Is Disney becoming too expensive?

[sarahlovesmickey]

thanks!

 

[disneysteve]

I used to tell all my friend that I could go there as cheap as I could about any other place. I buy APs and use them at least 2x. But I don't think I can make that statement any longer. Is it just me or does anyone else think WDW is getting out of hand with prices?

I haven't read all the responses, so this is just my opinion based on our experience.

I track our spending on our Disney trips to the penny and I haven't seen our spending increase at all for at least 3-4 years. A couple of things that helped a lot: when Disney switched to the MYW tickets, that actually LOWERED ticket prices significantly. That was the first time I ever remember them dropping prices. Instead of getting a 5-day pass for each trip, we buy one 10-day ticket and get 2 trips out of it. That has saved us hundreds. The other big savings was discovering SkyAuction. Being able to rent a 2-bed, 2-bath condo for $40/night really helps keep costs down. We were previously spending that much or more for a cheap motel room.

So I'd say Disney trips are just as affordable as they've been for us. We do a 9-day trip (including travel days) for between $2,000 and $2,300 generally. That hasn't changed for several years.

 

[Disneysnel]

My trip is costing us a lot more than what I am seeing posted here and it is just DH and I.

I have to say that I did price all kind of vacations and they all came out to be about the same money when you include excursions, rentals, etc.
I tried Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Yosemite, Wyoming and even just doing a road trip around here (Colorado) for 2 weeks.

We are not lay on the beach all day kind of people, so for us WDW is the better value but I do agree it is getting SO expensive.

But these days even a trip to the grocery store is getting really expensive.

Note to heartsy77 - LOVE your avatar!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

yeah, I agree...my grocery trips these days are just SCARY!!!!!!

 

[abeyst]

yeah, I agree...my grocery trips these days are just SCARY!!!!!!

I agree. All aspects of my life are being 'trimmed of fat', so to speak. Lots of extras are being cut. Extras are becoming luxuries, and are coming around fewer and farther in between. Candies, snacks, expensive meals - you name it. Thermostat is dialed down drastically, trips out of the house are grouped for less gas usage, cable/internet are to the bare minimum, clothing is the bare minimum also.

Disney's prices are creeping higher, and I'm just thankful there's still room to cut the budget there. I'd hate to get to the point when I can't cut anymore and I say we just can't go. DVC has helped tons, 1 table service meal per trip, and we share meals to not waste any food. Souveniers are cut to what they can use (like a t shirt), and that's with money they get for birthdays & holidays.

 

[0hmyheck]

Everything is just plain expensive nowdays! Disney is just part of the overall increase in life. However, I just read Dave Ramsey and there is no Disney in my future.

 

[jimandami]

[ Anyone remember really cheap Vegas trips - harder to find that, now. I'm guessing the coasts are not much different.[/QUOTE]

A little of topic, but I am really missing the cheap Vegas trips...DH and I wanted to go in May but prices are way higher than they used to be!!! And to second what several others said, all trips are just more expensive. We took my stepson to New York City last summer and our room was over $400/night...and it was an embassy suites and not in times square. We went to Disney last week and the only thing that really bothered me pricewise was the food. Every TS meal we had was close to or over $100 and the food was really very mediocre.

 

[n3rf]

wow after reading the entire thread, im a bit scared going on my first trip to WDW in late April and was hoping for around 1500.00 for wifey, myself and 2yr old daughter... this will be our first trip there since we live in LA and trips to Disneyland are common like 2x a month.

but plane tickets seem to really be killilng me will be around 400.00 average from LAX to MCO. OUCH!

 

[crisi]

A little of topic, but I am really missing the cheap Vegas trips...

I do to. It used to be an easy getaway for a couple or to go hang out with friends. Years ago you could get away to Vegas for a weekend from Minnesota for $200 - airfare and hotel - then eat at $6 buffets for the weekend and come home (if you avoided the slot machines) having spent less than $300 a person.

 

[disneysteve]

wow after reading the entire thread, im a bit scared going on my first trip to WDW in late April and was hoping for around 1500.00 for wifey, myself and 2yr old daughter

Two people can certainly do Disney under $2,000. The 2-year-old is free admission and probably doesn't eat a whole lot. Can't help with the airfare, but Disney need not be a costly vacation. I still think it is a great value compared to many other common tourist destinations.

 

[n3rf]

Two people can certainly do Disney under $2,000. The 2-year-old is free admission and probably doesn't eat a whole lot. Can't help with the airfare, but Disney need not be a costly vacation. I still think it is a great value compared to many other common tourist destinations.

yeah thanks Im planning on booking my vacation through Dreams Unlimited since it seems they will get me the best deal possible for a 6day/7night stay at a value resort with Dinning. Will be extremely happy if under 2000.00 since your right my 2year old will be free for stay/enterance and well dinning she harly eats anything.

So glad i found this forum for the advice, been reading all threads regarding getting best deal for a vacation hope i dont miss anything

 

[crisi]

My trip is costing us a lot more than what I am seeing posted here and it is just DH and I.

Do remember that people have different requirements and resources. There was a woman who used to post here who did Disney for practically free. She had annual passes, so she was able to go four or five times a year for a few dollars a day towards admission. She traveled to work frequently to Orlando, so airfare and hotel and car rental was covered on those trips - she'd just extend the trip over the weekend. Since she flew frequently for business, she had frequent flyers and hotel points for the trips she took that weren't business. Points on the Disney Visa covered food.

If you can drive to Disney and live within an eight hour drive - thats a whole different deal than living in Minnesota (where I live) where its a 24 hour drive (and at my age, that's at LEAST two days each way in the car).

If you are a timeshare owner, you may not be "fessing up" to the cost of your stay, since it was prepaid - so DVC owners often just omit any accommodation cost at all when talking about trips - and nearly everyone figure their costs differently - and regardless - owning a timeshare in Orlando (or one that trades into Orlando) can make Disney cheaper. Better yet, having relatives that own one that will trade in that you can use.

If you are content doing a grocery stop and eating two of three meals in your room (or even all three by packing in some sandwiches), that can make Disney more affordable. And if you'd be buying those groceries at home anyway - well, is it worth counting them to the cost of the trip?

Disneysteve is a master of the inexpensive Disney trip using Skyauction, staying offsite, driving down, eating meals offsite - I used to joke (and its probably still true) that my husband and I spend more on umbrella drinks at Disney than Steve spends on food.

We go down this year, and will spend $1500 in airfare - but park tickets don't need to be bought since we have old 10 days. DVC covers our room accomodations, and the points on our Disney Visa is going to cover dining for us. So it will be a pretty cheap trip. Now, you don't know what DVC cost us originally, what dues on that trip are, how much we've spent to get that many points on the Visa, or how much we spent on the original 10 day tickets. Had we been able to use frequent flyers, we'd be even cheaper.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I agree with Steve...you can most certainly do Disney for the 3 of you for under $2000!! Keep reading the threads here!! I love this board so much!

 

[overit]

this year airfare is thru the roof!! We are going to drive We did get the 40% off code so its not too bad and our son is still 2. Next year is going to be the killer when he is 3 and we have to pay for him and a moderate.

Just wanted to say that working in the airline industry-airline rates compared to hotel and other regular cost of living things has remained almost the same that it was a couple decades ago. It's about the only thing that remains not-consisten with cost of living increases.

Of course it all depends on the flexibility of travel and booking in advance (not too far either though)....but I for one wish the fares would increase to match the other increases of our cost of living-I would likely get paid more rather then have our salaries slashed because people want to pay what they did 10/20yrs ago.
They pay more for everything else after all....that said I do understand the supply/demand and competition factors

 

[HelenePA]

wow after reading the entire thread, im a bit scared going on my first trip to WDW in late April and was hoping for around 1500.00 for wifey, myself and 2yr old daughter... this will be our first trip there since we live in LA and trips to Disneyland are common like 2x a month.

but plane tickets seem to really be killilng me will be around 400.00 average from LAX to MCO. OUCH!

2k for 2 paying adults is VERY do able! Now under 2k for 2 adults 2 kids and 1 "infant" is very very hard to do!! Right now I'm hoping to stay under 3k, it would be almost 4k if we were flying this time but we are driving to save money. Last year 5 round trip tix from philly to mco cost 500$ TOTAL! This year prices are 1200$ Gas should cost us about 350$ round trip but driving 22 hrs with 3 loud kids is not my ideal start to a vacation, but to be honest we can't afford 1200 for plane tix.

Also check into booking yourself, Right now for our family we are paying just over 2k for 2a 2c 1freebie at a value resort (POP), 8 day base tix, & dinning. You can do it yourself! be sure to check out the code board!

 

[crisi]

yeah thanks Im planning on booking my vacation through Dreams Unlimited since it seems they will get me the best deal possible for a 6day/7night stay at a value resort with Dinning. Will be extremely happy if under 2000.00 since your right my 2year old will be free for stay/enterance and well dinning she harly eats anything.

So glad i found this forum for the advice, been reading all threads regarding getting best deal for a vacation hope i dont miss anything

Well, that's where the difference is - you want to stay on site and are getting dining. The cheapest vacations are offsite - and avoid Disney property for most meals. If you are willing to stay offsite and eat offsite, there are great deals to be had - nicer places than the Values.

(I'd skip the dining plan, even if you stay onsite).

 

[HelenePA]

Well, that's where the difference is - you want to stay on site and are getting dining. The cheapest vacations are offsite - and avoid Disney property for most meals. If you are willing to stay offsite and eat offsite, there are great deals to be had - nicer places than the Values.

(I'd skip the dining plan, even if you stay onsite).

the dining plan (even with the changes) for us is still a great deal, with 2 small kids it pays for itself each day with the TS meal.

 

[lillygator]

we live in FL and have annual passes...this is the first year I don't have a resort booked for at least some time frame. They want $79 for thursday night and $129 for Friday and Saturday at a value. Much different than last year. Will we still go? Yes, but we'll we probably staying offsite! (yikes!)

 

[crisi]

the dining plan (even with the changes) for us is still a great deal, with 2 small kids it pays for itself each day with the TS meal.

Its a great deal, but it isn't a cheap way to do Disney.

 

[eliza61]

I can't believe I am asking this question. We have been lots of times. We've stayed value, moderate and deluxe. We've eaten everywhere and spent lots and spent very little. I was just asking my DH this question a few days ago.

The hotels are way to expensive IMO. The food price is becoming absurd. I just read that Chef Mickeys is now $30 per adult and $15 for kids.

I used to tell all my friend that I could go there as cheap as I could about any other place. I buy APs and use them at least 2x. But I don't think I can make that statement any longer. Is it just me or does anyone else think WDW is getting out of hand with prices?

Unfortunately I agree with most of the earlier posters. Vacationing anywhere is ungodly expensive. Last summer we went to Ocean city MD for a week. Our hotel was 287/night and it was not Ocean front. Not to mention, food at any shore on the East coast is expensive.
Dh & I went to the theater this past saturday to see Nathan Lane on Broadway (excellent play called November) Let's see $100/per ticket ($200) $40.00 park and another $100 bucks for dinner for two (78.00 pre-dinner plus 17.00 tip) One night out almost $400.00 for the night.
Dh & I are planning a trip to Paris for our 25th anniversary, don't even get me started on the value of a dollar oversees.

Disney is still a half way decent value to me.