Need to vent about how expensive WDW is now

[hsmamato2]

Yeah..... I'm at all the "disney math' I'm seeing on this thread...... Do I love DIsney visits? YES! Has our fam been going for many years,pretty much annually? Yes! Is it cheap? NOOOOOOO it is not,no matter how you slice it,it's a pricey vacation. (I've stayed everywhere from the biggest DVC rooms to the basic offsite hotel near Springs) It's so funny, I priced out 2 weeks in Fiji against 2 weeks in WDW...... Fiji is cheaper. Ya know what's the true "gotcha" factor? park tickets,and the company knows it. So it is what it is, but it ain't cheap. And I'm 100% familiar with each and every way to save a dime here too.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Ocean view guaranteed cabin. Discounted fare. DCL picks your cabin.

It’s also highly restricted:
Must pay in full at time of booking.
No cancellations/refunds.
No name changes.

It can save you a good chunk of cash if you just want to be on the ship.

 

[Chili327]

So now I’m seriously considering selling our … blt (?) contract. Or bwv? One of them. Not yet ready to give up both. But I dunno. Or neither. But, will the rental market continue its strength? No crystal ball….

If serious, which one makes more sense to sell? (not sure why I care, but it seems fun to figure out which one to keep. lol)
Both resale?
One bigger than the other? (can you use either for a reasonable trip)
Same UY?

 

[BaybeeYoda]

If serious, which one makes more sense to sell? (not sure why I care, but it seems fun to figure out which one to keep. lol)
Both resale?
One bigger than the other? (can you use either for a reasonable trip)
Same UY?

Same UY, both 200pts

We prefer BWV, our first love. But BLT is 2060 and lower maintenance fees. Honestly, we don't need 400 a year unless friends/family are coming.

And friends/family tend to cancel, switch plans, etc. Its so much more relaxing doing it on our own.

My kids are aging out at 14 and 11. Sure, the 11 yr old is still all about disney, but the 14 yr old is excited to go overseas next year. And for the same price, I can go to asia (and currently planning it with an airbnb) for a MONTH, including airfare!!!

So what do we do? Keep BLT? Except do we really want to have a timeshare until 2060, when I'm just shy of 90? Will my kids have kids and then I'll wish I had it then? Will DW even exist then?

But then In 2042 I'll be 70ish. Maybe that makes most sense? But then my kids will only be 30 and 33. They will presumably not have kids by then, nor want to do Disney anymore after they hit high school.

First world problems. I honestly just can't bear to spend the $$ on park tickets anymore. Its just gotten ridiculous. And then I think $300 airfare (PA-FL) plus $800 park tickets = $1100 which is a ticket to Asia. Plus the cost of our 2 weeks at disney (270-330 points) is pretty equivalent to getting an Airbnb in asia for a MONTH, its $3-4k.

So what do I do? Two weeks at Disney (which we have done every year since 2017, and before that a week since 2011), or a full month in a major city in asia? SAME PRICE, give or take.

The latter sounds more enticing, especially for the same price, tbh.... Like I mentioned, if only they gave DVC members access to the lower tier Florida based AP's, I would not be as conflicted and probably make time to use up our DVC. Sorcerer pass is not enough for us anymore.

 

[Chili327]

Same UY, both 200pts

We prefer BWV, our first love. But BLT is 2060 and lower maintenance fees. Honestly, we don't need 400 a year unless friends/family are coming.

And friends/family tend to cancel, switch plans, etc. Its so much more relaxing doing it on our own.

Based in this alone, you definitely should sell one. And I'm going to find out what a pain inviting friends is next year. lol

My kids are aging out at 14 and 11. Sure, the 11 yr old is still all about disney, but the 14 yr old is excited to go overseas next year. And for the same price, I can go to asia (and currently planning it with an airbnb) for a MONTH, including airfare!!!

So what do we do? Keep BLT? Except do we really want to have a timeshare until 2060, when I'm just shy of 90? Will my kids have kids and then I'll wish I had it then? Will DW even exist then?

But then In 2042 I'll be 70ish. Maybe that makes most sense? But then my kids will only be 30 and 33. They will presumably not have kids by then, nor want to do Disney anymore after they hit high school.

First world problems. I honestly just can't bear to spend the $$ on park tickets anymore. Its just gotten ridiculous. And then I think $300 airfare (PA-FL) plus $800 park tickets = $1100 which is a ticket to Asia. Plus the cost of our 2 weeks at disney (270-330 points) and if I get an Airbnb in asia for a MONTH, its $3-4k.

So what do I do? Two weeks at Disney (which we have done every year since 2017, and before that a week since 2011). or a full month in a major city in asia?

The latter sounds more enticing, for the same price, tbh.... Like I mentioned, if DVC had access to the lower tier Florida based AP's, I would not be as conflicted and probably make time to use up our DVC. Sorcerer pass is not enough for us anymore.

I think BLT makes more sense to keep, just based on value & the possibility of wanting to take grand kids one day, but if you think that wont be the situation, then id go with the heart and keep BWV.

I would not count on your "only" 30 & 33 y/o kids to not have kids. lol

 

[BaybeeYoda]

Based in this alone, you definitely should sell one. And I'm going to find out what a pain inviting friends is next year. lol



I think BLT makes more sense to keep, just based on value & the possibility of wanting to take grand kids one day, but if you think that wont be the situation, then id go with the heart and keep BWV.

I would not count on your "only" 30 & 33 y/o kids to not have kids. lol

Thx for the advice. Its so hard to let go of BWV bc of the memories. My kids started going there when the oldest was 18 mo old, before the other one was born. Then the younger one pretty much grew up there. Every year without fail.

We would use our BLT points for non BWV stays (Beach club, Poly and BLT). But we consistently did BWV each and every year.

And we have been gong for two weeks at a time since 2017. Since one was 4 and the other was 8. All those memories. Disney really gets you on the emotions.

Hope your guests are easy unlike my friends and family. Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[Chili327]

Thx for the advice. Its so hard to let go of BWV bc of the memories. My kids started going there when the oldest was 18 mo old, before the other one was born. Then the younger one pretty much grew up there. Every year without fail.

We would use our BLT points for non BWV stays (Beach club, Poly and BLT). But we consistently did BWV each and every year.

And we have been gong for two weeks at a time since 2017. Since one was 4 and the other was 8. All those memories. Disney really gets you on the emotions.

Hope your guests are easy unlike my friends and family. Good luck and enjoy!!

You know, I'm thinking maybe just try renting out your points, so you can get a feel for not going for a while and see how that feels, that way you don't have to give up anything (especially an amazing place like BWV), & if you end up not going & renting for 5 years (or whatever amount) without issue of FOMO, then its safe to say that selling is the right thing to do.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

You know, I'm thinking maybe just try renting out your points, so you can get a feel for not going for a while and see how that feels, that way you don't have to give up anything (especially an amazing place like BWV), & if you end up not going & renting for 5 years (or whatever amount) without issue of FOMO, then its safe to say that selling is the right thing to do.

This is true . We are tentatively looking at going December 2026, xmas time. Just signed up for davids thanks to you! It was really quite easy!

Some ppl like going with friends. I just had a hard time bc people would change their plans at the last minute and they do not realize how hard it is to get these rooms!! I hope your friends get it and really appreciate it!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When you’re 70 and your kids are in their early 30’s, it’s possible that they haven’t yet had children. I personally wouldn’t sell until that ship has sailed unless 200 pts is enough to get a large unit for at least a week. Why spend all that money buying then later down the road have feelings of regret that you sold it?
Keep renting unused points until you know for sure that you’re “done”.
Have you ever considered cutting your trips down to 1 week instead of 2?
Unless it’s a big trip like Europe, Alaska, or Panama Canal, my family would have thrown me overboard if every Disney trip was 2 weeks long.
They’d be bored by then.

Do you ever visit Vero Beach or Hilton Head?

 

[Chili327]

This is true . We are tentatively looking at going December 2026, xmas time. Just signed up for davids thanks to you! It was really quite easy!

Awesome, yea I would just try that for a while before deciding to sell... it will either help you decide to sell or maybe it will help you decide you don't want to be without the option, & you should be able to more than cover your dues.

Some ppl like going with friends. I just had a hard time bc people would change their plans at the last minute and they do not realize how hard it is to get these rooms!! I hope your friends get it and really appreciate it!

I hope so too. I'm tentatively going to book for an October 2025 trip, & have yet to get any confirmation that yes they want to go, or no they wont be able to make it... & I'm not sure I will get an answer either way before Nov 2024. lol
My plan is to book 2 studios (3 way split stay), & if they back out, i'll try to switch any of it to a 1bdrm, or rent out the confirmed res.

 

[focusondisney]

But then In 2042 I'll be 70ish. Maybe that makes most sense? But then my kids will only be 30 and 33. They will presumably not have kids by then, nor want to do Disney anymore after they hit high school.

I wouldn’t make a decision based on what your kids will or won’t do as adults. You can never predict where life will take them. My kids are 43 & 39. Both said they wanted kids when they were younger, but neither has them. The older one fell in love with someone who was open about not wanting kids; the younger one still talks about it, but the partner keeps putting it off. So I just expect it won’t ever happen. The older ones spouse absolutely loves WDW tho, they own DVC & take 3-4 trips a year. The younger one hasn’t been in 15 years & will probably never go again.

Make your decision on what you want, instead of planning for your expectation of their lives that may never materialize.

 

[kathy884]

I hear you on how expensive everything is. For my Disney / Orlando fix next year, I'm only going to be in town two nights after visiting a cousin who lives in Assisted Living in Tampa, and I'll be staying with my nephew who lives in Orlando in his guest bedroom (free lodging). Day 1, I'm just going to visit MK monorail resorts, have dinner at Boma, and watch the fireworks from the Polynesian. And then Day 2, I am going to do a day at SeaWorld instead of the Mouse (another park I like and less expensive for a one day ticket). And being that I am leaving all my family at home, I'll just be paying for me and my nephew (also used points for flights).

Have fun everyone. Disney is still tons of fun, but I agree that is it pricey, and costs have risen more than the rate of inflation IMHO from what I am seeing.

 

[MrsPete]

I'm jumping in late /haven't read most of this long thread, but I think this will be Disney's last generation. I don't mean they'll cease to exist, just that the parks will decrease in popularity. Several reasons:

- I grew up with Disney, and it feels like it's part of my cultural make-up. One of my fondest childhood memories is going to my grandparents' after church on Sunday. We'd have lunch, then play with the cousins all afternoon -- then we'd lie on the floor in front of the TV to watch Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, then The Wonderful World of Disney before going home. Disney "got us young", but today's kids have so many more things to watch -- even my kids, who were born in the 90s -- they don't feel any particular loyalty to any "brand".
- The price has gone up-up-up. Only the very wealthy or very committed can afford to make Disney a habit.
- Disney has become so complicated! This matters just as much as the cost. The reservations, the options -- it's just all becoming too much, yet not "playing their game" means doing so little in the parks.

 

[Chili327]

I'm jumping in late /haven't read most of this long thread, but I think this will be Disney's last generation. I don't mean they'll cease to exist, just that the parks will decrease in popularity. Several reasons:

- I grew up with Disney, and it feels like it's part of my cultural make-up. One of my fondest childhood memories is going to my grandparents' after church on Sunday. We'd have lunch, then play with the cousins all afternoon -- then we'd lie on the floor in front of the TV to watch Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, then The Wonderful World of Disney before going home. Disney "got us young", but today's kids have so many more things to watch -- even my kids, who were born in the 90s -- they don't feel any particular loyalty to any "brand".
- The price has gone up-up-up. Only the very wealthy or very committed can afford to make Disney a habit.
- Disney has become so complicated! This matters just as much as the cost. The reservations, the options -- it's just all becoming too much, yet not "playing their game" means doing so little in the parks.

Sounds like you may be done with Disney, but I’m pretty sure your kids already have fond memories and have no problem navigating the complicated technology.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm jumping in late /haven't read most of this long thread, but I think this will be Disney's last generation. I don't mean they'll cease to exist, just that the parks will decrease in popularity. Several reasons:

- I grew up with Disney, and it feels like it's part of my cultural make-up. One of my fondest childhood memories is going to my grandparents' after church on Sunday. We'd have lunch, then play with the cousins all afternoon -- then we'd lie on the floor in front of the TV to watch Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, then The Wonderful World of Disney before going home. Disney "got us young", but today's kids have so many more things to watch -- even my kids, who were born in the 90s -- they don't feel any particular loyalty to any "brand".
- The price has gone up-up-up. Only the very wealthy or very committed can afford to make Disney a habit.
- Disney has become so complicated! This matters just as much as the cost. The reservations, the options -- it's just all becoming too much, yet not "playing their game" means doing so little in the parks.

I have felt for some time the way you do. We were all hooked on Sunday evenings gathered around the TV watching Tink fly in to introduce Walt. Also felt that kids today have too many options to have that shared nostalgia.

I am very interested to see though if maybe Nintendo is their version of our Disney nostalgia.

Only time will tell.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I don't know what it'll be for the next generation, but Disney isn't it, in our house. My oldest (DD29) is already musing about taking a (hypothetical) child to a Disney theme park--she doesn't want to! And she went a bunch of times as a child, had incredible experiences and memories. Had the princess themed bedroom, the homemade princess costumes, the whole 9 yards. I think for us, at least--my kids prefer to see the real world, not a theme park version. It's not even the cost (which I could see)--it's not wanting the experience of going there and going on rides.

I told the oldest she could tack on a day or two at a foreign park--Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris--onto other travel, so she can say she took her kid to a Disney park.

 

[kathy884]

I'm jumping in late /haven't read most of this long thread, but I think this will be Disney's last generation. I don't mean they'll cease to exist, just that the parks will decrease in popularity. Several reasons:

- I grew up with Disney, and it feels like it's part of my cultural make-up. One of my fondest childhood memories is going to my grandparents' after church on Sunday. We'd have lunch, then play with the cousins all afternoon -- then we'd lie on the floor in front of the TV to watch Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, then The Wonderful World of Disney before going home. Disney "got us young", but today's kids have so many more things to watch -- even my kids, who were born in the 90s -- they don't feel any particular loyalty to any "brand".
- The price has gone up-up-up. Only the very wealthy or very committed can afford to make Disney a habit.
- Disney has become so complicated! This matters just as much as the cost. The reservations, the options -- it's just all becoming too much, yet not "playing their game" means doing so little in the parks.

I hear you loud and clear on this.

I know in my family, my parents were the glue that got us to Disney over and over. They took us in 1971 when the park first opened - I was 10 and my brother was 8, and multiple times a year thereafter (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break), even though it was a 24 hour drive in our motorhome (lots of fond memories of the onsite Fort Wilderness campground and the Outdoor Resorts of America offsite campground). Then after they sold their motorhome when my brother and I both graduated from college, they discovered offsite timeshare rentals in Orlando (first Marriott ones) and then later they purchased a timeshare resale in Sedona, AZ and did lots of rentals of timeshares in Orlando and a timeshare trade about every other year (still got the whole extended family down every year or every other year). This second phase started when their first grandchild now age 39 was a toddler and ended when my dad made his last trip to Orlando at 84 (My mom passed away two years before this). (I did two days at Flower and Garden (Epcot) with dad -- 2021, a day at SeaWorld, and three resort days. Originally it was just going to be me taking dad down, but OMG - so fun -- the whole extended family ended up coming down (dad had all his kids, grandkids, and his one great grandkid there). DH didn't come, but my son did -- said there was no way I was going to go down to Disney without him. And OMG, my brother and all his kids and his one great grandchild all came too. It was a 50 year Disney span of regular Disney trips for our family / extended family and WDW's 50 year anniversary. My brother and I grew up with the Wonderful World of Disney, but we are now 62 and 64. My dad who is who really I think the glue that kept the extended family coming down again and again is going to be 88 and is in an Assisted Living Apartment now. His days of taking any sort of trip are over. He's most comfortable being at his nice place (an outing to the zoo or my brothers who lives nearby is as much as he does and that tires him out a lot.) He is still totally with it, but has mobility issues, and tires easily with heath issues.

We did lots of extended family gatherings other places too, but Sedona, AZ and Disney / Orlando with my mom and dad were main places for big gatherings with the extended families - their kids and grandkids. Although without dad there is still an occasional day trip to a Disney park in various small groups (my nephew even lives in Orlando now), I really see that 50 year period as an end of an era (a really fun one for our family and extended family). Now for me and others in my family it's a little Disney add on day here or there, but the big family gathering - big trip is a thing of the past for all of us.

 

[kathy884]

I don't know what it'll be for the next generation, but Disney isn't it, in our house. My oldest (DD29) is already musing about taking a (hypothetical) child to a Disney theme park--she doesn't want to! And she went a bunch of times as a child, had incredible experiences and memories. Had the princess themed bedroom, the homemade princess costumes, the whole 9 yards. I think for us, at least--my kids prefer to see the real world, not a theme park version. It's not even the cost (which I could see)--it's not wanting the experience of going there and going on rides.

I told the oldest she could tack on a day or two at a foreign park--Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris--onto other travel, so she can say she took her kid to a Disney park.

My son turns 29 this month. I don't see a full blown Disney trip in his future, but he does love a day here and there having grown up on it.

In October 2023 (DH stayed home - didn't want to do a big trip to Europe) I took DS to his choice of a few places in Europe he hadn't been to already, and he picked Paris (four nights), Disneyland Paris (3 nights), and Belfast (big Titanic enthusiast).

Then before getting married when he and his fiance on a five day / four night trip to California did do one day park hopper at DIsneyland / CA Adventure. They were staying in San Diego.

I don't see them in the future doing a full blown week in Orlando or Anaheim.

 

[bbsearchlight]

OP, you're planning a trip for 2025 and it remains to be seen what discounts will be available for your trip dates, but if things continue as they have been, there will probably be substantial discounts for at least the resort where you want to stay. Keep an eye out for them.

Also, it may be of benefit for you for one of the people in your traveling party to purchase an AP. Right now it's too soon to tell, but as your dates get closer, you'll be able to figure things out.

The OP said they were going during "SPRING BREAK" 2025. I am pretty sure that Disney doesn't give discounts during the busiest times, like Christmas and Spring Break when they have no problem filling up the park.

 

[bbsearchlight]

I'm jumping in late /haven't read most of this long thread, but I think this will be Disney's last generation. I don't mean they'll cease to exist, just that the parks will decrease in popularity. Several reasons:

- I grew up with Disney, and it feels like it's part of my cultural make-up. One of my fondest childhood memories is going to my grandparents' after church on Sunday. We'd have lunch, then play with the cousins all afternoon -- then we'd lie on the floor in front of the TV to watch Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, then The Wonderful World of Disney before going home. Disney "got us young", but today's kids have so many more things to watch -- even my kids, who were born in the 90s -- they don't feel any particular loyalty to any "brand".
- The price has gone up-up-up. Only the very wealthy or very committed can afford to make Disney a habit.
- Disney has become so complicated! This matters just as much as the cost. The reservations, the options -- it's just all becoming too much, yet not "playing their game" means doing so little in the parks.

I do agree with you on the complications part (especially with things like lightning lane). But I disagree with "The price has gone up-up-up. Only the very wealthy or very committed can afford to make Disney a habit."

We just went to DisneyWorld last week for 4 days 5 nights visiting all 4 parks. Our total cost for 4 people including airfare, hotel rooms, transportation, and park tickets was around $3,700.

How did we get it for so cheap?

1) We did not go at the most expensive time like Christmas or Spring Break like OP talked about. We went mid August a week before our kids went back to school.

2) The biggest savings we had was on our hotel. We paid a total of 65,000 Hyatt points (equivalent to $650) for the 10 nights (2 hotel rooms x 5 nights = 10 nights). Our room at the Hyatt Lake Buena Vista was not fancy but it was clean and perfectly adequate for sleeping and showering, which is all we really needed in a hotel room. when people complain about the crazy expensive price of a Disney trip, it is because they are splurging for a fancy hotel. They have to stay at the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian. Even the cheapest Disney hotel (All Star Movies) would have cost over $1000 more.

And our family of 4 has been to Disney every year for the past 22 years (except the first year after the pandemic) and we have stayed many times at the All star hotels and honestly, the Hyatt Lake Buena Vista is equal in value and comfort.