Who here thinks Disney World is a total ripoff?

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Katlyn â™¥ Disney

I don't find it a rip-off at all. You can spend as little or as much as you want, pretty much. If you don't want to spend much then you can stay at a Value Resort and get simple base tickets. If you're not worried about money then you can stay at a Deluxe Resort and upgrade to Concierge if you want.

Everything is more expensive than you'd expect it to be anywhere else, but I've never had any problems with hidden charges. I don't know why you had to pay to see the Disney Characters. I've been to Character Buffets and have seen them in the Parks and have never had to pay anything for a photo or autograph.

When you say you spent $40 to $50 for the five of you, do ean all together? Because that's not bad at all. My boyfriend and I alone spend an average of $100 per meal, even just for lunch. All of our dinners were more around $150. And in my opinion every cent spent was incredibly worth it.

My boyfriend and I just got back from our most recent Walt Disney World vacation two weeks ago. We had an amazing time as always. This trip cost us almost $10,000, not including flights. Last year our trip cost almost $9,000. Again, every cent spent- so worth it. I'm already planning our next vacation there. We stay at one of the most expensive Resorts- Disney's Polynesian Resort. We were on Disney's Platinum Plan, and everything was included. EVERYTHING-all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack at any restaurant on property, even ones not included on the regular dining plan,) all recreation (championship golf, mini golf, boat rentals, horseback riding, etc.,) all tours, admission to preferred viewing areas during fireworks shows, a fireworks cruise of our choice, spa treatments, and so much more. And you get what you pay for (and then some in our case.) When we arrived at the Resort the manager came out and told us we were V.I.P. at the Resort for the duration of our stay. We were upgraded to Concierge for free. We had the best view on property- a perfect view of the Magic Kingdom Park, Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, the Grand Floridian Resort, and the Contemporary Resort. Every night we'd come back to our room after a day around the Parks and there'd be something special waiting for us. The first night there was a huge gift basket full of candies, coffees, teas, snacks, and a signed picture card from Minnie and Mickey. Another night we got a big bar of chocolate with a picture of the Resort on it, and another night we got a Mickey-shaped box made of chocolate filled with all kinds of little chocolate mints.

In my opinion, Walt Disney World is the Happiest Place on Earth, and I'd pay any price to go again. I'm not even rich, or anything. In fact, we had to take out a loan for our last vacation. It's still worth EVERY penny. I can't wait to go back! I'm planning on being married there. It's just such a fun, magical place! It's my favorite place in the world!

fun_guy_otown

You don't like Disney then stay your asss at home.

lomatar1186

i don't think it's a rip-off.

â˜”ULâ˜¼

I agree. I would never go there. Go backpacking next time instead. Backpacking is "real" fun, not the fake fun of Disney. There's also real activities like: mountain biking, rafting, boating, fishing, sledding, cross country skiing, surfing, &c. What's the mentality of getitng your picture taken with some college drop out in a rubber costume?

Unity

I guess it all depends on what you are willing to spend your money on - my fiance and I had a super cheap time there. Paying only $77 a night for a hotel room, with free transportation all around the whole complex. Wasn't any more expensive then staying in any other decent hotel, yet had the themes, pools and other amenities that help to make it a cute vacation. If you look and watch out for the deals you don't wind up paying huge amount for food or anything else.

I have been both Disney World and Disneyland, both as a kid and an adult, the magic is there if you feel it and are looking for it as a kid would. I have always had a great vacation there, usually with great staff and people who attend are nice.

It has been getting worse over the years, but so has anything that has people in service to others, no one has patience or is wiling to give of themselves in their jobs anymore. Also have to plan your trip - if you go at the high times of spring break and summer - then yes you will be stuck in huge lines and higher fees. If you go at off peak times like end of Jan-Feb and Sept-Nov you will get better rates and shorter lines.

But if you get trapped into every little thing that is suggested to you, then yeah, you will get sucked out of every cent, especially if you continue to give into kids who ask for everything. Parents need to learn to just say no! Take your own pictures, don't let the staff take pictures on their camera - of course you pay when you get someone else to take a picture and not print it off yourself. Wise up and realize that nothing is for free anywhere.

Reaper King

Yes, they are after YOUR money but it's YOUR kids they want. they figure with all the kooky movies and toys, your kids will be begging (nagging) you to go to Disney World so they can see it all for real. knowing this, they know that the kiddies will want everything they see, if they don' get it, temper tantrums galore. this is why there are so many accessible ATM's around the place. either pony up the bucks to get junior that stuffed bear or endure hours of crying and whining. excellent marketing tactis when you think about it. but, yes, total rip off.

ditzychik508

Yes, it is expensive but one think of all there employees they have to pay, the electric and water bills, the fireworks they through, etc... They don't do it for the hell of it but to please ungrateful SOB's such as yourself.
Two Universal cost the same amount of money when there isn't even half the amount of things there as Disney, so wouldn't that make it more of a ripoff?!?!
Three they don't have ATM's every two feet like you make it sound, they only have a few I know MGM only had 2 one OUTSIDE the park and the other ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK inside and out of view of the park and that's all the have.
Four you could have gone OFF property to go eat and get snack foods to bring into the parks with you the next day, because they DO allow you to bring in outside food and drinks.
Five why did you even spend all your money and then complain about it to us... No one told you to do that, so it's your own damn fault!

belleâ™¥

well, i guess as long as your kids are happy ^_^

Beach Gal

Next time, have someone help you plan your trip so that you can save money. There are ways to enjoy a Disney vacation without spending a lot. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I hope your kids at least had a fun time. They are the ones you did it for anyway, right?

http://im-all-ears-disney-vacation-services.blogspot.com/

niceguy

very expensive. My kids didn't even like it. Lines too long for everything you do. Should have just thrown 2k in sewer.

Dean B

Have you ever been to any amusement park that wasn't a total rip off?

kitkat

i have been to WDW many, many times and never had to pay for posing with a character. i think you are mistaken on that point. and the picture is optional, you don't have to buy it, and while the kids are posing you are free to take a picture with your own camera. i also don't find the food to be expensive, but i live in Florida, so I'm used to high prices for food. also-to the first answerer (is that a word?) you do NOT have to pay for fast pass, it is free to all guests to help make the lines move quicker. it is universal that makes you pay for that privilege. if you don't like Disney, that's cool, there are lots of other things to do in this country.

laura_vermont

We're bringing the kids to Disney for the 4th time in 3 years this October. If you compare the cost of entertainment - from dawn til dusk -- it can be a great value. Between the resort (dvc), meal plan, and cost of tickets (purchasing no expiration for three vacations at once); the total cost of our trip will be less than $2000 for the week for a family of 5 including spending money. I pack souvenirs from previous trips, collect the trading pins from cereal box premiums for the year and take my own pictures. Done right, Disney can be a great value! Maybe you'll try again!

Shari S

Our family has been to Disney World nearly 20 times and we live in Mississippi, not Florida. I would never call Disney World a rip off. You have to look into these things before you go, or you will (or so it seems, you did) have a miserable time. There are ways around the high prices that you pay, and many people take these ways around. You don't need to stay inside Disney World and pay the hotel prices as there are so many cheaper hotels in Orlando and Kissimmee. Many, many people arrange to carry their food in and eat in one of the fast food places or even on a park bench or a table.
Disney is not forcing you to buy their food or souviniers or even pictures. We take our own pictures and do with them as we may when we come home. We also do an occasional character picture with our three year old, but it's not necessary.
Disney World is just not some people. I can't say that we enjoy spending alot of money, but we plan and save and when it's gone, it's gone.
Hope you give it another chance and plan a little better. It really is the happiest place on earth. To this family it is anyhow.

Godless

It's so wierd that you've posted this, because I was just now discussing with my kids where to go on the first vacation we'll ever take. I always felt bad that I didn't take them to Disney World when they were little (they're teens now), so pretty soon we'll be able to afford to go somewhere, and my first thought was Disney, but then we talked about what it was like when my mother took me and my brother there when we were kids. It really stressed her out, because everything cost extra and she didn't have a lot of money, she had put every spare cent we had into that trip. I remember her actually crying in the hotel because we had run out of money, it was bad. So after talking about it for a while, I and my kids decided that the last thing we want to deal with on vacation is "hidden costs". I don't want to be taking out my wallet every half hour, it will be hard enough just to afford the basics (flight, hotel, meals, etc.). So we decided to go to Hawaii instead...and we might just bring my mother with us.

â”Œâ™¥iNeoâ™¥â”

When I went to Disneyland, evrything there was expensive. They just want you to be happy and not notice that your money is going one by one.

doyalikethatdaddy

You sound very bitter. No magic for you huh? i took four kids for spring break and spent about 3500 but id totally do it all over again, in fact we are doing it all over again next spring break. I felt like it was totally worth every penny. I enjoyed watching my kids have fun. they have stories to tell and we have family memories that are priceless. There are other vacations, I'm sure that you can find something else to do that will cost less. You cant have a good time if you are worried about every penny that you spend.

hi
i do think disney is expensive but you do have to realize that when you go there it's like the whole place is just for you. we went for the first time with our daughters (ages 4 and 6) and we have already booked our next trip for june 2007. first of all, if you stay on disney property and they offer you the meal plan, take it. we as a family are big eaters and we were quite satisfied with the food choices that were available. that in itself, will save you alot of money. they give one table service meal per night of room stay , a counter service meal and a snack, which is more than enough food for even the heaviest eater. plus, instead of buying drinks there, you should take water bottles that can be refilled for free at the fountains. not to mention, ALL the restrooms are air conditioned so for those who can't bear the heat can go and cool off for a little. that costs money to run. they have a ton of characters and in hot conditions, the characters are only permitted in their costumes for 20 minutes at a time which means you need alot of people to be employed to have all the characters available for kids and adults. when you go and get a character dining meal, each character spends ample time with people. this makes you feel like they are there just to see you plus they come around more than once to allow you to take pictures and get autographs. kids like to trade the pins, if you have ever noticed, they hire older people just to walk around with the pin lanyards on just to keep the kids happy, another feature that makes you feel like they are spending extra special time with you and yes you must buy your own pins. i got mine on ebay for a great deal. all the things you probably bought, you could have gotten cheaper. in all due respect, i'm sorry you were so mad about the money to enjoy your trip there. you also didn't have to buy the pictures there for 30.00 we were offered that and we jumped at it, but that was the only pic we had gotten there. i did opt for the professional photos at the end called photo pass which the photographers took and bought the disc at the end. i was there with my family for 6 nights and seven days and took almost 900 photos with my digital camera but i also like to get photos with me in, too. we had over 100 photos on our photo pass card which i paid 100. for which i felt was totally worth it and would do again.
to sum it up, disney is expensive, but in all due respect, if you would have thought things through better i bet you would have had a much better time. AND WHEN IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IT, MASTERCARD SAYS IT BEST: "MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME: PRICELESS"

Photogal

Disney uses slave labor - don't buy products

You should have went to Disney Land, it is all free there.

Buddha

M-I-C.......K-E-Y.....M-O-U-S-E.....Mort... my H-O-U-S-E

Wizzard2

AND YO LEFT OUT- The extra charge so you can waint on a shorter line, that only makes the regular lines longer. It sertainly has gotten worse over the years.

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