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?

 

[MichWolv]

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....
?

Not to burst your bubble on how unreasonable that price increase is, but a doubling of prices in 20 years reflects average annual increase of...3.5%. Not exactly a rate of increase that is out of line compared to inflation over the period. And US census data shows nominal median household income rising approximately 75% during the 20 years from 1989 thru 2009, and nominal average incomes rising around 100% during that period.

That being said, Disney pretty well priced me out of deluxe a long time ago. While I can probably afford it, I prefer to stay a larger accomodation off-site with multiple bedrooms and a kitchen for half of the price a single room in a deluxe resort would cost. If just my wife and I are travelling, we'll stay in a value or moderate, but if the kids are along, we typically won't even consider that -- the extra space of a 2 bedroom condo for $90 a night vs. a single room in a moderate resort for $130 usually has us going off-site.

 

[bugsbunny]

I simply cannot imagine going to WDW and staying off property. I think if I really wanted to save money we'd just go to a moderate or value hotel. To me it all just goes together, almost no matter the price.

The very title of "value" is an oxymoron. $130/night for a motel room? That's basically what it is. And when you shut your eyes at night, they all look the same. To me, I've done Pop and All Starr about a dozen times. Its way lost its luster and is way overpriced. The rooms are just so way too small for a family of 4. And if you don't have a preferred room (at an added price, of course), its just way too far to get to the amenities.

I've stayed at POR and CB for moderates. Nicer rooms, but still waaaaaaaay too far from everything. It takes 10 minutes just to get our of your hotel complex with the all the bus loop stops! I waited 45 minutes one time to get a bus to AK because they were all full before they got to my stop. That was great!

Stayed at Wilderness Lodge for 10 days. $3000+. FOR A HOTEL ROOM! Yeah, the pool was nice, but I spend 8-10 hours a day at the parks.

So in the end, I guess I've been staying on property enough to now feel underwhelmed and flat out being ripped off for rack rates. And I just say they have FREE DDP for the end of October when I am going. Uh, like if I got that now I could even get an ADR anywhere I wanted to eat. :shrug:

 

[The Mom]

It really depends upon your perspective. If you rarely travel, or travel to lower cost areas, you ARE going to have sticker shock.

If you travel to expensive cities or resort areas, the WDW prices seem reasonable. When we go skiing, we pay about 3x the cost of a trip to WDW...a lift ticket in the top resort areas can cost MORE than a pass to WDW! Add on rental charges (we don't ski enough to warrant having our own equipment; I would rather rent demos and check out the changing technology) and a lesson or two, and it really adds up.

Two years ago, I was touring colleges with my daughter. I remember having to pay $175 a night for a shabby room at a Day's Inn in Mystic!! I very rarely was able to get a room in a nicer (ie, well maintained, with a pool and restaurant) motel anywhere near colleges for less than $100. Granted, it was summer and lots of parents were doing the same thing. However, I also didn't have WDW outside my door.

Try going through someone like Kingdom Konsultants, or go to mousesavers and look for codes. Most of the prices you've seen are full rack rates; if you're flexible, there are bargains out there. If you're locked into the high season, however, it's much harder.


I was able to pull this post I made - in 2003!!! It was in a thread complaining about how the WDW resort prices were making them out of reach for the average family.

Some things never change.

 

[BeanSz]

The problem I have with DVC is to get comparable room (such as Studio or One Bedroom, I don't feel you should have to plan to sleep on Pull out sofa sleeper.