Disney ain't got nothing on Vegas!

[Cfabar1]

DH's former boss and his wife LOVE Vegas. They go at least once a year, usually more. They don't gamble (I think his wife plays $20 in a slot machine each trip and that's it) and don't go explore the national parks at all. They occassionally go to shows and such but that's about it. It is unclear to me exactly what the draw is for them but they wonder the same thing about us going to WDW so to each their own.

Probably the general glitz, the vibe, and good dining...

Kind of like what the Boardwalk used to be like tbh.... Though I'm not a big Vegas guy, I could imagine just wanting to do a trip at the BW where you sometimes stumble into EPCOT or the Yachtsman...

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just want to say I wholeheartedly agree with you!! My husband and I went to Vegas a year ago and I was SHOCKED at the prices. We've traveled a lot, including "expensive" locations like Hawaii, USVI, etc., and I definitely felt the sticker shock of Las Vegas more than any other. The whole vibe there is not really for me, but Vegas is a great jumping off points for a lot of national parks, so my husband and I will be back in the future. But we'll stay off the strip this time!

 

[DCLMP]

Probably the general glitz, the vibe, and good dining...

Kind of like what the Boardwalk used to be like tbh.... Though I'm not a big Vegas guy, I could imagine just wanting to do a trip at the BW where you sometimes stumble into EPCOT or the Yachtsman...

Boardwalk glitz and glamour?

 

[Eastern]

We were surprised with early check IN extra fee !
But I would gladly pay that at Disney if it guaranteed an available room for early check in .

Same, but the way things are going, pretty soon we will have to pay extra at Disney for an 'on time' check-in.

 

[Cfabar1]

In many ways Disney is "behind the times"... No parking fees, no resort fees, no late checkout fees (but limited late checkout), no early arrival fees (but overall great experience with early arrivals).

Disney also has so many levers they could pull if/when they want/need to... While their prices are high, even absurd in some instances of say rack rates at Deluxe resorts, at least they avoid the nickel and dime attitude that has pervaded Marriott and others...

 

[Lewisc]

Vegas hotel offered early room. I declined. 20 minutes later I got a room ready text.

Many, maybe most, of the buffets are history. Inexpensive meals are hard to find.

You can still get decent room rates Sunday to Thursday

 

[Cfabar1]

Many, maybe most, of the buffets are history. Inexpensive meals are hard to find.

Food is expensive... Everywhere....

 

[DCLMP]

Disney did try the parking fee and they gave it up due to backlash and then just raised the resort prices to compensate. The S/D with the resort fees and the parking fees is stiil a lot less then the other two Epcot resorts. I don't care about extra fees I care about the final outcome.

 

[DCLMP]

Vegas hotel offered early room. I declined. 20 minutes later I got a room ready text.

Many, maybe most, of the buffets are history. Inexpensive meals are hard to find.

You can still get decent room rates Sunday to Thursday

Resorts, theme parks and airports have always been a rip off in terms of food prices. Vegas used to be the exception, but it sounds like that's not the case anymore.

 

[MattB2G]

Disney did try the parking fee and they gave it up due to backlash and then just raised the resort prices to compensate. The S/D with the resort fees and the parking fees is stiil a lot less then the other two Epcot resorts. I don't care about extra fees I care about the final outcome.

I think Disney backed off because of the Resorts with DVC combined because the DVC members pay dues to cover the parking lots and don't have to pay to park..... but regular guests were required to. I believe there were a lot or issues because of this, and DVC members and guests were getting charged for parking.

 

[SL6827]

What's even worse with the pool floats and such is the fact that this should be an expense covered by resort fees. But it is not. It's just pure greed there.

 

[hardcorestitch]

What's even worse with the pool floats and such is the fact that this should be an expense covered by resort fees. But it is not. It's just pure greed there.

Don’t give Disney any ideas…

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think Disney backed off because of the Resorts with DVC combined because the DVC members pay dues to cover the parking lots and don't have to pay to park..... but regular guests were required to. I believe there were a lot or issues because of this, and DVC members and guests were getting charged for parking.

Their system didn't work and they charged it at the Values, Mods and Deluxe resorts. People reported having no car yet being charged and having a car and yet not being charged. How all the other hotels out there can figure it out and Disney couldn't is beyond me but it was also really dumb for them to try and charge for parking. It's one of the rare times they have realized they didn't do something that they thought would work out no problem.

 

[NickC]

It's been 20 years since we've been, but I used to go to Vegas once a year. I haven't priced it lately, though I'm sure it is mind blowing.
I think it comes down to value more than cost. I'm starting to feel the sting of WDW prices because I don't get the same value out of it. $10 for this. $40 for that. Times 4 people. OK. Cool. But, it's also a different experience now. Some of that is because WDW has made so many changes. Some of that is because the kids are older. But, I would gladly pay the elevated pricing if I was getting the same feeling (value).

 

[tinkerjack]

Pssssst......If you missed out on an apple at the Sphere, they're available on the Sphere website.

 

[Christine514]

This summer we went to Vegas and Disneyland. We had shows at the Sphere 2 consecutive week ends. We went to Disneyland the week in between the shows. Spending the week in Disney, even with added flights and park tickets was saving us a ton of money, instead of staying in Vegas for the week. I have been to Vegas multiple times before and I knew going in everything was going to be much more expensive, but it was ridiculous. They charge you extra for everything, everything is grossly overpriced and the tipping culture is out of control. The value was not there at all.

 

[SL6827]

Pssssst......If you missed out on an apple at the Sphere, they're available on the Sphere website.

I got one.

 

[SL6827]

This summer we went to Vegas and Disneyland. We had shows at the Sphere 2 consecutive week ends. We went to Disneyland the week in between the shows. Spending the week in Disney, even with added flights and park tickets was saving us a ton of money, instead of staying in Vegas for the week. I have been to Vegas multiple times before and I knew going in everything was going to be much more expensive, but it was ridiculous. They charge you extra for everything, everything is grossly overpriced and the tipping culture is out of control. The value was not there at all.

Exactly. Even though we had a blast, we won't go back unless it's like 3/4 company paid again.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Don't even get me started about the floats at MGM Grand. We stayed at MGM Signature, a bit of a walk to MGM Grand and was told we'd have pool privileges there. Fine. Our kids were 18 & 21 and we were only going to see some shows, unwind at the pool a day or 2, and then move on to DLR, then Sedona. I wrongly assumed floats would be provided at a resort that has a lazy river but I was wrong. ugh! In 2018 they wanted $25 per tube. No way was I going to shell out $100 for tubes. It really just wasn't very fun without a tube. I though maybe we could just float around. Meh.
That was the first and last time I've even been to a facility with a lazy river that makes you buy your own tube. We swore we'd never go back.
Then in early 2024 I saw that Garth Brooks was doing a residency at Caesars Palace and the venue only seats around 4000 people. I made it our anniversary gift to us for last Oct. Garth blew us away but Caesars was craaaazy. The room wasn't too outrageous and we even splurged for a canopy bed for our pool day. I nearly fell over when I saw the drink menu. $38 for a stinkin pina colada! omg. By the time you add taxes and gratuity it would be $50!! I confirm this with the server that is the price for one drink and she says, "Well if you want to save money, it's only $24 to just do the shot."
Umm, no. It's 104 and I wanted a frozen drink but never mind. Then at the concert they charged $10 for bottled water so of course we both wanted one. They just gouge every chance they get.

Believe it or not, even after that, when I saw last winter that his residency was ending, I asked dh if he'd be into going back for a quickie, skipping the pool day, and just go for the concert and go home. I expected him to say no more Vegas but he was willing so we went back in March and saw Garth on dh's birthday. It's just so convenient to see a concert in the Colosseum and simply walk about 100 steps back to your elevator and go to your room. No parking, no traffic. Easy peasy.

 

[SL6827]

Don't even get me started about the floats at MGM Grand. We stayed at MGM Signature, a bit of a walk to MGM Grand and was told we'd have pool privileges there. Fine. Our kids were 18 & 21 and we were only going to see some shows, unwind at the pool a day or 2, and then move on to DLR, then Sedona. I wrongly assumed floats would be provided at a resort that has a lazy river but I was wrong. ugh! In 2018 they wanted $25 per tube. No way was I going to shell out $100 for tubes. It really just wasn't very fun without a tube. I though maybe we could just float around. Meh.
That was the first and last time I've even been to a facility with a lazy river that makes you buy your own tube. We swore we'd never go back.
Then in early 2024 I saw that Garth Brooks was doing a residency at Caesars Palace and the venue only seats around 4000 people. I made it our anniversary gift to us for last Oct. Garth blew us away but Caesars was craaaazy. The room wasn't too outrageous and we even splurged for a canopy bed for our pool day. I nearly fell over when I saw the drink menu. $38 for a stinkin pina colada! omg. By the time you add taxes and gratuity it would be $50!! I confirm this with the server that is the price for one drink and she says, "Well if you want to save money, it's only $24 to just do the shot."
Umm, no. It's 104 and I wanted a frozen drink but never mind. Then at the concert they charged $10 for bottled water so of course we both wanted one. They just gouge every chance they get.

Believe it or not, even after that, when I saw last winter that his residency was ending, I asked dh if he'd be into going back for a quickie, skipping the pool day, and just go for the concert and go home. I expected him to say no more Vegas but he was willing so we went back in March and saw Garth on dh's birthday. It's just so convenient to see a concert in the Colosseum and simply walk about 100 steps back to your elevator and go to your room. No parking, no traffic. Easy peasy.

I wonder when or if they will ever prohibit guest from bringing in thier own floats. If enough people do what we did, they may very well.