[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by BMWGUYinCO

We've helped quite a few people out with planning a Disney Trip, so feel free to private message me with any specific questions. And again, yes it requires a lot of planning, way more so than a general trip to a beach, but it can be very enjoyable!

Feel free to PM me any questions as well. We have helped out multiple friends on how to plan and enjoy their trips. Although to be fair we are much more experienced with Disneyland.

[bucketfoot]

As for the amount of planning required, we put much more effort into planning our Europe trips than we ever have to for a Disney trip.

Now I will agree planning for a cruise is an entirely different thing. But then it is also an entirely different kind of a vacation!

[DocL]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

It's the crowds. I mean, shoulder to shoulder. You even have to stand in line to take a piss! If you dare to. I mean, walking on piss covered floors is really a thrill. Not.

And I paid for this?

Never again.

Or you can take a shit in the bushes like I did under the monorail near the entrance. It's a long story, but there was no way I was making it to the bathroom and I was bent over in extreme pain on the sidewalk. You all know those warning signs. We have a problem Houston, and mine was going to be catastrophic. I had no choice! I crawled into the bushes and barely got my pants and boxers down before I had explosive diarrhea. I called my wife and said to meet me near the entrance inside the park with the butt wipes we had for the kids. She didn't find it funny when I told her what happened, but I would have been a mess if I didn't take evasive action when I did. Now that my kids are older I tell them the story and they crack up.

I wish I made up this story, but I was in serious pain and I'm sure I was caught on camera. They have them everywhere.

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by DocL

Or you can take a shit in the bushes like I did under the monorail near the entrance. It's a long story, but there was no way I was making it to the bathroom and I was bent over in extreme pain on the sidewalk. You all know those warning signs. We have a problem Houston, and mine was going to be catastrophic. I had no choice! I crawled into the bushes and barely got my pants and boxers down before I had explosive diarrhea. I called my wife and said to meet me near the entrance inside the park with the butt wipes we had for the kids. She didn't find it funny when I told her what happened, but I would have been a mess if I didn't take evasive action when I did. Now that my kids are older I tell them the story and they crack up.

I wish I made up this story, but I was in serious pain and I'm sure I was caught on camera. They have them everywhere.

Now that is freaking hilarious

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

This for sure. We are very much a Disney family having done 10 Disneyland, 2 Disney World (and one coming up in September) and 1 Disneyland Paris trips with our girls.

I grew up in Northern California and did multiple trips starting in the mid-late 60's as well.

Disney, be it land or world, is one of those things in life that tends to be love it or hate it. While I definitely do not like how expensive it has gotten or a lot of the changes they have made (like dumping FastPass for Genie Plus), we have nothing but 100% positive memories of our trips.

So if we err on the conservative side and assume $10K per vacation...does that mean you've spent $130K on Disney alone? $260K if we're at $20K per vacation? Holy crap man. Each to their own, but I'd really like to get Alfisti thoughts on this, because I'm very worried for his personal safety.

You see, the last post of his in the Worx thread had absolutely no negativity at all that I could detect, and I'm quite worried his (significantly) better half snapped and offed him and is now starting to post on his account pretending to be him for plausible deniability purposes later on. It is really quite concerning, give us a shout out there Aussie and let us know you are still in the land of the living.

Putting out the bat signal now:
Aussie Aussie Aussie....

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by Watching The World Burn

So if we err on the conservative side and assume $10K per vacation...does that mean you've spent $130K on Disney alone?

No, first off most of the time we do Disneyland which is much less expensive for us and second we mostly stay off property. When we stay on property it is because we were able to get a good deal. Our on-property stay at WDW was in the Grand Floridian and this was before prices skyrocketed. We also had a deal that was like 40% off.

In the case of our upcoming trip the flights are all paid for with points, as is the majority of the cost of the park tickets. Additionally I've got Hilton diamond status, so we've stayed on points multiple times as well. There has to be some benefit to travelling for work!

We almost never stay in chain hotels when we go to Europe, so the points work well for our Disney trips.

All that said WDW is still typically a $5-7K trip for us. DL is a little less, but we are also usually paying for my oldest daughter and her kids to come down from NorCal to join us. We also did things a lot cheaper when we were younger and poorer!

Now Disneyland Paris was just something we did as a day trip while we were already in the middle of an Italy/Paris trip. But overall it would be fair to say that we choose to spend more on vacations and less on extravagant everyday items. We find experiences to be far more valuable than possessions.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by DocL

Or you can take a shit in the bushes like I did under the monorail near the entrance. It's a long story, but there was no way I was making it to the bathroom and I was bent over in extreme pain on the sidewalk. You all know those warning signs. We have a problem Houston, and mine was going to be catastrophic. I had no choice! I crawled into the bushes and barely got my pants and boxers down before I had explosive diarrhea. I called my wife and said to meet me near the entrance inside the park with the butt wipes we had for the kids. She didn't find it funny when I told her what happened, but I would have been a mess if I didn't take evasive action when I did. Now that my kids are older I tell them the story and they crack up.

I wish I made up this story, but I was in serious pain and I'm sure I was caught on camera. They have them everywhere.

I wonder what carries the harsher penalty in Disney World... bring caught taking a dump in the bushes or being caught with a firearm.

[rad doc]

VIP TOUR!! Only way to go to Disney. If you can afford it solo, do 1-2 days. Its 400-600/hr and worth every penny. If not, maybe see if someone will share with you. There are fb groups for sharing. Hate lines! 10 hours in line all day to ride 6-8 with rides sucks. You can hit almost all the major rides in one day with a guide and use rest of days to chill.

For hotel, highly recommend Polynesian Club level or if you can swing it, stay in the Tonga building, all suites and super quiet.

[floridaorange]

^My friend owns a VIP tour company for Disney, she caters to a lot of Britts since that's where she's from, hit me up if you want her info. She's been at it a long time.

[wtwo3]

I heard about the VIP service... but $400-$600 on top of the $10k just seemed brutal. I'll look into this sharing concept...

[rad doc]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

^My friend owns a VIP tour company for Disney, she caters to a lot of Britts since that's where she's from, hit me up if you want her info. She's been at it a long time.

Thats cool but I personally do not recommend any non Disney vip tour. Sure its cheaper but you lose the main advantage, no waiting in line. Only Disney plaids let you skip lines.

And yes its expensive but it is truly transformational. Takes a trip from stressful constantly worry about time, next lightning line/fast pass, where to go next, getting up early to get the good times, standing around to no stress, no waiting, ride all day without evening planning.

[Alfisti]

$600 an hr? This just keeps on getting better and better. So Disney has somehow managed to create a situation where enough people will pay horrendous amounts of money to experience their parks at a basic level fraught with delays and a generally shite time, that they can then charge $600 to bypass all that crap.

Ya'all paying $15K over sticker on a Kia Tulluride I tells ya.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

$600 an hr? This just keeps on getting better and better. So Disney has somehow managed to create a situation where enough people will pay horrendous amounts of money to experience their parks at a basic level fraught with delays and a generally shite time, that they can then charge $600 to bypass all that crap.

Ya'all paying $15K over sticker on a Kia Tulluride I tells ya.

Oh it gets even better my friend...

https://insidethemagic.net/2022/06/1...-sold-out-af1/

[rad doc]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

$600 an hr? This just keeps on getting better and better. So Disney has somehow managed to create a situation where enough people will pay horrendous amounts of money to experience their parks at a basic level fraught with delays and a generally shite time, that they can then charge $600 to bypass all that crap.

Ya'all paying $15K over sticker on a Kia Tulluride I tells ya.

There is always a Disney hater but if you have kids, the enjoyment received from seeing their excitement is worth the cost and hassle. I mean, precovid 100+ million people experienced what you call a general "shite time". I generally enjoy the rides and the food is actually pretty good. Just hate standing in line and crowds, hence the guide service. Its not for everyone but if you have the means it is worth it.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

Now that is freaking hilarious

Would you like to hear the story about how my wife shut down the monorail system for 45 minutes? LOL.

We are like the Griswalds.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by rad doc

There is always a Disney hater but if you have kids, the enjoyment received from seeing their excitement is worth the cost and hassle. I mean, precovid 100+ million people experienced what you call a general "shite time". I generally enjoy the rides and the food is actually pretty good. Just hate standing in line and crowds, hence the guide service. Its not for everyone but if you have the means it is worth it.

It's not about being a hater, i'm all for taking kids for a good time but the fact they can charge what they do to "elevate" oneself above the masses surely means the basic experience is shite enough to warrant paying through the nose not to deal with it.

The whole 100m visitors thing, I do think tings have changed the last 12 months, seems the demand is just beyond crazy.

Anyway, not sure about anyone else but I am waiting for more stories from DocL

[DocL]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

...Anyway, not sure about anyone else but I am waiting for more stories from DocL

I think I can probably charge for an intimate Disney story telling experience from what I'm reading here.

How much are you guys willing to pay?

[DocL]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I wonder what carries the harsher penalty in Disney World... bring caught taking a dump in the bushes or being caught with a firearm.

Probably not as bad as being caught bringing in a glass bottle of Pellegrino. LOL.

[Tommy-G]

Who would think the Mouse House would go 6 pages plus????

[rad doc]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

It's not about being a hater, i'm all for taking kids for a good time but the fact they can charge what they do to "elevate" oneself above the masses surely means the basic experience is shite enough to warrant paying through the nose not to deal with it.

The whole 100m visitors thing, I do think tings have changed the last 12 months, seems the demand is just beyond crazy.

Anyway, not sure about anyone else but I am waiting for more stories from DocL

I hear ya. Everyone has to personally weigh the ridiculous guide cost versus standing in line for 2 hrs next to kids picking their noses and others smelling like swamp a@&. I would also say you can often cut the trip 1-2 days shorter which defrays the cost a bit. On a related note, the guides at Universal are also fantastic.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by DocL

I think I can probably charge for an intimate Disney story telling experience from what I'm reading here.

How much are you guys willing to pay?

"I'd buy that for a dollar"

[DocL]

Originally Posted by rad doc

There is always a Disney hater but if you have kids, the enjoyment received from seeing their excitement is worth the cost and hassle. I mean, precovid 100+ million people experienced what you call a general "shite time". I generally enjoy the rides and the food is actually pretty good. Just hate standing in line and crowds, hence the guide service. Its not for everyone but if you have the means it is worth it.

We are not haters, some of us just don't want our children thinking this is normal and to be expected all the time. I'm all for spending money on making lifetime memories, but kids need to learn that just because their parents are wealthy, that it isn't always about being entitled and treated like royalty, even at Disney.

My wife and I enjoyed traveling before we had kids. It was one thing we said we wanted to do when we had a family. We've taken them on many cruises, to many cities along the East coast of the USofA, and when my twins were six, we took them to London. I could have flown first class on points, but instead we flew coach. I didn't want my kids to be spoiled at such a young age. I do want them to experience traveling and adventure, but there has to be a limit, even if it means my wife and I have to sacrifice some of the amenities that we enjoy. There is no way I'm spending $600/hr for a VIP escort through Disney. For that price I'd get a different kind of escort.

I'm also sure that my kids have just as good memories, or even better than the $600/hr private tour. For example, my daughter loves Snow White. We would wait on line for the meet and greet and I'd take a ton of pictures. She was in bliss. One day though just as were next in line to greet Snow White, they said no more as she has to go on the parade. My daughter was so upset, and the handlers saw this. So what did they do? As everyone was standing behind the tape lines on both sides of main street, Snow White walked down the middle of the road holding her hand. We were center stage and my daughter had the biggest smile on her face. Well, we now learned a really good trick. Every time we went to Disney after that, we would get on the meet and greet line at a point when we knew they would shut it down and offer to take my daughter on the walk down Main St. We did this three times and I finally said to my wife; this isn't fair to other people. We live two hours away and some people save for a long time to come to Disney once in their life. My daughter was upset when she didn't get to walk with Snow White, but we explained to her that there are other children who may only get a chance to come to Disney once in their life, and that we are fortunate to live so close and come twice a month.

I'm glad that the people here have the ability to make lasting memories with their family. At the end that is all that matters.

-Cheers.