Of course it’s not worth the $$$! But it’s an Experience, IYKWIM

We aren’t a “Disney Family” but we went once at the peak-princess phase (4) and it was perfect. This was pre-covid, we found a decent deal to stay at a monorail resort where Disney kindly upgraded our room. Even though I’m a cynic, it truly was a magical time. Every detail was well-considered and the staff went out of their way to make things special.

That being said, we’ll probably never go again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t do it once when your kids are the right age you’ll regret it. If you do it a second time you are a fool.

I didn’t do it with my kids, who are now about to graduate.

I have regretted many things in my life, but not spending a fortune on an ersatz saccharine mouse-based vacation is not one of them. We had great trips to Thailand, Morocco, Italy etc instead.

As for adults who go without children, well, they are beyond redemption.

you sound like my delusional, narcissistic relative. When I suggested to his kids that we take all the cousins to Disneyworld their faces absolutely lit up with joy. Then he started to spout this claptrap about how Disneyworld is a filthy American lower class capitalist blah blah blah. His kids looked crushed.

Anonymous wrote:For me there’s something not very attractive in being told to enjoy it you either have to plan everything out carefully or spend a ton of money (or both)

How is that different from a European vacation? You have to plan everything out in advance. You can't just waltz into the Sistine Chapel on a whim.

Could not recommend enough pivoting to Disneyland. Park prices are similar but the entire experience was more low key. You can walk to the parks from the hotel and there’s only two parks (versus 5). Overall we found it a much more pleasant experience.

Anonymous wrote:The entry tickets are cheaper if you get them as part of a package with a Disney resort hotel. Also don't do park hopper, just pick one park a day (there's plenty to do). A resort hotel = easier to get to the park too.

There’s an element of strategy involved in deciding whether to do a longer trip with one park a day vs park hopper. The longer tickets give big discounts per day and if you pick a cheaper hotel then the marginal cost of an extra day isn’t that extreme. So if you want to have a more relaxed trip you could go for 6 days, stay at a cheap hotel with a nice pool, and not worry about buying lightening lanes because you have time. Alternatively (and this is what we do) you can get park hopper for 2-3 days (plus after hours tickets) and plan to do absolutely everything in a marathon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The money is better in Tokyo or Paris or (if she’s into the characters) DCL.

We like Disneyland because the weather is better, flights are similarly priced, and we have family that gets discounted tickets. Orlando has never appealed.

Flights to Orlando are 1/2 as much as flights to LA.

And both are much cheaper than taking the family to Europe.

Anonymous wrote:The money is better in Tokyo or Paris or (if she’s into the characters) DCL.

We like Disneyland because the weather is better, flights are similarly priced, and we have family that gets discounted tickets. Orlando has never appealed.

Flights to Orlando are 1/2 as much as flights to LA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford to drop 5-10k for an on-site resort and Genie+/LL to skip lines, then go for it! But I wouldn’t recommend it as a once-in-a-lifetime trip for non-UMC families.

On site resorts don’t cost 5-10k. Some are priced the same as regular hotels. I save up Marriott points and stay at the Swan for free. There are also even more affordable hotel options just offsite around Disney Springs.

It's surprising how economical people can make these trips. They buy discounted gift cards, use points for hotels or find cheaper offsite options, get groceries to bring their own food in the park, go off-peak, etc. Where there's a will there is a way.

Anonymous wrote:M kids are now young adults and we never vacationed at Disney. We took them to Europe.

I’m sure your 5 year looovvvved being dragged through the Uffizi. So much more fun than Disney.

For me there’s something not very attractive in being told to enjoy it you either have to plan everything out carefully or spend a ton of money (or both)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:M kids are now young adults and we never vacationed at Disney. We took them to Europe.

Same. And national parks.

They can take themselves now if they feel the need, but they haven't.

We took them to Legoland back in the day.

let me blow your mind - my kid has been to Disney, Europe and national parks. We’re not super wealthy but there are opportunities to travel every year, and it’s not like going to Disney once when they are 9 means you can never go anywhere else …

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford to drop 5-10k for an on-site resort and Genie+/LL to skip lines, then go for it! But I wouldn’t recommend it as a once-in-a-lifetime trip for non-UMC families.

On site resorts don’t cost 5-10k. Some are priced the same as regular hotels. I save up Marriott points and stay at the Swan for free. There are also even more affordable hotel options just offsite around Disney Springs.

Anonymous wrote:M kids are now young adults and we never vacationed at Disney. We took them to Europe.

A lot of us do both…and then some.

I think Disney has gone too far with their ticket prices and forcing you to buy the upcharge bells and whistles for better access.

The only way the prices will come down is if people stop going.

Ditto for Disney cruises which are ridiculously overpriced.

Anonymous wrote:M kids are now young adults and we never vacationed at Disney. We took them to Europe.

Anonymous wrote:Disney, the lines, the lame rides, the crowds, the extremely expensive food has NEVER been worth it.

Most European destinations can be described the same way. Overrun with tourists, the lines, overpriced food, bad accommodations, etc.