And The Beat Goes On!

[limabeanmom2003]

I HATE resort fees and purposely choose hotels that do not charge one. We are already paying for these "perks" because it's figured into the resort price and tickets. Just raise the resort price and let me pretend I'm getting all these other features for free.

 

[ashleyrm]

I wonder if they would allow a la carte pricing. If we don't use MDE, parking, or resort entertainment, can the fee be $8 instead?

I heard there were other survey questions that addressed a la carte pricing for items. I hear it's also awfully easy to get kicked out of the survey. If one answers yes to a question about participating in social media, blogs, etc." they are done with the survey. If one answers that they have had multiple stays in the same year, their survey was ended. Someone even reported that they answered yes to a question about using their iPhone to answer the survey and it kicked them out. Seems awfully targeted.

 

[Evoga]

We have always stayed onsite for the last 24 years. The wife has said with this increase we are going to book a villa for a week and stay the following week onsite at universal next year.

That means way less spent at Disney as we will be there a week less and not spending a fortune in the shops at the resort.

It's a pity as I liked staying at the Yacht & Beach Club.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Unless you have REALLY specific needs or a very large party, you can get 95% of the same FP's at 30 days.

What worries me is the availability for Soarin and Frozen Ever After, but we aren't going until late 2017 so maybe things will calm down by then LOL

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I hear it's also awfully easy to get kicked out of the survey. If one answers yes to a question about participating in social media, blogs, etc." they are done with the survey. If one answers that they have had multiple stays in the same year, their survey was ended. Someone even reported that they answered yes to a question about using their iPhone to answer the survey and it kicked them out. Seems awfully targeted.

So, what, they are looking for a sample size of 5 people?

 

[HM]

I'm gonna be completely honest, and I hope people don't take offense to this, everytime an increase in price happens a little part of me is a tiny bit excited because maybe it will discourage people from going and the resorts and parks will be less crowded lol I know that is terrible but oh well. Because the other part of me is saying if they keep like this I might not be able to afford it one day lol

I get that feeling (though I don't share it). But, the reality is that so far no price hike has made a difference in the resort and park attendence. It just keeps going up.

 

[ashleyrm]

Pay for wifi, even though it's their own new technology (fastpass/scheduling program) which insists on the need for internet connection. Not to mention that wifi is free at almost all hotels and many many public places. For goodness sakes McDonalds offers free wifi. Pay for Magical Express which is Disney's way of basically getting more money out of their guests by making them reliant on their transportation therefore their money is spent on their property. Unreal...how greedy can we get. Crazy.

I totally agree about the WiFi. That's the one on that "list" that really irritates me. They shove MDE down our throats and it's terrible technology and then oh yeah, you need to pay a $15 resort fee to be able to access it. Gee, thanks.

Also, I have never used ME and I don't like that a "resort fee" would cover this perk that I NEVER use. I did used to pay for Mears back in the pre-ME days but I've been renting cars for the past 10 years so thanks for very little, Disney.

 

[Poppybeach]

Unfortunately, our next trip in November is going to be it for us for awhile. We have gone every year for the past 5 years. We have recently looked into a few European vacation options and the costs are almost equal, if not less. I already pay a premium to stay onsite....I have always stayed at Deluxe or Moderates....but between the ticket prices and existing room prices along with the possibility of the resort fees etc.....it's quickly becoming a vacation option that I financially cannot defend. Sad really.

 

[Disneylover99]

I detest resort fees. This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. I wish they would just increase the price.

 

[starjazz]

The fact that people have been willingly paying $450/nt to stay at the Poly is probably why Disney thinks they can get another $15/nt. I'd love to stay at the Waldorf next time I visit NYC, but I just don't do it.

 

[ashleyrm]

So, what, they are looking for a sample size of 5 people?

Pretty much.

 

[lugnut33]

Wow. We all know if they ask it on a survey it'll happen eventually (e.g. tiered pricing).

 

[Disneylover99]

The fact that people have been willingly paying $450/nt to stay at the Poly is probably why Disney thinks they can get another $15/nt. I'd love to stay at the Waldorf next time I visit NYC, but I just don't do it.

When you pay $450 per night and then get dinged an extra $15 for resort fees, people start to complain. I can see a lot of people asking to speak to a manager to get that fee waived. Disney is setting themselves up for a huge headache. Just charge people $465 and nobody says a thing.

 

[Redcon1]

I recommend it. Since trying it on our last trip, I suspect it'll be a long time before we shell out for on-site accommodations again. We saved ridiculous amounts of money, got to the parks quicker, had TONS more room, private pool, and access to all of the restaurants and grocery stores. On-site is fun, but there's more important things I'd rather spend my money on - special meals, tours, souvenirs, or....another trip!

Not only this, but if more people stay offsite, that means less people on-site using the 60 day FP+ booking window, allowing more options available for the 30-day.

 

[mom2rtk]

The China situation must be very, very troubled.

Or maybe Mr. Iger hasn't been happy with the performance of his 401k lately.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have to say as much as I wasn't so bothered by expected ticket price increases, and I know that resort rates go up yearly too, this rubs me the wrong way for some reason. I mean the whole perk of staying onsite was that it included all of these things that they now want to charge you a separate fee for. And what if you don't use any of those things anyhow? If you aren't using DME, EMH, etc. do you get the fee waived? I would guess not.

I assume if they were to add this they would still be raising the room rate annually and add this on top of that and like parking fees this fee would also be raised periodically. And as someone pointed out not included as part of the discounts.

The difference between onsite and offsite with a car for our family of five hasn't been significant enough to justify staying offsite, but I'm thinking with changes like this it will get there sooner rather than later.

And once you have a car, don't those more reasonably priced offsite restaurants start looking appealing? And if you have a car, why not try out a couple days at that other theme park down the road.......

 

[PeasandCarrots]

Unless you have REALLY specific needs or a very large party, you can get 95% of the same FP's at 30 days.

I have to agree - we've changed our the day of several times and been able to get decent options.

 

[wdw71]

Just another price for them to raise EVERY year. Just saw dining plan prices are up today and I'm sure parking fees are next. No shortage of people willing to pay though. We leave in 30 days and it is hitting us hard this trip I can't imagine how bad it will be in another 5 years. If we can even afford to go back in 5 years we may have to stay off site which I hate. Parking will probably be $40 a day by then. Staying off site might give us a push to try out Universal.

 

[tlmadden73]

They probably implement huge "discounts" and sales tactics to hide the fees. If it sticks ... maybe gas prices go up .. and they implement a new "transportation" fee onto resorts to cover the price of their buses. It will go on and on ..

Just another way to raise prices without actually raising prices. Every company does it .. and it unfortunately works.

I suspect that just like a lot of fees we end up paying (Cable, Phone, concert tickets) .. we complain, but in the end don't do anything about them (because what can we do? ). We still want to consume that product. We complain to our friends loudly, but quietly still consume the product, save money elsewhere to pay the increased prices for the product we like to use.

 

[shanethesaint88]

I get that feeling (though I don't share it). But, the reality is that so far no price hike has made a difference in the resort and park attendence. It just keeps going up.

I don't mean it a mean way. It is selfish but I just wish the parks were less crowded. And you are right it hasn't been enough to deter people yet so will it ever be? Idk. I think that there is probably a lot of people like me and you that will go no matter the price until we literally cannot afford it