Disney Survey on implementing a $15 resort fee

[Disneyhead'71]

So Disney is exploring acceptable ways to make their mediocre product more exhorbanantly expensive.

great.

Go ahead and tack on a $15/night resort fee to a $250/night motel room. I dare ya'.

 

[No Name]

These surveys are not great indicators of how well these pricing things would actually be receved. Disney asking "hey, if we charged x amount, would you still stay here?" is not totally representative of what people are actually going to do. First of all, when you're on the actual trip (and assuming you're enjoying it) you might be in a higher mood and your answers could tend to be more positive, which wouldn't represent what decision you'd make at home. Unless people are being asked this not on their trip, through email? Is that what's happening? Either way, theoretical answers don't measure up to people's real decisions. On the other hand, people who can read through these surveys should know to answer "no" to any question about price increases. Obviously this doesn't give an accurate reading either. So these surveys, while they aren't useless, shouldn't be given too much value, and I do think TWDC knows that.

A good use for these surveys would be to compare the reaction of one potential price increase to another. That way, maybe they could assume that there's the same "percent of unrealism" in people's answers and directly compare the numbers from both surveys. I wonder if they've done that.

Also, and maybe you all don't share this opinion, but I think it's odd, and almost a bit rude, to ask people about how they'd react to a price increase. I've actually never gotten a survey about that but it just seems off-putting. Like, you are enjoying (or enjoyed) your trip, and then you're being asked if you'd still have come at a higher price? I appreciate how open and transparent the questions are but I don't know if others share that appreciation.

I'm all for surveys and think they're an excellent idea, particularly when they give a good reading. But I think the smarter thing to ask would be the classic "on a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your experience at _____?" And then use that as an indicator of whether to raise prices, make changes, etc. Sure, it doesn't give a perfect result either, but at least it's a more friendly question.

 

[thehowiet]

I know @WDWFigment has written about resort fees on his site and has expressed an opinion on the matter, which I wholeheartedly agree with...curious to see if he has any additional thoughts on WDW potentially implementing this cash grab.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Disney has found a way to deal with their capacity issues in the parks. They are telling tons of loyal paying customers to go

Which business schools teach this business model?

 

[GoofGoof]

I don't think Disney can add a resort fee to DVC members per our contract. Maintenance fee increases are another story, but must be presented and approved by the members.

This is true. The services that the resort fee is covering are already paid for with DVC maintenance fees. There is a line in the budget for transportation and the wifi is probably covered under utility expense. If they did charge DVC owners a daily resort fee for those services then it would directly reduce these expenses and lower maintenance fees. I'm not even sure if that's allowed per FL timeshare law, but even if it is it should be a net $0 gain.

Wait to see what happens next December in the annual meeting. I would bet DVC puts a proposal out to increase resorts costs with an option to either pay the higher amount or reduce some resort perks.

Going back to (I think) 2005 when free valet parking which was a DVC member perk was removed in favor of offsetting maintenance fee hikes. This could happen again.

They definitely could remove some of the benefits like wifi or free magic express from DVC members in order to reduce the maintenance fees. They could offer the services a la carte for an additional fee. I don't think they could do it with park bus transportation since it would be difficult to tell who is a DVC guest vs a cash guest. What they can't do is just arbitrarily raise maintenance fees to gain the equivalent of the resort fee being charged to cash guests. All of the expenses need to be budgeted and documented and are subject to the annual audit.

DVC members are most likely safe from this extra charge since it's essentially just increasing the cash room rate but calling it a resort fee.

 

[Andrew C]

This congress...sadly you are right. Maybe in the future once America is made great again

Any congress. You don't think the hospitality industry has friends on both sides? Not to mention the sheer number of people they employ.

 

[zweltar]

They are telling tons of loyal paying customers to go have sex with themselves.

I don't need Disney to urge me in his matter...

 

[GoofGoof]

Any congress. You don't think the hospitality industry has friends on both sides? Not to mention the sheer number of people they employ.

They do, but so do the airlines and that bill got passed. I'm not saying this Congress because of party allegiance, I'm not really into politics, but just because it's a presidential election year and they are all worried more about getting re-elected than passing laws.

 

[Mike S]

Someone brought it up before and I think it's inevitable. An up charge fee for Star Wars Land, at least during the first year it's open. Bet on it.

 

[GoofGoof]

Someone brought it up before and I think it's inevitable. An up charge fee for Star Wars Land, at least during the first year it's open. Bet on it.

They will just raise DHS ticket prices to the same level as MK that year. Instant up charge.

 

[Mike S]

They will just raise DHS ticket prices to the same level as MK that year. Instant up charge.

I threw up in my mouth a little........

 

[PhotoDave219]

These surveys are not great indicators of how well these pricing things would actually be receved. Disney asking "hey, if we charged x amount, would you still stay here?" is not totally representative of what people are actually going to do. First of all, when you're on the actual trip (and assuming you're enjoying it) you might be in a higher mood and your answers could tend to be more positive, which wouldn't represent what decision you'd make at home. Unless people are being asked this not on their trip, through email? Is that what's happening? Either way, theoretical answers don't measure up to people's real decisions. On the other hand, people who can read through these surveys should know to answer "no" to any question about price increases. Obviously this doesn't give an accurate reading either. So these surveys, while they aren't useless, shouldn't be given too much value, and I do think TWDC knows that.

A good use for these surveys would be to compare the reaction of one potential price increase to another. That way, maybe they could assume that there's the same "percent of unrealism" in people's answers and directly compare the numbers from both surveys. I wonder if they've done that.

Also, and maybe you all don't share this opinion, but I think it's odd, and almost a bit rude, to ask people about how they'd react to a price increase. I've actually never gotten a survey about that but it just seems off-putting. Like, you are enjoying (or enjoyed) your trip, and then you're being asked if you'd still have come at a higher price? I appreciate how open and transparent the questions are but I don't know if others share that appreciation.

I'm all for surveys and think they're an excellent idea, particularly when they give a good reading. But I think the smarter thing to ask would be the classic "on a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your experience at _____?" And then use that as an indicator of whether to raise prices, make changes, etc. Sure, it doesn't give a perfect result either, but at least it's a more friendly question.

It's so they can justify this bovine manue.

 

[NelleBelle]

They will just raise DHS ticket prices to the same level as MK that year. Instant up charge.

That's absolutely how they'll manage it...so disgusting!

 

[Andrew C]

That's absolutely how they'll manage it...so disgusting!

Well. It wasn't long ago that all parks were priced the same.

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

Well. It wasn't long ago that all parks were priced the same.

Funny that MK is the park Hubby wants to skip when we go in ....2018. I won't let him. He is all about Animal Kingdom and Epcot.
And the 2018? Waiting for something new to make it worth the trip. I suspect the cost will be at least 25% more for the tickets and the lodging. But I am thinking buying DVC points might not be objectionable. Based on posts here, there should be a good number available.

 

[MissingDisney]

For those staying off-site, clearly you are saving money even with the resort fees. However, to the person who booked at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, you will be paying for the room, plus a $25 resort fee per night, plus $20 parking fee per night, plus $20 per day park parking fee (unless you are an AP holder) so your savings may only be an illusion.

[QUOTE="cmoliver68, post: 7122342, member: 95676

For those staying off-site, clearly you are saving money even with the resort fees. However, to the person who booked at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, you will be paying for the room, plus a $25 resort fee per night, plus $20 parking fee per night, plus $20 per day park parking fee (unless you are an AP holder) so your savings may only be an illusion.

We took those fees into account and for a 2bd/2ba room, we are still only paying $800 for 7 nights (excluding Disney's rip-off parking). Compared to the price we were going to pay to rent points for a villa, it was a no-brainier and I lost the argument to stay on-property (and after reading some threads here, am no longer complaining)

But this is an excellent point...the resort fees and parking, etc may blow any savings you think you may be getting. If we hadn't been able to score such a great deal at WBC (and prices were all over the place) then we likely would've rented a home further off property (and Mama wouldn't be quite as happy )[/QUOTE]




WBC parking fees, etc. apply to the hotel, Wyndham Grand, not the time share rentals. It's usually cheaper to rent a condo thru a resale agency than to book a hotel room with the fees, but with the condos there's a minimum stay and limited availability. We've stayed in the condos a few times thru a few different rental agencies....no ridiculous fees.

 

[scoobygirl39541]

wow so you're looking at close to $100 extra just to stay on Disney property and the "privilege" to keep the same perks you've gotten all the years prior? For the first time ever, I'm rethinking my Disney priorities. Maybe stick with DVC... unless it applies there too?

 

[No Name]

It's so they can justify this bovine manue.

And people say that and I could agree, but who do they need to justify it to? Who is trying to justify what to whom? If this is Chappie's horrid idea, does he need any "BS proof" before he pushes the change? If this is George K's idea, well then, I'd have some less-than-kind words for him, but does he really need to show his bosses these survey numbers to get this approved?

And on that note, wouldn't every high-level person at Disney know these numbers are bollocks? Therefore, they must be doing this to justify the decision to people outside of the company. The Board of Directors? Maybe they just like to have the numbers in the rare event that any investors/ board members question it?

I don't know and you could very well be right, I'm just confused on who they're justifying it to.

 

[erasure fan1]

Someone brought it up before and I think it's inevitable. An up charge fee for Star Wars Land, at least during the first year it's open. Bet on it.

That was me and I would bet on that happening all over the parks. It wouldn't surprise me if Disney "delayed" the opening of attractions to the public to do a pay for sneek peek type of thing. You can bet, even if it sounds ridiculas, Disney is thinking about it. Something like an upcharge to use the main pool at a resort otherwise you can only use the side pools could be right up their alley. And with RFID this wouldn't be hard to do or enforce.

 

[GoofGoof]

That was me and I would bet on that happening all over the parks. It wouldn't surprise me if Disney "delayed" the opening of attractions to the public to do a pay for sneek peek type of thing. You can bet, even if it sounds ridiculas, Disney is thinking about it. Something like an upcharge to use the main pool at a resort otherwise you can only use the side pools could be right up their alley. And with RFID this wouldn't be hard to do or enforce.

Even if they don't go to that extreme you can bet the hotel rates will be higher than normal and forget about free DDP or 30% discounts for a while around the time it opens.