-Durango train before the youngest one gets too much bigger. The oldest one wants to see Mt. Rushmore. They both want to see the redwoods, and even my wife's never been to Yellowstone. And on & on & on. Even if I had the $, I just don't have the time [/

This too.
Its a great big country with way more to see and do than time, or too many trips to WDW allow.