Planning a May trip. Wow, what a difference in price three years make.

Mr. Pricklepants

Mr. Pricklepants

Member
I am/was in the beginning stages of planning a trip to WDW for mid-May, and after calling for a quote, financially I don't know if I see the value in a Disney vacation. I may have just been priced-out for a Disney vacation.

Like I said, today i called Disney to inquire into a Disney All Star Movies-preferred room, dining plan for seven nights/eight days and park hopper tickets for six days. The rep gave us a quote of $3450 and this is after the fun and sun package pricing. I thought this seemed a bit high, so I started digging up the confirmation and receipt from our May 2014 trip. When I saw the price and details of the previous trip I was a bit shocked.

Some details of the 2014 trip: May 10-17, 2014 we, my wife, my DD age 5 stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, had the Disney dining plan, park hopper tickets for six days and the memory maker for $4039. Loved the Wilderness Lodge. We had a good trip despite an issue from something that I attribute to Disney's fault, but I have no way to back up my claim and something else that cast a small shadow on the trip. It could have been better, but it still was nice.

Our 2014 trip was our most expensive vacation that we have been on and I thought we could go to Disney, stay at a value resort for a lot cheaper than a deluxe and try to have a better overall trip to cancel the bad vibes we had on the last one. As of right now I don't know if I will bother putting down the $200 deposit to hold the current price quote. I was really looking forward in going back, but the price for tickets, hotel, Disney dining, airfare, parking, and various other little things such as a few sovereigns, dessert etc., makes renting an airbnb house on the ocean for a week sounds a heck of a lot better and so much cheaper.

Any one else have a similar story where you thought you were going to go to Disney for cheap, but it just didn't happen or was I just spoiled in the pricing that I received for the 2014 trip?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
RustySpork

RustySpork

Oscar Mayer Memer
SAV said:
IMO if it is a decision of going and staying off site vs. not going, then I'd just go and stay off-site. It really isn't a big deal to hop in the car and drive to your off-site hotel. Many times the accommodations are better for less money.

And another way to get savings is to not do the DDP or Park Hop. Neither are necessary.
Click to expand...

Some of the hotels in the Disney Springs area have complimentary shuttle service to DS and all of the Disney parks. Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, B Resort and Spa, etc.
 
Upvote 0
Mr. Pricklepants

Mr. Pricklepants

Member
Original Poster
21stamps said:
I get it. And I do think people should spoil themselves on vacation. But most of the time we can't do everything we want and remain within budget. I'd love to be staying in a Haven suite on my June cruise.. I mean as in salivating over it.. but I'm not. I'm staying in a regular stateroom bc that's what my budget allows. We'll still have a fabulous time.

Just pick and choose what's most important, then you can have Disney and a college fund :)
Click to expand...
21stamps said:
Your fruit comment- that's my point!!!

How much is a piece of fruit? Not enough to make using a credit worth it for sure. You would be saving money with OOP.
I really can't imagine anyone eating 2 $5 snacks and 2 desserts per day...plus 3 full meals. You wouldn't be able to walk in the 100 degree heat.lol. We ate our way "snacking" around the World Showcase in December, but only had 1 full meal besides that, and only bc it was a dining package..I would have rather done without.

I bet if you go back and itemize expenses, remove the dining plan and hoppers..figure out how you would actually eat.. you'd be shocked at what you would see.
Click to expand...

I understand where you are coming from, but i have seen my itemized expenses and quite frankly we didn't spend or buy anything outrageous. I was happy with the pricing of 2014 vacation. It was paid for in cash. No credit cards. The fruit comment, maybe happened once, but I did comb through the itemized dining charges and yes the dining plan saved us money compared to if we didn't use it. Sure we also did three character meals so that is probably what "saved" us some dollars. I am not rich, but I am also not cheap and I don't even go away on vacations every year, but when I do I want to enjoy myself in certain ways.

Maybe it's just me, but when I'm up at 8 a.m and walking non-stop until like 10-11 p.m. I tend to eat a bit more. It's fun, it's an experience that only happens once every few years.

I guess once difference between you and me is if I can't get a balcony room on cruise ship, I don't want to go. It's a deal breaker. I won't settle for a interior cabin box with no natural light. My wife is the same way. To me certain things define a trip. When I go on a certain type of vacation, I want to do certain key things, live in a certain way that says to me, yippee I'm on vacation and living it up. If I can't do that, then maybe this is not the year for a Disney vacation for me. I live my daily life wondering what bills etc that need to be paid and I don't want that to carry over during a time of my life when I'm supposed to be living carefree.
 
Upvote 0
21stamps

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Mr. Pricklepants said:
I understand where you are coming from, but i have seen my itemized expenses and quite frankly we didn't spend or buy anything outrageous. I was happy with the pricing of 2014 vacation. It was paid for in cash. No credit cards. The fruit comment, maybe happened once, but I did comb through the itemized dining charges and yes the dining plan saved us money compared to if we didn't use it. Sure we also did three character meals so that is probably what "saved" us some dollars. I am not rich, but I am also not cheap and I don't even go away on vacations every year, but when I do I want to enjoy myself in certain ways.

Maybe it's just me, but when I'm up at 8 a.m and walking non-stop until like 10-11 p.m. I tend to eat a bit more. It's fun, it's an experience that only happens once every few years.

I guess once difference between you and me is if I can't get a balcony room on cruise ship, I don't want to go. It's a deal breaker. I won't settle for a interior cabin box with no natural light. My wife is the same way. To me certain things define a trip. When I go on a certain type of vacation, I want to do certain key things, live in a certain way that says to me, yippee I'm on vacation and living it up. If I can't do that, then maybe this is not the year for a Disney vacation for me. I live my daily life wondering what bills etc that need to be paid and I don't want that to carry over during a time of my life when I'm supposed to be living carefree.
Click to expand...

I do have a balcony on my cruise, I would never go on one otherwise. The Haven has nothing to do with a balcony..there's a lot more included with the cruise...even beyond regular concierge suites. I'd love to do it on this one, but I'm not paying the price of a Haven suite on an Alaskan cruise..it's a substantially higher priced Haven than on other itineraries... Even though i want it.. I'm still willing to go without.

That's what I meant.. if the choice is between going, or not going if you don't get exactly every single thing that you want.. then I think the better choice is to go. No, a vacation shouldn't be penny pinching or watching what you eat.. but a vacation can still happen when compromising on some points. Hoppers, several character/TS meals. Not giving up all..just cutting back.

It's obviously your money and your decision..but you can bring down that price quite a bit.. and won't starve by doing so.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Laketravis

Laketravis

Well-Known Member
CaptainAmerica said:
You got breakfast from Garden Grocer AND used the dining plan? I've said before that I'm a big guy and a big eater but that's a TON of food.
Click to expand...

Mr. Pricklepants said:
Maybe it's just me, but when I'm up at 8 a.m and walking non-stop until like 10-11 p.m. I tend to eat a bit more. It's fun, it's an experience that only happens once every few years....
Click to expand...

We upgraded free dining one year to Deluxe. Three TS's and two snacks every day. Big mistake because I felt like we absolutely HAD to use all of the credits. I must have gained 10 pounds over the course of those 9 days.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Mr. Pricklepants

Mr. Pricklepants

Member
Original Poster
RustySpork said:
Some of the hotels in the Disney Springs area have complimentary shuttle service to DS and all of the Disney parks. Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, B Resort and Spa, etc.
Click to expand...
This is something that I still need to look into.

To everyone who thinks i'm really strange, I will be the first one to agree with you. Why yes I'm very strange and crass. I guess I have beating this food thing into a dead horse for a while now and yes most of you are correct that i could probably get by without the dining plan without a problem.

Do I really want to spend the money at a place that has less attractions and features that are not working(waterfalls) than it did when I originally went a few years ago? Sure Pandora will be open, but will I want to battle the massive crowds to witness the floating scenery? Hollywood Studios is half under construction. The parts of Epcot that is not the World Showcase is either tired, vacant or rides turned into shops/meet and greets. Again this is coming from someone who loves Disney, but is it worth it? It must be, because even with all of this, I still want to go.Disney has a special place in my heart since my wife and I honeymooned there over 15 years ago. So much has changed and it's not all for the better especially the attendance levels.
 
Upvote 0
DiSnEyF@n

DiSnEyF@n

Well-Known Member
Mr. Pricklepants said:
This is something that I still need to look into.

To everyone who thinks i'm really strange, I will be the first one to agree with you. Why yes I'm very strange and crass. I guess I have beating this food thing into a dead horse for a while now and yes most of you are correct that i could probably get by without the dining plan without a problem.

Do I really want to spend the money at a place that has less attractions and features that are not working(waterfalls) than it did when I originally went a few years ago? Sure Pandora will be open, but will I want to battle the massive crowds to witness the floating scenery? Hollywood Studios is half under construction. The parts of Epcot that is not the World Showcase is either tired, vacant or rides turned into shops/meet and greets. Again this is coming from someone who loves Disney, but is it worth it? It must be, because even with all of this, I still want to go.Disney has a special place in my heart since my wife and I honeymooned there over 15 years ago. So much has changed and it's not all for the better especially the attendance levels.
Click to expand...

The last 2 sentences is where it's at.... It's in your heart... Just go, have fun and know that you're spending a lot but it's WORTH the money spent and the memories you'll make. One of my most favorite things to do is watch our Disney vacation home videos. I must watch one like once a week. The fond memories plus seeing the smiles on my kids face as well as my husband's face is what makes it all worth it.
 
Upvote 0
RustySpork

RustySpork

Oscar Mayer Memer
Mr. Pricklepants said:
This is something that I still need to look into.
Click to expand...

When you're researching the hotels, just check the parks link at the hotel itself or transportation and it should tell you if there's complementary service. The DS resort area shuttles are funded by a chain of hotels so there are a bunch of them that participate. They go from hotel to hotel to hotel and then to the parks. It's been my experience that it's in some cases faster than WDW transportation.
 
Upvote 0
21stamps

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Mr. Pricklepants said:
This is something that I still need to look into.

To everyone who thinks i'm really strange, I will be the first one to agree with you. Why yes I'm very strange and crass. I guess I have beating this food thing into a dead horse for a while now and yes most of you are correct that i could probably get by without the dining plan without a problem.

Do I really want to spend the money at a place that has less attractions and features that are not working(waterfalls) than it did when I originally went a few years ago? Sure Pandora will be open, but will I want to battle the massive crowds to witness the floating scenery? Hollywood Studios is half under construction. The parts of Epcot that is not the World Showcase is either tired, vacant or rides turned into shops/meet and greets. Again this is coming from someone who loves Disney, but is it worth it? It must be, because even with all of this, I still want to go.Disney has a special place in my heart since my wife and I honeymooned there over 15 years ago. So much has changed and it's not all for the better especially the attendance levels.
Click to expand...
Here's the question you need to ask yourself- Does your daughter share those same hesitations, or does she just want to go to Disney World? If it's the latter, then go, and have a magical time with her. :)
 
Upvote 0
Laketravis

Laketravis

Well-Known Member
Mr. Pricklepants said:
This is something that I still need to look into.

To everyone who thinks i'm really strange, I will be the first one to agree with you. Why yes I'm very strange and crass. I guess I have beating this food thing into a dead horse for a while now and yes most of you are correct that i could probably get by without the dining plan without a problem.

Do I really want to spend the money at a place that has less attractions and features that are not working(waterfalls) than it did when I originally went a few years ago? Sure Pandora will be open, but will I want to battle the massive crowds to witness the floating scenery? Hollywood Studios is half under construction. The parts of Epcot that is not the World Showcase is either tired, vacant or rides turned into shops/meet and greets. Again this is coming from someone who loves Disney, but is it worth it? It must be, because even with all of this, I still want to go.Disney has a special place in my heart since my wife and I honeymooned there over 15 years ago. So much has changed and it's not all for the better especially the attendance levels.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on all of that, but like I said earlier in this post I didn't miss much when I finally mustered up the courage one year to venture off-site and see what sort of dining options there were just beyond the invisible fence. And I was amazed. Nobody believed me when I returned to "the world" and told them of my journeys, of course, but that was their loss. :)

I say give off-site dining and accommodations a try and spend as much time in the parks as you want or can stand.
 
Upvote 0
RustySpork

RustySpork

Oscar Mayer Memer
Laketravis said:
I'm with you on all of that, but like I said earlier in this post I didn't miss much when I finally mustered up the courage one year to venture off-site and see what sort of dining options there were just beyond the invisible fence. And I was amazed. Nobody believed me when I returned to "the world" and told them of my journeys, of course, but that was their loss. :)
Click to expand...

There are so many incredible options around Orlando, it's utterly amazing how good we have it here.
 
Upvote 0
Mr. Pricklepants

Mr. Pricklepants

Member
Original Poster
DiSnEyF@n said:
The last 2 sentences is where it's at.... It's in your heart... Just go, have fun and know that you're spending a lot but it's WORTH the money spent and the memories you'll make. One of my most favorite things to do is watch our Disney vacation home videos. I must watch one like once a week. The fond memories plus seeing the smiles on my kids face as well as my husband's face is what makes it all worth it.
Click to expand...

I don't have any videos, but what we like to do now is compare our pictures taken in front of the castle. In our honeymoon photo there was people around but you could still see the park between the crowd and then in the 2014 picture, you have a wall of people with the photographers and lines of people 8-10 deep. You can see the park only over the heads and this was according to the touring guide people a 4 out of 10. We found Mickey Mouse dressed up in a beefeater uniform near England in Epcot just walking around and there was no huge crowds trying to get his photo. There might have been a handful of people but no 40 minute wait like we experienced in 2014. (or 8 hours for Anna and Elsa for the truly weird who waited in that line)

And then I can look at pics of the 1984 December trip my family took where it was like only one of two times that it was snow was recorded in falling in Disney. The park was sooooo empty. I remember riding the Big Thunder Railroad over and over again, sometimes we didn't even have to get out and get back in the non-existent line.
 
Upvote 0
Mr. Pricklepants

Mr. Pricklepants

Member
Original Poster
21stamps said:
Here's the question you need to ask yourself- Does your daughter share those same hesitations, or does she just want to go to Disney World? If it's the latter, then go, and have a magical time with her. :)
Click to expand...

My daughter likes new experiences and she would rather go on a cruise especially since we said that we would be staying a value with no water slide. I guess that is one of her Disney vacation demands. Must have a water slide.

Cruising has changed for the worse too with all the add-on, just like what Disney has been doing over the years. I'm still pulling for a Disney trip or a bathroom remodel and she wants to go on a cruise. The wife is flexible. Nice.
 
Upvote 0
CaptainAmerica

CaptainAmerica

Well-Known Member
Mr. Pricklepants said:
I never thought I would be explaining my life choices on a Disney board, but hey, here we are. Yes, we did Garden Grocer and the dining plan. Probably spent $125-150 on the grocer, but again that was mainly for breakfast stuff and who knows what else. Maybe I can find my order form for that. We didn't really have anything to throw out either, expect maybe for some milk.

At that time, my wife and I didn't eat land meat. So it was fish and veggies. I love both, but neither keeps you full that long trekking like 10 miles a day over the Disney wastelands. Plus if you were in line with me, you might have been offered some yummy munchies. I make a mean salted, cinnamon and cocoa almonds. That was a hit on the plane. Again i'm not or need to be attending weight watchers. (NNTIATWWT)
Click to expand...
You don't need to explain anything to me but you came here looking for suggestions on how to lower the cost of your trip. I think reevaluating your food budget might be an opportunity to save a few (hundred) bucks.
 
Upvote 0
JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
You may want to schedule a trip to straddle May 11 and 12. See the last Wishes on May 11. See the first Happily Ever After fireworks on May 12.
 
Upvote 0
21stamps

21stamps

Well-Known Member
Mr. Pricklepants said:
My daughter likes new experiences and she would rather go on a cruise especially since we said that we would be staying a value with no water slide. I guess that is one of her Disney vacation demands. Must have a water slide.

Cruising has changed for the worse too with all the add-on, just like what Disney has been doing over the years. I'm still pulling for a Disney trip or a bathroom remodel and she wants to go on a cruise. The wife is flexible. Nice.
Click to expand...
Ok sorry. I misunderstood. I thought it was a beach vacation vs WDW.

Good luck whatever you decide! You could do a WDW/beach vacay combo..or WDW/cruise combo.. and have the best of both worlds!
 
Upvote 0

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom