Tokyo Disneyland Undermined Me :'( - Back to WDW!

[Royal Consort]

Last night was 'budget night'. Yes, it sounds like we all get a bit Wayne Swan..ah, Chris Bowen.... and discuss the state of our economy. The goal: IS TOKYO DISNEYLAND AFFORDABLE NEXT YEAR? .............. Answer: nooooo.

Long and short of it was: a) I wanted to stay onsite because I ditch my brain when it comes to Disney and emotionally spend. However, even with staying offsite based on this years prices *ouch*.
b) I wanted to see some of Japan and take some day trips to visit the sites and cities.

All of which was mighty expensive. The second table we drew up was a return trip to WDW in 2014. Free dining, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Savannah view, and Harry Potter 2.0 will be complete. Hrm. Dilemma. What to do?! It worked out that a week in Toyko would cost us the same as 3 weeks in the US based on our calculations. It came down to this simple question: how much do we want to visit Disney Sea? My answer was "a great deal!" but my other half felt that a 3 week break was much better than one and half in terms of value for money.

I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous but I'm slightly disappointed we aren't going to Tokyo Disneyland in 2014 as was my initial plan. Silly really as going to WDW is hardly 'disappointing'. Oh well. Eventually.

We booked the last week of Oct into the first week of Nov to take advantage of both Halloween and Xmas last night.

Make me feel better with my first world problem?

 

[australiankaren]

nothing beats the $$$$ value of the USA......but I feel for you slumming it at AK and having free dining and harry potter and stuff....

 

[kylieh]

I totally hear you - we've priced other places before and the value just isn't there compared to the USA. Even with the dollar going as low as 80, the US works out a lot better most of the time!

 

[PrincessInOz]

So sorry RC.

I can soooo feel your disappointment all the way through the 2D world. So sad that you have to put up with WDW instead of Tokyo. However will you be able to bear being away for 3 weeks instead of 1.5; and having more spending money to boot???

Enjoy!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

What a dilemma to have Tokyo Disneyland is on our to do list and I haven't priced it out there went my illusion of it being a cheaper than the USA trip!
Happy planning

 

[hjd0411]

I feel for you - but 3 weeks at WDW is a great compromise!! Maybe one day it will be a bit less to go to Tokyo - one day!! I have to agree with Karen - the value in the US spoils us, I think!

 

[Royal Consort]

....but I feel for you slumming it at AK and having free dining and harry potter and stuff....

I know! It's almost like sleeping in a washing machine box! WITH ZEBRAS.


I'm being a total poo head. I had my heart set on Disney Sea but it's just more expensive when I see all the calculations in front of me than I originally anticipated. Especially since I don't really want to do it on a shoe-string budget like I used to do around Europe. Of course we could JUST go to Japan for Disney Sea but that's a bit silly when there's so much more out there.

I'll get really excited about the WDW idea later. Plus the language barrier isn't an issue. AND, I may be able to see Aladdin on Broadway. I shall remain a drama queen (king) for the purposes of this thread!!!


I also agree with Karen - the US is so much cheaper as a destination for us. I see people complain on the US boards about the cost of WDW but really compared to anything we'd spend to go on a holiday here in Aus: it's not too bad!

 

[battymum]

We have just returned from Japan and while the Disney owned hotels are pricey - I mean ridiculously pricey - the partner hotels are on the monorail and are great - we stayed at the sheraton and it was as beautiful as you would expect from a sheraton, gorgeous view over Tokyo bay and monorail from the parks - all for ¥12500 per night - which at the time for us was $130.

But it sounds as though you have your mind made up!

Keep it in mind for a future trip!!

Park tickets are cheaper, food is cheaper, although no dining plans and it's pretty difficult to pre book anything unless you speak / read Japanese.

While Tokyo Disneyland is for my mind a replica of the magic kingdom - a Japan holiday is a totally different beast than WDW.

 

[Royal Consort]

While Tokyo Disneyland is for my mind a replica of the magic kingdom - a Japan holiday is a totally different beast than WDW.

That's how we felt. If we didn't have the finances to do Japan properly - it can wait. Agreed about Tokyo Disneyland park. From the youtube walkthrough videos it seems a wider, more spacious Magic Kingdom. I'm not very interested in that park, it was more for Disney Sea. However, to go to Japan and only see Disney Sea ...well.. that's not the greatest of motivations.

 

[australiankaren]

I'd love to do Japan again but the costs for what you get is just not justifiable...I would be spending the entire time comparing it ( unfairly) to what I could use the money for and get in the states....$1.29 Taco Bell taco compared to $6 Big Mac meal....ish

 

[FireflyFi]

I'm surprised that you found Japan that much more expensive than the US. After a few days in wdw last year I was desperate to go back, but realised I wouldn't be able to afford it until 2014, so penciled in a return for then (about the same time as your plan, actually but then earlier this year I noticed the strength of the aud vs jpy and booked in a Japan trip for November this year. The flights are quite cheap if you really look, and for places outside of TDR there are lots of business type hotels that are basic but adequate and really affordable. I am going solo, so that may be the difference - there is quite a financial disadvantage to going to wdw alone.

So...hold on to the TDR dream, it is possible! But I'm sure you'll have plenty of fun at wdw in the meantime

 

[cola]

The flights are quite cheap if you really look, and for places outside of TDR there are lots of business type hotels that are basic but adequate and really affordable. I am going solo, so that may be the difference - there is quite a financial disadvantage to going to wdw alone.

Other than Free Dining being not worth contemplating if travelling solo (though they usually have 30% or so off room rate if you don't FD) what are the financial disadvantages of WDW solo? I've found Orlando ridiculously cheap solo and with others. If anything, cheaper because you can sometimes get single room rates around $30 per night off season.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I understand what you are saying about first world problems and how a decision like this is a blessing, not a dilemma. But, for what it's worth, I understand. The world is just such an amazing place with so many wonderful things on offer. Like a kid in a candy shop, it is hard to choose sometimes.

Also, if you're like me, when you commit to a holiday you're also committing to months and months of serious saving and research. You want that commitment to pay off at the end.

For what it's worth, I think you made the right decision. 3 weeks vs 1 week is what would have sold me.

 

[FireflyFi]

Other than Free Dining being not worth contemplating if travelling solo (though they usually have 30% or so off room rate if you don't FD) what are the financial disadvantages of WDW solo? I've found Orlando ridiculously cheap solo and with others. If anything, cheaper because you can sometimes get single room rates around $30 per night off season.

Wow, really? Thanks for the tip, looks like I need to do some more research...! I have looked off site, but didn't find anywhere that much cheaper that I thought it was worth giving up the advantages of on site.

Sorry, I wasn't really clear on my original comment. I guess I was thinking more about accommodation if you're going to places other than just the park. There seems to be single accommodation everywhere I look in Japan, but not so much around the US.

The other cost would be transportation - paying for taxis or hire cars to get around vs trains or subways.

 

[Royal Consort]

I understand what you are saying about first world problems and how a decision like this is a blessing, not a dilemma. But, for what it's worth, I understand. The world is just such an amazing place with so many wonderful things on offer. Like a kid in a candy shop, it is hard to choose sometimes.

Also, if you're like me, when you commit to a holiday you're also committing to months and months of serious saving and research. You want that commitment to pay off at the end.

For what it's worth, I think you made the right decision. 3 weeks vs 1 week is what would have sold me.

Thanks WanderlustNZ. I think most people understood I was being facetious in my original post as I'm really very thankful I'm able to go overseas and see much of the world in the first place!

You're absolutely right too that I wanted to see Japan for the first time as the US would be a repeat visit (nothing wrong with that but new exploration is fantastic). Of course my condition to my partner going to WDW again this year was to see all the Disney Parks (we have Hong Kong and Tokyo left) which was agreed to in 2014. Our 'big' trip is this year visiting London, Paris, Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World and Disneyland...... so I may have to sell myself into slavery. Next year has to be much cheaper! The idea that we have two beautiful weeks watching animals from a balcony with a bottle of wine.... can't get much better than that?! We're going to take it slow and with a couple of weeks explore all the Disney restaurants we've wanted to visit but haven't had time to do. Since we don't have children that's how we love to enjoy Disney.

Tokyo will come one day and if anyone is going in the near future, I am able to bundle myself into luggage really really well.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks WanderlustNZ. I think most people understood I was being facetious in my original post as I'm really very thankful I'm able to go overseas and see much of the world in the first place!

My your life be filled with these sorts of problems!

 

[ky71]

Think of the positives...

WALMART!
Amazon.com will ship to your hotel
WALMART!
DisneySea may have more new attractions by the time you do get to visit.
WALMART!
Poderosa Steakhouse and iHop
WALMART!
Coupons!
WALMART!
Outlet shopping...ohhh Premium Outlets I miss you.
You can always wait for a Jetstar sale fare to Tokyo and then splurge on the DL hotel. Very nice!

Every cloud has a silver lining!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I am finding it a tad scary you have booked a 2014 Oct Nov - oh boy! I have only just found out that such a trip (it would be bit less than 2 weeks) might be doable next year but no way so confirmed I could consider making bookings yet. You are panicing me!!!!!

PS We all here understand these 1st world problems and the dilemmas of x vs y vs this $ vs that yen. Isn't that why we're all here 'ços some of our 3D friends/family don't quite get that??? For 3 adults - well 2 adults around 15 nights, 1 adult 10 nights, in Japan 2012, very good airfare deal, we spent a total of around $5000 on everything.

Enjoy Europe and DLP!! We LOVED it.

 

[Royal Consort]

Think of the positives...

WALMART!

Every cloud has a silver lining!

Do you know I've never been to Walmart?!

I am finding it a tad scary you have booked a 2014 Oct Nov - oh boy! I have only just found out that such a trip (it would be bit less than 2 weeks) might be doable next year but no way so confirmed I could consider making bookings yet. You are panicing me!!!!!

The only reason we booked was because it was a really really good offer. Otherwise the expense would have been too much the following year. This offer made it affordable. In fact a domestic holiday would be more expensive than what we booked.

Enjoy Europe and DLP!! We LOVED it.

DLP is my favourite Disney park. I just adore the place and it has the most superb lands! I can't wait to return!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Do you know I've never been to Walmart?!



:

Never been to Walmart just walking through and buying nothing is an experience the sheer size of the store