Would you consider a WDW trip a luxury?

[BlueStarryHat]

I live on a fixed income, but I was always able to budget and squirrel money away to pay for my half of the trips my sister and I took. When we decided to go again this year, I found that I couldn't make the math and how I'd have to save add up. So we've decided to not go anymore, not because we don't still love it, but because Disney has finally priced me out. Too expensive, even though we stay as cheaply as possible. I never considered it a luxury before, but I do now.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't consider Disney a luxury destination I do consider it an expensive one.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

I agree that all vacations are a luxury. Many can’t afford trips, taking the time off work, etc.

Is Disney a luxurious vacation? Not really, unless maybe if you stay at the Four Seasons and do VIP tours and whatnot. But compared to a local Six Flags, I would call it more upscale. So I guess it’s a matter of perspective. I feel very privileged that I’m able to afford trips like those to Disney.

 

[jimmymc]

I default to the strict definition of the word "luxury", something you can't live without. So definitely a luxury.

 

[Chili327]

I think that, in general terms, all vacations are basically a "luxury" in that we don't need them to survive or anything like that.

Yep, that's my take on "Luxury". Mentally we all need a break, but a vacation trip or anything beyond just being off, & tuning out is a luxury.

 

[Magical2017]

We have not been in years, but Disney became less of a luxury trip by booking offsite stays and traveling off peak to take advantage of Southwest sales. We saved our luxury trips for places we did not go often. Our most recent vacations have been to new destinations booked with points and miles like Iceland and, next month, to Paris.

If we go back to Orlando it will be to Universal and we will most likely splurge for onsite for the express passes. It really depends on whether Epic has express passes--I need to go to the Universal board and read up on everything before we decide. I don't think we will go this year.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Yes I would consider it a luxury.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

I think Disney is a luxury priced vacation. I don't think the experience is luxury.

 

[Travel60]

I think geography has a lot to do with it. In an area with average family income of $75,000, It's definitely a luxury cost. In an area with average family income of $200,000, maybe not so much.

I'm referring to luxury cost not luxury experience. WDW is not, to me, a luxury experience.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think geography has a lot to do with it. In an area with average family income of $75,000, It's definitely a luxury cost. In an area with average family income of $200,000, maybe not so much.

I'm referring to luxury cost not luxury experience. WDW is not, to me, a luxury experience.

In general though your average income follows your COL, not exactly but just as you say where you live matters, raw numbers don't show the most there. Using your figures as an example an average income of $75K might actually give someone more discretionary income than you'd think if they lived in a low COL area. Conversely an average income of 200K (which in reality is hard to actually use but going with the same premise here) may not actually give someone more discretionary income if they lived in a high COL location.

 

[goofyernmost]

WDW is not a luxury trip it is, however, burdened with a luxury cost. Nice work if you can get it.

 

[disykat]

I consider it both a luxury and luxurious. First, we have to fly across the country. To us, any vacation where we get on an airplane is a big deal. We stayed once at Shades of Green and once at Pop Century. To us, both were a higher standard than the normal 2 1/2 or 3-star hotels we usually stay at.

I realize how fortunate we are and that for many people ANY vacation is a luxury, but we tend to consider any vacation that we've spent a big chunk of our monthly income (or more!) on as one. If we drive somewhere and stay at budget hotels and keep our transportation and lodging budget under or around a fourth of our monthly income per week and have the ability to not spend that much more, I consider that a budget trip. That simply isn't possible for Disney for us. We'd pay a lot to get there and get accommodations and then we'd also have ticket prices and a big food budget.

To me, putting it practically, spending a week or so of income is a budget trip and pretty easily doable in our income bracket. We might even get in a few trips a year that way since we're empty nesters. For us, those trips are things like driving to a beach town, etc. Spending a month or more of income on a single trip is luxurious. Now we can do that on occasion, but it's definitely a luxury.

 

[tvguy]

Yep, it is a luxury many people cannot afford.

And after 20+ years on the DIS, it appears it is a luxury that many who can not afford it, go into debt to take. Many posts of people maxing out all their credit cards to pay for.
But I realize not everyone is like me. I book vacations far enough in advance that they are paid for by the time I take them. We booked a cruise in May of 2024 with final payment due in June of this year, the cruise being in September of THIS year. Been making monthly payments since we booked it.

 

[loves to dive]

Like others, I think it depends on how you define luxury. If it's anything you can do without, then any vacation is a luxury. If you define it depending on income and disposable income, to some it might be to others not. Depending on your perspective, heck, even a stay at a value resort might be luxurious. I had to look up the exact definition of luxurious - extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable, especially in a way that involves great expense. Luxury - a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort. So it really does involve a lot of factors. For me, in the definition of luxury above (great ease and comfort) yep it's a luxury. But if I'm thinking of luxury, in my mind, I'm thinking 4 Seasons with my every need being met so nope.

 

[slo]

When I looked up the definition of luxury, it said……the state of great comfort and extravagant living.

With that being said……I think it depends on who we’re talking about. If we’re talking about me, then yes, it’s a luxury. I work a little second job to fund the majority of our trip and I ask for Disney gift cards for my birthday and Christmas.

If we’re talking about someone who is quite wealthy, than no, WDW is not a luxurious trip. To them, it’s no big deal to spend the money on this trip. They may make it more luxurious with where they stay and the activities they do there.

 

[design_mom]

I agree -- any vacation is a luxury (not a need). But Disney World is not a luxurious vacation.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

A Disney vacation is definitely a luxury for many. And while the experience might not be '4 Seasons' luxurious, it's almost always magical!

 

[disneychrista]

It certainly isn’t a basic necessity

 

[Kitty 34]

For many it is a luxury, for some it is not. I think primarily dependent on income.

or how you want to spend it.

 

[Minnie1222]

Is WDW trip a luxury? NO

Is it one of the most magical places on Earth?  YES

Is it a bargain for  that level of fun and magic?  YES