Deluxes keep getting more expensive......

[boxer]

We have done deluxes for the past several years now, and I think that streak may come to an end this year. Just some quick figures on the proposed FD for Oct/Nov are showing the BC to be coming in around $6k for 10/30 to 11/9. It wasn't too many years ago this same trip would be closer to $5k.

What is everyone planning now that the resort prices are getting out of hand---are most of you moving to Renting DVC points (I am thinking about this for next year)?

Would the room-only discount possibly be better for us than the FD? My son has just been diagnosed with pretty bad meat allergies, so the DP does not have the appeal this year as much as in the past. We have even tossed around the idea of staying at the Swan/Dolphin, but have not stayed there for years.

The final option is just to stay at POR, and have some money left over to spend on vacation (we love the POR but are admittidly spoiled by the BC over the years).

Any advice????

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Off site or maybe Swanolphin. Disney wants a lot of money for 3 star hotels. I balked a couple of years ago.

 

[Sue M]

I agree, resort prices are getting out if hand. I only now book Deluxe if I can get a good discount. And those seem to be dwindling.
If I can't get a good discount, I love POR. I have no problem staying there.
Swan/Dolphin may be looking more attractive too.

For us (2) room discount for deluxe has always been cheaper, and paying for DDP. You'd have to run the numbers. But lately we have just taken room discount and going oop for meals. Booking TS for lunches when lunch menu is cheaper. Then doing CS for dinner. We usually come out paying less then going with DDP. For one, we don't drink pop, so order ice water. We also don't need dessert after every meal, so may share a dessert with 1 meal. Without DDP, we are free to pick up a sweet anywhere, not restricted to what is on the menu where we are dining. So at DHS we can eat somewhere, then when ready for dessert we can go to Starring Rolls for a cupcake

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I can't afford the Deluxes anymore unless I'm going to start doing split stays with 2 nights at Deluxe and the rest of the trip at a value.

I'm considering starting to do that because I want to try all of the Deluxe resorts at least for a night or two.

For me, the room only discount was always better than getting free dining. I've never done the DDP. This is because the Deluxe rooms are very expensive so a 25% or 30% discount off of those is pretty significant.

I've stayed at POR alot and love that resort if you choose to go that route. There's lots to see and do around that resort. I love the pool there.

I need to be able to cancel if something comes up and I can't go so renting DVC points isn't feasible for me. I sure wish I'd been able to talk my husband into letting me buy into DVC 8 years ago when I wanted to. Then I'd have my own points. but nope, never happened.
And now that I'm 50 with one kid heading to college in 2014 and another 4 years later and the cost of points has gone up, I don't see that ever happening.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes resort prices are going up. So are food prices, gasoline prices, clothes prices, movie prices and on and on.
The economy is slowly recovering. So far folks, in general, are willing to pay Disney prices. It will be interesting to watch and see if occupancy does drop off and how Disney will react if it does.
We own DVC, so although our annual dues do go up, the net impact on us is not as bad.

 

[boxer]

When do the room-only discounts start coming out? I want to say sometime in August, but I wasn't sure. I didn't realize they had a possibilty of 30% off, so that might be a way we can make the BC work.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

My problem is not so much the pricing... it's the quality for the pricing. If I am paying Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons pricing then... ante up all the way around. Just putting a "pretty" front on a building is not "deluxe", it's the features, service etc...

If I am spending that much on a hotel it's going to measure up. So try the Waldorf, Ritz etc...

And the discounts are a joke. It's still overpriced but folks seem to think "discount" Disney is your local oriental rug dealer..open up, mark rugs up to 200% over value, announce going out of sale business at 50% off, stuff is still way overpriced!

 

[Minniesgal]

This is exactly why we bought DVC

 

[jimandami]

We almost always rent points, with the exception being last year when we did free dining at AoA. My kids really wanted to try a family suite and there were 5 of us that trip, so it ended up being cheaper than renting a 1 bedroom. For a studio, however, you will almost always come out WAY cheaper renting, especially if you go through a private owner at $11-12/point. I mean, I love the deluxe resorts, but there is no way a room at BC or Poly is worth over $400/night!

 

[Kristibo42]

That's why I stay value. It's just a place to lay your head at night.

 

[ArwenMarie]

We spend a lot of time at the resort, pool, etc, so where we stay is important to us. But I think next year, we will do a split stay, but split it half offsite, and half onsite.

So yes, definitely will be looking for way to reduce lodging costs next trip. At the same time, we are starting to need more space, so a suite offsite will meet a lot of needs.

We're also cutting way back on ADRs and seeking out QS instead.

 

[boxer]

That's why I stay value. It's just a place to lay your head at night.

We've been to Disney so many times now, that we take as much (or even more) enjoyment at being at the resort and pools. We're not, and never have been, park commando's staying from Rope Drop-to-close in a park.

Typically, we hang out at the pool/resort by the day, and go to whatever park we want that night, usually utilizing the EMH nighttime hours.

 

[HM]

From 2000-2009 my family of four stayed in Deluxe resorts (often split stays) using various discounts. Last year when we decided to do a trip with the four of us, we stayed in CSR. We hadn't done a moderate (the four of us) since 1999. It was all price driven.

I've taken numerous other trips with each of my children or with friends and we've stayed in Value and Moderate, or even staying offsite three times.

This year, DD and I did a trip in January to POR and got a BB rate for a trip for the four of us at BC in December. Even with a 35% discount the rooms are more than $400 a night (we have two adult kids now 18 and 20). We are planning on cancelling. The oldest child is not interested in going, so DD and I will be downgrading again. I miss my Deluxe stays (location!). I miss the days were you could stay at Poly in the summer for less than $200 a night or stay at AKL for $145.

I just can't see us doing many more trips to WDW with the way prices are going, it's making it a lot easier to say, let's look for other destinations.

 

[Kristibo42]

We go back to the resorts every afternoon to swim or hang out. I would rather spend that money on something else. I can't see paying almost or over $300 a night. I can go to the other resorts and hang out when I want to.

 

[BlueSkies]

When do the room-only discounts start coming out? I want to say sometime in August, but I wasn't sure. I didn't realize they had a possibilty of 30% off, so that might be a way we can make the BC work.

There is a current discount out for part of August ..there is a room only from 8/15 to 9/28..BC is included ..and the discount is 30%... not sure if all room categories are included?? Good luck..hope the dates that you want are available!

 

[boxer]

There is a current discount out for part of August ..there is a room only from 8/15 to 9/28..BC is included ..and the discount is 30%... not sure if all room categories are included?? Good luck..hope the dates that you want are available!

Thanks! Need that to extend until 10/30-11/9 though....hopefully an extended rate offer will come out in the next couple weeks.

 

[DebbieB]

This is exactly why we bought DVC

Some members complain we deserve more perks, why don't we get free dining. Look at what we are getting - a guaranteed discount. My room at BLT in March was 21 points (studio) vs almost $600 rack rate (incl tax).

 

[Missyrose]

Some members complain we deserve more perks, why don't we get free dining. Look at what we are getting - a guaranteed discount. My room at BLT in March was 21 points (studio) vs almost $600 rack rate (incl tax).

Totally agree. Getting off the Disney discount treadmill is priceless.

 

[tarak]

Renting DVC points is the only way we'd be able to go with the whole family. My husband has zero interest staying anywhere but AKL. A one BR suite at Kidani for a week cost just under $3000 by renting points. Pricing it out on the WDW site and using the special offers link put it at over $1500 more. I don't know if the discount didn't apply because it was a suite or not. We'll probably rent from now on. If I'm taking a trip without the whole group, options are better. I'd love to stay at POR, for example. But since my husband isn't big on going to disney more than once a year, the only way to get him there is to book AKL.

 

[Minniesgal]

That's why I stay value. It's just a place to lay your head at night.

See for us it isn't just a place to lay our heads. We are only ever at the parks for the morning, we enjoy our resort in the afternoon and go for dinner in the evening. That's why we love staying at AKL (love the restaurants and the experience) and BLT ( love the ease of getting home from MK and the easy access to our favorite restaurants at the Poly and the grand Floridian) and also why we will love staying at GFVs once we buy our points. For us the only way to afford it was to buy points.

The amount of people I see deciding to rent points in future might mean lower availabilities, higher rental prices. Seriously people if you love deluxes and want to go regularly consider DVC