I have friends that used to go to Disney 2-3 times a year. They did not live in Florida. They used to spend so much money to go multiple times a year.
They are now declaring bankruptcy.
Going to Disney is just keeping up with the Joneses.
It is not just Disney, vacations in general for a family are very expensive but a lot of people are doing them. Granted some of thwm prolly have the money but I bet most don’t but they do it.
I don’t understand why people obsess over vacations so much. Such a weird “consumer” behaviour
I mean, I guess that depends on what you’re defining as a “vacation”. If you’re talking about some big grand trip where you spend a ton of money and show off to everyone when you get back, sure.
But that’s not my experience with vacations, nor most people I know. A vacation is a break. It’s a chance to change your daily routine, change your scenery, and just disconnect from the normal stresses of daily life for a bit. It doesn’t need to be somewhere expensive or even far away. Hell, a weekend camping trip can cost virtually nothing and is a great vacation.
And for kids, vacations can be a great bonding and learning experience with parents and siblings. It takes them out of their comfort zone and forces them to experience and try things they might not have otherwise, simply because their environment has changed. Again, it doesn’t need to be something grand or expensive. Just something different.
Vacations aren’t just “consumer” behavior. They’re pretty important in a lot of ways.
I don’t understand why people obsess over vacations
Maybe in this case where the “vacation” is just going to Disney and buying Disney themed stuff, but do you really not get the idea of a vacation in general?
I feel like (based on my experiences and talking to other people) is vacations are more for new experiences, new food, new cultures, new people. Not just “consumer behaviors”.
vacations are more for new experiences, new food, new cultures, new people. Not just “consumer behaviors”.
This. I haven’t gone to multiple countries in latin america for weeks to just buy shit. The food in lima is some of the best i’ve ever had, just don’t go alone for safety :P
My position is that tourism is cancer especially the modern version where you have idiots going to tourism traps to experience
new food, new cultures, new people.
Which is literally just “consumer behaviors”
Most historic urban cores are fucking gutten from obnoxious behaviour and these places unlivable and devoid of any culture beyond architectural style.
Alternative are cruises and resorts… Which are prolly less damaging to the cities… But what fucking culture is there
I don’t think that wanting to experience other cultures is a consumerist behavior.
Pretending that visiting tourist traps in Prague or Paris or Rome is experiencing “other cultures” is a delulu mind set aka blind consumerism at its finest.
Same guy prolly think he is a “liberal” and he is fighting climate change ge while at it 🤡
Who besides you said anything about tourist traps?
Tourism money flows
Agreed. People claim flying halfway across the planet exposes them to “different cultures” , but then do the most homegenized, Westernized touristy activities. I can learn more about a country and it’s culture in a single day via Wikipedia and documentaries than most tourists will gain on their “vacation” in same country.
The only types of vacations you can imagine are visiting historic urban cores, going on a cruise, or going to a resort?
What about a camping trip? Or a beach trip? Or visiting family that lives far away?
Because it’s like a way to pay to maximize your time off
Staycations are way more relaxing, but are generally forgettable - a week can go by before you know it when you’re just at home
A week in a different place where you cram in as many activities and experiences in as possible creates far more memories, so it feels longer
It’s like retail therapy - a way to soothe that voice in the back of your head asking “is it really worth it to sell my life away like this?”
I like vacations that are a mix of your two descriptions: Go somewhere new, but with zero itinerary. I have the most fun that way, just organically figuring out stuff to do. Of course, still do some research ahead of time.
Education levels in the US:
- Calls it Disney
- Calls it by the location of the park
- Calls it by the actual name of the specific park
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Goes to Disney World
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Goes to Disneyland
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Goes to Disneyland Paris.
The first two could be swapped, and isn’t Disney World “better” in many regards? One reason Disney secretly bought all the land in Florida was to better do what he wanted to do in California but couldn’t because of space and regulations.
Speaking as one of the weird adult Disney fans, DisneyWorld is bigger and had a lot more going on. I can spend a week at DisneyWorld and leave wanting more. Aside from all the things I enjoy, I relive memories from when I was young, when my wife and I were young, and when our kids were young.
I’ve been there 11 times (I think)
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When I was in elementary school and my parents took the family on a rare vacation.
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When I was in middle school and my mom was president of the school district’s music association, and she took me with when the band and chorus went to WDW because she didn’t trust my dad to take care of me without her (ha!).
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When I was in high school and went in another music association trip. My future wife was on the trip too. It was before we started dating, and we hung out in the pool.
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After my wife received her doctorate, we went to WDW to celebrate. I convinced her we should get what I think was called the “gold key” plan or something like that. Absolutely everything was included. I knew she would obsess over costs and skip things she wanted to try unless it was all included, so it changed from worrying about costs to trying to get her money’s worth.
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When our oldest kids were 5 & 7, we took them (our youngest was under 3, so she stayed with the grandparents).
6 & 7) My wife got continuing education credits at classes there, so we got discounted trips and took all three kids three more times.
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The oldest kids were too old to take our of school, but our youngest wasn’t, so we did a 4th continuing education trip with her, and the oldest two stayed with the grandparents (keeping everything fair).
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Another continuing education trip, but this time all the kids were too old to take out of school, so the wife and I went by ourselves. I thought it would be weird being alone in WDW when my wife was in class, but turns out it was fine. Odd thing is, we kept talking about wanting to take the kids again. So, when we were there we started planning another trip.
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We saved for more than 5 years. Took the three kids and two girlfriends. It was in 2021, so we were masked everywhere. Also, by this time, my wife was no longer working (disabled, had to give up her practice, no more continuing education). Handicapped hangtag for the car, and a wheelchair so she didn’t have to do much walking. On the last day, I was starting to feel really tired, and I thought it was just because of pushing get around in the chair all day every day. Actually I had picked up COVID. Of course several people at work got it at the same time, so I certainly had a better time catching it than they did.
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My wife and I were in the mood for another trip in 2023. Just us this time.
I have much less experience with Disneyland. I’ve been there once. When my wife was still working, but clearly having medical problems, she heard about a doctor in LA who she thought could help. My mom offered to pay for the airfare. I told my wife I would go even though I didn’t really think he would help. However, my price was a visit to Disneyland while we were there.
Disneyland is more “cozy”. I definitely appreciated the vibe. People talk about it having something special from being the park that Walt actually knew and worked on, and I definitely thought that was the case. I’d definitely like to return to Disneyland some day.
I’m confused on this education thing? Is it part of training, college discounts or some secret 3rd thing?
Annual training credits required to maintain her license. A professional organization would arrange for two years worth of credits to be earned in three days of classes at Disney World, with deluxe room discounts thrown in.
The room discount meant that you couldn’t get the Disney Dining plan. The first two times we just paid for meals out of pocket, but the last time we did that, the kids were growing and eating a lot. I had a bill the last time that had me sitting and panicking in a stall in the bathroom on the last day.
After that we would pass on the discounted rooms and just stay at a budget resort hotel and get the dining plan. It ended up being cheaper.
The dining plan doesn’t make sense for most people, but we were able to save money by using it.
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- Season pass holder
- Season pass and Lightning Lane pass holder
- Member of Club 33
This is the right answer.
Club 33 is the name of a number of private dining clubs. As of March 2025, the reported cost to join had increased to $80,000 with annual costs of $22,000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_33
People who go Disneyland multiple times a year could be just a Disney gay who live close to the park. They are not some exclusive class.
Never been! Fuck you privileged Mafia kids that went. I have a darker more capable heart than you. When I die it will be in a pool of your blood!
/S
This implies we all want to go to disney as if it is the ultimate goal to work towards. I’d rather go to the ZOO.
Eh, this doesn’t quite hold up. Grandparents are retired boomers in Florida so you get to go all summer, but your parents are living paycheck to paycheck.
I’m a native Floridian who’s never been to Disney. Other Floridians seem disgusted by my presence when it comes up
Went to Disney 3x. Once when my grandpa died, then my grandma, then my dad. Allllll paid for by life insurance payouts. Not sure where I fit in here.
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I know this is a joke but there’s people who don’t accept life insurance payouts because they legitimately feel this way.
Seems like a gross misunderstanding of life insurance and the wishes of the deceased, but people get weird about death.
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We’ll let you hang out in the middle group.
I went once in my early 20s. Drove all night with a friend and stayed with his grandparents. Figured I should see what it’s like since my parents didn’t have vacation money when I was a kid.
Magic Kingdom was pretty lame to a 23 year old stoner. Should have spent the gas money on drugs.
There’s a Mickey park next to where I live (not US) but I never even considered going. I never saw it as anything other than a way to pull US tourists and children in (the two main target demographics apparently).
+4. rents out the entire park for an exclusive vacations
I would say: Owns Disney
I went to Disney once and I have to say I was not impressed. I mean once you went and saw it why would you go back?
I would go back with my kids.
Also, typhoon lagoon is very repeatable.
I mean, the rides are pretty fun, and I could probably spend an entire week in Epcot, but it’s definitely more of an every few years thing rather than multiple times a year.
They get new rides, new installments, new exclusive merch, etc., but you’re right for the most part.
Same. I went about 25 years ago when my kids were little, and I still think it’s too soon to go back.
galaxy brain – doesn’t want to go to disney
Their advertising made me actively not want to go. They show kids screaming with joy at their parents saying they are going. My reaction would have been like, ok. I knew this, I didn’t want to go because I felt like I would disappoint my parents with a lack of excitement over going.
There should be another Disney class. The “Lightning Pass/Stayed at a Disney Resort/going to multiple parks over several days” Class
The park fees alone are pretty expensive if you’d like to see more than just “Disneyland” and want to see EPCOT, Studios, etc. The try to ride the rides during any popular season you buy Lightning Passes for hundreds or even a thousand more per person, pay for parking over multiple days, stay at an expensive “resort” property…
Yeah. You can go “cheap” and stay off property, but it’s a whole different experience.
My Uncle and his family are like this, his kids are adults now and they still go to Disney every year.
We’re Canadian. and he is a staunch opponent of the Canadian Healthcare system, He believes that because he can personally throw money at a Doctor, that everyone should be treated that way, first paid first served.
Been once not that fun…
