Why DCL so much $$$???

[TChrist05]

With all the talk about how much per day each pays...I just figured out it costs us $271.00 per day on the 11/30 Magic eastern swing....we booked last year before we left the ship in a category 8....and DCL has since upgraded us to a category 5 at no cost to us by the way....so I figure...If I was in Disney World...and I booked a room for say $100. per night...had 3 sit-down meals at say $40.00 each it would work out to $220.00...plus all the little extra's in the parks...so...for my wife and I it works out great........and yes...we probably could save a little bit sailing on some of the other cruise lines...but this is the Disney magic!....and I forgot to mention we also got a $100.00 on-board credit for being Castaway Club members and a $50.00 credit for being Disney Club members....and we don't seem to have any problem spending the on board credits....
18 days to the "MAGIC"!

 

[markey]

To TChrist05 - May I ask you how you managed to get both the CC and DC discount? I have asked both times, at last year booking 2001 for 2002 and 2002 for 2003, and I was told that you cannot have both discounts.

 

[TChrist05]

Markay...We booked while on board the ship...and got the Castaway Club credit...and then received a mailing from Disney Club so I called DCL and asked for it to be added to my reservation...and they did.....now that does not mean when I get there in 28 short days they may tell me that I cannot have the Disney Club credit...so I am kind of in a wait and see attitude...but if they don't give me the $50.00 it will not be such a big deal...they upgraded us from a category 8 to a 5...saving me like $800.00 for the upgrade...so it won't be that much of a big deal...but I may just call DCL and find out what kind of onboard credits they have us slated for........
Tom
18 days to the "MAGIC"!!!

 

[psimon]

Originally posted by sdoane
Did you price with the first person using points and the rest paying cash. That is what we do and we seem to come out ahead on both ends (points and cash that is).

I'm curious if that really works out better. We didn't do it that way..... We went with my parents who belong to DVC. They took one room as points for 3 people, and the second room as cash for 4 people.

Are you really ahead mixing cash and points?

thanks... Paul

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

Our land/sea/land came out to about $200 per person per day.

We had the BEST view of the Magic Kingdom from our Contemporary Tower room and we had a cat. 5 on the Wonder followed by a 3 night stay at the Contemporary North Garden Wing. This is for two adults and a 2 year old - and includes EVERYTHING from airfare, food, tips and souvenirs!!

This vacation cost us approximately $6,000.00 for 10 days of pure Disney Magical Memories - Priceless in my opinion!!


Lisa

 

[mivvers]

Nice post Buckaroo's Dad. Your son is lucky to have a dad like you! Well said.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Ok, so we've had some great times canoeing down Michigan rivers and camped with a bunch of Scouts (dad with boys and mom with girls). But there is something different about the experience on the cruise.

Since part of the equation is perceived and actual value (and much of what is of value to an individual is intangible) I'm with Bucakroo's Dad on this one.

Give me the smiles, the lack of picking on each other, the delight and magic and I'm getting a LOT for the money spent.

Deb

 

[Cinderellamommy]

We are going on the Wonder the (Sunday After Thankgiving )Family of 4 (kids under 12) In a Porthole room, 4 Nights for a total of 106.25 pp a day (425.00) for our Family per Day. I think it does pay to book early even it it is off season.

 

[garyss7]

I think the difference between going to WDW or going on the cruise is that if you
go to the park you almost feel obligated to go go go and do as much as possible
and going on the cruise is the almost the opposite. Relaxing, laying around, eating
too much, maybe doing adult activities activities on the boat, etc.. If you lay around
while at WDW you feel your wasting your vacation and its the opposite going on
the cruise. We enjoyed the cruise but to do over and over, I'm not sure I'd keep
spending that much money to do it a third time again.. Comments? Gary

 

[tiggere]

because people will pay it. You all are proof of that. And because they only have 2 ships. And because Disney doesn't have last minute specials.
I've been on the 4-day and 7-day Magic and they were both GREAT, PERFECT. But for $80/per person/per day for 10 great days to the same ports on a higher rated ship, I'll be on Celebrity's Galaxy come January 3rd! When/if Disney can be competitive with Celebrity or Princess, I'll gladly be back. I'm a HUGE Disney fan and will especially miss the Magic's whistle, but $$ is $$ and as long as I can take 2 Celebrity Cruises for the price of 1 Disney Cruise, I'm there!

 

[Macnjac87]

Well said, TiggerE. I guess its because I've cruised on other cruise lines (Royal Carib. and Carnival) and had wonderful (and much cheaper) experiences that I feel this way too. One day I hope to do it, but if I can get 2 vacations for the same price as 1, I'll go for the 2 every time.

 

[Melrosgirl]

So true! We just returned from a Princess cruiseship. Got a mini suite room. Princess is first class all the way. I was able to get the mini suite room for 3 people at around $3000. Then I got home and priced a Disney cruise...$7000 for a smaller balcony room. I don't think so! That's crazy!

I ended up booking a January cruise, 7 day, category 6 for just under $3000 (it's over a year away though). I really want to try a Disney cruise, but I am not spending $7000 for a summertime cruise when I can go on a Princess cruise twice (in a mini suite).

Originally posted by tiggere
because people will pay it. You all are proof of that. And because they only have 2 ships. And because Disney doesn't have last minute specials.
I've been on the 4-day and 7-day Magic and they were both GREAT, PERFECT. But for $80/per person/per day for 10 great days to the same ports on a higher rated ship, I'll be on Celebrity's Galaxy come January 3rd! When/if Disney can be competitive with Celebrity or Princess, I'll gladly be back. I'm a HUGE Disney fan and will especially miss the Magic's whistle, but $$ is $$ and as long as I can take 2 Celebrity Cruises for the price of 1 Disney Cruise, I'm there!

 

[alexandrew]

The past 3 years, we've cruised DCL 7 day in October and mid December. We took advantage of value season for me, DW and 2 DS's, as well as FL Res discount...stuck to cat 8 or 9, and paid an average of $2200.00 inc port charges and taxes. For the 7 day, that is a pp cost/ day of about $78.50...

as for other cruise lines, I've researched and found that the only ships that can come close in similarity to DCL experience for a family inc. young children are the RCCL Voyager class ships...The best pricing I've ever gotten for comparable dates and cabin class is $3200

For $1k less It's Disney for us...

 

[tiggere]

Florida Residents special is the only affordable option. Our friends use that all the time and cruise 3 or so times a year. Otherwise, they couldn't afford Disney's high fares so often. A move to Florida might be an alternative?! (not).

 

[tiggere]

I forgot one. Castmembers get about the same fare as Florida Residents! I'm sure the Disney Stores around the country are hiring for Christmas. The discount on everything else is great too! 35% once you've been there so many years, 20% to start.

 

[psimon]

Originally posted by Macnjac87
Thanks for all your inputs. Unfortunately, Disney caters to families of 4, not 5. There is only 1 category that fits 5 people; ( I think its cat. 4??)the family stateroom, they all have balconies. The price of 2 adjoining cabins is more than the cat. 4 cabin, and I am uncomfortable with putting my 3 kids across the hall by themselves in a cat. 11 inside cabin. Anyway, the cost is the same. I priced out different times of year, and it still comes out very expensive. Just like at Disney World, a family of 5 must stay at a deluxe resort (or Port Orleans/Riverside w/trundle). This was one of the main reasons we bought into the DVC 3 years ago. We have saved thousands on room prices and stayed at much larger accomodations thru DVC. You can use your DVC points for the cruise but its very high.

You have the same problem we do. As a family of 5 it became prohibitively expensive to take the cruise. If if hadn't been that my parents came with us, we couldn't have done it. By them coming, we were able to get adjoining cat 8 rooms and put one of our kids in with them. As my parents are DVC and we aren't, that still leaves us in a bind when we go to WDW. We are examining our options for next year, and none of them are really pretty. A week at OKW is 172 points (at today's conversion rates, that's around $1700), vs around $1300 for a week at PO-R. I am trying to justify the $400 to go with the OKW approach.

The cruise will have to wait. Cat 4 cabins are too much right now!

Paul

 

[Macnjac87]

Hi Paul-
Yes, when we took the Carnival Triumph cruise last February, my sister came along, so we got 2 adjoining cabins, even tho Carnival lets you put 5 in a cabin, one of my kids slept on the pull out sofa bed in my sis's cabin.

Email me (Macnjac87@aol.com) maybe I can give you some pointers on the DVC/family of 5 thing.

 

[TChrist05]

Hey guys....I am what I refer to as a Disney veteran...we have been going to WDW for the last 24 years....started for me on our honeymoon...and now we go twice a year to WDW and for the last 3 years the Disney cruise....I think it may be that I am brainwashed into the Disney thing....cannot even think about vacationing anywhere else...went to Hershey Park a couple of years ago for 2 days and all I did was compare it to Disney...and was disappointed...and I know from what you guys are saying about other cruise lines we probably would have a good time...my only experience with another cruise line was 14 years ago on the Big Red Boat.....and it was OK...but after comparing it to Disney there was no comparision....but I guess I will continue to book next year's cruise when I am on the ship....we are going this year on the 11/30 Magic....and cannot wait...and having the best of both worlds since we will be spending 5 nights in POR after the cruise...12 days of heaven.....so...it may be more expensive but in my book it is worth it....to see my wife enjoying and relaxing is worth the money....and just the anticipation for myself is worth the extra money....and the shows are great!
16 days to the "MAGIC"!
Tom

 

[floridaminnie]

We are planning on going during a very high season Dec. 27 for a seven day cruise. If we paid cash, it would be a little bit over 6000. Using 220 points for the first person, the remaing 3 people are 3200. We really wanted to bring in the new year on DCL and we found using our points this way is economical. We live an hour away from WDW, so we go there often and are very flexible about when we can go. (We are also annual p*******rs). We are not as flexible with DCL, because I'm a teacher. I'm always off during high season