To think going to Disney is a ridiculous indulgence?

[thoroughlymodernmummy]

Now, maybe i would feel differently if I could afford to go without completely skunk ring myself but as it stands, we can't and I can't help but think that spending such huge amounts on one holiday is crazy!

We watch Disney and enjoy it, and I'm well aware that it's people's money to spend how they like but I just can't help but think it's a silly wage of money? Anyone agree?

YABU but I think you know that.

I've never been to Disney, US and almost certainly never will. It just isn't my thing and I don't love my children enough to make my annual holiday all about them . But I still spend huge amounts of money on holidays because although I'm a massive cheapskate in some ways (only stay in youth hostels and mainly self cater) I also tend to go to places that are a long and expensive journey away and then travel for several weeks at a time (teacher and terrified of flying so have the time and have to make it worth the journey). I think travel of a person's choice is never a waste of money. It's one of the few things I don't grudge spending on and keep buying of things/stuff to a minimum so we can go away every summer.

I've been to EuroDisney a couple of times because children were nagging - but we were in Paris anyway so it was just like a rather expensive version of a day out to Alton Towers.

Curious as to what type of holiday meets ops approval? I imagine something worthy like hiking up hills in the rain.

Just got back - we managed 2 weeks in California for the same as friends paid for 2 weeks in Cornwall. We are not Disney fans but spent 2 days there, the rest of the time seeing other stuff in California. Admit Dh and I were won over by Disney - and so glad we got to take our kids there while they are young. Universal studios were brilliant too and knots berry farm soak city.. Can imagine ops cuts bum face about that too!

I don't care how people spend their holidays. I personally loathe everything the Disney Corp stands for and would never spend any time or money there. But that is just me.

Curious as to what type of holiday meets ops approval? I imagine something worthy like hiking up hills in the rain

it's not about worthiness or snobbery

It's about the fact that I can't think of one other destination that people frequently say you "must do" with your children

Not my thing at all. Would prefer my kids' childhood experiences to be a little less 'manufactured' for want of a better word.

But, it's no more or less indulgent than any other holiday. If you have the money and want to go then crack on.

We went to Disneyland Paris for the day as staying in the area and thought it was crap tbh. Paul tons park much better. The California Disney is in a different league.

Many Brits view of Disney as some sort of magical experience your kids must have is funny though. The Americans we met see it as just another theme park, nice to go but take it or leave it whereas we know people who feel their kids are deprived if they never get to go.

We took the DC to Disney in Paris one March , and it was brilliant
Bloody perishing freezing with snow ( yes I remember the flying carpets with DS driving in the sleet , oh yes )
And we took them to Disneyland in Florida a few years later ( they were. 10 and 12 ) and it was bloody lovely m and worth every plenty
Have so many photos , and they remember it ( 19 and 21 now )
If you would like to go , and can get the money together , go for it
If not , we'll go somewhere else , or stay at home
Your choice

Ooh you'd find us even more ridiculous then! We go to Florida most years and fly into Miami or Orlando then drive down to the South West coast just outside Naples for 3 weeks and don't bother with the parks at all but its costs more than just a couple of grand! That said when our 11 week old LO is older we will of course drive up there for the weekend (4 hours drive each way) and take him to Disney,we're off there for Christmas this year just booked We both work hard and save hard so why not enjoy ourselves whilst we can.

sandy

Its not a destination but i am always being told that i should take my children skiing

And when you say that you dont fancy it they get this look on their face which suggests that they are trying to remember the number of social services so they can get the children taken into care

Just come back from florida

Cost a lot more than a few grand...sodding august prices!!

How much are we talking for a disney florida trip in school summer holidays for 4?

I would say 10 grand

Flights 4k
Acc 2 k
Tickets 2k
Food and other spending 2 k

Sounds about right Dorothy depending on what you want to do

We booked separately so villa was £900/£1000 for two weeks. Flights were 1k each, tickets for seaworld, universal and disney were about 2k

Cant remember car hire and we do eat out all the time

It cost us a couple of grand less than that for 5 of us, staying in a deluxe Disney hotel.

You can get a villa for £300 per week, or a Holiday Inn room at £30 per night if you're not going to do much but sleep there. Flights are approx £1k per person and Disney park pass is around £280 per person per week

We did get the dining plan thrown in though so needed less spending money

There are 5 of us and we stayed in a universal hotel for a week

Dh reckons final bill will be 13/14k

Would be a total waste of money to us, it's my idea of hell, all that corporate schmaltzy crap. DD would disagree but when she is old enough to pay for a holiday she can pay for herself!

You could do it for a lot less than 10K, I'm sure.

Flights for August 2017 are currently available for £2400 for 4 people
Private room for 4 people in a hostel with shuttle to the parks available in August 2017 for £60 per room per night (so assuming 2 week holiday for 4 people that's £840)
I assume most people wouldn't want to spend the full 2 weeks in the park but let's assume they do and add the full 2K for that.
Someone said you can take food in? So self catering for 2 weeks (hostel has free breakfast and will have a fully equipped kitchen) for 4 people could probably be done for £500 even allowing for buying some drinks and meals out.

Even with souvenirs and travel I think you could do a 2 week school holiday trip to Florida for 4 people for well under 5K

Flights to California for 4 £2500
Accommodation free
Car free (magic of home exchange)

Entrance to parks £300 a day - we only went 2 days we all agreed that was enough. Our house was very close so got there early.

I don't count food as a holiday expense as we would be buying food at home anyway.

Rest of holiday enjoying southern California (hiking, beaches, desert, exploring Los Angeles baseball etc)

I am currently on the final week of a 3 week holiday in Orlando. I'm not going to justify why, each to their own, but we're having a ball.
3 weeks in a 5 bed, 3 bath house with private pool overlooking a lake by Champions Gate for the 4 of us (myself, dh, dd and ds) plus 3 weeks car hire, 14 day Disney passes, premium economy flights out and upper class flights back with virgin has come in at about £9k.
We costed same 3 weeks at a Disney hotel with economy flights and it came in around £12k. Dh has used air miles but not a massive amount. We reckon we'll spend about £3k in the 3 weeks.
Worth it? Fuck yes. We got married in June so this us our familymoon. Kids have had a ball, dh and I have been skinny dipping after they're in bed. Utter bliss.

We've just done Disneyland in California a few weeks ago. We had three days in the park and at the Grand Californian Hotel. It was nice and the kids liked it, but the cost of everything!! I grew up going there as a child and could actually take it or leave it, but DH never went as a kid and really wanted to go. My kids are a good age for it, but not really into Disney things so it was just the rides they were into. The queues were super long and it was very hot (no surprises) and I don't think we'll go back to Disney despite going to California to visit family regularly. I don't think it is a must do for childhood. A ride is a ride!

I do - but we ski, so who am I to judge? I scrape by each month and dig into savings/inheritance from grandparents for every holiday or trip. I think it's a fabulous way to spend the money but the idea of throwing so much of it at a trip to Disney does slightly nauseate me. I'm thinking about it for next year as my brother and SIL are taking their DC so it might be fun and I won't have to suffer meeting princesses as their oldest DC finds it equally odd, but I doubt it. Plus, 4 year olds on a flight that long

We did it at springbank

Flights £3000
Acc £250 (shared cost with another family)
Tickets 1500

Tbh for 2 weeks with entertainment everyday it was good value and the kids loved it. It's not just about rides it's about the shows, the characters the experience.

I would rather stick pins in my eyes than go on holiday anywhere because to me it's all a waste of money and time! I'm not a fan of Disney but it's no worse than any other holiday.