Is Disney Expensive?

[brifraz]

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.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Yeah it's expensive. But still worth the price of admission. I have never said to myself that I wish I had never spent the money to go there.

 

[larryz]

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.

Thanks for comparing those costs. But I disagree that NYC is a lot less entertaining - just being in NYC is half of the fun!

 

[eliza61nyc]

I've never really understood the "Disney is expensive" mainly because imo taking a vacation at all is expensive. Case in point,
last year we went to Ocean city NJ. the Jersey shore. I love, love love the beach and it's one of the best on the East coast.

Anyhoo, a 2 bedroom weekly rental beach block (not facing the ocean or on the beach) was 3,000 bucks for the last week in July.
The beach tags were not an issue I think 25 bucks for the season.
food and incidentals were easy 1500 bucks.

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

 

[correcaminos]

Disney is expensive an truly your post proved that to me. One thing to say, I have never had to pay that much for a nice hotel when traveling to NYC (my office is based in midtown Manhattan). I've easily found rooms for under $200/night. Also NYC is a pretty expensive city so IMO you helped prove how ridiculous the prices for Disney can be. Comparing my $150/night hotel I like to stay in (a few blocks off from Times Square - most it costs me has ever been $190) to a value at WDW, I can tell you I had far better service at NYC than I do even at a deluxe Disney resort.

I'm a bit impressed though that your travels to FL are only $70 more given you have far more meals. Also I assume not stopping?

 

[Goofyernmost]

It really depends on how you do it. Park tickets aren't cheap, but, when you consider the number of hours of continuous entertainment the ticket buys per hour, it isn't all that bad. Just hard to come by for a large family. (even a small one some times) Now if you feel the need to "immerse yourself" in the total environment of Disney with no easy way to have options then there isn't a lot of difference between that and being robbed at gunpoint. I realize this is my opinion, but, my love is now and always has been the fun of the parks. I always considered the resorts to be a massive ripoff. I have read a lot of trip reports from people that have loved staying onsite and that is great. But, nothing has ever hit me about that process that I find desirable. I enjoy my park time and spend literally thousands less staying just offsite. I stayed once in POP and was overwhelmed by the fact that in spite of spending way more then offsite the rooms were so small that you basically had to step outside to change your mind. I don't know what I was expecting, but, it surely wasn't that. Anyway, the answer to the question is yes, it is expensive and no, it doesn't have to be.

 

[allgiggles]

Thanks for comparing those costs. But I disagree that NYC is a lot less entertaining - just being in NYC is half of the fun!

I completely agree. There's free "entertainment" on every street, subway, and bus station. And we always joke that if you get in to the city by 8:00 on a Saturday morning, it feels like doing a PPO breakfast at Disney -- the streets are empty and you can walk into almost every restaurant and have no trouble being seated immediately!

I've never really understood the "Disney is expensive" mainly because imo taking a vacation at all is expensive. Case in point,
last year we went to Ocean city NJ. the Jersey shore. I love, love love the beach and it's one of the best on the East coast.

Anyhoo, a 2 bedroom weekly rental beach block (not facing the ocean or on the beach) was 3,000 bucks for the last week in July.
The beach tags were not an issue I think 25 bucks for the season.
food and incidentals were easy 1500 bucks.

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

We have friends who spend 3-4 weeks in OCNJ every summer. One or two of those weeks are in a house about a block off the beach and the other 2 weeks are in a house right on the beach that they've rented every year for the last 20 years. They've always said "Disney is sooooo expensive, yadda, yadda, yadda." When they go to Disney (which they've done twice in the last 3 years) they are constantly trying to save every penny they can (staying off property, getting discount tickets through a friend whose employer offers them, taking their own snacks and water to the parks, etc.). Their Disney trip last month cost them about $4,000 for a 10-day stay for a family of 4 (including flights, food, tickets, etc.). They went to Disney 6 days and Universal 3. One week in their beachfront property at the shore costs nearly double that...and that's without adding the cost of the meals they eat out (they usually eat lunch at the house and go out for dinner); multiple trips to the boardwalk each week; etc. They *never* say that their weeks at the shore are expensive...but to them *Disney* is expensive. It's all about how people choose to spend their money on vacation. I would *never* spend that much money to go to the shore, but I'm not a big fan of the beach. Two or three days is more than enough for me. That family loves the beach and the cost is not a factor because that vacation brings their family joy and creates lots of memories for them. Disney does that for our family.

Yeah it's expensive. But still worth the price of admission. I have never said to myself that I wish I had never spent the money to go there.

That's exactly how we feel. It's the only place we've vacationed that everyone in the family -- regardless of age -- has a good time. No one mopes around saying they're bored. It's worth every penny to us.

 

[Astro_Digital]

For me if I wanted to go to NYC and I am making plans I can do it a lot cheaper than in your budget.
First you do not have to go to Manhattan and park in the heart of the city you can stay over night in the boroughs leave you car at the place you are staying, take a tour bus or subway.

Things to see Empire State Building, Broadway, Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center and many other things.
WDW what see the Haunted Mansion for the fourth or so time ?? I have not had fun at WDW in years.
Last time I went to Pandora "Fast Passes" forget it they are all gone.
The boring boat ride 2 hour wait, the only other attraction 4 hours ...... "No thanks"
All day long people packed the places and the shortest line was maybe 45 minutes...... this is fun ?

 

[Kristoff]

You bring up some good points in how Disney compares to other vacations and I think you show from your final numbers that Disney does seem to charge a small upcharge just for being Disney. The one point of argument I would make is the amount of entertainment. You mentioned that Disney is somewhere around 36 hours for 3 days, so 12 hours a day. Realistically, let's break down how much time of that 12 you actually lose:

• 1.5 - 2 hours for eating (assuming TS and QS you mentioned)
• 1 hour waiting for a headliner attraction (assuming you got at least 1 or 2 FP for the other headliner at the park)
• 3 hours waiting at 7 - 8 second tier attractions (20 min each, which is impossible during Easter but for a baseline)

Before you know it, you've lost 6 hours of the 12 waiting or eating. I personally still think it's absolutely worth it going to Disney, but I think it's also important to recognize that you pay a premium over other vacations to do so.

 

[The Mom]

The OP listed average costs - not the most expensive hotel in either place, nor the cheapest. They also looked at distance to what you want to see/do as a factor, and assumed a lack of local knowledge. Perhaps if they were able to find a NYCmagic forum that had discussions about all of the hotels, attractions, restaurants (with menus and prices) etc they could have found a lower cost hotel and more reasonable restaurants? Also, they would know which borough is safest, which subway/bus line they need, etc. Unless there are buses marked "To The Empire State Building, to the Statue of Liberty, etc" They might not want to be riding the subway/transit with the whole family after a night out, especially if it doesn't take them door to door. So add in the cost of a taxi or Uber.

There are ways to "do" WDW more cheaply (except for admission) such as staying off site (same as not staying near in the heart of NYC) but if you don't know what you're doing you can end up in a real dive in a not so safe area.

Same for beach vacations - I will be staying in a 2 bedroom, right on the ocean (lovely beach - not crowded), balconies, with a pool and tennis court for $1900 a week. Of course, it's in Florida, not the Jersey Shore.

The same can be said for a ski vacation, or any other destination vacation. Location, location, location - plus hotel surroundings. There are always ways to do it more cheaply, or it can be outrageously expensive. Sometimes it's a matter of when you make the reservation, or whether you have some group rates, etc.

BTW, I would really like the name of that hotel 3 blocks off of Times Square that goes for less than $200/night.

 

[Master Yoda]

BTW, I would really like the name of that hotel 3 blocks off of Times Square that goes for less than $200/night.

Sid's Inn and Peep Hole rentals.

 

[DryerLintFan]

You're counting Disney as 36 hours of entertainment, but surely you are not being entertained the whole time you're in the park. Like, strolling down main street is the same level of entertainment as strolling down times square. If you're going to level NYC down to the times you're in shows or museums, you should only be counting the time spent on rides or in shows while in the parks, too.

 

[danyoung56]

I have not had fun at WDW in years.

Then what it the world are you doing hanging out in a forum like this?

 

[DryerLintFan]

The OP listed average costs - not the most expensive hotel in either place, nor the cheapest. They also looked at distance to what you want to see/do as a factor, and assumed a lack of local knowledge. Perhaps if they were able to find a NYCmagic forum that had discussions about all of the hotels, attractions, restaurants (with menus and prices) etc they could have found a lower cost hotel and more reasonable restaurants? Also, they would know which borough is safest, which subway/bus line they need, etc. Unless there are buses marked "To The Empire State Building, to the Statue of Liberty, etc" They might not want to be riding the subway/transit with the whole family after a night out, especially if it doesn't take them door to door. So add in the cost of a taxi or Uber.

There are ways to "do" WDW more cheaply (except for admission) such as staying off site (same as not staying near in the heart of NYC) but if you don't know what you're doing you can end up in a real dive in a not so safe area.

Same for beach vacations - I will be staying in a 2 bedroom, right on the ocean (lovely beach - not crowded), balconies, with a pool and tennis court for $1900 a week. Of course, it's in Florida, not the Jersey Shore.

The same can be said for a ski vacation, or any other destination vacation. Location, location, location - plus hotel surroundings. There are always ways to do it more cheaply, or it can be outrageously expensive. Sometimes it's a matter of when you make the reservation, or whether you have some group rates, etc.

BTW, I would really like the name of that hotel 3 blocks off of Times Square that goes for less than $200/night.

We stayed at a very nice Hilton (I think) just across the river in New Jersey for $175 a night (8 or so years ago, though). It was a one block walk to the subway and a five minute ride into the city. It was amazing. We only found that because a friend told us about it. Location is really hard to get a feel for until you're there, like you mentioned. Without someone knowing about it and telling us about it, we never would have been searching hotels in New Jersey for an NYC vacation, LOL

ETA: It was the Hyatt Regency and it was VERY NICE, but it's been a few years.... it's now listed as $369 per night (on sale)

https://www.hotels.com/ho205573/?q-...=6&q-room-0-adults=1&YGF=14&MGT=2&ZSX=0&SYE=3

 

[Susan Savia]

It really depends on how you do it. Park tickets aren't cheap, but, when you consider the number of hours of continuous entertainment the ticket buys per hour, it isn't all that bad. Just hard to come by for a large family. (even a small one some times) Now if you feel the need to "immerse yourself" in the total environment of Disney with no easy way to have options then there isn't a lot of difference between that and being robbed at gunpoint. I realize this is my opinion, but, my love is now and always has been the fun of the parks. I always considered the resorts to be a massive ripoff. I have read a lot of trip reports from people that have love staying onsite and that is great. But, nothing has ever hit me about that process that I find desirable. I enjoy my park time and spend literally thousands less staying just offsite. I stayed once in POP and was overwhelmed by the fact that in spite of spending way more then offsite the rooms were so small that you basically had to step outside to change your mind. I don't know what I was expecting, but, it surely wasn't that. Anyway, the answer to the question is yes, it is expensive and no, it doesn't have to be.

Totally agree. We've never stayed onsite in the 30+ years we have visited. We drive, usually stay for 2 weeks, have APs, eat mostly offsite (maybe 2 quick service meals onsite), and absolutely love all that Disney has to offer in the parks. To me once I step inside the park gates I am being entertained. The beautiful flowers, the live entertainment, everything. Expensive yes, but it doesn't have to be.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Like, strolling down main street is the same level of entertainment as strolling down times square.

Lol. No.

 

[eliza61nyc]

T

BTW, I would really like the name of that hotel 3 blocks off of Times Square that goes for less than $200/night.

lol Port Authority but the transit cops might wake you up every couple of hours.

just a little humor folks.

 

[correcaminos]

The OP listed average costs - not the most expensive hotel in either place, nor the cheapest. They also looked at distance to what you want to see/do as a factor, and assumed a lack of local knowledge. Perhaps if they were able to find a NYCmagic forum that had discussions about all of the hotels, attractions, restaurants (with menus and prices) etc they could have found a lower cost hotel and more reasonable restaurants? Also, they would know which borough is safest, which subway/bus line they need, etc. Unless there are buses marked "To The Empire State Building, to the Statue of Liberty, etc" They might not want to be riding the subway/transit with the whole family after a night out, especially if it doesn't take them door to door. So add in the cost of a taxi or Uber.

There are ways to "do" WDW more cheaply (except for admission) such as staying off site (same as not staying near in the heart of NYC) but if you don't know what you're doing you can end up in a real dive in a not so safe area.

Same for beach vacations - I will be staying in a 2 bedroom, right on the ocean (lovely beach - not crowded), balconies, with a pool and tennis court for $1900 a week. Of course, it's in Florida, not the Jersey Shore.

The same can be said for a ski vacation, or any other destination vacation. Location, location, location - plus hotel surroundings. There are always ways to do it more cheaply, or it can be outrageously expensive. Sometimes it's a matter of when you make the reservation, or whether you have some group rates, etc.

BTW, I would really like the name of that hotel 3 blocks off of Times Square that goes for less than $200/night.

I said a few blocks. My work is on 47th street so I try to stay around 43-50th so I don't have to walk far. Cambria Suites on 46th was my last stay for $150 a night during the month of March. Apple Core Hotels have a few locations near by that are a always reasonably priced. Courtyard by Marriott and the Edison's are a few more of the top of my head. The Pod hotel had some crazy produces but some share bathrooms. Now if you go during the big winter shopping time of year through NYE is going to cost more likely. I honestly have had no issues finding rooms for under $200 with private baths. Truly the growth of hotels in midtown has been insane. Where it used to be all business, they are being pushed out to the burbs and many hotels ate taking their place.

I do find NYC to be very expensive compared to home. I also find WDW to be even more so with less service for hotels in general. The OP may have used averages, but they also picked a very cheap hotel for Disney. On average the prices are the same though NYC will blow away Disney in hotel service IMO

 

[The Mom]

I said a few blocks. My work is on 47th street so I try to stay around 43-50th so I don't have to walk far. Cambria Suites on 46th was my last stay for $150 a night during the month of March. Apple Core Hotels have a few locations near by that are a always reasonably priced. Courtyard by Marriott and the Edison's are a few more of the top of my head. The Pod hotel had some crazy produces but some share bathrooms. Now if you go during the big winter shopping time of year through NYE is going to cost more likely. I honestly have had no issues finding rooms for under $200 with private baths. Truly the growth of hotels in midtown has been insane. Where it used to be all business, they are being pushed out to the burbs and many hotels ate taking their place.

I do find NYC to be very expensive compared to home. I also find WDW to be even more so with less service for hotels in general. The OP may have used averages, but they also picked a very cheap hotel for Disney. On average the prices are the same though NYC will blow away Disney in hotel service IMO

Thank you - I have to be in NYC this summer.

 

[correcaminos]

Thank you - I have to be in NYC this summer.

Glad to help. Good luck too! Believe it or not when looking I go to Google maps and put in hotels. You can enter your dates and see prices and such on the maps with locations. I kind of cross check tripadvisor and the like for reviews and prices to see if some are less there too. While I do get reimbursed for work, I don't like to waste money on hotels. There really are a lot more in the Times Square vicinity than even 10 years ago I think. I've noticed prices have actually dropped in the area which is crazy but nice