Is Disney Expensive?

[Lewanc]

I don't want to get into any crazy arguments and chaos or anything, but our family took a vacation last weekend and it occurred to me to compare the cost of this vacation we took to a Disney vacation. Why? Well...we went to NYC for a couple nights and saw a couple shows on Broadway. Those who have followed my trip reports or been in discussions with me know that I do tend to enjoy a little Pixie Dust, but also come at things as a realist (25 years in public education will make you nothing if not a realist...). These costs are for our party of 3 - considered adults in Disney terms and in NYC it makes no difference! So, here's a little comparison from our perspective.

Travel (round trip)
WDW - 26 hours in the car, no tolls, about 4 full tanks of gas (thank you hybrid), and 4 fast food meals - $180
NYC - 8 hours in the car, lots of tolls, just over a full tank of gas, and some snacks - $110

Hotel (comparing like quality and Easter weekend)
WDW - in the middle of the action, but cheap - All-Star resorts for 2 nights - $410
NYC - Times Square area, cheap but not nasty! - for 2 nights $600

Parking
WDW - at an All-Star for 2 nights - $40
NYC - 2 nights in a garage (discounted by hotel, no in-out privileges) - $80

Entertainment
WDW - For comparison sake, we'll go with 3-day Park Hoppers (about 36 hours of entertainment)- $1160
NYC - 2 Broadway shows, 2 museum entrances (about 14 hours of entertainment) - $750

Food
WDW - 2 tables services, 5 quick services (we do tend to share meals at times) with adult beverages at times - $500
NYC - 2 decent dinners, 2 breakfasts at hotel, 3 lunches on the go, with adult beverages at dinners - $450

Totals
WDW - $2290 - with lots more car travel time, but lots more total entertainment
NYC - $1990 - lots less car travel time, but lots less total entertainment

Hmmm....either Disney isn't quite as outrageously expensive as I often think or NYC is beyond outrageous.

In terms of quality of experience, I'd have to side with Disney. Even on the worst days of quality of show at WDW, it's far worse walking down Broadway than any area of a Disney park. While the shows on Broadway are amazing for 3 hours at a time, the rest of the 3 days/2 nights isn't quite so quality. Yes, the Disney bubble ain't what it used to be, but it's still vastly superior to NYC for sure!

In terms of our family time - well, Disney again will win the argument. We tend to enjoy family time in the car for discussions and sing-alongs and maybe a movie or something. The shorter NYC drive is certainly less tense, the traffic issues on I95 from Baltimore to NYC are at least comparable to I4 if not a little worse. Once there - at WDW it is pure family-time and we are more than comfortable enough to do just about anything. In NYC, there's certainly a bit of looking over the shoulder at most times and there is no way we are letting our daughter of on her own to do things she is interested in!!!

It's funny because I've always thought of visits to WDW as crazy expensive, but something we enjoyed as a family and would continue to enjoy. After this past weekend...maybe they aren't quite so expensive and beyond just enjoying WDW, despite some decline, it is a quality experience that is above just about anywhere else.

In my opinion, a Disney vacation is expensive, but one gets what he or she pays for. Prices have risen considerably since it's opening in 1972, but hey I'm there for the long run. I actually remember when a tree house could be rented for $75.00 a night, which was expensive at the time. It's amazing to see how WDW has grown, added and taken away attractions. My family quite often visit WDW, and don't even set foot in a park. There are so many other things to do and experience. The dining on property at the Deluxe Hotels, is great. One can order anything (almost) that you want, and now Club 33 will be opening. I am a little disappointed that the parks are so crowded these days, but if you have a plan, you can still get to enjoy the rides of your choice. When my son was growing up, no matter where we vacationed, we had to do WDW at least once a year. My son is now grown with a daughter, and he is introducing her to Disney and she loves the Disney experience. I suppose, Disney will always be a part of my family history, regardless of how much the prices rise.

 

[JillC LI]

now generally I don't compare vacations because imo they are all different. I have as good a time in NYC as I do in Disney world. I'm impress you only spent 750 on theater tickets, lol I've been trying to go see Hamilton for a while, waiting for the prices to drop below $500 a ticket.

I am biased to NYC because it's my home town

And I am biased the other way for the same reason! I live in a suburb of NYC and I hate going into the city with the exception of attending a concert or Broadway show! LOL Give me Disney any day of the week!

 

[ELG13]

Which beach do you vacation at? NSB?

Pensacola Beach

 

[Goofyernmost]

I've compared a beach vacation where I like (15minutes away) to a Disney vacation and Disney is still cheaper when we compare everything like you did. The lodging alone on the beach is triple during the same time we go to Disney. Our beachs rival tropical locations and has won top beach recently, but it's not the same as far as what you get. I love the beach, but it's just that. I can come and go when I want but filling the same amount of time at the beach vs Disney? The kids are bored halfway through the first day. Everything is expensive now. I think Disney seems more expensive bc we are well aware of the cost before we go. Other vacations you may have your hotel booked and that's it. The rest is pay as you go...so what started out as a $800 price tag, ended up being $2200 when you added food, souvenirs, and any fun outings you did. With disney you can have it all paid for, including food, before you go so you see that $2000 and think "that's expensive for 3 nights". But then you only buy a few souvenirs and the rest is done.

Then, of course, later on in life when you are paying for those skin cancer treatments hours on the beach starts to get really expensive and no doubt about it... a whole lot less fun. Oh, and those procedures to iron the wrinkles out of your leather looking skin and finding a missing beach umbrella embedded in one of the creases. That ain't cheap either!

 

[Goofyernmost]

But wouldn't you get the same amount of sun exposure on your face walking around Disney for 12 hours?

I don't see how. Also it isn't just your face getting gamma'd at the beach. The rest of your body can get skin cancer too! You lay out on a beach like an egg in a frying pan, front and back. Try standing that egg on edge and see if the cook time is a lot slower or not.

Spoiler

Yes, I know it would be impossible to stand a raw egg on it's side, but, you get the picture, I'm sure! You are also not half naked in WDW, I assume!

 

[ELG13]

But wouldn't you get the same amount of sun exposure on your face walking around Disney for 12 hours?

We get way more sun from a few hrs at the beach vs a week at Disney. So I consider that another win for Disney