5 Smarter Things to Buy Than A Disney Trip

tweak89

tweak89

New Member
Chef Mickey said:
It's not about seeing the world versus Disney. This woman is essentially telling people to invest or go to a national park versus go to Disney. Our point here is that while there are some trips cheaper than Disney, MANY including your "see the world" example are not. We're also making fun of her alternatives like investing and going on a resume builder trip. Furthermore, there is only one place to get your Disney fix, and that's at Disney.

A week in Las Vegas? That is entirely too long. Vegas absolutely sucks for kids and most adults have grown out of that "experience" by about 25. Sure, you could argue that about Disney, but Vegas is just a drunken, dirty armpit after 2 days.

Motorcycle trip? Again, if I don't ride, that's not an alternative. Doesn't really work with kids either.

RV'ing isn't for everyone. I'll just leave it at that.

Again, I would never advocate giving up other incredible trips to only visit Disney, but the author's argument for alternatives is both weak and far-fetched. Your examples don't really serve either.
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Judge people much?

I'm 45 and love going to Las Vegas. I also love going to Disney. Tell the average person that and they would think you would have "outgrown" Disney a long time ago.

My trips have no bearing on what you like, I mentioned them as alternatives that WE have taken instead of the usual Disney trip we were taking every year. Guess what, WE found them as much as or more meaningful than some of our Disney trips, and fact is, they cost less.

Take your family wherever YOU think the value and memories are, I won't judge You for where you go. :)
 
Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
tweak89 said:
Judge people much?

I'm 45 and love going to Las Vegas. I also love going to Disney. Tell the average person that and they would think you would have "outgrown" Disney a long time ago.

My trips have no bearing on what you like, I mentioned them as alternatives that WE have taken instead of the usual Disney trip we were taking every year. Guess what, WE found them as much as or more meaningful than some of our Disney trips, and fact is, they cost less.

Take your family wherever YOU think the value and memories are, I won't judge You for where you go. :)
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Again, not judging you...

I'm simply stating that passing off ridiculous alternatives to Disney as if they are fact is just poor journalism. It's not smart to compare investing or going to a national park to Disney, especially when she doesn't get her facts right.

You can compare anything you want to Disney, but they aren't "Smarter" as she says.
 
JillC LI

JillC LI

Well-Known Member
Chef Mickey said:
I'll summarize:

Instead of paying for Disney you can:
  1. Spend those four days in a national park
  2. Invest in a 529 plan
  3. Pay for a resume-boosting experience (Seriously?)
  4. Add more to your 401(k)
  5. A Caribbean or Mexico vacation
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tweak89 said:
I'm not offended in the least by the article. The numbers may be off, but there is so much else in the world to see that will cost less than any given stay at Disney Resorts. I love going to Disney Parks (have visited DLR, WDW and DLP) but also see the value of seeing the world and usually spending less (which if you do at least as much homework as is required by the usual Disney Trip bargains can be had).
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I agree that there is much else to do in the world besides Disney. And I actually support items 1-5 (well, the Caribbean, not Mexico), but I do them in addition to Disney trips, not instead of. I just balance what I can do when, so I invest wisely and I play/travel in a varied way too. And to the poster who said National Parks are not for kids, our family adores Disney, but if you were to ask my kids what their favorite family vacation was, they would both tell you visiting Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona when they were 12 and 14.
 
Chef Mickey

Chef Mickey

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
JillC LI said:
I agree that there is much else to do in the world besides Disney. And I actually support items 1-5 (well, the Caribbean, not Mexico), but I do them in addition to Disney trips, not instead of. I just balance what I can do when, so I invest wisely and I play/travel in a varied way too. And to the poster who said National Parks are not for kids, our family adores Disney, but if you were to ask my kids what their favorite family vacation was, they would both tell you visiting Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef National Parks in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona when they were 12 and 14.
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Me too and I'm sure you know the Caribbean is more expensive than Disney.
 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
I think the core issue is that the author conflates fiscal responsability with percieved value. The former is a function of math, pure and simple. The latter is an individual opinion.

I wouldnt fault anyone who chose NOT to go to Disney, cheaper or not, if it's how they choose to spend their vacation dollar.

Likewise, I have reasons, both sentimental and personal, why I choose to go, and that should be respected.
 
ShookieJones

ShookieJones

We need time for things to happen.
Every time my wife starts lamenting about the money we've spent at WDW over the years we go through this scenario -

I always say: How much money would it take to have someone erase the memories of just one of those trips from your mind?

She always answers : There's not enough money in the world.

I always answer: Then it looks like that last trip was one he!! of a bargain.
 
Victor Kelly

Victor Kelly

Well-Known Member
I can't take it with me. I plan on arriving to St. Peter old, broke, worn out, exhausted with a big smile on my face saying it was one hell of a ride, lets do it again.

After having been almost killed several times in life, I no longer what to look back and say, gee I wish I had done that. or that or that. Live for the moment, because you don't know if the next moment is your last.
 
Pacha

Pacha

Active Member
I think the author is trying to say that Disney can be expensive, and then offers some less expensive "alternatives" when there are no alternatives. That's my beef with the article. Disney Parks are unique and special places, just as Las Vegas (for example) is a unique and special place. Las Vegas is not a cheaper Disney, just as Disney isn't a more expensive Las Vegas. Apples and oranges.
 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Pacha said:
I think the author is trying to say that Disney can be expensive, and then offers some less expensive "alternatives" when there are no alternatives. That's my beef with the article. Disney Parks are unique and special places, just as Las Vegas (for example) is a unique and special place. Las Vegas is not a cheaper Disney, just as Disney isn't a more expensive Las Vegas. Apples and oranges.
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Well, only one of her "options" involves a family vacation. The rest of it is very blase and standard financial "advice" which can be found a dime a dozen on blogs and short newspaper/magazine articles.

My personal favorite though is the concept that you should forgo a family experience in order to send your child on a vacation solo...er, Im sorry, a "resume building experience". ;)
 
L

lorreejean

Member
Visiting a national park can be much more expensive than Disney. It was for us in 2007. We did a 7 day raft trip through the Grand Canyon. Eight years ago that was 1700 per person, and that was the cheap (first trip of the year) trip, when it can be quite cold. That does include your food etc. during the trip. It does not include getting there, lodging for the night before you leave or the night after you return, meals for said nights, and equipment you purchase to make the trip more bearable, as the only way out once you start is a very expensive helicopter ride. All things considered it cost us about $7000 for that one week trip everything included. Definitely not cheap. Now was it worth it? Of course. We were able to see sights that very few people a year get to see. And I would do it again. But it is not cheaper than Disney.
 
George

George

Liker of Things
Premium Member
1) Setting up your own crystal meth lab (great profit margin!)
2) Building a time machine and stealing the idea for Starbucks from Mr. and Mrs. Starbucks themselves (profit margin that makes even a purveyor if illicit drugs blush!).
3) If you have electric heat, setting fire to wads of cash would be a more efficient way to heat your home.
4) Buying a ton of gold and then irradiate all the gold in Fort Knox, making your gold worth a fortune!
5) Take a lonely, socially awkward CM out to meals with your family, befriending them. Then, use that friendship for free park admission. Note: You want to make sure the person isn't a sociopath first. I would ask them, "Hey, lonely weirdo who I am befriending for totally altruistic reasons, are you a sociopath?"
 
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BuddyThomas

BuddyThomas

Well-Known Member
Chef Mickey said:
It's not about seeing the world versus Disney. This woman is essentially telling people to invest or go to a national park versus go to Disney. Our point here is that while there are some trips cheaper than Disney, MANY including your "see the world" example are not. We're also making fun of her alternatives like investing and going on a resume builder trip. Furthermore, there is only one place to get your Disney fix, and that's at Disney.

A week in Las Vegas? That is entirely too long. Vegas absolutely sucks for kids and most adults have grown out of that "experience" by about 25. Sure, you could argue that about Disney, but Vegas is just a drunken, dirty armpit after 2 days.

Motorcycle trip? Again, if I don't ride, that's not an alternative. Doesn't really work with kids either.

RV'ing isn't for everyone. I'll just leave it at that.

Again, I would never advocate giving up other incredible trips to only visit Disney, but the author's argument for alternatives is both weak and far-fetched. Your examples don't really serve either.
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He was obviously not telling you what YOU could do instead of a Disney trip. It's pretty clear he was speaking about what HE could do.
 
MinnieM123

MinnieM123

Premium Member
englanddg said:
This is why I take my kid to Disney.



To see her grow up.

To see her face her fears (with new rides and new experiences).

And yes, it was worth every dime. Screw this lady and her "financial advice"...
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That was a delightful video of you and your daughter dancing through WDW! :)
 

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