How often do you go to Disney World?

[CJK]

The reason I ask.....is because I'm just so frustrated with the exchange rate. We went to Disney on our honeymoon in '98 for one week. We stated at the All-Stars Resort, went to the Hoop Dee Doo, got a length of stay pass, etc.... We spent something like $5000 Canadian in one week that trip. OUCH. We've been to Disney twice since then, but we just can't afford spending that much money. We've had to stay off-site these last two trips, only buy 4 day parkhoppers, no shopping and only eat at fastfood places. Our last trip was about $2500 Canadian. I read other peoples' posts about their trips and staying at moderate/deluxe hotels, eat at the nice restaurants, character breakfasts, etc........and I just wonder how often you do these trips? We generally go once ever two years (though recently its been about once a year). Do you all just not worry about money on your vacations? Or only go once in a while? Just curious! Thanks! ºoº

 

[PoohBWV]

We have been going once a year for the past 6 or 7 years, but have found the costs of feeding two teenagers, plus ourselves to be getting outrageous. Also the costs of passes for four adults is so high with the exchange rate, that unfortunately I don't think we'll be going back for a while. Also we have found that since we have spent so much time in the parks over the last 6 years that our kids have become bored and don't even care about going to the parks. Last year they were more interested in visiting outlet malls than the parks! We can do that at home. We did drive the last two years to help keep costs down, but DH says he won't drive again - it was just too long. I think that this year we will be going on another cruise instead of visiting Disney - pay one price for the kids and we don't have to worry about food costs etc., plus our kids love visiting different islands.

 

[SandraC]

I'm 36 years old and been to WDW 6 times since I was 11 years old. I have been twice with my parents and sibs, twice with dh before kids, and twice with kids (once with one kid and once with both kids).

We went in April 2001. I saved $$$ for three years and wanted that trip to be a SPEND AS YOU LIKE TRIP! We ate very well, stayed at CBR, rented a giant Ford Explorer ~ the trip cost $7000.00 Canadian. I didn't really mind spending that much since I saved for it and knew we would spend cash.

Since that trip was so magical, we would like to make it an annual event, especially with small kids, dd is 7 yo and ds is 18 months old.

If we can efford it, we've try to go every year and stay on site.

 

[dopeydays]

our family went for the first time together last year. We bought a resort magic package for FW cabins, and spent far too much money. This trip we will be staying at the ASMO with a
DC discount. We just added up what it will cost including rental car and airfare from seattle and the amount is 2500.00 CDN. We factor in 200 US for spending money each day. My husband and I work to go on vacation, so it is easier to save up when you know you are leaving the rain of a BC winter.

 

[asc]

We have been going once a year and hope to continue to do so. The costs have been varied depending on how many of us there were but I have to say, the first trip was definitely the most expensive. We shake our heads over the expense. I now diligently read the boards and take notes. (I have post-it notes and little scraps of paper with all these numbers and letters on them all over the table.) We like to indulge in nice restaurants but generally we split appetizers and entrees. I find the portions are too big, even at the fast food places. We look in the stores but try to leave most of the actual purchasing of souvenirs/gifts until the end when we had some time to think about what we want. And with each trip, I have bought less. We have been thinking of investing in annual passes for our next trip.

 

[CJK]

Thanks for responding everyone. I re-read my post and thought that I sounded like I was really complaining. I guess I was.......but the irony of it all is that I obviously love Disney enough to keep on going, despite the cost. Since 1975, I've been there too many times to count (though admittedly, I never actually paid for my trips until I was married as I went with my parents). It really is a magical place isn't it??? ºoº

 

[c&m]

My DH and I have gone to WDW once every 2 years by ourselves, and to DL every year with our 2 DDs. At WDW, we spend on average $3500, for 7 nights' at the Dolphin hotel, airfare, and food costs. It's steep, but we enjoy the resort, the rides, the sun, the magic, etc. We don't think we'll be doing WDW too much in the near future. The weak CDN dollar is hurting us!

At DL, we usually spend about $2000 for that trip driving down the west coast to Anaheim. The airfare costs too much for a family of 4, so driving south makes perfect sense.

 

[c&m]

My DH and I have gone to WDW once every 2 years by ourselves, and to DL every year with our 2 DDs. At WDW, we spend on average $3500, for 7 nights' at the Dolphin hotel, airfare, and food costs. It's steep, but we enjoy the resort, the rides, the sun, the magic, etc. We don't think we'll be doing WDW too much in the near future. The weak CDN dollar is hurting us!

At DL, we usually spend about $2000 for that trip driving down the west coast to Anaheim. The airfare costs too much for a family of 4, so driving south makes perfect sense.

 

[Bobster]

First post!

My wife and I (from Montreal) manage to hit WDW every year for about 3 weeks. Our trips cost around $5000. Although this is a big amount, it could be worse for 3 weeks on Disney property. I assume most of you are already aware of the "tricks" we use, but here goes anyway ...

We always stay at the value resorts (AS Sports, Music or Movies) and arrive on a "value season" day. As most of you know, even if part of your trip runs over a holiday, you still pay the value rate for the room the entire stay. With the Disney Club card, the Annual Pass or some discount code, we haven't paid the rack rate on a room in several years. For instance, we are heading down the first week of September and got the great price of $49 US at AS Sports with a discount code listed on MouseSavers.com (this was before the code exclusively for Canadians was advertised).

We purchase an Annual Pass and schedule our trips to use the passes twice. For example, we go in early February one year, and in mid-January the next year using the same Annual Pass. In the past, we usually renewed our Annual Passes to save a bit of $. However, Annual Passes now activate on the renew date, so we will no longer be renewing them.

We joined the Magic Kingdom Gold Card Club several years ago, now it's just called the Disney Club. With this card, we save about $20 US (?) on the purchase of each Annual Pass, so it pretty much pays for itself right off the bat. Other small savings with this card add up. Plus, it's great to get the Disney Magazine in the mail!

We do not rent a car. We usually go off site only a few days (like for a day at Universal Studios), and we simply use a Taxi service or Mears.

We buy and use the refillable mugs at our Resort! We usually hit our Resort for lunch (mid-day break), so the mugs are really (I mean really) used over a 3-week period.

All our souvenir purchases (usually not very much) are made at Downtown Disney using the American Express credit card. Thus, relatively the same souvenirs from the parks cost %15 less (I believe total amount must be over $50 for the discount to apply).

We have a very good travel agent (I think . I do not recall ever paying more than $400 for our plane tickets from Montreal to Orlando. With Canada 3000, the current rate is $299 (including regular taxes) for a direct flight.

If you use a service like Tiffany Towncar to get from the airport to your Resort, they will let you stop at a grocery store to pick up a few bags of food. Considering the price of some basic stuff at Disney compared to what you pay off-site in a grocery store, I think this speaks for itself.

I am surely forgetting some stuff, but that's the main of it.

Regards,
Bobster.

 

[CindyAnn]

CJK - Don't worry, you don't sound like you're complaining. I think, like all Canadians, you just wish that exchange rate were a little more favourable. Every time I hear someone from the U.S. complaining about the cost of their WDW trip, I think "Hey, that $6000 vacation you're talking about would cost ME $9000". Not that they're not entitled to complain, though, since no matter how you look at it WDW isn't exactly a bargain destination.

I've been on 9 trips to WDW since I was a kid and now really appreciate those that were funded my parents. We've gone every 4 years or so, but now that the children are a great age to travel (4 & 7 on our last trip) we're planning to head down more frequently. We're thinking of purchasing annual passes for our next trip so that we'll be encouraged to use them for twice.

For our last trip we decided we would go on our dream WDW vacation. It was 4yo DD's first trip (although she claims some in utero memories from the previous trip!) and 7yo DS hadn't been since he was 2 1/2, so we had a blast. Thanks to the DIS I was able to plan a wonderful trip, and we decided to stay for 10 days, 8 of them at the Polynesian. Ouch, ouch, double ouch! The 7 day parkhopper plus passes actually cost more than our airfare, so that was also kind of ugly. I can promise you that all our trips won't be like that one. For our next trip I'm hoping to get a good rate at the All Star Movies.

Bobster - I just wanted to say "Welcome to the Dis". We're glad you found us.

 

[Elaine]

We have gone in 2000 and 2001.
2000 onsite
2001 offsite plus Universal

DH doesn't want to go this year for a 3rd time but me and the three boys do!
He wants to sit on a warm beach in Mexico like we did before kids. I don't think that
works so well with kids!

We managed to get him there a 2nd time (which was even better than the first time)
We want to see our favorites and do the rides again. Boo hoo.

Money... oh yes.... $5000 not including the airmile tickets (no cost)
Worth it? FOR sure.

I think if we don't go to WDW we go to New Zealand to see my cousins!
Have a great day! Elaine

 

[cotye]

Not often enough I guess. I'm not as dedicated as some and I only once every few years. I went last November and have no intention to return until at least 2004. Oh well.

 

[dsneygirl]

At least once a year, Sept, will be our 4th trip in 3 years. We also did DL in Feb, and my fiance has gone 3 times without me.
We only fly from Buffalo, (costs us about $400 for both of us sometimes even less) and just stay at the AS, we don't want to spend a lot of $$ on hotels. Last fall my future BIL was a CM and we got a discount on our rooms. My sweetie would probably go more often but we bought a house and are planning a wedding so he will just have to be content with once a year.

BTW-our vacations probably run abour $2000 including, food, souvenirs etc.

 

[Canadave]

January 2000 was our first trip and January 2002 will be our second. I would love to make it a bi-annual trip, but I'm just happy to get back there a second time. If the exchange was better, we might even think about going more often. Our first trip was our first vacation in 12 years, so we decided not to be too concerned about money. However, staying at the ASMo resort was not only easier on the pocket book, but the kids loved it. We're trying the ASMu next year.

Welcome to the DIS, Bobster! Where do you eat when you're at WDW? I find that the food bill really adds up!

Canadave

 

[DSNY FN]

We have been trying to go once a year it hasn't quite worked out that way but it is close. We are going to become DVC members this year and thus our once a year will be alot easier after that. We usually get Disney club rates for All Stars and buy 7 day hoppers that way even if you don't happen to use all 7 days you can use it for your next trip down as they never expire. We also go for 10 days to 2 weeks and go in value season the first 2 weeks of Dec then we get to see al the parks and hotels decked out for christmas nothing like Disney in the festive christmas season.
Darren & Lisa

 

[firen'ice]

We decided because we, like you, would spend upwards of $5000 per trip and going 1-2 times a year for 7-13 days that we would buy a vacation club membership.

The cost of our trips is much less now, we stay at lux resorts but only really pay for our tickets. In the home resorts there are kitchens so we eat 1-2 meals in our rooms and eat one on site.

The membership payed for itself in 3 trips for us, but you would have to calculate that yourself. We also pay dues on a credit card that gives us points for every dollar we spend. By the time we pay our dues we have enough points to fly there.

 

[Quasiboato]

I agree, the Disney Vacation Club or other quality timeshare (like Vistana) is the way to go. My first Disney trip was in '78 - ski week from U. of T. I've been living in the U.S. for the past 13 years. We bought into DVC in '93 when we lived in the Northeast and have gone every year since. We used our points for the Disney Cruise Line last year and again this year.

 

[Artemus]

Living only 7 hours away (when Interstates are not too torn up) we do the Seasonal Pass thing and make it 3-4 times a year. SPs! One real nice part of living in Florida but not Orlando!

Artemus

Planning for late September!

 

[Artemus]

I found this question during a seach and did not notice it was meant for our Canadian brothers! Sorry for the mis-post!

Artemus

 

[minnie56]

We go to WDW 2-3 times a year.We were there in early August and will be there for 12 days at Christmas.We really love the place!We find it really expensive with the exchange, but save a bit by buying annual passes (with DC discount and Florida Resident discount) and really watch for room rate specials. This discussion forum is a great place for that!We got our Christmas booking lined up through here! Sometimes we drive to cut costs but I'm not so sure you save that much doing that either.We do have such a good time each time we go though that all in all it's worth the expense.