Is Disney really that expensive?

[The_Jobu]

Yes.

But we still go.

Really, the thread can be closed now after this. We've reached the answer.

 

[marni1971]

The “snit quotient” has been abnormally high.

I expect that to translate into universals announcement of a new park - where they threw ALOT of shade at Disney - to be slowly, methodically ripped apart round here as “stupid”

It won’t “game change” like the blue milk

The new park will more than be able to give any other in Orlando a run for its money.

 

[mdcpr]

I'm starting to think that Disney can also seem more expensive because of all the work you have to put in before you arrive. Our trip might be costing $7-8K during Thanksgiving week staying at a Deluxe resort. But it has been SO MUCH work getting the ADRs, planning, scheduling FPs (in about 60 days). Every time I add a to do to my list, I remind myself how much this costs, and how hard planning has been. Any other trips we've made where we have spent about the same or even more never felt like so much work, nor I kept thinking about the cost.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It’s not the “day” that really frames the cost of Disney travel...it’s the length of stay.

That is hard to equate to many other things...which is why these discussions end up with the rudder stuck.

Best comparisons are still cruises...ski weeks...small duration European and Hawaii trips.

But that is also hard because it’s tough to gauge the Range of costs and options when they aren’t all owned by one entity.

Cost is cost no matter what you are doing so I don't see how you can't compare.
This is why I said to me its all about opportunity cost.
If you spend money on this then you cannot spend money on that.
I know a number of people that are fairly low income that do go to the fair and spend hundreds in a day and everyone in the household has the newest phone/tablet/video games/highest tier cable channels etc and go to the movies weekly spending $25 per after ticket and snacks.
I'd consider myself low income but privileged to live with my parents.
We have older phones and tablets. Do not have tons of video games, go to the movies once every couple months etc and spend the money that we would have spend on those things on trips to Disney instead.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Cost is cost no matter what you are doing so I don't see how you can't compare.
This is why I said to me its all about opportunity cost.
If you spend money on this then you cannot spend money on that.
I know a number of people that are fairly low income that do go to the fair and spend hundreds in a day and everyone in the household has the newest phone/tablet/video games/highest tier cable channels etc and go to the movies weekly spending $25 per after ticket and snacks.
I'd consider myself low income but privileged to live with my parents.
We have older phones and tablets. Do not have tons of video games, go to the movies once every couple months etc and spend the money that we would have spend on those things on trips to Disney instead.

Difference of opinion ...but the overwhelming
Majority of Disney travelers are committing to 4 or more days from the hop.

So the daily cost of other places would be more palatable - to me - knowing you can’t hedge and do a straight 1:1 cost analysis.

Just a way of looking at it...an opinion.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Difference of opinion ...but the overwhelming
Majority of Disney travelers are committing to 4 or more days from the hop.

So the daily cost of other places would be more palatable - to me - knowing you can’t hedge and do a straight 1:1 cost analysis.

Just a way of looking at it...an opinion.

IDK I guess we just have to agree to disagree then because I can look at it dollar for dollar.
I could pay $1,200 on a new phone or forgo that new pone because mine still works fine and pay for a trip to Disney for 4N/5D for the same amount of money.
I'm going with Disney.

 

[Nunu]

Coming from someone who lives in a country with a struggling economy, yes, Disney is expensive. A visit to The Mouse, is considered quite a luxury around these parts.

 

[MaximumEd]

IDK I guess we just have to agree to disagree then because I can look at it dollar for dollar.
I could pay $1,200 on a new phone or forgo that new pone because mine still works fine and pay for a trip to Disney for 4N/5D for the same amount of money.
I'm going with Disney.

Btw, what’s a “Screne”?

 

[bUU]

There is also a “cabal” of posters who can’t accept any criticism.

No there isn't. There are a few people trying to keep the rabid mob from having an unrebutted soapbox for their inanely baseless aspersions.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Btw, what’s a “Screne”?

Not sure what that has to do with my post but it's an inside joke with my sister that you probably had to be there to appreciate.

 

[MaximumEd]

Not sure what that has to do with my post but it's an inside joke with my sister that you probably had to be there to appreciate.

It didn’t have anything to do with the post. Simply a matter of curiosity.

 

[marni1971]

No there isn't. There are a few people trying to keep the rabid mob from having an unrebutted soapbox for their inanely baseless aspersions.

Yes, there is.

By the way, I don’t believe I welcomed you when you joined. So welcome.

 

[FettFan]

Is Disney really that expensive?

This week I went to frontier city, the Six flags owned amusement park in Oklahoma. It has roller coasters, a log flume, a white water raft, a “dark ride shooter”. Theming is static mannequins if there is theming on a ride, the roller coasters are short. Its like six flags jr. Now I know what there strategy is for the ticket pricing. Make it expensive enough that you buy a membership or the season pass that gets you free parking and entry into all six flags and subsidiaries and water parks.
But….
IF you a one time sucker visitor.
Here are the costs. (same for all six flags) with none of their marketing discounts
One time entry
69.99
Parking
20.00
The fast pass equivalent (which is not included in season passes, daily passes, or memberships)
40.00
So 129.99 for one single park with no theming no story lines to the rides no other parks. There isn’t an epcot, animal kingdom, Hollywood studios or DCA if you get bored. There are no Restaurants, there is chicken strips, hot dogs or pizza. They do have dole whips though…


Disney with park hopper (which gets substantially cheaper the more days you stay) and yes I know the prices change depending on what day you choose.
109.00 (free fast pass)
60 for park hopper
20 (I think) for parking
So 189.99 for 4 parks that lets be honest are a bajillion times better and sit down restaurants, amazing theming and story telling. And beautiful park like theming.
Remove park hopper (if you are only there for one day, you don’t really need it and there is no equivalent at six flag style parks, and also gets much cheaper the longer you stay)
And you are at 129.00 the EXACT same price as a step up from a state fair.

I know this prob sounds like Disney propaganda.. but Disney kind of ruined this park for me (hadn’t been for 20 years, and was bored in an hour), I then compared prices and I was a bit shocked. And its not just this park... Six flags, Silver dollar City and many others are the exact same way.. no theming... no story.. they are really not competitors but one day tickets are about the same.

I wouldn't say this is a point in Disney's favor, but rather a condemnation of "Frontier City".


Silver Dollar City in Branson would be a fairer comparison.... (extra bonus: They actually have a PotC equivalent with "The Flooded Mine")
Theirs is $68 for a single day ticket with a summer "After Three, Next Day Free" policy. If you buy your ticket after 3:00pm, you can use your ticket to enter the park all day the next day.
Silver Dollar city also does not charge for parking...unless you want "Preferred Parking", which is only $15 per day.

 

[Praying Mantis]

Is Disney expensive? Compared to some things sure it is, but to other things it definitely is not. It all comes down to the persons priorities and if they want to commit whatever amount of money it takes to spend for a luxury in their life. Is a vacation to Hawaii expensive? Sure it is. An Alaskan Cruise? Sure it is. A European Vacation? Yes indeed. People still go because it is something they commit to and it is a priority to them. We are all on the forums because we have a common interest and that being we like Disney. Sure I think we's all love it to be a heck of a lot cheaper, but when it comes down to it when it comes to vacation planning Disney seems to pop into our heads. At least it does for me.

 

[ppete1975]

I wouldn't say this is a point in Disney's favor, but rather a condemnation of "Frontier City".


Silver Dollar City in Branson would be a fairer comparison.... (extra bonus: They actually have a PotC equivalent with "The Flooded Mine")
Theirs is $68 for a single day ticket with a summer "After Three, Next Day Free" policy. If you buy your ticket after 3:00pm, you can use your ticket to enter the park all day the next day.
Silver Dollar city also does not charge for parking...unless you want "Preferred Parking", which is only $15 per day.

To be fair I went to Silver dollar city last year.
It also doesn't have much in the theming department or story lines, you go into a tunnel and see.. grey walls. And frontier citys log flume is also a rip off of pirates just a static mannequin attempt. Outside of the roller coasters and the new time traveler I wasn't impressed (I kept thinking they could do so much more.. create a reason for us to go on this ride... yes Disney has spoiled me), although I do feel the time traveler is a great start if that's the direction they are going.. as it did have some theming and a story.
What silver dollar city banks on and does great is its crafts, and showcasing the natural beauty that is the Ozarks.

BTW both frontier city and silver dollar city share a Disney connection.....

 

[Ariel1986]

Is Disney World expensive? Let’s see..
Passengers: 4 (Me, my imaginary wife and imaginary two kids, 10 and 8)
When: 7 nights in August (4x 14 day hopper tickets for the price of 7 with quick service meal plan and return flights)
Where: Port Orleans because this was the cheapest, some how.
View attachment 394981
Booked with Disney themselves, that’s £8733.84 or $10,613 for a 7 day vacation. Is that expensive? Hell yeah. Though if you book way in advance, stay off site, use some budgetish indirect airline, no dining plan, you can probably shave £3000 off that if you plan meticulously but as a basic snapshot with no shopping around then yeah, I would not pay that.

Yeah or you could shave £5k off by not selecting flights through the Disney website mid summer a week away from now. Exact same, dates, tickets and dining plan. I even put 3 adults & 1 child by mistake, so an extra adult!

Never book flights with the package through Disney- booking yourself separately and with enough research, even in holidays you can get flights for half what that’s coming out at. A quarter even at some times of the year!

 

[AndyS2992]

View attachment 395250

Yeah or you could shave £5k off by not selecting flights through the Disney website mid summer a week away from now. Exact same, dates, tickets and dining plan. I even put 3 adults & 1 child by mistake, so an extra adult!

Never book flights with the package through Disney- booking yourself separately and with enough research, even in holidays you can get flights for half what that’s coming out at. A quarter even at some times of the year!

That's a really good tip, though with the cheapest flights I could find, that overall package still comes to £5749. We always stay at Pop Century and pay on the lower end of £5k but with moderate and a dining plan, that's not too bad really.

 

[phillip9698]

Silver Dollar City has awesome roller coasters. If coasters aren't your cup of tea I could see why you dislike the park so much. For trips with my kids or wife Disney is the place but for trips with my friends it's waaaaaaay down on the list and offers next to no value.

It all depends on the guest and audience.

And who pays full price at a six flags park when a can of coke gets you 15 dollars off.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

1 Day, 1 Park Disney theme park tickets (in USD, after tax). These are from the official sites, no 3rd party discounts:

Disney World: from $116.09
Disneyland: from $104 (no tax on park tickets in California)
Tokyo Disneyland: $69.15
Disneyland Paris: $96.50
Shanghai Disneyland: from $58
Hong Kong Disneyland: $81.70

Average price: $87.57 USD per adult

So yes, even by Disney standards, WDW is expensive. Ticket prices for DLP (regular and AP) have significantly gone up since Disney took full control of the resort.

 

[bUU]

Yes, there is.

Perhaps you can define the word "cabal" for us, so that we can be sure you are using the word in a manner consistent with it meaning.

Let me help... Here are some synonyms: Clique, gang, junta, pressure group. The purpose of a cabal is generally to, through force of numbers, elevate one perspective to the exclusion of others that would provide a more balanced state. Think: MSNBC and Fox News.