I'll admit it: I'm having terrible Disney withdrawal. And when that happens I tend to find myself doing the Disney math. What's Disney math, you say? Well, it works like this: Say you're flying into Orlando on a Saturday, but you're a bargain hunter and you check flights and see that you can save $350 for your entire family by flying in on Friday instead. Your room at Port Orleans is only $250 a night and adding an extra day of tickets will only set you back about $35 for everyone. Well you just did better than break even in this scenario, you actually saved money! So you add that extra day. That's Disney math.
Disney math experts use it for all sorts of things: Annual passes are a favorite or that granddaddy of all Disney math problems, buying a Disney Vacation Club property. And you know what? It often makes sense, especially in scenarios like the one above. If you read here you know that I spend a lot of time in the parks, in part because I've been afforded some opportunities because of my job, but right now I'm heading into a serious dry spell and not due to go back until the middle of June. Can I make it? Or can I make the Disney math work?
Here's the part where I act like a responsible grown-up. My children have year-round school, which means we're in school for nine weeks and off for three. This makes Disney trips during slower weeks of the year very tempting. We're currently heading into another "track-out" and it came down to enrolling them in camps or taking them to Disney for a few days, with Disney costing about $500 more than camps which, of course, are educational and allow me to work, which is pretty important too! In the end, I did the responsible thing and I'm keeping them occupied for two weeks rather than going to Disney for a few days, but it hurt. I really wanted to go.
What about you? Do you do Disney math? Feel free to share your most economical, outrageous, or just plain crazy math problems the comments.
7 comments:
Thankfully, living in Florida, we don't have to do Disney math too often because my kids are old enough to do day trips now. I'll FULLY admit though that it's HARD to go for just one day so I do frequently look at Passholder rates and such!
You're killing me!!!!
You and Bob. I swear. I'm so jealous.
I am actually doing the Disney math right now. You see, I am stuck choosing between getting military tickets and discount, or (hoping it comes out) going with free dining. If I go with free dining it will be more expensive by a couple hundred dollars but I would also be able to add more park days instead of having just 4. What does one do!
Chris, there can't be that many camps up there.... :P I would trek them around Epcot, make them learn a fact about each country - and BAM! That's more educational then any camp could be, haha.
Bryan, that's the thing that gets me about the military tickets. I wish they had an option for adding days.
Sheena, I have tried that. All the want to do is ride Gran Fiesta Tour.
Call me crazy, but I LOVE doing Disney math! I have a spreadsheet that I have always used to track different lodging/dining/ticket options that overwhelms even my husband (who is an accountant!
) Last year, our Disney math helped us make the plunge and join DVC. Now my Disney math isn't quite as crazy without lodging...although I still do have tabs to track points used, amount saved (you know, to confirm it really was a good deal!) :), dues, etc., I also still have tabs for tickets (YES program, annual pass, regular, or no expiration?) and meals (pay out of pocket, tables in wonderland, or a dining plan?) I think it's a sickness! :)
Seriously laughing so loud about that!
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