A Spirited 15 Rounds ...

ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
GoofGoof said:
Those rate were still 2 to 3 times greater than the average hotel room at the time. It was significantly cheaper back then compared to today, but was still relatively expensive compared to other vacation options.
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By the early 1970s, I remember modest, clean hotels in unassuming locations advertising $19.99/night before tax.

This website has some interesting posts:

http://www.fodors.com/community/uni...mber-how-much-hotels-cost-back-in-the-day.cfm

For example:

I remember staying in one of the NYC Hiltons in 1973 and it was about $110 a night..we thought that was "expensive."​

And:

In 1969 it was $22 at the Sands in Las Vegas, $12 for a Best Western in Kentucky and $15 for a Days Inn (I think) in Salt Lake City. In crossing from Michigan to CA and back that summer I never spent more than $15 a night outside the night at the Sands for Best Western-type places.​
 
bclane

bclane

Well-Known Member
BernardandBianca said:
It's not that I didn't like the ride - I just didn't think much of it. Kinda like Dumbo; it's a pleasant way to waste three minutes of your life, but to call it exceptional is a misnomer.



I have been on real test flights were the planes were literally trying to set off the warning alarms. Those were frightening. I never did get a sensation of flight on FoP; it always felt like I was watching a movie about a flight. So if I had to pick one of the two options you gave, it would pretty much be that the effect just didn't work for me. Unlike the effects on Star Tours, where the combination of movie motion and actual physical movement really gives me a sensation of flight. I do like that simulator. (Although to be candid, the Star Trek Experience that used to be in Las Vegas was the best simulator ride I actually "rode". Excepting of course FJ,. which to me is not a true simulator ride.)
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Thanks for responding. Makes me wonder why the effect doesn't seem to work for some people. I know that every time I have ridden it, at least one of the chairs was broken in the rooms I've been in, so maybe you got a broken chair both times. Who knows. Anyway, I do love Star Tours, especially when I sit in the back off to the side as you really get tossed around back there. Never got to do the Star Trek experience which makes me sad but I have heard it was awesome.
 
5thGenTexan

5thGenTexan

Well-Known Member
Summer of 1985. 2 Adults and 2 Kids

Two days driving from Texas. We stayed at the Colonial Motel and Apartments in St Cloud for 9 days at $253. 33 miles from the Magic Kingdom. WDW tickets came in at $236 for 5 days. We also went to the beach one day, NASA one day, and visited family during that time. My parents had to save a lot even at those prices.
 
thehowiet

thehowiet

Wilson King of Prussia
ParentsOf4 said:
By the early 1970s, I remember modest, clean hotels in unassuming locations advertising $19.99/night before tax.

This website has some interesting posts:

http://www.fodors.com/community/uni...mber-how-much-hotels-cost-back-in-the-day.cfm

For example:

I remember staying in one of the NYC Hiltons in 1973 and it was about $110 a night..we thought that was "expensive."​

And:

In 1969 it was $22 at the Sands in Las Vegas, $12 for a Best Western in Kentucky and $15 for a Days Inn (I think) in Salt Lake City. In crossing from Michigan to CA and back that summer I never spent more than $15 a night outside the night at the Sands for Best Western-type places.​
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Another excellent post @ParentsOf4

While WDW hotel prices were always higher than the average going rate in other markets, the disparity was never as great as it is now. My family was the traditional middle class family growing up (2 kids, only Dad worked which was a shift work job at the PECO power plant) and we were able to afford a 7-10 day vacation every year with a park view room at the Contemporary on the Gold Key plan. Everything was included then in that plan..meals that included an adult beverage for mom and dad, boat rentals, etc. And my family was far from well off.

I get that the world has changed significantly since then in terms of pricing/cost, but the affordability of a WDW vacation has changed even more during that time.
 
WDWTank

WDWTank

Well-Known Member
BernardandBianca said:
I love the hyperbole emanating on this thread regarding Pandora and particularly FoP. Not only do I not consider it amazing, or the best ride on the planet, but I don't even consider it among the best rides/attractions in AK, let alone WDW or Universal.

I've been on FoP twice now, going the second time since I didn't think much of it the first time and thought maybe I missed something. To my perspective, FoP is nothing more than watching a 3-D movie while sitting on an uncomfortable seat, without being able to eat popcorn. "Riding a banshee" it is not; while some of the effects they attempt are interesting, they still don't do anything in particular unless you like having your legs massaged, and the rest of the ride in you looking at a movie going whizzing by with mist being sprayed into your face. Give me back my popcorn.

In my view, KS is a much better attraction in AK; having done the real thing in Africa, I am truly impressed with the authenticity exhibited during the drive, and seeing a "different" ride each time makes it special to me.

Of course, my favorite rides/attractions overall would come down to a competition between Pooh in TDl, and FJ in IOA, and the seamless melding of actual movement and screens in FJ tip that ride to the top for me. YMMV.
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Compare the scents and mists to Jimmy Fallon :)
 
the.dreamfinder

the.dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
To give an example of the kind of guest service the hotels on property should offer: free packet pick up for RunDisney events. I'm running the Marathon this January, my third RunDisney race overall. The expo feels like hell on earth. Takes forever to get to WWoS from any hotel and leaving isn't any better. We always take the earliest flight to MCO from PHL, yet that first day is wasted on account of the expo. We, like many other guests, are staying on property for the weekend, give us a substantive plus like packet pick up as we check in with a dedicated space for the race merch. That's the kind of thing I expect from staying at a Disney hotel.
 
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ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
thehowiet said:
While WDW hotel prices were always higher than the average going rate in other markets, the disparity was never as great as it is now. My family was the traditional middle class family growing up (2 kids, only Dad worked which was a shift work job at the PECO power plant) and we were able to afford a 7-10 day vacation every year with a park view room at the Contemporary on the Gold Key plan. Everything was included then in that plan..meals that included an adult beverage for mom and dad, boat rentals, etc. And my family was far from well off.

I get that the world has changed significantly since then in terms of pricing/cost, but the affordability of a WDW vacation has changed even more during that time.
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Today's least expensive room at the Poly averages $608/night throughout the year, while the Contemporary's least expensive is $519/night.

At today's equivalent of $174/night, a stay at the Poly or Contemporary was never cheap. However, it was possible for most families throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Today's equivalent would be a stay at Caribbean Beach Resort or Coronado Springs Resort, whose least expensive room averages $235/night. Add in a 15% discount (the WDW of old almost never offered hotel discounts) and that drops the rate to about $200/night.

I agree with @WDW1974's earlier post that prior to 1984, WDW prices were being kept below market rate by corporate leadership focused on providing their customers with outstanding value. That was a legacy of Walt Disney, who very much cared what his Guests thought. (Let's not get into a discussion of how he treated his employees.)

It's still possible to stay onsite for comparable prices, it's just means staying at a Value or Moderate Resort, not the Polynesian or the Contemporary.
 
flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
the.dreamfinder said:
To give an example of the kind of guest service the hotels on property should offer: free packet pick up for RunDisney events. I'm running the Marathon this January, my third RunDisney race overall. The expo feels like hell on earth. Takes forever to get to WWoS from any hotel and leaving isn't any better. We always take the earliest flight to MCO from PHL, yet that first day is wasted on account of the expo. We, like many other guests, are staying on property for the weekend, give us a substantive plus like packet pick up as we check in with a dedicated space for the race merch. That's the kind of thing I expect from staying at a Disney hotel.
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But that would be like saying "hotels should remove the ads rom the tv... I hate ads". The expo and packet pickup is part of the marketing and audience they are selling to vendors... and forcing you to go is the captive audience they create and sell to the vendors.
 
BernardandBianca

BernardandBianca

Well-Known Member
thehowiet said:
While WDW hotel prices were always higher than the average going rate in other markets, the disparity was never as great as it is now. My family was the traditional middle class family growing up (2 kids, only Dad worked which was a shift work job at the PECO power plant) and we were able to afford a 7-10 day vacation every year with a park view room at the Contemporary on the Gold Key plan. Everything was included then in that plan..meals that included an adult beverage for mom and dad, boat rentals, etc. And my family was far from well off.
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I don't recall the Gold Key plan including "adult beverages". I guess it's possible that they had multiple levels of Gold Key, but we got it a few years and thought it only included regular drinks. (And FWIW, that program is where the kids learned to like lobster, shrimp and prime rib.)
 
JoeCamel

JoeCamel

Well-Known Member
the.dreamfinder said:
To give an example of the kind of guest service the hotels on property should offer: free packet pick up for RunDisney events. I'm running the Marathon this January, my third RunDisney race overall. The expo feels like hell on earth. Takes forever to get to WWoS from any hotel and leaving isn't any better. We always take the earliest flight to MCO from PHL, yet that first day is wasted on account of the expo. We, like many other guests, are staying on property for the weekend, give us a substantive plus like packet pick up as we check in with a dedicated space for the race merch. That's the kind of thing I expect from staying at a Disney hotel.
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But they added a service just for you. For the low price of $20 you can take a Minnie Van to the expo and get your packet! See how they are always thinking of the guest?
 
Travel Junkie

Travel Junkie

Well-Known Member
BrianLo said:
I have to assume neither of you have been on Mystic Manor?

Don't get me wrong, Hunny Hunt is amazing. But to me it has all the bones of a C-ticket Fantasyland classic slathered with a high tech E-ticket budget. Mystic Manor started with the bones of an E-ticket.

It's another reason I'm very excited for Beauty and the Beast. The purported 8 minute run time helps stoke that excitement.
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Agree on all counts. Mystic Manor is the top Disney ride for me including SDL's Pirates.

Hunny Hunt uses a high tech ride system in what is normally a standard ride system. Between that and being well executed the ride gets more praise than what would normally come out of a standard Fantasyland style ride.

Still deciding on whether to head to Tokyo for the Olympics. If I do, trips to TDR and USJ will definitely be on the agenda with Beauty and the Beast and Nintendo rides opening around that time.
 
thehowiet

thehowiet

Wilson King of Prussia
BernardandBianca said:
I don't recall the Gold Key plan including "adult beverages". I guess it's possible that they had multiple levels of Gold Key, but we got it a few years and thought it only included regular drinks. (And FWIW, that program is where the kids learned to like lobster, shrimp and prime rib.)
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The Gold Key plan I was referring to was discontinued many years ago. This was available as early as the 1980s but I'm not sure when it met its demise. I'm guessing it ended sometime in the 90s as I remember having it on a trip in 90-91 as well. There were practically no limitations on what you could do or order for your meals and what was included as far as recreation, etc.
 
GiveMeTheMusic

GiveMeTheMusic

Well-Known Member
BrianLo said:
I have to assume neither of you have been on Mystic Manor?

Don't get me wrong, Hunny Hunt is amazing. But to me it has all the bones of a C-ticket Fantasyland classic slathered with a high tech E-ticket budget. Mystic Manor started with the bones of an E-ticket.

It's another reason I'm very excited for Beauty and the Beast. The purported 8 minute run time helps stoke that excitement.
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Same. Hunny Hunt is great but Mystic Manor is better. Mystic was my #1 worldwide, but some days Pirates at SDL is my #1. Very different rides, but Pirates is a monumental step forward for rides - it's just off the charts. Hoping that the SWL battle attraction surpasses it and domestic guests will finally see what Disney is truly capable of.
 

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