How times have changed

[John park hopper]

Coming up on DW and my 50th wedding anniversary married in March 1977. Stayed at the Contemporary(honeymoon) for 49 dollars a night -thought it would be a nice surprise for the DW to return so I checked the resort prices almost had a heart attack $960 a night for a garden resort room. Think we will do Shades of Green and eat at the Contemporary.

 

[Baron Von Capybara]

Congratulations on 50 years of wedded bliss

 

[Disstevefan1]

Coming up on DW and my 50th wedding anniversary married in March 1977. Stayed at the Contemporary for 49 dollars a night -thought it would be a nice surprise for the DW to return so I checked the resort prices almost had a heart attack $960 a night for a garden resort room. Think we will do Shades of Green and eat at the Contemporary.

CONGRATULATIONS on your 50th. I don't have to tell you only a fraction of a fraction of couples make it to their 50th. Well done!

$49 in 1977 is worth about $270 today, Therefore, Disney prices are 3.5 times the inflation rate!

 

[Jon81uk]

$49 in 1977 is worth about $270 today, Therefore, Disney prices are 3.5 times the inflation rate!

Also Disney have added plenty of cheaper hotels at the $270 a night price point or less. When there was only three accommodation options on-site, it was very different to 16+ options now.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Also Disney have added plenty of cheaper hotels at the $270 a night price point or less. When there was only three accommodation options on-site, it was very different to 16+ options now.

I think its fair to compare the same room over time.

Apparently having more options today did not stop the price of the Contemporary room from skyrocketing.

 

[Burgermeister]

Coming up on DW and my 50th wedding anniversary married in March 1977. Stayed at the Contemporary for 49 dollars a night -thought it would be a nice surprise for the DW to return so I checked the resort prices almost had a heart attack $960 a night for a garden resort room. Think we will do Shades of Green and eat at the Contemporary.

March is prime spring break time for parts of the country, so rates are higher. Not sure when you are going in March, but I was checking prices to possibly go that month as well and saw prices in the $750 range for the entire month for garden wing two queen rooms. Still high to be sure.

We had a great meal at the beginning of the month at Steakhouse 71 - highly recommended.

 

[John park hopper]

Congratulations on 50 years of wedded bliss

Don't tell my DW but it hasn't always been wedded bliss ha ha

 

[Ayla]

Congratulations on your 50th! Anyone who has been married knows it isn't always wedded bliss. Wherever you end up staying, I hope you have a wonderful trip.

We're coming up on our 30th anniversary.

 

[zurgandfriend]

Congratulations on your 50th wedding anniversary.

My DW and I also stayed at the Contemporary for our honeymoon. That was in the 90’s, when I was in my 40’s.

I don’t remember what we paid for 6 nights, I do remember that Shades of Green had just opened and my DW wanted no part of it. I was career Army and she said, “She did not want her honeymoon on an Army base.” I knew it wasn’t like that, but I couldn’t convince her.

 

[John park hopper]

Sent Disney customer service an email asking how they justify 900 + a night when the adjusted rate of $49 in 1977 for inflation would be $270 now Think I will hear back-----No
Shades of Green ---I wish some of the bases I was at were half as nice

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Don't tell my DW but it hasn't always been wedded bliss ha ha

I won't tell. What did you say your wife's name is?

 

[JIMINYCR]

Don't tell my DW but it hasn't always been wedded bliss ha ha

As long as you both can give and take and forgive and forget and the good days outnumber the bad thats what counts.
Happy 50th. Just 7% of all married couples reach that milestone. Congrats!!!

 

[John park hopper]

As long as you both can give and take and forgive and forget and the good days outnumber the bad thats what counts.
Happy 50th. Just 7% of all married couples reach that milestone. Congrats!!!

Thanks
Brief history I was drafted in 1968 got married to a girl I dated in High school married in 1969 spent a year in Nam and divorced 4 years later (she was an alcoholic). Meet my second wife in 1976 on the beach in FL knew she was a keeper believer in all things happen for a reason

 

[Calmdownnow]

Also Disney have added plenty of cheaper hotels at the $270 a night price point or less. When there was only three accommodation options on-site, it was very different to 16+ options now.

Adding such a massive increase in room capacity would normally (in a capitalist model) reduce the relative cost. General inflation should have raised your room price to $275 -- not over $900, So clearly other factors are in play. Has your income increased by the same percentage amount? Excluding general cost of living pay increases, has your income tripled? If so, the Contemporary might still be "affordable."

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Sent Disney customer service an email asking how they justify 900 + a night when the adjusted rate of $49 in 1977 for inflation would be $270 now Think I will hear back-----No
Shades of Green ---I wish some of the bases I was at were half as nice

I will answer it for you.

Because hotel rooms and discretionary leisure spending has absolutely nothing to do with indexes or inflation rates. And because the market has continued to find the hotel rooms priced properly and continue for them.

 

[John park hopper]

Adding such a massive increase in room capacity would normally (in a capitalist model) reduce the relative cost. General inflation should have raised your room price to $275 -- not over $900, So clearly other factors are in play. Has your income increased by the same percentage amount? Excluding general cost of living pay increases, has your income tripled? If so, the Contemporary might still be "affordable."

I am retired and if anything my income has gone down and even if it didn't I can't justify to myself paying over 900 dollars for a bed. Product of depression parents

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Sent Disney customer service an email asking how they justify 900 + a night when the adjusted rate of $49 in 1977 for inflation would be $270 now Think I will hear back-----No
Shades of Green ---I wish some of the bases I was at were half as nice

Congrats!

I agree prices there have gotten a bit crazy. It may be worth your while to keep checking back. They will probably release a discount for your dates, but just haven't yet.

Also try adjusting your dates, different rooms might come up that cost less. Weeknights usually cost less than Fri and Sat nights, though Thursdays are a mix.

I don't think you can beat Shades of Green as an option at WDW though. I've not stayed there, but hear great things about it, especially the value!

For dining, the Steakhouse at CR is one of WDW's better places to eat. another plus is that the entrance has some neat photos of WDw when it was being built.

If you really want a crazy splurge, Cali Grill is still on the top floor, but prices there are also now crazy high, IMO.

If you want a slightly less crazy $$ dinner splurge, consider dinner at Topolino's Terrace. IMO, it is one of few places in WDW where the food is very good. It is still a bit pricey, but we felt like the experience was special. The view is spectacular at dusk! I've dined everywhere at WDW, and I rate it as the most romantic places to eat at WDW. You can see the Epcot fireworks from the rooftop terrace. You can see the menu online ahead of your visit to get a sense of what to expect, but it is one WDW menu that changes a little with the seasons.


Glad to hear you are planning a visit! While much of WDW has changed since the 1970's, a chunk of old MK still remains. Too bad you missed out on seeing the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer's Island last year. That part of MK was really classic WDW!

In MK if you want to see classic attractions these all come to mind: the H Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Small world, Tiki Room, Peter Pan, (maybe) Hall of Presidents, People Mover, Country Bears has changed a bit, but still has some original visuals, railroad, teacups, Dumbo (though in a new location), and the Carousel. Buzz is different from If You Had Wings, but part of the original ride is still part of the attraction.

Another classic WDW option is to see Hoop de Doo dinner show at Fort Wilderness. Getting there and back + seeing the show would also take most of an evening, but the show is fun. The food is just so-so, but the show is very classic WDW fun. Fort Wilderness still looks like classic WDW. (Well, except for the new DVC they are building.)

The Poly has had some updates, but it also has much of the original vibe if you visited there in the 1970's, especially if you arrive via the monorail from MK.

 

[Br0ckford]

Congratulations on 50.

 

[HakunaMatata89]

Thanks
Brief history I was drafted in 1968 got married to a girl I dated in High school married in 1969 spent a year in Nam and divorced 4 years later (she was an alcoholic). Meet my second wife in 1976 on the beach in FL knew she was a keeper believer in all things happen for a reason

nothing wrong with saving a bunch at Shades. Last time we stayed there we overlooked the course and had morning views of the deer and peacocks grazing below. The only downside is the bus loop