Are you willing to pay rack rate at the Deluxe?

[DebbieB]

In 10+ non-DVC trips to Disney, I've never paid full rack rate. I don't consider a package with a "bonus" like free dining to be rack rate. Our first trip in 1994 we got $250 Disney Dollars in a video promotion package and our second trip in 1996 we did the old fall fantasy package to get free breakfasts. So I don't count those as "rack rate". After that, I got MKC, AP or AAA discounts and did room only with AP's for tickets.

 

[yecats]

I wouldn't pack rack rate for deluxes and I couldn't afford to anyway. If no discounts are available then I don't stay there. I also would not pay rack rate for moderates or values knowing that I could get a nice place to stay offsite for a good amount. Although I love many of the disney hotels, in the end I am mainly there to enjoy the parks.

 

[Reflection]

I would not pay rack for any hotel, but especially not for a WDW hotel!

 

[CamColt]

I have paid rack rate for a deluxe in the past, on my honeymoon, but now knowing what I know from the Dis, no way could I justify it.

I would pay rack rate at a value if I needed to because I could justify that price, but upwards of 300.00/night for a room is not in my budget....no matter how much I want a deluxe.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well we did a few times when it was value season, but now we dont go in value season anymore so the normal rates are higher. This year I got ap's to get the room discount, but also because we are doing 3 trips. If we dont get an ap room discount, then we will just stick with our nice swan govt. discount. With a family of 5 and a dh who insists on a queen sized bed, we are pretty much locked into a deluxe resort, but if I dont like the disney price, I just go to the swan, its cheaper.

 

[Mymatisse]

Disney rack rates are simply outrageous! I can understand paying that much money in someplace where a hotel room is at a premium but not in Orlando. So I guess that would be a no, I would NOT pay Disney rack rates for a deluxe

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I've only paid rack rate once, for one night at the Poly. We decided to stay an extra night and couldn't get any discount.

I pretty much don't pay rack for any hotel, anywhere. There's almost always some kind of discount to be had if you look for it.

Worth it? If you had money to burn it probably would be. For my family I think we can happily stay at a moderate rather than paying rack rate at a deluxe.

 

[WDWDennis]

Depends on how bad I want to stay there!! We used to do a lot of last minute trips, so if I wanted to stay somewhere bad enough, I would pay whatever I had to pay!! If there was a discount available, I got it, if not, I payed full price!! In the past, I have tried staying at lesser resorts to save money. I would always regret it. After those trips, I stayed where ever I wanted whether it was discounted or not!! So YES, if want to stay at the Poly bad enough and only rack rate is available, I book it and enjoy my trip!!

Good thread!!

 

[Jen D]

Nope. I feel at rack rate most of the Deluxes are overpriced. I don't think I'd ever pay rack.

I might do it to get the free dining, but as others have stated, that's not really rack rate-- you're saving hundreds of dollars.

 

[Merandab4]

Now that I know that there are discounts available, I try not to pay rack rate. Last year we got the Disney Visa Discount on our room and saved a bundle. (that was at POR I think it averages about $73 a night). We also used a code that came in the mail and booked our honeymoon night at the boardwalk Inn, the rate was $220. It was a little more than what I wanted to spend, but was worth it in the fact that we had a late night at Atlantic Dance hall and it was really convenient to just walk up to our room afterwards at 1:00 am. It wasn't worth it in the fact that we didn't check in till 7:00pm that evening and didn't really take advantage of all the resort has to offer.

This September we are staying at the GF for $379 anight with AP. I normally would NEVER pay this much for a room, but this is for our first anniversary, so I am trying to justify it to myself. We stayed at a MOD the week of our wedding to keep costs down, so I feel we owe it to ourselves to splurge a little just this once. We are also spending a few nights at POP at $59 just to counteract the cost of the GF. We are the kind of people who really enjoy relaxing and spending time at the resort, so I do not think I will be dissappointed with the amount of $ I am spending to stay there. I don't want to look back and wish I would have stayed some place different.

Now on any other trip, I will not pay over $300 for a room. I would probably not pay more than $200. And again, It would depend on where it was, how much I wanted to stay there, and if it was going to be an in the parks-on the go type of trip, or a relax at the resort type of trip.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Interesting thread...
I normally never pay rack rate for a hotel room--do research on internet and find a special rate I can live with--am usually very proud of myself when I feel I've gotten a bargain...
HOWEVER, with Disney I get a little pixie dusted, and all bargain-hunting goes out the window. Yes, I've always paid rack rate--probably even MORE than rack rate with some of the Disney packages I've bought in to... But my DH and I agree Disney is a special event for us--only every 4 years or so--and we don't really kvetch about the cost. We stay where we want--this year it's the CRTower--1 week yee haw! We also say, "Hey, it's paid for, so let's enjoy it." (We always pay off the trip before we go.)

 

[Debi]

Absolutely not. I'm too much of a bargin hunter to pay rack rate for any hotel on property. Plus, I'd rather take the money I'd spend on a deluxe and stay cheaper at a value or moderate (that means I could stay longer!).

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Nope. But ever since I learned of WDW discounts, I refuse to pay rack anywhere or anytime. It just rubs me wrong to know that I paid way more than many other people for YEARS!!!! I didn't have a clue.