$200,000 a year spent at Disney?

It doesn’t have it all yet. By my estimation, we’re still missing the following:

• Different strokes, or having a stroke > RRR
• Michigan’s Adventure getting none of those strokes, but still being crowded enough to force people to park mid-Timbers
• Someone pulling their ACE card like a drug bust to point out how wrong we all are about our various strokes
• A Gonchback to comments about how all of said strokes could be more expensive
• Commentary on how anyone paying to experience those strokes sooner is line-jumping

SteveWoA:

I get you will forever justify your love for DCL and all that, but your argument in not 'wasting precious hours' traveling is funny when you literally spent most of your entire trip traveling between places. That is wasted precious hours.

“…spent most of your trip traveling between places” is like the 5-word movie review version of describing a cruise. The ship is a destination unto itself. Its use as a method of transportation is more of a bonus. I say this as someone who actually had the same opinion of cruises for years. However, I then sailed on my first cruise on the Disney Dream in spring 2022, and I think it probably ruined all other vacations for me, haha.

Now, I can’t speak for other lines. The thought of sailing, say, Carnival, stresses me out given the party environment they want.

I do think, though, that cruising is definitely a very different style of vacation than what you do, and I can respect your difference of opinion. Your type of vacation is what I used to do, and it definitely has its place for all manner of reasons, but it depends on objectives. Cruises and the extreme relaxation, coupled with the heavily reduced planning requirements compared to other forms of vacation, have become my preferred way to spend my PTO, but that’s not to say that they’ve eliminated my desire to travel the way you do.

I will sheepishly admit that I've been on 2 Carnival cruises. I get the knock on them, but neither was bad at all. It helped that we were on newish ships. We took it for what it was and had a great time. The first one was a huge group cruise with family and friends. I think there were around 75 of us with some sort of connection. The second was my daughter's first cruise, booked it a week out, and it was very affordable. It was wonderful because it was just the 3 of us and we took everything at our own pace. We even stayed on board the ship at the first port and my daughter and I had the water park to ourselves. Would I recommend it to everyone? No, especially not to anyone that has experience with higher end lines. At the end of it, it was better than a good week at work and home. And you know, different strokes. I look forward to hearing how I'm a backwards thinking hillbilly.

I’ve been on two cruises myself, both Carnival. My honeymoon in 2004, and then another with a friend’s diving team in 2005. Both were excellent, but I’m sure I would enjoy higher end cruises more, especially now.

"You, of all people, can't be serious."

Totally serious.

"Nobody tells me what my kid can or can't do."

Nobody was at all.

"That's deeply personal. It's not OK to go there."

it's deeply personal to suggest that there may be food that serves what your kid likes when you're making the argument that to be comfortable you had to spend the equivalent money to go to Europe as a small car costs? K. You're the guy that always talked down about enthusiasts going abroad and doing it wrong because They didn't do it your way...

"And you could have asked why it's personal, but you chose to tell me I should calm down."

Yes. I could have asked the guy who's go to is "you don't know me" when he feels some perceived slight in an attempt to talk down to people, which is all you've ever done on this site. Which is why the vast majority of my friends from here don't post anymore.

Im saying that what Steve said and how you took it and how you responded was in a hostile way of "you're in dangerous territory, bub" was ridiculous. Because it was.

Remember on your blog when you disagreed with your therapist about how you take stuff too personally and take things as a perceived attack? (I still read, it's still entertaining). This. This is what your therapist meant. Your response to a critical opinion is never warranted because you're constantly getting upset about it.

At least I'm upfront at admit I just like to argue (Thanks ADHd). I ultimately DGAC what anyone actually thinks of me.

bigboy:

This thread has it all.

(google Stefan and human parking cones for further exploration)

Wow, don't know that I've ever seen things get this personal on this forum before. After carefully reading the full exchange between Jeff and SteveWoA, here's my conclusion: SteveWoA was being [searching for the right word that won't get me banned] rude. Like, very rude.

SteveWoA:

18K, my goodness.

We have taken three trips to Europe for 10 days each time and with airfare (economy plus), hotels, park tickets, attractions, rental car, ICE train tickets, etc... I think all three were a little more than half that combined for two. Certainly under 18K no question about that. Our England trip this May will still probably not push us over that 18K for four trips. We dont travel cheap, either. Includes resort hotels at Europa, Phantasialand and Parc Asterix, as well as really nice hotels in the various city centers everywhere.

Okay, fine. An opinion has been expressed. $18,000 is a lot for a vacation--unless you're Nick Cannon--and Steve has explained how he would prefer to spend that kind of money, or less, on a European vacation. Fair enough. But then:

And you spent so much of that time on a boat. Seems so expensive for not really seeing much of where you went.

Kind of starting to drift into "you're doing it wrong" territory, which is less of an opinion and more of a snotty put-down. I mean, it's not a boat. And you know it's not a boat. That word choice is deliberate, and very telling. So after Jeff points this out, without resorting to insults (unless "you are completely wrong" represents an unacceptable breach of etiquette), we get this:

So you wasted days worth of time inside the ship seeing nothing new, instead.

And:

I get you will forever justify your love for DCL and all that, but your argument in not 'wasting precious hours' traveling is funny when you literally spent most of your entire trip traveling between places. That is wasted precious hours.

Like honestly, why are you going so hard in the paint on this? Mentioning wasting time twice? Where do you come off? But then, you tip your hand:

Well I sure hope if your throwing them that kind of the money the least they can do is clean your room twice a day. As if cruises are not wasteful and terrible for the environment enough.

Aaaaaand there it is. You hate cruises. Those dirty ol' boats, polluting our oceans, shuttling you from place to place when you could be driving a rental car instead.

And then the capper:

But you have done that same exact thing out of Florida... How many times now?

Florida...you mean the place they live? Their home, where the wake up every day to something that is familiar and comfortable? Yeah, you're right; it's exactly the same as walking around trying to find food in a European city you've never been too that speaks a different language.

And there are plenty of amazing restaurants...for your kid to eat things he would like.

How the f*** do you know? Sorry, but I'm 100% on Jeff's side. Don't talk about someone else's kids, period. You stepped way out of bounds.

And by the way, I read Jeff’s blog too, and I’ve been fascinated by the things he’s shared regarding his ADHD. It has really helped me understand my wife a lot better, since she has been dealing with the same kinds of issues: a later-in-life ADHD diagnosis that has caused her to reflect on her childhood and helped to put some of her social challenges into context. I’m very grateful to Jeff for shedding light on this.

And I would never in a million years choose to take such personal, vulnerable testimony and turn it against him just to win an internet argument.

"...Spud Webb"

I know with 99% certainty it isn't true, but I really want there to be a story about how one of the real reasons the Star Wars hotel closed was because Disney couldn't get Nick Cannon to leave.

More likely it failed because Nick Cannon didn't go with his brood.

If Nick Cannon took his brood, he could’ve bought out a complete cruise.

Why would he want to waste all that time on a boat? (Ducks)

I meant the Star Cruiser, but once again, I messed up the joke. ;)

In b4 clothes.

Bakeman31092:

Okay, fine. An opinion has been expressed. $18,000 is a lot for a vacation--unless you're Nick Cannon--and Steve has explained how he would prefer to spend that kind of money, or less, on a European vacation. Fair enough. But then:

OK... I'll bite...

Yes, it's a lot. But also, don't really care what one does with their money... Me questioning/discussing and sharing my thoughts on said money, travel or whatever is not me saying someone else is 'wrong', nor am I telling anyone what to do. It's just a difference of opinion. This is a discussion forum, after all. If you are going to post anything, expect people to not agree or question what you had just said. We are not all the same.

Bakeman31092:
Kind of starting to drift into "you're doing it wrong" territory, which is less of an opinion and more of a snotty put-down. I mean, it's not a boat. And you know it's not a boat. That word choice is deliberate, and very telling. So after Jeff points this out, without resorting to insults (unless "you are completely wrong" represents an unacceptable breach of etiquette), we get this:

Really reaching there. It is a damn boat. I'm not going to get on someones case for saying "You just flew on a plane"... WHAT? I'm offended! That was my first class lie-down suite on an Emirates A380! NOT just a plane! The nerve!!

Please dude... A cruise ship is a boat.

Bakeman31092:
Like honestly, why are you going so hard in the paint on this? Mentioning wasting time twice? Where do you come off? But then, you tip your hand:

At the end of the day, Jeff decided to mention I was wasting my time driving or flying around while he slept, not wasting time, supposedly. I simply stated that while out at sea for three days straight on said boat, that was exactly the same thing. Just wasting even more 'precious hours' traveling from point A to point B.

In a literal sense, whether you fly, boat or train between locations... You are traveling.

Bakeman31092:
Aaaaaand there it is. You hate cruises. Those dirty ol' boats, polluting our oceans, shuttling you from place to place when you could be driving a rental car instead.

I really don't... They are fine...

It's more the hypocrisy of some who push environmentalism hard, yet go out (insert how many) cruises a year. Disney has them special pollution/waste free boats, I guess.

Plus, RCL has made me quite a bit of money. So keep cruising, people.

Bakeman31092:
Florida...you mean the place they live? Their home, where the wake up every day to something that is familiar and comfortable? Yeah, you're right; it's exactly the same as walking around trying to find food in a European city you've never been too that speaks a different language.

Not sure you got the point there.

Bakeman31092:
How the f*** do you know? Sorry, but I'm 100% on Jeff's side. Don't talk about someone else's kids, period. You stepped way out of bounds.

You kidding me? If there is a person on this earth that can only find food they can eat on a Disney Cruise Boat, that really would be something!

Your last line is why I am not interested in interacting with you, or with you even being here. If you ever try to tell me what my kid can or can't do again, you're gone. You don't care to know or understand what it's like to be a parent in my shoes. You lack the experience and apparently the empathy.

Appreciate the kind words, Chris, and sharing of your wife's diagnosis. It's weird enough trying to reconcile midlife, but then add that in...

I can’t believe I read that argument on a site full of adults who like to visit theme parks. There is no way that every single one of the people reading and participating in this thread has not at least once have someone criticize your choice to go to theme parks. Why the hell do human beings criticize other people’s choices of how they spend their vacation? I mean honestly. If it comes up in conversation I’ll ask how they enjoyed it, if they did and that vacation holds no interest for me I’ll just change the subject. As long as the vacation made that person happy, it was a success, whether or not a non participant would have enjoyed it is immaterial and criticising some one else’s choice just makes you look like a judgy donkey hole out to suck out the joy from someone else’s life. Can we please just stop?

Yikes, I didn't expect the fireworks this thread has caused, that wasn't my intension. I am just a coaster enthusiast who loves to ride coasters and read about them when I can't be on them. That's my true joy in life and why I am here.

Going back to my original post, I just thought it would be tough to spend $200,000 at a park in a year. Yes, I have been to Disney, and yes I know it is super expensive. Nick claims to go to Disney once a week. Divide that by 52, that's close to $4000 every time he goes. I imagine he has a season pass right? So he doesn't need to pay the entry fee or parking. I guess he's spending the night in VIP rooms with all his kids? Like multiple rooms, breakfast, lunch and dinner with room service? How the hell do you spend $4000 per trip? I don't know. I suppose it really doesn't matter as I have no idea how someone who makes $100 million a year spends their money (I know it's not spent wisely.) But then again, when you have that type of money, who cares right? I wish I had a $100 million dollar a year problem to deal with :)

It wasn’t in response to the original post DMT. Just the whole cruise through Europe side plot. I’ve never been on a cruise, and don’t think I would like it in most situations. The main exceptions being an Alaska cruise and maybe a river cruise. I appreciate the care free way some people can travel as I enjoy doing that kind of travel in the US. However, I would be far too nervous and scared to enjoy that in a land they can’t even speak the language and am not fully aware of cultural norms. When I travel again overseas it will almost certainly be in a guided tour situation where I have someone to help plan my days and point me in the right direction. I’m willing to give up that freedom for the feeling of security it will provide. Again everyone is different, so long as they’re happy and not intruding on other people’s happiness what’s there to criticize?

As for Nick he’s not going alone, let’s just take tickets away, ok:

-Suite at Grand Floridian-$1300 a night

-Dinner for 3 at a fancy restaurant-$200

-VIP tour-450-900 an hour required for 7 hours-$4725 ($675 an hour the mean)

Boom

Touchdown:

-VIP tour-450-900 an hour required for 7 hours-$4725 ($675 an hour the mean)

I understand that the VIP tours are expensive, and yes you can spend $4K doing that. Isn't that a one of a time type of thing? Like, "I'm new to Disney and I am going to spoil my family on this trip!" Nick is going EVERY WEEK and must live nearby, right? How many times does one need to take a VIP tour? I have taken many brewery tours, and after the second one, I realized that they are basically the same. Brewery tour lady, please stop talking and please give me that BEER NOW!