Changes ahead for 2008 room bookings!!

[stepdisney]

Here in the Atlantic City area, weekend nights sometimes cost double or triple the price of a weekday night.

Only in the winter, they are giving the rooms away during the week (and sometimes on the week-ends) to high rollers and those who frequent the casinos. And, while we are on the subject, most hotel chains have a rewards program, something Disney should consider if they plan to keep 'em coming.

 

[Disney8704]

I think Disney should do a rewards program. We spend all this money on our trips and what do we get back from the Disney company? Nothing. Another opition is to do the same thing as the park tickets. The longer your stay, the cheaper your room gets.

 

[fey_spirit]

Actually Walt Disney World was created to bring magic and joy to the world... that's just become an outdated thought and beleif system since Walt passed away.

Walt Disney World was not created to bring magic and joy to the world, it was built to make tons and tons of money, the magic was just a happy secondary effect.

 

[jmkrat]

I have been reading this thread most of the day, I am a little amused, because no one knows exactly what is going to happen. I knew the rates were going to go up, they seem to every year. We should just wait and see what happens.

 

[Cruiser1969]

I have been reading this thread most of the day, I am a little amused, because no one knows exactly what is going to happen. I knew the rates were going to go up, they seem to every year. We should just wait and see what happens.

True . . . but speculation is fun!!!!

 

[sunee]

Figuring out the cost of a WDW trip is turning into a shell game. Room prices vary, dining plans vary, tickets vary. What a pain in the butt for newbies.

 

[erikthewise]

From Travelocity: Nick Family Suites: 7/11 - 7/17

Two Bedroom Family Suite with Bunk Beds Non Smoking Non Refundable
7/11 - Wed $243.01
7/12 - Thur $243.01
7/13 - Fri $306.01
7/14 - Sat $306.01
7/15 - Sun $252.01
7/16 - Mon $252.01

I have seen $100 difference between weekday and weekend rates during the offseason at this hotel. Just about every hotel uses variable pricing based on demand. If they don't have a weekday/weekend price variation, it's because their demand doesn't change that much on weekends.

 

[eliza61]

Yes, Disney is an evil company out to gouge us and Walt is turing over in his grave, yes the deluxes are not true deluxes and those of us who spend the money are all fools, yes, the ddp has ruined eating at disney for ever. Any other theories I've missed.
Bottom line is every one has the option of not going.

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

I think Disney should do a rewards program. We spend all this money on our trips and what do we get back from the Disney company? Nothing. Another option is to do the same thing as the park tickets. The longer your stay, the cheaper your room gets.

Really? If you're getting "nothing" back from the Disney Company and you're spending all this money there, why would you continue to give them your money?? If you don't like the product Disney delivers, you have the choice to vote with your wallet.

 

[samsdad]

the only thing this gives disney is another way to offer deals that won't save us money but they want you to think they did. i see the 5 for 7 deal coming back. of course you can't combine it with anything else--like free dining or AAA rates.

 

[CarolA]

Actually Walt Disney World was created to bring magic and joy to the world... that's just become an outdated thought and beleif system since Walt passed away.

Walt was pretty much into cash too....

 

[fey_spirit]

I know - you first.
If you do your research you'll learn that while Walt was far from opposed to money (who in their right mind is?) it wasn't the driving force for him - nor could he understand why it would be for anyone else.

It was far more important so far as Walt was concerned to bring as much magic to as many people as possible, then to turn a huge profit. Most folks go so far as to speculate that if Roy hadn't been there to hold the course steady Walt's visions would have kept the family in the poor house.

Do some research. Walt was not opposed to MONEY!!!

 

[Irishhockey]

Hmm... not sure how I would handle this....

I wouldn't say I'm "mad" and that "I'll never stay onsite again"... but this (depending of course on the prices) would be a good reason to spend the weekend off site, hit universal or seaworld... and head to Disney on a monday.

Disney parks always seem "more crowded" to me on weekends, so why would I pay an extra buck for heavier crowds? That's not worth it to me at all. Sure... you can easily say "sheesh... it's 10bucks, whats the big deal?!" but why spend $20 for two nights, when I can save $50 by staying off site for those nights? Especially with Disney Ticket prices... I could still get a 7-day pass, still venture to Disney, and just lose out on ME (cab and standard mears works fine for me)

Everything is about convience, and if I really wanted to stay on-site for 7 nights, I'd bite the bullet of course, but I would have to draw a line somewhere. If there's a rate increase like the ones posted for Nick Hotel... thats just an absolute joke! I don't even think Disney resorts are worth that kind of price jump!

 

[chasgoose]

Disney parks always seem "more crowded" to me on weekends

That's exactly why they would charge more to stay at the resorts on the weekends! It's the same line of thinking that was behind the rate seasons in the first place. They have the rate seasons because more people come during the peak seasons and fewer come during the value seasons. It is no different to charge more for the "more crowded" weekends than the weekdays.

 

[SplashMountainRocks]

Disney parks always seem "more crowded" to me on weekends, so why would I pay an extra buck for heavier crowds? That's not worth it to me at all. Sure... you can easily say "sheesh... it's 10bucks, whats the big deal?!" but why spend $20 for two nights, when I can save $50 by staying off site for those nights?

Staying off-site for those 2 nights isn't going to reduce the crowds in the parks any!

 

[CarolA]

I know - you first.
If you do your research you'll learn that while Walt was far from opposed to money (who in their right mind is?) it wasn't the driving force for him - nor could he understand why it would be for anyone else.

It was far more important so far as Walt was concerned to bring as much magic to as many people as possible, then to turn a huge profit. Most folks go so far as to speculate that if Roy hadn't been there to hold the course steady Walt's visions would have kept the family in the poor house.

Yeah that's why he actively engaged in union bashing... it brought "magic" to his employees LOL!
Walt was a great man, but the view of him as this saint who only wanted to bring "magic" is probably not accurate. And the truth is that given Walt's attention span..... he would have long ago abandoned theme parks for his next adventure.

 

[QueenGoblin]

Last time I checked, Disney is a FOR-PROFIT corporation. Their main mission is to MAKE MONEY and their main concern is to their STOCKHOLDERS.

I come from a family of MBAs and according to them, the idea that a business is there soley to create wealth for the shareholders is a relativly recent model (post the founding of WDW). I am not debating that this is the current view, and since that is how businesses are run now I don't think it is reasonable to expect WDW to be run differently. I just thought it might be worth mentioning that although Walt liked money as much as the next guy, I very much doubt creating TONS of instant cash for his shareholders was his goal. It used to be that you invested in a company that would provide a good product so that your money would grow ahead of inflation over a long investment. Now it just seems to make rich people richer at the expense of the quality of life for the working and middle classes. This is why the income gap is widening and the middle class is disappearing.

Off of soapbox!

 

[Irishhockey]

Staying off-site for those 2 nights isn't going to reduce the crowds in the parks any!

Never said it would...but I wouldn't be spending MORE money for those crowded parks and long lines

I feel like I'm having to pay extra to see Space Mountain posted at a wait time of 75mins instead of 40mins the day before...

Besides... I thought high weekend crowds came from locals just visiting for the day? Saturday and Sunday are still HUGE turnover days for the resorts... so where are these high crowds coming from?

I understand the entire reasoning behind the decision... but I'm not foolish either. If you want to charge me a little extra for nice rooms, lower crowds, better food, nice weather... go for it! But for packed resorts and packed parks... eh... your going to have to sweetin' that bargain a little bit.

 

[Disney8704]

What I dont understand is why is summer months in the value season? If they are all about bringing in the big bucks, you would think summer months would be peak season, to bring in more money and make the other months value season, as a way to bring people to the parks during the school year. Thats why they offered free dining during september. To help bring in more people during that month since it used to be slow. Take any hotel. Best Western, Marriot, etc. and throw them into a city where there is a theme park. During the winter months, their rates are low. But once summer hits, their prices jack up. Dont be surprised if Disney ends up doing this. Changing their seasons so that value is during what is now peak or regular season and regular or peak season is during the summer months. They wanna keep their parks filled year round. And that would be a good (not for us, but for disney) marketing tactic (sp?) they could use. Most people go down during the summer since school is out. Well, they could offer cheaper rates during the remainder of the year to help bring in guests.

 

[disneyjunkie]

What I dont understand is why is summer months in the value season? If they are all about bringing in the big bucks, you would think summer months would be peak season, to bring in more money and make the other months value season, as a way to bring people to the parks during the school year. Thats why they offered free dining during september. To help bring in more people during that month since it used to be slow. Take any hotel. Best Western, Marriot, etc. and throw them into a city where there is a theme park. During the winter months, their rates are low. But once summer hits, their prices jack up. Dont be surprised if Disney ends up doing this. Changing their seasons so that value is during what is now peak or regular season and regular or peak season is during the summer months. They wanna keep their parks filled year round. And that would be a good (not for us, but for disney) marketing tactic (sp?) they could use. Most people go down during the summer since school is out. Well, they could offer cheaper rates during the remainder of the year to help bring in guests.

They changed the start of value season this year. In the past value season didn't start until late August. Now it starts early August.

In the past, many schools in the south started school prior to value season. This year many start in late August. As a result many more families can take advantage of summer value season rates.

I'm pretty sure it won't be long before disney moves it back to the end of August.

It doesn't matter how great the rates are during the school months, some of us will not pull out for a trip to WDW.