Crazy Prices for Deluxe Hotels

[jimmymc]

I only do it because of DVC. Before I bought in, I thought the moderates were a pretty good value. $350/night got you on property, sometimes with Skyliner access or boats to Disney Springs. But even just a few years ago you could get Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge for $350 pretty regularly.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Another option is the Swan and Dolphin. I've never stayed there but compared to Disney deluxe resorts the prices are very reasonable and from what I've seen you get the same benefits as a Disney deluxe resort. Also the location is great since Hollywood Studios and Epcot are within walking distance or a short boat ride.

Although still reasonable compared to Disney’s Deluxe resorts, the price for the Swan and Dolphin seems to have jumped this past year. I remember always seeing rates in the $250 - $350 range. Now it’s $400 - $500 every time I check.

I could be wrong about this - We’re west coasters, so I only look occasionally. Could also be due to weird occupancy rates during the last 4-5 years.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I read that all Disney hotels were full during our recent trip during Orlando spring break. If the hotels are full, bet some people were paying rack rate.

Absolutely some people were there paying rack rate. I was there at the beginning of the week, parks were nuts and hotel availability scarce.

LOL! But the Disney Visa discounts this summer are REALLY good. Stay in a hotel with a nice pool and do the parks in the late afternoon/evening. That's our plan. Most deluxe are well under $500/night with this summer discount.

Concur the summer discounts are REALLY good compared to the last couple years. What's even crazier to me is the availability. It is night and day from the last few years. Looking at a Sept trip and I was able to book the exact rooms I wanted on the AP rate- and I rolled in later the day discounts dropped to the public. mid-Sept is a quieter time but I've traveled then before. Literally don't remember last time I was able to do that. I even booked two Disney resorts, no Swolphin. Haven't been able to make that work in my trip budgets in some time.

There was/were discount(s) last year. One I know of was for Disney+ subscribers.

Availability of discounted rooms though was very stingy. There were commonly room types at rack rate but nothing on discount, to snag one on discount I had to hunt and hunt and hunt.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Although still reasonable compared to Disney’s Deluxe resorts, the price for the Swan and Dolphin seems to have jumped this past year. I remember always seeing rates in the $250 - $350 range. Now it’s $400 - $500 every time I check.

I could be wrong about this - We’re west coasters, so I only look occasionally. Could also be due to weird occupancy rates during the last 4-5 years.

Swophin rates are dynamic and they swing a lot making it hard to tell for sure how much they've increased. It could be the dates you're watching have conventions holding blocks as well and those aren't released until close in- and sometimes instead of releasing the convention takes more. They'll put rates out over $1000/nt if they're booked almost solid.

 

[melissalovesfigment]

We have been staying at the Dolphin. Their website algorithms are not good though so look every day for awhile before you book because their prices seem to change. We can suffer the double beds for the $ and location. We have also rented points from Davids DVC. If you have flexible travel dates, you can get some good deals on "dedicated reservations".

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Swophin rates are dynamic and they swing a lot making it hard to tell for sure how much they've increased. It could be the dates you're watching have conventions holding blocks as well and those aren't released until close in- and sometimes instead of releasing the convention takes more. They'll put rates out over $1000/nt if they're booked almost solid.

When I look I’m usually checking multiple dates and doing “what if” scenarios. I do check the events calendars and other info to see if anything is going on. And I’m usually checking far out on the calendar to mitigate the booked up impact (combined with checking for events).

I could be wrong, but looking at similar times of year, the baseline for the Swan seem to have increased significantly. Hopefully I’m wrong, and we’ll be able to find lower rates next time we’re searching.

 

[AndreaDM]

Although still reasonable compared to Disney’s Deluxe resorts, the price for the Swan and Dolphin seems to have jumped this past year. I remember always seeing rates in the $250 - $350 range. Now it’s $400 - $500 every time I check.

I could be wrong about this - We’re west coasters, so I only look occasionally. Could also be due to weird occupancy rates during the last 4-5 years.

I just booked Dolphin for end of April through Priceline for $212 per night, plus the resort fee of course.

 

[Miffy]

Our regular WDW resort was AKL for years--either pool view or savanna view.

December 2021 we stayed there on a we're-happy-just-to-be-back splurge and it was ~$700/night--that was WITH an AP discount. And there was no housekeeping. There was supposed to be every-other-day trash+ towels but we had to call and beg for towels and we took out our own trash.

The hallways were lined with people's trash. I think perhaps other guests thought if they left things out in the hall that someone would dispose of them . . . but no one did.

We've stayed there only one other time since, also with an AP discount and also for way too much $, although not $700/night but it was $600, I think. Splurge is officially over, especially with G+ prices.

Now we stay at POFQ or GDT.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Unfortunately, we did for a few nights at YC CL. Ouch. We rented points at BCV for the rest.

ETA: I just remembered we may have gotten a $500 total stay discount at YC.

We did 5 nts at BCV in March 2021 for $500/nt. I didn't even care, I was so desperate for a vacation. Then I changed my mind and wanted a full week. We couldn't get BCV for 2 more nights but we were able to rent points for a 1 BR at OKW. By then we just wanted to relax so it worked out well. Parks were still limiting the number of guests so it want crowded.

Now that cruising is available, I have no desire to pay outrageous amounts to visit mobbed parks.
We’re very parked out.

 

[rnorwo1]

The only sales I see are the summer months when it feels like satan is breathing on you. You couldn't pay me to go in summer-discount or not. ha!

This is hilarious, I'm going to have to use this sometime! We went in August in 2020 when the kids were still doing virtual school; we are from Louisiana and used to the high temps and humidity, so that probably helped, but the low crowds then were amazing, and it was one of our best trips. I was worried about being in a self-contained sauna with the masks, but they weren't bad either. Noooow, I'm not sure I would want to go in the summer and wait in long lines....

 

[ajlsjl]

All Disney resort prices are insane. POR running $300/night. I've long since been priced out of Disney vacations.

 

[karen4546]

All Disney resort prices are insane. POR running $300/night. I've long since been priced out of Disney vacations.

That is rack rate. We have a couple of nights booked before our stay at Boulder Ridge and I think it is $240/night for POFG Garden view in a couple of weeks.

OP, I stayed at Grand Destino tower club level in February and with the AP discount, it was much less than standard at AKL and the CL access was great. The Tower has a "deluxe" feel to it. Three bridges was good also. So, you may want to check out GDT.

 

[Her Dotness]

I can't believe people pay $800+ per night for a Disney hotel.

I'll offer the opposing view, because I definitely can believe people pay that and more for Disney stays.

We used to stay club level GF and thoroughly enjoyed our stays. Didn't make it resort-only either in order to max the worth-it factor.

We didn't do that every year by any means, skipped a year or two in between.

We don't drink or go clubbing, don't have kids and don't spend money on other activities and hobbies. We also travel very little other than a week at Disney.

What we did was to save till it hurt for our CL splurges. Instead of eating out when tempted, one or the other would say, "Let's put it to Disney instead." We'd tally about how much we'd have spent and put it into Disney trip savings or buy/add to a giftcard.

Feeling like pampered rich people added to the bubble fantasy of happily ever after--for at least that week. Heck, yeah, it was worth it.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

What strikes me as crazy too, is the 2023 WDW hotel price difference between Standard view and pool view in 2023. It used to only be about $10 difference/night.

WDW now often wants an extra $100 to go from Standard view to pool view at the deluxe hotels! That's crazy!

Other times of year, the difference isn't quite as steep but at the mods it is often $35-40 and at some deluxe hotels/times of year it is over $100 more per night.
In June, AKL stand is $532 (M-W), and $774 for savanna view! With tax that comes to $272/night! (rack rates)

 

[SL6827]

What strikes me as crazy too, is the 2023 WDW hotel price difference between Standard view and pool view in 2023. It used to only be about $10 difference/night.

WDW now often wants an extra $100 to go from Standard view to pool view at the deluxe hotels! That's crazy!

Other times of year, the difference isn't quite as steep but at the mods it is often $35-40 and at some deluxe hotels/times of year it is over $100 more per night.
In June, AKL stand is $532 (M-W), and $774 for savanna view! With tax that comes to $272/night! (rack rates)

Pushing it as far as they can try.

 

[notatallmagic]

We got a low rate at the GF when they reopened after covid (~$500) but like the Poly the rates have been in the sratospehere since then. You can stay at the Coronado for 4 nights at those rates.

We were able to stay at Animal Kingdom with a Savannah view (2 nights) and at the Contemporary (1 night) right after Covid reopening for about (this is a close guess) $300ish a night. It was really fun to experience the different resorts, the views, the dining, and the pools, but typically we are/were in the parks from morning rope drop to close, so spending on higher price resorts hasn't seemed logical.

Last Christmas, we went for three days, and found a decent deal for Yacht Club, and wanted the proximity due to the crowds and past crazy long bus waits. My Disney loving kiddo now has the "bucket list goal" to stay at every Disney resort. So we are carefully prowling the DVC/discount rates on Deluxe resorts to accomplish that. But $800/night? No way. I don't think I could stomach more than $400, and then only on a splurge.

 

[notatallmagic]

This is precisely why our family is now staying at POFQ, our favorite mod. We absolutely love GF but the prices are insane. In Jan/Feb, we were unable to get any discounts and paid rack rate for the first time ever. We had two rooms at POFQ for >$200 less than one room at GF per night. That really adds up for a 10 night vacation. I will take that deal every time!

I remember several years ago being able to book GF on a special agency discount for around $350 a night. Boy, I really miss those prices.

The Port Orleans resorts are two of our new favorites on my kiddo's "let's try every single Disney resort" project. I especially have enjoyed them on a couple "no parks" visits we took - gorgeous views and walking areas; boat/proximity to Disney Springs, and great on-site dining. The buses were also very good at French Quarter. Super good "Disney" value IMO.

 

[snowwite]

Another option is the Swan and Dolphin. I've never stayed there but compared to Disney deluxe resorts the prices are very reasonable and from what I've seen you get the same benefits as a Disney deluxe resort. Also the location is great since Hollywood Studios and Epcot are within walking distance or a short boat ride.

I just checked and they still offer a Nurse Discount rate as well as one for First Responders. It’s 30% off. Since they are now under Marriott you can also use Bonvoy points. It’s code y7n.

 

[PalmettoPath]

This is why our last couple of trips we have stayed offsite. The value is just not there for me anymore to stay on site. Don't get me wrong I love being in the "bubble" but found as we have gotten older the bubble is losing its luster. We are going again in October and booked a 4 bedroom 4 bath house with pool and hot tub for less than $1500.00 for the week. Only 15 minutes from parks. So by the time we spilt cost with our friends and oldest son and his wife its less than 500 a couple. With that deal we don't feel bad "splurging" on preferred parking at the parks.

You hit the nail on the head. It's all about perceived value. For many guests, those rates don't faze them at all and it's worth it. For others, it's not value and there are other options, onsite and off.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

You hit the nail on the head. It's all about perceived value. For many guests, those rates don't faze them at all and it's worth it. For others, it's not value and there are other options, onsite and off.

To add to that, the prices also inflate the ‘value’ of buying into their timeshare.