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?

I'm pricing it up now.

What we're looking at is: villa with pool - £2k for 2weeks

Flights: £1k pp next August. Or £6-700 if we fly indirectly.

Car hire.

Haven't looked at the price for a couple of days in DW yet (too scared!) but we'll do that, maybe Universal/Harry Potter, plus Discovery Cove. We also plan to see the Everglades.

There are 5 of us. It's going to cost a lot.

The American Airlines man - Philly - Mco route is very doable. You land 6.30pm having cleared immigration in Philly. Direct virgin you land 3.30 but then have an hour immigration. So maybe 2 hours longer indirect but save probably £500 each in school hols. American don't charge to sit together either - with virgin you are looking another £200 per family for that. Try sky scanner or kayak for flights.

Discovery give us very expensive I've never been. (Price and doesn't appeal)It includes sea world and aquatica and Busch tickets. For 5 you are looking at £2000 for discovery give and universal tickets. Villa seems expensive have you tried the dibb villa renters section.

I would recommend the Disney travel company. This is only for a week - but a family of 4 at a moderate disneyworld resort in Jan/Feb is £2600. This includes:
Room
Free transfers to and from airport
$100 spending money
Transportation to all parks
14 day park tickets
Dining plan (drinks, snacks, lunch and full sit down meal including character dining) so all food included.
Free memory maker (digital photos)

Obviously you can stay as long as you want but the price quoted was only a week. We tend to do a Disney resort for a week and then move into a cheaper hotel to do any other attractions

Rufus - my apologies, I haven't actually been on the version of the holiday I costed, I just looked it up on the internet. So I might have missed hidden costs, I wasn't researching it properly, was just curious.

But this is the skyscanner page which will give you the £600 pp flights (so £3000 for you, not £2400, I was costing for 4 people) for August 2017

www.skyscanner.net/transport/flights/lond/mco/cheap-flights-from-london-to-orlando-international.html?adults=1&children=0&adultsv2=1&childrenv2&infants=0&cabinclass=economy&rtn=1&preferdirects=false&outboundaltsenabled=false&inboundaltsenabled=false&oym=1708&iym=1708&ref=home&selectedoday=01&selectediday=14

The hostel was the first hit on hostelworld if you are interested in that but, again, it was a 4 person room, they didn't have one for all 5 of you to be together - but you could split up for not that much more money.

manic

Will look at flights (we only got back on Friday) its the august prices which screw us...that and needing to be back for exam results

We went in 2008 and it cost 6.5k, 2011 was 10k, 2014 was 12k and this year hasnt been priced so probably similar

And yes a villa for 2k is very expensive!!!

We went begining of July.
Direct flights for 3 cost under £2k (eldest is classed as an adult and I paid extra to sit together as they were messing about with seating so you could do it cheaper if you wanted to)

Hotel s/c appartment with breakfast, coffee/tea on tap all day, pool, gym, bbq area, free buses to Disney and token cost to Universal, and other amenities £1200 for 2 weeks (no more than some of the euro' holiday places I looked at)

Unlimited 14 day passes to all Disney and Universal parks £1300 (both kids classed as adults) (not seaworld)

We took £4k spending money as not driving and didnt want to run short of money for transport, tips, shopping etc. Brought over £1k back.

It was a great holiday, so many memories, kids first time abroad so made it memorable Its not just the rides it the whole place, there is so much detail, so much to see and do, Disney was great too, Epcot fireworks/lazer display was stunning And the thunder and lightning storms at night were a free show

I am so glad we were able to do it, hell never mind the kids I have always wanted to go to Universal and due to circumstances I could afford it and thought it was now or never!

If its something you want to do, if you can afford it then it isnt an expensive waste of money, its your holiday, your choice.

I think that YABU. Personally I wouldn't save for so many years just to please the kids but for other people it's not such a financial stretch and lots of adults like Disney in their own right .
We have just started saving for a safari holiday, which we plan to take in 2020 - that's a ridiculous indulgence too if you like. Realisation of a dream for me and dh, kids'll have a good time but ds2 would certainly prefer Disney. But I can't face 4 years overtime for something I'll hate.

Sorry to hijack this thread but those who have been to DLP is it possible to tell me or PM me the cheapest way to do it? Because I know there's lots of hotels etc and some can be so pricey and is it best booking through someone other than their official site?

BTW nobody ever told me that I 'had' to take kids to disney world, my choice, my kids!

And the standard everywhere was exeptional, from the customs staff (even though it took forever to go through ) to the hotel staff to the parks staff in all the places we visited. Everyone was friendly and helpful and we couldnt fault any of it.

Of course it is, but no more so than any other holiday, buying expensive food, having an expensive house or car.

If you can afford it, each to their own. And the park tickets work out quite cheap if you buy one of the multiday deal things - considering how much entertainment there is once you're in there.

We went last year to Florida, DH was not looking forward to it (I'd already been twice so knew what to expect) once we got there he was like a kid at Christmas, me and him were worse than the kids!

Going back again in a couple of weeks and already thinking about booking for next year.

We live for our holidays and Florida/Disney is what we like.

Cost us £8k in total last year (that includes spending money) and it's costing us £7k this year. Family of 4

Nearly £60 a day for 3 at Chessington. £123 per day for 3 at Legoland
Our tickets worked out at £28 p/p per day for both Disney and Universal (and they have several parks each!) with unlimited use.

Did it once in Florida - we all enjoyed it but I had my fill and will never go again, even when we've been close to another Disney location the kids know we will not return.

Just got back from Disney in Orlando - was fantastic and worth every penny (my parents paid though as I'm a student).

A beach in the Maldives is NOT the same as a beach in Spain , how silly.

All holidays are indulgences - that's the point.

I'm so pleased to read of so many people enjoying Disney.

I love it and I'm already looking forward to seeing Fantasmic again the first night we're there.

Like I.posted before, me dh, dd,and ds are currently in Orlando on a 3 week familymoon. Dh sorted it all. £2100 for 3 weeks in a lovely 5 bed 3 bath villa with pool. £1500 I think on 14 day Disney passes (7 days plus 7 free). We flew out direct with virgin premium economy and we fly back on Saturday via Atlanta, first class so kids can sleep as we land on Sunday and they start back to school on Monday. Dh spent 2 hrs on terror phone to virgin sorting it out. He bought kids first class seats and used the air miles earned to combine with current ones to get our,seats. Not sure how he did it exactly but he is an experienced traveller and travels a lot on business (self employed so no company policies to stick to)
We're having a ball. Kids too small to want to go on big rides (7 and 4) so it's easy getting fast pass + for the rides they really want to do and dh and I aren't bothered. I hugged Mickey mouse on Saturday and we loved the lunch in Cinderella's castle that I paid for 6 months ago.
We're back off to the magic kingdom today, have visited the water parks 3 times but are also doing an air boat ride on Thursday. Yes it's hot and very humid but the American schools went back about a week ago, so it's a lot less busy here. We've probably spent £13k incl spends but we've eaten out in some amazing places too. We can afford it but will have cheaper hols next yr and went for a week in Yorkshire last yr.

I have done two expensive holidays in my life, and also been to disney land florida which for a single person 28 years ago was not expensive, both dc have been to disney paris as teens by themselves and that was not expensive either an they had a fantastic time.
Went to the maldives for honeymoon and the beaches are not the same as spain, it is amazing.We spent 2 weeks in a Maldives followed by a week touring Sri Lanka one of my favorite memories was standing in the sea watching the fruit bats fly over from the next island, and last time i looked spain doesnt have coral reefs that you walk out to and snorkel.
Am currently on my 2nd expensive holiday to celebrate our silver anniversary with both dc doing a california road trip (except we didnt get to california until day 5) and it is worth every penny. So far have been to Las Vegas, Grandcanyon, death valley, Yosemite and going to San Francisco tomorrow then working our way down to LA and San Diego in the next 10 days. It is a huge indulgence but i have a friend who spends 5 weeks at christmas in a very expensive hotel in Mauritius and will probably go on about 4 or 5 more holidays in a year, but she can afford it and thats what they like to spend their money on.

ohdear

The starwars fireworks are spectacular!!!!

I loved Disney as did DH and the kids. We went 5 times and enjoyed every second. I don't think it was extravagant at all the kids still talk about our holidays there. We're going back in 2018 with our DC, their partners and our DGC. I can't wait. Although, I wouldn't go back if that was our main holiday as I need a holiday to recover from the holiday these days

Last year we went to Disneyland Paris, stayed in THE Disneyland hotel, 5 days park tickets X4 people. It was £900, we drove there, cost about £100 return from London, plus petrol. Spent maybe £500 there. So £1500 for Disneyland, we had an under 3 too so for the five of us. Didn't think for the joy of it, it was too expensive. Best hotel, all fabulous, right at the entrance, with all the Disney trimmings. I don't think that's extortionate! YABU - as surely if you don't want to do something, you don't do it. I don't get why it bothers you.

Fuck me where are people getting these prices

Davy crockett 3 day weekend in november £900!!!

We always stayed in a villa with its own pool. My dad reckons it worked out roughly 2k per person inc tickets to parks.

I wouldn't get in debt for any holiday, if we can't afford it we don't get to go.
I do think it's overpriced for what you get though, it's a glorified Alton Towers
We had a free holiday to the Florida resort when ds1 was little, I'm not sure I'd spend thousands to go though as there's always something better to do with our money.
We can afford it but just couldn't justify such a cost, maybe why we can afford to go though