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

[Miss Bella]

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.

Do you reciprocate by treating your parents to vacations?

 

[Chi84]

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?

We have more money than they do. I’d rather watch them enjoy it now than have them inherit it when we’ll be gone and they won’t need it as much.

 

[Chi84]

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.

People will do what’s right for them. It may not be what you think they should do.

 

[Miss Bella]

People will do what’s right for them. It may not be what you think they should do.

You don't say? Are we not giving opinions..or did I miss something. I personally think my advice is pretty sound, but nothing stopping anyone from saving up 4 years for the next WDW trip.

 

[LittleBuford]

Do you reciprocate by treating your parents to vacations?

I pass on the generational generosity to my niece and nephew, as I already noted. And yes, I do treat my parents, though they would never let me spend as much on them as they do on me.

 

[Miss Bella]

We have more money than they do. I’d rather watch them enjoy it now than have them inherit it when we’ll be gone and they won’t need it as much.

There's really know way of knowing wether they will need it or not.

 

[Trauma]

There's really know way of knowing wether they will need it or not.

Everyone handles these things differently. I won’t even allow my Mom to buy me lunch unless it’s my birthday or something.

She has done her job.

I have taken her to Disney several times as well as other vacation destinations.

I’ve never really thought about when I will stop paying for my Daughter to come with to Disney. I guess since she is always invited so l never will.

 

[Miss Bella]

I pass on the generational generosity to my niece and nephew, as I already noted. And yes, I do treat my parents, though they would never let me spend as much on them as they do on me.

I think this explains how the boomers are keeping WDW profitable.

 

[LittleBuford]

I think this explains how the boomers are keeping WDW profitable.

My parents have nothing to do with my Disney spending.

Nor is it just "the boomers" who are keeping WDW profitable. Despite all the reports of "empty" parks, lacklustre rides, and terrible maintenance, it remains a very popular and successful holiday destination—so successful, in fact, that even those who rail against it continue to visit with puzzling regularity!

 

[Miss Bella]

My parents have nothing to do with my Disney spending.

Nor is it just "the boomers" who are keeping WDW profitable. Despite all the reports of "empty" parks, lacklustre rides, and terrible maintenance, it remains a very popular and successful holiday destination—so successful, in fact, that even those who rail against it continue to visit with puzzling regularity!

Speak for yourself.

 

[LittleBuford]

Speak for yourself.

I did.

You're the one telling others how and on what they should be spending their savings.

 

[Miss Bella]

Everyone handles these things differently. I won’t even allow my Mom to buy me lunch unless it’s my birthday or something.

She has done her job.

I have taken her to Disney several times as well as other vacation destinations.

I’ve never really thought about when I will stop paying for my Daughter to come with to Disney. I guess since she is always invited so l never will.

My parents use to rent vacation houses and everyone was invited. They never went out of their way to pay for a vacation that didn't involve them. Disney.... oh geez never in a million years.

 

[Chi84]

There's really know way of knowing wether they will need it or not.

Of course not. But they aren’t entitled to it so we spend our money as we see fit. If that’s on Disney vacations then so be it.

We’re looking forward to all 10 of us going in May 2027. We had a great time in November 2024!

Disney has always been the perfect vacation choice for us.

 

[Miss Bella]

Of course not. But they aren’t entitled to it so we spend our money as we see fit. If that’s on Disney vacations then so be it.

We’re looking forward to all 10 of us going in May 2027. We had a great time in November 2024!

Disney has always been the perfect vacation choice for us.

I guess you are Disney's bread and butter. I can't begin to relate to that, but it shows how successful Disney is.

 

[LittleBuford]

Not kidding.

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.

 

[The Mom]

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.

My family never took a vacation - we were poor. I survived.

 

[monothingie]

My family never took a vacation - we were poor. I survived.

My vacations were cutting lawns to earn my keep in the summer. (Back when it wasn't child abuse for an 8 year old to operate a lawn mower - and not the one with the fancy safety features)

 

[Miss Bella]

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.

We were discussing Disney trips not eating out.

 

[Miss Bella]

My family never took a vacation - we were poor. I survived.

That was kind of my point.

 

[Miss Bella]

My parents have nothing to do with my Disney spending.

Nor is it just "the boomers" who are keeping WDW profitable. Despite all the reports of "empty" parks, lacklustre rides, and terrible maintenance, it remains a very popular and successful holiday destination—so successful, in fact, that even those who rail against it continue to visit with puzzling regularity!

This Disney forum and every other Disney forum I click on the majority of the posters are over the age of 40. I would even guess over 50 or 60. The ones on this forum railing against it as you say how old are the? Will the younger generations have this kind loyalty to Disney? Will they able to afford it and will they think it's worth it?