Why we are not going to WDW this year

[Spriesty]

We are from NJ and have gone to WDW yearly for the last 8 years. We love our yearly trips and I will always cherish the memories. We have decided to not go this year due to the increase in prices and fp+. The prices in the last 3-4 years have gone up considerably and we loved the original fp system. We are going to Busch Gardens/Water Country in Virginia instead. Tickets for my family of 5 will be around $400 for BG/WC for 7 days. Tickets for my family in WDW for 7 days will be approx. $1600. Yes, I know BG will not be as great as WDW. Also, a deluxe hotel at WDW is now creeping up to $500/night, which is insane. We are getting a nice Marriott in Williamsburg with a hot breakfast for a little over a $100/night. I know people will say I am comparing apples/oranges, and I know there is no other place like Disney, but I just feel like the prices at disney are getting out of control. We also don't have to fly, which will save us around $1200. We will see how it goes. To be honest, I will miss Disney but feel like at this point we have to try something else.

FP+ aside, since it seems to be a controversial issue right now (and the hope that they make some changes and tweek it in the near future), I am having a hard time justifying the trip I'm planning for early 2015. Part of it is knowing that even now, while I'm searching for the best deal, the park tickets will probably increase like they've done repeatedly the last few years, and the resort prices will probably increase as well. And those prices are already extremely high.

 

[flicx]

Quite frankly we are seeing more and more of this kind of thing on here. I remember a year or so back a thread about Disney going down hill had a great number of pages. Disney in my opinion has slid terribly over the last decade. My family stopped going yearly quite a while back, and now have gone to once every four or five years. The new fast pass system isn't gonna help matters for us either. From a pricing point the last decade has brought the most aggressive price increases and a great reduction in service and flexibility at Disney. At some point Disney will become a resort catering to only the wealthy. I like many others will soon say goodbye after three decades of visits!

 

[Spriesty]

I just googled the price differences in the last 10 years. 2003 vs 2013.

A 5-day park hopper in 2003 was $229. In 2013 it was $348. A 52% price increase.

There are also resorts listed, one in each category, Value, Mod, and Deluxe. To summarize: Value resorts went up 61%, Mods went up 85%, and Deluxes went up 88%.

That much of a price increase, during a very rough economical time for our country.

P.S. I don't want to take any credit for the above info, I found it easily in an article on mice chat, but I'm unsure if I'm allowed to link that website. A quick google search and you could find it with no problem.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We did Busch Gardens a few years ago and had a good time. Make sure to try the Curse of DarKastle if you get a chance.

 

[kandb]

OP here. To the pp who said I "bash" WDW, are you serious? Yes, in the past I have posted about the high price increases and how I don't believe how expensive the resorts have gotten. If I was such a basher of Disney, my family would have not gone there for our vacations exclusively for the last 8 years and we would not have given Disney a lot of our money. Anyway, my husband is excited to be going someplace else different but I will miss Disney. Thanks to all that have given us some pointers and good experiences about Williamsburg.

 

[kirstenb1]

OP, we have season passes to BG/WC. We love both parks, and hope you'll have a great vacation.

Ironically, although we are DVC'rs, we feel totally priced out of WDW. We still go down once a year, but our BG season passes get us into Sea World and Aquatica. So it's been a couple of years since we stepped into a WDW park. When we bought DVC 20 yrs ago, I never thought the park tix would jump so high. We live in Central Va, and both Kings Dominion and BG have $$ off ticket prices routinely, so I was used to that line of thinking. I even worked at KD in the summers, and the theory seemed to be get people in the park, and they'll spend lots on food, and souvenirs.

Anyway, we're just one family, and obviously WDW is doing fine without us.

 

[kandb]

OP here again-I have always felt that Disney was a great company. My husband and I first trip was after 9/11, when Disney gave all rescue workers from 9/11 free tickets and half price tickets for up to 4 people. I thought that gesture was very patriotic and uplifting after a very difficult time.. As a matter of fact there was a lot of patriotic things at Disney when we visited that year. I still have a Disney flag pin that Disney was giving out to its patrons when we visited after the attack and it had a quote from Walt Disney himself on it. Hope the great company I always thought Disney was, doesn't change too much more.

 

[revdon64]

We're not going this year either... because we try to go every other year and we went last year so we're planning for next year. Just sayin'

 

[Disneychick75]

OP, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a beautiful park. We have enjoyed our trips. Colonial Williamsburg is one of my favorite places anywhere because I'm a history nut. My family has combined Williamsburg with Washington DC. It's a heavenly trip for me and I enjoy it more than Disney World.

 

[flicx]

I just googled the price differences in the last 10 years. 2003 vs 2013.

A 5-day park hopper in 2003 was $229. In 2013 it was $348. A 52% price increase.

There are also resorts listed, one in each category, Value, Mod, and Deluxe. To summarize: Value resorts went up 61%, Mods went up 85%, and Deluxes went up 88%.

That much of a price increase, during a very rough economical time for our country.

P.S. I don't want to take any credit for the above info, I found it easily in an article on mice chat, but I'm unsure if I'm allowed to link that website. A quick google search and you could find it with no problem.

Nice stats. I knew that the increases were high but wow!

 

[Don Disney]

I just googled the price differences in the last 10 years. 2003 vs 2013.

A 5-day park hopper in 2003 was $229. In 2013 it was $348. A 52% price increase.

There are also resorts listed, one in each category, Value, Mod, and Deluxe. To summarize: Value resorts went up 61%, Mods went up 85%, and Deluxes went up 88%.

That much of a price increase, during a very rough economical time for our country.

P.S. I don't want to take any credit for the above info, I found it easily in an article on mice chat, but I'm unsure if I'm allowed to link that website. A quick google search and you could find it with no problem.

What a sham...I mean shame...Businesses need to make a profit,but gee-whiz! That is just unadulterated corporate greed....Gonna be a while before we go back...Universal Studios/IOA,Sea World,Aquatica here we come!

 

[boBQuincy]

I just googled the price differences in the last 10 years. 2003 vs 2013.

A 5-day park hopper in 2003 was $229. In 2013 it was $348. A 52% price increase.

There are also resorts listed, one in each category, Value, Mod, and Deluxe. To summarize: Value resorts went up 61%, Mods went up 85%, and Deluxes went up 88%.

That much of a price increase, during a very rough economical time for our country.

P.S. I don't want to take any credit for the above info, I found it easily in an article on mice chat, but I'm unsure if I'm allowed to link that website. A quick google search and you could find it with no problem.

I have no doubt these numbers are accurate, WDW prices have gone up significantly. However, we bought into DVC in 1998 and our prices for deluxe accommodations have gone up about 15% in the last 10 years. Our annual passes have gone up about 25% in the last 7 years. Airfares have gone up and down (mostly up) about 30% and food at WDW has gone up quite a bit but it is not a major part of our trip expenses.

 

[flicx]

What a sham...I mean shame...Businesses need to make a profit,but gee-whiz! That is just unadulterated corporate greed....Gonna be a while before we go back...Universal Studios/IOA,Sea World,Aquatica here we come!

Let's not forget Bob Iger has to make his 1 million dollar a week salary too!!!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I agree. But I have noticed for awhile that OP has posted pretty negative posts here on the DIS. Maybe it makes him/her feel better to bash WDW here?

i haven't read the OP's other posts but it may not be bashing. When I have had to cancel previous trip I always think neg thoughts at first about the place I wanted to visit. It helps so I'm not moping around or getting angry. After I'm done being upset and/or sad I am able to see that it was for the best and move on. This may be OP's was of feeling better about not going to wdw and going elsewhere.

 

[Planogirl]

I have always wanted to go to Williamsburg! Maybe in the next few years we can make it up there.

I don't expect to go back to WDW for the next few years either. I do hope that we can take a long weekend for HHN but we'll see.

 

[boBQuincy]

Let's not forget Bob Iger has to make his 1 million dollar a week salary too!!!

Now that's another story, and one that really needs to be addressed but I doubt there is a thread for that on this board.

 

[kandb]

I don't know if this will be considered "bashing" Disney but we went to Disney in Nov, 2009 and stayed at the Grand Floridian for 7 nights. We were a family of 5 (2A, 2children, 1 infant). We got the buy 4 and get 3 free deal and had the dining plan with tickets for the entire time and we paid around $3K to 3.5K for the entire package. Those were the day!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

There is fun outside of Disney World.

Have a great time! Williamsburg sounds really neat, I've always wanted to go there.

And take the savings you're realizing this year and put them toward your next non-budget trip (wherever that might be)

 

[mefordis]

What a sham...I mean shame...Businesses need to make a profit,but gee-whiz! That is just unadulterated corporate greed....Gonna be a while before we go back...Universal Studios/IOA,Sea World,Aquatica here we come!

Yep and those profits are going to the executives and shareholders, not the average worker.

 

[Goofey Drool]

Our strategy for the last trip (2012) was staying off site and trying Aquatica and Universal. We rented a pool home and it was still a fun and relaxing vacation. I miss staying at a moderate with the transportation-meals and no hassle... It just got too $$$. The plan is to stay off site next year and do 2 park days then plan other activities for the other 5 days. We all love AK so that will be on our very short list.