Would you consider a WDW trip a luxury?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

He ended up booking 2 1/2 miles from DL in a "Good Neighbor" hotel. Yes, Disneyland is less self contained, which is a good thing because some of the off site hotels are closer than Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Palace. I just checked and the Anaheim Convention Center has nothing scheduled the day before they arrive, and for 4 days after.
I was wondering if fire victims are taking up hotel rooms, but Anaheim is a long ways from the fires.

Probably and all sorts of things. It doesn't have to be anything in particular I was just using convention as an example. But because of the location what hotels are and aren't available aren't necessarily translating to what crowds do or don't show up at DL...they don't even for WDW as far as on-site occupancy levels but at least there you're more likely to be going to the parks if you're on a Disney on-site hotel for WDW. For DL it's just plopped in an area.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

To have a job with paid time off is very upper class

That's a fairly generous definition of upper class. I certainly wasn't anywhere near upper class, I wasn't even middle class when I got my first job at 22 that had any PTO. In fact if I use historical data from HUD for my metro I was considered in between low income and 60% limits (that the next level below low income). It is quite true that in the U.S. our vacation policies can widely vary but it is not a upper class thing at all. I don't think this point is all that different from what the time period you're talking about and 15 years ago from what I was talking about.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

No, it’s not a luxury. Expensive? Yes!

I think it’s very dependent on income, though.

Also, we bought a house way below what we could “afford” and drive older cars. Our disposable is probably higher than average.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Interesting timing on this thread. The WSJ has an article out today...."Even Disney is Worried about the High Cost of a Disney Vacation". I'll put the link below...should work.

The article says that 80% of increases come from services that were once free, like skipping the line...etc. And the price of a vacation at Disney is outpacing inflation. I will say that for sure, we're seeing this in our travel budget....no question. Way outpacing inflation. It's a cash grab.

https://www.wsj.com/business/disney...6?st=cX8cn9&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

I will say that personally, I suppose anyone who has a job or career with paid time off....could be considered a luxury. But I wouldn't consider a Disney vacation to be "luxurious". Even staying at their highest end properties, or off-site at the Four Seasons. Unless you're doing a VIP tour each day you're there, at some point you're in the pond with everyone else . But....you can spend a lot of money at Disney for sure.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Interesting timing on this thread. The WSJ has an article out today...."Even Disney is Worried about the High Cost of a Disney Vacation". I'll put the link below...should work.

The article says that 80% of increases come from services that were once free, like skipping the line...etc. And the price of a vacation at Disney is outpacing inflation. I will say that for sure, we're seeing this in our travel budget....no question. Way outpacing inflation. It's a cash grab.

https://www.wsj.com/business/disney...6?st=cX8cn9&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

I will say that personally, I suppose anyone who has a job or career with paid time off....could be considered a luxury. But I wouldn't consider a Disney vacation to be "luxurious". Even staying at their highest end properties, or off-site at the Four Seasons. Unless you're doing a VIP tour each day you're there, at some point you're in the pond with everyone else . But....you can spend a lot of money at Disney for sure.

I was going to share that too! Was reading it this morning immediately thought of this thread.

 

[mousefan73]

As someone who works in the traveling tourism industry, I would say definitely no. A Disney vacation is very expensive, but I wouldn’t categorize it into the luxury segment.

Luxury or “premium” has nothing to do with the price. Granted, in many cases, you are paying more luxury/premium. But you can also have more premium experiences or luxury experience for a fraction of the cost.

Expensive and luxury are not mutually exclusive.
Of course, of many stared any type of vacation is a luxury experience because most people define luxury as something beyond the basics. Which is also true.

 

[dvcgirl67]

As someone who works in the traveling tourism industry, I would say definitely no. A Disney vacation is very expensive, but I wouldn’t categorize it into the luxury segment.

Luxury or “premium” has nothing to do with the price. Granted, in many cases, you are paying more luxury/premium. But you can also have more premium experiences or luxury experience for a fraction of the cost.

Expensive and luxury are not mutually exclusive.
Of course, of many stared any type of vacation is a luxury experience because most people define luxury as something beyond the basics. Which is also true.

I would agree. This Disney vacation topic comes up occasionally on a couple of reddit subs that I follow. They are called "Fat and Chubby" travel....not referring to ones size, but rather to their budget. I think they got it from the FIRE world.

Anyway, occasionally someone will ask in there how to do a Fat or Chubby Disney trip, and most immediately bring up Four Seasons Orlando and the VIP tours....etc. And I guess that's how I think of real "luxury" trips...it's about exclusivity at the resort and with respect to the tours/guides...etc. For us, have a private guide for touring ranks higher than a five star hotel when prioritizing our travel "wants". Staying away from crowds is high on our luxury list.

 

[_19disnA]

Thought the graph of Disney attendance was very informative. Attendance has NOT returned to pre-covid levels. The article is much like the various opinions posted here, everyone has their own view of why attendance is down and all of the associated costs have gone up.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I think it depends on each person's idea of luxury. For some it might be sitting on the beach in Aruba, or a cruise. My idea of luxury is relaxing with family and friends in an all inclusive environment where everyone has something to do and does not need to be entertained. So for me, the answer is yes.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Thought the graph of Disney attendance was very informative. Attendance has NOT returned to pre-covid levels. The article is much like the various opinions posted here, everyone has their own view of why attendance is down and all of the associated costs have gone up.

View attachment 936764

It wouldn't anyhow. Disney themselves said they are intentionally capping attendance differently than pre-pandemic and aren't looking to go back to crowd levels of before. APs have reservations depending on the day and the park, non-dated based tickets require reservations as well (certain other ticket media also requires reservations).

 

[LuvOrlando]

That's a fairly generous definition of upper class. I certainly wasn't anywhere near upper class, I wasn't even middle class when I got my first job at 22 that had any PTO. In fact if I use historical data from HUD for my metro I was considered in between low income and 60% limits (that the next level below low income). It is quite true that in the U.S. our vacation policies can widely vary but it is not a upper class thing at all. I don't think this point is all that different from what the time period you're talking about and 15 years ago from what I was talking about.

Seems odd to disagree with a person since it is all based on where you start out, what is that?

Anyway, to me in the middle was having your own home, having coats that fit as you grew and not having to be taken in by relatives who had room so yes, my definition of upper class stands. Also yes, I believe I am in it that group now as I was able to go as often as I have since reaching adulthood. I grew up thinking such things were as likely as me going to the Moon so my first trip was a shock and I still pinch myself. Yes, I am grateful every single day I breathe. No, I do not think it is generous since many American kids (and I was one) don't even know when they will eat next or where they will sleep safely, they do not have heat of comforts so a Disney trip is just not part of their wildest dreams. It is a rich thing to me.

I am not interested in changing your mind, I am un-bothered if you disagree but I don't like being scolded for being too generous with my definition of wealth, it is what it is. If you do not think it is a sign of wealth you probably started out somewhere different from where I did, we are all a product of out experiences and that is all there is to it, no sense in disagreeing - that is utterly pointless.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Seems odd to disagree with a person since it is all based on where you start out, what is that?

Anyway, to me in the middle was having your own home, having coats that fit as you grew and not having to be taken in by relatives who had room so yes, my definition of upper class stands. Also yes, I believe I am in it that group now as I was able to go as often as I have since reaching adulthood. I grew up thinking such things were as likely as me going to the Moon so my first trip was a shock and I still pinch myself. Yes, I am grateful every single day I breathe. No, I do not think it is generous since many American kids (and I was one) don't even know when they will eat next or where they will sleep safely, they do not have heat of comforts so a Disney trip is just not part of their wildest dreams. It is a rich thing.

I disagreed with you saying that getting vacation time as a job is a "very upper class thing", nothing more nothing less. You tend to find certain industries do not as a norm provide vacation time such as retail and I didn't have vacation time from when I was in retail (except oddly JCP did earn PTO but we weren't allowed to take it, we just got paid for it). All your other stuff doesn't have to do with what your comment I quoted was which was pertaining to vacation time at a job is an upper class thing.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I disagreed with you saying that getting vacation time as a job is a "very upper class thing", nothing more nothing less. You tend to find certain industries do not as a norm provide vacation time such as retail and I didn't have vacation time from when I was in retail (except oddly JCP did earn PTO but we weren't allowed to take it, we just got paid for it). All your other stuff doesn't have to do with what your comment I quoted was which was pertaining to vacation time at a job is an upper class thing.

It is a very upper class thing, as are the trips and lots of other things. So what? Why are you bothering to disagree?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It is a very upper class thing

I already told you I was considered low income by HUD standards for my metro with a job that had PTO. I would have loved to have been considered upper class dang that would have been nice to not worry about when my apartment rent was going to get paid, the student loan I had and the gas in my car and the groceries and the car repairs conversely my friend who had no PTO was considered middle class by HUD standards back in that year and had little additional things to pay for. I'm sorry your thinking is more of a socio track by which practically speaking does not pan out to equate having PTO to being upper middle class. Apologies but I've got no other commentary on that.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I already told you I was considered low income by HUD standards for my metro with a job that had PTO. I would have loved to have been considered upper class dang that would have been nice to not worry about when my apartment rent was going to get paid, the student loan I had and the gas in my car and the groceries and the car repairs conversely my friend who had no PTO was considered middle class by HUD standards back in that year and had little additional things to pay for. I'm sorry your thinking is more of a socio track by which practically speaking does not pan out to equate having PTO to being upper middle class. Apologies but I've got no other commentary on that.

OK

 

[dvcgirl67]

I disagreed with you saying that getting vacation time as a job is a "very upper class thing", nothing more nothing less. You tend to find certain industries do not as a norm provide vacation time such as retail and I didn't have vacation time from when I was in retail (except oddly JCP did earn PTO but we weren't allowed to take it, we just got paid for it). All your other stuff doesn't have to do with what your comment I quoted was which was pertaining to vacation time at a job is an upper class thing.

Agree...at least in this country, getting vacation time isn't a luxury. It may be when comparing us to other countries around the world. But growing up in a household that was certainly teetering between lower middle class/middle class when I was a little kid....my father still took his vacation days. We didn't go anywhere as a family for the most part....maybe a night away a few times in the summer, but he did get that paid time off. We did "staycations"...before that was a thing .

So agree...vacation time isn't an upper class thing.

 

[Sykes]

When I was young I had a job that paid minimum wage but accrued paid time off. I guess I was very upper class.

 

[cayennews]

Yes. It's difficult to afford a trip there even being a DVC member. Park prices are outrageous! As are food and souvenir prices.

 

[gsdweller]

I would not consider a Disney trip a luxury, but I know that many do and I understand why.

I would definitely not consider anything at Disney to be "luxurious" though. I have stayed at many of the best resorts/hotels in the world and from a luxurious standpoint Disney doesn't even show up on the radar.

That being said, "luxuriousness" is highly overrated after the first two experiences. Some of the greatest, most relaxing, most memorable vacations I have been on have been with DVC. Or in a crappy cabin in the middleof nowhere, with no electricity or running water.

In my experience, luxuriousness (or the demand for it) is what a fair number of rich people use to replace what their soulless everyday lives lack.

 

[sam_gordon]

It, like most vacations, IS a "luxury". However, that doesn't mean it's "luxurious" or a "luxury vacation" (although it can be if you spend enough money).