WDW Price Comparison - COMPLETED

[Nubs70]

Purpose: To categorize the price of alternative vacation prices to that of WDW.

Date: Aug 17 - 28
Travel Party: 4 adult, 1 child (age 13)
Travel Mode: Air - 1 stop (shortest flight) or non stop

WDW - $8,110.09

1. All Star Sports = $6005.09
2. 10 Day MYW + Park Hopper
3. 1 stop flight - GRR to MCO = $2105

London - $7572.32

1. Air BnB = $1800 = = $1611.82 after return of security deposit
   1. 3 bedroom
   2. 2 bath
2. Non stop - ORD to LGW = $ 3500
3. London Pass + Travel Card = $ 1144
4. Buckingham Palace Tour - 107 lb = $136.50
5. Excess Rail - 160 lb = $189
6. Lunch/Dinner = $991

In this case, it is cheaper to travel to Europe than to WDW.

Item of note: we did lose 1 day due to cancelled flight from ORD to LGW which would have incurred an additional $120 for food and rail pass. Sightseeing were all day events and we did not see every thing we wanted. We need to go back.

 

[larryz]

If you can find a hotel with GOOD full English breakfast you might be able to skip lunch - I did. But that would involve getting a better hotel.

The full breakfast was a highlight of going to England...

Tickets for all of the tourist attractions in London for your group - approx $800 US. Transportation costs to London will depend upon where you are staying and how you choose to get there - bus or train, or even which bus you take. You may or may not have to factor in additional transportation costs from a bus or train station. The cheapest fares might have time restrictions, ie, if you miss the bus you're out of luck and have to pay for another ticket - or private transport. It will cost around $100 by uber (as of 2015). And you might have difficulty with the number of people, so it might cost more. And it will involve more planning to get cheap transportation in London - best bet is to get an Oyster Card.

And who can go to London without seeing a play?

 

[larryz]

I estimate time travel to 1955 would cost $136,984,427.81.

You missed it by at least one comma.

 

[larryz]

I was looking at overall possible fees. It is $110 and $80 but then there is a standard fee of $35 or $60 for expedited service. So $640 for passports, sorry.

No need to 'pologize. If someone's going to London, they're probably not going to wait until the last minute four weeks out to get/renew their passports.

Incidentally, we just renewed ours in February, and it only took 10 days or so.

 

[The Mom]

No need to 'pologize. If someone's going to London, they're probably not going to wait until the last minute four weeks out to get/renew their passports.

Incidentally, we just renewed ours in February, and it only took 10 days or so.

And they're good for 10 years adult, 5 for the 13 year old in their party. So it shouldn't be factored in. But the conversion rate from pounds to USD must be factored in - if it hasn't been already. Plus the fee for using Credit cards or ATMs overseas. If meals aren't included, as they would be in the dining plan.

I know that we spent more than $60/day when we were there - but how could we not go to a nice old pub and have a pint? Or have High Tea at a nice hotel - even though we know it's geared at tourists?

 

[21stamps]

@Nubs70 I have an easy comparison for a just over 2weeks trip that we took in 2015.
I’ll cut our Disney trip down to 7 days in order to be accurate in comparison.


Here’s using the same format as you did-

Disney World 1 adult, 1 child age 5.
7 nights Polynesian Resort (includes 30% off discount) + DDP + Memory Maker + 7 Day tickets + transportation while there + transportation from airport= $5382.83

Key West, FL
7 nights Casa Marina Resort includes resort fee and hotel parking fee= $2763.21.

Key West is sooo much cheaper, right?

I’ll be back with the entertainment, parking, transportation, food costs...and we can see the total comparison at the end of each week.

 

[DarthVader]

WDW - $8,110.09

1. All Star Sports = $6005.09
2. 10 Day MYW + Park Hopper
3. 1 stop flight - GRR to MCO = $2105

Where are you getting 6,000 dollars?
I went through the process and its only coming too 3,949 (lets round up and say 4k) This is at the All Star Sports btw

I also went to expedia and looked at flight costs from GRR to MCO and they were 1,100

overall, I think your numbers for WDW are inflated and you can do a WDW vacation for a lot less then what you're showing.

 

[HwdStudio]

I see your “purpose” as quoted in your original post but what is the point of posting that here? We already know that WDW is expensive. Have you already spent a little time in Denver, CO?

Purpose: To categorize the price of alternative vacation prices to that of WDW.

Date: Aug 17 - 28
Travel Party: 4 adult, 1 child (age 13)
Travel Mode: Air - 1 stop (shortest flight) or non stop

WDW - $8,110.09

1. All Star Sports = $6005.09
2. 10 Day MYW + Park Hopper
3. 1 stop flight - GRR to MCO = $2105

London - $5,300

1. Air BnB = $1800
   1. 3 bedroom
   2. 2 bath
2. Non stop - ORD to LGW = $ 3500

 

[Nubs70]

Where are you getting 6,000 dollars?
I went through the process and its only coming too 3,949 (lets round up and say 4k) This is at the All Star Sports btw

I also went to expedia and looked at flight costs from GRR to MCO and they were 1,100

overall, I think your numbers for WDW are inflated and you can do a WDW vacation for a lot less then what you're showing.

View attachment 276913
View attachment 276914

4 adults 1 child

 

[Nubs70]

And they're good for 10 years adult, 5 for the 13 year old in their party. So it shouldn't be factored in. But the conversion rate from pounds to USD must be factored in - if it hasn't been already. Plus the fee for using Credit cards or ATMs overseas. If meals aren't included, as they would be in the dining plan.

I know that we spent more than $60/day when we were there - but how could we not go to a nice old pub and have a pint? Or have High Tea at a nice hotel - even though we know it's geared at tourists?

Currency conversion has been included.

Utilizing a no foreign transaction fee card. Little use of ATM card as possible while withdrawing daily max if used.

DDP runs about $60 per person per day. I think I can keep food tab under $300/day.

 

[Minnie Mum]

Geez you guys are getting worked up over this. How many of you have actually had a recent trip to both of these places (raising hand and waving it manically around). Here's what I know from our experience ( 2 adults). Cost wise it was pretty much a wash. The flight to London cost about twice that to MCO, but we also upgraded to PE for the longer flight, which we don't bother with for MCO. Our hotel was slightly (but only a few $/night) cheaper than the mod resorts we stay at in WDW. Meals cost about the same (we never do the DDP), and our dining patterns didn't differ much. Coffee and a pastry for bkfst, sandwich and soft drink or coffee for lunch, and a pub dinner (yes, with a pint). One night we had a curry instead. Pub meal prices were pretty similar to TS dinner prices in WDW, and the ale was immeasurably better. Transportation costs in the city - about $70 using the Oyster card. Attraction costs: one of the things I love about London, and many of the other great European cities, is that so many places are free. We paid half price for same day tickets to a play ($140), and we splurged on HP Studio tickets (about the same as the play). Could we have spent more? Of course. But we didn't need to. Our days were filled with visiting some of the greatest museums, galleries and churches in the world. You could add on all kinds of paid admissions to jack up the entertainment costs in London. Just as you could jack up the costs in WDW with hoppers, dessert parties, fireworks cruises, etc etc

And aside from the play and studio tour, I didn't need to make a single reservation all week. No FPs to figure out. No dining to book months in advance. No standing in long lines for hours every day. Cost: priceless.

 

[DarthVader]

4 adults 1 child

My mistake

 

[Nubs70]

Calculations are complete.

 

[21stamps]

Calculations are complete.

I’m so curious to see the tally.. when are you posting? Looking forward to it!

 

[Nubs70]

It is all summarized in initial post.

Cost was a little cheaper for London

 

[Mander]

I feel like the All Star Sports (where I assume you're needing two rooms) versus a 3 bedroom AirBnB is a bit unfair? They really aren't the same thing.

My husband and I were pricing out London hotels for a potential trip this year and the budget options were running us about the same as your AirBnB. If a family wanted to stay at a hotel, it would likely affect their costs quite a bit. Likewise a multi-bedroom AirBnB is going to be cheaper than AS Sports for Disney.

 

[Nubs70]

I feel like the All Star Sports (where I assume you're needing two rooms) versus a 3 bedroom AirBnB is a bit unfair? They really aren't the same thing.

My husband and I were pricing out London hotels for a potential trip this year and the budget options were running us about the same as your AirBnB. If a family wanted to stay at a hotel, it would likely affect their costs quite a bit. Likewise a multi-bedroom AirBnB is going to be cheaper than AS Sports for Disney.

My approach was to find accommodations/transpotation/food for 5 people. If it were just my wife and myself, a Central London AirBNB could have been gotten for the same price or a little cheaper than the 5 person AirBnB. Yes, AirBNB is a different animal than in the bubble WDW but one could also say an AirBNB in London is just as immersive as on site WDW is immersive. Our AirBNB was a 5 minute walk from the studios where Star Wars is filmed.

I prefer AirBNB over hotels as my work puts me in hotels about 3 nights a week. I find hotels very sterile and non inviting.

Please keep in mind, we needed to go about 15 miles out of London to find reasonable rates for a 5 person unit. Train into London Central was about a 45-60 minute journey by train. Transit time by local transport was similar to WDW busses.

Lessons learned:

1. When riding subway/train, unlike WDW, one does not wait until the vehicle has come to a full and complete stop before getting up to get bags together and get off of vehicle.
2. DO NOT place anything in the overhead storage on train.
3. Failure to follow points 1 and 2 resulted in a trip tp St Albans to retrieve my backpack with laptop inside.
4. When approaching a cross walk, look left/right left. Figured this out after almost getting clipped by 2 cars and 1 motorcycle.
5. Abbey Road is a freaking crosswalk. One would think one would have an epiphany during this pilgrimage. No, it's a freaking crosswalk.
6. British Museum is incredible.
7. Costa Flat Whites are crazy good. Starbucks Flat White is similar in name only.
8. London Zoo is just a zoo. Nothing of architectural redemption unlike the Berlin Zoo.
9. Buckingham Palace interior is beautiful.
10. Battersea Power Plant condos is my ideal residence.
11. Cafe's around Piccadilly Circus are expensive and the foods is crap.
12. Do not get pizza from the local Doner Kebab store.
13. Had the most fantastic Turkish food I have ever had in my life.
14. Windsor Castle is a mob scene but cool none the less.
15. St Paul's Cathedral is magnificent. Climb up to the whispering gallery and higher if you have the guts.
16. One of God's greatest gifts are women in sundresses.

All in all, London trip was slightly cheaper and got to see a ton of actual things. I think it is safe to say that one can experience London for about the same price as a trip to WDW.

 

[Mander]

My approach was to find accommodations/transpotation/food for 5 people. If it were just my wife and myself, a Central London AirBNB could have been gotten for the same price or a little cheaper than the 5 person AirBnB. Yes, AirBNB is a different animal than in the bubble WDW but one could also say an AirBNB in London is just as immersive as on site WDW is immersive. Our AirBNB was a 5 minute walk from the studios where Star Wars is filmed.

I prefer AirBNB over hotels as my work puts me in hotels about 3 nights a week. I find hotels very sterile and non inviting.

Please keep in mind, we needed to go about 15 miles out of London to find reasonable rates for a 5 person unit. Train into London Central was about a 45-60 minute journey by train. Transit time by local transport was similar to WDW busses.

Lessons learned:

1. When riding subway/train, unlike WDW, one does not wait until the vehicle has come to a full and complete stop before getting up to get bags together and get off of vehicle.
2. DO NOT place anything in the overhead storage on train.
3. Failure to follow points 1 and 2 resulted in a trip tp St Albans to retrieve my backpack with laptop inside.
4. When approaching a cross walk, look left/right left. Figured this out after almost getting clipped by 2 cars and 1 motorcycle.
5. Abbey Road is a freaking crosswalk. One would think one would have an epiphany during this pilgrimage. No, it's a freaking crosswalk.
6. British Museum is incredible.
7. Costa Flat Whites are crazy good. Starbucks Flat White is similar in name only.
8. London Zoo is just a zoo. Nothing of architectural redemption unlike the Berlin Zoo.
9. Buckingham Palace interior is beautiful.
10. Battersea Power Plant condos is my ideal residence.
11. Cafe's around Piccadilly Circus are expensive and the foods is crap.
12. Do not get pizza from the local Doner Kebab store.
13. Had the most fantastic Turkish food I have ever had in my life.
14. Windsor Castle is a mob scene but cool none the less.
15. St Paul's Cathedral is magnificent. Climb up to the whispering gallery and higher if you have the guts.
16. One of God's greatest gifts are women in sundresses.

All in all, London trip was slightly cheaper and got to see a ton of actual things. I think it is safe to say that one can experience London for about the same price as a trip to WDW.

I still think it's hurts your comparison though. Running similar dates for August 2019, I was able to find AirBnBs very close to WDW for less than $1,000 total. That would change the end total for a Disney vacation drastically. The same would occur if you looked for a hotel reservation for London- even going out of the city. Needing two rooms increases your hotel cost by quite a bit. Not every

I really think to make it a fair comparison you need to be using the same type of lodging. I know when my parents took us to WDW as kids (five total, priced at 3 adults and 2 children) we always stayed offsite in a rented house or condo. If you wanted all those things for five people, there are much more affordable ways to do Disney than two rooms at an All Star resort. Trips to Disney are what you make them- depending on what you chose you could come in higher than a trip to London but also much lower.