I have a piece of advice that always results in a confused look when talking to friends about their Disney vacation plans. When they say “but it’s so expensive,” I ask them how long they’re staying. I often end up suggesting that they stay longer in order to get a better deal.
Huh?
When we go to Disney World, we plan on staying in the Disney “bubble” for the duration of our vacation, but I know this is often not the case for many families. Florida has so much to offer and it’s tempting to squeeze in some beach time or a visit to any of the many other attractions in the area. We commit to a Disney-only vacation for a couple of reasons.
Simplicity: You may think planning a Disney vacation is complicated but for me, it’s the opposite once we arrive. We fly there so I don’t have to worry about renting a car, driving 16 hours there and back, or navigating unfamiliar roadways during what’s supposed to be an enjoyable and relaxing time. I am happy to let Disney do ALL the driving.
Value: We plan all of our Disney vacations to last around 7-9 nights. First, because we are paying to fly there and airfare is a significant chunk of the expense, so we may as well take advantage of already being in Florida. Second, and more importantly, because the more park ticket days you purchase, the better value your vacation becomes. A one day, one park ticket is going to cost $108 or more, depending on the park. If you pay for 7-day tickets, the price (per day) drops significantly to $59. If you choose 10-day tickets, it drops even more – about $44 per day. For the amount of entertainment and the number of attractions available across Disney theme parks, this is an unbeatable deal. Multiply this savings by the number of people in your group and it seems crazy (to me) to go for just a day or two.
Aside from the above reasons, we choose to keep our Disney vacations just that because we honestly love being away from the traffic, shopping malls, grocery stores, and everything else that makes up our everyday lives. Immersing ourselves in the magic of the environment and escaping the day to day stresses of life are the best parts of vacation.
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Candice was raised in east Tennessee. While in college, her best friend dragged her to a Walt Disney World College Program recruiting session at the University of Tennessee and the rest is Disney history. In the Fall of 1999, Candice became a quick service food hostess for Sunset Ranch Market and Fantasmic at Disney-MGM Studios – or what is now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While soaking up her time as a cast member, she met Ryan, a neighbor and a fellow college programmer who worked as a custodial host at Epcot. Four years later, Candice moved to the Midwest and married that boy from across the hall. They now live in Greenwood, Indiana with their two little boys. The Disney-loving foursome took their first family trip to The Happiest Place on Earth in 2013 and Candice is eagerly planning their return. Candice also works full-time at a community mental health center and enjoys taking photographs and blogging at Mommy in the Midwest.
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