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?

 

[JohnnyDollaz89]

I was just looking at prices also cuz i wanna go back next spring or summer, and the prices are isane to stay in a Deluxe resort

 

[captainkidd]

I was just looking at prices also cuz i wanna go back next spring or summer, and the prices are isane to stay in a Deluxe resort

Yeah, they're pretty wacky at rack rate. I'm going in February, and will either rent points from a DVC member or stay at Riverside. I should say, I'll book Riverside, and if a great discount comes out, maybe I'll upgrade.

 

[KaliSplash]

Our family doesn't go nearly as oten as it used to or as often as we'd like. Last year we went to MK for a day so I could see my beloved MSEP. Hope to do that again in a couple of weeks. The reality of college costs and my wife's state-forced 'retirement' have cut our resources considerably. Also, our little children who used to be 3 and 1 are now 26 and 23, so we pretty much have to do two rooms.

Our last full visit was 2008 at Pop, which was fun.

But we had gotten spoiled going to WL for less than $130 a night when we caught the right discounts a decade ago. Of course, also were able to put all 4 of us in one room, too.

Used to be able to afford a week-long visit once a year (and sometimes sneak in a second, shorter visit). Don't know that those days are coming back.

Still hoping for a big visit next year, but that's uncertain with college and our revenue. It could be several more years before we can do it.

 

[tecowdw]

Until I can't pay my DVC dues any longer....

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

Staying off property is NOT an option. Resorts and transportation work just fine for me. Off property would defeat getting away from the real world.

I'm with you!!! :wave:

There's just no way I can stay anywhere but on property.

 

[sksowell]

Staying on property is part of our trip, so as long as we are going we are going to find a way to stay on property. We always watch for deals and try to go off season.

 

[fngoofy]

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?

You are assuming that 1992 dollars and 2011 dollars are the same.
A room rate today of $400 translates into $248 in 1992 dollars.

Also, while $400 may be the rack rate, I don't think you will ever pay that unless it is xmas or 4th of July.

As far as moderates go, my wife and I stayed at Dixie Landings in 2000 and room and tickets cost about $1750 for 7 nights in May. I think today that would run you right around $2000.

 

[bugsbunny]

After some 25+ times of staying on property ranging from 5 days at Pop to 11 days at WL, I have had it. The last straw was the hoodlums from Pop Warner tournament that tore up Pop last Xmas when I was there.

Another nail in the coffin is the bus transportation. Just cannot take the scooters and their 12 person entourages clogging up the bus loading areas and cutting in front of everyone at the last minute.

Going end of October for 10 days and staying at an allstarvacationhomes.com home. Got a 6 bedroom for 8 of us for $3000. The location of the house is closer to AK than Pop is! When you split that over the cost of the adults, its cheaper than staying at Pop! Anyone with a family bigger than 4 is forced to stay at the villas or a suite at WDW and that is at least $350/night. Ridiculous! Renting a house will certainly make it way easier on all of us.

At this point, where is the value of staying on property? The rack rates are TRIPLE or even QUADRUPLE what you can pay to stay outside per night!! And for what? To share a bus and not even be able to get fresh brewed coffee unless I pay extra?

As an added bonus, I work for Raytheon which sponsor Sum of All Thrills. So I can get a huge discount on tickets. Unless I can get a "free" dining offer, I might not ever stay onsite again. And really, the "free" dining offer is just free food at full rack rates. Where's that savings? WDW just keeps raising their rates and taking away things.

Unless of course you want to buy a DVC share. It seems they will raise rack rates until people HAVE to buy a DVC share in order to save money! :ROFLOL:

 

[captainkidd]

Also, while $400 may be the rack rate, I don't think you will ever pay that unless it is xmas or 4th of July.

Actually, we just did. In the summer, which is the only time some can go, rack rate is closer to $575 per night with tax at the GF. Rack rate at the Poly is about $525 with tax. And mind you, these are both standard view rooms, and on weekdays. On weekends, rack rates at the GF are about $625, and the Poly is about $575.

I got an AP discount for our stay in July. It was the steepest discount available, and with tax, we paid on average for the GF and Poly split stay, $437 per night.

I wish $400 was still the rack rate at the GF. Cheapest room at cheapest time of year at GF, with tax, is $517 per night.

 

[mickeymatt]

Isn't AOA supposed to have suites which will accommodate 6?

Yeah but the suites will cost no less than $300 a night. It seems high to me but its just me!

 

[pax_65]

Going end of October for 10 days and staying at an allstarvacationhomes.com home. Got a 6 bedroom for 8 of us for $3000.

I'm a DVC member and have never stayed off-property (and probably never will, for all the reasons previously mentioned).

But a friend of mine is also renting a house near Animal Kingdom for around $1200/week. The home has a private pool, sounds really nice and is about 10-15 minutes from Disney property. It's large enough that they are splitting the cost among 3 families.

It's not the same as staying on property in a deluxe or DVC resort, but I admit that is a really cost-effective approach.

 

[mikewdw]

every person/situation is obviously different but for families of 5 or 6 (in my opinion) it seems harder (or maybe could be done easier) with more options. for many like us with 3 or 4 small children one room at a value would be fine. we are both teachers, i coach football and basketball so summer is really our only option. with very few discounts available then it makes it hard to justify the cost of onsite. we will probably always be onsite people but we would have to cut our time there for a deluxe. we would love a deluxe more for the proximity to MK than for amenities but as others have said, its a chunk of change for a room there. about double of POR. the other options of two rooms at an AS is actually more than a moderate so for 5 or 6, POR is the cheapest option. we would love more of a choice than what we have. it is basically the same options as 8 people. our past visit was over 3000 for 7 days 6 nights at POR with a free tickets for kids discount. for us to stay at a deluxe during that time would be close to 4200. big difference for a lot of people. i know Disney can charge what they choose, supply demand, etc. Disney is sooooo good at giving options for it vacations it is just surprising to me that they havent more thoroughly addressed this. i know the new suites will help some families but for pure price, they are still somewhat significantly more expensive than POR. i would love to see more really basic rooms at the values or mods for a cheaper price. but as long as they make the money, things wont change. if anyone has a good method for getting cheap rates at Poly or Contemporary in june i would LOVE to hear about it. that would be perfect for our kids (7, 5, 5) who want to do MK everyday!
mikewdw

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

We've only stayed on site a couple times at the Value resorts. We own a timeshare at Vistana and honestly, sometimes we get to the parks quicker than if we stayed on site and took the transportation. In November we are staying at the Poly as that is my dream hotel to stay at on property. Normally we wouldn't stay there as it is VERY expensive, but right now, for the 3 people going, it works. Who knows what next year may bring so we're going to take advantage of being able to stay there now, while we're able. A girl I know goes to WDW about 3-4 times a year and always stays at the GF. It's great that they have the money to be able to afford it. Not everyone can, that's why I think it's great they have different pricing options to help accomidate everyone. And as long as people keep paying, the prices will keep steadily rising, sadly..

 

[disneygirl76]

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?

This is a long thread and I haven't read the whole thing so I am just answering to the original poster. I remember when my parents took us to Disney World. I know I got to go more then some other families but it still wasn't very often and we never stayed on property. I grew up in a typical middle to upper middle class family. My husband and I have not yet had children, although that is the goal to have a family. And since we have been married, we have gone every year to WDW. But we save all year and then go and stay at a Deluxe Resort and have the time of our life. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to go each year. I have dreams that I will be able to take my kids each year - but financially - I just don't have any idea how to do that. I agree with you that I will be priced out of the Deluxe Resort category. Sure there are cheaper ways to go, and I understand that we wouldn't have to go every year - it just makes me sad that we won't be able to go as often as we would like to. With the cost of food and souvenirs and tickets and rooms - for an average family - I just don't see how we will be able to do it. I want my kids to live the magic year after year. I hope Disney does reduce the prices. But sadly, I don't anticipate this happening.

 

[Doombuggy13]

I don't know about staying off site. We've been staying on property for so many years, I think staying off proprety would take away the alot of the magic of a Disney Vacation. What has always been key to us is the additional services you get when staying on site. Once I get on the plane to go, I have no worries after that, the rest is Disney's part, but it is true you pay a premium price. We love Pop and have no problems staying there but we had to upgrade to a POR trundle bed room this year because there are 5 of us this year. Next trip, my youngest son will be too big for the little trundel bed so we will need to consider either the new Art of Animation or a cabin at Ft. Wilderness which will seriously test our vacation budgeting.
I guess going less often would be our answer. Instead of going every year we may need to back off to every other year.

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

always....

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.

 

[sbkline]

I haven't read any of the other replies, so my comments may have already been expressed by others, but here it goes anyway...

It has been my observation over the past few years that "rack rates" don't mean a thing because they are constantly providing discounts anyways. No matter what the official rack rate is, all year round, with the exception of a few blackout periods perhaps, they offer discounts of anywhere from 25% to 40%. So if the Deluxe categories are $400 a night, I can almost guarantee that, almost regardless of what time of year you visit, in reality, you will only pay anywhere from $300 (a 25% discount) to $240 a night (a 40% discount). And with the debt/deficit outlook and the overall economy, I wouldn't expect things to change for the better anytime soon, so I would expect Disney to continue offering such discounts for the forseeable future.

 

[isman250]

Like some one else said, the simple fact is this is a vacation. Most of us on here, plan our trips in advance correct? Most make reservations at restaurants and such, correct? Staying on property is just better, and instead of taking that trip and staying off property in August, save a little more to stay on property and go in september. The reality is, whether people want to admit it or not, their is a HUGE difference between arriving with your car at some regular hotel, or arriving at an on property resort with the themes and music, and CM's. Is it fully worth it? Thats up to your budjet, but I just cant feel like I went to disney without being on property.

 

[WDWLOYAL1971]

I too have noticed how much the resort rates have increased through the recent years, however, we all have choices. I personally choose to stay in the Disney's Resorts. Yes, they are pricey, depending on when you go and if you can catch a discount. I would still stay on propery without the discount. The whole arrival excitement is wonderful, the fact of not having to drive to an outside hotel after we leave the park, the comfort of being able to take the monorail or bus back to your resort to dip in the pool, freshen up or whatever, then head back to the park is priceless for me. You cannot compare that feeling and expierence to anything else. They reallly make you feel at home and that is one of the things I so much LOVE about Disney.

 

[WDWHarpua]

As a kid, I stayed at the Disney Inn, and we stayed at a Comfort inn. Neither one really sticks out in my mind. As an adult, we've stayed off-property twice, and on-property twice and I don't see myself going off-property again. It helps that we're a couple of (Dual-Income-No-Kids) and plan to stay that way.

The one thing I see happening is staying less often so we can save up for the added cost. We're all about the mods, and depending on the season, Renting DVC points can be a very large cost saver for a Couple without kids, as many of the smaller DVC rooms are 10-15 points a night.