What percentage of U.S. kids have been to Disney?

[Pacolovestacos]

Number is definitely in the single digits. This board tends to underestimate the number of folks barely getting by. A trip to the Mouse is the last thing on these people's minds.

 

[dish rag]

Pribably much less than 1%.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would say the number is around 10%.

My son has his senior trip next year. He told me he's excited to go so he can play tour guide for his friends. He said most of the kids haven't been to WDW. We live in a middle class working neighborhood.

We grew up poor so I didn't go to WDW until I was 20 years old and took myself. Growing up most kids in our neighborhood (we lived below the poverty line) didn't go. Most people I know that have been to WDW have gone for a day trip. They would drive down to Florida, stay offsite or with family, go to WDW for a day and do other things in Orlando the rest of the week. I only know three people that have been to WDW for an onsite week stay more than once. Two of them aren't even doing WDW this year. They have switched up to Universal due to WDW raising prices and too much over planning with Disney.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'd also go with low single digits in terms of the entire US under-18 population. My DD goes to a public magnet elementary, and I know for a fact that the vast majority of her schoolmates have not been there. (FWIW, every student in the district is given free lunch and breakfast because of the percentage of students who qualify. Please don't think this is unfair freeloading; with that many kids qualifying, it actually saves money to just not set up a payment system at all, because the labor to deal with that much individual paperwork costs more than the food.)

I'm a bit of an anomaly in that I know an enormous number of people who go often, but these are parents whose daughters figure skate with my DD; it's an extremely expensive sport that requires extensive travel, so there is a certain level of affluence, a propensity to like travel, and an inclination to be generous with our kids in terms of our disposable income. We live just under 900 miles from WDW, but most families I know still do drive to get there. (We very seldom do, but we often use mileage points to greatly reduce the cost of our travel. However, even we have cut back on our WDW visits since the company got rid of the non-expiring pass option; we always used to spread out the cost of a pass over several trips and still get a decent daily admission rate. Now that we can no longer do that, we don't go nearly as often as we used to, because due to work commitments, we can seldom be out of town for more than about 5 days at a time.)

I will say that poverty is far from the only reason why kids never manage to get there. Very often even when money or hatred of travel isn't an issue, is just is not something that their parents are interesting in spending time doing. Just as I know lots of people who go frequently, I also know lots of people who would not dream of going, or who felt like WDW was something they were being coerced by peer pressure into doing, and who were so miserable there on their only trip that they have vowed never again. These are people who go to Europe annually, or who pack up their skis and head to winter resorts every chance that they get, or who like to kayak, or tour vineyards or go on cruises ... pretty much up for going anywhere that ISN'T a theme park.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I'd also go with low single digits in terms of the entire US under-18 population. My DD goes to a public magnet elementary, and I know for a fact that the vast majority of her schoolmates have not been there. (FWIW, every student in the district is given free lunch and breakfast because of the percentage of students who qualify. Please don't think this is unfair freeloading; with that many kids qualifying, it actually saves money to just not set up a payment system at all, because the labor to deal with that much individual paperwork costs more than the food.)

I'm a bit of an anomaly in that I know an enormous number of people who go often, but these are parents whose daughters figure skate with my DD; it's an extremely expensive sport that requires extensive travel, so there is a certain level of affluence, a propensity to like travel, and an inclination to be generous with our kids in terms of our disposable income. We live just under 900 miles from WDW, but most families I know still do drive to get there. (We very seldom do, but we often use mileage points to greatly reduce the cost of our travel. However, even we have cut back on our WDW visits since the company got rid of the non-expiring pass option; we always used to spread out the cost of a pass over several trips and still get a decent daily admission rate. Now that we can no longer do that, we don't go nearly as often as we used to, because due to work commitments, we can seldom be out of town for more than about 5 days at a time.)

I will say that poverty is far from the only reason why kids never manage to get there. Very often even when money or hatred of travel isn't an issue, is just is not something that their parents are interesting in spending time doing. Just as I know lots of people who go frequently, I also know lots of people who would not dream of going, or who felt like WDW was something they were being coerced by peer pressure into doing, and who were so miserable there on their only trip that they have vowed never again. These are people who go to Europe annually, or who pack up their skis and head to winter resorts every chance that they get, or who like to kayak, or tour vineyards or go on cruises ... pretty much up for going anywhere that ISN'T a theme park.

I agree. I work with plenty of surgeons who don't ever want to go to WDW. Some will do it as a once in a lifetime trip because they feel obligated to take their kids once but most don't even bother. Some send their wives to take the kids at least once but they have no desire to ever go. But they do other expensive vacations with their children.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I know many people who have never gone. Some just don't travel. Others are newer Canadians and choose to go back to the Philipines to see family. Some just hate crowds and prefer to do outdoorsy vacations.

Out of my circle of 5 best friends no one else has taken their kids. Only one went themselves as a child.

 

[phamton]

You would be surprised to learn how many people living in Orlando have never been. My husband taught 12 years at an economically challenged high school (Evans High School) in Orlando and almost none of his students had even been to the Disney parks. He used to give some of his students comp tickets to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure when they achieved something special. The Evans High School Band marched in the Macy's Parade at Universal one year and the kids got a free ticket to the park for the day and most had never even been there before. Many of his students had been to Sea World because it was often an end of school field trip. So just asking your friends and family might not give an accurate number since they are may be economically similar to you. You would think living in Orlando that most had gone but you would be very surprised.

 

[DaisyJ]

I live in an area where traveling and "other culture" is highly frowned upon, so most of my children's friends have been lucky to even visit a different part of our state, let alone Florida. I did not grow up that way and luckily, neither did my children. They have both been to multiple other countries, as well as traveling within the US.

 

[DaisyJ]

Double post

 

[North of Mouse]

Very few people I know have been to Disney, and most of them is a 'once and done' trip. No problems with that as there is much to see in many other places.

I think the Dis is totally a one of kind place in more ways than one. Some people are so totally into Disney that they have to always have a (or more than one) trip planned at all times. We like Disney, but we make ressies then don't hardly think about it until time for our trip, then after the trip we're on to others places, things to do.

No right/wrong way - just whatever people are in to.

 

[DawnM]

You would be surprised to learn how many people living in Orlando have never been. My husband taught 12 years at an economically challenged high school (Evans High School) in Orlando and almost none of his students had even been to the Disney parks. He used to give some of his students comp tickets to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure when they achieved something special. The Evans High School Band marched in the Macy's Parade at Universal one year and the kids got a free ticket to the park for the day and most had never even been there before. Many of his students had been to Sea World because it was often an end of school field trip. So just asking your friends and family might not give an accurate number since they are may be economically similar to you. You would think living in Orlando that most had gone but you would be very surprised.

It was the same when I worked in Los Angeles for 17 years. Many of my students (high schoolers) had never been. Our school did Disneyland for Grad Nite and before I had kids I would volunteer to chaperone, many were going for the first time.

As a side note, I made the announcements over the intercom, helped write up the "things you need to know before going", and gave a parent meeting speech. Every time I emphasized NOT to wear heels as there was a LOT of walking. And to wear something comfortable. And to bring a light jacket. And every single year, girls came in very dressy, snug dresses, and heels, and no jacket. By the end of the night they were cold, uncomfortable, and their feet were killing them.

Sigh.

 

[DawnM]

As for me and my family, almost all of our friends have been to Disney. Definitely true in LA, but even here in NC, most people have been at least once in our circle of friends.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think the question is a fascinating glimpse into how well people are able to objectively look at the world around them. It's interesting how many assume everyone else is just like them.

 

[dish rag]

I think the question is a fascinating glimpse into how well people are able to objectively look at the world around them. It's interesting how many assume everyone else is just like them.

I agree. But also am surprised at how many think that there is a measurable percentage that have. As someone mentioned, I know many in Orlando that have never been there. It's only a guess. But my guess would be so few have that it's not even a blip on the radar.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Disney is a very popular destination for folks around here, but it's still way less than 10%. My brother-in-law traveled very extensively as a child & continues to do so as an adult. He & my nephews have never been (sister has been to Disneyland, not WDW). No desire.

The girl who cuts my hair takes a minimum of 2 vacations per year, some years as many as 4. She's 50 & her daughter 13. They've never been. In fact, they don't go anywhere that isn't a beach or lake destination.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I bet it's well under 10%. My son used to play video games online with a boy who was born and raised in Orlando. My son asked him, "so do you go to Disney World like every weekend?" The boy told him he had never been.

I'm thinking of all my friends with kids aged 1 through 21 and only two families have been (just so you you have an idea - their occupations are psychologist, attorney, construction worker, state worker (earning over $50,000), counselor (x2), IT). We're all in Kentucky.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I live in an area where traveling and "other culture" is highly frowned upon, so most of my children's friends have been lucky to even visit a different part of our state, let alone Florida. I did not grow up that way and luckily, neither did my children. They have both been to multiple other countries, as well as traveling within the US.

That's intriguing. I'm trying to think of where that could be. I've never heard of an area where the majority of people looked down on traveling. The "other culture" bit has me perplexed, too.

 

[brooke789]

I didn't go to Wdw until I was 30 taking our kids. DH had been multiple times growing up and even once in college. Ive told my husband I don't even remember knowing about WDW as a kid. Afaik none of my friends ever went. I vaguely remember an episode of Full House that was probably DL. But I don't ever remember hearing about it or wanting to go etc.

 

[MrJT]

I vaguely remember an episode of Full House that was probably DL.

No, that was WDW. They stayed at the Grand Floridian, and the seemed to quickly and easily hop all over the resort all day long.