Anyone Else Find New Discount Trend Interesting...

[tinacaplan]

We're staying at the Beach Club in July for one reason and one reason only...Disney discounted rooms at the deluxe level, but not at the mods, thus staying at many deluxes was only a couple hundred dollars more. When discounts have been offered at both levels, or with none at all, the difference can be in the thousand dollar range. I have read a lot about how Disney wants to "wean people off discounts," but it seems like they're having trouble filling their deluxe rooms. I wonder if this will continue, as it seems to be. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[traylorc]

Wanting to ween customers off of discounts, and realistically being able to accomplish that are two different things.

With any business, offering discounts can potentially impact margins and the bottom line. Ideally when a company like Disney offers a discount, they are hoping that discount will be subsidized through other expenditures the customer is likely to make.

But in today's economic environment with many families having to make due with less disposable income, IMHO Disney will be forced to continue offering discounts. Trips to WDW are a type of luxury spending, and we all know in a bad economy folks try to reduce expenditures on luxury items and activities.

 

[tinacaplan]

Wanting to ween customers off of discounts, and realistically being able to accomplish that are two different things.

With any business, offering discounts can potentially impact margins and the bottom line. Ideally when a company like Disney offers a discount, they are hoping that discount will be subsidized through other expenditures the customer is likely to make.

But in today's economic environment with many families having to make due with less disposable income, IMHO Disney will be forced to continue offering discounts. Trips to WDW are a type of luxury spending, and we all know in a bad economy folks try to reduce expenditures on luxury items and activities.

Quite true...I'm just wondering if they will offer more discounts at the deluxe level, rather than the value/mod level.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Quite true...I'm just wondering if they will offer more discounts at the deluxe level, rather than the value/mod level.

Don't forget with other offers such as Free Dining guests are paying the rack rate no matter where they stay. So at the Deluxe Resorts when staying at them for Free Dining their rooms could be at least $300 - $400 per night.

 

[Bete]

only certain discounts like deluxe only. I do see them continuing to give better deals on deluxes. July has resort discounts on all resort levels for AP holders and Florida residents.

A new value resort is going to be opening and I think that will take business away from the moderates for a while. Most people like the idea of going to a new place and paying less money.

Then, if you have a new value resort you may have trouble filling up all those rooms.

All in all, I think resort discounts will be available on all levels.

It's only smart business to offer more deals on certain slower moving resorts, so, I can see the deluxes getting better deals at times or exclusive deals at times.

There have been more discounts and different kinds of discounts over the last few years and I do see some of the discounts drying up (not coming back), but through the years Disney has always included all levels of resorts on discounts when necessary.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

I would think that the way they price themselves they would need some discounts. I mean some of the hotels are priced way higher than they're worth. I am all for no discounts as long as they price their rooms reasonably.

 

[dmband]

I would think that the way they price themselves they would need some discounts. I mean some of the hotels are priced way higher than they're worth. I am all for no discounts as long as they price their rooms reasonably.

agreed
currently you need a discount for it to be at the right value
even then some are not imo

 

[huge mickey fan]

The deluxes will continue to get discounts if the supply of rooms is warrants it. If the mods and values are at 90% capacity but the deluxes are at 20% capacity then there is a good chance discount will open up. Then there is a good chance people will upgrade and that will open the values and mods up to book again.

 

[tinacaplan]

I would think that the way they price themselves they would need some discounts. I mean some of the hotels are priced way higher than they're worth. I am all for no discounts as long as they price their rooms reasonably.

I would tend to agree with this statement. I just think its kind of great that because of the deluxe-only discount, it made staying at the BC affordable for us!

 

[KB24]

i think the moderates are grossly overpriced for what they offer.

the deluxes are overpriced too, but not as badly as the moderates.

 

[fla4fun]

This is nothing new. Back before the "great recession" there were times that only the deluxe resorts were discounted in the summer. My guess is the summer travelers are mostly families on a budget, so it's harder for them to justify staying at a deluxe resort. If Disney discounts the deluxe, then it causes a few of them to move up, opening up more occupancy at the busier mod and value resorts, which Disney can then sell at full price because the demand is strong.

 

[ElizabethB]

Disney's deluxe resort are so absurdly overpriced when compared with hotels elsewhere in the same quality category, that the prices only come into the "reasonableness ballpark" with a 40% discount.

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

I have to agree.

For example, the wilderness lodge in the first week of October is pricing at $335 per night.

The Hilton by Downtown disney is offering rooms form $140. ( other hotels in Downtown disney can be had for less than this)

I do not mind paying a bit extra for the disney experience ( maybe upto $200 pn) and the convenience of disney transport ( I do not drive) but a $200 per night difference is a a lot)

Regards

TBS

 

[soarinup]

WDW has overly priced rooms, way more than their counterparts less than a few miles away. We all know why we are paying more for a WDW hotel. It certainly isn't for the quality of the rooms!

 

[Sue M]

Disney's deluxe resort are so absurdly overpriced when compared with hotels elsewhere in the same quality category, that the prices only come into the "reasonableness ballpark" with a 40% discount.

I agree, the only time we stay Deluxe is with a good discount, what they ask for Rack rate is absurd. I've stayed at 4 star hotels for quite a bit less then WDW prices, and quality was way better.
We loved Poly, but couldn't get over the dirty dingy hallways. Everything else was great, and I'd stay again with a good discount.

 

[Sue M]

The release of the 2011 discounts sure have been interesting. I think the better discounts came out much earlier then usual, we booked free DDP( didn't have to buy a photo book) in Oct, for our Aug 2011 split-stay, and the 35% deluxe room discount came out in Feb. These discounts for late summer came out way earlier then in past years. They've continued to release some discounts for these dates recently, but they haven't been as good.

 

[chrisw127]

I would be perfectly happy if the scenario from last year played out again this year: A big announcement in August for discounts for most of the next year, then smaller discounts (like the deluxe discount for summer and the FD promo for September, or the weird late summer room discount, which actually covered very few resorts). If the discounts that cover a period that has already been covered are a little less and have a shorter time-period (which is what Disney is telling travel agents to expect), that seems to make sense. It allows them to fill rooms which didn't sell out for the first discount, hence the deluxe discount.

I do believe that Disney is trying to wean people off discounts, but I don't think they'll do it completely. It will just be harder to get them and you'll need to apply them as soon as they come out.

 

[n2mm]

This is nothing new. Back before the "great recession" there were times that only the deluxe resorts were discounted in the summer. My guess is the summer travelers are mostly families on a budget, so it's harder for them to justify staying at a deluxe resort. If Disney discounts the deluxe, then it causes a few of them to move up, opening up more occupancy at the busier mod and value resorts, which Disney can then sell at full price because the demand is strong.

I agree. It is not unusal to see discounts at the delux and not the values during the peak summer season. Actually that is why they added the "summer season" pricing years ago. I've remember the summer when there were discounts at the delux resorts only in July, but only the EPCOT delux resorts. Discounts are offered to fill empty rooms. If the rooms are not empty then there will be no discounts. Pretty simple. That same reasoning works for airlines too.