Numbers Update

I've been warming up more and more to the idea of a Walt Disney World-only trip in late-August/early-September, and making it a bit longer. The cost to add a few days to such a trip is relatively negligible:

Length-of-Stay Comparison - 2 adults, 2 children

• 3-night:$1,141
• 8-night: $1,668
• 10-night: $1,866

Prices include a room at Walt Disney World resort, tickets, and dining. A 10-night stay for 2 adults, by comparison, is $1,434. Keep in mind that these prices include dining (one quick-service and one table-service meal, plus one snack, per day).

Also, flight prices these days are actually not too bad. Flying out of Detroit may be preferable for many of us, given the cost savings. Current numbers are around $150 per person, round-trip, but who knows where the U.S. economy (or fuel prices) will go over the next few years.

Not including the cost of airfare or driving, here is a per-day, per-person cost comparison using a family of 4 as an example. Keep in mind that prices include dining.

• 3-night: $95
  
• 8-night: $52
  
• 10-night: $47
  

If we vacation in August of 2011, that gives us about 33 months between now and then. With these numbers, here are the minimum monthly savings required for the trip, covering the cost of the Walt Disney World portion (resort, tickets, dining) plus airfare. (Those who choose to drive will likely require less.)

• 2 adults: $53/month
• 2 adults, 2 children: $75/month

These numbers can change, of course, but they're my "best guess" based on current information. All of these prices are in U.S. dollars, so the state of the Canadian dollar will factor in as well. Also keep in mind that these prices don't include extra costs, like souvenirs.

2010 Cruise Prices Released

Disney released their 2010 cruise prices last week as expected. I was surprised that the prices have gone up as much as they have, especially with the state of the U.S. economy. If the U.S. economy doesn't improve much over the next year, it'll be interesting to see what Disney does. If it's bad enough, I have to think they'd bring prices down, but that's not something that happens very often with Disney.

An important thing to note is that Disney has so far not released pricing for their lowest category of staterooms, so the prices I've been basing my research on are higher than we would likely have available to us.

I've done a cost comparison of August vs. December, for the entire trip, based on current pricing.

• August is 30-42% less expensive than December if we don't cruise
• August is 9-20% less expensive than December if we do cruise

The different sizes of groups (from singles to families of 5) accounts for the percentage ranges, and the price differences are greatest for singles and couples.

It would be a shame if we don't cruise, but if we don't, we'd be looking at a much less expensive trip if we were to go in August. One option would be to extend our stay at Disney World; the longer the stay, the lower the per-day cost.

August is looking more and more like the most ideal time for the vacation, despite the drawbacks. There are ways to beat the heat, such as spending the hottest part of the day outside of the parks (which is also when the crowds are highest and the lines are longest). But as always, everything is subject to change because of how far out we still are.

Article: Three Generations at Disney World

I came across an interesting article today, written by one of 14 people in a three-generational family who visited Disney World earlier this year. The article offers insight into a vacation such as ours, as well as some general information about Disney World.



One thing the article doesn't discuss enough is what Disney World has to offer for adults, including those without children. The resort has a great deal to offer absolutely everyone, and I will be writing in detail in that regard in the future so everyone will know what's available and what to expect.



Below are excerpts from the full article, which can be read here.

She wasn't alone in wanting some fun time with her children and grandchildren at the planet's most ambitious and most popular amusement parks. We, too, were among many multi-generational families who trek to Orlando each year to join 47 million other people who jam Walt Disney World's four theme parks -- Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom.



On the busiest days of the year (between Christmas and New Years and around Easter), upwards of 90,000 people a day visit the Magic Kingdom, but May (when we were there) and the fall are much better choices, with just 30,000 visitors a day. Even on the busiest days, Disney's clever Fastpass system (where, at no cost, you get a ticket for the most popular attractions enabling you to return at a specific time for priority boarding) makes long waits a rarity.



Looking back on the five days in Central Florida, we realized that a three-generation visit to Walt Disney World is an ideal plan.

11 Days Later and Cruise Ponderings

Since my post last week, Fay ended up not being a huge problem for Florida, but it ensured tons and tons and tons of rain. Even so, the temperature has been pretty hot most of that time. Heat continues to be my biggest concern about going to Disney World in late August... but it becomes slightly less concerning when I consider how much money could be saved. Even so...

I've been wondering if we'll continue with plans for the cruise portion of the vacation. Of course, even if we don't go, anyone/everyone else should feel welcome to go. It would be far more enjoyable with the full vacation clan on the cruise, but I would still highly recommend it for anyone who's even the least bit interested. We'll see though. My main concern is the cost. It's not a question of whether or not it's worth it, just whether or not it will be financially feasible for us 3 years from now, which is hard to say.

Information on at least one of the 2 new Disney ships will by available within the next year or so, and prices for 2011 cruises will be released next fall. It's insane to think that if we do go on the cruise, we would be eligible to put down a deposit for it in approximately one year's time. Prices go up the further we get from their release, so everyone should be prepared to make a decision for themselves and/or their group/family by then.

I'm not sure if I'll schedule the big planning meeting for a year from now, but I will at the very least have a presentation and video online and on DVD by then. If not next year, then the big planning meeting will most likely be scheduled in about 2 years time.

3 Years From Today! (Possibly...)

In addition to the possibility of having the vacation in early December, another time worth considering is late August. Late August has several advantages, including not having to worry about taking kids out of school, and Disney World has had a "free dining" promotion starting in late August for the last 3 years. Currently worth about $40/night stayed per adult (and $10/night stayed per child), that's $700 worth of savings for a family of 2 adults and 2 children on a 7-night stay, which is a significant savings of about 30% off the cost of the trip (excluding transportation costs).



If we were to go in late August, I expect that the promotion would begin today, and today would be the potential 3-year-out mark. Late August isn't without a few disadvantages compared to going in early December, including no Christmas events, and not being able to stay at a deluxe resort without paying an arm and a leg (we'd be staying in a value resort in late August).



But the greatest disadvantage to going in August is, of course, the weather. For the last 2 weeks or so, Florida has been weathering tropical storm Fay, which has resulted in a surge of rain, flooding, and a tornado. President Bush has officially declared Florida a disaster area, and things may yet get worse.



Hurricane season in Florida is from June to November. Late August is host to hot weather in Florida, with the average high being around 33° Celsius (currently at 12:30pm, it is 30° Celsius). Rainfall is also relatively high, but rain typically comes and goes quickly in Florida, and of course it can rain at any time of the year.



Because of the undesirable weather and the fact that most U.S. kids are already going back to school, late August falls under Disney's value season, which is why they have the "free dining" promotion. There is no guarantee that Disney will offer the promotion in 2011 however, so we'll see what happens over the next 2 years with that, as well as with the weather. I'll add an update in 11 days, which is the possible/probable length of the full vacation.

One Year Down!

It's already been one full year (plus one day) since I sent out the first e-mail to everyone about the vacation. Wow, did that ever go fast! We still have 3½+ years to go, but I have no doubt they'll creep up on us as well.

There's no major news about the trip, but I recently realized that 2011 will be Walt Disney World's 40th anniversary, so there will no doubt be special events and celebrations taking place throughout the year.

Some facts about Walt Disney World:

• Walt Disney World sits on over 100 square kilometers of land (about twice the size as Manhattan, or the land mass of San Francisco); only ¼ of the land is developed, with another ¼ being protected as a wildlife preserve.
  
• Walt Disney World's employees, called "cast members," number more than 60,000 during the busiest time of the year (between Christmas and New Years).
• About 50 million people visit Walt Disney World annually.
• The Walt Disney World Resort has more than 750 watercraft, 12 monorails, and approximately 200 buses.
• Walt Disney World encompasses:
• 4 theme parks
• 2 water parks
• 22 resort hotels (plus 10 non-Disney-owned hotels)
  
• 139 restaurants
• 9 professional and mini-golf courses
• 2 full-service spas
• a massive sports complex
• a five-story state-of-the-art arcade
• a 120-acre shopping, dining, and entertainment district with 8 night clubs