Never afford Disney

[Swordandpanda]

When I was 10 my Grandma took me to Disneyworld Florida. I remember it being the most magical experience of my life. I now have 3 kids 8 years and under. I would love to take them so much but 10k-12k for a holiday is completely impossible. We are doing average money wise and we prioritise house maintenance (roof repairs, plumbing) and the children’s hobbies. Am I bu to feel sad that my kids will never get to experience the joy I felt.

Park tickets are expensive but you can take packed lunches and have cereal in your hotel room

theres all the world to see, all these amazing experiences out there. And you’re saving all your money to go to a theme park and eat cereal in your hotel room. Sounds utterly depressing @Pllystyrene

We took DD aged 6. It was exhausting. Dd’s favourite bit? Pancakes at Denny’s (daily) and some overpriced teddy we bought her on the flight.

Stay in a villa outside of Disney, book your flights separately and you're looking at about £6-£7k with tickets if you're prepared to take them out of school.

Disney Corp is worth $ 204 billion. Don't spend your hard earned cash making them an even more bloated organisation paying minimum wage to their overworked staff.

I don't think the most magical thing in childhood is Disney. I'm not really a fan of the company, nor do I like theme parks. That doesn't matter, what matters is it is important to you.

If you started saving a bit now, even 50/month, for a couple years in addition to your holiday savings, maybe instead of Haven in a couple years time you could do 2/3 nights in Paris and 2/3 nights at Disneyland Paris. A family member recently did that and got it for around 3k - I think gone 6 nights in total - they did 3 nights in Paris and 3 at Disneyland Paris (2 days at the park, then fun amenities in the hotel as well) train, hotels, food. Their dc absolutely loved it and really enjoyed Paris too.

Our dc have been to Florida multiple times, but I think their favourite holiday was a few days in Devon last year.

Disney is bloody awesome but no one should be beating themselves over going. It is a magical holiday but honestly both dc would choose spending hours jumping waves over going to the Magic Kingdom.

We went to Disneyworld Florida when I was 10. It wasn't magical. Each ride queue was 2 hours long, we only managed 4 rides. It was hot and busy. I don't remember much else. Your children will have nicer holidays that don't cost the earth.

If you really wanted to go I'd say avoid Disney and just do the universal parks. You have Harry Potter, Simpsons and amazing water park as well. If you or your family are vegetarian or have food allergies take your own lunch

It's so hot you only really want one big meal a day, and honestly we had the best time. But everyone enjoys different things. We did Tokyo last year with a similar budget and were more than happy spending our days exploring, visiting free temples and eating origini and sushi.

Then I wouldn't worry nor feel an ounce or gram regretful about it. In fact, I'd be rather pleased my dc weren't 'sucked' into the whole Disney thing.

If it helps any OP, I was rather surprised at the number of adults without dc that attended Eurodisney, so when your own dc are grown, you can visit as many Disneys as you want, funds allowing of course.

And I bet your kids LOVE those holidays. As I kid, I went with my family for one week every year to a holiday camp in Skegness (this was the 60s and early 70s, so a tad primitive compared with now). I look back on those times as the best of my childhood.

Kids love being on holiday with their parents.

Most theme parks are deeply disappointing experiences nowadays due to the queues and overcrowding. It would be cheaper to take them to be disappointed at the Paris Disney than the Florida one.

But perhaps I'm bitter because theme parks have been some of our worst (and most expensive!) days out here 😂.

There are so many fun experiences aside from Disney. I'm sure your DC will have lots of magical moments to look back on in their childhoods, they will just be different to yours.

This.

Imagine saving for years and then... this.

Most theme parks are deeply disappointing experiences nowadays due to the queues and overcrowding.

Yep - we could afford to take DC to Disney but never have and quite possibly never will because they hate queueing and they don’t fancy the idea of spending ages in a queue for a ride of a few minutes. I really don’t feel they’re missing out. At all.

Disney has really done a number on people by selling itself as some sort of perfect magical childhood experience when in reality yes some kids may have a wonderful memorable time but others won’t.

'Kids love being on holiday with their parents' ❤This made me feel really teary because I stress about holidays a lot and I really needed this reminder.

I felt like you, but took them to Disney Paris for a long weekend and they thought it was wonderful. Job done.

Holiday companies are so clever at getting us to buy into that “making memories” narrative – and that resonates for you because of your grandmother’s lovely gift but clearly isn’t that big a deal for loads of other posters?

To me it’s much more valuable that you’re making their day-to-day lives nice with a comfortable home and regular hobbies. Alternatively take them on a day trip to the Paris one, get a close up pic with Mickey Mouse and gradually plant the idea they were in Florida 🤷‍♀️

We took our children to Walt Disney World just before the first Covid lockdown. We had saved up for years. I'll admit i loved it and had the most amazing time! But the following summer, i took my kids for a day out to Blackpool, and my youngest (4) said it was the most amazing place she'd ever seen 😁 It's more about new experiences, and having fun as a family. My kids remember and cherish the times where we've all had fun together, regardless of the destination.

Hello lovely, you know it doesn’t have to be that much don’t you?

5 of us are going in May for 6k for 2 weeks (staying on Disney property). Tui has great last minute deals.

been to DLP Paris for a week for under 1k again staying on Disney property.

Also just remembered we did 5 days in Butlins that were 'the best holiday ever'

Op I'm sure you can do Disney one day.
Most of us can't and wouldn't spend that much on Disney USA anyway.

Have you looked at other theme parks like efteling in the Netherlands and europa Park in Germany?

They are cheaper (efteling is anyway) than Disney and some people say "far more magical".

Look into those in the time being.

I went to Disney as a kid - I was five. Youngest sibling, and the trip to USA was for another reason but my parents added Disney on.

I remember:

• A girl arguing with her mum and slapping her
• Carl Juniors (essentially a happy eater)
• plying with my parents in the motel pool.

Florida is completely different to LA - it’s onan different scale.

Florida is immersive, but California is just another amusement park

I priced it up once and winced. It was the price of a new car when I was driving around in an old banger.

The kids weren’t pestering me to go, so I bought a pre reg car and took mine to portaventura and still had change from Florida.

My kids loved it , but not bothered about taking their own kids now.California one years later was a bit small and dated. My overall impression was standing in lines and the total rip off of everything, you are fleeced on everything, Left a nasty taste. Dorset is much better, live in the north but it is my favourite holiday place in the UK