Deluxe and FP

[DebbieB]

I don't think Disney wants to go down the road of a "caste" system for park benefits. Sure, it would make those who can afford Deluxe happy but would turn off those who cannot.

Regarding fastpasses, considering the new MaxPass system at Disneyland, I wonder if they regret not making FP+ a paid benefit.

 

[disneyvoice]

I'm just saying people saying the value Resorts do not tend to spend the same amount of money as people in the deluxe Resorts do inside of the parks the restaurant souvenirs and little amenities really add up quickly and I really don't see value people paying that amount of money

The amount of money we spend in the parks has nothing to do with which resort we stay at. Sometimes staying at a Value resort serves us better (when we travel with our teenage son and enjoy having two rooms and two bathrooms but don't want to shell out additional money for a more expensive suite), sometimes we prefer to stay at a Deluxe resort (when my DH and I go by ourselves and are planning to spend more time at the resort). I am willing to bet we have spent more money in the parks on our trips when we have stayed at the All Star Music because those have been family vacations. In fact, on the last three trips my DH and I took we stayed at a Deluxe resort but we decided to go without ADRs and ate at mainly CS restaurants because we wanted a more relaxed trip.

 

[hllb]

I know I'd be spending a lot more in the parks if I were staying in a value hotel for this trip. But, I decided to pay for the nicer resort instead. We'll still spend plenty in the parks, but I would have let the kids get more souvenirs and such if we were staying somewhere cheaper.

But to be fair to the OP, there is a portion of people that stay at Deluxe resorts and are not budget conscious at all. Most of us do have some kind of budgetary restrictions.

 

[tobikaye]

3) ....but I'm just saying people saying the value Resorts do not tend to spend the same amount of money as people in the deluxe Resorts do inside of the parks the restaurant souvenirs and little amenities really add up quickly and I really don't see value people paying that amount of money

Then you see wrong. I usually spend more money in the parks when I stay moderate or value than I when I stay deluxe. The reason is that I spend more time in the parks, or at DS, when I stay moderate or value. When I stay deluxe, I spend more time at the resort using those amenities. I know in 2017, I spent more money at the parks when I stayed at POFQ in January than when I stayed at AKL in June. I found I spent more time in the club lounge or on my balcony watching animals at AKL than I did going to the parks.

I am staying at POP in January, but already I have shelled out more money for in-park experience than I did when I stayed at AKL. I will also spend more time at the parks meaning I will spend more money there than if we had kept our reservation at BC.

If they start offering more on-site experiences based on which level of resort you stay, I would expect to see less discounts offered for the deluxe resorts. Currently, the larger discounts are on deluxe resorts as the incentive to get guests to stay there. If they offer more park "experiences", that would be the incentive over the larger discount.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

You're paying for your luxury hotel experience.
If that's how you vacation then that's fine but you shouldn't be expecting more than that... a luxury hotel experience.

ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Just my way of saying, not so much that.

 

[Cornish Lad]

1) to the person who said I'm throwing my money around and mentioned people starving in India - to some people in this world you staying at a Value Resort and going to Walt Disney World is seen as you throwing your money around.. so stop the judgement.
2) to the person who can't believe that it cost $6,000 more to stay in a deluxe than a value have you tried to book a deluxe lately during peak season? Some of the rooms are going for over $1,000 a night and if you go for 8 to 10 days that definitely is at least $6,000 more
3) to the person who said that everyone spends the same amount in the park that is completely untrue some people bring their own water bottles which is fine they don't want to pay for the water in the Parks but I'm just saying people saying the value Resorts do not tend to spend the same amount of money as people in the deluxe Resorts do inside of the parks the restaurant souvenirs and little amenities really add up quickly and I really don't see value people paying that amount of money

Wrong on 3 - we stayed in a value last year and spent a fortune in the parks - next year we are staying at a moderate and have already planned to spend less in the parks so Disney will probably end up getting about the same but spent in a different way.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Just my way of saying, not so much that.

Well if you don't find deluxe up to your luxury hotel exp erienc3 standards then don't stay deluxe but it shouldn't mean you deserve more FP+

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Well if you don't find deluxe up to your luxury hotel exp erienc3 standards then don't stay deluxe but it shouldn't mean you deserve more FP+

Not saying that either. Simply pointing out that by staying deluxe at WDW you aren't paying for a "luxury hotel experience" by any stretch of the imagination. Outside of more room space there aren't really upgraded amenities that come with in a staying deluxe room. You are paying for having closer access to restaurants/spas, and in some cases the parks, as well as maybe a few more transportation options. While those surely are perks, the level of service isn't vastly increased or luxury in any way. It's not a complaint but rather more of just a statement of how it is there.

 

[Cornish Lad]

Not saying that either. Simply pointing out that by staying deluxe at WDW you aren't paying for a "luxury hotel experience" by any stretch of the imagination. Outside of more room space there aren't really upgraded amenities that come with in a staying deluxe room. You are paying for having closer access to restaurants/spas, and in some cases the parks, as well as maybe a few more transportation options. While those surely are perks, the level of service isn't vastly increased or luxury in any way. It's not a complaint but rather more of just a statement of how it is there.

It's as we say over here in the old country "you pays your money so you makes your choice" - you know what's included so it's up to you to choose to stay in a deluxe or not.

 

[Catvondita]

Why can't those staying in value resorts wear masks so we don't have to breathe the same commoner air as them?? JK but for real this is kind of a ridiculous entitled post dude. Spending a lot of money for a Deluxe gives you the bonus of better amenities, a nicer looking hotel etc. The fact you can afford to shell out $6000+ on a trip should be reward enough lol. I agree with a lot of the other posts here, if you don't think the benefits of spending a lot to stay at a Deluxe is worth it then maybe stay somewhere offsite that is nicer and cheaper than a Disney Hotel.

 

[PSUGuy]

We're Board Walk regulars although on rented DVC points so we don't get clobbered as badly as those paying rack rate. That said, we're still paying more than we'd pay if we went the Value/Mod route and we pay the difference in order to get themeing we prefer and location. I agree with others that it's not a good idea to create a Caste System but I'm surprised Disney hasn't. When it comes to milking the Golden Fleece, and fleecing us, Disney rules supreme.

Bill From PA

 

[piccolopat]

The parks are the parks and the resorts are the resorts. When you opt to stay at a deluxe rather than a moderate or a value, you are getting the benefits associated with the deluxe - bigger room, better location, more services, etc. Regardless of where you stay, everyone pays the same to get into the parks (unless you qualify for a discount such as FL resident, AP, DVC, etc.). You're already getting the benefit of earlier FP+ than offsite visitors. With the parks and resorts as busy as they are, there is just no reason for Disney to provide more benefits to people staying at certain resorts.

 

[anomamatt]

Whether people like it or not, there already exists a tiered system based on how much you are willing to spend. Furthermore, I don't think the OP is proposing anything out of line with Disney's other ventures (e.g., DCL and concierge). Pay to play is everywhere in Disney: you can get unlimited fast passes with a VIP tour, you can do the Pandora rides with a DAK after dark tour, etc etc. If you are willing to spend enough money, you can have a very different Disney experience than a regular guest.

I'm sure Disney has thought about incentivizing deluxe resorts, but the truth is that people are already paying a premium without additional perks. People (me included) pay for Deluxes to get the location, upgraded rooms, etc. Disney has no need to add perks, because deluxe room occupancy rates are very high all year.

 

[nursejackie]

Why would Disney offer these perks up to people already packing their deluxe hotels? They would just be throwing away potential profits. Instead, they could sell a special ticket where you can book fastpasses earlier. "Mickey's fastpass magic" just $99 per ticket! Book 75 days out. Or "Mickey's super, duper fastpass magic;" book 100 days out for $150! or "bounceback fastpass;" 365 days out for $199.

Hey, don't be giving Disney any ideas!

 

[anomamatt]

The parks are the parks and the resorts are the resorts. When you opt to stay at a deluxe rather than a moderate or a value, you are getting the benefits associated with the deluxe - bigger room, better location, more services, etc. Regardless of where you stay, everyone pays the same to get into the parks (unless you qualify for a discount such as FL resident, AP, DVC, etc.). You're already getting the benefit of earlier FP+ than offsite visitors. With the parks and resorts as busy as they are, there is just no reason for Disney to provide more benefits to people staying at certain resorts.

I agree with your last sentence (as I said in my post right after yours, no need for Disney to add extras when they don't have trouble keeping rooms full). However, I don't agree that the parks and resorts are distinct. For example: EMH, fastpass booking windows (etc) are all park benefits based on staying in a WDW resort or not. So the suggestion that Deluxes get something special for the parks is congruent with Disney's other perks. But again, as you said, they won't do it because they have no need to. Furthermore, I'm sure WDW calculates that deluxe guests will just buy tours (etc) if they want additional FPs... giving away more FPs would mean fewer tours, etc.

 

[piccolopat]

I agree with your last sentence (as I said in my post right after yours, no need for Disney to add extras when they don't have trouble keeping rooms full). However, I don't agree that the parks and resorts are distinct. For example: EMH, fastpass booking windows (etc) are all park benefits based on staying in a WDW resort or not. So the suggestion that Deluxes get something special for the parks is congruent with Disney's other perks. But again, as you said, they won't do it because they have no need to. Furthermore, I'm sure WDW calculates that deluxe guests will just buy tours (etc) if they want additional FPs... giving away more FPs would mean fewer tours, etc.

Some of the resort perks you mentioned (EMH, booking windows) are park benefits for WDW resort guests, regardless of the level they are staying at. I know that the type of DDP that is offered for free at some times during the year is based on the type of resort you book but that is because it is a trade off for the room discount you aren't using and so in a way the cost is absorbed in your room cost. I can see them offering extra FP+ for a set fee at some point in time.

 

[anomamatt]

I can see them offering extra FP+ for a set fee at some point in time.

I don't know if they will ever outright sell FPs, but I think we will see more and more specialized tours centered around hard-to-get FPs. For example with pandora, if you don't have FPs for FOP and don't want to wait several hours in line, there is a $250 tour you can do. If you don't have a FP for 7DMT, you pay for EMM. For FEA there is a Frozen dessert party... Imagine what there will be when Star Wars Land opens... All the hard to get FPs have pay-to-play experiences.

 

[nursejackie]

We rent DVC points to stay at the Deluxe resorts because we like to have the facilities in the room (kitchen/laundry/multiple bedrooms), that is why we pay those prices because that is what is important to us. Everyone has different priorities with regard to spending their hard-earned money, and what is important to them on vacation. Just one example is the issue you raised - bringing water in to the parks:

The person who brings water into the parks may be on a budget, but could equally be a well-off but careful spender, or annoyed at the prices charged in Disney and refuse to be ripped off. The person who doesn't bring in water may be not well off, but not want to carry it around, or be able to, or may want to be bag-free for easy entry, or just left it in the fridge by accident on that day. Judgements shouldn't be made on appearance only.

Anyway, as the old saying goes 'it's horses for courses'.