Being Penalized

[bicker]

maybe the OP feels penalized because getting a suite at WDW is pricey.

Everything at WDW is pricey. I think, in essence, everyone staying in a Disney Resort is being "penalized", except, of course, us DVC members.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you've got a party of six, you effectively need the space of two hotel rooms---whether that's in something like an Embassy Suites, or two hotel rooms, it's still about the same amount of space.

If you need two rooms' worth of space, then it seems reasonable to expect to pay about two rooms' worth of money for them. And, Disney's rooms are expensive, no two ways about it.

It could be less expensive to get a 2-3 BR condo or townhome offsite. I visit Orlando during Peak Season for the resorts, and for about the price of a rack-rate Value room, I can pay for a condo, rental car, gas, and theme park parking. Everyone gets their own bedroom, we have a nice living area to relax in, we have a full kitchen and in-unit washer/dryer, and are no more than a 12 minute drive to any Disney parking lot.

True, I don't get the Disney perks, but having equivalent space and amenities onsite is at least another $2,000 for the week, and that's with renting DVC points. I enjoy my onsite stays when I can arrange them through II, but for me it's no great hardship to save the money when that's what's best.

 

[Brian Noble]

except, of course, us DVC members.

It really depends on how you set your opportunity cost rate, but I'd describe it as "less penalizing" rather than "not penalized."

 

[njfamilyof6]

I guess using "penalized" was the wrong word, I was just alittle disapointed at the amount of options for large families. My family loves Disney and has been going for the last 10 years and now with a family of 6 its alittle harder to go. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I was just wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

 

[d1gitman]

Everything at WDW is pricey. I think, in essence, everyone staying in a Disney Resort is being "penalized", except, of course, us DVC members.

actually i think DVC members get penalized the most! DVC is very expensive, but then again, that is discussion for the DVC forum.

 

[flickwizard]

I guess using "penalized" was the wrong word, I was just alittle disapointed at the amount of options for large families. My family loves Disney and has been going for the last 10 years and now with a family of 6 its alittle harder to go. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I was just wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

Yeah..."penalized" was probably the wrong choice of word , but I understand your feelings about the options available. I have 5 children and we book 2 rooms to fit us all in. With a little creative (and obsessive comulsive ) planning, you can make it work while ensuring it's not overly expensive. For exmaple, you can rent points from a DVC member and get a 2 bedroom villa, or book 2 connecting rooms at a Value or Moderate resort using one of Disney's many discount packages like the current 4/3 deal.

Having a large family is expensive. Period. Even going to the movies becomes a much bigger deal and can cost well over $100 with concession items! But that's the choice we make when deciding to have large families.

Still, it would be nicer if there were more Disney options for larger families. For example, a room rate class for a larger room (similar to ASMU Family Suites) that costs more than a standard room, but is not as expensive as renting a 2 bedroom villa. There seems to be a market for something in between. Also, we've found that in order to get to Disney, we now have to go during Value season to take advantage of the lower rates. While this may not be as convenient as before, it's yet another sacrifice parents make. And if you have any kids, especially a large number of them, you know all about sacrifices!

Good luck!

 

[moonpie85]

I don't think Disney has made it harder than any other hotel out there. It's just one of those things you sacrifice having a big family.

 

[disnut8]

Does anyone else feel like they are being penalized for having a large family. Being a family of 6, we are limited as to which resorts we can stay at and of course they are the most expensive resorts. Then when you try and book two rooms at a value ( 1 adult and 2 kids in each) they charge you for double occupancy anyway. We have an offer for kids stay, play and eat for free, but we are charged $2000 per room for a value resort in may. Even though the offer says $775 per adult on the pin code. but when you call they say it is $775per adult based on double occupancy so you really are not saving anything.. Enough of my venting.

Double occupancy means that it's $775 per adult if there are two adults in the same room. So $1,550 for two adults in that room. If you add two kids, it's still $1,550 because kids stay free as long as they are under 18. You will get charged more if you only have one adult in the room. That's standard hotel policy no matter where you go.

The penalization? Well, if a room costs $100 per night, you can have two adults and two kids in there. So, $25 per person. For my husband and me, it's still the same $100 per night or $50 per person. If we add another couple, it's $10/night/adult extra. So $120 for four people or $30 per person. Sometimes being an adult isn't that much of a great deal either.

 

[Lynne M]

actually i think DVC members get penalized the most! DVC is very expensive, but then again, that is discussion for the DVC forum.

If it suits your travel habits, DVC can be an economical choice . For me, I can stay in a studio at a DVC resort for 9-10 nights a year for less than $100/night. If that's getting penalized, I'm all for it.

 

[Happy99]

I don't think you are being penalized. You opted to have a large family and have to deal with the consequence of traveling with a larger family. I am not being mean or rude just stating the facts. We travel to Europe often and even with a family of 4 fitting in one room is a challenge there. It is just how the industry works and you have to find what fits best for you as far as accommodations

As to the kids free offer you are talking about you must not be staying at a Disney resort because their room rates are the same whether you have one adult in them or two adults in them. It is when you have more then two adults in the same room that you are charged an extra fee

 

[KEHCharleston]

If it suits your travel habits, DVC can be an economical choice . For me, I can stay in a studio at a DVC resort for 9-10 nights a year for less than $100/night. If that's getting penalized, I'm all for it.

I agree.
Particularly when you pay attention to the time period.
I rented points for Old Key West, value season, weekdays, and paid $80 per night (note that is everything - taxes are not added to that). I do not see how you can beat it.
I realize that with children, school, etc., you may not be able to choose value season, but you should be able to avoid peak season.

 

[bicker]

actually i think DVC members get penalized the most! DVC is very expensive

Hmmm... not my experience. I've effectively paid about 25% as much as a DVC member as compared to what I would have paid otherwise.

 

[EnnEss]

Couples without kids pay more too if you want to look at it that way sometimes. Lots of their deals are based on 2 kids 2 adults, so its not as "cheap" per person. Its the same price, but the breakdown is different.

DVC is in no way a penalty. Its a luxury.

Offsites are an amazing deal, you can get 3 bedroom condos for the price of values. I don't really know what to say OP. Food is more expensive for you too because you have to buy more. So are clothes. And so on. The fact is, if you didn't pay more, everyone else would be subsidizing your vacation.

 

[Sheepdog23]

I totally understand what you mean. We stopped being able to stay in hotels when Disney changed their policies. When I was younger,even up to about 10 years ago, we could have 2 adults and 3 kids in all resorts except for value. I remember staying at POR a number of times in the mansions and none of us was an infant. Have you guys tried camping? I know it isn't exactly the most pleasing thing, but Disney camping is fantastic. We usually camp now because of all the activities and prices, especially the movies at night. It is sometimes really cheap through AAA. My parents one year with all 7 of us booked a campsite and then rented a camper for less than staying in the hotels. you should really give it a try if you haven't.

 

[haleofafamily]

I guess using "penalized" was the wrong word, I was just alittle disapointed at the amount of options for large families. My family loves Disney and has been going for the last 10 years and now with a family of 6 its alittle harder to go. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I was just wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

I understand what you were trying to say. What I have come to realize is that most things are made to accomodate the "averages" and having more than 2 children is above average so we have to find other options. (It's like being left-handed most things are made for the right-handed so lefties have to be creative.)

Great options for large families have already been suggested...offsite home rental, all-star music family suites, or DVC. We rented DVC points several times and enjoyed it so much we decided to buy it.

Hope you find an option that can keep you enjoying Disney vacations.

 

[Brian Noble]

actually i think DVC members get penalized the most! DVC is very expensive, but then again, that is discussion for the DVC forum.

It's expensive to purchase, but you get to amortize it across many trips. Mary Waring, over at MouseSavers, has a really excellent analysis of the details. I like Mary's take in part because she does not ignore opportunity costs---they are not "out of pocket" costs that you have to write a check for, but they are real just the same, and a big chunk of the total cost of DVC. But, even accounting for lost opportunity, DVC is a very good deal for those normally wanting to stay in Deluxe resorts, and a way to save a little money and get much better rooms for those wanting to stay in Moderates.

http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html#comparison

 

[hammie59]

This exact subject came up on the family board recently. I don't understand why larger families feel that they should only have to pay for one room. If you have more children, lodging, eating, etc is going to cost more. This isn't a penalty.

Most hotels base occupancy on 4 people.

I agree. I would love to have 6 kids or so, but one reason we don't is financial. So we have 2 and we all fit nicely in one room. There are pros and cons to everything in life.

 

[Mr.FOLs]

I know how the OP feels

My second wife had 4 kids from her first marriage...we always had to get 2 rooms.

nice to be able to get one room now...

 

[DisFlan]

Couples without kids pay more too if you want to look at it that way sometimes. Lots of their deals are based on 2 kids 2 adults, so its not as "cheap" per person. Its the same price, but the breakdown is different.

You beat me to it! As a couple, we pay the same room rate at WDW as we would with 2 kids in the room. That's just the way it is, and I'm not complaining. It's a standard hotel practice. If we had a large family and needed more space, I'd expect to pay for it.


DisFlan

 

[d-r]

I think that it is easy to have higher expectations of Disney sometimes when it is after all a place for families (and couple/friends/singles), it is magical too. It's expensive even with the best discounts of course we expect it all and seems logical to do so, but not realistic.

I do think that more and more the hotel industry at large seems to be moving to suite options and Disney is making those changes where possible too, but ultimately there is a given amount of space and fire codes to obey.