Bummed about deluxe resort rates

[eliza61]

Honestly, I have no idea how so many people are able to spend $300 or more a night for a week at a Disney resort. I suppose I'm a lot poorer that I thought I was.

We're doing good to be able to make it there at $179 for a family suite at All-Star Music.

How on earth will I EVER be able to afford for my family to spend time at one of the deluxe resorts? I just can't imagine! I guess many people are spending way more than we are on our upcoming trip and it's not cheap!

I suppose I need to start playing the lottery!

We don't play the lottery, we just save. We love the deluxes and we usually get an AP code that gives us a good deal. We tried to do a value and hated it, so I figured I rather pay for a deluxe and be happy than stay some where I didn't enjoy and waste the money.
That's the beauty of disney. They try to have some thing for every one.
I'm a deluxe gal, I've paid $700/night in France just to be able to see the Eiffel tower outside while sitting on a balcony. Just depends on what you feel things are worth to you.

 

[budbeerlady]

It was my dream to take my family to AKL. With AAA and a standard room it was around $179 last year a night. Then instead of the 7 nights, we did 5. It was great, I was glad I was able to do it. This time we are staying longer and trying Pop. I would also love to try the Poly, but not at those costs.

 

[Kim1964]

We go during value season and get a AAA rate. Last year we couldn't afford an entire deluxe stay, so we did a split stay with POR and YC. We loved YC so much that we decided to do all YC this year, and we've been saving up since our last trip to pay for it. I took on a part time job this year to help cover costs, too. DH isn't as into Disney as I am, so I can only talk him into once a year. If we were going more often, we couldn't afford to stay in a deluxe every time.

 

[DisFanMom]

We look for specials. This year, I found the Swan/Dolphin special for 125/night and booked it for August. Then I got 49/one way air fare from SWA. Without specials and discounts, we couldn't do it.

 

[minnie61650]

We don't play the lottery, we just save. We love the deluxes and we usually get an AP code that gives us a good deal. We tried to do a value and hated it, so I figured I rather pay for a deluxe and be happy than stay some where I didn't enjoy and waste the money.
That's the beauty of disney. They try to have some thing for every one.
I'm a deluxe gal, I've paid $700/night in France just to be able to see the Eiffel tower outside while sitting on a balcony. Just depends on what you feel things are worth to you.

You are right. If a balcony on vacation means a lot to you then the balconies at Disney (and Paris with a view I guess ) are quite pricey.

I stayed at The CR with a MK view back in 1990 for my 40th birthday.
When I first stepped onto the balcony and saw that breataking view of the castle I though I died and went to heaven. After about 5 minutes and a few photos we headed to to parks. I only went out on the balcony a few times and only for a few minutes during our 6 night stay.
I decided then that we do not spend enough time at our resort to enjoy the view and so the higher price was not worth it for us.

I have a beautiful balcony off my bedroom that overlooks our all sports private lake and our inground pool.

I hardly ever go out on it. I would rather be going for a boat ride or enjoying our pool.

It is the same at Disney for me. I would rather be out enjoying the parks than sitting on a balcony looking at them.

We enjoy our vacations differently.

Have fun at Disney!

 

[G8r4evr]

I'm with you! We've stayed at moderates twice, and I think it was a reasonable price for a hotel room. The deluxe prices are way too high for me. We COULD do it; I mean we wouldn't go hungry, but I just can't justify it. I'm too money-conservative ((cheap))

Same here. We *could* do it, but no matter how hard I try, I cant justify it.

 

[stepdisney]

You are right. If a balcony on vacation means a lot to you then the balconies at Disney (and Paris with a view I guess ) are quite pricey.

I stayed at The CR with a MK view back in 1990 for my 40th birthday.
When I first stepped onto the balcony and saw that breataking view of the castle I though I died and went to heaven. After about 5 minutes and a few photos we headed to to parks. I only went out on the balcony a few times and only for a few minutes during our 6 night stay.
I decided then that we do not spend enough time at our resort to enjoy the view and so the higher price was not worth it for us.

I have a beautiful balcony off my bedroom that overlooks our all sports private lake and our inground pool.

I hardly ever go out on it. I would rather be going for a boat ride or enjoying our pool.

It is the same at Disney for me. I would rather be out enjoying the parks than sitting on a balcony looking at them.

We enjoy our vacations differently.

Have fun at Disney!

I like this post. You are sooo correct. When planning our trips, we often imagine sitting on the balcony oohing and ahing and then we do it the first night and every night after that we are sooo tired from the fun we've had in the parks that we give the children a bath and are sleep before our heads hit the pillows. There are just so many sites that get us all excited about the views but I'm with you, doing for us is better than watching. My DS's would look for a minute and then say, okay, lets go.

Be glad that there are options for everyones taste and budget. I think Disney does it all very well.

Remember why you choose Disney in the first place, then you can't go wrong.

 

[pixdust]

That has been in the front of my head all day. Wondering how all these people can afford to stay at the high end deluxe. My second trip to WDW with my son, we managed to stay at WL June '05, I bought an AP to do that, and I figured it might be a one time chance and we might as well live it up. I think the only way we managed it was with the AP and the fact that my husband decided not to go and I cashed in his Park Hopper. I have to say staying at WL was totally awesome, but I think about how much $$$ we could have saved at a Moderate or Value resort. With the AP I hated for it to go to waste so we went back in March '06 and stayed at POR. It felt like a Deluxe Resort to us and we loved it. It had so much to offer. We are aching to go back as soon as we can. I would stay at POR in a heartbeat.

 

[jillhou]

I don't think you need to worry about where you stay as long as you stay on site. We are a family of 5 so we always stay at a deluxe - it started out of necessity and then moved to preference. If you are happy staying where you stay = be it POP, All Star, or one of the mods = then be happy and don't worry about how others afford to stay or choose to stay where they are...the whole point to going to Disney is to have a good time. So stay where you can stay or choose to stay and have a good time....no worries!

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

I am with you on this one. I have made reservations at AKL for the past 3 years for the last 3 nights of my trip and each time had to cancel. Just could not afford it. I am again trying to do the last 3or 4 nights at AKL for my fall vacation.

Not sure if I am going to be able to afford it though.

 

[raven69david]

we're paying $129 a night at AKL for 7 nights in December. knowing when to go and staying alert for discounts is the key. vigilance has always paid off for me as i've never paid rack rate for any hotel stay in kissimmee or WDW.

 

[ktink]

I would love to stay at Poly, BWI, BC/YC. But the prices are hard to justify. I have tried to justify BWI to DH but he's not having it. And the truth is AKL and WL offer great alternatives to the other deluxes.

 

[SGB13]

We watched the fireworks on our MK view CR balcony every night we stayed. We book far in advance, pay a little at a time, and do a shorter stay. It was only 4 nights, but our next one is going to be for 6. Our kids are younger, so we do spend a lot of time in the room.

 

[LindyN]

The great thing about Disney is that there truly is a trip for everyone. If you want to stay cheap and be in parks all day, you get a Value. If you want to treat Disney like a luxurious vacation, you can get that too. And there's stuff right in the middle.

There's also off-property hotels and vacation homes. Something for everyone.

 

[GoingtoWDW2007]

What does AP mean?
I'm new - our first trip to WDW is this November and I'm trying to figure out a good way to go - how to find a deal etc.
Thanks so much!

 

[minnie61650]

What does AP mean?
I'm new - our first trip to WDW is this November and I'm trying to figure out a good way to go - how to find a deal etc.
Thanks so much!

AP=Annual Pass
Basically a guest buys an annual pass that allows them admittance into the Disney parks as often as they want during a year.
One of the perks are Disney will release a discount for certain room types during certain parts of the years.

The AP holders will then watch for discounted rooms.

Here is more info:

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

Have fun at Disney!

 

[PezDSpencer]

I always find these types of threads interesting.

I'll be the first to admit we spend what some would consider obscene for a vacation at Disney. For our fall trip, the Poly and park tickets are going to run us about $4,500 for 10 nights. But with that, we also have free dining and we got our flight for under $300 round trip for a family of three. I figure we'll end up around $6,000 when all is said and done.

Now that is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but broken down it's only $500 a month for one year. I'm not going to get into income levels, etc., but in our case that's not that much to come up with over the space of a year. And we're certainly not what I would call "rollin' in it"

As has been mentioned, Disney has done a wonderful job in creating vacation plans for everyone. To the original OP ... it's simply how our family likes to enjoy Disney. I think the question is a tad rhetorical.

 

[AmberI]

I'm staying at ASMU because this is our first time, and i'm sure most of it will be in the parks. I think really I just want to go to eat free food.
Now i'm stuck between flying or driving.

 

[MEK]

I have to agree with many of the other posters who would never pay rack rate for a deluxe. I feel the same way. Paying $300 a night for a room just can't possibly add that much value to my vacation. I really enjoy the moderates and think they have everything I need for a great family vacation. If I just take my kids, I am happy with the values. I like outside entrances. I like spread out resorts. That's just me.

Everyone is different in what they desire from a vacation. I will say that, since I joined these boards, I do occasionally have to fight the urge to go deluxe. Many posters make it sound so inticing. But I always catch myself and realize that I'd rather have 2 or 3 vacations a year than one stay at a deluxe.

I did enjoy Saratgoa Springs. I stayed there because I rented points making it the same rate as a mod. I plan to get an AP this trip and will search for AP rates for deluxes in the future, just to try one.

 

[LovintheLodge]

we're paying $129 a night at AKL for 7 nights in December. knowing when to go and staying alert for discounts is the key. vigilance has always paid off for me as i've never paid rack rate for any hotel stay in kissimmee or WDW.

That is a great rate! Is that an AP rate or the special 40% off rate? We do not go every year, so the AP rate doesn't work for us. Two years ago we paid rack rate for WL, but with the free dining it worked out much better than the AAA discount on the room.