Confused on deluxe pricing

[BobC]

Rookie question (especially coming from a Disney dude who's been there 14 times), but something that has always confused me was Deluxe Pricing.

I love staying at Wilderness Lodge and it's my resort of choice, but I also enjoyed staying at Polynesian prior to the WL being of existence.

Not sure why the Polynesian is substantially more than the WL. It seems like the WL is the "cheapie" of the deluxe group by quite a large margin.

Not sure what I'm asking, but I believe I'm just ranting lol....

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Rookie question (especially coming from a Disney dude who's been there 14 times), but something that has always confused me was Deluxe Pricing.

I love staying at Wilderness Lodge and it's my resort of choice, but I also enjoyed staying at Polynesian prior to the WL being of existence.

Not sure why the Polynesian is substantially more than the WL. It seems like the WL is the "cheapie" of the deluxe group by quite a large margin.

Not sure what I'm asking, but I believe I'm just ranting lol....

Because the Poly has a cult like following. They could charge two grand a night there and people will pay it. Well, not really two grand, but Disney knows that the Poly can bring in top dollar pricing.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, you are correct. WL and AKL are more like "Deluxe Jr." resorts. Their rooms are much smaller and they do not have the transportation convenience to parks and other resorts that the other deluxe resorts offer. With Poly, you get a bigger room, can put more guests in the room (5 vs. 4), plus you have monorail convenience to MK, EP and the other monorail resorts. Same goes for CR and GF. At BWI, BC/YC, you can walk or boat to two parks and are within walking distance to tons of other resort restaurants, mini-golf, etc. WL and AKL will almost always price out lower than the other deluxes.

 

[Polydweller]

Because the Poly has a cult like following. They could charge two grand a night there and people will pay it. Well, not really two grand, but Disney knows that the Poly can bring in top dollar pricing.

Not really. It's at least two main factors. First it's a monorail resort so you pay for access to that transportation and the ease to get to the TTC. The second factor is that the rooms are quite a bit larger than at WL. Along with the Contrmporary they are the largest standard rooms.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Not really. It's at least two main factors. First it's a monorail resort so you pay for access to that transportation and the ease to get to the TTC. The second factor is that the rooms are quite a bit larger than at WL. Along with the Contrmporary they are the largest standard rooms.

Those are two reasons as well, but to deny that Disney doesn't know about the love and popularity of the Poly is ludicrous. I know people who stay there exclusively because of the fact that is where they stayed as a child.

 

[BobC]

Thanks for the replies. All valid responses. I guess I was just ranting since I was booking a trip next Sept and I feel like the WL is the "step child" of the deluxe resorts even though its a beautiful one. I think the transportation at WL is great, especially to MK. Easy boat ride to MK or Contemporary.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Thanks for the replies. All valid responses. I guess I was just ranting since I was booking a trip next Sept and I feel like the WL is the "step child" of the deluxe resorts even though its a beautiful one. I think the transportation at WL is great, especially to MK. Easy boat ride to MK or Contemporary.

If WL were my favorite Disney resort, I'd be embracing the fact that it's one of the cheaper deluxe's, instead of ranting about it. It could change.

But yeah...the reasons listed above about transportation options and room size are very valid reasons for the discrepancy in price.

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for the replies. All valid responses. I guess I was just ranting since I was booking a trip next Sept and I feel like the WL is the "step child" of the deluxe resorts even though its a beautiful one. I think the transportation at WL is great, especially to MK. Easy boat ride to MK or Contemporary.

Hate to give bad news, but 1/2 of WL is turning into DVC. Most likely because it was not getting high occupancy.

 

[Polydweller]

Those are two reasons as well, but to deny that Disney doesn't know about the love and popularity of the Poly is ludicrous. I know people who stay there exclusively because of the fact that is where they stayed as a child.

I'm ludicrous huh. Sure Disney knows that and I know it, it's just not a prime reason for pricing. I'm in the hotel business and know about pricing. You want to keep your old customers and if you over price you lose them so you don't just raise prices because of that.

Also every year there is a certain amount of churn. You have to keep attracting new customers or eventually your customer base. So, you have to keep your pricing at levels that can still attract new customers. You can't say to yourself well I can keep raising prices and have higher prices because my old customers will pay it and I don't need to worry about new customers. Eventually your old customers get old and/or a significant number start going elsewhere. It's some hung every business plans for, you have to constantly attract new customers. If not, the churn will get you in the end.

 

[GPC0321]

Thanks for the replies. All valid responses. I guess I was just ranting since I was booking a trip next Sept and I feel like the WL is the "step child" of the deluxe resorts even though its a beautiful one. I think the transportation at WL is great, especially to MK. Easy boat ride to MK or Contemporary.

So, I'm confused. Are you upset that the WL isn't more expensive? LOL.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I would think that the AKL would be the "step-child" of the deluxes.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Hate to give bad news, but 1/2 of WL is turning into DVC. Most likely because it was not getting high occupancy.

Yep. The more DVC, the less number of hotel rooms they have to fill, the less numbers of maids to service the rooms needed, the less number of discounts.

 

[AnnaKat]

Yep. The more DVC, the less number of hotel rooms they have to fill, the less numbers of maids to service the rooms needed, the less number of discounts.

I also agree with you about the Poly being in great demand & thus such high pricing.

With the # of hotel rooms @ WL dropping to one-half,
It's likely that Disney will raise the rack rates to more in line with the monorail resorts,
leaving AKL as the only significantly lower priced Deluxe.

ALSO, the new proposed DVC @ the Carribean Beach will ALSO likely push AKL & WL room rates higher,
IF CBR guests share the new DVC amenities.
IF CBR room rates increase significantly, THEN AKL's & WL's
could be pushed up significantly higher.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

When WL first opened, it was a considered a moderate and priced the same as the other moderates. Disney quickly figures out what they had with WL and adjusted the price along with the category. WL is a very popular resort and I doubt that the reason they are converting some of the rooms into DVC is because it had low occupancy. People love the fact that they can stay deluxe for a fraction of the cost of other deluxe MK resorts.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I doubt that the reason they are converting some of the rooms into DVC is because it had low occupancy.

Actually, it is a factor. Save for certain seasons, WL was always one of the easiest Deluxe resorts to book. They weren't hitting consistent 90%+ occupancy.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Actually, it is a factor. Save for certain seasons, WL was always one of the easiest Deluxe resorts to book. They weren't hitting consistent 90%+ occupancy.

Not my experience booking at WL over the years. Where is your occupancy information coming from?

 

[bumbershoot]

If WL were my favorite Disney resort, I'd be embracing the fact that it's one of the cheaper deluxe's

Same here, but I think maybe Bob wants to stay at Poly again.

it's my resort of choice, but I also enjoyed staying at Polynesian

 

[Shanti]

I'm ludicrous huh. Sure Disney knows that and I know it, it's just not a prime reason for pricing. I'm in the hotel business and know about pricing. You want to keep your old customers and if you over price you lose them so you don't just raise prices because of that.

Also every year there is a certain amount of churn. You have to keep attracting new customers or eventually your customer base. So, you have to keep your pricing at levels that can still attract new customers. You can't say to yourself well I can keep raising prices and have higher prices because my old customers will pay it and I don't need to worry about new customers. Eventually your old customers get old and/or a significant number start going elsewhere. It's some hung every business plans for, you have to constantly attract new customers. If not, the churn will get you in the end.

The problem with that is, there are plenty of people willing and able to pay the new prices.

 

[Polydweller]

The problem with that is, there are plenty of people willing and able to pay the new prices.

Ok, I guess I don't know my business then. Look, yes there are but any business plans for the inevitable churn. You cannot plan for your current customers sustaining you indefinitely. You have to attract new customers every year or your customer base will inevitably dwindle as people age, die, have changes in life circumstances etc and stop being one of your customers.nThus, churn is something that does act as a limiter to the amount you can increase prices. And I do not how the hotel business works.

 

[johnsonet]

AKL and WL have smaller rooms that only sleep 4. Other Deluxes sleep 5.
Also, monorail service costs more.