Changes ahead for 2008 room bookings!!

[Poohbear123]

I got a GREAT discount for AKL this past Feb. I paid 155.00 including tax for a Deluxe Resort, what a bargain! I guess I won't be seeing that price again anythime in Feb. Maybe I should "wait and see" like everyone else is going to do, after all, I am a Fl. Resident AND AAA member, so maybe it might be higher in the long run, but maybe cheaper for the weekdays.

 

[tweetie]

I have been reading this thread and it is common to have higher prices on weekends and holidays, however the bad news is with the rising cost of living and everyones' pay not rising as much and the high cost of hotels in Disney along with the high price of their tickets it puts a lot of people out of the running to be able to afford a Disney vacation, which is a shame. That is just life. Soon there will be no more middle class, either you have it or you don't.....Sorry...

 

[taximomfor4]

In my experience, hotels are always more expensive on Friday and Saturday nights.

The word "Always" doesn't fit, but the info about many hotels (especially in places that have a lot of weekenders I guess) raising prices for weekends seems like good info.

I have personally never ever, a single time, had a hotel with separate amounts charged for separate nights. We tend to stay THursday through Sunday, and our nights have always, every single time, been the same every night of our stay. This was in Detroit suburbs, Syracuse, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Pittsburgh, Orlando, and somewhere in Connecticut (in November, not in tourist season, lol). Oh yeah -- also near Virginia Beach in January.

This charging more for weekends thing I had only vaguely heard of! I had heard it is done down the Atlantic Seabord in tourist season, Vegas, and my friend may have mentioned it about NYC as well??

Anyway, Disney is such a big tourist destination -- and encouraging people to stay and play longer. They probably would rather have more people able to book long trips than have them NOT book because they can't get enough nights in the hotel. I wouldn't come down for 5 nights -- too long a drive. So if the weekend was booked up, I would rethink the trip or go elsewhere.

I do completely agree that until all prices are actually disclosed, getting upset about speculation and foggy details is somewhat pointless (but difficult to ignore, lol).

 

[THERESA522]

I just have to say that I thought our Disney vacation was reasonable! It was $3,300 for 8 days/7 nights in a value resort (ASMo). 2 adults, 2 children, DDP, 6 day base tix and airline tix from NJ. There aren't too many places we can go and spend that little - and it was for DISNEY!!!

Whatever they do, they're going to do. We'll all adjust and we'll all keep going back.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Back a few years ago there was plenty of discounts to be had and the MouseSavers site was full of them. There's just not that many to be found like there was in 2002 and 2003. Disney was really trying to fill the rooms during the post 911 travel slowdown, not so much anymore. I remember Disney came out with that great stay for 7 pay for 4 package in 2003 and it came with the Ultimate park hopper. It was a great deal and I wish I could have gotten in on it. Travel still must have been slow in 2004 because they re offered the package again but as stay for 7 pay for 5. Missed out on that one too. Story of my life though.


Disney sees that travel and attendance is up and they're trying to squeeze out every dollar they can. I personally think it's a mistake to gouge the loyal consumer who goes to WDW on a regular basis, but sometimes management gets short sighted by the quick buck to be made. Consumers usually don't forget how they were treated when big business feels like times are good enough to get every dollar you can.

I think this is what bothers me
the rooms and tickets and meals just keep going up and they are making record profits
they do little to help the loyal customers

 

[jmkrat]

I can't wait to find out the details. I am doing a split stay at two resorts..It will be a total of 9 days, but 3 at one and 6 at the other. I am wondering if some of the speculation is correct about longer stays is true, how my package will be priced. If it is only considered a week's stay if you are at one resort. Oh well, we shall see I suppose. June 23 can't come soon enough for me.

 

[TDS373X]

We just came back from our first non Disney vacation in 22 years- yes I shocked all family and friends by NOT going to visit Mickey....Now reading about the rumored changes in the air I'm thinking there must be a reason we went someplace else this year instead and had a completly wonderful time maybe it's time we branch out a bit....but I will wait and see just how this all shakes out and whether or not they've finally priced me out of onsite....it wasn't a totally unDisney vacation I did finally find some Disney Crocs(red) and found a Disney Outlet Store.-I just can't go cold turkey ya know

 

[Tam1067]

Though many vacation spots charge more on weekends, in major cities, it's the opposite with higher rates charged during the week and lower rates on the weekends. I hope that if Disney is moving to more typical industry pricing, they will also move to rewarding repeat customers, as the major chains have done.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I think this is what bothers me
the rooms and tickets and meals just keep going up and they are making record profits
they do little to help the loyal customers

They sell me an AP that I can use 30 times in a calendar year. That is a bargain and a reward to me. It would cost me far mor if I had to buy 3 10 day passes.

I always get an AP discount on my room. That is a reward for being an AP holder. I never have paid rack rate for a room.

I get a discount at the World of Disney - again a reward.

I can buy the DDE card for $65 and get 20% off for my 30 days in a year. Another reward.

 

[eliza61]

I have personally never ever, a single time, had a hotel with separate amounts charged for separate nights. We tend to stay THursday through Sunday, and our nights have always, every single time, been the same every night of our stay. This was in Detroit suburbs, Syracuse, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Pittsburgh, Orlando, and somewhere in Connecticut (in November, not in tourist season, lol). Oh yeah -- also near Virginia Beach in January.

(but difficult to ignore, lol).

I think location and season definitley plays a part, of course Virginia Beach in january you're going to find deals. We're going to virginia Beach in July, big difference. We are staying 1/2 block away from the beach and the hotel rate is $30.00 more for Friday & Saturday night and it's $225.00/night Mon-Thursday, just about the price of a disney deluxe. I live in NYC and your absolutely right, if you stay anywhere in NYC especially Manhattan you are paying more for the weekend. Don't even get me started on 4th of July rates. The Marriott Marquies I believe is well over $400 bucks a night. My business takes me to Philly,Boston, DC, Maryland, Chicago and Atlanta at least 180 days a year. If you go over the weekend you pay more in the East coast tourist market. I guess this is why it's no big deal to me, I'm use to it.

 

[sjaakie]

I just read there will be a new system for the prices of the rooms after August the first.
For example weekends will be more expansive than "normal " days.

It also means that you could get a different price for each day?

Who knows if this is true?



Sorry for this topic found my answers .

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I have been reading this thread and it is common to have higher prices on weekends and holidays, however the bad news is with the rising cost of living and everyones' pay not rising as much and the high cost of hotels in Disney along with the high price of their tickets it puts a lot of people out of the running to be able to afford a Disney vacation, which is a shame. That is just life. Soon there will be no more middle class, either you have it or you don't.....Sorry...

I agree with you
with tickets food rooms and dining all going up up and up more
and people making less
that means less trips for families who have other things to save for
to bad
I know disney is there to make $ to shareholders but to me its seems greedy

 

[rstamm]

Yes its true and its really bad for us.
You will no longer get cheaper rates by checkining in on Value season and the next day is Peak season.
Every other year we go at Christmas time and get there early for Value season and stay through Peak season.

There is a full report on ALL EARS.

Also weekend days will be more than weekdays.
I think it starts in 2008.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Whatever they do, they're going to do. We'll all adjust and we'll all keep going back.

Exactly! Over the past 3 days I've been re-working my Christmas '08 trip in light of this upcoming change. It doesn't worry me all that much given many other hotel chains I'm used to (like Hilton) charge different prices based on the day of the week/seasonality.

 

[pamole]

Boy, I am no business expert, but it seems to me that after spending a year marketing how affordable Disney is, this seems to be a GIANT step backward.... Don't worry, this time next year when the resorts are empty on the weekends b/c people don't want to pay the higher room rates, there will be huge sales and promos for weekend travel to WDW!

 

[SallyfromDE]

I think the whole thing is to make thier "package" seem to more of a deal. Rather then have you resv a room.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I think the whole thing is to make thier "package" seem to more of a deal. Rather then have you resv a room.

true
they want you to get everything from them

 

[SplashMountainRocks]

I just read there will be a new system for the prices of the rooms after August the first.

Supposed to go into effect on June 23 for bookings in 2008.

See http://www.allearsnet.com/news/hnews.htm#061107

Why don't you just wait 10 days before jumping to conclusions?

 

[SallyfromDE]

Supposed to go into effect on June 23 for bookings in 2008.

See http://www.allearsnet.com/news/hnews.htm#061107

Why don't you just wait 10 days before jumping to conclusions?

I agree. I live near a beach resort and this is pretty standard. The week my be lower to accomodate the weekend. It could be more cost effective for Disney then to do split reservations for people so they get a cheaper rate.

How many people do the room only, vs. package or even DVC? Does this board do polls?

 

[n2mm]

Seems to be true and nothing we can do about it. The one thing I always loved about Disney resorts was that I never felt that I was being nickeled and dimed like I am at other hotels, but that all is going to change. Yes, Disney is becoming like other hotel chains, but that was the nice thing about staying at a Disney Resort, they weren't like other chains and they set their own rules and standards. Sad to think they are joining the cookie cutter mold of all of the rest of the chains. I've always stayed at a Disney resort because that is where I always wanted to be. I don't use DME, I don't use Disney transportation and I don't use EMH. So those perks have no value for us, but we still always choose to stay in the magic. I will make adjustments in the future. Before I wouldn't hesitate to grab a Friday flight down and stay overnight to get a jump start on that vacation. I will cut out those extras now and just arrive on my day one now. My change won't even cause a flicker in the scheme of things, but it will stretch my budget a little. I see this as a huge step backward to what attracts folks to their resorts.