Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I don't understand people saying wdw is so much more expensive .

On our last trip in Jan we did a split stay between WDW and Uni (my first time staying at Uni) and I was a bit shocked at the prices, I’d heard for years how “cheap” it was to stay at Uni and we ended up paying around $220 a night for Aventura, it’s “cheaper” than Disney (we paid $320 a night at POFQ) but I wouldn’t call it cheap.

The feel I get (from videos remember, so I could be wrong) is it looks more like a bunch of hotels that you can easily access one or the other, but also feels like just hotels in a city area? It doesn't have like a contained-bubble feel like the Epcot or Monorail resorts - if you get what I'm saying? When you stay in those areas, you don't see "normal" life.

Not that it's bad, but just a different feel.

This was my biggest complaint, Aventura was a nice hotel, it was convenient having a Starbucks downstairs, we liked the restaurant downstairs, it was nice to walk next door and jump on a boat, etc… but the hotel itself just felt like a high rise hotel that could be in any city anywhere, nothing felt special about the hotel itself. Sapphire falls felt much more comparable to a Disney moderate but then the price was closer to a Disney moderate. We’ll likely try Sapphire next time though, Aventura was a one and done for us.

All that to say Uni’s hotels are cheaper, but they aren’t cheap.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

On our last trip in Jan we did a split stay between WDW and Uni (my first time staying at Uni) and I was a bit shocked at the prices, I’d heard for years how “cheap” it was to stay at Uni and we ended up paying around $220 a night for Aventura, it’s “cheaper” than Disney (we paid $320 a night at POFQ) but I wouldn’t call it cheap.



This was my biggest complaint, Aventura was a nice hotel, it was convenient having a Starbucks downstairs, we liked the restaurant downstairs, it was nice to walk next door and jump on a boat, etc… but the hotel itself just felt like a high rise hotel that could be in any city anywhere, nothing felt special about the hotel itself. Sapphire falls felt much more comparable to a Disney moderate but then the price was closer to a Disney moderate. We’ll likely try Sapphire next time though, Aventura was a one and done for us.

All that to say Uni’s hotels are cheaper, but they aren’t cheap.

I don’t think universal hotels are advertised as “cheaper”…you can get good promo rates/packages
Both are overpriced by a good bit

As far as theme…Disney has de-themed their hotels for 10+ years…

So they’re yielding their advantage there

 

[hopemax]

You know that internal screaming feeling you get when people in your life describe their WDW vacation and it’s full of bad decisions… I am experiencing that sensation reading about y’all’s Universal trips.

I figured out when asked on a Universal survey, since Covid vax, I have stayed at either Royal Pacific or Portofino 8 different times, and never paid more than $269 per night.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You know that internal screaming feeling you get when people in your life describe their WDW vacation and it’s full of bad decisions… I am experiencing that sensation reading about y’all’s Universal trips.

I figured out when asked on a Universal survey, since Covid vax, I have stayed at either Royal Pacific or Portofino 8 different times, and never paid more than $269 per night.

I had the same thought…but they may not be getting the right promotions for the right date blocks?

 

[seabreezept813]

Still a huge reach.

If people downsized or stayed closer to home this year…do you think it’s:

1. The price of Disney combined with their media failures/planning suckiness/negative pub?
2. Had to get a limo to Taylor or Bey?


…hmmm?

Did most people pay 1k for Swift? My SD went with friends her ticket was around 200. That wouldn't compare to what one spends on vacation.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I don’t think universal hotels are advertised as “cheaper”…you can get good promo rates/packages
Both are overpriced by a good bit

As far as theme…Disney has de-themed their hotels for 10+ years…

So they’re yielding their advantage there

For clarification… my expectation was from reading Disney boards for a decade.

I think I just had unrealistic expectations because I’ve read countless posts about how cheap it is.

We also went as part of a split stay with marathon weekend at WDW so we didn’t have any flexibility, we got the best rates for the weekend we needed but we didn’t have the option of searching other dates for better rates.

 

[hopemax]

I had the same thought…but they may not be getting the right promotions for the right date blocks?

Probably. But when people book WDW people seem far more willing to shift dates, put the work in to find out when new promos drops, re-book for better deals and other techniques to maximize value. When it comes to Universal, it’s super firm dates, didn’t do any looking for promos, only looked once or twice and so it was expensive. Any vacation, to get the most benefit you have to do the work.

BTW, AP rates for Christmastime dropped a few days ago for the Loews hotels, if anyone is needing end of the year dates.

 

[seabreezept813]

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.

-

SImilar experience except Ohana breakfast. I've had it in reservation finder for a few weeks and no luck so far.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Did most people pay 1k for Swift? My SD went with friends her ticket was around 200. That wouldn't compare to what one spends on vacation.

Definitely not

I was just using reports from secondary markets a benchmark

Taylor swift did NOT cause a downturn in travel to Orlando/wdw this year

But alot of observers can’t believe it’s actually the money or the market…
…but that is the logical take right now

 

[Lilofan]

Definitely not

I was just using reports from secondary markets a benchmark

Taylor swift did NOT cause a downturn in travel to Orlando/wdw this year

But alot of observers can’t believe it’s actually the money or the market…
…but that is the logical take right now

Yes that's correct Taylor did not cause a downturn in travel but some will pay $5K for a few days at WDW to have a magical vacation, some others will pay the same amount front row at the concert for an incredible experience with their idol for 3 hours .

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes that's correct Taylor did not cause a downturn in travel but some will pay $5K for a few days at WDW to have a magical vacation, some others will pay the same amount front row at the concert for an incredible experience with their idol for 3 hours .

Or it can be an underequipped, variable pricing, upsell peddling, margin obsessed, overplanned exercise in 105 heat…

No such thing as “magic”, Wizard of Dust.

We can do some adulting round here, too?

Too each his own without the superfluous stuff

 

[Tha Realest]

I get how this comes off but I’ll give you the honest answer.

I’m rich so why not?

( plus I have to spend all my DVC points that I’m not renting out )

If you’re ever renting points out HMU!

 

[ParentsOf4]

Yikes…500 lbs in sept 2023 is not a good deal…

Some pretty good weeknight rates at Portifino Bay this September…

 

[Trauma]

If you’re ever renting points out HMU!

I have 236 left right now.

 

[SamusAranX]

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.

If by theming, sure you can make an argument for AK being the best.

But Disney has woefully underinvested in the park and if and when they do “expand” it, it sounds like they’re about to screw up what may be the second to last cohesively themed park remaining stateside.

 

[SamusAranX]

Let me be very clear.

My comment was about my lack of enjoyment of Universal, not about how exceptional I consider Animal Kingdom. I would rather go to Lake Compounce than Universal. I would rather go to *work* than Universal. I would rather go to the dentist than Universal. I don't enjoy it.

I gotta ask, why?

USO definitely has ebbed and flowed in quality with ill advised IP shoehorning. But IoA is a well-realized park and HP blazed the trail for the past 15+ years of immersive attractions

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If you’re ever renting points out HMU!

Don’t fall into that weird “rent cult”, please?

 

[Figments Friend]

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.

If you are not able to find something ahead of time, I would recommend looking a day or two before you would like to experience it.

Sometimes even day of something might become available as other Guests will sometimes cancel reservations at the last minute.

You can always ask at the restaurant itself, or at Guest Services to see if anything is open while you are there.



-

 

[MisterPenguin]

Why are people talking about Taylor swift

Because her music is extremely commercially successful, it is also very good (this is obviously subjective, but I like her music and so do most people I have talked to as well as critics). In genre, her music can be best described as at the center of a three way venn diagram between levitating bedroom balladry, unkempt psychadelic grunge, and uptempo pop-rock, although perhaps more instrumental to her musics success than the production is the lyrics and themes. She sings with honesty, specificity, and humor, conveying the abstract pangs of angst and heartbreak as a vivid image of the rebellion and sadness of youth.

 

[JoeCamel]

Because her music is extremely commercially successful, it is also very good (this is obviously subjective, but I like her music and so do most people I have talked to as well as critics). In genre, her music can be best described as at the center of a three way venn diagram between levitating bedroom balladry, unkempt psychadelic grunge, and uptempo pop-rock, although perhaps more instrumental to her musics success than the production is the lyrics and themes. She sings with honesty, specificity, and humor, conveying the abstract pangs of angst and heartbreak as a vivid image of the rebellion and sadness of youth.

Wow! sounds just like Olivia Rodrigo.......