Maybe one reason folks are still going to WDW

[Lilofan]

Have you seen the prices for Disneyland Paris. Cheap Cheap Cheap! We are planning 1 week in Paris with 3 days at Dianeyland/Disney Studios PLUS 1 week of touring the mountians in France. Priced it out cheaper for our family of 6 than a WDW/Universal trip staying offsisite and driving from Illlinois.

How is DLP? I saw recent videos of cast taking over the park actively protesting onstage in front of the guests disrupting operations.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Maybe this quote from the article is fitting for a WDW thread...



basically the article says people are finding cheaper destinations than Jersey Shore...

That's true, but many travel pretty far to outer banks

 

[flynnibus]

Seems like all of rural eastern PA comes to OCMD to participate in the stupid car meets... I'm sure more of the Philly elite can find their way to DE and MD instead of the very small NJ towns

 

[Skibum1970]

For us, one big reason is the all-inclusive nature of WDW. We talked about going to a national park but, for some personal reasons, it will be far easier to go to WDW. I love national parks but for, say, Yellowstone, it's driving a while to get to spots. Plus, we have some issues when it comes to hiking hilly terrain due to back issues. So, WDW is easier, at least this year.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Seems like all of rural eastern PA comes to OCMD to participate in the stupid car meets... I'm sure more of the Philly elite can find their way to DE and MD instead of the very small NJ towns

We are actually going to try Rehoboth this year. The place I rented for years in OCNJ topped out at 3500/ week. Not doing that and it was still 2 blocks to beach

 

[flynnibus]

We are actually going to try Rehoboth this year. The place I rented for years in OCNJ topped out at 3500/ week. Not doing that and it was still 2 blocks to beach

Rehoboth is nice because it is big enough for good food and businesses, but also small enough that those who want a beach town, but not a full on urban resort (Like OCMD) can both be satisfied. Parking near the boardwalk/beach is a pain, but manageable.

Roll down to Dewey Beach for more of the hardcore bars.

 

[networkpro]

For me, the "magic" of Disney is what Walt intended. He created the parks (as if anyone on this forum is unaware) as places where parents could play with their children. There is a long laundry list of reasons why I love visiting the parks, with or without my (now adult) children (they are safe, clean, and for the most part still well-maintained, and provide an immersion in things of my childhood that I have continued to love as an adult).

Sorry, but Walt Disney created the parks so that people of all ages could enjoy them. Children-only parks were part of his inspiration to do something different as the parents watched while the children played.

 

[networkpro]

Seems like all of rural eastern PA comes to OCMD to participate in the stupid car meets... I'm sure more of the Philly elite can find their way to DE and MD instead of the very small NJ towns

Dont forget the yahoos from the DC area that crowd 50 every weekend. That's a miserable three and a half hour drive.

 

[flynnibus]

Dont forget the yahoos from the DC area that crowd 50 every weekend. That's a miserable three and a half hour drive.

Piece of cake these days since the rt 50 improvements over the last few decades. No more drawbridge breakdowns, etc. Going home traffic is still pretty hard to avoid though.

The amount of PA people there is quite amazing tho... and apparently if you are in VA they all goto NC instead. Weird split at the potomac.

 

[Ayla]

Obviously depends a lot on which vacation spot you goto.. but even if snuffing a nose at 2k a week where you gotta bring your own linens... doesn't really justify $500-1000 a NIGHT for a single room+bathroom Marriott level hotel room. Your house probably also has more than 1 bedroom+bath

Total cost of a beach vacation is high... but you also control most of what you are willing to spend on. You can eat out, or eat in. You don't goto the $100 amusement park EVERY NIGHT. Food is overpriced, but you typically can pick the price range you want. The beach is usually free (except NJ.. lol).

So a WDW spot differs in that you basically are locked in to spending at the parks, while another vacation you may opt to do less or do various things. In some ways WDW was better in that regards because 'buying in bulk' WDW park days used to get very cheap.. giving you very affordable all day entertainment.

Now, you are getting nickle and dimed after being in the park... they've eliminated most of the 'bulk buying' discounts... and they've raised prices on top of all of that.

When we are at the beach, at most we eat out at most once a day.. rest of the meals are typically at 'home'. Entertainment is $30-$50/head when we do stuff, but you don't always go out every day... and our beach is free

This is going to sound snobby and it honestly isn't meant that way, but any time we travel, our rented bedroom/bathroom is seriously downgraded from what we have at home. lol

 

[flynnibus]

This is going to sound snobby and it honestly isn't meant that way, but any time we travel, our rented bedroom/bathroom is seriously downgraded from what we have at home. lol

I love housekeeping! Nothing like a pristine clean bed and bathroom when you roll in

Meanwhile at my house the trash needs taken out, the floor is dirty, and I'm dreading all the projects that I see need done, but aren't

 

[Ayla]

I love housekeeping! Nothing like a pristine clean bed and bathroom when you roll in

Meanwhile at my house the trash needs taken out, the floor is dirty, and I'm dreading all the projects that I see need done, but aren't

I'm the someone that does all that at home (makes the bed and cleans the bathrooms), so when I can have someone else do it for me, heck yes. lol

 

[iamgroot61]

Sorry, but Walt Disney created the parks so that people of all ages could enjoy them. Children-only parks were part of his inspiration to do something different as the parents watched while the children played.

Um, I'm sorry, but I never said "children only." I said the parks are places parents can play WITH their children.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Sorry, but Walt Disney created the parks so that people of all ages could enjoy them. Children-only parks were part of his inspiration to do something different as the parents watched while the children played.

Um, I'm sorry, but I never said "children only." I said the parks are places parents can play WITH their children.

I was about to say the same thing. I guess many people do not like to "play" along with their children. I did and I enjoyed my first trip there some 40 years ago with my children that I kept going back year after year for a total of 48 visits to WDW alone. Only the first 10 years were involved with touring with my children. That is how much the place "had me at hello". But it was never exactly as fun as those first 10 years were and the very first discovery year has never been surpassed in my enjoyment level.

All that said... People that have a solid income and reserves available at this point is the starting point. All the rest might still apply, but if you don't have the money to get in, you are not going to be able to reap those benefits. When it costs 3 or 4 times as much to do WDW as one person then it used to for a family of four, it easily goes beyond the means of many. So, first and foremost, the financial ability is one of the main reasons why people can still go there.

 

[Monkee Girl]

I think one of the reasons I'm never shocked at Disney prices is because I live in the "high as heck" Northeast.
Shore rentals are insane. Lol saw this article in the newspaper.

Priced out of the Jersey Shore: Some travelers opt for all-inclusive resorts instead as rental costs soar

Families across the region say they can no longer justify the cost of an annual week at the Jersey Shore. Some have found cheaper vacation spots elsewhere.

www.inquirer.com

“If I’m going to spend $3,000 to $5,000 by the time you’re done, with the house and the food and stuff and all the tchotchkes you buy … I’d rather go to Disney World,” she added. “If I want to spend that money, I’d rather have a bigger experience.

Vacations prices every where seem to out of control. I do admit, I'm amazed when folks tell me they can do Europe for the same price as Disney. We're going to portugal and it's costing me 6K in airfare alone.

disclaimer: I am in no way suggesting that Disney is cheap, just that for a new coming it ain't all that bad either

the hotels are absolutely out of this world right now. the Hard Rock wants almost $1000 per night night now for those summer weekend stays. So many shows I want to see but hate having to pay that kind of money if I don't want to drive the hour home. Golden nugget was around $300....it was $500+ for Memorial Day weekend. Though I want to go other places other than Disney World, sometimes the price is worth it to you when you realize the worth of everything else. People are gouging everywhere but at least I can get a Dole Whip at Disney, haha.

 

[Ayla]

the hotels are absolutely out of this world right now. the Hard Rock wants almost $1000 per night night now for those summer weekend stays. So many shows I want to see but hate having to pay that kind of money if I don't want to drive the hour home. Golden nugget was around $300....it was $500+ for Memorial Day weekend. Though I want to go other places other than Disney World, sometimes the price is worth it to you when you realize the worth of everything else. People are gouging everywhere but at least I can get a Dole Whip at Disney, haha.

Look around, odds are good a place local to you has Dole Whips. A place 25 mins away from me sells them, with different flavors. You don't have to go to Disney to get a Dole Whip.

 

[Disstevefan1]

It makes you wonder.

Disney raises their prices, then everyone else raises theirs because Disney did. Then the other places seem too expensive for what you get and Disney wins again.

 

[marni1971]

Have you seen the prices for Disneyland Paris. Cheap Cheap Cheap!

Have you seen the prices for Hong Kong Disneyland? Even cheaper!

Disney raises their prices, then everyone else raises theirs because Disney did. Then the other places seem too expensive for what you get and Disney wins again.

It’s not exactly winning at the moment. Holding their own, yes. But numbers are dropping (assuming you mean WDW)

 

[Disstevefan1]

Have you seen the prices for Hong Kong Disneyland? Even cheaper!

It’s not exactly winning at the moment. Holding their own, yes. But numbers are dropping (assuming you mean WDW)

I have not looked at the numbers.

Are they dropping just at WDW and going up at all other parks?

If that is the case it’s only ONE persons fault and you know who I am talking about.

 

[Monkee Girl]

Look around, odds are good a place local to you has Dole Whips. A place 25 mins away from me sells them, with different flavors. You don't have to go to Disney to get a Dole Whip.

yea, I have an ice cream place that sells them and it's pretty nice having them around. But there's one thing you're forgetting: 'It's not the saaaaammmmmeee!' haha