Why the high prices for Disney resorts?

[pyrophoric]

Spoken like a true cheap skate I am sure ...

Besides transportation and sending purchases back to your room, why the extremely high prices to stay at Disney resorts?

We were looking at staying seven days at either the Contemporary or Polynesian this year but never realized the price per night for a semi decent room. My real shock was looking at the amenities. You seem to get so much more for so much less at hotels outside the parks.

Are there things they aren't listing that I should be aware of when deciding where to stay?

Thanks

Edit: I guess the question should really be, are there hidden amenities or things not well known that would make a stay at a Disney resort a little more valuable?

 

[wdwmagic]

Extra Magic Hours
http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/Extra-Magic-Hours.htm

Magical Express
http://www.wdwmagic.com/Transportation/Disneys-Magical-Express.htm

24 hour immersion in the Magic

 

[DisneyJoe]

Just like all other real estate.

Location, Location, Location.

 

[bgraham34]

For me its always the immersion like stated above. Plus I can't beat the convenience to the parks. Hey its not for everyone and thats fine, as long as you still goto the world.

 

[tigsmom]

Spoken like a true cheap skate I am sure ...

Besides transportation and sending purchases back to your room, why the extremely high prices to stay at Disney resorts?

We were looking at staying seven days at either the Contemporary or Polynesian this year but never realized the price per night for a semi decent room. My real shock was looking at the amenities. You seem to get so much more for so much less at hotels outside the parks.

Are there things they aren't listing that I should be aware of when deciding where to stay?

Thanks

Edit: I guess the question should really be, are there hidden amenities or things not well known that would make a stay at a Disney resort a little more valuable?

You are in the heart of the Magic (remember the old saying "location, location, location"?) and you pay for the privilege of being connected to the monorail.

We have stayed at both of these resorts and the rooms are more than large enough for 4 people (they sleep 5), restaurants are inside and not located in a food court (and are top caliber), wonderful views of the MK as well as the ability to see/hear the nightly fireworks display and see the Electrical Water Pageant, there is a large selection of non park activities in the area as well as access to other parks. The list goes on. Just look at the fact sheets for each and compare them to the moderate & value hotels.

As they say, to each his own and the wonderful thin about WDW is that there is something for everyone!

 

[njDizFan]

I always thought the best reasons of staying at a Disney Resort were:

24 hours of being in the magic
not spending money on a rental car and parking
inclusion of park tickets in price of room
convenience coming and going(walk/boat-monorail/tram/car/driving)
extra magic hours

 

[DisneyJoe]

inclusion of park tickets in price of room

I assume you mean "inclusion of park tickets and room in the same vacation package" .

 

[pyrophoric]

Yes, it just seems like a lot to pay for total immersion. Budgeting is tight right now, especially in our economy. I just just having trouble justifying a $4000+ premium for immersion, extra magic hours and transportation.

Thanks for the help!

 

[DisneyJoe]

Yes, it just seems like a lot to pay for total immersion. Budgeting is tight right now, especially in our economy. I just just having trouble justifying a $4000+ premium for immersion, extra magic hours and transportation.

Thanks for the help!

Do you prefer Deluxe level resort accommodations?
Do you plan on spending much time in the resort, or will you be in the parks all day?

The moderate and value resorts won't cost you nearly that much.

 

[ewensell3]

Yes, it just seems like a lot to pay for total immersion. Budgeting is tight right now, especially in our economy. I just just having trouble justifying a $4000+ premium for immersion, extra magic hours and transportation.

Thanks for the help!

I only spent $700 for 5 nights at Port Orleans Riverside...

If you're willing to "slum" at a moderate resort, and willing to give up monorail access, you can have just as nice as an experience as a deluxe without the cost.

 

[lighteningqueen]

I think it is outrageous for the deluxe and the moderates. Does anone pay that to lay their head on a pillow anywhere else...ha ha, I think what is out of reason more than the rooms are the food prices. I have never paid 8.00 for a hamburger anywhere. or breakfast 18.99... But breakfast is the best value out there because you can go all day long and skip a meal to eat CS later on in the day. But my,,,, isn't it the only time when you don't care what it cost just so you can go to WDW.

 

[Mickey-Mommy]

Yes, it just seems like a lot to pay for total immersion. Budgeting is tight right now, especially in our economy. I just just having trouble justifying a $4000+ premium for immersion, extra magic hours and transportation.

Thanks for the help!

Why not stay at a Moderate or Value Disney resort if price is an issue? :shrug: That's what the rest of us do!

I'd love to be able to afford to stay at a deluxe resort every visit, but that's just not possible.

This trip we're staying at All-Star Sports....still a Disney resort, able to get the EMH, DME, transportation, etc......all at a cheaper price.:sohappy:

 

[pyrophoric]

Do you prefer Deluxe level resort accommodations?
Do you plan on spending much time in the resort, or will you be in the parks all day?

The moderate and value resorts won't cost you nearly that much.

We are going to Orlando for 10 days in October of this year. Most of the time will be spent in the parks, however, a couple days we will be enjoying the hotel and life outside the parks (wave runners, horseback riding, evening shows).

For pricing and amenities, we were looking at the Caribe Royal Orlando. Including the hotel, car rental, food, parks and recreation it would be about $3,500-$4000.

Going to the Contemporary or Polynesian would be about $6300 before food, car rental, recreation and other non Disney related parks (HHN).


Edit: Very true about the pricing for value or moderate. I hadn't really considering them before.

 

[Mickey-Mommy]

Duplicate post

 

[Master Yoda]

The two resorts that you are looking at are at the extreme high end of Disney resorts. Both have incredible theming and location and naturally you are going to pay for that. Disney has a myriad of other options at much lower prices. If you like drop me a line and we can go over what you are looking for and what Disney has that will fit both your room and budget needs.

My own personal opinion regarding on or off property....Every single time I have stayed off property to either save money or because I had no other choice I have regretted it. IMHO the complete immersion is a big factor. When I have stayed off property I always felt like I was leaving my vacation.

 

[njDizFan]

I think it is outrageous for the deluxe and the moderates. Does anone pay that to lay their head on a pillow anywhere else...ha ha, I think what is out of reason more than the rooms are the food prices. I have never paid 8.00 for a hamburger anywhere. or breakfast 18.99... But breakfast is the best value out there because you can go all day long and skip a meal to eat CS later on in the day. But my,,,, isn't it the only time when you don't care what it cost just so you can go to WDW.

is this sarcasm? I don't know, I live in NJ and I can't buy a burger for less then $8.00 unless we're talking Wendy's value menu

 

[lovepooh]

The First time we went to Disneyworld... We stayed at an off-property hotel and then we had to pay for a rental car and then park tickets... just that cost more then if we would have stayed at a value resort.

I would never stay off property again.. I think having all the ease and access getting around disney all in all is cheaper depending on where you stay.

We have stayed at ALL-STAR MUSIC... which was very reasonable... and have stayed at the CBR also reasonable for family of 4 over sept 07' was like 2500.00 for everything for 7 days with dinning plan.

You could go over the free dinning period that could save you the money.
Just remember your only entilted to the EMH if you stay on property that to me is worth tons.. plus the busses that get you around.

JMO however...

What ever you decided enjoy!

 

[pyrophoric]

The two resorts that you are looking at are at the extreme high end of Disney resorts. Both have incredible theming and location and naturally you are going to pay for that. Disney has a myriad of other options at much lower prices. If you like drop me a line and we can go over what you are looking for and what Disney has that will fit both your room and budget needs.

My own personal opinion regarding on or off property....Every single time I have stayed off property to either save money or because I had no other choice I have regretted it. IMHO the complete immersion is a big factor. When I have stayed off property I always felt like I was leaving my vacation.

I guess our problem, with budgeting and justification, may be that we have never stayed on property.

Honestly, all we have to go on is to compare price and amenities. So based on those two things, outside hotels are more of a value in our minds.

Accept for the perks mentioned earlier in this post, a hotel like Caribe Royal seems very comparable to something like the Contemporary for less than half the price.

We live in the Florida pan handle, so maybe we should take a weekend down there and just try out a nice resort just for a day and see how we feel. Maybe even drive to a couple different ones to get a feel for what they are and what vibe they give.

 

[Master Yoda]

I think it is outrageous for the deluxe and the moderates. Does anone pay that to lay their head on a pillow anywhere else...ha ha, I think what is out of reason more than the rooms are the food prices. I have never paid 8.00 for a hamburger anywhere. or breakfast 18.99... But breakfast is the best value out there because you can go all day long and skip a meal to eat CS later on in the day. But my,,,, isn't it the only time when you don't care what it cost just so you can go to WDW.

Believe it or not Disney actually falls on the inexpensive side when you are looking at resort style hotels. Check rack rates at hotels like Hilton and Marriott in preferred areas of New York, LA and the like. $400 and up per night is quite common. So to answer your question...Yes, quite a few people pay a huge sum of money to lay their head down on a pillow.

 

[Master Yoda]

I guess our problem, with budgeting and justification, may be that we have never stayed on property.

Honestly, all we have to go on is to compare price and amenities. So based on those two things, outside hotels are more of a value in our minds.

Accept for the perks mentioned earlier in this post, a hotel like Caribe Royal seems very comparable to something like the Contemporary for less than half the price.

We live in the Florida pan handle, so maybe we should take a weekend down there and just try out a nice resort just for a day and see how we feel. Maybe even drive to a couple different ones to get a feel for what they are and what vibe they give.

There is definitely an X factor that the Disney resorts have that is really hard to describe. I would give one of the moderate resorts like Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter a try. IMHO these 2 resorts have the most bang for the buck at WDW. Rack rates at the moderates are less than $180 per night and depending on the time of year you are traveling can be had for as low at $100 per night. A good step up from the moderates would Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness lodge. Both are deluxe resorts but they do not carry the hefty price tag that the Contemporary or the Poly do.