What do you think: WDW better "value" than DL?

[deanimal]

Okay, I know what you're thinking, "value" means different things to different people, but right now I'm in the process of planning both a DL trip (Oct. 2012) and a WDW trip (Feb 2013) so I have lots of chances to compare the two. This week I bought tickets for both since I wanted to beat the price increases, and that got me thinking. I spent $687 for three day tickets for DL (2A 1C) and $798 for 6 day base tickets for WDW. That means that in Florida I'm getting six days in four parks for only $111 more than three days in the two parks cost in California!

Yes, yes, I know its comparing apples to oranges, but it really feels like I'll be getting a lot more for my vacation dollar in WDW. I live much closer to DL and I've always viewed DL as sort of a "long weekend/short trip" kind of experience and WDW as a "week or more/full vacation" kind of experience, but with the recent price increases, I'm starting to consider if I should save up my vacation days and go to WDW for longer periods to get my money's worth. It will now cost us $800 plus just for tickets for a quick three day trip to DL! A whole week at WDW for that price seems like better value to me.

(then again, the WDW price increases haven't been announced yet, so I could be changing my tune once again if the DL prices are any indication!)

 

[blackjackdelta]

So add the airfare..we would have to fly the width of the states and for 6 people(us) muchmore costly..besides that I can not convince anyone in my family to go there. No club 33...We gat a better "value" by going to our home port.

Jack

 

[Susie63]

I have never been to WDW and unless I am in Florida for another reason,I will never go. Making dining plans 6 months out and eventually, ride reservations,is not my holiday style.
I will stand in line for a ride,but never a bus.
Walking everywhere in DL is priceless

 

[squirrel]

Depends on the length of your vaccation. I usually go for about 2 weeks. That would be overkill for DL/DCA.

This year I'm doing a Disney cruise and then DL/DCA. It's just under 2 weeks and will cost about the same as my two week trip to WDW.

When I go to WDW, I go during free dining and stay at a value resort. All food is included. We rarely ever buy anything extra. I plan a year in advance and book airfare at cheaper prices when released. Also have Alaska CC and they offer a companion rate of $99, which helps.

This year I will have to pay for lunch and dinner for five days. I used my miles for free flights, but would have paid $99 each if I bought them.

 

[shellie may]

Im the weird WDW vet\florida native that would rather go to Disneyland than WDW plus I will take gorgeous California over swampy florida any day. WDW is stressful because you have to plan out every little detail and I hate all the transportation those buses are awful.

Yes WDW is large and the dollar value may be different but i will take quality(DLR) over quantity(WDW) any day that's the value of my vacations

 

[disneydreamer74]

The OP is right, WDW is a better value than DLR. I loved going to WDW when I lived on the East Coast. But Jack is right,when you figure in the cost of transportation for us it is way more expensive than a trip to DLR. It is the total amount spent that draws me to DLR. I love both parks though for their unique differences.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Sales tax and hotels are higher in CA from what I'm finding too. (speaking strictly offsite hotels) I've been to WDW 4 times and we are planning a DL trip and it's coming out more expensive for us to go to CA because of the higher sales tax and travel costs.

 

[HydroGuy]

It depends on whether you are talking cost per day or overall cost. WDW can cost less per day - if you stay more days thus ending up with a vacation which costs more. Which is a better value?

Also, WDW has shorter park hours. So you can get in less hours per day.

On the other hand, WDW has more activity inside the resort but outside the parks.

I agree it is comparing apples to oranges. But sometimes it is fun to compare apples to oranges.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

With the increase in AP prices, I just compared Deluxe APs for 6 and gas for 2 trips to Anaheim vs. 2 weeks at WDW (8 day non-PH) and flights for 6.......WDW was only about $50/person more. So we will be forgoing APs and going to WDW more often than expected. The added plus is that we can trade our timeshare into Orlando much easier (and with fewer points) than into Anaheim.

 

[sheetz]

As others have said you have to include the very substantial costs of transportation. If you're on the West Coast a flight to FL can easily cost $400 a person. That's a lot of churros!

 

[Jacie]

To stay onsite at a WDW resort + tickets for 6 nights/5 days for my family cost almost $1500. (Not including gas, or anything transpo wise.)
To stay offsite (Closer to DL than I would be at WDW) for 5 nights/6 days at DL cost me under $1100.

 

[Jacie]

I think my time is worth a lot of money, too. We spent probably 90-120 minutes a day on transportation while at WDW. (Waiting, going to park. Waiting, back to hotel. Waiting, back to park. Waiting back to hotel.) And on the way back at night, we usually got stuck waiting for a second bus, or standing on a completely full bus.
I'm excited to be able to walk, hop, and do it all within the same block. I do not like the buses at all.

 

[Midnightred]

My friend who is from Texas also, and travels to at least one Disney park per year, told me she can have a longer vacation at Disneyworld for a lower price. My family loves the climate in California, so we will pay extra money to avoid the heat and humidity.

Midnightred

 

[Renae De Liz]

I can get an 10 day WDW vacation for the same price of a 6 day DL vacation (including airfare/food, the airfare to 2 places from where I live is a little cheaper to Orlando, but not by too much). So if amount of time is your main factor, than WDW would be the better value. If quality of time spent is a main factor, then maybe DL would be the better value (for various reasons including no transportation issues, no humidity, no need to really plan, etc). And for me, quality over quantity, so DL is the better value.

 

[Judy from Boise]

On the flip side, for people who have a hard time being away from work for more than a week, DLR allows you to get that full vacation experience in 5 nights,4 days, and you get the bonus of a weekend at home prior to starting back at work.

for people in this boat that might find time a more precious resource than money, staying in a Disney property in the above scenario, really plusses that full "vacation trip" feeling.

 

[ValpoCory]

This week I bought tickets for both since I wanted to beat the price increases, and that got me thinking. I spent $687 for three day tickets for DL (2A 1C) and $798 for 6 day base tickets for WDW. That means that in Florida I'm getting six days in four parks for only $111 more than three days in the two parks cost in California!

How much would 3 day base tickets for WDW cost?

 

[ValpoCory]

My friend who is from Texas also, and travels to at least one Disney park per year, told me she can have a longer vacation at Disneyworld for a lower price. My family loves the climate in California, so we will pay extra money to avoid the heat and humidity.

Midnightred

I am also from Texas. I have found that 6 nights at DLR is about the same as 8 nights at WDW. We rent DVC points at $10/point both places.

But we are going to DLR in 2013 because of Cars Land and all the construction is completed. We'll go to WDW after the Fantasyland contruction is completed and the Mine Train opens.

But without Cars Land, we'd never consider a DLR vacation. A day trip as part of a larger California vacation, sure, but not an immersive stay like we are doing in January 2013.