How much longer will you stay at a Disney Resort?

[captainkidd]

This isn't meant to be another "bash Disney" thread, but inspired from another thread, it got me thinking. I did some looking last night at rack rates for 2012, and it upset me a great deal. I went back to resort pricing from 1992, and realized Disney resorts have increased their price by 100% in that time. In that same span of time, the average household income has increased by about 15%. You see where I'm going with this....

I've come to sadly accept, without a STEEP discount, Disney has officially out priced me in the Deluxe category. Sans AKL and WL, which don't fit 5 people, all Deluxe Resorts are at least $400 (with tax) per night. I'm still in the moderate ballpark at around $200 (with tax) per night. However, as a family of 5, mods aren't a realistic option. So for us, our best bet is to pray for a huge discount, or get 2 rooms at a Value.

Do you suppose Disney could do the unthinkable and reduce resort pricing? It seems unlikely given the resort occupancy levels, but you have to believe, in the next few years, they're going to out price more and more families. And are you like me, and starting to realize if we want to continue to vacation at WDW, we're going to have to stay off-site?

 

[captainkidd]

Whiners.

Um, OK.

For the record, I am not talking about what is and what isn't fair. Nothing is fair or unfair when it comes to money. Pricing currently is what it is. I'm simply saying, for myself, I think Disney has finally outpriced me. And, I was curious who else felt the same way. For those that answered the question, thank you.

 

[captainkidd]

This confuses me a bit. Are you saying that Deluxe should be priced in a range affordable to anyone and everyone? Or are you saying that Deluxe should sleep more people per room because they cost more?

I'm not saying either.

What I'm saying is that as a family of 5, on-site resort options are limited. One of those options, the Deluxe Resorts, without a discount, are out of my price range. I personally believe Disney Resort rates at the Deluxes are too high, but most people are aware of this. Again, as someone pointed out, supply and demand. As long as the rooms are full, they won't change pricing. Nor, as a smart business, should they.

The point of this thread was more or less to see people's threshold's for how much more they can, or are willing to pay. Unless we're all independently wealthy, we all have our limits.

 

[Nemo14]

All childish banter aside, when just my husband and I go to WDW, we generally stay on property, and we have stayed at several different resorts (GF, WL, BC, POR, CBR, and Pop). We've never paid rack rate for any of them nor will we ever, since we feel they are wildly overpriced. For just the 2 of us though they are convenient.
However, when there are more than the 2 of us, we have found that renting an off-site house or condo is the way to go. The price is so much more reasonable, we have our own pool and hot tub, our own kitchen and laundry facilities, multiple bathrooms, and each of our friends has the privacy of their own bedroom. For us (usually a group of 8 or more), it is the only way to go, and it never costs us more than $160 per night total, including parking fees for WDW. There is no way we could ever stay in WDW with that many people for that price, and we'd be at their mercy for all our meals.

 

[ScoutN]

I'm not saying either.

What I'm saying is that as a family of 5, on-site resort options are limited. One of those options, the Deluxe Resorts, without a discount, are out of my price range. I personally believe Disney Resort rates at the Deluxes are too high, but most people are aware of this. Again, as someone pointed out, supply and demand. As long as the rooms are full, they won't change pricing. Nor, as a smart business, should they.

The point of this thread was more or less to see people's threshold's for how much more they can, or are willing to pay. Unless we're all independently wealthy, we all have our limits.

Malarkey! I am one of three kids with two parents. We have NEVER had a problem getting a moderate for five people whatsoever.

Deluxe Resorts are just that… deluxe. The are not built/designed/priced to be attainable by any and everyone. I don't see how that is even a problem. That's the same as saying Ferrari overpriced their cars because they are not attainable by everyone.

Make more money, get nicer and fancier accommodations. That's how it goes.

 

[DisneyJoe]

The point of this thread was more or less to see people's threshold's for how much more they can, or are willing to pay. Unless we're all independently wealthy, we all have our limits.

I will continue to vacation at a WDW resort for many years to come; rates are a factor, but they will only affect how often I visit, not if I visit.

 

[captainkidd]

Malarkey! I am one of three kids with two parents. We have NEVER had a problem getting a moderate for five people whatsoever.

The only moderate that allows 5 people to a guest room is Port Orleans Riverside, Aligator Bayou section. So yes, that is still an option for us. On a personal level, I think I'd feel a bit cramped in the room. We're not really park commandos anymore. With little kids, we tend to go back to the room for a rest in the middle of the day. I actually noticed a significant difference in the amount of space we had in our room at the Polynesian versus the Grand Floridian. We felt rather tight at the GF. I think at POR, we'd feel downright stuffed.

But hey, maybe we'll continue to get lucky and Disney will keep on throwing out discounts. If they do that and it's within my price range, I have no problems in paying what I have been paying for the Polynesian.

 

[lbrad]

Its simple economics, if the rooms are full and there is still a high demand Disney can charge what they want for them, I can remember going in '02 or '03 when they were doing 7 days for the price of 4 or something like that I miss those days but with occupancy being what it is I don't ever foresee that coming back

I took advantage of this same deal in June 2008 :sohappy:
Fortunate to stay at Fort Wilderness Cabin "buy 4 get 3 free"

 

[Monty]

Disney isn't likely to price me out of anything. :shrug:

I've been working my way through staying at all the resorts on-site [POR next], when I'm done, I'll likely stay at Deluxe' from then on. I prefer the convenience of access to either EPCOT/DHS or EPCOT/MK depending on where I choose. AKL is less likely, just because, although I liked the resort and its restaurants, I found transport to parks not as great. Given the number of options available, I'm sure I can manage without AKL and still maintain some variety.

 

[ScoutN]

The only moderate that allows 5 people to a guest room is Port Orleans Riverside, Aligator Bayou section. So yes, that is still an option for us. On a personal level, I think I'd feel a bit cramped in the room. We're not really park commandos anymore. With little kids, we tend to go back to the room for a rest in the middle of the day.

And those rooms have been more than accommodating for us. The last time we stayed there our ages were 13,17, and 19. We had zero problems with feeling cramped in. The rooms were actually a hair bigger than most moderate. My statement stands.

 

[captainkidd]

Another issue for us is when and how long we vacation. How long is a choice, when isn't. We went for 16 nights this past July. We scored great AP discounts at both the Poly and GF. If we had paid rack rate, the rooms alone would have cost us over $9,000.

 

[captainkidd]

And those rooms have been more than accommodating for us. The last time we stayed there our ages were 13,17, and 19. We had zero problems with feeling cramped in. The rooms were actually a hair bigger than most moderate. My statement stands.

All rooms at Port Orleans (currently) are 314 sq ft. Same for Coronado Springs. The only Moderate resort with larger rooms is the Caribbean Beach. Those are 340 sq ft. Oddly, they only allow 4 to a room at Caribbean Beach.

Not the point though. If you're comfortable in the room, that's all that matters. There are people who would do 5 in a Value Resort if they could. To each his/her own.

 

[Crush Dude!]

As long as i get 45% off OKW plus free dining ill be on property :sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

 

[Minnie1976]

I guess husband and I will stay on property as long as we can afford it. We stayed on property off and on in the 70's and 80's just once and awhile. Since 2006 we have stayed on property, we really like it. We have flown in and taken the magic express. When we have driven, we never touched the car til we had to leave. It has been wonderful. Of course, we don't stay in the deluxe hotels even though I've wanted to stay in the Contemporary again in the Tower and my husband in the Poly. Neither of us can justify the price of the rooms because we are never there except to sleep.

The price of the sourveniers is what gets me. They use to be made in the USA and be kind of reasonable. Now they are all foreign made and I think very expensive and in some cases don't last. The last plastic glass I bought in tiny letters on the bottom in the same color as the glass had "not for dishwasher." Who would think an everyday plastic glass couldn't be put in the dishwasher? I was handwashing them because I wanted the Mickey picture to last longer. Left town son put in dishwasher now they all have cracks in them.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

As long as i get 45% off OKW plus free dining ill be on property :sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

Most of on the boards can't get a deal like that though...

 

[powlessfamily4]

I will always stay on property. It wouldn't feel like a Disney trip if I didn't.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Most of on the boards can't get a deal like that though...

That's not fair. :lookaroun

 

[MMCoffman]

I'm with captiankidd.

Prices for accommodations are a huge consideration for us. Example (this is just an example): our budget is $2500, to stay on site is $3000, to stay off site is $2200. So, we can go to Disney and stay off site or not go at all, the answer is obvious, stay off site. I also think those that are going once or twice in their lifetime versus every year or two, priorities are different. Plus if you go once in your lifetime you have as long as you want to save up, if you go yearly, you don't have that option. This September is likely to be our last on site, because in 2012 we can't go in September when prices are low and include free dining. Our first trip in 2001 we stayed at a cheap hotel (only sleep there) and there was a complimentary bus to the parks, didn't take any longer than a bus ride from a resort with several stops before reaching your desired park (our rides were about 15 minutes). Our 2nd trip was All Star Sports, was good, but we weren't that impressed. Our 3rd trip we stayed off site in a 3 bedroom townhome for $85 a night, we had our car and it was 15 minutes to the parks. Last year we stayed at CSR and were impressed, with free dining it was cheaper than staying off site, again this is because it was September. Next year we have to go in December, can't afford a Disney resort, but we aren't not going to go either. I don't know about statistics, but for a room that we will only lay our heads down at night, it's a huge factor for us. We enjoy all day hours at the parks and doing special tours and such.

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

As a family with a small kid, on property is practical right now. I do have limits as far as what I pay. The deluxes are getting close especially considering my none too impressive experiences today.

 

[olinecoach61]

Until I can't afford to at which point I will cease traveling to Orlando.

 

[Mukta]

Do you suppose Disney could do the unthinkable and reduce resort pricing? It seems unlikely given the resort occupancy levels, but you have to believe, in the next few years, they're going to out price more and more families. And are you like me, and starting to realize if we want to continue to vacation at WDW, we're going to have to stay off-site?

I am a SINK, so it will be a while before Disney prices me out of the deluxes. I can imagine that with a big family, offsite really does make more sense. As your children grow up, having separate bedrooms will be great.

I think there will continue to be some discounts offered in the value season.