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?

Maybe it is, but I'll be saving up to take my son. If he feels as I did when I went, it will be totally worth every single penny. Definitely my best family holiday as a child.

rufusthereindeer if you're shocked at my prices, forgot to say it was a Monday - Friday during term time. Very much assuming that's why it was so cheap. Look at the first week or two in December. The way I saw it was, all other kids in the class were constantly off sick, mine was never once (still hasn't been) so felt that 5 days off was worth it. Really was worth it too. The Disneyland hotel was £900 for five days, the Sequoia Lodge the year before was £700, both lovely but the Disneyland hotel won on the closeness to the actual park, and extra disneyness. Worth the extra £200. We booked with Expedia BTW

I love staying in the Disney hotel, well worth the extra for us, and for some reason, the smell is heavenly!

I would love to 'do' Disney, completely extravagantly. My boss told me today his friends have just got back - the holiday in total cost them £22k!

Feckin they do pump in scents

Agree 100% with Feckin. Onsite is the only way to go and worth every extra penny.

I am going with DDs next Oct, they will be 5 and 8. It may be stupid but I do see it as the 'holiday of a lifetime', I have wanted to take the girls for ages, have saved my arse off and will enjoy every second of it.

I took eldest DD backpacking for 6 weeks in SE Asia when she was not quite two, other than that we've never had a holiday abroad, has just been Haven caravan holidays, which we love anyway.

I'm not getting into debt for it, I've saved and saved and it does make me slightly nauseous to think about the total cost but before I saved for this I saved for a deposit on my house... I'm a good saver! And I. So excited its ridiculous!

So far the holiday including Disney hotel, tickets, transport, free dining including character meals etc has cost me £3200. I need to buy flights now and then all I need is spending money. I won't take too much as food is covered with the dining okay and thankfully my kids never really ask for anything. I'm tempted to take them to the bibbity bobbity boutique while we're there but I'll see how flush I feel in the run up!

I dont agree that onsite is the 'the' way to go.

I always found when I visited with my children that the hotels were a soulless experience and the food way below par.

We went in May and planning 2018.
We all loved it. It was an indulgence but we are lucky and can afford it.
We stayed off site but planning on site next time. Last time it was grandparents too but next time just us in 1 room on site will be cheaper than a villa and I'm looking forward to dining plan.

feckin the smell IS amazing! Last year in December they had a gingerbread house in the lobby, with a chimney pumping out puffs of cinnamon-y, Christmassy wonderfullness

Which onside hotels did you stay at ohdearme, we stayed beach club which was lovely. It would be good to know which ones to avoid

The Disney hotel in Paris. And the Floridian in Orlando.

But then I do live in a part of the world where excellent hotels are the norm and take quite a lot of beating.

But its all irrelevant now. I go to Orlando with my brother and his wife every year and we stay off site because it's what suits us best at our age. And we don't take the children or grandchildren anymore because it would only ruin the holiday 😜

It is an indulgence, but it's something I've always loved! I'm saving up to go to DisneyWorld but I'm looking at going for 4 weeks, rather than 2 weeks- I've even been looking for employment at DisneyWorld/Disneyland Paris.

Disney was my first love!

Sherlock - my brother and his wife are seriously tempted to try for a job at Disney just for to experience it. I prefer to just go on holiday and not do anything else Disney till the next year.

I do love it though. And I'm already excited about going to Fantasmic in a few days.

mygeorgeous

Nope my fault...i always assume that its during holiday periods or weekends

Come on people who have been, what in total did it cost? I guestimate £8/£10k.

Not disney orlando (as that's the best disneyland around), but disneyland hong kong.

A little over £3k all in total, flights and all spending for 10 days. Eat, entrance to a lot of attractions, including 2 day pass for disneyland. Me, DH, 4 yo and 1yo last year.

The £3k is easter term break as well. 4yo is in reception.

It's an expensive holiday, but so is skiing or safari or going to see the Northern Lights

Not always...I'm going to Iceland in Feb to see the Northern Lights and it was cheap as chips.

Return flights at decent times, transfer the other end, 3 nights in a 4* hotel (bed and breakfast) and includes up to two 5 hour excursions to see the lights (if you're unlucky the first time!)....total cost £179.00 pp, all in. Couldn't believe our luck! Thanks to Groupon for that one.

Come on people who have been, what in total did it cost? I guestimate £8/£10k

That's like asking how long is a piece of string and impossible to answer as it's all down to individual choice.

We went to Disney at Easter and it cost a fair amount, but not much more than we'd spend on any other holiday.

I'd never go into debt for holidays, but if you can afford Disney and your DCs are the type who love that schmaltz, why wouldn't you?

We have friends whose parents wanted to take them and their DCs to Disney recently and the Mum objected, saying it was commercialised nonsense and refused to let them go. I understand her point. Really, I do. But it's just Disney; they can still grow up to be good people with morals and brains and healthy attitudes towards romance.

I am amazed at the prices another one here who will never be dragged across the Disney threshold as an adult op! I was taken there as a child (10) and it was ok, I guess. My main memory is of it being hot, crowded and having shops absolutely full to the rafters of overpriced tat that my dad would refuse to buy, for the very good reason that it was overpriced tat. If even the 10yo acknowledges that a place is extortionate then you know it's bad

The DC watch Disney movies but are unaware of the parks; I certainly will not be telling them!!

I kind of see where OP's coming from. I don't think it's a waste of money but I don't understand how so many families afford to do it!!
I love holidays. They are what we, as a family, primarily spend our money on and I think we have quite a large holiday budget, tho that's relative I suppose.
I costed a low season Orlando Disney trip for next year. Staying in a moderate Disney resort it was over 3k for 10 days for just me, husband and a 4yo, plus £1000 for entry to the Disney parks
It's well over double the cost of our ski trip, including kids ski school, hire and lift passes!
I couldn't justify spending that much on one holiday but I don't think there's anything wrong in others doing it.

If even the 10yo acknowledges that a place is extortionate then

DD1 is only 5yo. She still believe in Santa and I take her to a Santa grotto too. I fully expect her to have grown out of Disneyland by 10. It really isn't my preference. But as multiple posts had pointed out, the pass price is similar to many UK parks. and they are no where as nice as Disneyland.

Not everyone spend £8/10 to go there. I spend about £200 + eating rip off food in the park for two days + rip off tat for DDs. I limit them to 2 items each.

I am visiting parents regardless of the park, so I don't factor the price of getting there and the spending for the non Disney days in.

People who are saying that they go on their own as adults and/or that it spoils the experience to take children - what are the activities for the adults? I thought everything there was aimed at children? I've only done DL Paris but didn't see any adult stuff there at all.

I would possibly reconsider California (really don't fancy Florida for some reason) if there is stuff for me as well as the kids. I just assumed it would only be for them.

SienaSun - if you want to go, why does it have to be a Disney resort hotel. You can get a private ensuite 3 person room in a hostel for £600 for the 10 days as oppose to the £3000 you quoted and it comes with free breakfast, free shuttle to the parks and a swimming pool. No need to pay thousands for accommodation anywhere.

what are the activities for the adults? I thought everything there was aimed at children?

There are amusement park rides aimed at teens and older. However I went to the one in California as a teen and wasn't impressed. But we went as part of a California, Vegas and Grand Canyon trip. I much prefer Vegas and Grand Canyon.

No idea about Orlando as everyone says it's much bigger.