Is Disney Expensive?

[21stamps]

Agreed, We visited Universal a while back and I was shocked that I had to "buy" fastpasses. I'm sure there are other examples but that comes quickly to mind

My family typically takes less "organzied" vacations, instead we go to New Hampshire and do things in the mountains, whether its hiking, swimming or zip-lining. The amount of money I spend on a that sort of vacation is on an order of magnatude cheaper then spending a week at disney. Yet my kids still have a memorable, extremely fun vacation.

I remember two years ago during a camping trip with my son.. he looked at me one of the evenings..after a day of activities such as- swimming in a lake, hiking, fishing, and throwing a frisbee, smiled and said “Mommy, this is the best day ever.”

One day at Hollywood Studios, he also exclaimed “This is the best day ever”.

Memories definitely aren’t measured in how much was spent on that day.

 

[ryguy]

Simply comparing it to other upper middle class vacation spots I don't think its outrageous. I mean, I know it can be cheaper than Lake Tahoe or vail. This being said I feel like this is a fluid conversation and is changing as we speak. Two years from now I think going to Disney will be much more expensive, that seems to be their plan.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney is still an incredible value. Cheap, actually.

Disney is a top destination in the world, really. The amount of entertainment you get (practically non stop) is truly enormous.

Start comparing Disney to other top destinations in the world and include entertainment and see how much you spend.

They’ve doubled their prices in about a decade.


Remember, pour the packet in first, two cups of sugar and THEN the water.

There’s little “value” in 90 minute waits for Peter Pan and 210 for space mountain. It’s frankly not what you think it is.

 

[DarthVader]

There’s little “value” in 90 minute waits for Peter Pan and 210 for space mountain. It’s frankly not what you think it is.

That's the rub, we're spending several thousands of dollars to wait in line in the FLA heat. I still have enjoy the vacations, but the high volume of crowds, coupled by the expensive cost makes it harder.

 

[Lets Respect]

I focus on the ticket prices personally.

Everything else can be adjusted according to your needs. You can stay offsite, and heck, you can even cook all of your meals and spend no more than you would at home. Orlando is actually wonderful in terms of the range of offsite accommodations. I can't think of any other major destination that has so many options at all different price points.

Anyway, back to tickets. Tickets are super expensive now in my mind. It's now about $1700 for my little family to go for a week. (It was $1200 five years ago.) That's about $300 every time we enter a park. What do we get for that now?

In terms of calculating against other forms of ticketed entertainment, I use Broadway. One could say, oh Broadway is so expensive! But you're getting 90 minutes of pure entertainment including a live orchestra, actors, amazing sets. Add up the minutes you are experiencing pure entertainment at a Disney park. Not trekking around, not dodging the crowds, not waiting in line.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Or you could compare it to ten, twenty, thirty years ago and how much it cost with inflation relative to today and how much entertainment you got back then?

A children's 2-day passport to the Magic Kingdom in 1981 was $18.50 tax included ($50.67 today)

Now it's $209.81, but the park is easily 4x as magical....right?

 

[eliza61nyc]

A children's 2-day passport to the Magic Kingdom in 1981 was $18.50 tax included ($50.67 today)

Now it's $209.81, but the park is easily 4x as magical....right?

actually it is. lol. now I don't wait 210 minutes for anything so can't comment on that. I make use of fp and rope drop and maybe wait for 60 minutes if I decide to ride a headliner twice.

My first trip in 78 was dull as dishwater. there really was only the MK and after that we went back to our hotel.

so yes, the parks are 4x's as magical. for starters there are 3 more parks plus Disney springs.
Now I don't equate # of rides to value. I have taken wdw trips where I never went into a park (thank you dvc) . In 2016 we went for the holloween party and that was it.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I disagree, while I love going there, there's no way that a disney vacation is cheap.


No, I think you have it wrong. When you need to determine if something is expensive, you don't compare it against another expensive item, i.e., well my BMW is 500 dollars cheaper then that Mercades, so that must mean my BMW is "an incredible value. Cheap actually." There's nothing cheap about a BMW.

I measure if something is expensive by how much $$ leaves my bank account.

I love Disney, its a great vacation, but there's nothing inexpensive about it. I still find some value in spending that money (otherwise I'd not go), but there's no way anyone can define it as cheap.

Expensive is always a relative measure, not an absolute measure as you indicate.

You have to consider value and comparable experiences to evaulate it. Disney is good on these measures. If you compare it in absolute terms, a $5,000 Disney vacation would be expensive to someone with only $6,000 in their bank account.

However, a $500 Disney vacation (if it were possible) would still be expensive to someone with only $600 in their bank account. Objectively, we understand a $500 Disney vacation would actually be incredibly cheap, but not to the person with $600.

 

[Chef Mickey]

They’ve doubled their prices in about a decade.


Remember, pour the packet in first, two cups of sugar and THEN the water.

There’s little “value” in 90 minute waits for Peter Pan and 210 for space mountain. It’s frankly not what you think it is.

I've been to the Magic Kingdom hundreds of times and ridden Space Mountain/Peter Pan hundreds of times. NEVER have I waited 90 minutes for PP or 210 for SM. You're doing it wrong if you have.

By my recolection, Disney hasn't "doubled ticket prices in 10 years." I want to say MK was around $75/day in 2008? I didn't check, but everything gets more expensive over time. iPhone X is 2X the price of original iPhone too in the same 10 year period.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Or you could compare it to ten, twenty, thirty years ago and how much it cost with inflation relative to today and how much entertainment you got back then?

You could, but times change. I think Disney is a much more powerful brand today with much more demand than in the 80s or 90s. The broader economy has also improved. People have more disposable income, air travel is more accessible, and a host of other reasons give Disney pricing power. I don't really see anything wrong with that.

It might have been an even better value then, but it doesn't mean it's not great value and even cheap relative what you get now. A LOT of things have increased in price at a faster rate than inflation for these reasons, so a comparison would likely see similar results for other destinations 30 years ago.

 

[21stamps]

You could, but times change. I think Disney is a much more powerful brand today with much more demand than in the 80s or 90s. The broader economy has also improved. People have more disposable income, air travel is more accessible, and a host of other reasons give Disney pricing power. I don't really see anything wrong with that.

It might have been an even better value then, but it doesn't mean it's not great value and even cheap relative what you get now. A LOT of things have increased in price at a faster rate than inflation for these reasons, so a comparison would likely see similar results for other destinations 30 years ago.

I’m cruising the exact same week this year as I did last year. Between fare increase, daily service charge increase, and gratuity increase on dining package and drink package..
It’s a $1,019.28 increase from ‘17 to ‘18.
Exact same stateroom category.

People are complaining on CC about it.. I’m annoyed as well, but it is what it is.

 

[marni1971]

I don't really see anything wrong with that..

Obviously not.

Despite paying more to receive less. Especially in the entertainment area.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I've been to the Magic Kingdom hundreds of times and ridden Space Mountain/Peter Pan hundreds of times. NEVER have I waited 90 minutes for PP or 210 for SM. You're doing it wrong if you have.

By my recolection, Disney hasn't "doubled ticket prices in 10 years." I want to say MK was around $75/day in 2008? I didn't check, but everything gets more expensive over time. iPhone X is 2X the price of original iPhone too in the same 10 year period.

They’ve doubled them in 12...hence the “about”...

And the wait times are not reflective of the experiences.

Do you live in Oviedo? Because the perspective is always a bit off if you’re living the “dream” in central Florida.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You could, but times change. I think Disney is a much more powerful brand today with much more demand than in the 80s or 90s. The broader economy has also improved. People have more disposable income, air travel is more accessible, and a host of other reasons give Disney pricing power. I don't really see anything wrong with that.

It might have been an even better value then, but it doesn't mean it's not great value and even cheap relative what you get now. A LOT of things have increased in price at a faster rate than inflation for these reasons, so a comparison would likely see similar results for other destinations 30 years ago.

Wait a second...you said “incredible value”...now you’ve pivoted to “times change”...

Is it a kidney or a leg? Which way do you want it?...increases above inflation along with comparative lack of addition or upkeep is a decline in value.

I don’t care which way you want it...just pick a way.

And “people” having more money now than the 80’s and 90’s relative to inflation is false. Some have much more...the majority have less.

Travel has changed...but that doesn’t make a broader economic argument.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's the rub, we're spending several thousands of dollars to wait in line in the FLA heat. I still have enjoy the vacations, but the high volume of crowds, coupled by the expensive cost makes it harder.

Because they haven’t invested in attractions to keep up with growth in attendance. That lowers the value of the experience and the quality. We know what caused it...we know the result. To deny it is foolish and making apologies for Wall Street - which is not appropriate.

 

[Lets Respect]

These types of value conversations are almost pointless among groups from different places. You have people who have to fly, people who are regional within a day's drive, people who live local or within an hour or two. Ditto for the differences between APs, Florida AP holders and tourist tickets

The value calculations are completely different

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m cruising the exact same week this year as I did last year. Between fare increase, daily service charge increase, and gratuity increase on dining package and drink package..
It’s a $1,019.28 increase from ‘17 to ‘18.
Exact same stateroom category.

People are complaining on CC about it.. I’m annoyed as well, but it is what it is.

Well that’s an unreasonable increase and not a value...I get that people can’t or won’t boycott for a variety of reasons...but it does kinda warrant it...

What cruise line/time of year?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

These types of value conversations are almost pointless among groups from different places. You have people who have to fly, people who are regional within a day's drive, people who live local or within an hour or two. Ditto for the differences between APs, Florida AP holders and tourist tickets

The value calculations are completely different

It is difficult.

Here’s what’s not: compare line item pricing from different periods and the experience based on number of attractions/wait times.

 

[21stamps]

Well that’s an unreasonable increase and not a value...I get that people can’t or won’t boycott for a variety of reasons...but it does kinda warrant it...

What cruise line/time of year?

Norwegian. Thanksgiving week.

However, I think Royal Caribbean has also increased all of the same fees/gratuities/fare.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Despite paying more to receive less. Especially in the entertainment area.

Paying more is completely discretionary. You don't have to pay more unless you opt to. I pay 300% more for a gallon of gasoline compared to pricing in the 80's. An average house costs 300% more as well. It's the same gas and the same house.

Now your point of receiving less with Disney....I disagree with. Look nobody is saying that Disney doesn't cost more on average. Sure there are individual things that have been impacted....But getting less, overall? If you plan properly, are aware of costs....you can make educated decisions to keep spending minimal....and get fair entertainment value to boot.

It's free to stroll through Disney Springs....It doesn't cost anything to visit AKL and check out the Savannah.....Hanging out for an hour listening to Yehaa at POR doesn't require payment for admission, neither does checking out the WL at Christmas time or the gingerbread house at GF. My kids can watch outdoor movies at the resort we are staying at or opt for a campfire with smores (sure it's built into the hotel rate..but if I partake I'm not charged separately for that).

Now let's go back to the mid eighties where there were 2 parks, about 3 hotels (EPCOT resorts didn't open til 90), 1 water park and a somewhat limited Disney Marketplace (pre PI). If you think you are receiving less entertainment options right now than you did back then.....well......we perceive things a bit differently.