I used to stay off site all the time. Then DME started and I sort of rationalized the higher hotel prices that way. But I could go back to staying offsite. Even if you just stayed the first 2 days offsite it would probably pay for meals for the entire rest of the vacation.
Um, you clearly didn’t buy $20 worth of sardines to hand feed the rays. Then $20 to feed the sea lions. If you had, you’d be telling everyone to get an annual pass.
We did this a few years ago, 3 days at US and 4 at WDW and had a great time (probably spent less too!)
And for these "special" events like Boo Bash where a family of 4 will pay $600 (almost the price of an AP) for a "whole" 5 hours. We got a good deal for POP during turkey week (8 nights) and I am estimating the grand total to be right around $3700 with food/snacks and souvenirs. I see people paying 2-3 times more than our grand total just for their resort. We stayed at some deluxes through 2016 and we noticed back then that, we really did not have any more fun staying there then we have had at the other levels of resorts and as the $$ keeps sky rocketing our decisions have been a lot easier
My wife bullied me into it. You should've fought harder. It saves a TON now if you bought it just a few years ago looking at the crazy hotel rates they charge nowadays (and that horrible parking fee!!Same here. It's always my son and I. My husband went on our first WDW trip and he complained so much we never asked him to go again. I wanted to buy into DVC. He said "absolutely not."
) If you ever do finally win, join us on the DVC boards so we can show you how to buy resale 
Are you even going to Disney if you don't feel this way? My answer, yes, always. I get angry about it and then get over it before we go so I don't ruin the magical trip I am paying out the nose for; it's a way of life. Not necessarily a good one but, Disney addictions, they're real.
Lots of people tired of having to cancel vacations and are now going to Disney for Christmas
Not going to be able to fight those prices.
It's still a superior overall experience in many ways. There are intangible benefits that are hard to quantify (hence their ability to charge unexpectedly high rates.)When I read this, full on lol!
I would agree in every trip we've taken in my lifetime, but time will tell if Disney continues being worth it, those intangible benefits have been on a decline for a while and have become much more obvious for their no longer existing post covid reopenings. I think Disney is at a crossroads right now, hopefully they can refocus, restaff, and bring back those missing benefits.
