Annoyed at how much the "nice" Disney hotels cost

[EsmeraldaX]

It must be so nice to be wealthy.

I was thinking that maybe next year, for our long weekend trip, we'd splurge and stay at the Boardwalk and just go to Epcot. We would not even bother renting a car, but instead would just stay 3 nights at the Boardwalk, and get the 3 day/3park pass to save a few bucks on park admission since we'd just go to Epcot the 3 days.

$1195

Yikes. And that's without tax. For 3 nights.

Oh well. Anyone else wish that just for once they could stay in a deluxe?

I'm not ungrateful...I mean, I'm staying at Pop in December and I know there are a lot of people who will never even get to go to WDW. I just wish I could one day go to WDW and stay at the Boardwalk, or AKL concierge or something without having to forgo our other annual trips.

We could do our long weekend at the Boardwalk. We simply would have to cancel our other vacation for the year and I don't want to do that.

Ah to win the lottery someday, right?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I hear ya. I'm staying at POP in November. I very well could have stayed at a Deluxe, but I'd much rather spend my money on something other than lodging....like rent, groceries or school for my dd.

 

[wvrevy]

Esmerelda, I can NOT recommend the Disney Vacation Club highly enough We stay every year at the Boardwalk...usually for a week...and believe me, there's no way we could afford those prices.

Seriously, I know it comes off as a sales pitch, but you really should check into it. It's an investment that I know we have never regretted.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Keep your eyes open for discount codes... the Boardwalk Inn can sometimes go as low as $179... and Wilderness Lodge as low as $119. Check www.mousesavers.com for more info... and also hang out over on the resort board.

 

[floridaminnie]

That's why we have DVC otherwise we could never ever afford a place like that for more then one night except for an excellent Fl Resident discount.

 

[Rajah]

Also check out the Swan and Dolphin and see if you qualify for any of their discounts.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by DisneyAddict_M
I hear ya. I'm staying at POP in November. I very well could have stayed at a Deluxe, but I'd much rather spend my money on something other than lodging....like rent, groceries or school for my dd.

Yup. We're in the same boat. I mean, I know I sound whiny and I know I could choose to skip all other vacations for the year and do 3 nights in a deluxe, but I just can't see passing up a weeklong trip to have a 3 night trip in a nicer hotel.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by wvrevy
Esmerelda, I can NOT recommend the Disney Vacation Club highly enough We stay every year at the Boardwalk...usually for a week...and believe me, there's no way we could afford those prices.

Seriously, I know it comes off as a sales pitch, but you really should check into it. It's an investment that I know we have never regretted.

I saw the cost of the DVC and unfortunately, we just can't afford to that. Probably not for a long time. I wish we could because I know in the long run, it makes sense, but isn't it something like $14K up front?

(I'm going off what my mom told me, and she could be way off for all I know).

 

[Nancy]

I hate the prices of the hotels in the resort. we have 5 in our family so there is no way we can even stay at the modrates without getting 2 rooms. Our last trip we stayed in Downtown Disney and it was nice, but it was also a pain going to the parks. I wish I could talk my DH into the DVC. He actually looked at the info a bit last trip. I took him to the Boardwalk area (I stayed there once thanks to my sister who is DVC) because I love it there...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someday we'll buy into it.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by TigrLvsPooh
Keep your eyes open for discount codes... the Boardwalk Inn can sometimes go as low as $179... and Wilderness Lodge as low as $119. Check www.mousesavers.com for more info... and also hang out over on the resort board.

Do you have to have DVC or an AP to get these discounts?

 

[Christine]

Oh yeah...

I've always stayed at either the Shades of Green, a moderate, or at a relative's timeshare. I keep telling my kids "Next time we go, we are going to blow it out and stay at the Grand Floridian." I fully intend to do this; yet I know that when I see how much it really costs I won't be able to go through with it.

I have been reading a lot of trip planning boards and am AMAZED at the kinds of Disney vacations people can take. And I wonder what kind of $$$$ they must be pulling down to be able to do so. My parents are taking my kids on a cruise. I know I could never do it. Some of the people are cruising every year AND also doing Disney trips. WOW!!

My DH and I both make a good salary each, so I really don't now how it is done. It is depressing....

 

[floridaminnie]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I saw the cost of the DVC and unfortunately, we just can't afford to that. Probably not for a long time. I wish we could because I know in the long run, it makes sense, but isn't it something like $14K up front?

(I'm going off what my mom told me, and she could be way off for all I know).

We put down a small downpayment and financed the rest through DVC.

 

[floridaminnie]

double post...I now I only pushed the post button once.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
Do you have to have DVC or an AP to get these discounts?

There are many discounts, Sheri, often for non-AP folks. Entertainment book has good rates at S/D. Do check the resort board here and Mary's site, listed above, both great sources.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I saw the cost of the DVC and unfortunately, we just can't afford to that. Probably not for a long time. I wish we could because I know in the long run, it makes sense, but isn't it something like $14K up front?

(I'm going off what my mom told me, and she could be way off for all I know).

Nope....In fact, I don't recall there having to be any down payment at all...If I recall correctly, the minimum buy-in was like 150 points, and the monthly payment (until it's paid off) is about $150 a month for that level (we bought in a bit higher). The price is actually pretty reasonable when you figure that in 10 years, you'll have a hotel room pretty much paid for wherever you decide to go in the world (from the Plaza in New York to the Broadmore in Colorado to any of the Disney resorts to pretty much any country in the world).

The have financing available, and all-in-all it amounts to adding a car payment...but for a car that you will be able to use for virtually the rest of your life.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Christine
Oh yeah...

I've always stayed at either the Shades of Green, a moderate, or at a relative's timeshare. I keep telling my kids "Next time we go, we are going to blow it out and stay at the Grand Floridian." I fully intend to do this; yet I know that when I see how much it really costs I won't be able to go through with it.

I have been reading a lot of trip planning boards and am AMAZED at the kinds of Disney vacations people can take. And I wonder what kind of $$$$ they must be pulling down to be able to do so. My parents are taking my kids on a cruise. I know I could never do it. Some of the people are cruising every year AND also doing Disney trips. WOW!!

My DH and I both make a good salary each, so I really don't now how it is done. It is depressing....

I know. My little brother (age 22) and his wife (age 21) just took a $6000 cruise for their honeymoon. Apparently they paid for it ; it was not a gift.

I'm thinking, how do these people afford to just up and take a 6K cruise when earlier this year they took a long weekend in Vegas and a week in Montreal!!?

I'll admit, DBF and I both make pretty low salaries. We are not a 6 figure household. But neither is my brother & his wife and neither are a lot of the people I know who take extravagent trips each year. Maybe they are just running up mega debt, I don't know.

 

[missypie]

I agree with you. We went to Disneyland in California for Spring Break '03 and with a code stayed at the Disneyland Hotel (definitely a "deluxe") for $139 a night. We took the kids to Paris this spring break and got a 2 bedroom apartment for $200 a night. We are staying at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort outside of San Antonio this weekend (definitely "deluxe") for $179 a night. I've priced "dream" trips to Italy, and for the equivalent of rack rate for a 2 bedroom at the Board Walk Villa, you could rent a beautiful 3 bedroom villa in Tuscany with its own pool!

All I can say is watch the boards and watch mousesavers.com.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by wvrevy
Nope....In fact, I don't recall there having to be any down payment at all...If I recall correctly, the minimum buy-in was like 150 points, and the monthly payment (until it's paid off) is about $150 a month for that level (we bought in a bit higher). The price is actually pretty reasonable when you figure that in 10 years, you'll have a hotel room pretty much paid for wherever you decide to go in the world (from the Plaza in New York to the Broadmore in Colorado to any of the Disney resorts to pretty much any country in the world).

The have financing available, and all-in-all it amounts to adding a car payment...but for a car that you will be able to use for virtually the rest of your life.

I have moderate to bad credit. I haven't even used a credit card in close to a year and I haven't had any late payments on anything since 2001. When I apply for financing , It's usually 50/50 I'll get approved. I got a very low interest rate car loan, but only with a co-signer. I'll look into DVC in Dec. but whether or not I'll get approved for financing is iffy.

Can you explain to me what 150 point minimum is?

Thanks!

 

[Nancy]

I'm totally lost on the whole DVC and points. I have tried the DVC board and they all know what they are talking about so it didn't help. Even asking my sister didn't help, just confused me more.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I just found some info at Mouse Planet but it is really confusing.