Disney parks costs, crowds, and categorizations

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It is definitely something to keep in mind that prices have gone up everywhere ... for example, I know we eat at Panera Bread a lot and it feels like their prices have really gone up recently ... when we eat there (family of, but 3 little kids) and lunch is like $45-$50

Panera always seemed like a higher price place but the food was good and we felt good after eating it (I believe we averaged around $17-$20 for two of us but we don't go there enough now for me to keep track). But they've changed their menu. We used to get the Italian combo---yeah it's not as good as the prior one, etc.

 

[Redcon1]

I visited Austin (have some family that live there) a few years back. It was in a drought. By the time we left....it no longer was in a drought or so we had been told lol. That was in May of 2015 and it rained and rained and rained. We had like 1 1/2 days of our trip without rain. But I'm told that was unusual.

To get to WDW it takes roughly 2 hrs 45 mins from my airport. To get to DLR it takes roughly 3hrs 10ish mins. We're roughly in the middle too just not the right weather haha.

I'm from the St. Louis area and while flight times to either coast aren't that bad, the price difference between flying to Florida vs. California is crazy. We can still find under $200 flights on the major carriers at times to Florida, but it's rare to find prices less than $275-300 to any of the airports near DL.

That adds up for a family of four even before the cost of tickets, hotels, etc.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm from the St. Louis area and while flight times to either coast aren't that bad, the price difference between flying to Florida vs. California is crazy. We can still find under $200 flights on the major carriers at times to Florida, but it's rare to find prices less than $275-300 to any of the airports near DL.

That adds up for a family of four even before the cost of tickets, hotels, etc.

I haven't priced out CA but it averages around $400 RT (without sales and depending on time of year) for KC to MCO. With the sale we got tickets for just under $300 RT for our trip a few weeks ago but that price was 5 1/2 months in advance purchase (though admittedly we used points for 1 ticket and a companion pass for the other).

We're going to Vegas on Monday and originally I couldn't get a flight for less than $365 RT with SWA (with the return flight home being a crappy time) until a sale came out and we got ticket for just under $200 however we ironically are flying back on a holiday (Columbus Day) as Sunday was still too expensive (admittedly my husband's work will pay for his ticket, we have companion pass for me and so the only one actually buying the ticket was my mom who is going with us).

I get you on the airline tickets. They are a major factor.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Yeah that's a great idea. Another thing I've heard, though just anecdotal, is that foreign travelers to the US really love the Southwest so a theming like that could be a big draw for something different. DVC is a great point too, considering how much the Grand Californian Villas are booked it would probably work out. Sadly, I think they'd see it as too risky and not worth the reward overall. Too bad really, sometimes you gotta take those risks like Walt did, and no one seems to have the gall to do it anymore.

Yeah, but where? Too close to CA and everyone will go there anyway...

Disney would probably not want to build in "Tornado Alley"...so that takes out a lot of the center South...

East Coast would help lighten up Disney, but where? Gotta not be too cold and snowy...VA plans (from some point with some historical concept) fell through...GA too close...maybe somewhere in NC (or back to VA)...

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

You know, speaking as a young married with no kids, I never got it when people said "Disney for $1,500 is impossible!". For DH and I, that would go decently far, what with airline miles, allocating the DVC cost, etc. But boy. Listing to Len talk about the "family of four" made me realize how much more having two kids around would cost. And that's just for vacation!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

You know, speaking as a young married with no kids, I never got it when people said "Disney for $1,500 is impossible!". For DH and I, that would go decently far, what with airline miles, allocating the DVC cost, etc. But boy. Listing to Len talk about the "family of four" made me realize how much more having two kids around would cost. And that's just for vacation!!

Even better for families with 3 kids like me who don't fit in a standard value room

 

[Roxyfire]

Yeah, but where? Too close to CA and everyone will go there anyway...

Disney would probably not want to build in "Tornado Alley"...so that takes out a lot of the center South...

East Coast would help lighten up Disney, but where? Gotta not be too cold and snowy...VA plans (from some point with some historical concept) fell through...GA too close...maybe somewhere in NC (or back to VA)...

Like I said in a previous comment, Dallas would be a good spot, but no major cities north of Memphis would be able to be open year round. You have to think about all those things plus a good airport, population, infrastructure, tax-friendly government. The tornado thing would be an issue, but clearly those kind of events didn't stop them from building in Florida where you can get hurricanes.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Like I said in a previous comment, Dallas would be a good spot, but no major cities north of Memphis would be able to be open year round. You have to think about all those things plus a good airport, population, infrastructure, tax-friendly government. The tornado thing would be an issue, but clearly those kind of events didn't stop them from building in Florida where you can get hurricanes.

Probably because like with KC, Branson and STL while the risk is there it doesn't happen often enough or with enough real impact to cause shutdowns (meaning tornadoes). Meaning hurricanes are a risk down in FL but like sooo many said on threads with Irma due to WDW's location it is relatively safe (though no one expected Irma to go straight up through FL like that).

 

[TwoMisfits]

Like I said in a previous comment, Dallas would be a good spot, but no major cities north of Memphis would be able to be open year round. You have to think about all those things plus a good airport, population, infrastructure, tax-friendly government. The tornado thing would be an issue, but clearly those kind of events didn't stop them from building in Florida where you can get hurricanes.

Thing with tornadoes vs hurricanes - we get huge notice for hurricanes (like 2 weeks now)...you usually don't get more than minutes for tornadoes (apparently 13 minutes is the norm - that's nuts to me, but I don't live in tornado land - on purpose)...that's a huge problem to build in tornado alley. http://www.noaa.gov/stories/tornadoes-101

EDIT: As this story amused me, since Dallas came up - seems some want to include even more cities/states in tornado alley...but not drop Dallas...http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/06/22/should-tornado-alley-be-moved/

 

[Roxyfire]

Thing with tornadoes vs hurricanes - we get huge notice for hurricanes (like 2 weeks now)...you usually don't get more than minutes for tornadoes (apparently 13 minutes is the norm - that's nuts to me, but I don't live in tornado land - on purpose)...that's a huge problem to build in tornado alley. http://www.noaa.gov/stories/tornadoes-101

That makes sense, that now makes me wonder if there's been any major tornado disasters down there in that area. I know there have been some pretty bad ones near my hometown in southern Illinois, and of course in eastern Missouri too. But it's almost like a once in a lifetime thing, not as bad as tornado alley.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That makes sense, that now makes me wonder if there's been any major tornado disasters down there in that area. I know there have been some pretty bad ones near my hometown in southern Illinois, and of course in eastern Missouri too. But it's almost like a once in a lifetime thing, not as bad as tornado alley.

Depends on what you consider tornado alley. According to wiki: "Over the years, the location(s) of Tornado Alley have not been clearly defined. No definition of tornado alley has ever been officially designated by the National Weather Service (NWS). Thus, differences in location are the result of the different criteria used."

But if you're into looking at data here's a pic of tornadoes from 1950-2006 for EF3, EF4 and EF5 (the ones that are more dangerous in the general respects). You'll notice that FL has them, MO has them, OH has them, IL has them, TX has them, KS has them (listing what you and other posters as well as myselfhave mentioned):



If you'll notice Kansas City (on both sides of the state line) have had some bad tornadoes..KCK is home to Schlitterbahn and KCMO is home to Worlds of Fun/Oceans of fun both are open during the peak of the tornado season in the area. Point is tornadoes aren't necessarily a "don't build here" type thing.

When I worked at the insurance company many claims were due to hail damage from just normal storms than tornado damage and what restrictions were placed on certain counties in Texas for example was due to wind from either hurricanes or normal storms rather than tornadoes. Fire is also a big one in places like CA and CO (as well as other states in that area).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Even better for families with 3 kids like me who don't fit in a standard value room

Oh I bet. So question, where do you usually stay then? Do you wish Disney had better or more options available to those with more than the "family of 4"?

 

[Roxyfire]

But if you're into looking at data here's a pic of tornadoes from 1950-2006 for EF3, EF4 and EF5 (the ones that are more dangerous in the general respects). You'll notice that FL has them, MO has them, OH has them, IL has them, TX has them, KS has them (listing what you and other posters as well as myselfhave mentioned):

So based on that chart, my gut reaction of Dallas/Ft Worth area would probably only be a marginally higher risk than say Orlando.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So based on that chart, my gut reaction of Dallas/Ft Worth area would probably only be a marginally higher risk than say Orlando.

According to the chart Dallas is about 11-15 but Fort Worth is right around the border of that and about 5-10 and Orlando is right around the border of 1-4 and 5-10 so I suppose it depends on where at in those brackets each is (i.e. having 2 for example is a lot different than having 8 and having 6 is a lot different than having 14).

 

[TwoMisfits]

So based on that chart, my gut reaction of Dallas/Ft Worth area would probably only be a marginally higher risk than say Orlando.

This gives you the tornadoes in North Texas for the last 57 years by County...then F2-F3s...and then killer F4-F5s...
https://www.weather.gov/images/fwd/torclimo/tor_climo/img/cwa/maps/fwd_all_tors.png
https://www.weather.gov/images/fwd/torclimo/tor_climo/img/cwa/maps/thematic/rating/strong.png
https://www.weather.gov/images/fwd/torclimo/tor_climo/img/cwa/maps/thematic/rating/violent.png

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Disney does make some decisions based on what guests want.

A happy guest spends money.
A happy guest comes back.
A happy guests tells their friends how happy they are.

Ehhh...that's a bit of an illusion to make us suckers feel better, isn't it?

The reality is that for any of your points to hold true...it requires a demanding, discerning customer base that hold accountability...

...and that seems to have left wdw some time ago.

 

[dlavender]

I thought they could eventually go for 2 gates. Your typical MK park (I want it to have Rapunzel's castle). I think they could do a heavy emphasis on Frontierland here, since it is Texas after all. The second gate could eventually be a more action oriented park with Marvel and SW.

Just think of the DVC division salivating at the thought of a whole new park to place DVC at.



This comparison always kind of fell flat for me. When I go to a sports event, I will get a snack or maybe one meal there. When I go to WDW I need to eat every meal for an entire week (or however long you stay).

Speaking of food costs at Disney though...

A table service meal is beginning to be out of my reach. I ate at Boma a year ago and it was a little over $120 for 2 people, and that was before tip. Only thing I can say to that is ***...I love the food there, but I cannot be paying $120 for 2 people before tip. Maybe once or twice a trip, but the prices are out of control! Imagine paying that much per meal each night of the trip.

I know it is a buffet price, but let's look at another place. Sci Fi is one of my favorites, and I feel everyone thinks it is one of the cheaper table services because people on the restaurant boards are always recommending to pay out of pocket for that if you have too many table services for your dining credits.

The cheapest entree is $15. And there are only 4 at that price. Most are closer to $20. And that isn't terrible by any means.

I think it's just all the costs add up very quickly when you are on a vacation. Especially if you go to some of the more expensive places like Boma or Ohana.

I'm excited because I'm doing a free dining trip in December so I get to eat at Ohana again. For the prices they charge I cannot justify eating there. My stomach is just not large enough to even eat a fraction of what I'm being charged for.

We don't even look at the TS options anymore.

$50 avg pp for dinner is really crazy.

But so is $220 for a motel for 4.......

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Oh I bet. So question, where do you usually stay then? Do you wish Disney had better or more options available to those with more than the "family of 4"?

we usually stay offsite. Using some sort of timeshare property - we can get a 2-bedroom condo for similar as a value resort room. The extra space (and having a kitchen to help with some meals, especially breakfast) is worth it to us.

I do wish there were more options the family suites at the values are pretty pricey - and while some mods can sleep 5 it is still pretty tight quarters. It is what it is though - everything is trade offs

 

[dlavender]

And I agree with others that the tickets aren't necessarily out of the realm of normalcy when compared with other events.

It's just the motelhotel pricing, upgrades and ancillary items that get me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

we usually stay offsite. Using some sort of timeshare property - we can get a 2-bedroom condo for similar as a value resort room. The extra space (and having a kitchen to help with some meals, especially breakfast) is worth it to us.

I do wish there were more options the family suites at the values are pretty pricey - and while some mods can sleep 5 it is still pretty tight quarters. It is what it is though - everything is trade offs

Yeah the suites can be. We actually priced it out back in 2015 when we first started planning a trip with 5 adults (ended up only being my husband and I) and a suite @ All-Star Music was more expensive than just 2 value rooms at the All-Stars. Obviously a kitchenette in the suite and larger table as well as common space for all can be of great value though.

I can see staying offsite for sure in your case.

I do wish there was a more economical choice for those both with larger families and those traveling with just adults.