Castle Dream Suite For A Fee

[Dismagic1]

To my seven year old daughter would give up a week in the resort for a night in Cinderella's suite. She says we can do a resort any day ending with a "y" but the castle once in a lifetime.

I think it should go back the way it was during the year of a million dreams. Make it a prize you can't buy no matter how wealthy you are. The right time, the right place one lucky family per day.

I actually think choosing one lucky family isn't as fair as the money aspect. Why? Because Disney is going to look for a family with kids. What if I'm there with my girlfriend? Why aren't we entitled to get chosen?

If they rent it out, everyone has a chance. If you really want to stay there, you can go out and get a second job and put all that money towards a dream stay if you want.

 

[Bell30012]

Dismagic, Disney already did this for two years during the "Year of a Million Dreams". There were single people chosen as well as married with kids. The computer picked a spot and time in the park... For example, the person in the front row left on Splash Mountain coming into the station at 9:18 AM.

My daughter and I were at Splash Mountain when we saw an older couple win it. We didn't know that is what was happening at the time. The Dream Team gave everyone else around plastic FastPasses that were good for all the FP rides in MK.

Oh, and those two seniors were beaming when they were riding in the 3:00 parade. I think she had a great story to tell her grandchildren.

Disney is very good at keeping their contests fair and impartial.

 

[Lewisc]

Some people are missing the point. Evidently Disney has already decided to rent the Suite to select customers. The question is if this opportunity should be extended to DVC owners.

 

[torsie24]

Some people are missing the point. Evidently Disney has already decided to rent the Suite to select customers. The question is if this opportunity should be extended to DVC owners.

I'm certain they've been doing it for as long as the suite has been there (excluding when it was a prize). Would be crazy for them not to make the extra revenue.

Would be interesting to know if it's a set price, or if it's a case of calling and offering X thousand $ and seeing if they think that's suitable.

 

[DisMc]

That is so exciting! Although it would be a dream-fufiller for myself, I think it's better if it was kept as a surprise. IMO, I think it would be more special for a winner from the Make A Wish Foundation than someone who could afford to stay in the Cinderella Suite.

 

[Donut23]

Some people are missing the point. Evidently Disney has already decided to rent the Suite to select customers. The question is if this opportunity should be extended to DVC owners.

Oh come on......Disney has found another way to get their fingers into our pocketbooks. That trumps ANY ELSE they would possibly consider. I am sure they will be happy to extend the suite to the highest bidder.....DVC included.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Oh come on......Disney has found another way to get their fingers into our pocketbooks. That trumps ANY ELSE they would possibly consider. I am sure they will be happy to extend the suite to the highest bidder.....DVC included.

And there is a problem with a For Profit business making a Profit on something they designed/engineered and funded out of their capital expenses?

 

[snowpixiemn]

I think that if you have read this thread closely you will have noticed that there are several people who have been involved (at one point or another) with the Make a Wish Foundation and Give Kids the World. If you the reader will have noticed it made more sense in these people's opinions (and mine) that the Castle suite was NOT used for this purpose. I want nothing more in the world for all children to feel as though their wishes were made possible, but imagine the world of hurt some of these children will feel if they were "given" that wish and had to be then turned away because the suite didn't have the adaptations for them to be comfortable and healthy. I love Give Kids the World and hope that one day I can volunteer for them (I don't have a lot of vacation as of right now). They give 140+ kids the comforts of being a kid in a magical world. Let Disney make a profit off the suite and let them continue to be generous in other ways.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I am normally all about capitalism but the Castle Suite is so special, I'd hate to see it as just another dream most people can never afford. If they still gave it out as a prize every now and then it would keep that special magical quaility that it had when it was created. For dreams.

The Million Dreams promotion was so great because it was totally random. Anyone could win. It might have gone to a family, maybe to a couple, some ladies on a girls only trip, whatever. You just had to be in the right place at the right time. I'd like to see that continue.

I say let them continue to quietly rent it out to the folks who can afford it, you gotta pay for the upkeep somehow, but once in a while give the average person the thrill of a lifetime and award the prize of a night in the castle. Best of both worlds, right?

 

[Dismagic1]

I think that if you have read this thread closely you will have noticed that there are several people who have been involved (at one point or another) with the Make a Wish Foundation and Give Kids the World. If you the reader will have noticed it made more sense in these people's opinions (and mine) that the Castle suite was NOT used for this purpose. I want nothing more in the world for all children to feel as though their wishes were made possible, but imagine the world of hurt some of these children will feel if they were "given" that wish and had to be then turned away because the suite didn't have the adaptations for them to be comfortable and healthy. I love Give Kids the World and hope that one day I can volunteer for them (I don't have a lot of vacation as of right now). They give 140+ kids the comforts of being a kid in a magical world. Let Disney make a profit off the suite and let them continue to be generous in other ways.

This is a good post!

 

[Donut23]

And there is a problem with a For Profit business making a Profit on something they designed/engineered and funded out of their capital expenses?

Not at all if you don't mind....YOU open your wallet wide. I will defer all the cost add-ons to you and your travel party.

What the folks in california have discovered the last year is ---- many of us have begun to say.....no thank you.

We buy FAR less merchandise while at WDW. Take a look at a 5 year old Tshirt and compare to a current one....far less quality but giant jump in cost.

We dine offsite when we can - quality of food is better and far less expensive.

Remember the days when different gift shops had different merchandise? . My old fight song....."all sidewalks lead to a GIFT SHOP". I bring home FAR LESS than in the past.

I have beautiful sweatshirts from Beach Club and Jacket from Yacht club.... quality merchandise long gone. One thing I DID notice is.....I bought my Beach Club sweatshirt during a chilly spell in December ..... for $38. The very next spring the same garment was priced at $54.....probably the same delivery of merchandise! Did they think we would not notice? My traveling companion decided it was too expensive.


Look at the Discounts they have to offer to fill their rooms....yet their profit margin is a memory of 3 years ago. Why? we have closed our wallets.

What to do? Dumb down the menu's, cheep cuts and quality of proteins....heck last visit we dined at Boatrights (We are Bobaholics and this is a must stop for us). The next night we walked out of the Castle when we discovered the EXACT same menu as the night before.....40% more. Know what the manager said...."you're right. Things are much different in the last few years." as she refunded our costs.

I'm sure Disney is thrilled you are willing to not notice.

We had a couple join us on our last visit...absolute beginners...had a GREAT time....they took advantage of our castmember discounts for room, food and merchandise. Their first comment when we asked about their impression (after discussing their favorite rides..Sorin and Splash Mountain, Illuminations and Spectro)....."Disney sure does know how to separate you from your $"

Don't get me wrong....we go to WDW and DL because we are long-time fans of these parks (all the way back to 1975 for WDW) < Talk about changes! We find our own magic there....but have found we simply don't fall into the Disney traps to spend more....for less quality.

Some of us notice.

 

[Dismagic1]

Not at all if you don't mind....YOU open your wallet wide. I will defer all the cost add-ons to you and your travel party.

What the folks in california have discovered the last year is ---- many of us have begun to say.....no thank you.

We buy FAR less merchandise while at WDW. Take a look at a 5 year old Tshirt and compare to a current one....far less quality but giant jump in cost.

We dine offsite when we can - quality of food is better and far less expensive.

Remember the days when different gift shops had different merchandise? . My old fight song....."all sidewalks lead to a GIFT SHOP". I bring home FAR LESS than in the past.

I have beautiful sweatshirts from Beach Club and Jacket from Yacht club.... quality merchandise long gone. One thing I DID notice is.....I bought my Beach Club sweatshirt during a chilly spell in December ..... for $38. The very next spring the same garment was priced at $54.....probably the same delivery of merchandise! Did they think we would not notice? My traveling companion decided it was too expensive.


Look at the Discounts they have to offer to fill their rooms....yet their profit margin is a memory of 3 years ago. Why? we have closed our wallets.

What to do? Dumb down the menu's, cheep cuts and quality of proteins....heck last visit we dined at Boatrights (We are Bobaholics and this is a must stop for us). The next night we walked out of the Castle when we discovered the EXACT same menu as the night before.....40% more. Know what the manager said...."you're right. Things are much different in the last few years." as she refunded our costs.

I'm sure Disney is thrilled you are willing to not notice.

We had a couple join us on our last visit...absolute beginners...had a GREAT time....they took advantage of our castmember discounts for room, food and merchandise. Their first comment when we asked about their impression (after discussing their favorite rides..Sorin and Splash Mountain, Illuminations and Spectro)....."Disney sure does know how to separate you from your $"

Don't get me wrong....we go to WDW and DL because we are long-time fans of these parks (all they way back to 1975 for WDW) < Talk about changes! We find our own magic there....but have found we simply don't fall into the Disney traps to spend more....for less quality.

Some of us notice.

If you thought the parks were declining in quality, just wait till everyone takes your approach. Then we'd really have something to worry about. They'd start charging to use their buses to the park. You'd have to buy a week long bus card.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Not at all if you don't mind....YOU open your wallet wide. I will defer all the cost add-ons to you and your travel party.

What the folks in california have discovered the last year is ---- many of us have begun to say.....no thank you.

We buy FAR less merchandise while at WDW. Take a look at a 5 year old Tshirt and compare to a current one....far less quality but giant jump in cost.

We dine offsite when we can - quality of food is better and far less expensive.

Remember the days when different gift shops had different merchandise? . My old fight song....."all sidewalks lead to a GIFT SHOP". I bring home FAR LESS than in the past.

I have beautiful sweatshirts from Beach Club and Jacket from Yacht club.... quality merchandise long gone. One thing I DID notice is.....I bought my Beach Club sweatshirt during a chilly spell in December ..... for $38. The very next spring the same garment was priced at $54.....probably the same delivery of merchandise! Did they think we would not notice? My traveling companion decided it was too expensive.


Look at the Discounts they have to offer to fill their rooms....yet their profit margin is a memory of 3 years ago. Why? we have closed our wallets.

What to do? Dumb down the menu's, cheep cuts and quality of proteins....heck last visit we dined at Boatrights (We are Bobaholics and this is a must stop for us). The next night we walked out of the Castle when we discovered the EXACT same menu as the night before.....40% more. Know what the manager said...."you're right. Things are much different in the last few years." as she refunded our costs.

I'm sure Disney is thrilled you are willing to not notice.

We had a couple join us on our last visit...absolute beginners...had a GREAT time....they took advantage of our castmember discounts for room, food and merchandise. Their first comment when we asked about their impression (after discussing their favorite rides..Sorin and Splash Mountain, Illuminations and Spectro)....."Disney sure does know how to separate you from your $"

Don't get me wrong....we go to WDW and DL because we are long-time fans of these parks (all the way back to 1975 for WDW) < Talk about changes! We find our own magic there....but have found we simply don't fall into the Disney traps to spend more....for less quality.

Some of us notice.

Okay...random rant...I don't think this conversation was about declining quality of the food or souvenirs, this was about the castle suite and the ability or desire for Disney to charge for it.

What does this have to do with quality, at all?

 

[simba20]

Just wanted to add to the logistics of staying in the castle suite overnight.

I took the KTTK tour last week, and asked our guide about what happens at night when guests stay in the castle suite? She responded that there is a Guest Relations person who stays int he castle with the guest(s) overnight, in a small office outside the suite. If a guest wants to get up at 3 a.m. and walk around the park/have a smoke break/etc, they may do so and the Guest Relations employee walks around with them. At night, there is so much going on in the park anyway -- as of last week there were parade rehersals for the new parade coming in. other things that occur are cleanign and maintence.

The rides are closed and obvisouly not running, so not much for the castle guest(s) to see. And no chance of them "sneaking" into anything, considering that a GR person is walking around with them.

Our guide says it's only happened a handful of times, but hardly anyone wakes up int he middle of the night to walk around the park.

And as a PP mentioned about her aunt, it was once a call center for ressies.

 

[Belle599]

I think it is ok to "rent" it out, only as a special fundraiser to raise money for a charitable cause, say GKTW. I hope it is used for a good cause only.

 

[maroo]

I think that if you have read this thread closely you will have noticed that there are several people who have been involved (at one point or another) with the Make a Wish Foundation and Give Kids the World. If you the reader will have noticed it made more sense in these people's opinions (and mine) that the Castle suite was NOT used for this purpose. I want nothing more in the world for all children to feel as though their wishes were made possible, but imagine the world of hurt some of these children will feel if they were "given" that wish and had to be then turned away because the suite didn't have the adaptations for them to be comfortable and healthy. I love Give Kids the World and hope that one day I can volunteer for them (I don't have a lot of vacation as of right now). They give 140+ kids the comforts of being a kid in a magical world. Let Disney make a profit off the suite and let them continue to be generous in other ways.

This is a great post.

With hundreds of families staying at GKTW - I am not sure how they would chose the child that gets to stay. And when they do stay - they won't have the roll-in shower they may need, etc.

Disney already donates MILLIONS of dollars to these families each year with free PhotoPasses, free Park Tickets, free Parking, etc, etc - it makes sense to keep it from being used as a possibility for a wish granting.

I agree...let the kids stay at GKTW - it is the most magical on place on earth and they are treated like royalty.

PS: - Help GKTW all the way until June 30th by voting EVERY DAY for them in Pepsi Refresh project.

You only have to register once (and it is limited info) - you can vote every day.