2008 Pricing Structure changes...heard this?

[PrincessGrandma]

I knew the prices hadn't been posted for 2008 yet but I thought the pricing structure would be the same...just higher, of course. Wrong!!! I called to make Nov 2008 reservations and the CM said the days had not been opened yet, even though it is less than the required 500 days out. (Really strange since the first part of November was opened last week but not now???) She said that she suspected it had something to do with the pricing. She told me that the daily rate would not be based on "seasons" in 2008 but that each day would have a value. You'll pay more on weekends than on weekdays. More at holidays. She said it would be just like most hotels do. So, now I'm a little concerned about the prices for Thanksgiving! Have y'all heard this?

 

[tnkr_bell]

This has been a rumor that's been floating around here for a little while now. Although, I'm not sure we've heard about there not be different seasons for next year. Interesting!

 

[Shasta]

As long as it's across the board, I am fine with that. What I mean is that if they charge higher than currents rates on holidays and weekends, I'd like to see weekdays and off season drop below current rates.

If a week day off season for a value resort would be $69 rack rate and a weekend holiday for value be !139.00. that is a "across the board" fair adjustment. If the lowest, off season, weekday rate will be $82, then you can see that the average rate is going up!

 

[beth_cam]

As long as it's across the board, I am fine with that. What I mean is that if they charge higher than currents rates on holidays and weekends, I'd like to see weekdays and off season drop below current rates.

If a week day off season for a value resort would be $69 rack rate and a weekend holiday for value be !139.00. that is a "across the board" fair adjustment. If the lowest, off season, weekday rate will be $82, then you can see that the average rate is going up!

But of course you can expect the average rate to go up. I would think the lowest rate will be higher than the current lowest rate. I would think it is going to make a significant impact in meaning higher rates for value season type guests - since as I said I believe the lowest rate will be even higher than 82 and then the weekend days higher. however I think that we may see a lesser impact for peak and holliday seasons since they will then be able to adjust those so that less of the days will need to be at the highest rates - ofcourse they are a business and there is inflation and like it or not we all keep paying the ever increasing rates. Even if we decide not to there are many more who will take our spots.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I think the model that Disney is going to will actually involve fewer 'postcard and email' discounts and more 'fair' rates across slow periods, days of lesser demand.. etc.

We'll see if my sources are correct.

Knox

 

[Shasta]

In the end, it's all nothing more than a good guess at best. If you think about it, very few accomodations charge with a seasonal pricing system like DIS does.

Like I said, I don't have a problem with changing it. We just have to see what the overall average rate is before be balk. And as Beth said, if we don't like it, there will be someone else in line perfectly willing to pay that rate.

Canadianguy, you have a valid point. The insider discounts may end with this new pricing system. Again, there is no way to tell. I don't think that this fall's change will give us enough of a hint as to Disney's long term plan but I'm sure that at some higher level, they know what they want to do at least two years in advance.

 

[CanadianGuy]

To be clear, I doubt they will flat-out end.. but I think they'll be a lot fewer, farther between and very targeted..

In other words, fewer people will get fewer discounts.

Knox

 

[PrincessGrandma]

I see that the adjusted rates would result in fewer "special" offers since the rate itself would be the special offer in slow times. Why not just open the room availability and just let us book at the 2007 price to be adjusted later? Are they just concerned that a lot of people will cancel? It just doesn't make sense to me. Gee...I hate to keep calling a couple times a week just to try to get a reserv but I'll have to do it because they won't say when they will finally allow reservations we have a group traveling together so will need serveral.

 

[mickeystoontown]

If all of the speculation is true, to me it just means that Disney will be doing what a whole lot of other hotels/resorts around the country are already doing. When staying anywhere (other than Disney), I have always paid higher prices for weekends because those are the more "in demand" times.

I've always wondered why Disney didn't do this too.

Anyways, I have already booked our room-only 10 day June, 2008 stay at the Wilderness Lodge and I will change it over to a package when the 2008 rates come out. I know my family, unless the prices increase a staggering amount, we'll still be making our annual trip to WDW!

 

[bigAWL]

Disneyland Paris resorts already have a different pricing schedule. There are three price tiers. It seems to work something like this: In the off-peak season, weekdays are priced in the lower tier and weekends in the middle tier. In the peak season, the weekdays are priced in the middle tier and the weekends in the upper tier. There are other variations thrown in during holiday seasons, but that's basically how it's structured. If you check in on a weekday, your rate doesn't increase for the weekend, though.

One other big difference... you pay a rate per person, rather than per room. Children are cheaper than adults, but it's more expensive to bring 2 kids than it is to bring one. Although, this year is their 15th anniversary, so they are having a kids under 7 stay free special all year. So my family of 5 only paid the 2-adult rate.

 

[jmkrat]

Just for fun, I went over to the Disney Paris site. I don't know if these are new prices or what, but I did not like what I saw. The first through 5 of January are considered less affordable. After the 5th they become more affordable. I don't know what that means, I just hope that the 1st of January is not considered a Holiday. The dates were in dark blue, sort of how Wonderful Weeks of Disney are. I played around and it sure looked like the same price for Christmas was for the first week in January. I quit looking, I don't understand the pricing and don't want to get myself too upset. I hope the rates come out soon all this speculation and wondering is driving me crazy.

 

[bigAWL]

Just for fun, I went over to the Disney Paris site. I don't know if these are new prices or what, but I did not like what I saw. The first through 5 of January are considered less affordable. After the 5th they become more affordable. I don't know what that means, I just hope that the 1st of January is not considered a Holiday. The dates were in dark blue, sort of how Wonderful Weeks of Disney are. I played around and it sure looked like the same price for Christmas was for the first week in January. I quit looking, I don't understand the pricing and don't want to get myself too upset. I hope the rates come out soon all this speculation and wondering is driving me crazy.

Yes, according to their latest brochure dates from Dec 21 to Jan 5 are priced in the highest tier.

I'm not saying I have any information that says this is the same system WDW will use. I just thought it would be interesting to point out that DLRP uses a system that does charge more for weekends and holidays, as WDW is rumored to be moving to. Even if it is the same kind of system, it's very possible that the dates that are priced high in Paris are not the same as the ones in Orlando, since Holidays in Europe don't always correspond exactly to those in the US.

 

[Allison]

Here is what allearsnet.com has posted:

Major Changes Coming to Walt Disney World Reservations System

Please note the following information is UNofficial and
has not been released by Walt Disney World.
All Ears "hears" it's coming!

Major changes are coming to the hotel reservation system beginning June 23, 2007. At that time, a new program will be instituted for all reservations beginning January 1, 2008. Pricing and rates for 2008 Walt Disney World hotels will become date specific.

Here's how it effects your budget: You will pay a nightly rate based on the season of that date. If you reserve night 1 under the value season and nights 2-5 under peak season, you will no longer be able to maintain the value season rate for the entire reservation.

Premium rates will now be applied for premium dates. A weekend may be considered premium so that friday and saturday night pricing may be higher than sunday - thursday, even if in the same "season".

In theory, you could be paying a different price for each night of your stay.

The upside, if there is one, is that you no longer have to split reservations and recheck into your hotel.

No word on how this may effect Annual Passholder rates.

When making room only reservations for 2008 you must specifically ask for the rate for each night otherwise you will just be given a total price for your stay. Package pricing will not be broken down by day.

More details as they become available.

 

[timmac]

This has been a rumor that's been floating around here for a little while now. Although, I'm not sure we've heard about there not be different seasons for next year. Interesting!

I've heard this rumor as well. Remember, that even without "different seasons", each day (of the year? Nobody said every Monday will be the same price!) is priced uniquely, so the seasonal price differences will probably still be there.

 

[n2mm]

While this new structure will affect alot of weekend folks, especially CMs and their families that come in for the weekends, along with DVC owners who, like myself, come in late Saturday, grab a room for the night, then check into our "home". I think the biggest effect will be the altra-planners who push the season and book their reservations on the last day of value season so that they can keep the value rate throughout their entire stay. This new structure will throw that planning out the window. So we may actually see changes in how and when people visit. Most of us DVC members are pretty much use to this typle of booking since we pay daily according to seasons. I really wouldn't mind the higher weekends, if the weekdays were actually lower, but somehow I'm sure Disney will keep the weekdays what they are or a little higher, and the weekends will increase alot. I can even imagine what weekends during the holiday seasons will be. I think the day they start charging $200 for a weekend during Christmas at the All/Stars will be time for a change for alot of folks, esp. myself. Guess we'll find out more soon. As for discounts, it would be nice if Disney would start treating their AP holders a little better than they have been. Several times this year, non-AP holders are being offered rates much lower than the AP rates and I'm not feeling the love as an AP holder (10+ years).

 

[jdb0822]

We're a family of 7, as it is we need to always book 2 rooms, I hope they don't use the DLP model and charge per person, that'll really hurt people with large families.

As it is, in my opinion, Disney appears to cater more to the cookie-cutter family of 4 with all of the basic sized rooms, and lack of larger AFFORDABLE accomodations for larger famlies of 5,6,7 etc.

a room at CSR is $145/night, but a 2-bed at CSR is $1,205. ouch.

 

[sjaakie]

Just for fun, I went over to the Disney Paris site. I don't know if these are new prices or what, but I did not like what I saw. The first through 5 of January are considered less affordable. After the 5th they become more affordable. I don't know what that means, I just hope that the 1st of January is not considered a Holiday. The dates were in dark blue, sort of how Wonderful Weeks of Disney are. I played around and it sure looked like the same price for Christmas was for the first week in January. I quit looking, I don't understand the pricing and don't want to get myself too upset. I hope the rates come out soon all this speculation and wondering is driving me crazy.

I just looked at the prices to pay at Christmas.

In the GF on concierge level, 4 persons 24 till 26 december the price is 3885 dollar.


We booked the Disney Hotel in Paris,same standard as the GF an paid 3420 the same conditions ofcourse. 4 persons on concierge level.

So if they are going to use the European standard the prices would go down.

 

[bigAWL]

I failed to mention that the Paris model also works more on a package system. Their main published resort rates include park passes, and the more nights you select for your package, the cheaper the per-night rate. For instance a 1-night/2-day package might run $300. But a two night stay in the same resort might be only $420 (or $210/night). And a three-night stay only $540 (or $180/night). These are hypothetical prices.