wow, just wow
Posted on 08/21/2024 7:40:50 AM PDT by Cronos
...The vacation cost around $6,000, which included accommodations, tickets and a car rental, and which Ms. Leach charged to her Disney-branded credit card.
Ms. Leach is one of many parents who have taken on debt for a Disney family vacation. In June, LendingTree, a financial firm, published the results of a survey of over 2,000 people that found that 45 percent of parents with children under 18 who have gone to Disney went into debt for the trip.
For a family of four, the cost of a one-week trip to Disney can range from $6,463 to $15,559, not including flights or souvenirs, according to an analysis by NerdWallet, a personal finance site. Many families can’t afford the trip at all. Last week, Disney reported softening demand for its theme parks because families, after years of dealing with high inflation, have less money to spend on amusement.
But Ms. Leach, 38, who works in sales, relies on quarterly bonuses to cover vacation costs. She and her husband earn about $250,000 annually, combined, though that figure can fluctuate each year. Her family doesn’t always have the money to pay for vacations upfront. Instead, she books first, then pays off her balances as the bonuses come in.
For the trip in 2022, Ms. Leach paid the minimum on her credit card for two months, accruing around $382 in interest before she was able to pay off the balance.
...the pressure to visit Disney theme parks and to go all out for what may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip can lead families to spend beyond their means. Often, visitors contend with sticker shock when they arrive at the park.
... He had budgeted about $6,000 for the trip, but overspent by $2,500.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Incredible that there are people like this
wow, just wow
I’m proud to say, In the last year, I convinced two families I know to drop Disney from their list of possible vacation sites.
My brother and his wife used to take his girls to Disney every year or two and they spent a fortune. Not just on the trip itself, but the merchandise that the girls wanted when they got there. Then he’d complain that he didn’t have money for other things. I bit my tongue so hard to stop myself from calling them both insane to their face that I’m surprised I still have one.
GOOD JOB!! Baby steps...
I live 2 hours from DW and wouldn’t go there to throw up......glad I went a few times in the 70s when it was new and still magical for kids.
Side note. I saw a documentary a few years ago about Orlando’s efforts to bring DW there and they interviewed several city council members and the mayor at the time......every one of ‘em said if they knew then what they know now they never would have brought DW to Orlando.
I’m old enough to remember when Orlando was a sleepy old Florida town full of orange groves.....and it was sure as hell better then.
I’ve never been there, but that’s not due to political reasons, but more that I don’t like amusement park rides and don’t want to spend so much money.
For people who like those rides - is something like Disney’s prices worth it? Ignoring the political message.
Liberal elite democrats separate their loyal families from their money, 24/7 and paying Disney bigtime is the cream at the top.
I’m old enough to remember when Fill in most FL cities _______ was a sleepy old Florida town full of orange groves.....and it was sure as hell better then.
Had great visits to Fl from the 60-s thru 70's. It sure has grown. I remember when Ft' Lauderdale was a great place, it's overgrown now.
Disney World was a One and Done for me 19 years ago.
When my now 26 year old son was seven.
Also, when he was tall enough to go on all the roller coasters. I never went into debt to go. Although, even back then the ticket prices were stupid. Even for a four day package.
Plus, a brother of a guy I used to work with got me the employee rate and 1/2 price meal plan at the Dolphin Hotel.
The Dolphin and Swan are both Marriott properties inside the park. Right on the back side of Epcot. We also went the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. Left the day after Thanksgiving. Right when it was getting crowded.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family that could easily afford to take us kids on as many vacations to Disney as we wanted.
Neither my sister or I wanted to go.
We probably save them a small fortune.
:-)
go to japan instead, right now it’s like the best time to go due to strong dollars.
you can even afford the fancy one where you get to eat 1/2 of a fish, while it is still alive and act as a ‘serving tray’ . and then make soup with that half after.
My Dad took us kids once a year (60s and 70s) - along with several of our cousins and we were far from wealthy.
Today....
"Prices range from approximately $104 to $154 per adult (ages 10+) and $98 to $148 per child (ages 3-9)."
45 percent of parents with children under 18 who have gone to Disney went into debt for the trip.
On high interest credit cards, no doubt.
Reminds me of that old joke about "I can't be out of money, I still have checks left!"
Maybe its improved since the post-coved boom, but I was told waits for the main rides can be as long as 90 minutes. A bottle of coke costs $7 - that sort of stuff.
Apparently you can buy more expensive tickets which allow some to jump to the front of lines - which seems immoral to me, given what average folks have already paid to get in.
like you, I'm not a fan of crowds either
Pay through the nose to get in, food and whatever souvenirs then stand in line all day in the Florida heat for 3 minute rides.......sounds like terrific vacation. 👍
BUT, if your REALLY lucky you go on a day when 20 black people get into a brawl right on main Street. 👌
Just figured out what my Dad would have to pay now - two adults plus at least five kids:
$708, using the low-end prices, and that is just for admission.
The rides at Disney are nothing in comparison to roller coasters at Six Flags or Cedar Point or other amusement parks.
Especially at the Magic Kingdom. Space Mountain might have been thrilling in 1975. Now, it is boring.
The only decent one was at MGM. The Rock and Roller coaster.
However, it was over 18 years ago when I was there.
The Yeti Coaster at the Animal Kingdom was pretty cool.
None of these compare to Superman at Six Flags or some of the other incredibly scary rides built in the last 15 years.
I remember when Anaheim was a sleepy California town full of orange groves...
My wife was a stay-at-home mother and I was the only bread-winner. We looked at the cost of a Disney vacation when our kids were younger and it was excessively expensive. We made a financial decision not to go to Disney. Our kids grew up and turned out just fine even though they did not have Disney memories to look back on. You’ve got to work your priorities in life.
“Ft’ Lauderdale was a great place, it’s overgrown now”
All south Florida is.....and it’s creeping north thanks to all the lib state refugees.
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