Ive said for years that unless youre in state disney isnt meant to be a yearly trip (though this message board seems to disagree with all you lucky people going often) Its at this point an every 3-5 years park, not just for cost but there are so many other places to see and do. Do disney the right way every few years then enjoy the rest of the world the other years. It will make disney much more special, and they probably wont have added much in that time anyway.
It does depends somewhat on how one does Disney though.
I mean some visitors always keep visits the same, but there are a number of ways to modify WDW visits to increase frequency.
Just three options:
1. Grand Floridian, 9 nights, 12/24-1/2, family of 4, 10-day park hopper plus = $13,720 - and even that is not a fancy suite, just a regular garden view room. A number of those go for upwards of $3,000 a night during Christmas week, though it should perhaps be noted that the big suites usually include club level. Ooph! the bungalows at Poly go for about $5,000/night Christmas week! Crazy!
2. Knights Inn Maingate $36/night - $145 total for 3 nights 9/14-9/17, with3 day non-hoppers $1329 = $1474
3. There are 2 very new hotels in the Flamingo Crossings area. Suites go for about $100/night, including breakfast 4 nights+ 4-day park tickets (UT)=$2064
Vacation food costs can also vary quite wildly. On the one hand, one can spend quite a bit eating at WDW's signature dining locations, especially if you add a nice bottle of wine. I found multiple options in the $75+ category. Oooph! a Macallan 25-year 2-ounce pour will set one back $140! Even a mere Johnnie Walker 2-ounce will set one back $40.
On the other hand. At times, I have survived WDW weekends on a very low food budget. I have tried almost every variation, but it often involves granola bars, cereal, maybe something like Crystal Light, whole fruits (oranges + apples). Low budget dinners can be bought from a grocery store, maybe fast food, pizza. Within WDW, Blaze Pizza is a pretty amazingly good deal. they sell an unlimited toppings to pizza for $11, and it is big enough to feed two kids/smaller appetites. (I mean not 2 teens, but those in the kid-meal range.) Drinking free ice water with meals also keeps costs low.
If we want something besides water, we just put a few cans in our day-bag, or else we wait until we're back at the hotel. One easy option is to bring something like hot chocolate packets, tea, instant drops. (I know, not the healthiest option, but neither is soda.)
I realize these cuts aren't for everyone, and I agree WDW is now expensive, I'm just trying pointing out a few strategies I've honed over the years for visiting WDW on a tighter budget. Still one more low-budget option is to visit FL is to go to WDW for just 1-2 days and pair that with a few days at a FL beach or maybe like a State/National Park. Parks can be a super-bargain way to have fun.
