I don´t want to bring bad news but....

[olecow]

What's with the attitude on this thread of "If I don't get a deal I won't go and I hope Disney suffers." If you don't want to go then don't. If you don't want to stay on property then don't. To get mad at Disney because they won't give you "free stuff" is kind of scary, not to mention selfish.

 

[deserrai]

Obviously, Disney believes they can book the rooms without FD. If they do, then they probably will continue with no FD. If they don't, they will probably reinstate it. If they can make the money without offering the discount, why would they offer the discount?

 

[Megsie1000]

If we drove down I would not mind staying off-site. But Disney gets you with the Magical Express if your are flying. LOL My DH gets all stressed out by the rental car desk queues and the queues at the airport to check in when returning with small children and all the suitcases and he fell in love with the ease of traveling with ME.

We are usually moderate people. He has been happy with that. We are doing a one-time Poly trip this January for his 60th birthday because we have annual passes already and the discount was significant enough from a Value 1 pricing.

Having said that, after this trip we will be likely be pushed from mod down to value by the rising prices. At that point I think he may change his mind and have us go off-site. I have stayed in values before and although I don't mind them, I don't think he will be happy there. He is the type of person that Disney will lose. Our income hasn't gone up so our ability to stay at a mod for 2x as much is just not happening. I am sure somebody will happily take our place at a mod. It is what it is.

 

[summerlady]

I got a PIN last January for free QSDP, I happily booked POR using the PIN for a blacked out week last October. I'm fine with QSDP, I prefer it actually, although I do pay OOP for a couple of TS meals. This year we want to go back to POFQ (nothing wrong with POR, we just prefer POFQ), I hope I can get free QSDP again.

 

[Disneylvr]

I totally expected this with the opening of the new Fantasyland. If we are able to go this year (tomorrow we will know how much our package is going to be for May) it may be our last trip to Disney World for awhile. We always say that but this time we mean it. DD will turn 10 this year and will also add costs to our Disney vacations and maybe it is time to start exploring other destinations. Disney goes up in price but when our income stays the same, something has to give.

 

[Srbright]

It's not just the room price. It's the total cost of everything. Room, tickets, food, etc. Comparing to prices of rooms in downtown NY or Chicago isn't a relevant comparison. Those aren't places anyone is spending a family vacation.

Then I must be an unusual person because that is where we take our vacations. Far more people visit NYC than they do Disney World so I'm not really sure how you can say that isn't where people spend vacations.

Edit: NYC gets 539,000 visitors a day (this doesn't count the people that commute in) and Disney World gets an average of 50,000 people a day.

Stacy

 

[phorsenuf]

Good. I hope this is the first step in eliminating it all together and return the restaurants to their former selves!

 

[Abharmagic]

Then I must be an unusual person because that is where we take our vacations. Far more people visit NYC than they do Disney World so I'm not really sure how you can say that isn't where people spend vacations.

Edit: NYC gets 539,000 visitors a day (this doesn't count the people that commute in) and Disney World gets an average of 50,000 people a day.

Stacy

The rooms in NYC are expensive b/c the property is expensive. Basically you need to be a millionaire to own property in Manhattan- NYC. Property is just not as expensive in Orlando and the surrounding area. Thus, one would expect to have to pay more to stay in NYC than they would in Orlando.

 

[DVC Daisy]

Good. I hope this is the first step in eliminating it all together and return the restaurants to their former selves!

I am pretty sure - going out on a limb here - that this is going to be a very unpopular statement. But I agree 100%

FD has ruined the restaurants at Disney IMO.

 

[saskdw]

Then I must be an unusual person because that is where we take our vacations. Far more people visit NYC than they do Disney World so I'm not really sure how you can say that isn't where people spend vacations.

Edit: NYC gets 539,000 visitors a day (this doesn't count the people that commute in) and Disney World gets an average of 50,000 people a day.

Stacy

It was the rest of my response that awnsered your question, not sure why you focused on this.

 

[saskdw]

What's with the attitude on this thread of "If I don't get a deal I won't go and I hope Disney suffers." If you don't want to go then don't. If you don't want to stay on property then don't. To get mad at Disney because they won't give you "free stuff" is kind of scary, not to mention selfish.

For me it's not about getting a deal, it's about a fair price. If rack rate is fair then I don't need a deal. Neither is fair with what was proposed in the original post in this thread. It has nothing to do with free stuff other than FD is their most popular promo that they run to fill rooms.

As far as them suffering, the quicker their business suffers the quicker the price comes down where it should be and we can all go back to enjoying the pace we love without being gouged. Really quite simple. If you think there proposed pricing for 2013 is fair knock yourself out! Disney will love you!

 

[saskdw]

Obviously, Disney believes they can book the rooms without FD. If they do, then they probably will continue with no FD. If they don't, they will probably reinstate it. If they can make the money without offering the discount, why would they offer the discount?

Of course. I don't know if they actually believe it or if they're taking a shot at it to test the market. Time will tell.

 

[olecow]

As far as them suffering, the quicker their business suffers the quicker the price comes down where it should be and we can all go back to enjoying the pace we love without being gouged. Really quite simple. If you think there proposed pricing for 2013 is fair knock yourself out! Disney will love you! ]

I agree that if Disney offers deals we all win, but if they don't have to don't be mad at them. They're more than happy to make more money off the people who can afford to go without offering deals.

We're already going in June (so Disney does love us), and were prepared to pay rack rate until the Visa offer came out. Hey, I love a discount, but we will go even without one because it's worth it to us. If the day comes when it's not, I won't wish ill will towards them.

 

[fla4fun]

For me it's not about getting a deal, it's about a fair price. If rack rate is fair then I don't need a deal. Neither is fair with what was proposed in the original post in this thread. It has nothing to do with free stuff other than FD is their most popular promo that they run to fill rooms.

As far as them suffering, the quicker their business suffers the quicker the price comes down where it should be and we can all go back to enjoying the pace we love without being gouged. Really quite simple. If you think there proposed pricing for 2013 is fair knock yourself out! Disney will love you!

I would agree with these sentiments. It's not a vengeful "I want Disney to suffer" but rather if Disney starts to see a sizeable reduction in reservations because of a reduction in discounts, that they might modify their business plan a little.

I feel that Disney should be priced competitively with similar off property resorts, with an appropriate premium added for location and transportation costs. I feel it used to be that way but has gotten way out of hand for the last 10 years or so (we've been staying on property since the early 80's and going to WDW since opening year). Right now, I feel that Disney is charging a premium two to three times higher than they should be for the quality of the resort.

When we first started staying on property, yes, the rooms cost more than comparative rooms off property, but it was a reasonable amount. At that time, we would pay rack rate not only because no discounts were available, but because we felt the rates were appropriate for the value received. I am one of those that will not pay rack rate now, not because I can't, but because I won't. I don't feel rack rate is a good value for my money these days.

If worse comes to worse, I'll just keep my AP and do day trips from home. I hope it doesn't come to that. I'm not one who typically books with FD, but we have also seen the RO discounts reducing gradually, so it's everyone who has to be concerned.

 

[saskdw]

They're more than happy to make more money off the people who can afford to go without offering deals.

If you read my posts you would know I can afford to go. I refused to be gouged. This debate isn't about people that can't afford the prices, it's about people that can, but are smart enough not to allow Disney to gouge them with uncompetitive pricing.

 

[Bearwater]

Unfortunately for our family we are being price "gouged" because #1 our calendar and work obligations cause us to go during a time they consider a "Holiday" and #2 they are counting on the new Fantasyland to draw bigger crowds. With a 14 year old girl and 11 year old boy, we really don't even plan on visiting the new Fantasyland.

 

[Srbright]

The rooms in NYC are expensive b/c the property is expensive. Basically you need to be a millionaire to own property in Manhattan- NYC. Property is just not as expensive in Orlando and the surrounding area. Thus, one would expect to have to pay more to stay in NYC than they would in Orlando.

It has little to do with property value, it is economic supply and demand. If they weren't filling up the rooms at a profitable rate, then they would lower the rate.

But the statement was you can't compare Disney to NYC because people don't go there on vacation. All I am saying is that I have traveled enough, personally and professionally to believe that $90 a night for a value isn't gouging anyone. It is a decent motel with free transportation (airport and parks) and at least some amenities.

And as a different poster said she can't go when its $90 a night she has to go during the more popular times. That same thing happens everywhere. Bavarian Inn at Frankenmuth (which except for the pools) is between a value and a moderate charges $150 a night during spring break.
Stacy

 

[LindyN]

What's with the attitude on this thread of "If I don't get a deal I won't go and I hope Disney suffers." If you don't want to go then don't. If you don't want to stay on property then don't. To get mad at Disney because they won't give you "free stuff" is kind of scary, not to mention selfish.

I agree that individuals need to make a choice. Disney is certainly NOT suffering. They are a business and business need to make money to pay their employees and shareholders.

There are plenty of places to stay in the Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee areas, and for me personally I like the convenience of being on Disney property. There's something for everyone.

 

[minnie mum]

If you read my posts you would know I can afford to go. I refused to be gouged. This debate isn't about people that can't afford the prices, it's about people that can, but are smart enough not to allow Disney to gouge them with uncompetitive pricing.

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

Price gouging is not the same thing as uncompetitive pricing. And pricing is only uncompetitive if people won't pay it. You always have other alternatives. You can just not go to WDW- take your money elsewhere. You can stay offsite. You can buy your tickets from other sources. You can dine offsite or bring your own food. You can use other discounts. The end of FD as we have known it is not price gouging. It's simply the end of a discount that was offered for a few years. They still offer other discounts. Their rack rates are not price gouging- they are just really expensive.

Are disney resorts over priced. Yes. Because people will pay what they demand. People still go there, paying rack rate, no discounts, even at the most expensive time of the year. The only time Disney will offer a discount is when they forsee a need to fill rooms. And they won't lower rack rates until they see a drastic fall off in room occupancy.

They honestly don't HAVE to offer anything in order to make your vacationing a less expensive proposition. If you don't want to pay the prices they charge, then that is your privilege. I just wouldn't count (right now) on seeing a huge backlash based on this latest development.

 

[LindyN]

I guess I don't think the Value or Moderates are overpriced when you look at all the benefits.

Free parking at the hotel, free internet, transportation to the parks, package delivery, complimentary airport transportation. Charging back to the room, a dining plan which enables you to do a lot of pre-payment of meals, satellite TV...
When you get to the Deluxes, you have very nice amenities and that's where things get costly with room rates. Disney really needs to plus things up for Deluxe amenities which I think will eventually come.

I do Values and Mods, mostly Mods. But if I just went once a year then I'd probably do a Deluxe.

My prediction is that FP+ is going to change things a lot at Disney, and the benefits of being on property are going to be seriously worth it especially during busier time periods.