Resort Survey ... on Resort Fees

[dizzyinwdw]

I just completed a survey about our stay at SSR - 2 of the questions surprised me, and I wonder if anyone else has gotten them - they asked how I would have paid if my Visa debit or credit card were no longer accepted by Disney, and if I would cancel my vacation over it or not. When I answered no, it asked what form of payment I would use instead.

???? Maybe Disney and Visa are about to part ways?

 

[Eoghann]

???? Maybe Disney and Visa are about to part ways?

They've been asking this question for months now. There was a previous thread on it. Most likely they're just testing the waters for future negotiations.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Anytime someone replies to any recent change Disney has made which increases the price with "I don't know why this is such a big deal..everyone else does it already" it makes me think of the saying "if your friend asked/dared you to ___, would you do it?" Just because everyone else is doing something or it's commonplace (or perceived to be commonplace) doesn't mean Disney has to do it.

I personally avoid if I can hotels that charge resort fees, it's not really the amount (though for reals they are sometimes quite expensive), it's the principle. A la carte isn't always fair either since as others have pointed out you likely would spend more if you actually needed all the items they normally include on the resort fee. I know we paid a resort fee that ended up being over $100 total for an 7 night stay in 2011 at an off-site hotel......but the resort room rate was around the $50-60 per night amount and while I didn't like paying for the resort fees the sting was less knowing that we spent less on the room rate.

Also personally when people mention that many hotels charge resort fees the truth is yes but that also can be a regional reason (i.e. high destination point), hotel chain reason, cultural-husband went to Japan and stayed at a American chain hotel that charged resort fees (which doesn't normally and I can't remember which one it was for the life of me) but none of the hotels (that serviced more locals) charged resort fees {granted that is just one situation but I would imagine this could happen elsewhere}, etc.

 

[cakburns]

Yellowstone's looking more and more attractive... I can see a REAL geyser there...

Yep, we are hitting Yellowstone next year and banking the DVC points...its just getting ridiculous .....may combine for 2018 and do a cruise off of the rental income.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Here's an article by the Huffington Post (yes yes take the source with a grain of salt) published a month ago: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/latest-headlines/mandatory-hotel-resort-fees-rip-maybe . The link goes to a website for MO senator because she introduced a bill regarding resort fees but it's mostly about national issues with resort fees.

Just a few highlights:
"The new Four Seasons Resort Orlando, located in an epicenter of resort fees (regional/high destination point-see my post above this one), decided not to charge them in order to set itself apart from the competition."

"A national poll of registered voters released in late 2015 found that 80 percent said hotels and resorts should be required to include mandatory resort fees in the daily room rate, which would allow customers to comparison shop before they book a room. More than 20 percent of respondents said that in the past year, they’d been charged a mandatory fee in addition to the room rate and tax."

"A coalition of consumer advocates, including the National Consumers League and Travelers United, is ratcheting up pressure on lawmakers to eliminate these controversial surcharges, which cover features such as wireless Internet access and towels at the hotel gym. Late last week, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D.-Mo.), introduced legislation called the Truth in Hotel Advertising Act of 2016, which would prohibit hotels from advertising a room that doesn’t include all mandatory fees."-think about how the price of airfare now includes all fees up front. Also this statement listed here isn't meant to be political in nature whatsoever for the DIS board purposes but to reflect the growing disdain of resort fees at a government level.

And perhaps the most (ok maybe to me) obvious way of pointing out the issue with resort fees:
"There is a growing realization that resort fees, at least as they are now charged, are unfair and deceptive. They would not be tolerated in almost any other business, so why are hotels allowed to get away with them? Even some hotel employees know that their guests are on to them. Consider what happened to John Doe*named changed here on DIS board but article has actual name*, a consultant and corporate traveler based in Roslyn, N.Y., who found an $89 rate at a casino hotel in Mount Pocono, Pa., but soon discovered that the rate didn’t include a $15 resort fee. He phoned the property to find out what the fee covered. “It covers our free Internet, free in-room coffee and valet parking for the hotel guests,” a reservations agent answered. “If you charge $15,” Doe replied, “it isn’t free.” That left the receptionist speechless."

Currently marketing-wise Magical Express, Parking, Magic Bands and Wi-Fi is touted as being complimentary; Extra Magic Hours and FP+ @ 60 days, and resort activities are listed as a benefit (all are technically listed as benefits but only extra magic hours, FP+ @ 60 days and resort activities says benefit the rest say complimentary). The def of complimentary is: given for free.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I just completed a survey about our stay at SSR - 2 of the questions surprised me, and I wonder if anyone else has gotten them - they asked how I would have paid if my Visa debit or credit card were no longer accepted by Disney, and if I would cancel my vacation over it or not. When I answered no, it asked what form of payment I would use instead.

Wonder if they are trying to get away from the charge fees the card companies impose or just going with like MasterCard. But really, would they want to do away with accepting Visa?

 

[rdsx28]

I just have to laugh about the parking. Pay for parking at the resort? We are DVC members at the WLV and my husband and I always discuss the parking. It is totally not user friendly parking for the Villas forcing many I'm sure to have their luggage brought to their rooms and having to tip for the service. We have seen many employees parking and taking up limited spaces in the guest lot as well. Valet parking used to also be free for DVC members now it's about 10.00 plus a tip on top of it. These are the little things that drive me crazy as well as having to pay for MAgic bands which were their decision to use. WIFI in my opinion is fair at most resorts. They seem to be bleeding people dry for fees and extra money for this and that all the while offering fewer attractions and taking forever to construct new ones. We have been going to Disney for many years and have always loved it but lately have been feeling maybe there are other alternatives out there.

 

[DebbieB]

I just have to laugh about the parking. Pay for parking at the resort? We are DVC members at the WLV and my husband and I always discuss the parking. It is totally not user friendly parking for the Villas forcing many I'm sure to have their luggage brought to their rooms and having to tip for the service. We have seen many employees parking and taking up limited spaces in the guest lot as well. Valet parking used to also be free for DVC members now it's about 10.00 plus a tip on top of it. These are the little things that drive me crazy as well as having to pay for MAgic bands which were their decision to use. WIFI in my opinion is fair at most resorts. They seem to be bleeding people dry for fees and extra money for this and that all the while offering fewer attractions and taking forever to construct new ones. We have been going to Disney for many years and have always loved it but lately have been feeling maybe there are other alternatives out there.

Valet parking is $20 at resorts (plus tip). It used to be valet was free for everyone. Then they starting charging but DVC members still got it free. Then they outsourced it and DVC had to pay also. It will be interesting to see what happens with this resort fee. I think they floated a "test balloon" and got quite a reaction!

 

[DisneyLovingPreacher]

Anytime someone replies to any recent change Disney has made which increases the price with "I don't know why this is such a big deal..everyone else does it already" it makes me think of the saying "if your friend asked/dared you to ___, would you do it?" Just because everyone else is doing something or it's commonplace (or perceived to be commonplace) doesn't mean Disney has to do it.

I personally avoid if I can hotels that charge resort fees, it's not really the amount (though for reals they are sometimes quite expensive), it's the principle. A la carte isn't always fair either since as others have pointed out you likely would spend more if you actually needed all the items they normally include on the resort fee. I know we paid a resort fee that ended up being over $100 total for an 7 night stay in 2011 at an off-site hotel......but the resort room rate was around the $50-60 per night amount and while I didn't like paying for the resort fees the sting was less knowing that we spent less on the room rate.

Also personally when people mention that many hotels charge resort fees the truth is yes but that also can be a regional reason (i.e. high destination point), hotel chain reason, cultural-husband went to Japan and stayed at a American chain hotel that charged resort fees (which doesn't normally and I can't remember which one it was for the life of me) but none of the hotels (that serviced more locals) charged resort fees {granted that is just one situation but I would imagine this could happen elsewhere}, etc.

Yes you can stay off site and pay less. You do not get all the features that you would on property. When I went to Bootcamp, I was required to pay for my own uniforms, even though I volunteered. We live in a society were i'm sorry to say money talks. Most hotels I go to have charged a Resort fee for their "free amenities". It is that simple. If you do not like the fees do not go or stay off site. When you go somewhere on vacation you are playing by their rules. Disney is charging this like most hotels because they can for several reasons: first demand is up so they know they can get it and also because the cost of the "free" amenities are going up. Everything is going up. It is your choice of where to stay so I stick by what I said: Its not that big of a deal.

 

[Planogirl]

Yes you can stay off site and pay less. You do not get all the features that you would on property. When I went to Bootcamp, I was required to pay for my own uniforms, even though I volunteered. We live in a society were i'm sorry to say money talks. Most hotels I go to have charged a Resort fee for their "free amenities". It is that simple. If you do not like the fees do not go or stay off site. When you go somewhere on vacation you are playing by their rules. Disney is charging this like most hotels because they can for several reasons: first demand is up so they know they can get it and also because the cost of the "free" amenities are going up. Everything is going up. It is your choice of where to stay so I stick by what I said: Its not that big of a deal.

At many offsite resorts you get more amenities than onsite. You have to shop around because sometimes these amenities are actually free too.

The irony is that if Disney just bumped up their resort rates by $15 then most people probably wouldn't blink an eye.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes you can stay off site and pay less. You do not get all the features that you would on property. When I went to Bootcamp, I was required to pay for my own uniforms, even though I volunteered. We live in a society were i'm sorry to say money talks. Most hotels I go to have charged a Resort fee for their "free amenities". It is that simple. If you do not like the fees do not go or stay off site. When you go somewhere on vacation you are playing by their rules. Disney is charging this like most hotels because they can for several reasons: first demand is up so they know they can get it and also because the cost of the "free" amenities are going up. Everything is going up. It is your choice of where to stay so I stick by what I said: Its not that big of a deal.

With all due respect it's just not worth it to respond to your comment in full. We just don't see eye to eye and you're inferring things that I never said nor do I personally believe I implied. Agree to disagree and move on.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The irony is that if Disney just bumped up their resort rates by $15 then most people probably wouldn't blink an eye.

Yup that's why I posted the highlight from the article I linked in: "A national poll of registered voters released in late 2015 found that 80 percent said hotels and resorts should be required to include mandatory resort fees in the daily room rate,etc." Granted I don't know how many people were surveyed but still. No one really wants their rate to go up but for the most part we would take that over resort fees especially if said fees are to pay for things that Disney included in their survey sent out.

 

[Lothlórien]

I just completed a survey about our stay at SSR - 2 of the questions surprised me, and I wonder if anyone else has gotten them - they asked how I would have paid if my Visa debit or credit card were no longer accepted by Disney, and if I would cancel my vacation over it or not. When I answered no, it asked what form of payment I would use instead.

I wonder if that was about the 6 months no interest on the Disney Visa Chase card or if the question was more broad than that.

 

[Lothlórien]

I doubt DVC will have to pay the resort fees. I think this will be a way to sale DVC.

I see a raise in maintenance fees.

 

[Lothlórien]

???? Maybe Disney and Visa are about to part ways?

Unless Disney is mad and being ridiculous, Visas are accepted everywhere on Disney property, without it being from Chase or the Disney characters. It would be quite childish for either company to not allow any Visa cards at all if they end their contract.

 

[leebee]

Unless Disney is mad and being ridiculous, Visas are accepted everywhere on Disney property, without it being from Chase or the Disney characters. It would be quite childish for either company to not allow any Visa cards at all if they end their contract.

I don't think that Disney will no longer accept VISA as payment, but I really worry that this question is the beginning of the end of the Disney VISA card. I put all my purchases on my Disney VISA card (unless I am earning Southwest points) and usually have anywhere from $500-$1000 in "free" Disney money to spend on our trips. It's one of the ways that makes Disney affordable for us. I'm worried that Disney will end its affiliation with Chase and no longer offer the branded card or rewards points.

 

[Lothlórien]

I don't think that Disney will no longer accept VISA as payment, but I really worry that this question is the beginning of the end of the Disney VISA card. I put all my purchases on my Disney VISA card (unless I am earning Southwest points) and usually have anywhere from $500-$1000 in "free" Disney money to spend on our trips. It's one of the ways that makes Disney affordable for us. I'm worried that Disney will end its affiliation with Chase and no longer offer the branded card or rewards points.

I think you might be onto something. Although, perhaps you could consider a Citi Double-Cash card. Double what you get on the Visa is better and there are no annual fees to worry about. You get 1% on your statement for the purchase and 1% on your statement after you pay.

 

[LAMickey14]

What is sad, is that no matter what Disney does, we will just continue to pay if we want to go.

 

[circhead]

I'm over being angry about this and have reached acceptance. Kubler-Ross modeling here.
What is dying is the DVC I purchased.

I want to continue to go to Disney - I love bringing my grandkids. # 3 arrives in July.

I just hope Disney does the right thing by DVC members and includes it in the annual hike in our maintenance fees.
Not an annual hike and a resort fee. Time will tell.

 

[OldsDr]

What is sad, is that no matter what Disney does, we will just continue to pay if we want to go.

That is what scares me. Many once great corporations that ruled their markets have gone bye bye or been significantly reduced for taking their customers for granted. In all cases there were other forces at play, but taking customers for granted was a major force that hurt them. GM and Kodak are the ones that pop into my head immediately when I hear comments like this. Why this scares me is I love WDW, but hate the direction it is going. The value to me has diminished significantly where this is now my third year going elsewhere because of perceived value, I will probably return next year. When the day comes that they have upset enough of their repeat customers as they have me and it causes a drop in attendance then the floor will fall out from underneath them and they wont have any way to stop it, it will be sudden and dramatic, I don't want that day to come. Then again nothing lasts forever.