Len Testa - “Disney positions itself as the all-American vacation. The irony is that most Americans can’t afford it.”

[UNCgolf]

I’m not really a theme-park person either; for me, it’s pretty much all about Disney. But even if you were to approach it almost as a museum, Disneyland is absolutely worth a visit. It really helps flesh out one’s understanding of the LA area.

Anyway, I don’t mean to pressure you; I just think, based on all the things you mentioned in your list of things you enjoy about LA, you would get quite a lot out of Disneyland.

Oh I do plan to visit; I'll probably get at least one day there whenever I'm in LA again.

 

[bmr1591]

I haven’t been to LA except as a stop on my way to Hawaii, but I really don’t have a ton of interest traveling across the country to see a pier or a science museum. If I’m going that far, I’m going to have a focus of what I’m going to do. That’s not to say the museum or pier isn’t top notch; I’m sure it is! But I can see things like that a lot closer to home.

 

[Touchdown]

I haven’t been to LA except as a stop on my way to Hawaii, but I really don’t have a ton of interest traveling across the country to see a pier or a science museum. If I’m going that far, I’m going to have a focus of what I’m going to do. That’s not to say the museum or pier isn’t top notch; I’m sure it is! But I can see things like that a lot closer to home.

You should see Hollywood and at least do one studio tour though. That’s pretty darn unique to LA and a pretty big part of American culture.

 

[LittleBuford]

I’m not sure what this has to do with the affordability of Disney

To be fair, you could have directed this criticism at the poster who brought up the whole looting thing in the first place. All of the posts responding to that (including yours and mine) have been off-topic.

 

[Trauma]

So based on the real median household income in the US according to Google, the average of what a household could reasonably spend on a vacation is around $4,100.

So the average family can afford a Disney vacation if they save for multiple years or are very thrifty and effective with their budget.

 

[HauntedPirate]

So based on the real median household income in the US according to Google, the average of what a household could reasonably spend on a vacation is around $4,100.

So the average family can afford a Disney vacation if they save for multiple years or are very thrifty and effective with their budget.

Do we need to stream Josh to your home TV to tell you how affordable a MAGICAL!!! WDW vacation is? And you’re going to probably attract several around here who will price out a cheap vacation (likely 4 nights at All Star Music) to try to prove you wrong.

 

[Trauma]

Do we need to stream Josh to your home TV to tell you how affordable a MAGICAL!!! WDW vacation is? And you’re going to probably attract several around here who will price out a cheap vacation (likely 4 nights at All Star Music) to try to prove you wrong.

Please no.

It’s enough to turn on your resort TV, and be forced to listen to his fake cooperate gibberish, until you figure out how to change the channel.

 

[Trauma]

I wonder how many people fly to Disney now that will be driving in the future. If their costs are say $60 to drive instead of plane tickets.

Knowing Disney they will just triple the cost of parking.

 

[monothingie]

Disney World sure was empty today.

 

[Stripes]

They can create an illusion of lower costs by lowering room rates while simultaneously raising the cost of LL.

Disney World sure was empty today.

Sounds like there’s not much need for Lightning Lane. Enjoy the lower room rates and the empty parks everyone!

 

[monothingie]

Sounds like there’s not much need for Lightning Lane. Enjoy the lower room rates and the empty parks everyone!

 

[Stripes]

I wouldn't worry. Sometimes understanding comes later. Sometimes much later.

You just need some time

 

[Chi84]

Sounds like there’s not much need for Lightning Lane. Enjoy the lower room rates and the empty parks everyone!

Sounds like Disney is making quite a few corrections. Even the absurdly priced New Year’s Eve cocktail party is now a dinner with two seatings and more sensible prices.

 

[dmc493]

Sounds like Disney is making quite a few corrections. Even the absurdly priced New Year’s Eve cocktail party is now a dinner with two seatings and more sensible prices.

Are there any other examples of actual course correction on offerings? Maybe not lower prices, but more for your dollar?

 

[Miss Bella]

So based on the real median household income in the US according to Google, the average of what a household could reasonably spend on a vacation is around $4,100.

So the average family can afford a Disney vacation if they save for multiple years or are very thrifty and effective with their budget.

I can't imagine spending multiple years saving to go to Disney. It's just not worth it.

 

[Trauma]

I can't imagine spending multiple years saving to go to Disney. It's just not worth it.

How many patents on sold on the idea that it is a must do activity for their child ?

Maybe they save multiple years.

 

[Chi84]

I can't imagine spending multiple years saving to go to Disney. It's just not worth it.

I wouldn’t do that either. I think Disney is chasing away young families with these ever-increasing prices.

The only reason my kids and grandkids go so often is because we pay for them. They would allocate their resources elsewhere.

 

[Miss Bella]

I wouldn’t do that either. I think Disney is chasing away young families with these ever-increasing prices.

The only reason my kids and grandkids go so often is because we pay for them. They would allocate their resources elsewhere.

When your generation is gone what's Disney going to do? It's kind of odd your generation spends all this money sending your adult kids to Disney. Shouldn't they pay for that themselves?

 

[LittleBuford]

When your generation is gone what's Disney going to do? It's kind of odd your generation spends all this money sending your adult kids to Disney. Shouldn't they pay for that themselves?

I'm in my 40s and my parents still enjoy treating me. I'm not a parent myself, but I love treating my niece and nephew. It seems a perfectly normal (and nice!) family dynamic to me.

ETA:

You seem to have misunderstood me. I wrote, "I'm in my 40s and my parents still enjoy treating me", which you decided to read as, "I'm in my 40s and my parents still enjoy treating me [to trips to Disney]." To be clear, that isn't what I stated or meant. I was talking in a more general sense about the custom of parents treating their children—family dinners, family days out, family trips, etc. Since my parents don't go to Disney, their generosity does not extend to my visits there, and nor would I expect it to. But yes, when we're all together as a family, including on holiday in places other than Disney, they enjoy spending their money on their kids and grandkids. I don't think they're unusual in that.

 

[Miss Bella]

How many patents on sold on the idea that it is a must do activity for their child ?

Maybe they save multiple years.

Every family should take a vacation every year. It should be a vacation that can be saved up for within a reasonable time frame. So many things can wrong on a vacation. I would not put more than 10 months of energy, planning or savings into any vacation. If what you can afford is camping then go camping.