Just too expensive now !

[LSmith]

.

 

[mommymanda]

Not our house, I hate the cost, but with three kids under 10 it is still an exciting (and one time) adventure we are striving for.

My parents commented they wanted to join us when we go so I sent them numbers. They were not as impressed, my father said the same as your comment. He can spend a week in Cuba or some other sunny quiet resort for less money. So now we're not sure if they are joining or not.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Not our house, I hate the cost, but with three kids under 10 it is still an exciting (and one time) adventure we are striving for.

My parents commented they wanted to join us when we go so I sent them numbers. They were not as impressed, my father said the same as your comment. He can spend a week in Cuba or some other sunny quiet resort for less money. So now we're not sure if they are joining or not.

I've priced out all inclusives and it ends up being the same. BUT, then you have to pay for excursions on top of that. At approx. 75 a person for a lot of them, that's quite a bit extra. So in the end, for the amount of entertainment you get with your Disney tickets, I find the Disney trip to be cheaper. Granted we've only gone during fd, so paying full price it wouldn't.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Here's a sample pricing I worked out for either (1) WDW vacation stay or (2) Carnival Cruise. Number in party 2. Dates are April 5-12, 2013. Airfare is not included as we use our Airmiles - so cost is the same for either option.

(1)
Stay, Play and Dine, POP Century, 7 days MYW tickets, Free QS meal plan
$2057
3 TS meals with tips (we can't just eat QS for every meal ) $250
TOTAL WDW: $2300 approximate


(2)
7 day Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami $1328
Cruise ship tipping $161
2 Excursions: $150
Return shuttle: $70
Hotel 1 day before cruise $150
Meals 1 day before cruise $60
tips for porters $20
OnBoard Credit: $-200
TOTAL CRUISE: $1700 approximate

Comparisons:

CRUISE: All food is included on cruise and all you can eat. Dinner entrees are also all you can eat (steak, lobster, whatever). Much more relaxing (for us). Beautiful beaches. We don't gamble and we may have 1-2 drinks during our entire stay.

WDW: We need to pay additional for a few TS meals so we don't feel as though we're eating fast food all week long. Able to do as much or as little as you want - but always lots of walking.

So right now, there's a $600 difference between the 2 options.

Obviously, they are 2 different vacations. I'd still like to go back to WDW, but having to spend an additional $600 for the same length cruise, it's sad to say that the cruise wins out.

NOTE: Last year the cruise only portion was under $1000 for the same length cruise - the pricing so far for 2014 is not overly discounted - but the $200 on board credit is an unexpected bonus we can use to offset the costs.

 

[torontodisneyfan]

Here's a sample pricing I worked out for either (1) WDW vacation stay or (2) Carnival Cruise. Number in party 2. Dates are April 5-12, 2013. Airfare is not included as we use our Airmiles - so cost is the same for either option.

(1)
Stay, Play and Dine, POP Century, 7 days MYW tickets, Free QS meal plan
$2057
3 TS meals with tips (we can't just eat QS for every meal ) $250
TOTAL WDW: $2300 approximate


(2)
7 day Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami $1328
Cruise ship tipping $161
2 Excursions: $150
Return shuttle: $70
Hotel 1 day before cruise $150
Meals 1 day before cruise $60
tips for porters $20
OnBoard Credit: $-200
TOTAL CRUISE: $1700 approximate

Comparisons:

CRUISE: All food is included on cruise and all you can eat. Dinner entrees are also all you can eat (steak, lobster, whatever). Much more relaxing (for us). Beautiful beaches. We don't gamble and we may have 1-2 drinks during our entire stay.

WDW: We need to pay additional for a few TS meals so we don't feel as though we're eating fast food all week long. Able to do as much or as little as you want - but always lots of walking.

So right now, there's a $600 difference between the 2 options.

Obviously, they are 2 different vacations. I'd still like to go back to WDW, but having to spend an additional $600 for the same length cruise, it's sad to say that the cruise wins out.

NOTE: Last year the cruise only portion was under $1000 for the same length cruise - the pricing so far for 2014 is not overly discounted - but the $200 on board credit is an unexpected bonus we can use to offset the costs.

Not sure because I didn't run the numbers but I believe upgrading from QS dining plan to the regular Disney Dining Plan that incl TS meals by paying the difference would be cheaper than paying cash out of pocket...

Also, while your numbers may be valid, and I think this has been mentioned before, using Carnival Cruise Lines as a basis for comparison is hardly apples to apples.

...just my opinion

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Not sure because I didn't run the numbers but I believe upgrading from QS dining plan to the regular Disney Dining Plan that incl TS meals by paying the difference would be cheaper than paying cash out of pocket...

Also, while your numbers may be valid, and I think this has been mentioned before, using Carnival Cruise Lines as a basis for comparison is hardly apples to apples.

...just my opinion

Granted. But in inside cabin and staying @ a value resort would tend to be the same comparison (IMO). Cruised Carnival twice now - no issues or complaints so far. Upgrading to TS meal plan would be more expensive than my option - and then have to add additional tips for the additional TS meals.

I'm not looking for anyone to agree with me - "different strokes for different folks" - just saying, that for us, the price differences doesn't justify a WDW vacation anymore. Those with aversions to Carnival, or don't like to cruise, or have young children may certainly disagree.

 

[mommymanda]

I've priced out all inclusives and it ends up being the same. BUT, then you have to pay for excursions on top of that. At approx. 75 a person for a lot of them, that's quite a bit extra. So in the end, for the amount of entertainment you get with your Disney tickets, I find the Disney trip to be cheaper. Granted we've only gone during fd, so paying full price it wouldn't.

Lol ya our trip will sadly be shortly BEFORE free dining is released as we can only go August and are planning the last week. Now though FD is not released until September so on that front its more.

My parents book their trips last minute and off season. They are avid travellers and on the verge of retirement. Lol I was hoping they'd help me plan this trip and help me save, but no luck unless an awesome discount is released in spring or I somehow get a PIN.

 

[minnie56]

OK, Carnival and Disney are not 'apples to apples'
Whole different calibre of vacation

 

[minnie mum]

OK, Carnival and Disney are not 'apples to apples'
Whole different calibre of vacation

So very true. If you want to try to match the quality of what you're getting (even if you pair a value resort with an inside cabin) you'd need to be pricing out WDW vs. DCL or maybe RCCL or NCL.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

So very true. If you want to try to match the quality of what you're getting (even if you pair a value resort with an inside cabin) you'd need to be pricing out WDW vs. DCL or maybe RCCL or NCL.

Not sure what the issues people have with Carnival . We had a great experience, top notch service, fantastic food, great ports of call, great excursions - both times we cruised with them - so for us good value for the $$ spent.

For us, both offer us a 7 day vacation (and escape from the rat-race) - we just don't agree that's its worth $600-$1000 more to go back to WDW at this time. We will go back to WDW someday, but for now we feel we get better value for our $$ elsewhere. Others will have another opinion.

 

[CdnCarrie]

You couldn't pay me to go on a Carnival Cruise. Now RCL or DCL for sure.

Carnival cruise lines are just (to me!) kind of like comparing Six Flags and Disney. It's not comparable.
Carnival is known to be a cheap cruise line.

For us, both offer us a 7 day vacation (and escape from the rat-race) - we just don't agree that's its worth $600-$1000 more to go back to WDW at this time.

So don't. But don't come to a WDW fan message board and say this. Maybe Cruise Critic would be a better fit.

Don't get me wrong I love cruising. Just not Carnival.

 

[minnie mum]

Not sure what the issues people have with Carnival . We had a great experience, top notch service, fantastic food, great ports of call, great excursions - both times we cruised with them - so for us good value for the $$ spent.

QUOTE]

If you cruised with Carnival and enjoyed the experience then that's great. If you have not sailed on other cruise lines, as some of us have, you really don't have anything to compare it to. I would equate a Carnival cruise to staying at a Holiday Inn and visiting Six Flags. OTOH, I would equate a Disney or RCL cruise with staying at a Disney deluxe and visiting WDW.

The issue, really, is that you can't compare Carnival and WDW and say you're comparing apples to apples. You're comparing a Honda Civic to a BMW.

If the bottom line is only $$ spent, that's fine. But for some people value equals more than just $$. Quality has to be factored in as well.

 

[mulan1123]

My parents went on the Carnival Triumph when the ship was new-ish(maybe about 6-7 years ago), and had a fantastic time. And then earlier this year we went on Oasis of the Seas (RCL) as a family, my first cruise, and loved it.

I asked my mom to see which cruise was better, she said although she had a great time on Carnival, she liked RCL better as there's more things to do and see every night.

I guess, it all depends what you are looking for and what each cruise line (or resort) offers and what destinations you want.