Deluxe Resorts A Little Out Of Control?

[maxiesmom]

Yes, but the point that I am perturbed over is....yes have a value..then sure pay some more for a moderate, and then more for deluxe. BUT Deluxe isn't just a reasonable amount more anymore...the standard rooms can be a ridiculous amount more now. I realize everyone has their opinion...I have been going staying with Disney for 16 years and I really have seen Deluxe rates get out of hand.

You may not think it reasonable which is fine. Others may think it reasonable which is fine too.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The issue here is that you're judging Disney's pricing based on your personal economic model. Disney price based on population booking trends.

People book and pay for the King Kamehameha Suite, rack rate. Club Level at CR, GF and Poly are frequently booked to capacity, sometimes with a 25% discount, but often at rack rate.

Disney are not pricing their rooms to your perceived valuation. They price to what the market will bear.

Whether this is a sign of other inequities in the economy aside, Disney fill the rooms without your patronage of the deluxe resorts, at the prices they're charging. So they do.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I think it's insane particularly because there isn't anything deluxe about disney deluxe hotels.

 

[DebbieB]

They jack up the rack rates so that people think they are getting a great deal with 30% off.

Glad I have my DVC.

 

[bbak30]

It's definitely out of my reach. We are staying at a 1 bedroom at SSR in February. I know those run easily $500 and up per night. NO WAY in the world would I pay that. Especially for SSR. We are only going because my in-laws traded in their RCI points for us.
I would love to be one of this people that had the money though.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Pop doesn't have family suites.

Yes, I know, I was just speaking to resort preferences. If they had them, I'd have booked that. I did word it poorly.

A suite at AoA is about $80 a night more than ASMu.

You are kind of proving cost isn't the deciding factor.

I don't believe I said it was. I upgraded for, convenience as I indicated. I wish it had been cheaper, but I still saved a fortune off of rack rates.

 

[cruiser21]

Were going back to WDW after a 4 year hiatus. We had previously had AP's, and have stayed in the most of the deluxe resorts. I was surprised to see how much the deluxe resorts, ticket prices and restaurants have gone up in price. In the last four years we have traveled all over Europe, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Our 10 day Med cruise was less than our upcoming week at the beach club, and our Europe trips were for the 4 of us, and I'm only taking my youngest to WDW. My dh and teenager opted out. My youngest is 12 and has been asking to go back so I thought I would take him again before he outgrows it. It will most likely be our last trip. I like WDW, but I don't find it's worth the cost when I can actually go to the real countries for less money then walking around Epcot looking at make believe countries.
I don't mean to knock WDW. Our first trip was in 2009 I thought it was a very good value, and something easily attainable for the average middle to middle upper class family.. now I'm not so sure. We can afford it, but I'm not so sure it's worth the cost anymore...I guess I'll find out in a few months.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm glad we have our DVC...and if we didn't we would be renting points for our stays. We also have begun checking out nice off-property spots for trips when we are out of points.

The only thing insane is anyone paying rack rate.

 

[fla4fun]

I kind of get where the OP is coming from. The Deluxe resorts used to feel like a good value, even when I wasn't getting much of a discount. Now, I feel like I'm getting the same resort experience I got 20 years ago, but paying way more than that experience is really worth even if I'm getting 30% off. For all the complaining, at least the theme parks have made improvements and added attractions. But if I stay at the YC today, it doesn't really offer more amenities than it offered when it first opened (unless you count the wifi, which MM+ made pretty much mandatory, and is a resort wide addition, not just a deluxe resort addition). If you do manage to find an added amenity, it's more likely to be an upcharge than included in the inflated rack rate. It's not that people aren't paying these rates and enjoying these resorts. It's not about being able to pay the higher rate - many people stay at value resorts who could afford deluxe suites. It's just that the price increases have way outpaced any improvements and additions that would increase the value for the dollars spent. For those of us who have been going to WDW for many years, it's a lot more apparent than it might be for people who haven't.

Think of it like going to the grocery store and buying a ribeye steak for $10 per pound today, and then next year that same quality and size of steak is $100 per pound. Does it taste better because it costs so much more? If other beef items only went up 10%, how do you justify paying the large increase on that ribeye? People who love ribeye steak may still buy them, and enjoy them, but does that make the increase a reasonable one? Or is it unreasonable because other products increased at a much smaller rate?

Obviously, opinions will differ, but that's the impression I got when reading the OP's post. And to an extent, I agree things are out of control price wise, but there's not much I can do about it.

I stay at a mix of value, mod, and deluxe, based on my budget, length of trip, and reason for trip. I can have just as good a trip at Pop as I can at the Beach Club. The main thing I won't do is pay rack rate. I will find a discount somewhere. . .

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The issue isn't "increasing the value per dollar spent." Realistically, there is higher demand for on-property rooms than ever before. Park attendance is near or at an all-time high.

Pricing is one way (and one of the easiest ways) to distribute demand. Discounts to fill in lower seasons, insane rates in high seasons where if the demand remains and everything fills, you win on margin.

They've found more elasticity at the Deluxe level than at lower levels in terms of demand distribution and margin padding.

 

[Babsy]

Yes, the deluxe rates are now ridiculously high. But, apparently, people are willing to pay those rates for the deluxe resorts nowadays. We don't pay rack rates, but even the AP rates that we now pay are painfully high, even in 'low' season (if that even exists anymore).

I miss the $49 value, $79 moderate and $129 deluxe (breakfast included) rates that we used to be able to get. But that isn't reality anymore.So we hunt for deals and spend less time at WDW then we used to. Our former 2 - 3 weeks are now 7-9 days. But we still go, because we love the escape from reality that WDW provides.

 

[kreckl]

I guess I figure you are paying for location- which is a prime factor in real estate. The proximity to where I want to go, and the ease of getting there. This means parks- but also onsite dining and a pool that is steps outside of my building so I don't need to walk past a dozen buildings to swim. Also since we travel when the weather is iffy- interior hallways and lobby/common areas in my building are a plus. While we often stay at mods and have recently tried values- for me it is a very different experience. We do not go to Disney just for the parks. I do not think my vacation would be the same staying at Pop or BC. And comparing Disney resorts to elsewhere just is-well, a different world...

 

[MamaBelle4]

I'm glad we have our DVC...and if we didn't we would be renting points for our stays. We also have begun checking out nice off-property spots for trips when we are out of points.

The only thing insane is anyone paying rack rate.

When we went in Oct. of 2014, we stayed at Lake Buena Vista Resort & Spa for 6 nights. We were in a 2 master bedroom suite with full kitchen and it was $900. The pool was awesome too. Had a huge pirate ship that had a slide. We loved it there.

 

[GPC0321]

DVC is the only way to go deluxe, IMO. My dream of treating my folks to a stay at the Grand Floridian next December for Christmastime and my mom's 75th birthday is only possible via DVC points. It has taken some effort in researching and finding a great owner, but in the end it is so worth it.

 

[lovin'fl]

Reading these posts about rates makes me very very glad to be a DVC owner... even when the dues bill arrives around Christmas every year.

 

[MaleficentRN]

If you look at what the rates are at The Four Seasons in Golden Oaks, they are fairly comparable. For the same dates, an obstructed view king with sofa bed at Four Seasons is $549/night vs. Grand Floridian outer garden view two queens and day bed $590/night.

 

[Imagineer5]

I rent DVC points when we want to go deluxe and pay under 200/night. When I want to go super cheap we stay offsite. I can't imagine spending 500+ per night anywhere. I've traveled to many places around the world and have stayed along the Grand Canal in Venice, at a lake-side apartment in Varenna on Lake Como, inside a tower along the Rhine River, and would NEVER EVER waste $ like that. But that's just me, many people will, and apparently do!

 

[dtripli]

I kind of get where the OP is coming from. The Deluxe resorts used to feel like a good value, even when I wasn't getting much of a discount. Now, I feel like I'm getting the same resort experience I got 20 years ago, but paying way more than that experience is really worth even if I'm getting 30% off. For all the complaining, at least the theme parks have made improvements and added attractions. But if I stay at the YC today, it doesn't really offer more amenities than it offered when it first opened (unless you count the wifi, which MM+ made pretty much mandatory, and is a resort wide addition, not just a deluxe resort addition). If you do manage to find an added amenity, it's more likely to be an upcharge than included in the inflated rack rate. It's not that people aren't paying these rates and enjoying these resorts. It's not about being able to pay the higher rate - many people stay at value resorts who could afford deluxe suites. It's just that the price increases have way outpaced any improvements and additions that would increase the value for the dollars spent. For those of us who have been going to WDW for many years, it's a lot more apparent than it might be for people who haven't.

Think of it like going to the grocery store and buying a ribeye steak for $10 per pound today, and then next year that same quality and size of steak is $100 per pound. Does it taste better because it costs so much more? If other beef items only went up 10%, how do you justify paying the large increase on that ribeye? People who love ribeye steak may still buy them, and enjoy them, but does that make the increase a reasonable one? Or is it unreasonable because other products increased at a much smaller rate?

Obviously, opinions will differ, but that's the impression I got when reading the OP's post. And to an extent, I agree things are out of control price wise, but there's not much I can do about it.

I stay at a mix of value, mod, and deluxe, based on my budget, length of trip, and reason for trip. I can have just as good a trip at Pop as I can at the Beach Club. The main thing I won't do is pay rack rate. I will find a discount somewhere. . .

Thank You....I think I might look into renting DVC points...that seems to be the alternative consensus here...I have never done that before; so it seems a little daunting to me...off I go to research!

 

[MaleficentRN]

Thank You....I think I might look into renting DVC points...that seems to be the alternative consensus here...I have never done that before; so it seems a little daunting to me...off I go to research!

You can save hundreds if you are flexible with your dates, location. I've been lucky in as I've gotten a great deal. It may not be the view I wanted and I may have to change my dates by a day or two, but it's worth it to me.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

When you "rent points" you are actually renting a reservation at a DVC resort made for you by a DVC member.

• The member will control the reservation until you check in.
• Your booking is generally non-refundable and cannot be cancelled for refund due to the restrictions of a timeshare booking by the owner.
• You will often need to pay in full up front, versus the $200/first night's stay deposit on a booking with Disney.
• Any changes, special room requests or adding the dining plan have to be done through the owner. Dining plans must be paid in full at the time that they are added to the reservation because that's the way that DVC works.
• Tickets, FP+ and ADRs are your own responsibility.
• DVC units are not the same as staying in a hotel room. Aside from not getting daily housekeeping, you will not get 2 beds in a studio unless you're staying at OKW. What you get in a studio is a queen bed and a full sleeper sofa. Some studios will also have a Murphy bed that is smaller than a twin bed that will accommodate a 5th person. Most 2BR units are a 1BR+a studio, so if you're looking at a bigger unit for a larger group, know the bed set up.
• You will have all of the advantages that any Disney resort guest gets (like EMH, access to the resort's theme pool, ADRs at 180+10, FP+ at 60 days prior to arrival, MBs) but none of the benefits that DVC members have (such as member discounts or events or Top of the World Lounge).
• You will not qualify for any additional Disney discounts. You also are unlikely to get any kind of upgrade (and should not ask for one, as the owner who made the reservation for you may be charged for it).
• Demand for DVC rental far exceeds the number of available units and owners willing to use their points for a rental. DVC is designed to be at or near 100% occupancy all year long.
• Your chances of getting exactly what you want are much greater if you have lined up someone, who owns at the resort that you are interested in booking, at least 11 months in advance of the day you wish to arrive. The probability of success goes down from there.
• A broker is a go-between between a renter and an owner. To meet your reservation request, they need an owner, with the right number of points, in the right use year, at the right resort -- AND the unit needs to be available. This can be a challenge to get alignment on.
• In general, as a renter do not expect to book Boardwalk Standard Studios or 2BR, BLT Standard Studios or 2BR units, Grand Floridian studios, or Animal Kingdom Value or Club Level units. You can ask, but have backup plans (and budget, in the case of the Standard/Value units).
• DVC "busy season" does not align to what people think of as high season at Disney, and starts in late September and runs through marathon. Epcot resorts and near-park can be hard for owners to book during Food & Wine.
• Renting from a DVC owner can get you staying at a deluxe resort, in a villa-type room, for less than a standard room at that resort would cost from Disney. But it is non-refundable.
• If there is any issue, Disney will not be a part of any fix, as your transaction is not with them.