Depressed over rates

[LeahA]

I just can't get over the rates at some of these hotels. We are a middle class family of 5. Last year I was able to get a code for our Spring Break trip at the WL woods view room for $179.00. When we arrived we were upgraded to a courtyard view room. I love this hotel but we were a little cramped in the room. I would love to stay onsite again, at either the Poly, Contemp., Beach Club or a Cabin at FW.

I just get so frustrated with these rates. How can the average family go to Disney and stay in a deluxe resort at these prices? I know there are AAA rates, or going at a different time of year. But, why can't I go when I want to go and be able to stay somewhere bigger and not spend $300-$400 per night?

We've stayed offsite so many times, and I wouldn't care about staying in a moderate or value if there were 4 of us, but, I don't want to be cramped in a hotel room with 5 of us. My kids are young, they like to play a little in the a.m. and before bed in the hotel room.

Sorry, I don't mean to whine and complain, I just want to take my family to Disney, stay somewhere nice and not break the bank.

So, if anyone knows how to do that, let me know.

 

[LizzyBB]

Leah,

what about two adjoining rooms at a value? I'm paying, with AAA discount, about $84 a night for the regular season at the ASMo. It would come out to $168 a night for you, and you'd have 2 bathrooms and more square footage than at a deluxe!

Elisabet

 

[Julia M]

I just can't get over the rates at some of these hotels.

I just get so frustrated with these rates. How can the average family go to Disney and stay in a deluxe resort at these prices? I know there are AAA rates, or going at a different time of year. But, why can't I go when I want to go and be able to stay somewhere bigger and not spend $300-$400 per night?

Well, basically the situation is that there really isn't an expectation that middle class families should be able to afford deluxe resorts. That's why the moderates and values were built.

And the truth is, Disney will likely continue to offer some discounts, such as AAA and going at a different time of the year. Your options are to go then, or pay a higher price at a different time, or stay off site. But, saying

But, why can't I go when I want to go and be able to stay somewhere bigger and not spend $300-$400 per night?

is unrealistic.

Sorry.

Julia M

 

[scanne]

Whoa, Julia, a little harsh, huh?


To the OP. I can understand where you are coming from! It IS very frusturating to look at daunting hotel prices! These boards can be a great resource to help you find some information that's lurking out there. Have you ever considered renting points from a DVC member? You can get a villa for a lot less this way and that would give you the space you need in an accomodation you want. Check out the DVC board.

And lots of luck to you in finding that great deal!!!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I have never stayed at at a WDW Deluxe and probably never will.
But i have stayed DVC studio by renting points. Have stayed WDW value and moderate.For a family of 5 can you stay at POR Alligator Bayou with the trundle bed?
Have also stayed offsite in a 2 bdrm timeshare with Jacuzzi tub and huge TV for less than 100 per night(CPGV).
So the choice is space vs. WDW location for me. Sometimes i choose one, sometimes the other.
While some say that DVC equates to a deluxe i would only agree for larger than a studio.

 

[LeahA]

Julia M,

Thank you for insulting me this morning, that is exactly why I posted on this board to get an insult from a total stranger.

My family and I take 1 nice vacation per year. That is 1 week of vacation. We choose to go during Spring Break because the kids are out of school, and that fits our schedule the best.

For a family of 5 with my budget, the only options at this time is to:

1.) stay offsite
2.) book 2 rooms at a value
3.) stay at PR-Aligator Bayou

I have stayed offsite, I have done Priceline, I have stayed in a condo.

I don't think I am being a 2 year old for wanting or wishing to be able to stay in a "deluxe" resort without paying $300-$400 per night. I think that rates get higher and higher every year, and frankly Disney or not, no hotel room is worth that much money!

I've checked into DVC points for that time, the Friday and Saturday nights are a killer.

Thanks for those who posted constructive comments for me.

 

[meandtheguys2]

FWIW, we are renting points for Sun. - Thur. and staying elsewhere for Fri. and Sat. I have no clue where! (Maybe a Wilderness Cabin) It is really hard when you are a 5 person family.

Hope you don't let folks get you down. Especially strangers!!!

 

[raven69david]

I avoid spring break and June through August like the plague. When all the kids are out of school the lines are next to impossible...even with Fast Pass. As a suggestion, you may want to take the family to WDW first week after school ends, 1 week before school starts or first week after christmas break. My wife and i always take our vacation to WDW in either February before spring break, in October or first two weeks of December. We always try to avoid the parks when the kids are out of school, but now that we have a baby those days are numbered. We plan our trips from Sunday through Thursday to avoid the serious markup in room prices for Friday & Saturday. Staying at a WDW resort doesn't seem to have the added price markup for weekends....at least i haven't seen this in the few times i've booked/tried to book a room directly with them.

I know it's hard to take a vacation at any other time, however going during the peak season schedule will cost more money no matter what. I hope the suggestions i gave will help a little.

 

[califred]

You could rent a nice house off site for in the range of 125/night and have space, a place for your kids to stay and your own pool. That is definitely what we would be doing if not for the military rate we were able to get.

Have you thought about a cabin? I know it's not a Deluxe Resort but it's got extra space and a place to keep milk and snacks. Or like someone else suggested renting points?

Good luck

 

[LeahA]

We have been thinking about the cabin at FW. That is truly the most room for your money. I have been looking around at websites for private homes as well. I have no objection to any good ideas. We spend most of our summers going camping on the weekends. We thought about camping at Disney, but we just bought our camper and we are thinking that were not ready for a 7 night stay and a 2,000 mile drive with it.

Thanks for your help and ideas.

 

[Heather Smith]

I stayed at POR once and could never again justify the cost. This past trip we stayed at Bonnet Creek and also got a room at All Star Movies for a portion of the trip for the free dining. We were going to use the room to get the Disney experience, but my kids (5 and 7) took one look at the place and declared they would not stay there. So we had a room, we never set foot in (but the food was great). The only way, I would stay on site is DVC and since I can't afford that either, the next best thing is Bonnet Creek.

I'm with you about the cost of rooms at Disney: I don't know how people can justify the cost.

 

[Julia M]

My family and I take 1 nice vacation per year. That is 1 week of vacation. We choose to go during Spring Break because the kids are out of school, and that fits our schedule the best.

Well, unfortunately, you are picking on of the most expensive times to go WDW. I went the same time in 2001 and paid $199 per night to stay at Port Orleans. I also have thre kids in school, but if you go in August, that's value season for the deluxes. I think value season starts in July, but I'm not sure. I am staying one night at PO when we arrive on our next vacation, but I agreee with you, I would never stay there with 5 people.

I've checked into DVC points for that time, the Friday and Saturday nights are a killer.

yes, you are right. I've compared prices, and the concierge level at the Poly is cheaper than DVC for my family of five

Thank you for insulting me this morning, that is exactly why I posted on this board to get an insult from a total stranger.

yes, you are right, I shouldn't have said that. It was rude, and I'm sorry. I will edit it out, because it was ucalled for.

But, I still stand by what I said. Deluxe resorts are expensive, and you are choosing (as you said) to travel at one of the priciest times at WDW. It's just not realistic to say

But, why can't I go when I want to go and be able to stay somewhere bigger and not spend $300-$400 per night?

You just can't. Maybe you could before, but it's just not happeneing anymore

Julia

 

[CBear]

The reality is, of course, that Disney is a business with share holders to satisfy (many of whom, I know, are regular posters to Disboards!).

If Disney couldn't fill the Deluxe rooms at the prices they now charge, they would lower the rates. Apparently they're not having that problem.

The Deluxe rates are high, but no more so than many nicer hotels (where the rooms are often not as nice as the Disney Deluxe rooms) in major cities like NYC, LA, Miami or even here in Toronto.

I really wanted to stay at least two nights at AKL this December, but I just can't justify the price difference when I know we'll spend so little time in the room, and when my 13 DD and I had such a great time at POP last May. I'd rather use the extra money for souvenirs ('cause they're expensive too!).

 

[lyncruiser]

LeahA,

Spring Break probably is an expensive time to go. If your children are young enough, perhaps missing school wouldn't be so bad. Then you could try a slower, cheaper time as other have suggested.

Also, you might consider buying one Annual Pass, with which you perhaps could get a discounted room. Have someone on these boards check your dates first, though, to see if the Best Rate is available.

Finally, you might consider the Swan/Dolphin, although I'm not sure if you can have five in a room there. Perhaps if one is under three? I just don't know. Others no doubt will. Swan/Dolphin sometimes has really great rates, especially if you're an AP holder, a teacher, nurse, government worker or military.

We just stayed at the Dolphin and really enjoyed it. It's a luxury resort with, in many ways, better service than a Disney deluxe. The beds are incredibly comfortable with great down pillows. The bath amenities are higher quality than at Disney deluxes. The boats are really convenient to Epcot and MGM. The bus service to MK was terrific. The rooms are on the small side -- which I see you don't want so maybe this wouldn't work.

My other thought is if you could get an AP rate for a wing room at the Contemporary. We've stayed there and absolutely loved it. The rooms are really big and comfortable. The first floor rooms have a nice patio. The kids loved the bunnies and ducks going by. The pools are nice. The monorail can't be beat. I think with AP Best rates it might only be $180 or so a night in the value season, which includes part of the summer when kids are out of school. As I said, though, find out availability before you buy the AP.

Hope this helps.

 

[LizzyBB]

CBear, I completely agree with you. When I saw the price difference between the value and the deluxes, it just did not make economic sense to me. I mean I can buy a whole new bedroom set for my son for that price! And he'll have that for years, not for one week. It's not that I cannot afford it, but I do not make so much money that I can say the difference is peanuts to me. Like everyone on the boards says anyways, you're at Disney!! Anything else is unimportant...

Elisabet

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Another option you have is to book your trip as soon as you return from your other trip, this way you have a year to pay it off (almost) and though it is expensive, when you spread it out, it's more doable. That's what DH and i do, we've stayed at all the different resort types and will keep doing it this way!

 

[pennst8r]

Why is everyone jumping on Julia M? I'm sorry if it offended everyone, but she's right. Deluxes at WDW are expensive--3&4 star hotels EVERYWHERE are expensive. It's useless to argue about it. Altho Julia M might have said it a little strongly, the hotels are levelled so that everyone can afford something. To pretend that the deluxe should be priced the same as the mods or values really is unrealistic.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Why is everyone jumping on Julia M? I'm sorry if it offended everyone, but she's right. Deluxes at WDW are expensive--3&4 star hotels EVERYWHERE are expensive. It's useless to argue about it. Altho Julia M might have said it a little strongly, the hotels are levelled so that everyone can afford something. To pretend that the deluxe should be priced the same as the mods or values really is unrealistic.

I did not see where anyone was jumping on her.
She came back into the thread and said that was wrong of her to say it.So I dont see a problem

 

[goofydad621]

The rooms are getting scary exspensive BUT that is Disney, we just returned on Monday and like I told a couple of cm's that chuckled at this. Disney is in the business of seperating me from as much of my money as possible and I do it knowingly and willingly. Don't get the idea that we have allot of extra money we spent 9 nights in Jan at the poly. Loved it got a GREAT discount about $220 a night and it was our first vacation in 7 years due to layoffs and other life issues but we did it willingly and would not trade it in for anyting in the world. That being said we cannot do that again, we love the deluxes but it will be ajoining rooms for us at a value resort. After all we don't spend that much time in the room and the thought of haveing 2 bathrooms even just going with 2 of our kids sounds great( it still leaves me out numbered 3 females to 1 male) But I think we are going to try to buy into the DVC, for less then one vacation your down payment is taken care of and you can payoff your vacations for the future 40 50 yrs in 10 yrs.

What ever you decide enjoy the mouse that is what it is all about

Dave Goofydad Dionne

 

[DANAW]

LeahA

I hear what you are saying about Disney prices. We were at the WL last April during our spring break. I paid around $175 for woods view (AP discount), and we were upgraded to courtyard.
We wanted to stay at WL this coming November, and the BR was $245 for courtyard view, which is all they were showing available! We really expected to pay more for spring break time, not November!! So, we are staying in a moderate in November. Two years ago in November, we paid $155 for a standard view room at WL. It seems like Disney is releasing less and less rooms with an AP rate at the deluxe hotels for a standard or woods type of view, and more AP discounts for the better views.