Anyone else think Disney is getting Greedy?

[brunette8706]

You are correct. $785/night for 2BR Lake View (Couldn't get Theme Park View, curious to know what that would have been)

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Hey there Buzz!

I have not priced out Bay Lake Towers, but that sounds like a lot. Have you priced out the Contemporary or the Contemporary wing? I'm just thinking of ways you can save extra cash by staying somewhere very nice but less expensive. They have beautiful homes off site for rent too. Just a suggestion.

 

[brunette8706]

Off the menu, on the menu, off the menu, on the menu...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2375309
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...ab_legs_every_night-Disney_World_Florida.html
Appears to be seasonal.

Hi Kaytieeldr!

Crazy isn't it? On again off again! That's ridiculous! This is what I'm talking about in regards to one being greedy and nickel and diming the guest. Two thumbs down, lol.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

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Hey there Buzz!

I have not priced out Bay Lake Towers, but that sounds like a lot. Have you priced out the Contemporary or the Contemporary wing? I'm just thinking of ways you can save extra cash by staying somewhere very nice but less expensive. They have beautiful homes off site for rent too. Just a suggestion.

Much obliged. We knew it would be costly heading in which is why we took 3 years to get ready for it. Wish I had found this site prior to booking though as there are some great money saving tips here. This is literally a once in a lifetime trip as it will be my Mom's last Disney trip and her only one with her Grandson, so we decided to really blow it all out.

You better believe any future trip of just my wife, lil' guy and I will be off peak season and our butts will be back to Caribbean Beach, lol.

 

[brunette8706]

Much obliged. We knew it would be costly heading in which is why we took 3 years to get ready for it. Wish I had found this site prior to booking though as there are some great money saving tips here. This is literally a once in a lifetime trip as it will be my Mom's last Disney trip and her only one with her Grandson, so we decided to really blow it all out.

You better believe any future trip of just my wife, lil' guy and I will be off peak season and our butts will be back to Caribbean Beach, lol.

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Hi!

Oh I understand completely. Bay Lake Tower is supposed to be extremely nice! I'm sure you will enjoy it! Have a wonderful time, I know you will! When will you be traveling?

Yeah, I hear ya, next time you come down, stay at a less expensive place.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

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Hi!

Oh I understand completely. Bay Lake Tower is supposed to be extremely nice! I'm sure you will enjoy it! Have a wonderful time, I know you will! When will you be traveling?

Yeah, I hear ya, next time you come down, stay at a less expensive place.

We're last week of August till Labor Day. I'm actually excited for future visits checking out many of the more moderate resorts and I miss CBR, haha.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Wanted to run this by the thread here...

So we are going to Orlando at the end of August. We are spending half the week at Uni/Portofino and then we were going to move over to Disney (OKW with a nice discount) for the second half. Our plan was to spend a lot of time at DHS because it's a park we have been skipping for the past couple of trips.

Then they threw this Frozen Fun together. Ugh. I know my DD is going to want to do it once she sees it. So I bought the package, figured might as well make a day out of it.

BUT then I canceled the onsite OKW reservation and moved offsite. It's not that the package was going to break our budget, it's not. And offsite is going to cost us the same as OKW. But I just couldn't stomach giving Disney more money, something had to go!

So there you go Disney you gained $200 bucks, but lost $1000!

(Does anyone else do crazy revenge math like this?)

IMO, I think you lost more - EMH & onsite transportation to name 2. As for your DD wanting to do the Frozen Fun once she sees it, usually the parents are the ones who are adding on all the "extras" trying to plan the perfect trip vs. the kids trying to add on this tour or that character breakfast. My kids wouldn't have a clue what character meet n greets there are, tours, extras. They only know about hoppers and water parks because we exposed them to it. A WDW is magical in itself without alot of the extras but I'll be paying about $100 at Seaworld so my son can get up close with a dolphin

 

[ArwenMarie]

IMO, I think you lost more - EMH & onsite transportation to name 2. As for your DD wanting to do the Frozen Fun once she sees it, usually the parents are the ones who are adding on all the "extras" trying to plan the perfect trip vs. the kids trying to add on this tour or that character breakfast. My kids wouldn't have a clue what character meet n greets there are, tours, extras. They only know about hoppers and water parks because we exposed them to it. A WDW is magical in itself without alot of the extras but I'll be paying about $100 at Seaworld so my son can get up close with a dolphin

We never use EMH or Disney transportation.

Oh I know, I take full responsibility for the package

 

[jaykorf001]

You are correct. $785/night for 2BR Lake View (Couldn't get Theme Park View, curious to know what that would have been)

$785. Holy cow! I know people are very opinionated about this but what gives me sticker shock about Disney is not the park tickets et al but the price of the Disney resorts. Because I compare the price of the Disney resorts to other Orlando resorts which are relatively inexpensive and nicer. Would I prefer to stay at the Waldorf for the same price as a Disney mod? Yes! Anyway, I'm digressing.

I really hope your family enjoys your stay. Although I'm pretty much a converted offsiter, I too would be willing to splurge on something special onsite if it suited me. Sounds like you've planned something really special for your mom and family.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[NashBridges]

Much obliged. We knew it would be costly heading in which is why we took 3 years to get ready for it. Wish I had found this site prior to booking though as there are some great money saving tips here. This is literally a once in a lifetime trip as it will be my Mom's last Disney trip and her only one with her Grandson, so we decided to really blow it all out.

You better believe any future trip of just my wife, lil' guy and I will be off peak season and our butts will be back to Caribbean Beach, lol.

You are all over the place, in separate threads, you post contradicting info. You have had nothing positive to say in any of them, about disney or the cost, or the FP, or Frozen. Why bother going?

PS---my mom wouldn't care if she had to sleep on a park bench if it meant watching her grand kids enjoy disney. Disney isn't forcing you to pay $800 a night. That's on YOU. So why post in a disney is greedy thread when you're the one who chose to spend that kind of money?

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

You are all over the place, in separate threads, you post contradicting info. You have had nothing positive to say in any of them, about disney or the cost, or the FP, or Frozen. Why bother going?

PS---my mom wouldn't care if she had to sleep on a park bench if it meant watching her grand kids enjoy disney. Disney isn't forcing you to pay $800 a night. That's on YOU. So why post in a disney is greedy thread when you're the one who chose to spend that kind of money?

Thanks for telling me where and how to post. It is quite possible to love the experience of being at disney while also considering the a corporate greed machine. And as far as being only negative, maybe check the Spontaneity at the Parks thread I specifically started to get a positive thread back on the front page the other day.

 

[ArwenMarie]

You are correct. $785/night for 2BR Lake View (Couldn't get Theme Park View, curious to know what that would have been)

That's really not that bad for a 2 br at BLT. (well relative to Disney prices LOL)

BLT/CR is unique, where else can you walk to the Magic Kingdom? Enjoy it!

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

That's really not that bad for a 2 br at BLT.

BLT/CR is unique, where else can you walk to the Magic Kingdom? Enjoy it!

Thanks, can't wait to get there. The convenience was the #1 factor for us. Travelling with a stroller we will always prefer to walk someplace than fold it up to get on a form of transportation.

Now getting the 3 year old to actually sit in it, that's another story.....

 

[Networth]

The price sounds like a lot but location location location. The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta may be $350 a night where as the one in Manhattan at Central Park South is easily double that. BLT/CR, Poly, & GF cost what they do not based off of being in Orlando, but being in the center of Disney World next the most famous theme park on earth Magic Kingdom.

 

[Suvadoo]

The price sounds like a lot but location location location. The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta may be $350 a night where as the one in Manhattan at Central Park South is easily double that. BLT/CR, Poly, & GF cost what they do not based off of being in Orlando, but being in the center of Disney World next the most famous theme park on earth Magic Kingdom.

I really don't think you can compare the Ritz Carlton to any Disney Deluxe Resort, except in price! The Ritz Carlton has elegant, large, well-appointed guest rooms. Disney Deluxe Rooms are not that luxurious.

 

[JoeA]

I really don't think you can compare the Ritz Carlton to any Disney Deluxe Resort, except in price! The Ritz Carlton has elegant, large, well-appointed guest rooms. Disney Deluxe Rooms are not that luxurious.

I think you're kinda missing the point

 

[kaytieeldr]

I really don't think you can compare the Ritz Carlton to any Disney Deluxe Resort, except in price! The Ritz Carlton has elegant, large, well-appointed guest rooms. Disney Deluxe Rooms are not that luxurious.

But you can - as the quoted poster did - compare Ritz Carlton to Ritz Carlton.

 

[jaykorf001]

The price sounds like a lot but location location location. The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta may be $350 a night where as the one in Manhattan at Central Park South is easily double that. BLT/CR, Poly, & GF cost what they do not based off of being in Orlando, but being in the center of Disney World next the most famous theme park on earth Magic Kingdom.

When I see comparisons like this, it gives me pause. BLT/CR are the only resorts you can walk to Magic Kingdom. I admit that seems really appealing. The Poly and GF are convenient on the monorail line -- and they are largely even more expensive than BLT/CR. Convenient to MK? Yes. Relaxing at The Poly beach for Wishes sounds great. But if I could pay 1/3 or 1/4 of that price and stay at The Waldorf, have significantly nicer accommodations, and spend an extra 15-20 minutes to get to MK and probably get to the other 3 parks as fast or faster, that seems like an easy decision for me. I guess if my child attached some sort of special significance it might sway me. But I like to stay in nice places and Orlando has the cheapest prices for nice places I've ever seen.

If I stayed at The Waldorf, drove to CR and valeted my vehicle, and then walked to MK, how long would that take? The rental car, valet fee, and tip (even going in and out for an afternoon respite) would be less than the aforementioned Disney resorts. And I'd be staying somewhere nicer to boot.

I get that location is key. I get that people are willing to pay Disney prices. But it took me one trip to figure out there were a lot of fabulous options out there from which to choose. Would I pay the prices mentioned for the Ritz in Buckhead or Manhattan? I suspect I would -- unless there's a place about 15 minutes less convenient to me that are three times as nice for a third of the cost. Maybe it's just me but I don't see that as viable and that's what bothers me when I see these comparisons.

Disney is going to charge as much as they can. Why not, it's a business. So as long as a lot of people feel differently than me or do not realize what else is out there Disney is making bank. Everyone is spending his or her own money and to each his own. I thought for sure I'd be an onsiter until I joined this board and started nosing around.

I had been to Disneyland as a teenager but never to WDW. So I do not have any childhood nostalgic memories of staying at The Poly or GF. I am guessing that these special memories are a big influence on many. Maybe I'd feel a lot differently if I had those memories.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[ArwenMarie]

When I see comparisons like this, it gives me pause. BLT/CR are the only resorts you can walk to Magic Kingdom. I admit that seems really appealing. The Poly and GF are convenient on the monorail line -- and they are largely even more expensive than BLT/CR. Convenient to MK? Yes. Relaxing at The Poly beach for Wishes sounds great. But if I could pay 1/3 or 1/4 of that price and stay at The Waldorf, have significantly nicer accommodations, and spend an extra 15-20 minutes to get to MK and probably get to the other 3 parks as fast or faster, that seems like an easy decision for me. I guess if my child attached some sort of special significance it might sway me. But I like to stay in nice places and Orlando has the cheapest prices for nice places I've ever seen. If I stayed at The Waldorf, drove to CR and valeted my vehicle, and then walked to MK, how long would that take? The rental car, valet fee, and tip (even going in and out for an afternoon respite) would be less than the aforementioned Disney resorts. And I'd be staying somewhere nicer to boot. I get that location is key. I get that people are willing to pay Disney prices. But it took me one trip to figure out there were a lot of fabulous options out there from which to choose. Would I pay the prices mentioned for the Ritz in Buckhead or Manhattan? I suspect I would -- unless there's a place about 15 minutes less convenient to me that are three times as nice for a third of the cost. Maybe it's just me but I don't see that as viable and that's what bothers me when I see these comparisons. Disney is going to charge as much as they can. Why not, it's a business. So as long as a lot of people feel differently than me or do not realize what else is out there Disney is making bank. Everyone is spending his or her own money and to each his own. I thought for sure I'd be an onsiter until I joined this board and started nosing around. I had been to Disneyland as a teenager but never to WDW. So I do not have any childhood nostalgic memories of staying at The Poly or GF. I am guessing that these special memories are a big influence on many. Maybe I'd feel a lot differently if I had those memories. Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Re your New York example...you can stay in Jersey City for a lot less (and many tourists do) but no matter how nice the hotel is, it's not the same as staying in Manhattan. Those hotels are competitors still for sure but location location is true in real estate.

I still think Disney resort prices are nuts but it's not because of the location but because of the quality of the rooms and service.

 

[jaykorf001]

Re your New York example...you can stay in Jersey City or Secaucus for a lot less (and many tourists do) but no matter how nice the hotel is, it's not Manhattan. Those hotels are competitors still for sure but location location is true in real estate.

I'm not trying to pick a fight. I wouldn't stay in Jersey City or Secaucus. I haven't been to either locale but admit I'd be surprised if 5 stars properties were options (could be wrong). I would, however, stay on or adjoining Disney property at The Waldorf or Four Seasons and gleefully pay less. I freely admit I do not see these you could stay in Jersey/Long Island/other borough examples as even remotely similar to the difference btw staying at The Waldorf/Four Seasons or the Poly/GF/CR from a location/feel perspective. If others do that's certainly fine. Different strokes. It boggles my mind that people stay next door to The Waldorf and sleep on double beds at CBR for the same price. I guess they get the Disney bus service.

I do get it. Many people, including yourself, equate Disney property as the proverbial holy grail. I just don't equate the difference, location wise, as being anything similar to the difference btw Manhattan and Jersey. Obviously just my opinion.

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[JoeA]

I was curious so I looked at the Universal web site. Do you know they actually charge people to visit the park!? Yup, pretty much the same price as Disney.

And I checked one hotel (Portofino) and it was pretty much the same price as Boardwalk! But if I didn't stay on-site I had to pay extra for Express Pass. EXTRA? And then, if I wanted to play on one of the rides I need a park hopper! Why, I shouldn't have to pay extra for anything!

I can't believe how greedy Universal has become since they have knocked off Disney as the King of the Mountain with that new Harry Potter thingamajig.