Are the disney hotel prices out of control or what?

[ecpool]

Disney used to be very reasonable but it seems that the they are getting way to expensive for the average family (especially for the deluxes and moderates) what do you think?

 

[robertchance]

I guess its one point of view. yes, they are more expensive then staying outside the complex. You do get perks/extras for staying inside. At that point, you need to decide if it is worth the extra expense

 

[Acklander]

I think the deluxe resorts too expensive, but I've always felt that way. I think the mods, and deluxes are a fair price for what you get though.

 

[Jamie77]

I was thinking along those lines while at WDW last week. On the way up the ramp after finishing the Pirates ride at MK I said to my friend, "You know, this place must have a very high electric bill. Perhaps that is why they charge so much for the hotels per night." Before the Spectromagic parade, Fantasmic, etc. they sold these whirlydads that light up which are very expensive but they know kids will pressure their parents to buy them. So I'm guessing they have to make their money anyway they can.

Then I thought about the fireworks every night at three of the parks(sometimes two shows per night - like Fantasmic -) which costs a few billion a year (if I heard right). We definitely are paying for the magic.

 

[Arielle22]

I don't find the prices to be outrageous. I am staying in a holiday inn in NH next weekend. It is $160 for the night. There is nothing special about this hotel, nothing extra is included. It is in a popular area and despite this price the hotel is fully booked.

Maybe it is because I am from MA that the prices don't seem to bad. The deluxe hotels in Boston charge the same as the Disney deluxes.

 

[WDWBetsy]

I personally don't think the rack rates are that bad for the values and moderates, and even the standard rooms at the WL and AKL. They are high for the others, but people will pay to be on the monorail or for a Home Away From Home resort with more amenities.

I used to book travel for our employees, and most conference rates were $150-250 a night for standard rooms.

Discounts are wonderful, but I think people need to start realizing that since tourism is up, deals are not going to be as sweet as years past. If they offer deals like the free dining, it's to fill the rooms. If the rooms are filling up, there won't be discounts. All hotels run this way.

Yes, you can get a cheaper deal offsite, but in my opinion no other hotels/resorts compare to being onsite at Disney World.

 

[crazy4wdw]

You know, this place must have a very high electric bill. Perhaps that is why they charge so much for the hotels per night."

Jamie77: WDW has its own power plants, there is one behind the Magic Kingdom and the second one is at Epcot (behind Test Track and Mexico).

 

[robertchance]

Jamie, my thinking is that you heard wrong or was giving incorrect infor concerning cost of the fireworks. If they did indeed cost that much (BILLIONS), Disney would stop them because this would be an instant boost to the bottom line profit for the company. Even thou we all go there for fun, it still is a business who answers to stockholders.

 

[Renate_do]

I think the prices for the values and moderates are great when you compare it with the ones at Disneyland Paris..and the deluxes are compatativ to the Disneyland hotel over there.
So the value ones are from 124 - 264$ a night incl. tax and a continental breakfast, but dont have pools and a/c (only a ventilator) .
The moderates are from 180 - 300$ a night incl. tax and a continental breakfast
Disneyland Hotel is from 400 - xxx$ a night

Greets Renate

 

[Jalva22]

I can't imagine what Disney must spend on fuel for their bus system.

 

[woody1967]

A simple case of supply and demand. They charge it, because people will pay it.

 

[aunt2brant]

I have said many times that I do not see how they are able to fill up so many mod and delux rooms as much as they do...and they obviously are because they are constantly building more.
We stay at value resorts and are ok with paying those prices, which are sometimes LESS than you would pay in another town. ($55/night at PC Feb 2004)..even in value season, which is when we always go, it is only $77/night...not bad

 

[Jamie77]

Jamie, my thinking is that you heard wrong or was giving incorrect infor concerning cost of the fireworks. If they did indeed cost that much (BILLIONS), Disney would stop them because this would be an instant boost to the bottom line profit for the company. Even thou we all go there for fun, it still is a business who answers to stockholders.

Robert,

I got my info from 2 online sites and a book somewhere. I don't know where they got their facts from, but according to wdwplanner.com, Illuminations fireworks cost about $38,000 per night. The Disneyworld Unofficial Guide says it is about $35,000 per night. So I took the lowest figure and calculated that for this one park alone it costs about $12,775,000 per year for fireworks. That's not counting the fireworks used for Fantasmic or Wishes per night. So maybe billions is wrong. But I figure that if each park used about the same dollars worth of fireworks each night the figure could be about $38,325,000 per year or a little lower. That's still a lot of money. And that's only if these figures are right. I wish I could remember the source of the figure I read earlier. I'm still looking.

Jamie

 

[missypie]

Yes and no. People from NYC usually post on these kind of threads and say that hotels in Manhattan are higher and I typically say "Duh..but they are more expensive than the rest of the nation." But then I started pricing a trip to Kauai...I was looking at the very nice, resort hotels, with water slides, etc. The normal, two queen sized bed, rooms with garden views were in the $350-$400 per night range. So I'd say that the WDW deluxe resorts are priced the same as other deluxe resorts at very popular destinations.

 

[SB in KY]

Every time we take a non-disney family vacation I am reminded of the value that Disney offers....we can't seem to do a week of family vacation anyplace for much less than we can do a week at Disney....there are so many options... you can spend under $60/night for a room at a value in off season or you can spend >$500/night for an upper end room at a deluxe....nice thing is you can find a place that fits your budget and still have a great vacation.

 

[freakylick]

A simple case of supply and demand. They charge it, because people will pay it.

It really is that simple. And if people don't seem to be willing to pay it, they discount it.

Of course, there is always the argument of perceived value. They charge rack rates higher than what they anticipate people would be willing to spend, knowing full well that they will be giving some type of discount to just about every guest...whether it be a code, free dining plan, auto club discount, etc... And therefore the consumer gets a perceived "bargain".

And let's not forget that tourism is beginning to get back to normal...in the past few years, it was really down and thus kept the prices down. Which goes right back to old faithful "supply and demand"

 

[ArielsMommy]

I think that their prices are reasonable for the values and mods as well as the non-monorail deluxes. Although, I have had a hard time justifying more the $100 a night for a hotel room. We really like mods now and will probably keep staying at that level because we like the theming better and the fridges are a free bonus. We used to rent them for $10 a night when we stayed value. I just finished planning a week-end getaway for our family to South Florida and we are paying a bundle for nothing more than a view of the beach (which we have where we live).

 

[Puffy2]

Yes, they are out of line. Sure the Ritz Carlton may charge $300 a night ...but Disney hotels are no Ritz Carlton. They don't even come close. The Loews Hotels over at Universal are superior in room quality (with the exception of some rooms at the Hard Rock which need a make over)

 

[yecats]

I do feel room cost have gotten really outragous and feel just like the above poster and don't mind paying up to $100 a night for a room (especially since that is what I paid in the past for moderates when they gave discounts). A treat for me would be a stay at a deluxe when they used to have those deep discounts (remember they would be $119 a night) then I would split a vacation (4 or 5 nights mod/2 or 3 nights deluxe).

The last time I checked on dates (about a month ago) that I thought I could go in November (not the week of Thanksgiving), the cost of the moderates was basically double what I paid last year for the same thing (last year I paid $88 per night including tax and the same week this year for the same resort/room was $164 including tax). I don't want to pay double for the same thing. I know Disney is a business but IMO I don't think that Magical Express service and a refrigerator in the room justifies an additional $80 in room cost per night. Lastly, the time of year I used to go to Disney was in the offseason (Nov/Dec - not during holiday weeks). Now my Nov. dates are considered in the regular season which is BS and apparently to justify additional money. Last year (Nov 2004 and Nov. 2003) MK closed one hour earlier during some of those weeks than advertised due to lack of crowds (the night Spectro ran it ran one hour earlier and the park closed right after 7:00 during both of those trips). Whatever EMS hours are given during this time I wouldn't take advantage of as I would be back at my hotel swimming so I don't feel that these things justify the increased cost for me.

Now on the flip side, staying off property is always a fun vacation but staying on property does make it slightly easier and a bit more magical. I can see future trips being both on and off property to keep some cost down as I am not a big fan of the values and wouldn't want to spend a full week there (I am okay with a few days but not a full week).

 

[DisneyDotty]

Disney is expensive, but judging by how booked the resorts are/have been recently/continue to be, the rooms are not out of the reach of the average American family. Or are all the rooms filled with Brazilians?
Disney is expensive, but IMO worth every penny. Love the mouse, love the mouse...