Need help justifying the cost of Backstage Magic

[global_mom]

Help please: I have been studying the ABD options for months and we are dying to try one. I have posted here about several trips and always get good advice. The one trip that really sticks in my mind is the Backstage Magic tour. A few months ago I posted for opinions as to whether this trip could spoil the magic for smaller kids and it was agreed that they would not see anything that would "ruin" the magic.

So I have returned to dreaming about the Backstage Magic but am having a really hard time justifying the cost. We are a fam of 5 with 3 kids under 13 so we have to have 2 rooms and 4 of us would have to pay the adult rate and only one child would actually pay the child rate.

With the early booking discount we are a little over $10,000 for the tour. Then add airfare, extra meals, 2 extra nights at DL and some spending money and we will easliy spend $14,000- $15,000. That is alot of money for a short trip! The cost of the tour is quite high in relation to some of the other tours but will the MAGIC be worth it?

To further complicate the decision, I work in the travel industry so it is possible for us to visit DL at a reasonable rate. Again, will the MAGIC included in the tour be worth the extra money?

I know that some of you have done some intense research into this tour so any insight is greatly appeciated.

Thanks!!

 

[glassslipper2004]

Just one quick thought - I don't know anything about this particular tour, but be careful assuming you can get the early booking discount, even though it is far enough in advance. Apparently they all sold out on many of the tours shortly after dates were announced. For example, there aren't any early booking discounts left for any summertime Viva Italia dates... You may know this since you are in the travel industry, but I thought I'd mention it. It threw my budgeting for a loop.

 

[dingoballs]

Help please: I have been studying the ABD options for months and we are dying to try one. I have posted here about several trips and always get good advice. The one trip that really sticks in my mind is the Backstage Magic tour. A few months ago I posted for opinions as to whether this trip could spoil the magic for smaller kids and it was agreed that they would not see anything that would "ruin" the magic.

So I have returned to dreaming about the Backstage Magic but am having a really hard time justifying the cost. We are a fam of 5 with 3 kids under 13 so we have to have 2 rooms and 4 of us would have to pay the adult rate and only one child would actually pay the child rate.

With the early booking discount we are a little over $10,000 for the tour. Then add airfare, extra meals, 2 extra nights at DL and some spending money and we will easliy spend $14,000- $15,000. That is alot of money for a short trip! The cost of the tour is quite high in relation to some of the other tours but will the MAGIC be worth it?

To further complicate the decision, I work in the travel industry so it is possible for us to visit DL at a reasonable rate. Again, will the MAGIC included in the tour be worth the extra money?

I know that some of you have done some intense research into this tour so any insight is greatly appeciated.

Thanks!!

While you MAY be able to book another tour company to travel thru Italy or France, this is one tour that you should absolutely go with Disney. I mean, which other tour operator will be able to access the places that are on this itinerary??

This webpage fully explains the unique benefits that traveling with ABD will afford. Happy planning!

http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/index?name=DisneyDifferenceOverviewPage

 

[global_mom]

Just one quick thought - I don't know anything about this particular tour, but be careful assuming you can get the early booking discount, even though it is far enough in advance. Apparently they all sold out on many of the tours shortly after dates were announced. For example, there aren't any early booking discounts left for any summertime Viva Italia dates... You may know this since you are in the travel industry, but I thought I'd mention it. It threw my budgeting for a loop.

Thanks glassslipper! At this point, just working with the presumption that the discount may still be available. If the reduced rate is not available then I would need to up the budget which would most likely push us out of even considering the trip. Oh how I wish I could win the lottery!!

 

[glassslipper2004]

Ditto on that lottery thing!!

 

[nunzia]

Wow..that seems like alot..I guess when you add the extra room it really adds up quick. We are booked on this trip at the lowest tier for 2 of us for about $4,500. We did get the early discount booking. We are going in Jan of 09. I guess only you can decide if the magic is worth it. There is a very cool article full of spoilers on Mice Age (I think just searching for backstage magic or Adventures by Disney should find it) and it sounds like it will be amazing. Don't forget, alot of meals are included and if you don't buy souveniers that could really bring the expenses down. For myself, I feel it is is worth it and can't wait. I honestly don't think I would have done it when my kids were small as I wouildn't be able to justify the cost, but I know the ABD people do lots of special things for kids.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[nunzia]

Whoops..should have read post better the first time around. Yes..airfare and 2 extra days..even with cheap additional meals and no souveniers, if you stay onsite for 2 more days..looks like that estimateis right. Can you not get a discount at the hotel or maybe off site for the 2 extra days? I say this, but would not do it because the idea of moving drives me nuts.

 

[konslerg]

>>snipped<<We are a fam of 5 with 3 kids under 13 so we have to have 2 rooms and 4 of us would have to pay the adult rate and only one child would actually pay the child rate.

With the early booking discount we are a little over $10,000 for the tour. Then add airfare, extra meals, 2 extra nights at DL and some spending money and we will easliy spend $14,000- $15,000. That is alot of money for a short trip! The cost of the tour is quite high in relation to some of the other tours but will the MAGIC be worth it?

My DH and I are booked for Backstage Magic in September and I am really looking forward to it, but I don't think I'd be willing to spend THAT much money on the trip . Lots of folks may disagree, but truthfully, for that kind of money (probably quite a bit less) you could do a Disney cruise or visit Walt Disney World which is (IMHO) a better place for a family vacation. I think DL and CA are wonderful and you'd probably enjoy your "adventure" tremendously, but I think you could enjoy Florida or a cruise just as much for a lot less.

Gloria in Miami

 

[global_mom]

My DH and I are booked for Backstage Magic in September and I am really looking forward to it, but I don't think I'd be willing to spend THAT much money on the trip . Lots of folks may disagree, but truthfully, for that kind of money (probably quite a bit less) you could do a Disney cruise or visit Walt Disney World which is (IMHO) a better place for a family vacation. I think DL and CA are wonderful and you'd probably enjoy your "adventure" tremendously, but I think you could enjoy Florida or a cruise just as much for a lot less.

Gloria in Miami

I think that DH and I have come to the conclusion that it is just too much money for our family for a 5 night adventure. There are some aspects of the adventure that we can not accomplish on our own, but we can do DL soooo much cheaper if we do it OOP. I just really wanted to see some of the things that we could not arrange ourselves.

We do WDW 4 times per year (annual passes and our DVC make it very economical) and we have done DCL 2 times. You are so correct that we can do a cruise for much less than the Backstage Magic. I so wish that Disney could have made this tour a bit more affordable but when you have 5 people in the family it can get out of hand quickly.

I wonder if Disney is having a little trouble filling some of the BM dates b/c they have canceled one of them and they are offering extra incentives to travel agents only on the BM tour. I wonder if the tour seemed too expensive for just 5 nights?

 

[bradk]

the hotels are the real killer. i'm doing the first backstage magic tour in april. i had to pay a single supplement. i would never stay at either hotel on my own (i most definitely wouldn't stay at a DLR hotel), but that's the price you gotta pay.

consider the value. they said i'll be getting a real itinerary about 45 days out, but consider what's already promised:

disney studios, jim henson studios and walt disney imagineering. none of these are available to the public. you can tour universal, sony, warner brothers, paramound and others, but disney is off limits outside of this tour.

you go inside walt's apartment.

there's probably too many meals for my taste, but so it goes.

 

[global_mom]

you go inside walt's apartment.

The apartment was what we really wanted to see! make sure that you post all the details when you return.

 

[bradk]

yeah... i wonder if they'll allow photography in the apartment... considering it's been on tv a lot and of course the national geographic article back in the day..

i dunno if i'd be willing to pay THIS much just for the apartment though... the studios and jim henson studios also excite me (been a jim henson fan for as long as i've been alive and that's a while).

 

[MJGirl]

I wonder if Disney is having a little trouble filling some of the BM dates b/c they have canceled one of them and they are offering extra incentives to travel agents only on the BM tour. I wonder if the tour seemed too expensive for just 5 nights?

Can you please elaborate on the extra incentives??? I booked this direct with Disney with EB bonus.. I used DVC points, so I am probably out of luck, but was wondering if the incentive would make it cheaper???

Thanks.

 

[InstImpres]

Can you please elaborate on the extra incentives??? I booked this direct with Disney with EB bonus.. I used DVC points, so I am probably out of luck, but was wondering if the incentive would make it cheaper???

It won't be enough to pay the cancellation penalty. Also, it is a TA offer so I know some are passing it on (or making it a little better) and others are not passing it along. There are $150-$250 "bonus offers" I know of out there.

 

[global_mom]

Can you please elaborate on the extra incentives??? I booked this direct with Disney with EB bonus.. I used DVC points, so I am probably out of luck, but was wondering if the incentive would make it cheaper???

Thanks.

The incentive is actually for the TA in order to spur more bookings. Not sure about the incentive being passed on to the clients but it is not enough to outweigh the EB discount. The EB discount is much better. You are in good shape!

 

[MJGirl]

The incentive is actually for the TA in order to spur more bookings. Not sure about the incentive being passed on to the clients but it is not enough to outweigh the EB discount. The EB discount is much better. You are in good shape!

Thanks ... But I think (no I know) I'll need a lot more trips to the gym to be in good shape !

 

[nunzia]

Maybe not a possiblility, but could the kids stay with friends or family and you make this just a nice couple's retreat?

 

[global_mom]

Thanks ... But I think (no I know) I'll need a lot more trips to the gym to be in good shape !

LOL!!

 

[global_mom]

Maybe not a possiblility, but could the kids stay with friends or family and you make this just a nice couple's retreat?

You must be a mind reader!

We talked about leaving the kids with my parents but we just felt so guilty. They are Disney junkies like we are so we just could not bring ourselves to visit DL w/o them. However, we would not hesitate to leave them at home on some of the European itineraries!