Would you consider a WDW trip a luxury?

[georgina]

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.

My parents grew up during the Depression. There is NO WAY they were taking 6 kids from Ohio to Disney World. My only family vacations were tent camping.

To me, taking a trip to Florida for Disney World is definitely a luxury I can now afford. It has nothing to do with how 'luxurious' it is. It is not affordable for easily 50% of the people in this country who struggle with rent, utilities, and food.

 

[mom2rtk]

Of course it's a luxury.

 

[tvguy]

My parents grew up during the Depression. There is NO WAY they were taking 6 kids from Ohio to Disney World. My only family vacations were tent camping.

To me, taking a trip to Florida for Disney World is definitely a luxury I can now afford. It has nothing to do with how 'luxurious' it is. It is not affordable for easily 50% of the people in this country who struggle with rent, utilities, and food.

Yet the parks are packed.

 

[goofyernmost]

Yet the parks are packed.

Are they really packed or just seem that way due to the amount of time that the new "Fastpass" has muddied up the works.

 

[disykat]

Yet the parks are packed.

Because people enjoy luxury and will pay a high premium for it, even if it involves debt to do so.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Because people enjoy luxury and will pay a high premium for it, even if it involves debt to do so.

For WDW? I mean a lot of people just go there because it's like a rite of passage. They may go once for the kids perhaps twice and then never go again. I don't think the parks having crowds is at all indicative of people enjoying luxury and I'm not sure that people en masse view Disney as a luxury destination. If defining luxury as just a vacation the bar is low there, it may not be attainable for segments of the population but that's any destination if using that not WDW specifically (and posters have been using the any vacation=luxury).

 

[MICKIMINI]

Back in 1996 when we bought DVC it didn't seem a luxury. We had a brand new home (small mortgage) but otherwise no debt. We were in our 30's. We had a small biz and DH worked full time with overtime. Our WDW trips averaged about $1500 for a week for three including flights. Our other trips mostly consisted of National Parks, State Parks and museums and cultural events to share with our young son (1-2 weeks/yr). Those were relatively inexpensive as we drove to most of them. We did a few European trips which were also fairly inexpensive comparatively.

Our trips became a family tradition and when our son married, it was a great way for us all to bond at Disney.

We are getting close to retirement and really not into spending 10-15K a year on Disney even though we own at DVC. Proportionally, it is an eye popping number. Many 100K/yr income young families can't afford it now or feel irresponsible spending that amount for a week vacation (that likely isn't even middle class is it?) Yes, it is now a luxury IMO and not half as good as it was even ten years ago. Sad.

 

[disykat]

For WDW? I mean a lot of people just go there because it's like a rite of passage. They may go once for the kids perhaps twice and then never go again. I don't think the parks having crowds is at all indicative of people enjoying luxury and I'm not sure that people en masse view Disney as a luxury destination. If defining luxury as just a vacation the bar is low there, it may not be attainable for segments of the population but that's any destination if using that not WDW specifically (and posters have been using the any vacation=luxury).

I think people have been using that any "EXPENSIVE vacation" equals luxury not any vacation. Huge difference. It is possible to have vacations without much expense. I honestly don't know anyone in real life who views a Disney World trip as a budget vacation, but I live 2500 miles away. I have a hard time seeing how anyone sees visiting somewhere the entrance fees alone are $100+ per person a day as anything but "expensive." Even as a kid driving to Disneyland as part of a road trip, I understood that it was a huge "treat" to go. Many of us are using the luxury as "splurge," we're not saying that it's fancy. (Though I would argue that in many ways it is. The cleanliness, attention to detail, upgraded experience options, etc. It's no traveling carnival!)

 

[tvguy]

Are they really packed or just seem that way due to the amount of time that the new "Fastpass" has muddied up the works.

Can't speak to WDW but my son had a DEVIL of a time finding hotel rooms for an future Disneyland trip.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think people have been using that any "EXPENSIVE vacation" equals luxury not any vacation. Huge difference. It is possible to have vacations without much expense. I honestly don't know anyone in real life who views a Disney World trip as a budget vacation, but I live 2500 miles away. I have a hard time seeing how anyone sees visiting somewhere the entrance fees alone are $100+ per person a day as anything but "expensive." Even as a kid driving to Disneyland as part of a road trip, I understood that it was a huge "treat" to go. Many of us are using the luxury as "splurge," we're not saying that it's fancy. (Though I would argue that in many ways it is. The cleanliness, attention to detail, upgraded experience options, etc. It's no traveling carnival!)

People's comments in this thread have been a mixture but multiple posters have said any vacation is a luxury. I gave my opinion earlier that I said WDW is not a luxury destination to me but it is an expensive one so I wouldn't disagree about financials of a trip regardless of how one can make it cost less actual cash.

Quite frankly I'm not convinced that large swaths of people who fill the parks to the point where people say "it's crowded" are all actually enjoying their time there based on every time I go there's crying, screaming, fighting, meltdowns and more and that's just from the adults I kinda see and then most assuredly hear about the stress-filled days and the snapping and more. If you ask people on the DIS you'll still get those descriptions it's just you're on an internet forum created primarily for Disney folks

 

[Skippy918]

It’s not a cheap or frugal trip. I was starting to price out a trip and for 4 of us, just the park tickets for 4-5 days were a few thousand. I’ve taken cruises cheaper than that.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Can't speak to WDW but my son had a DEVIL of a time finding hotel rooms for an future Disneyland trip.

Anaheim is a bit different there. Not saying it's not getting people there in their parks but DL isn't really as self-contained at WDW. The selection of hotels is just there in an city/urban setting (outside of the several actually on property which creates less available bookings anyhow) which means people book across the street but also book a bit away from the parks or they book a hotel near the parks but don't go there and instead are going to other places.

When we went in 2019, granted we were there for business first and foremost, but we chose a hotel close enough. It was the Homewood Suites Anaheim Main Gate which is a couple miles south of DL and not close enough to walk (unless you want a 40+min walk) and we ubered there and back (it's about a 10-15min drive). We used that hotel for 1 day of apartment hunting and 3 days of DL/DCA.

You'd want to look at what other events are going on in that general area at the time of your son's intended visit, size of the radius in which he was looking, price range, etc. I can tell you one of the reasons my husband chose Homewood Suites was the free breakfast lol.

 

[tvguy]

Anaheim is a bit different there. Not saying it's not getting people there in their parks but DL isn't really as self-contained at WDW. The selection of hotels is just there in an city/urban setting (outside of the several actually on property which creates less available bookings anyhow) which means people book across the street but also book a bit away from the parks or they book a hotel near the parks but don't go there and instead are going to other places.

When we went in 2019, granted we were there for business first and foremost, but we chose a hotel close enough. It was the Homewood Suites Anaheim Main Gate which is a couple miles south of DL and not close enough to walk (unless you want a 40+min walk) and we ubered there and back (it's about a 10-15min drive). We used that hotel for 1 day of apartment hunting and 3 days of DL/DCA.

You'd want to look at what other events are going on in that general area at the time of your son's intended visit, size of the radius in which he was looking, price range, etc. I can tell you one of the reasons my husband chose Homewood Suites was the free breakfast lol.

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.

 

[texaslover]

I consider it a luxury. I actually consider most travel a luxury. I have to save up for it and forego other things I need/want to make it happen. I don't think Disney resorts are particularly luxurious compared to other hotels/resorts but they are priced the same so still a luxury for me. When I have to pay more than a month's salary for a trip it's a luxury for me!

 

[HopperFan]

It depends on what your requirements are for your trip, what do you consider luxury, how does the cost relate to your income ... but even when you do the basic expense/experience trip I consider Disney a "luxury vacation" that can be complicated to plan and execute. The tickets are the only thing out of your control as far as cost ~ but I do consider them to be a value if you do full park days.

Now when you look at those parameters ~ Disney is not a luxury vacation for me. Even though I live 7 hours away ... for many years we went 6x a year, something I acknowledge is a privilege. Currently I am down to 3-4 trips. But I have a Pixie AP (the lowest priced), I now stay Value Resort, Points or bargain hunt hotels, I am content with QS (often sharing or kids meals) but when I feel like TS I can book it unplanned, I take food to eat in room, we are not big snackers, I get LL some trips because I save in others areas, I shop at the Outlet Store, I drive .... I can do Disney World for 5 days spending only $500 (food & gas for 2) using my strategy's above. Not luxury to me. But I think Disney is a luxury most people will never get to enjoy.

 

[Chili327]

Are they really packed or just seem that way due to the amount of time that the new "Fastpass" has muddied up the works.

I’d say they’re pretty busy.
Multipass worked great for me last month, I rode everything i wanted to and never waited more than 15-20 max.

 

[Boopuff]

I've always wondered if AP holders add to the congestion of the parks. Yes some of the AP have "blackout" dates, but whenever a new attraction opens, AP holders boast over and over how they've ridden X "50 times" I think they're part of the problem. I have no idea how many AP are sold, but it sure seems like a lot. I'm sure many AP holders will jump on here and defend themselves, but when you read about a family that saves for a once in a lifetime trip, but can't ride X and in the next page a AP holder boasts multiple rides that's sad.

 

[Chili327]

Can't speak to WDW but my son had a DEVIL of a time finding hotel rooms for an future Disneyland trip.

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.

Yea if not a convention it could definitely be from the fires, we stayed in a hotel (80 miles away) for 6 weeks before we found a rental even further way.

 

[tvguy]

Yea if not a convention it could definitely be from the fires, we stayed in a hotel (80 miles away) for 6 weeks before we found a rental even further way.

Although I have had no issue booking a hotel 55 miles closer to the fires.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I grew up thinking it is totally a luxury for only the wealthy and still feel grateful our trips. My first vacation and time on a plane was to Disney when I was 23 and it was really a very fancy thing from my perspective. Most people I have ever known vacation by driving to visit family in other places. Every now and then when we were in HS we went to a hotel with a kitchen on the beach and played in the sand, that was indulgent to me and only very rich people traveled. Our honeymoon was over the top, to have a job with paid time off is very upper class so a whole week with pay is/was a big deal, to be able to afford a hotel is very expensive even the budget is fancy thing, to afford all meals at restaurants and tickets to entertainment every day for a week was unheard of and then to be able to afford to actually get on a plane to go to the place was what happened in movies in my world. I am very aware we live fortunate lives and am grateful every day.