Just came back from 9 days at Fort Wilderness. The prices at WDW are just out of control. I make 6 figure money but I just have to stand in awe to the prices they charge for food and drinks. I have no idea how a middle class family of 4 could afford even ONE trip here in a lifetime.
I go twice a year and make less money than you and I don't have a dime of debt besides my mortgage. So it's very doable.
A round of drinks for 4 adults is $50!
1. That's an exaggeration. Many "signature drinks" can be had for $9, so $36 for 4 adults. You exaggerated by 39%. A Bud Light is $6 for a pint at many locations, meaning $24 for four adults. In that case, you can buy two rounds for the price of one. Sure, it
can be that expensive if you get the most expensive drink, but don't make it sound like the only way to get four drinks is to spend $50. Any drink that's averaging $12.50 per person is more than one "standard drink."
2. You can have an amazing time at WDW without spending a penny on alcohol.
3. Why are you buying rounds for everyone in your party? You're judging the price of your trip based on the cost of four adults, but most groups of four adults have more than one person funding the trip. Of course your hypothetical trip of four adults, all drinking alcohol, is more expensive than two parents and two kids when the four adults are spending crazy money on alcohol.
4. Have you ever been to Fenway Park, a movie theater, a bar in New York, or a resort in Vail? Next time you're at one of those places or somewhere similar and you get a round of four signature drinks for significantly less than $36, I'd love to see your receipt.
Even with cooking breakfast each morning, its easy to spend a couple hundred a DAY on food and drinks for your family.
Um, yeah? That's how vacation works and it's in no way unique to Walt Disney World. You could spend $100 on a single meal for a family of four at a freaking Chili's in your hometown. Multiply that by two or three meals per day and voila.
Add in a couple of souvenirs and I spent over $2,000 in 9 days out of pocket for a family of 3.
That sounds about right. Also, I love that you're blaming Disney for your lack of self control as if they FORCED you to buy souvenirs.
That does NOT include any signature restaurants nor did I eat table service each night. Then add in that I got a "bargain" by staying at FtW and only spending $3,000 for tickets and campsite
Again with the exaggerations. If you just got back, it was "regular season" at Fort Wilderness. A campsite with full hookups would have run you about $1,000 for the nine nights. Add in $1,375 at most for tickets and $125 for taxes you're at a total of $2,500. Certainly not chump change, but another 25% exaggeration. All of that assumes zero discounting.
DHS is a shell of a park. Its embarrassing what is available for rides and entertainment now.
On this, we agree. At least it's temporary.
AK is still a daytime park. After 5PM, the animals want to eat and lay down.
They're not the same animals. There are daytime animals and nighttime animals. Nice try though.
They are trying way to hard to keep this park open to 11pm.
They're not "trying hard" to do anything. It gets dark at a certain time in Florida in July and they have a nighttime show that can only be shown in the dark. If you have a problem on this one, it's with the tilt of the Earth's axis in relation to the sun. Not sure Mr. Iger can help you with that one. It's no secret that Avatar is on deck and will fill out the park experience, but it's asinine to complain that they extended the park hours before Avatar's opening. Nobody is forcing you to stay the whole night if you're ready to go at 5:00, but it's still a plus to have the option.
Other than the river light thingy, what's to do there there you couldn't easily get done during the day?
Are you honestly complaining that Disney added a new experience? Other than *INSERT NIGHT SHOW HERE*, what's there to do at Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Islands of Adventure, Six Flags Great Escape, Dollywood, or Sea World that you couldn't easily get done during the day?
See, most of us don't go to theme parks with the mentality of "git 'r done!" Yes, you can check the boxes off of a to-do list at Animal Kingdom in the daytime alone, but if you take your time and
experience the park, you can easily fill a full day or two and be very satisfied at the end of it.
EPCOT? It's been reduced to a mall around a lake with 2 or 3 rides. Other than eating and drinking your way around the world at $100/person, it needs serious additions of things to do.
You lose all credibility when you say ignorant things like "Epcot," (not "EPCOT," it's never been "EPCOT,") "is a mall around a lake with 2 or 3 rides." You have a legitimate point that Future World in particular needs additions but your point is lost in your ridiculous hyperbole.
MK is still going strong and boy was it nice to not be over run by Brazilians!! Still plenty of them, but nothing like past years.
Check your xenophobia, bro.
I have about 50 trips to WDW over teh last 20 years, but this is it until at least Pandora opens AND Star Wars opens. But I'm sure by then a 7 day ticket will be $500. The whole place is becoming a boutique resort given the guaranteed ticket price increases, focus on $1000/night bungalows, Disney Springs, and way overpriced food.
What happened? I use to love this place.
Perfect. I'll enjoy myself without your terrible attitude soiling the atmosphere.