Blown Away By Prices

[EddieK76]

We are looking at going to Disney from October 13th till either the 19th and or 18th. We have 3 children 9,8,5 and have gone to disney quite a few times before and always did the dining plan and we were always under 2 grand easy. I'm looking now and it's ridiculous? I mean I'm talking 4 grand before airfare at a moderate hotel like Port Orleans and Animal Kingdown was 1k a night...What gives? The chat guy tried to tell me those are normal prices....Mind you those prices were without park tickets and or the dining plan...With those we were at 4 grand for Port Orleans.

 

[Kristamouse]

We are getting close to breaking, we have a family of 6 soon to be 7 and have gone yearly because of free Dining. Headed down in late May and staying off site for two night because the resorts were crazy high. We hope to continue to do WDW yearly but it might haw to off site

 

[Disvillain63]

Gone twice in October, and the rest over Spring Break and have never paid close to that....

The week you are going is Fall Break for parts of most states, since it is connected to Columbus Day weekend and the end or near the end of the first grading period. Many teachers from my school are planning trips for that week in October.

 

[disneyflush]

We are looking at going to Disney from October 13th till either the 19th and or 18th. We have 3 children 9,8,5 and have gone to disney quite a few times before and always did the dining plan and we were always under 2 grand easy. I'm looking now and it's ridiculous? I mean I'm talking 4 grand before airfare at a moderate hotel like Port Orleans and Animal Kingdown was 1k a night...What gives? The chat guy tried to tell me those are normal prices....Mind you those prices were without park tickets and or the dining plan...With those we were at 4 grand for Port Orleans.

Are you still going to book the vacation?

If you had to break down the costs of going down for 7 days on those dates what would you expect to pay for 2 adults and 3 children for:

Dining Plan
Room
Park Tickets

I'd say around $1,000 on the dining plan for 5 people over 7 days.
I'd say around $200/night for a moderate room like Port Orleans or $1,400 for the week.
I'd say around...like $300/person for 7 days of tickets and the 4 parks and 2 water parks with hoppers (no idea if that is accurate just guessing).
So roughly $1,000 food + $1,400 lodging + $1,500 tickets is rougly $3,900. If you got it for cheaper a few years ago maybe you booked with some great PIN promotion?

 

[danpam1024]

We are looking at going to Disney from October 13th till either the 19th and or 18th. We have 3 children 9,8,5 and have gone to disney quite a few times before and always did the dining plan and we were always under 2 grand easy. I'm looking now and it's ridiculous? I mean I'm talking 4 grand before airfare at a moderate hotel like Port Orleans and Animal Kingdown was 1k a night...What gives? The chat guy tried to tell me those are normal prices....Mind you those prices were without park tickets and or the dining plan...With those we were at 4 grand for Port Orleans.

if you really look at your quote- it includes a 7 day base ticket for everyone- no DDP though I have it up right now. per night it's just $205-239 depending on the room

 

[EddieK76]

Always at moderate resorts?

Seriously, I'm comparing apples to apples and yes we've only stayed at CBR, or Port Orleans

 

[danpam1024]

I just queried the reservation page and I'm showing Port Orleans Riverside from $205 a night.

me too- if you just price a vacation, it automatically includes a 7 day pass for each person in your party

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

Im getting 3692.05, Oct 13 to 19, 7 day tickets, and DDP. And thats before any discounts so remember that too

 

[EddieK76]

So when we've gone before even though my now 5 was free my mother in law came with us. Then again I think the huge difference is the free DDP we had every time we had gone....

 

[sweetpee_1993]

The prices continue to increase. I guess as long as we continue to pay, they'll keep raising them and offering "discounts". I equate to Kohl's. They have a "SALE" every week. How can they do that? My hubby says, it's the actual price that we're paying! That's been an ongoing thing. Consumers just love "SALES" and 'DISCOUNTS".

It's interesting you make the comparison to Kohl's. The last few times I was in one of those stores everything was scattered and a mess. Couldn't even find what I was looking for. Plus, I've noticed the stuff gettin' kinda janky like what are these people thinking??? The sales/discounts are so convoluted. I've refused stuff at the register because I thought it was on sale but it wasn't so I just said, "No, that's okay. I'll wait until next week because it'll be on sale or I'll have coupons." Um, yeah. Like WDW. Good one.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

So when we've gone before even though my now 5 was free my mother in law came with us. Then again I think the huge difference is the free DDP we had every time we had gone....

That'll do it. The dining plan adds a lot when you pay for it.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Not sure when's the last time you went. In recent years, WDW resorts have been averaging a 3-4% annual increase. Tickets, especially children's tickets, have been averaging closer to 8%. Adult DDP have been over 10%, with the kids meals going up even more. It's been an expensive few years for WDW.

 

[ParentsOf4]

So when we've gone before even though my now 5 was free my mother in law came with us. Then again I think the huge difference is the free DDP we had every time we had gone....

Yeah, that explains it. You mentioned you paid under $2000 a few years ago with "Free Dining". This upcoming October, a similar WDW vacation without dining rings up as $2716.09. A 20% increase in a few years sounds about right based on recent price increases. Chances are Disney will not offer "Free Dining" this October but perhaps wait for a bit. You never can be sure.

 

[Glasgow]

Ha. I remember I went with my fiance in 2003 for 4 or 5 days at a mod and it was less than $1200. Those days are gone! We're also right on the cusp of changing to once every two years instead of every year .. Sigh

 

[rob0519]

Disney hates hardworking middle class America. The young family's Disney vacation - there's yet another cherished tradition that's been taken away from the American family.

On behalf of Bob Iger I bid you farewell and thanks for all the memories.

Well, having done over 15 trips since 1996, I would have to say yes, they are pricing out the middle class, lower middle classe and everyone below. Amazingly, the parks are still crowded, occupancy is high and the management has the confidence to keep building (GF_DVC). Until they see a downturn in capacity, they will keep increasing prices to keep up the "value to their shareholders".

We are a family of five and were fortunate enough to go once maybe twice a year. Then it became once every 18 months, then once every 12 months, now we're lucky if we can afford every other year. Ten day trips became seven day trips, then 5 day trips. Since we are all adults, we do get two rooms and until now we have been fortunate enough to stat at deluxe resorts. A brief search found our costs for six night stays with Park Hoppers and Water Park Tickets in 2 deluxe rooms:

2007: $4,304
2009: $5,852
2011: $6,867
2013: $7,821


I don't think WDW will lose first time guests. People will still save and save for that once in a lifetime vacation. What I do think they will lose are those guests that used to come every year and will now be only able to afford to come every two or three years.

 

[Jim Chandler]

go to AAA and see what they have.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

The prices continue to increase. I guess as long as we continue to pay, they'll keep raising them and offering "discounts". I equate to Kohl's. They have a "SALE" every week. How can they do that? My hubby says, it's the actual price that we're paying! That's been an ongoing thing. Consumers just love "SALES" and 'DISCOUNTS".

That is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO true! Back in our wedding registry days, I refused to register at Macy's b/c their every day price on my china was msrp. The manufacturer's every day price direct was 15% lower!!! And when Macy's put it on sale, they'd put it on sale for the manufacturer's every day price. I have a friend who swears by Macy's sales even though I can find her the same product for less elsewhere. But- Macy's gets away with it because people like her buy into it.

 

[Patrick_Ears]

See there is something in the water.... Disney slips a little something in it that makes you come back for more. lol

 

[Patrick_Ears]

We are getting close to breaking, we have a family of 6 soon to be 7 and have gone yearly because of free Dining. Headed down in late May and staying off site for two night because the resorts were crazy high. We hope to continue to do WDW yearly but it might haw to off site

Krista the Magic is still with ya.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Disney hates hardworking middle class America. The young family's Disney vacation - there's yet another cherished tradition that's been taken away from the American family.

On behalf of Bob Iger I bid you farewell and thanks for all the memories.

Disney does not hate anyone, they simply price their resorts and ticket as high as they can without losing too much business, supply and demand fundamentals. If they charged less they would not be doing what companies do best, looking out for their shareholders.

Prices will only drop if attendance and or room nights drops for an extended period of time. Right now they are using heavy discounts to cut rates during times when they need to to keep full rates up and attendance at the parks. Free dinin is only done when the restaurants do not have enough reservations to keep them full, it is business 101.

They have a highly profitable business that guests will travel 1000s of miles to visit and pay whatever it costs if they can afford it and based on attendance at MK and room fill rates prices will continue to rise.

 

[Lil Fort]

Yeah, that explains it. You mentioned you paid under $2000 a few years ago with "Free Dining". This upcoming October, a similar WDW vacation without dining rings up as $2716.09. A 20% increase in a few years sounds about right based on recent price increases. Chances are Disney will not offer "Free Dining" this October but perhaps wait for a bit. You never can be sure.

I just got an offer from Disney Visa for free dining on stays between Sept 2 and Sept 25. That offer will be available to the general public on May 9. It's not October though, but they may do another one later for October.

Fingers crossed for you @EddieK76!