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.

Well, you have three children for a start so, it's not affordable. We all want the best for our children but that was then and this is now, and additionally there's no guarantee they'd find it magical at all.

I remember going to Disneyland as a kid , I can’t really remember the rides but I can remember moaning it was too hot and then moaning to my dad that I wanted him to buy me some overpriced mini mouse ears. He bought me an over priced sun hat instead which I hated.

I was the opposite. I never got to go to Disney. My grandfather used to say he'd take me, if he won the pools. When he died, he did have a lot in savings (over 100k) He was generous and gave me money to buy my first car etc. I did have a sadness though, that we never went to Disney.
So as soon as our children were old enough to appreciate it (youngest was 6) we went. It did cost us around 10k. It was worth every penny. We didn't have another holiday abroad for a couple of years. I'd have liked a new kitchen, but that was put on the back burner. Given the choice between house stuff or holidays with the kids, we always choose the holidays. We're going to go again while the kids are still teenagers.

Correct - we broke down on It's a Small World two weeks ago and we got a lightning lane to use on any of the other small/mid tier rides in Magic Kingdom that day. Thankfully it was only stopped for about 10 minutes or I'd have needed therapy from hearing that song on a loop for so long 😁

Honestly? Disney is magical for me. I have such lovely memories of going as a child, had some great adult holidays there with DH and we took our 4yo last year to Paris and two weeks ago to Orlando. She loves rides, food and princesses so it was heaven for her. For me, if you have the money it's worth it. That said, DD also loved the other holidays we've been on (Center Parcs, beach holiday in Devon) - she's a generally happy soul! Disney is amazing but other places are great too.

Most kids don't go to Disney. And most parents of young kids can't afford Disney. Your grandmother brought you. Not your parents. Maybe you should be disappointed that your children's grandparents haven't brought them. Might be something to suggest 😉

The little rice triangles filled with different fillings, a bit like a sandwich. We did Disney but not Universal, definitely heading to Osaka next time though. Although it will probably take us a few years to save up 😂

You really should if you can, Super Nintendo World is amazing! Also very close to Kyoto so easy to combine.

I would have liked to have gone to Disneyland as a kid (zero appeal now) but I just accepted it was v expensive and my family couldn’t afford it. I had lots of other great holidays growing up.

I've been to Florida as an adult and I didn't think it was that good. It was very hot, busy and things like food during the day were expensive. I wonder if it would have been a lot more enjoyable and affordable in the past. Everything is so much busier than it was in 90s. Now maybe if you very rich and can pay for fast passes, stay on property and get a dining plan etc then I'm sure it's still good. But less so for a more regular person, even if you can afford the plane and the entry ticket.

Paris is more achievable and a bit more egalitarian feeling. It doesn't even matter if you stay on property in Paris. Have been many many times and I always like it.

Most kids would quite like to be astronauts/have a pony/live in a mansion too, but they live with not doing that.

Disney world doesn't appeal to me at all, dc have been happy with fairly lame theme parks and the stakes are much lower if they get sick/don't like it/weather is terrible.

You give your kids a much greater gift by teaching them to be grateful for what they've got than fretting about what you don't have.

Also OP I feel like it's maybe not all just about Disney but about the fact that having a normal job just isn't enough any more? Inequality has grown so much since I was a child in the 90s. In my class at school we had families raised middle class on a variety of professions including teachers and grocers and with loads of stay at home mums and I do find it stressful to think how impossible that would be in 2024. It's not just Disney that is a dream now.

Yanbu - I went with my parents when I was 12 & my brother was 10 & it's still one of my most memorable holidays.
I'm saving up to take mine for same reason - but it's soooo expensive & it doesn't help that in my brain we will only go once so we need to do everything!
I started looking pre-covid and it's at least 25% more now.
DP Paris is a good alternative for Disney but not for Universal/Water parks/Kennedy/Busch gardens/Seaworld and all the other things that you get in one blowout Orlando crazy holiday.
If you will take kids put of school Tui had very cheap last min deals at various dates last year so keep an eye put.
Good luck OP!