threvester
Well-Known Member
yes
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Is Disney Expensive?
- Thread starter brifraz
- Start date
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
I've vacationed in NY and visited all the hot tourist spots, had tickets for hit Broadway shows, eaten at top restaurants, been thouroughly entertained and had a wonderful time. BUUUUT I've never had anything on a NY trip that brings feelings of happiness, joy, relaxation, or had a staff member present me with anything magical that added to the moment of entertainment. The only possible part that I might concede was better for the money was a few meal experiences we received that far exceeded Disney.
Disney may cost more but it is far worth more in terms of what we get in return. I'll still book a Disney trip over something else.
Disney may cost more but it is far worth more in terms of what we get in return. I'll still book a Disney trip over something else.
BoarderPhreak
Well-Known Member
LOL... Does a bear in the woods? 
WondersOfLife
Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
It would make more sense to compare Disney World to other theme parks. Including Disney's other locations. Comparing Disney World to New York City is like comparing Frankie's Fun Park to going out to see a movie. If someone is wanting to go to a theme park, they're going to go to a theme park. Not New York City.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
I think the main point the OP was making is that so many people say they won't go to WDW because it is too expensive. In reality, many places that people go on vacation are just as (or more) expensive then WDW. Especially when you compare the entertainment value of it. I bet many families spend just as much money on what ever vacation they take as they would going to WDW. We are flying out to Denver this fall for a family wedding and between the rental car/hotel/food/etc, it is going to cost us a couple grand.
Yes it is a lot of fun
But you are not looking at that correctly. The 1.5 to 2 hours eating are in themed locations with great atmosphere, which I would consider part of the entertainment, the 1 hour waiting for a headliner attraction, not sure what you mean here, and 3 hours waiting for rides, that almost all have ques and interactions to keep you busy while you are waiting, so if you are not consumed by phones, then there is a lot going on
Bob Harlem
Well-Known Member
Both NYC and WDW are expensive, what's the better value though?
Minthorne
Well-Known Member
ELG13
Well-Known Member
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.
Yert3
Well-Known Member
Disney IMO has never been expensive. From experience with other vacations it’s actually been about the same if not less money. I also judge expense on what you get. Think of how much money goes into running a place like WDW. You have places in Orlando that are $50 for a ticket like the fun spot. Half the price of a MK ticket but less than a quarter of the quality. It’s comparible to a county fair. Thankfully, being a local now means my only Disney expense is my annual pass. No more traveling. 
tribbleorlfl
Well-Known Member
Sure it's expensive and value has decreased substantially in recent years, but I still think Disney still compares favorably against other forms of entertainment.
An One Day Peak MK ticket is $129; they are open 16 hours tomorrow, yielding a per hour cost just over $8.
An One Day One Park peak Universal Orlando ticket is $124; they are open 13 hours tommorow, yielding $9.50 hour (more than Disney!)
Average movie tickets are about $9; with the average movie clocking in at 2 hours, that's $4.50/hr.
Average NFL ticket was $172 last season, average game length of 3 hours yields $57.
Average weekend golf green fee is $36; at 4 hours, that comes out to $9/hr.
The average runner in the Boston Marathon is shelling out around $45/hr for the "fun."
San Diego Zoo comes out to $5.40/hr based on their hours tomorrow.
Your average Broadway show is over $100 now and being generous at 2 he's in length with intermission yields $50/hr.
Obviously a number of things can influence these comparisons, it doesn't factor travel or food costs, nor does it consider opportunity costs of waiting in line, but you get the picture.
An One Day Peak MK ticket is $129; they are open 16 hours tomorrow, yielding a per hour cost just over $8.
An One Day One Park peak Universal Orlando ticket is $124; they are open 13 hours tommorow, yielding $9.50 hour (more than Disney!)
Average movie tickets are about $9; with the average movie clocking in at 2 hours, that's $4.50/hr.
Average NFL ticket was $172 last season, average game length of 3 hours yields $57.
Average weekend golf green fee is $36; at 4 hours, that comes out to $9/hr.
The average runner in the Boston Marathon is shelling out around $45/hr for the "fun."
San Diego Zoo comes out to $5.40/hr based on their hours tomorrow.
Your average Broadway show is over $100 now and being generous at 2 he's in length with intermission yields $50/hr.
Obviously a number of things can influence these comparisons, it doesn't factor travel or food costs, nor does it consider opportunity costs of waiting in line, but you get the picture.
WondersOfLife
Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Different reasons make people go to different places, though. Because again, Disney World should be compared to the cost of other theme parks, to make it fair. Disney World and New York City aren't exactly the same thing. I see where ya'll are going with this, but it's irrelevant in my opinion. A vacation to a theme park is not the same as a vacation to a city. Certainly you can definitely choose and compare between the two, but it's not technically a fair estimate in my opinion.
The question is "Is Disney expensive?"
Compared to literally every other theme park in operation? Yes.
I would compare NYC to maybe West End or Chicago. THOSE are similar experiences in that realm. If you're wanting to go see professional shows, these are where you'd go.
Kristoff
Member
If you consider a restaurant entertainment, then you need to examine the cost versus what else you could do with it. Let's take Crystal Palace for a party of 2 adults as an example which takes an hour. The total cost of the experience is $90 at Disney or $30 at a Golden Corral or Old Country Buffet outside Disney, so let's assume you are paying $60 for the entertainment portion of Crystal Palace. You then need to compare activities you could do with that $60 outside of Disney. Two people could easily go see a movie (with snacks) and go for a few drinks afterwards and have 3x more entertainment time for the same cost as Disney. Strictly from a cost perspective, if they chose to just save that money than there is a net loss on entertainment hours but a net gain on price which ultimately even out and bring you to the same conclusion, that Disney entertainment is more expensive than entertainment outside of Disney. Now if you wanted to have an argument on value, that's a completely different topic that is extremely subjective.
In terms of my headliner wait time comment, let's take a look at Epcot. Currently the three big attractions have the following wait times:
- Frozen Ever After - 60 minute wait
- Test Track - 125 minute wait
- Soarin - 80 minute wait
Finally let's address queues. Let's take a ride with a ton of interactive queues (Haunted Mansion). Currently the wait is 50 minutes. Can you breakdown for me how the queue provides say 20 minutes worth of entertainment for you (excluding the pre-show where you get into the stretching room)?
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
I understand what you are saying and if the issue was "is wdw expensive for a theme park vacation", then yes you would be right. But what I think most of us are talking about is how we always hear from people that they would go to wdw but they can't afford it, it's too expensive . In reality, a lot of people spend just as much if not more going in vacation to other destinations. Especially if you break down the amount of entertainment you get for your money. I think it is a mental thing. People are willing to spend more money on certain things and not others. I hear "Disney is too expensive" mostly from those who have never been. I don't think they comprehend the size and the amount of things to do there and mentally compare it other theme parks, so they don't see the value in it. All they see are the dollar signs.
Dutch Inn '76
Well-Known Member
This just in: vacation is expensive. I would categorize NYC and WDW together at "above average."
You wanna talk about smokin' hundred dollar bills expensive?? Check out the price tag for our trip to Hawaii this summer!
You wanna talk about smokin' hundred dollar bills expensive?? Check out the price tag for our trip to Hawaii this summer!
It'd only be about $30/hr for me... if I was insane enough to want to run/walk/crawl 26.2 miles...
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I'd do that, but, I suspect that somewhere between the starting line and .2 miles cardiac arrest would happen. So they had better charge up front.
