These posts always crack me up....
"How can people afford a deluxe?"
"Why would anyone pay that much for a deluxe?"...ect....
No offense to the OP, specifically, but I always wonder if people who ask these kinds of questions also drive around asking how/why does someone buy a Lexus when a Ford Taurus is so much cheaper? When shopping at the mall do they stop women carrying a Dooney & Burke or Coach purse and ask them why they just didn't buy a Liz Claiborne purse?
Everyone has their own perception of value, their own perception of what is worth paying for, ect...not just with Disney, but pretty much with everything in life. We all make choices about what is important/worth it.
Very well said!
We are not rich by any means. My DH is in the military and I am a SAHM. We live in one of the most expensive places in this country to live (Orange County, CA). We drive modest cars (Hondas), we live in an apartment (paid for by the government, thank goodness). We don't go to expensive restaurants often, we don't buy "label" clothes. We shop primarily at Costco and Target, etc.
When we go to Disney, we stay in a deluxe hotel, concierge. There is no other option for me, I'm afraid. When I am on VACATION, I want to feel pampered. I want to relax. I don't want to deal with long lines, stress, an endless waits. I want a comfortable bed. I want a large room. I want to feel like I am NOT at home.
When I look at the budget for our upcoming trip in May 2009, I think "I could buy a car for that much". BUT, the truth is, we are able to save the money to splurge PRECISELY because we live modestly. There are a million things I *could* do with the money, but I don't want expensive clothes, expensive cars, and nice dinners out. I want an AWESOME WDW vacation experience. So, that's what we choose.
We currently have 2 Garden View Concierge rooms booked for the Poly in May 2009 for 8 nights. You can figure out how much that is going to cost

, BUT I have the next 14 months to save up the money, and I'll be able to do it easily.