Give the state of our federal government and their refusal to do anything meaningful to fix the national debt, I'm pretty sure its a safe bet that the dollar isn't going to go flying off the charts in my lifetime... if anything I would be betting it will only get cheaper for foreign visitors.
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Is Disney Pricing themselves out of the Middle Class???
- Thread starter bdearl41
- Start date
Give the state of our federal government and their refusal to do anything meaningful to fix the national debt, I'm pretty sure its a safe bet that the dollar isn't going to go flying off the charts in my lifetime... if anything I would be betting it will only get cheaper for foreign visitors.
12 days every year since 1993. 3 adults. 7 nights OKW, 2-BR villa; 2 nights at a studio villa on a rotating basis yearly; and 2 nights at a value resort - $950. That's out of pocket for the 12 days. Add to that the $1500 in annual maintenance and taxes, and it's still a very affordable $2450 for the 12 days. It sure pays to be a DVC member and a Cast Member too.
So..in extremely specialized cases it's still affordable.:lookaroun
We've started driving down so that we could save money on airfare and have a car to get food. We're DVC too. I'd reccomend buying used points (we did. 200 for VWL and 100 for Beach Club). I've also rented points to get some money back. We're a firmly upper middle class family, but the rest of my family on both sides isn't. I get rooms for everyone every few years and people are incredibly thankful because they couldn't afford it otherwise and I'm not talking about working poor. I think it's still affordable if the ONLY vacation you do is Disney and that's not most people.
draybook
Well-Known Member
Yeah, ours is for 4 adults(2 kids are 12&11) and that was at POFQ. Now, if you add in the 2 MNSSHP parties and tips for servers then it's almost 3k. Add in 3 days of park "hopping" at Universal, rental car, gas & food, then it was about 5k total. We have some wealthy friends that were going to spend 2 weeks straight at the Contemporary in March, and I just about had a stroke when I heard how much they were going to spend.
miles1
Active Member
This was our experience as well. Even 7 days with the four of us in one room is getting brutal as the kids grow up. The last trip we got a 3 bedroom unit that was literaly 5 minutes off property via the back entrance for a lot less than a room at a value resort. It was much more relaxing for all of us, and we were at the parks faster than taking a WDW bus from a resort.
HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
Some of the prices I'm seeing on here are only the cost of the pkg. i.e. transportation increases trip costs - even if driving, there's taxes and gratuity to factor in even if dining is "free," most of us don't do a bare bones trip and those costs need to be added in, plus there are souvenirs and other little things that also increase the cost.
We stayed at Yacht Club for a week back in November with free dining (we are a family of 4 with 2 kids). Our package cost was $3,767.16, but when you add on our dining splurges, BBB, taxes and gratuities, souvenirs, transportation, lodging and food on the road, and a variety of little things on top of that...the trip TOTAL cost was around $6k.
Now...I'm having an additional debate...even if I can afford it, does the product delivered meet the price tag? I mean, even free dining isn't much of a help to us since we are not good people for the basic DDP. i.e. aren't very into QS and when we do, we find portions large enough to share + we prefer appetizers to desserts.
But that still factors into the original question. Even if some of the middle class can still afford it, people are growing more frugal...or at least spending more wisely. So, while some may be priced out altogether with the excessive price increases...others may rethink what they get with a trip to WDW and start considering other options. I know my parents threw a fit when they came with us back in 2010 because the price then even seemed insane. They are avid cruisers and were furious with how much more they get for the $ (actually, for less $) on a cruise. We're now back to pricing non-WDW trips since DH wants a serious break and it is kind of interesting to see how much you can get at other popular vacay destinations. While I know Vegas makes up its $ on the gambling, it's quite sickening to think I can get a penthouse suite at the Bellagio for the same price I was paying for a garden view ROOM at the WDW Yacht Club. I mean really, a 5 Diamond establishment where even a standard room is cheaper than many of the base priced rooms at a moderate WDW resort...not to mention that I consider the Bellagio a truer example of a luxury hotel. I realize it's apples and oranges to some degree, but with the economy and Disney's non-stop price increases...it makes you look at how much farther the almighty $ goes in other places. In fact, just pricing ski trips and even at several of the swanky places...I'd be spending between 1/3 to 1/2 less than a Disney trip...and yes, that includes calcuations for food, lift tickets, etc.
What's sad...when we're ready to look at our next WDW trip, even if the $ is there (which I'm not so sure of due to WDW's exponential increases)...I might not be so willing to spend it.
We stayed at Yacht Club for a week back in November with free dining (we are a family of 4 with 2 kids). Our package cost was $3,767.16, but when you add on our dining splurges, BBB, taxes and gratuities, souvenirs, transportation, lodging and food on the road, and a variety of little things on top of that...the trip TOTAL cost was around $6k.
Now...I'm having an additional debate...even if I can afford it, does the product delivered meet the price tag? I mean, even free dining isn't much of a help to us since we are not good people for the basic DDP. i.e. aren't very into QS and when we do, we find portions large enough to share + we prefer appetizers to desserts.
But that still factors into the original question. Even if some of the middle class can still afford it, people are growing more frugal...or at least spending more wisely. So, while some may be priced out altogether with the excessive price increases...others may rethink what they get with a trip to WDW and start considering other options. I know my parents threw a fit when they came with us back in 2010 because the price then even seemed insane. They are avid cruisers and were furious with how much more they get for the $ (actually, for less $) on a cruise. We're now back to pricing non-WDW trips since DH wants a serious break and it is kind of interesting to see how much you can get at other popular vacay destinations. While I know Vegas makes up its $ on the gambling, it's quite sickening to think I can get a penthouse suite at the Bellagio for the same price I was paying for a garden view ROOM at the WDW Yacht Club. I mean really, a 5 Diamond establishment where even a standard room is cheaper than many of the base priced rooms at a moderate WDW resort...not to mention that I consider the Bellagio a truer example of a luxury hotel. I realize it's apples and oranges to some degree, but with the economy and Disney's non-stop price increases...it makes you look at how much farther the almighty $ goes in other places. In fact, just pricing ski trips and even at several of the swanky places...I'd be spending between 1/3 to 1/2 less than a Disney trip...and yes, that includes calcuations for food, lift tickets, etc.
What's sad...when we're ready to look at our next WDW trip, even if the $ is there (which I'm not so sure of due to WDW's exponential increases)...I might not be so willing to spend it.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
Absolutely.
My wife and I are, right now, upper-middle class (actually, what is known as the "5 percent"), based on our combined income. Granted, we don't cut corners when it comes to WDW, but we just manage to pull it off. I honestly can't see how a middle class family, as defined by the average salary, can possibly afford trips to WDW on a yearly basis. Now of course, not everyone is looking to go to WDW, or any vacation for that matter every year, but it's a damn shame they can't. Everybody who works deserves at least 1 vacation a year.
My wife and I are, right now, upper-middle class (actually, what is known as the "5 percent"), based on our combined income. Granted, we don't cut corners when it comes to WDW, but we just manage to pull it off. I honestly can't see how a middle class family, as defined by the average salary, can possibly afford trips to WDW on a yearly basis. Now of course, not everyone is looking to go to WDW, or any vacation for that matter every year, but it's a damn shame they can't. Everybody who works deserves at least 1 vacation a year.
KCheatle
Well-Known Member
This is a tough question, because the answer is both yes and no. Yes, they are pricing themselves out of hte middle-class individuals who are thinking: hmm...where should we go this year? Road trip, Yellowstone, Corpus Christi, or Disney World? In other words, people who do not place DIsney on a higher pedestal than other vacation destinations probably won't want to fork over the cash. However, other individuals who do hold Disney in a higher regard will probably continue to come. A lot of people with young children have it on their "must do" list and are willing to go to great lengths to make sure a Disney trip happens while their children are young. So, for some people, it may be enough for them to put the breaks on, for others it just might mean a couple extra months of saving up.
Side note: I have considered taking other trips with my children to see if it would be cheaper, and truth be told, it's not. Not when you take into consideration all of hte entertainment you get for your $. Flights are much more expensive to places other than Orlando, hotel rooms are about the same price per night, meals are $50-$100 a meal for a family of four, car rental, and then paying for the entertainment on top of it all - the price ends up being about the same or more than for a Disney vacation.
Side note: I have considered taking other trips with my children to see if it would be cheaper, and truth be told, it's not. Not when you take into consideration all of hte entertainment you get for your $. Flights are much more expensive to places other than Orlando, hotel rooms are about the same price per night, meals are $50-$100 a meal for a family of four, car rental, and then paying for the entertainment on top of it all - the price ends up being about the same or more than for a Disney vacation.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
I hope so, i dont want to be forced to endure that sort of person at close quarters as has become the norm in recent years. leave the Cali Grill to those of us with the good taste to enjoy it.
I think one reason it is still full currently is people are piling up credit card debt. Just put it on the card, knowing they really dont have to pay it (I am a credit analyst), which will just lead to another bursting bubble, but that is for another conversation. I think in 10 years or so people will not be able to just "put it on the card" as they do now.
ParentsOf4
Well-Known Member
When it opened in 1971, Magic Kingdom view rooms in the Contemporary Tower were under $50/night or about $280/night today. The same rooms are well over $600/night today. In 1971, you could get rooms in the Contemporary annex buildings for as low as $22/night or about $125/night today.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
I posted this comment over in the DVC section a few days ago
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With their nickle and diming, WDW has broke me of just about everything EXCEPT my F&W addiction. My wife and I are going in November for a weekend - we will buy some F&W merchandise and will do events and tastings, but thats it. We will have non-hopper length of stay passes, and will be in EPCOT only. I doubt we will hit DTD or anywhere else, nor will we be even looking at any non-F&W merch. I also think we will buy less - if items are $20, i really have no problem with buying 5 or 6 of them, but when they make them $50, after one overpriced purchase I walk away. We will also will not be going with the family this summer. We are skipping a year and banking points. The insane pricing, loss of quality, and general feeling of "how can we squeeze every nickel out of you" attitude has really soured me on WDW as of late. I used to go 3 -4 times a year, and somtimes just fly down for weekends to run in RunDIsney events. Nope, not any more. We will pop in for F&W every so often, and do a family vacation every 2 or 3 years now.
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It is not so much the cost - we can still afford WDW. It is the cost to value as compared to other vacations. I no longer feel like WDW is a "resort vacation". The first time I went as an adult with kids, I went with the idea of "OK, this is for the kids" and I ended up enjoying it way more than I thought. It was the level of service, the staff, the cleanlines of the resort (not just the parks, the whole place), the attention to detail, and the reasonable (sort of) pricing. After part admission, flights, and lodging were paid for, you could have a decent vacation without having to reach for your wallet at every turn.
Now it feels like every time I turn around WDW is increasing the price of something, food, TiW cards, park media, tours, etc. All in little, but frequent, amounts. While this has been happening, the resort has lost a lot of its "polish".
I still enjoy WDW, and we will continue to go back every so often, but they have - at this point - lost me as a major multi-trip customer. There are many other places I can go, where I can get the same or much better service, for less money.
-dave
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With their nickle and diming, WDW has broke me of just about everything EXCEPT my F&W addiction. My wife and I are going in November for a weekend - we will buy some F&W merchandise and will do events and tastings, but thats it. We will have non-hopper length of stay passes, and will be in EPCOT only. I doubt we will hit DTD or anywhere else, nor will we be even looking at any non-F&W merch. I also think we will buy less - if items are $20, i really have no problem with buying 5 or 6 of them, but when they make them $50, after one overpriced purchase I walk away. We will also will not be going with the family this summer. We are skipping a year and banking points. The insane pricing, loss of quality, and general feeling of "how can we squeeze every nickel out of you" attitude has really soured me on WDW as of late. I used to go 3 -4 times a year, and somtimes just fly down for weekends to run in RunDIsney events. Nope, not any more. We will pop in for F&W every so often, and do a family vacation every 2 or 3 years now.
----------
It is not so much the cost - we can still afford WDW. It is the cost to value as compared to other vacations. I no longer feel like WDW is a "resort vacation". The first time I went as an adult with kids, I went with the idea of "OK, this is for the kids" and I ended up enjoying it way more than I thought. It was the level of service, the staff, the cleanlines of the resort (not just the parks, the whole place), the attention to detail, and the reasonable (sort of) pricing. After part admission, flights, and lodging were paid for, you could have a decent vacation without having to reach for your wallet at every turn.
Now it feels like every time I turn around WDW is increasing the price of something, food, TiW cards, park media, tours, etc. All in little, but frequent, amounts. While this has been happening, the resort has lost a lot of its "polish".
I still enjoy WDW, and we will continue to go back every so often, but they have - at this point - lost me as a major multi-trip customer. There are many other places I can go, where I can get the same or much better service, for less money.
-dave
PhilharMagician
Well-Known Member
I know I have been and always will be a diehard WDW fan. I cannot jeopardize my families financial future to ride BTMRR or the WDW monorail. I have to look at not just making a trip happen today, but being able to have a roof over my head and food on the table for my family. So to cut this short. I will not go if I cannot afford to go and it looks like there are a few other in this thread with the same idea and we are all Disney fans.
Alison1975
Well-Known Member
Its all what you make it IMO.. we aren't going anywhere else and feel that $5k is reasonable for a family of 5 for 14 nights including food..park hoppers and Water parks..we dont fly. This past Sept trip was almost 10K byt the end..14 days..3 resorts..7 people.. but we had 2 rooms for most of the trip hence the higher pricetag. I was unable to go to Disney for 11 years.. now we will have gone in 2011,2012 and 2013..
Disnee4Me
Well-Known Member
Uggh, this whole price increase thing is depressing me. When we went for two weeks in 2002, my DS were 7 and 12 and we stayed at the All Star Movies, I think it cost around $3000 for everything, including air fare. This was at the end of August. Now our last trip was at Christmastime 2009 and we moved up the Port Orleans RIverside and only stayed one week, drove down and it cost the same $3000 or more. Guess I need to keep building up my Disney Dollars, so I can afford another trip.
Magenta Panther
Well-Known Member
Yeah, Obama has just struck a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff", and the Republicans gave him everything he asked for...and guess what...EVERYBODY"S taxes are going to go up. And which class gets the highest tax increase? The middle. Folks like us. Thanks, Mr. President.
(Not trying to be political. All of the above is simply true. I'm disappointed with BOTH parties over this. I count on my tax refund every year to either pay Christmas bills or save for things like Disney trips. I wonder how big, or how small, it's gonna be THIS year...
)And yes, Disney is getting way too expensive to visit, even for a single person. And we're getting less and less of our money's worth IMO.
DfromATX
Well-Known Member
We are a family of 6 so pretty much everything we do is expensive. I would love it if WDW lowered their prices, especially their resort rates. However, we went on a cruise last year and it cost us about the same as a Disney trip and we didn't have to fly anywhere. I have priced places like Hawaii and Europe, and airline tickets alone are not affordable for us. (I know we discussed this on another post already, but it fits here too.)
MickeyPeace
Well-Known Member
A trip to WDW should not be the same price as a trip to Europe. And I don't know how many people would consider a trip to Europe "affordable".
draybook
Well-Known Member
Pardon me, I wasn't fully awake and missed the 14 day part. Yeah, that's a great price.
disneyflush
Well-Known Member
Feels like most people in this thread are 'upper-middle class or "firmly" upper-middle class'. I don't have a comment, I just find that to be pretty incredible.
My family of 5 last went at Christmas in 2011. We rented DVC points, stayed at Kidani in a studio, paid OOP for food and shared quite a few meals, did not get hoppers, drove down from Indiana, and we stayed 5 nights. We spent about $2,800 which seems to be one of the smaller amounts I've seen so far on here. We went every year from 2006-2011 but we've been priced out at this point. A lot of that is putting money into the kids college funds and providing them new clothes and food. I'd say we could go back every 3 or 4 years but, honestly, the attractions are what drives the kids to want to go and there aren't enough new ones of any substance to capture their vacation attention any longer. When they build a couple more E-ticket rides then I could see it being relevant to them again but, best case scenario, that will be 5 or 6 years from now, 2018 or 2019. 6 years may not be that long to Disney managers that get an annual salary and have all the incentive in the world to prolong projects to delay the judgements on the completed works ('how can you evaluate my work when i'm not finished yet???'') but to a now 6 year old the difference between being relevant in 2013 and 2019 is another lifetime.
My family of 5 last went at Christmas in 2011. We rented DVC points, stayed at Kidani in a studio, paid OOP for food and shared quite a few meals, did not get hoppers, drove down from Indiana, and we stayed 5 nights. We spent about $2,800 which seems to be one of the smaller amounts I've seen so far on here. We went every year from 2006-2011 but we've been priced out at this point. A lot of that is putting money into the kids college funds and providing them new clothes and food. I'd say we could go back every 3 or 4 years but, honestly, the attractions are what drives the kids to want to go and there aren't enough new ones of any substance to capture their vacation attention any longer. When they build a couple more E-ticket rides then I could see it being relevant to them again but, best case scenario, that will be 5 or 6 years from now, 2018 or 2019. 6 years may not be that long to Disney managers that get an annual salary and have all the incentive in the world to prolong projects to delay the judgements on the completed works ('how can you evaluate my work when i'm not finished yet???'') but to a now 6 year old the difference between being relevant in 2013 and 2019 is another lifetime.