Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Trauma]

When we got married in Universal last May we stayed at Universals Surfside for 2 weeks but stayed at Portofino for the night before and night of the wedding......we paid £1000 for 2 nights at Portofino (approximately 4 x the Surfside price) and I have to say, we were desperately disappointed with the room at Portofino. We would do as far as saying the 2 bedroom suite room we had at Surfside was a better room!!....Obviously the Fast Passes thrown in for 3 days were the big bonus...but the hotel itself, as nice as it is, is never in a million years worth the price they charge.

I really hope Universal steps up their game with the new Park and Resorts.

At the end of the day more competition for Disney is a good thing.

 

[Thepuma]

Ehh I don’t really agree with this take.

Animal kingdom would be my choice but it’s not like it towers above IoA.

It will be fun to rank the parks after Universals new gate is open.

Apples to Pears.

They are two totally different types of parks. If you you like rides and roller coasters and themed experiences, the Universal is a million miles better than AK. I've always found AK to be a very weak park. It just doesn't have anywhere near enough attractions. And we end up rope dropping and being out of the park by Midday!! - something you could never say about Universal.

But if you like the Animal aspects rather than attractions then yes, AK is a good little park.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Not sure if this is a sign of the slow bookings, but i went to reserve my dining choices yesterday and had a pleasant surprise -
Just about every difficult-to-reserve restaurant option was available, with multiple times available.

Examples -
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Space 220
Cinderella's Royal Table
Be Our Guest
California Grill
Boma

Given i am a Resort Guest, but this was general browsing and not booking at 6:01am EST.

Needless to say i was able to book whatever i wished on the days and times i was looking for.

-

It’s been like that more and more.

Can’t book the restaurants…which is why that STOOPID dining plan is making its awful sequel of a return. One born every minute

Not only are advanced bookings available…you can get almost anything 1 or 2 days out. Which means alot of bookings are “placeholders” that aren’t being cancelled…or Disney is limiting the tables in the restaurants to save costs/drive “demand” and tinkering. Which is about 99% possible as well.

 

[Thepuma]

I really hope Universal steps up their game with the new Park and Resorts.

At the end of the day more competition for Disney is a good thing.

The thing with the Universal Premium resorts is that you just have to factor in the Express Passes, otherwise those rooms are terrible value. But if you stay 1 night for say £600, you get 2 days worth of EP for 2 people...something which can cost around $500 anyway...so you have to think to yourself that you've really got the room for £100...which then is good value.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

This analysis presupposes that the Disney parks and the Universal parks are substitute goods.

They're not.

If Animal Kingdom was $150 and Islands of Adventure was FREE, I'd still go to Animal Kingdom.

…then you’d be a moron…frankly.

I love dak. But this is the kinda bucket carrying crap touted by Disney fans that has run smoke screens and allow this longterm pathetic management to let parks decay and underinvest

 

[dreday3]

…then you’d be a moron…frankly.

I love dak. But this is the kinda bucket carrying crap touted by Disney fans that has run smoke screens and allow this longterm pathetic management to let parks decay and underinvest

I've been to theme parks all over and rank Dollywood up there as one of my favorites (over DHS) but hands down, Animal Kingdom is the best theme park I've ever been to. It's not even a contest.

So I'm also a moron because I too would choose AK over IOA. As to how that leads to Disney underinvesting, I'm sure you'll enjoy explaining.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I've been to theme parks all over and rank Dollywood up there as one of my favorites (over DHS) but hands down, Animal Kingdom is the best theme park I've ever been to. It's not even a contest.

So I'm also a moron because I too would choose AK over IOA.

Free vs $150?…yeah you would be

On equal footing I wouldn’t pick it apart

The premise is preposterous

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The express pass really adds a lot of value to the deluxe resorts.

Without that included I would rather just stay at Disney.

I’m interested in the resort that will be inside EU.

As long as the comes with express pass for all parks count me in.

I just wonder if they might split it up and say for the current premiere resorts you do get the express pass but it is only valid at the Studios and IoA, not EU. You have to stay at that one that is like inside EU to get the pass that includes EU, but that hotel will then be like Grand Floridian priced.

No idea, just spit balling

 

[dreday3]

Free vs $150?…yeah you would be

On equal footing I wouldn’t pick it apart

The premise is preposterous

If I'm going all the way to Florida to visit a theme park, you bet I'm going to the one I like best out of all of them, even if I have to pay. One that I only get to visit every few years.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Not sure if this is a sign of the slow bookings, but i went to reserve my dining choices yesterday and had a pleasant surprise -
Just about every difficult-to-reserve restaurant option was available, with multiple times available.

Examples -
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Space 220
Cinderella's Royal Table
Be Our Guest
California Grill
Boma

Given i am a Resort Guest coming in September, but this was general browsing of dining and not booking at 6:01am EST with Bots' or Apps.

Needless to say i was able to book whatever i wished on the days and times i was looking for.

-

When I booked mine for late August the only one that had even limited options was Story Book Dining, and that is only dinner and pretty saught after. Even still I was able to get it at just 60 days out as is our arrival day, just not the exact time I was hoping for

Everything else was pretty wide open

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The thing with the Universal Premium resorts is that you just have to factor in the Express Passes, otherwise those rooms are terrible value. But if you stay 1 night for say £600, you get 2 days worth of EP for 2 people...something which can cost around $500 anyway...so you have to think to yourself that you've really got the room for £100...which then is good value.

The rooms/hotels are fine. They are overprice…but they all are in Orlando

I’d say they’re no more overpriced lb for lb than the Disney ones.

People celebrate paying $850 a night at Polynesian moto lodge for a view of the backside of the dvc cabanas and a snack bar with finger foods

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If I'm going all the way to Florida to visit a theme park, you bet I'm going to the one I like best out of all of them, even if I have to pay. One that I only get to visit every few years.

Again…it’s preposterous.

It’s the kinda thing that feeds in to the “duster” stigma

A silly concept doubled down with a silly response

 

[Thepuma]

Not sure if this is a sign of the slow bookings, but i went to reserve my dining choices yesterday and had a pleasant surprise -
Just about every difficult-to-reserve restaurant option was available, with multiple times available.

Examples -
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Space 220
Cinderella's Royal Table
Be Our Guest
California Grill
Boma

Given i am a Resort Guest coming in September, but this was general browsing of dining and not booking at 6:01am EST with Bots' or Apps.

Needless to say i was able to book whatever i wished on the days and times i was looking for.

-

Can you give me any tips on how to get a Space 220 Lounge reservation?.....ive tried 8 days in a row now and I just can't get one for love nor money.

At what time (Florida time) does the Space220 lounge reservations go live 60 days ahead? I'm struggling big style....also struggled to get Yak&Yeti amd had to settle for a 3.30pm lunch we will be famished by that time.

 

[dreday3]

Again…it’s preposterous.

It’s the kinda thing that feeds in to the “duster” stigma

A silly concept doubled down with a silly response

Oh you're insulting me, shocking.

 

[JustLikeMe]

The thing with the Universal Premium resorts is that you just have to factor in the Express Passes, otherwise those rooms are terrible value. But if you stay 1 night for say £600, you get 2 days worth of EP for 2 people...something which can cost around $500 anyway...so you have to think to yourself that you've really got the room for £100...which then is good value.

We’ve done countless stays at the Premier resorts and we’ve never paid anywhere close to £600 per night - not even when we stayed in a King Suite on Club Level at Hard Rock.

Admittedly we tend to travel during the off season to avoid crowds, but our average nightly rate at Royal Pacific on our last two trips in April 21 and Feb 22 was £232 and £344 respectively.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

When I booked mine for late August the only one that had even limited options was Story Book Dining, and that is only dinner and pretty saught after. Even still I was able to get it at just 60 days out as is our arrival day, just not the exact time I was hoping for

Everything else was pretty wide open

Yeah I can’t figure out how they’re gonna play the EU situation?

I tell you what: Disneys current downward trend will put even more pressure on Uni…cause they’ll market it as “big and new and what you’re not getting off exit 67…”

And rightfully so…they got em dead to rights.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Oh you're insulting me, shocking.

It’s ridiculous. That’s not “insulting”….it’s a pretty honest assessment

90% wouldn’t hesitate on that “deal”…and everyone knows it. Even the scared of rides group.

 

[Touchdown]

We’ve done countless stays at the Premier resorts and we’ve never paid anywhere close to £600 per night - not even when we stayed in a King Suite on Club Level at Hard Rock.

Admittedly we tend to travel during the off season to avoid crowds, but our average nightly rate at Royal Pacific on our last two trips in April 21 and Feb 22 was £232 and £344 respectively.

2 weeks ago, didn’t pay $600, didn’t pay $500 at Royal Pacific. Had a King water bed view too.

 

[Thepuma]

We’ve done countless stays at the Premier resorts and we’ve never paid anywhere close to £600 per night - not even when we stayed in a King Suite on Club Level at Hard Rock.

Admittedly we tend to travel during the off season to avoid crowds, but our average nightly rate at Royal Pacific on our last two trips in April 21 and Feb 22 was £232 and £344 respectively.

We paid £1000 for 2 nights May 2022 for Portofino. Which was the going rate for a Bay view room.

We go in September and are staying on Disney Property but have a night booked at the Hard Rock for £500 as we thought it good value for the included Express passes (on a saturday and sunday) AND the fact we are doing HHN that night and we can just walk back to the hotel in 10 minutes when the night finishes.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

2 weeks ago, didn’t pay $600, didn’t pay $500 at Royal Pacific. Had a King water bed view too.

Sounds like they went in 2022 when there were no good deals in town?

Wdw rooms were astronomical - rest assured at that time as well.