We all know that a trip to Walt Disney World in
Orlando can be expensive. But is it too expensive?
A recent
study showed that the average family comes home $2,000 in
debt from a jaunt to Disney. So, we asked travel advisers for their opinion.
“This is a story that needs to be told. In my
personal opinion, Disney has been unaffordable for many families for years,”
says Tyson Wharton of Sioux Empire Travel. “As an advisor, I do not specialize
in Disney but do specialize in Universal Studios. I believe a family gets a lot
more bang for their buck with Universal and they make things easier for
families than Disney does. I have other advisors who book Disney, but usually
when I get a client asking "Which one is best for my family and my
budget?", Universal is a much easier product to sell where I know my
clients will have a spectacular time and do not feel as nickeled and dimed to
death compared to what Disney provides.”
Disney parks
are pricey, but the memories are priceless.
The economy has been
slumping at times, even leading some fast-food restaurants to create new meal deals
that are less expensive. But studies show that Americans are still spending on
travel and leisure activities.
However, there is also something to be said for getting
what you pay for. Bank of America Institute reported “the underlying picture
for travel remains robust.”
And the brand has name recognition and Disney World is
a destination unto itself. That’s why Disney doesn’t seem overly worried.
“While we saw a slight moderation in demand, I
certainly wouldn’t call it a significant change,” said chief financial officer Hugo Johnston. “I don’t think I’d refer to it as protracted but just a couple of
quarters of likely similar results.”
Mickey and Minnie Golden Sculptures at Magic Kingdom (photo by Eric Bowman)
‘Best of the Best’
While noting that is expensive, some advisors note that Disney World is worth the price.
“Yes, Disney is expensive. They are also the best
of the best at just about everything they do,” says Chad E. Burt, co-owner of Cruises
& Tours Unlimited, OutsideAgents.com, MyBookingGenie.com, and
MyAgentGenie.com. “I own a host agency with 10,000 agents and I’ve had this
discussion many, many times. I explain that travel is a progressive “disease”
that leads us over time from three-night getaways to seven-night cruises to
14-night bucket list experiences. The average age of travelers for each of
these trip types (20, 40, and 60 years respectively) is proof of this. The
challenge with Disney is that children are only in their “magical” years for a
few years. For most families, those magical years are when the parents
are in their 20’s and 30’s when, for most of us, finances are still
improving. Some families go into debt to realize this dream just as they
would buying their teenager their first car.
It’s that important to them.”
He said that going to Disney is a bucket-list item and
costs are sometimes cast aside. Or saved.
“A good travel agent can help consumers navigate their
options and maximize the return on their vacation dollar. We do it every day,”
he said.
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