Don’t get me wrong. I love vacationing at Disney. I don’t care what the nay sayers…say. It IS magical. No matter how many times I visit a Disney Theme Park or Hotel, I get butterflies in my stomach. It is fun.

I have heard a lot of people talk about how, for the price they paid to spend a week at Disney World they could have flown to and vacationed in another country. That is cool and exotic and I totally get it. I like flying to other places too. I do not ONLY vacation at Disney, but here is my argument FOR spending that money at one of their resorts versus some other options:

Low Cognitive Load

While this term refers to learning, I think I will borrow it for a second. You know the feeling. When you are traveling and balancing a hundred logistics in your mind. Airport, times, transportation, prices, locations, map, how do I say please and thank you in this language? Is this a dangerous part of town? Who can I trust? Where is a good place to eat? And on and on.

When you go to Disney World, so much is already figured out and convenient that you can focus on things that matter more.

The Disney Version of Life

Yea, I like the real thing too. Sometimes it is nice to live in more of a fantasy land. For instance; when I go to EPCOT and travel the world showcase, I am only being exposed to the most Disney-ized clean, happy, safe version of those countries…and I like it. I LOVE to visit other countries, but Disney is a way to day dream about going a lot of places all at once.

Speaking of…I had only loosely considered visiting Canada until I went to the EPCOT Canada experience. I walked out of that room desperate to visit. I felt a little brainwashed, but in a good way. Disney can inspire MORE travel by giving you a quick taste of other places.

VACATION CLUB THOUGHTS

The vacation club, first and foremost, is a time share. If that word doesn’t scare you, I don’t know what will. A close friend of mine was stuck paying $800 a month for her time share for well over a decade, and her financial situation had changed so much that she couldn’t afford to go on vacation and visit it. All of her spare earnings went to the mandatory time share payments. It was rally depressing. In fact, I am not even certain she got out of it, I just stopped asking.

Time shares come in all shapes and sizes. Disney will try and sell you on staying in their grand villas, but when you look at the cost and amount of time…you start to wonder if your money would be better spent just paying for the vacation when the time comes.

Speaking of when the time comes. One of the biggest reasons I am against the vacation club, is it is not enough time. The money I save by NOT paying $$$$ for a once a year grand Disney vacation, I can visit a few times a year at a smaller scale.

I figure if you have the kind of money you need to purchase enough points for those grand and frequent vacations, you probably don’t need a time share scheme. People get lured in by the idea they are somehow investing in the property. Not to mention you could have purchased in the year 2000 and be paying the same amount in 2023…which I am assuming is spectacular.

However, life DOES change and getting out of that agreement or selling it for the supposed profits, could be a bigger headache than you need.

When we visited Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa I could see the allure. I understand. The big nice rooms with full kitchens. The benefits and discounts and amenities. Who wouldn’t get a little tempted? It is a trap! Run! You can still stay at those places. You can still do the things. You do not need to be a time share owner to enjoy your Disney Vacation.

Thanks for reading. If you DID join the Vacation Club, please tell me your experience good or bad.