Litany of 2026 parks / resorts deals - is this unprecedented?

[Jrb1979]

I was shocked at the new Universal prices. I booked an EU trip for March early last year. Not cheap, but I’m judging on the Disney scale so felt comparatively reasonable. We cancelled after some of the growing pains issues stared manifesting. Now looking at later this year / into 2027. The prices have at least doubled if not tripled over what I was seeing last year.

That is one thing that I find odd. Disney and Universal have raised their prices a lot. The parks a tier below like Dollywood, Cedar Point and Hershey have mostly seen a little raise in price compared to 2020.
A good example is the Cedar Point hotel. It's gone up maybe $50 a night since 2022. We've gone every year the week before Memorial Day weekend and the cost is been around the same every year.

 

[dlfan1313]

$800 a night is ridiculous.

Well, not to defend, but just under $800.

 

[LSLS]

I was shocked at the new Universal prices. I booked an EU trip for March early last year. Not cheap, but I’m judging on the Disney scale so felt comparatively reasonable. We cancelled after some of the growing pains issues stared manifesting. Now looking at later this year / into 2027. The prices have at least doubled if not tripled over what I was seeing last year.

Universal can easily be more expensive than Disney which is wild. When we went, the Deluxe hotels were over $1,000 a night. Now, you do get a HUGE perk with those Disney does not give with the express pass, but pricing is wild (and of course tickets which run thousands for a family of 4 for a couple days). The kids had a blast and want to go back, but if I am balking at the price for Disney, Universal isn't stealing me over.

 

[Touchdown]

Its not all butterflies and daisy's at Universal as well... look at the recent price hikes at its Loews operated hotels. Compare room rates from when they opened last year and now. Dining costs have risen as well (they have everywhere even without a park nearby) as noted by @Gringrinngghost over here https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/2026-loews-hotels-dining-price-increases.987428/ but even more so. Inputs and delivery costs for products have risen more than companies are willing or able to absorb, so they've passed the costs along.

I was too, until I realized my AP discount zeroed the increase out and I pay what I used to for those rooms. They have however either completely ended or severely restricted the stay more save more rates, at least booking far out and that’s a major shift. It’s still not to WDW levels though, and still comes with express to IOA and USF.

 

[KDM31091]

Deluxe Hotels, as a resort or as a place to sleep, are completely over priced twice over at least. What you're paying for is Disney branding and location. Obviously your call if that's worth while.

I only do it when I get a good deal.

Agreed. The rack rates for Deluxe are just laughable. There is no room service (other than at ONE property). There is no spa (again, other than at ONE property). There is nothing overtly deluxe about the rooms. They are just nice hotel rooms and nothing more. Things you traditionally can expect at a certain price point don't exist. You're paying for location and branding. And I say this at someone who loves the resorts. But the standard pricing is just insane for what you're getting. The rooms are nice. But they are not $800 a night nice. Combined with all the other costs associated with going to WDW and I honestly have no idea how people afford $800 a night in hotel costs.

 

[lentesta]

Because it's new news, I'm going to throw this stat out there:

37% of all Brazilian tourist visits to the United States include a stop in Orlando.

Brazil is the #2 source of leisure tourists to Orlando, behind only Canada.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Because it's new news, I'm going to throw this stat out there:

37% of all Brazilian tourist visits to the United States include a stop in Orlando.

Brazil is the #2 source of leisure tourists to Orlando, behind only Canada.

Do the Brazilian tour groups get special (group) prices?

 

[Comped]

Do the Brazilian tour groups get special (group) prices?

They can and often do get group discounts for everything from tickets to rooms, same with Argentinians (I delt much more with the latter at my location than Brazilians).

 

[bmr1591]

WDW is a subpar product (at current prices) and should only be purchased at a severe discount. I know emotions, traditions, general fears that you might find you like other things, and a full litany of other reasons come into play, and we could argue about it until the butter turns into Greek yogurt, but as much as I love all you diehards and unknowing whippersnappers and your ethusuiams, it is not at all worth the price they charge. I'm only on this forum today because I'll be in Orlando for other reasons and thought, "well, maybe since I'll be there anyway..." and upon seeing the rack rate price of almost $800 per night for Beach Club, literally said out loud "F#$# you, Disney!" Which earned me a few looks from the coffee shop parents who were rallying themselves after dropping off the kids at school and were aghast at my godlike grasp of the King's English. I LOVE the Beach Club, absolutely adore it, and have countless fond memories there. I would love to make more, but that price for a mediocre room at what is, any more, a 2-star resort service-wise is insanity. Add to it, the constant "shakedown," as someone else brilliantly put it, and it's all just a repugnant, almost maniacal manipulation of people's emotional weak spots. I'm a broken record here, no question, but I still love WDW and I want to want to go again. And again. If you're reading Unkie Bob, since I'll be there anyway, and since I'm a reasonable I'll buy in at a 40% discount if you abolish those Lightning Strike things or maybe even roll them into the ticket price and your word that you'll stop selling worthless hunks of plastic to people of limited faculties for $50 at the popcorn stands. Let me know how you wish to proceed.

Deluxe Hotels, as a resort or as a place to sleep, are completely over priced twice over at least. What you're paying for is Disney branding and location. Obviously your call if that's worth while.

I only do it when I get a good deal.

Gotta keep deluxe prices high so people buying into DVC believe they're getting a deal. The quicker one can justify a $30,000 buy in by counting the number of stays to break even, the better for their business.

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

Gotta keep deluxe prices high so people buying into DVC believe they're getting a deal. The quicker one can justify a $30,000 buy in by counting the number of stays to break even, the better for their business.

A lot people fail to realize this. You are not paying deluxe prices for deluxe accommodations. You are paying deluxe prices to make DVC'ers feel better about their contract purchase.

 

[Chi84]

A lot people fail to realize this. You are not paying deluxe prices for deluxe accommodations. You are paying deluxe prices to make DVC'ers feel better about their contract purchase.

I don’t think staying in “deluxe accommodations” is the main selling point for DVC. I know it wasn’t for us. No one is being fooled about what they’re buying.

 

[coffeefan]

Because it's new news, I'm going to throw this stat out there:

37% of all Brazilian tourist visits to the United States include a stop in Orlando.

Brazil is the #2 source of leisure tourists to Orlando, behind only Canada.

Perhaps this will push Disney to finally expand there, at least for cruises.

 

[networkpro]

Because it's new news, I'm going to throw this stat out there:

37% of all Brazilian tourist visits to the United States include a stop in Orlando.

Brazil is the #2 source of leisure tourists to Orlando, behind only Canada.

Perhaps that will be inverted this year.

 

[Laketravis]

Unfortunately Epic has a lot of catching up to do in terms of capacity and operations. It’ll be a great park when they figure that out, but as great as the attractions are, when the average waits there on a random Tuesday in September look like MK at Christmas it’s a real problem.

I went to Epic during AP previews and it was incredible. Now? Not so much unfortunately.

Just got back last night - had 4 day park tickets that included Epic, so we park hopped extensively each day. They need to figure something out with Mario and HP, those 240 minute posted wait times aren't acceptable and when coupled with breakdowns and late/early closing (HP went down 50% of the time we were in queue, isn't open during early admission and closes early in the evening) it's definitely not a crowd pleaser.

I'm most certain it contributes to Express Pass sales, however. We had EP for all three parks for all four days, so a 240 minute posted wait for HP was 20 minutes for us (unless the attraction went down). Mario's 180 minute posted wait translated into 15 minutes for us. But for other attractions we honestly didn't need the EP's - Frankenstien Experiment is a people eater where we never saw a more than 20 minute posted wait (and it's as high caliber as HP), the Racing coasters and other attractions were usually reasonable as well.

I do think they need more attractions, though - if it weren't for the extended waits on a few of the headliners you could breeze thru that park in a few hours. Which we did, and then headed over to USO and IOA which where really slow because Epic is sucking up all the park goers. I remember when the HP attractions in both of those parks were 2+ hour posted waits and now they are typically in the 15-30 minute range.

 

[Laketravis]

Because it's new news, I'm going to throw this stat out there:

37% of all Brazilian tourist visits to the United States include a stop in Orlando.

Brazil is the #2 source of leisure tourists to Orlando, behind only Canada.

I can vouch for that. The crowds last week were predominately Brazilian along with the return of several BTG's who now instead of flags the group leader wears a big hat with an arrow pointing down towards them.

 

[bmr1591]

I don’t think staying in “deluxe accommodations” is the main selling point for DVC. I know it wasn’t for us. No one is being fooled about what they’re buying.

I sat in a DVC presentation last week for the $250 gift card. This was a massive selling point of their sales rep. I'm not saying there aren't incredibly smart people who buy into DVC and do their research, but there are also a ton of impulsive buyers who get in so they can 'save' staying at deluxe accomodations.

 

[Laketravis]

Its not all butterflies and daisy's at Universal as well... look at the recent price hikes at its Loews operated hotels. Compare room rates from when they opened last year and now. Dining costs have risen as well (they have everywhere even without a park nearby) as noted by @Gringrinngghost over here https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/2026-loews-hotels-dining-price-increases.987428/ but even more so. Inputs and delivery costs for products have risen more than companies are willing or able to absorb, so they've passed the costs along.

My son was pulling up past images on TikTok of Universal menu board prices last week and pointing out to me how this item went from $14.99 to $18.99 and that item went from $9.99 to $13.99 etc. in the course of just a few months. I noticed it too where a "Bavarian Pretzel with Cheese Sauce" is now $13.50. That's ridiculous.

What's even more insane is I saw several people buying them.

 

[Chi84]

I sat in a DVC presentation last week for the $250 gift card. This was a massive selling point of their sales rep. I'm not saying there aren't incredibly smart people who buy into DVC and do their research, but there are also a ton of impulsive buyers who get in so they can 'save' staying at deluxe accomodations.

Right but it's not just the resort. DVC rooms have more amenities than regular resort rooms. When we take the family we stay in a 2 BR suite, which has a full-size refrigerator, kitchen and laundry facilities in the room.

I don't think too many people who buy DVC are looking for room service or a spa. The resorts are deluxe because of their proximity to the parks (the monorail resorts) or unique features like the animals at Kidani.

I'm sure there are impulse buyers but it's a major investment. If someone can spend that kind of money on impulse good for them.

 

[bmr1591]

Right but it's not just the resort. DVC rooms have more amenities than regular resort rooms. When we take the family we stay in a 2 BR suite, which has a full-size refrigerator, kitchen and laundry facilities in the room.

I don't think too many people who buy DVC are looking for room service or a spa. The resorts are deluxe because of their proximity to the parks (the monorail resorts) or unique features like the animals at Kidani.

I'm sure there are impulse buyers but it's a major investment. If someone can spend that kind of money on impulse good for them.

For one and two bedrooms, there are certainly some extra perks in the rooms, but studios, which make up the majority of DVC rentals and availability, are little more than lightly-themed All Star rooms with better proximity to parks.

 

[Chi84]

For one and two bedrooms, there are certainly some extra perks in the rooms, but studios, which make up the majority of DVC rentals and availability, are little more than lightly-themed All Star rooms with better proximity to parks.

And that may be what people want. Better proximity to the parks.

DVC is not for everyone. We bought in 2008 and it turned out to be a great investment for us.

I would hesitate to recommend it now for a whole list of reasons.