Isn't it sad that many of us have to rely on codes to go to WDW?...

[Maideneer]

At least I do. Why is it so outrageous for a family or couple to go to WDW?

Try this out: Next time you tell people you are thinking about going to WDW for a week in the summer, the immediate first thing you will hear out of their mouths is either:

a) It's going to be hot
b) Wow, that's going to be really expensive

I don't think it's good for Disney to have this kind of reputation. They deem a rock bottom price of $1,500 for a family as 'affordable'. That's just for a hotel stay and park passes. Silly Disney, you forgot small little things like GETTING THERE AND EATING! Add a few plane tickets, and $4 bottles of water and $10 burgers, and you can't even see $1500 in the rear view mirror. What if little Jimmy wants a cool souvenir? Sorry Jimmy, good ole Walt has sucked mommy and daddy dry.

I'm not saying that it's bad to save money here and there, but when you start depending on codes for a vacation to this place, it seems almost sad and disappointing.

I am trying to save every penny I have for an August vacation for my girlfriend, but I honestly don't know if I can do it.

Maybe I will go elsewhere. It's becoming more clear that I will.

 

[safetymom]

I found when I lived in PA that it was cheaper for us to go to WDW than it was going to the beach in the summer.

I am a single mother who was raising 3 kids when we started going to WDW. I found ways to cut costs while we were on vacation at WDW. We didn't stay at the deluxes, eat in nice restaurants every night but we had a great time.

I think for the money you get a lot. I didn't even know about codes when I first started going. The look in my kids eyes when they saw the parks was worth every penny we spent.

You can go and have a great time without spending a lot of money.

 

[sarahg311@hotmail.co]

Honestly a trip to WDW (including passes and resort) for 4 I think 1500 is reasonable. If I didn't have 3 kids I would totally stay at a value resort. There is no way that 5 of us could stay in a value resort. I was and have been waiting on codes for the deluxe resorts. There is no way we could afford to stay on-site for $300+ a night!!

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I don't think it is sad that everyone wants a code for a room discount. Just because someone wants a room discount does not mean it is so expensive they wouldn't be going at all anyway. Also, I do not think you can really compare disney with any other type of vacation. It is comparing Apples and Oranges. For example, take a trip to the beach. The hotel room in the middle of the summer is not exactly cheap, it is anywhere from 150 to 250 a night for a nice beach front hotel with a room that has a balcony that actually faces the ocean with a full ocean view. Sure most people spend the day on the beach, but in the evening you want entertainment and that does cost money. Just for putt putt golf a family of 4 can spend quite a nice little chunk of change. Is it as much as a day in the parks, no, but you aren't getting a full days worth of entertainment also. I could go on, but basically what I am saying is before you change your mind about where to go for vacation make sure you count every thing and you might just suprise your self and find that disney isn't that much more expensive and it is a heck of lot more fun then most other vacations.

 

[NorgeKathrine]

It's not nearly as sad as if we couldn't afford to take a vacation at all. A lot of people are scraping by just to pay mortgages or rent or groceries, utilities, etc. with no thought of a vacation possible. I'm grateful that the codes exist. Anywhere you go on vacation is going to be expensive. You could consider camping, that's about the cheapest vacation I know of.

 

[SleepingUgly]

You can stay off-site. Or, if you choose to stay on-site, go during value season, and you can stay at a value resort for $77 per night. You can't do much better price-wise off-site, especially considering the amenities (ie, transportation to parks) you get by staying onsite.

You don't have to buy a "$10 burger" everyday. You can pack your own lunch and eat a nice dinner every night, or splurge for a nice sit-down dinner every now and then. No one is forcing you to buy food in the parks.

Likewise, no one is forcing you to buy water in the parks. Bring your own water. Or buy a $25 Brita filter at Target and install that on your sink faucet in your room and refill your empty water bottles on your own. At the end of the trip, take the filter home and you can continue using it.

I do agree that it seems ridiculous the price some people pay to stay at the deluxe resorts, and at conceirge level too. For that price, I could stay at the Ritz in Paris or the Waldorf Astoria in NYC, and those are TRUE first-class hotels. But, it is for the experience, and to each his own.

I do believe Disney can be affordable for everyone. Do a road trip if you can't fly. My parents took us to Disney when I was a kid. We did a road trip from the Midwest, stayed off-site at a Best Western, and we ate in the motel room just about every night. And we still managed to have a good time. If you set your expectations to what you can afford -- instead of what you think Disney should charge and what you think should be provided at the price you are paying -- then you will have a good time.

Good luck!!!

Linda

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

A decent rental at the Jersey beaches can start at $1500 to $2000-$3000 or much more - just for accomodations - this doesn't include food, beach tags, gas, boardwalk rides and amusements, movies, beer, etc.

Even though I live 45 minutes from the beach, I'd rather go to Disney!

 

[Maideneer]

I guess what I was trying to say flew over everyone's head. Sorry I brought it up. I won't say anymore.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We bought DVC points so we don't have to worry about escalating room rates. Our annual dues go up slightly, but not as quickly as the room rates.

 

[BuckNaked]

I guess what I was trying to say flew over everyone's head. Sorry I brought it up. I won't say anymore.

I don't think it flew over our heads, I just think that many of us don't agree. I don't see why anyone would need to depend on codes to go to WDW. To stay on-site...yes, I'm sure that there are those that depend on codes to stay on-site. But a family can still have a great time at WDW without staying at a Disney hotel.

 

[disneyfan67]

I guess what I was trying to say flew over everyone's head. Sorry I brought it up. I won't say anymore.

I got what you were trying to say and I understand. I love Disney and can't wait to go this April but it is expensive, no doubt about it. No matter what you do to save money the price still adds up. I have drove to WDW and flew and they can be both expensive.There is some members here that don't like anything negative said about Disney and would defend anything Disney does no matter what. I find myself doing that at times also.

I look at WDW as a investment in happy memories for my family. I know that sounds corny but one day my kids will be grown up and my wife and I will be looking back on our life together and thinking about the good times we had. It's a shame that staying at a decent resort like the Poly (which we love dearly) costs so much, but I do feel that a resort like the Poly is part of the Disney experience.

This will be the last big Disney trip for my family for a while and if we go next year it will have to be for a few days and on the cheap, but that's not a vaction to me if you can't truly enjoy yourself. Eating cheap cold food in a cheap offsite motel isn't relaxing to me. I have done that and it's not worth it to me. Oh well, that's life and what can you do? Cheer up and don't let it get you down.

 

[lclark0621]

I think it all depends on your expectations & how you travel.

DH, DS & I travel all over the world during the year. I can tell you our week in Disney World is usually our cheapest vacation of the year.

We rent a beach house for a week or two every summer. That ranges from $1500 - $3500 a week just for the house. The add all the money for food & stuff in the house, as well as stuff we do at the beach, plus transportation. Well it is much more expensive then our week at the WL this coming April.

I think people automatically assume Disney is outragously expensive, but they dont really compare the prices to the vacations the deem "resonable".

I think in the end people would see that Disney is as resonable, if not more then most other vacations.

 

[AlexTina]

What if little Jimmy wants a cool souvenir? Sorry Jimmy, good ole Walt has sucked mommy and daddy dry.

If your budget is that strapped then you probably should just skip the vacation no matter if it is to WDW or not. Good Luck and I really hope you get a code so that poor little Jimmy can get a T-Shirt.

Tina

 

[Tiggerlover91]

At least I do. Why is it so outrageous for a family or couple to go to WDW?

Try this out: Next time you tell people you are thinking about going to WDW for a week in the summer, the immediate first thing you will hear out of their mouths is either:

a) It's going to be hot
b) Wow, that's going to be really expensive

I don't think it's good for Disney to have this kind of reputation. They deem a rock bottom price of $1,500 for a family as 'affordable'. That's just for a hotel stay and park passes. Silly Disney, you forgot small little things like GETTING THERE AND EATING! Add a few plane tickets, and $4 bottles of water and $10 burgers, and you can't even see $1500 in the rear view mirror. What if little Jimmy wants a cool souvenir? Sorry Jimmy, good ole Walt has sucked mommy and daddy dry.

I'm not saying that it's bad to save money here and there, but when you start depending on codes for a vacation to this place, it seems almost sad and disappointing.

I am trying to save every penny I have for an August vacation for my girlfriend, but I honestly don't know if I can do it.

Maybe I will go elsewhere. It's becoming more clear that I will.

 

[disneyfan67]

If your budget is that strapped then you probably should just skip the vacation no matter if it is to WDW or not. Good Luck and I really hope you get a code so that poor little Jimmy can get a T-Shirt.

Tina

I must say that your comment and laughing on the floor smilie was quite mean. Not everyone can afford to go all out on a vacation. You might have a point about skipping the trip due to lack of money but you don't have to be rude. A Disney vacation is major outlay of money and I'm not going to make fun of someone because the're not as lucky as others when it comes to having a bigger income. I think your post was uncalled for and I don't recall myself making any DIS member feel small or not welcome. Flame me all you want but deep down I think you know you were wrong.

 

[msteddom]

I guess what I was trying to say flew over everyone's head. Sorry I brought it up. I won't say anymore.

"People don't agree with me, therefore everyone else must be stupid." That's always a great argument. Disney is free to set it's pricing however the company sees fit. I am willing to pay that price. If you're not that's fine, but don't come on a message board devoted to eveything Disney and insult all of us who are.

 

[epcotfan]

I found when I lived in PA that it was cheaper for us to go to WDW than it was going to the beach in the summer...I think for the money you get a lot....You can go and have a great time without spending a lot of money.

I agree with Safetymom. It is very expensive to vacation in Ontario. Hotels are outrageously priced here compared to Disney. We find travelling to the US much more affordable in the long run than taking local trips.

 

[Dreamer04]

Yes, WDW is expensive. I'm not going to compare it to anything, because I can find cheaper and more epensive vacations.

I love Disney. I look for codes so I can afford a fun vacation. That is not sad for me. I also use coupons, look for sales, mail in rebates and generally bargain hunt. Not sad. Just a way of life, really.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I must say that your comment and laughing on the floor smilie was quite mean. Not everyone can afford to go all out on a vacation. You might have a point about skipping the trip due to lack of money but you don't have to be rude. A Disney vacation is major outlay of money and I'm not going to make fun of someone because the're not as lucky as others when it comes to having a bigger income. I think your post was uncalled for and I don't recall myself making any DIS member feel small or not welcome. Flame me all you want but deep down I think you know you were wrong.

I don't think Tina was rude.

Just like everything in life, there has to be a point when you say I just can't afford this right now. That point will be different for different families. If I ever to get to the point were I can't buy my son the yummy snacks (fudge is on the top of his list ) and gifts while on vacation, it's time to rethink the trip.

There are many people here that would rather stay home than stay offsite or in a value resort.

Of course whenever someone's post that maybe a trip should to put off until it's more affordable, people accuse him or her of being rude and mean.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We have been going to Disney at least every other year for quite awhile. It's not cheap, and I won't say it is, but MOST vacations aren't. But for what you are getting I think it can be made affordable.

We looked at going to Universal for the same time as Disney. The week was going to cost at least $600 more, for the 8 nights, and that did not even include food.

I have a friend, whose hubby keeps saying Disney is too expensive, but they went to Gatlinburg for a week and dropped $2000, and couldn't figure out how. The same couple spends $1500 for accomodations at Myrtle Beach. This year they are enlisting me, to help plan their trip, and can't believe that for $2500, you can be onsite, 8 nights, 7 day tickets, and food. They actually asked to see my reservation for proof.
LOL.

With planning, you can find ways to have $$ for that T-shirt, and find decent airfare if you watch, and look, and keep looking. My kids understand, that Santa, and the Easter Bunny give disney dollars too, and don't feel deprived by that. Our Disney vacations mean the world to my family. The girls always remember things about them, and talk of them often. Ask them to name 5 presents they got this past Christmas, and i bet they can't.

Not everybody can afford to go to Disney, and some years we can't either -so we don't. I don't think it is rude to reminded of that.

At my job, there is ALWAYS OT to be had (I'm a nurse). I actually had someone, say to me. If I had to work OT just for a vacation, I wouldn't go. Strangely enough, they are the same person who has the maximum cable, smoke, and go out nearly every weekend. I don't have to work OT, to go, but it definately helps.

We plan our trip, and our resort, tickets, spending cash, with what we are willing to spend. If codes come out----WONDERFUL. If not Oh Well!!