Disney considering $15 a night resort fee?

[ninafeliz]

I have been going to WDW yearly since 1982, for the past 15-20 years have been going more than once a year, and for the past few years have been going as many as 5 times a year - all from Pennsylvania. We bought APs for the first time last year. I have never, ever said this before regarding Disney, with all of the price increases and decrease in services/amenities - but this could prove to be the dealbreaker for me (and I've always hated that word that is thrown around so much on these boards!). My DH likes Disney, but would be more than happy to start traveling elsewhere, particularly as the kids get older. It's not that we can't afford the resort fee - with what we sometimes spend $15 additional a day won't make any difference at all- but it's the principle of the thing to me. Everything they listed we already get for "free" (included in the room rate.) The room rates have skyrocketed, rack rate on a monorail resort is ridiculous now, and they want to add $15 to provide what they ALREADY provide without a resort fee?? You can't go backwards!. Even if they did find things to "add on" to justify the fee I would feel similarly, but to add nothing and try to spin what you already get included as being provided because of a resort fee is, IMHO, insulting. I don't think we would stay offsite, I think we would find other places to go. Maybe we would go back to WDW every couple of years for a week, but I would have to get over this first. I have to say, Disney, my family has dropped tens of thousands over the past few years at WDW, and I hold a grudge! I have always been a diehard Disney fan, but for some reason this in particular gives me a sour taste in my mouth and for the first time in forever (I couldn't resist) I am thinking our 2 planned trips for this year could be the beginning of the end. In addition, there is no way it would stay at $15 for long. I forsee $25 within a year if they do institute this and it sticks. I really hope the idea gets shelved.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I have been going to WDW yearly since 1982, for the past 15-20 years have been going more than once a year, and for the past few years have been going as many as 5 times a year - all from Pennsylvania. We bought APs for the first time last year. I have never, ever said this before regarding Disney, with all of the price increases and decrease in services/amenities - but this could prove to be the dealbreaker for me (and I've always hated that word that is thrown around so much on these boards!). My DH likes Disney, but would be more than happy to start traveling elsewhere, particularly as the kids get older. It's not that we can't afford the resort fee - with what we sometimes spend $15 additional a day won't make any difference at all- but it's the principle of the thing to me. Everything they listed we already get for "free" (included in the room rate.) The room rates have skyrocketed, rack rate on a monorail resort is ridiculous now, and they want to add $15 to provide what they ALREADY provide without a resort fee?? You can't go backwards!. Even if they did find things to "add on" to justify the fee I would feel similarly, but to add nothing and try to spin what you already get included as being provided because of a resort fee is, IMHO, insulting. I don't think we would stay offsite, I think we would find other places to go. Maybe we would go back to WDW every couple of years for a week, but I would have to get over this first. I have to say, Disney, my family has dropped tens of thousands over the past few years at WDW, and I hold a grudge! I have always been a diehard Disney fan, but for some reason this in particular gives me a sour taste in my mouth and for the first time in forever (I couldn't resist) I am thinking our 2 planned trips for this year could be the beginning of the end. In addition, there is no way it would stay at $15 for long. I forsee $25 within a year if they do institute this and it sticks. I really hope the idea gets shelved.

Amen!

 

[Nancyg56]

I have been going to WDW yearly since 1982, for the past 15-20 years have been going more than once a year, and for the past few years have been going as many as 5 times a year - all from Pennsylvania. We bought APs for the first time last year. I have never, ever said this before regarding Disney, with all of the price increases and decrease in services/amenities - but this could prove to be the dealbreaker for me (and I've always hated that word that is thrown around so much on these boards!). My DH likes Disney, but would be more than happy to start traveling elsewhere, particularly as the kids get older. It's not that we can't afford the resort fee - with what we sometimes spend $15 additional a day won't make any difference at all- but it's the principle of the thing to me. Everything they listed we already get for "free" (included in the room rate.) The room rates have skyrocketed, rack rate on a monorail resort is ridiculous now, and they want to add $15 to provide what they ALREADY provide without a resort fee?? You can't go backwards!. Even if they did find things to "add on" to justify the fee I would feel similarly, but to add nothing and try to spin what you already get included as being provided because of a resort fee is, IMHO, insulting. I don't think we would stay offsite, I think we would find other places to go. Maybe we would go back to WDW every couple of years for a week, but I would have to get over this first. I have to say, Disney, my family has dropped tens of thousands over the past few years at WDW, and I hold a grudge! I have always been a diehard Disney fan, but for some reason this in particular gives me a sour taste in my mouth and for the first time in forever (I couldn't resist) I am thinking our 2 planned trips for this year could be the beginning of the end. In addition, there is no way it would stay at $15 for long. I forsee $25 within a year if they do institute this and it sticks. I really hope the idea gets shelved.

I think that for my family, this would be the last price hike. Honestly. This week I am in the process of trying to plan a trip in December, and have not hammered al of the details down. I see DDP price hikes, Ticket price hikes, and even though I am okay with rising costs, I am not okay with cost continuing to climb while services are reduced. So I am a little peeved as it is. Now this last "survey" is my line in the sand hike. I won't pay it.

I get that Disney is drowning in Paris and Shanghai, but that is not my problem, and I do not feel compelled to bail them out. I promised to take the little girls on my street ,and I will keep that promise, but I am not going to make any more. Not til I know that I will willingly pay the prices and be happy with the value.

 

[ellie05]

I have been going to WDW yearly since 1982, for the past 15-20 years have been going more than once a year, and for the past few years have been going as many as 5 times a year - all from Pennsylvania. We bought APs for the first time last year. I have never, ever said this before regarding Disney, with all of the price increases and decrease in services/amenities - but this could prove to be the dealbreaker for me (and I've always hated that word that is thrown around so much on these boards!). My DH likes Disney, but would be more than happy to start traveling elsewhere, particularly as the kids get older. It's not that we can't afford the resort fee - with what we sometimes spend $15 additional a day won't make any difference at all- but it's the principle of the thing to me. Everything they listed we already get for "free" (included in the room rate.) The room rates have skyrocketed, rack rate on a monorail resort is ridiculous now, and they want to add $15 to provide what they ALREADY provide without a resort fee?? You can't go backwards!. Even if they did find things to "add on" to justify the fee I would feel similarly, but to add nothing and try to spin what you already get included as being provided because of a resort fee is, IMHO, insulting. I don't think we would stay offsite, I think we would find other places to go. Maybe we would go back to WDW every couple of years for a week, but I would have to get over this first. I have to say, Disney, my family has dropped tens of thousands over the past few years at WDW, and I hold a grudge! I have always been a diehard Disney fan, but for some reason this in particular gives me a sour taste in my mouth and for the first time in forever (I couldn't resist) I am thinking our 2 planned trips for this year could be the beginning of the end. In addition, there is no way it would stay at $15 for long. I forsee $25 within a year if they do institute this and it sticks. I really hope the idea gets shelved.

This is exactly how we feel. I know there are many resorts and hotels that charge resort fees and parking, but it is insulting for them to try to tag the fees for things that we already get. We are buying AP in April and have 3 trips plan within the next year. If they implement the fees those will be the last trips we take in a long time. As you said it is not they we can't afford it, it is the principle.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I lost sight of the value of DCL a while back. Starting to do the same now with WDW. I honestly think if it were possible to sell my four 4-day base tickets, I just might consider doing it.

 

[outahere]

a) They are toying with actually reducing the rack rate, and implementing a resort fee?

Disney REDUCE prices!?!?!? That's never going to happen!!

 

[Stitch_Is_King]

An extra $15 a night resort fee to cover perks that Disney has been using to entice people to stay on property? While I understand that has not been put in place yet and this is just a survey question at this point, this I think would be enough for us to shelve any future disney trips for the time being. My wife and I have been going since 2002 and with each trip we have noticed that we are getting less and less for our money, but the prices continue to rise. Yet because we love Disney so much we have bit the bullet and continued to spend thousands of dollars each time we go.

As many others have said it's not an issue of can't afford, it's the principle. Even now my wife and I are looking at the costs for our 20th anniversary trip next month and are starting to wonder if it's worth it. If it wasn't for the fact that we are celebrating our 20th and have airfare bought I would even consider canceling the trip. Between all the cuts we have seen over the last few years and the constant price increases I think I am ready to take our vacation dollars elsewhere.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Disney REDUCE prices!?!?!? That's never going to happen!!

It's a tactic they use sometimes when they're in frog-boiling mode. For example, there was once a Golden Age when the regular DDP also included appetizer and tip for TS meals. At that point (2007) the cost was $39.99/day. Then they removed the app and tip but lowered the price to $38.99/day. Not much, but still a price drop--a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, to use another metaphor. Of course, shortly thereafter they began increasing prices, so that didn't last long.

 

[UKDisneyJoe]

Walt would be rolling in his grave. His vision seems to have almost vanished due to the need to make more and more profits. Price hikes everywhere but reports of less staffing across the board. I know they are doing alot of improvements but surely they have made enough profit over the years to pay for all that.

 

[Nancyg56]

It's a tactic they use sometimes when they're in frog-boiling mode. For example, there was once a Golden Age when the regular DDP also included appetizer and tip for TS meals. At that point (2007) the cost was $39.99/day. Then they removed the app and tip but lowered the price to $38.99/day. Not much, but still a price drop--a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, to use another metaphor. Of course, shortly thereafter they began increasing prices, so that didn't last long.

Oh gosh, I remember those days! There were folks complaining that there was too much food, the servers should not be tipped automatically. it was too much money. Soooooo, Disney said "We listened! You are now in control of your gratuity, we removed the appetizer, and reduced the amount $1.00. Happy now?"

Oh, boy!

 

[ninafeliz]

An extra $15 a night resort fee to cover perks that Disney has been using to entice people to stay on property? While I understand that has not been put in place yet and this is just a survey question at this point, this I think would be enough for us to shelve any future disney trips for the time being. My wife and I have been going since 2002 and with each trip we have noticed that we are getting less and less for our money, but the prices continue to rise. Yet because we love Disney so much we have bit the bullet and continued to spend thousands of dollars each time we go.

As many others have said it's not an issue of can't afford, it's the principle. Even now my wife and I are looking at the costs for our 20th anniversary trip next month and are starting to wonder if it's worth it. If it wasn't for the fact that we are celebrating our 20th and have airfare bought I would even consider canceling the trip. Between all the cuts we have seen over the last few years and the constant price increases I think I am ready to take our vacation dollars elsewhere.

I agree completely!! I have tolerated the more money for less benefits because I love Disney, but this is the straw that breaks the camel's back for me (if it happens...)

 

[Disfan1968]

dear lord it better not be per person!!!!
my understand is its per each room per each night.
i think if it were per person i'd have a heart attack!

Yeah exactly... we go with 4 for 10 nights... not even a large group. THAT would be an extra $600.00. So yeah, must be per room.

 

[ninafeliz]

Yeah exactly... we go with 4 for 10 nights... not even a large group. THAT would be an extra $600.00. So yeah, must be per room.

The resort fee has always been per room anywhere I've looked or stayed that had one.

 

[kwdw]

I think adding a resort fee is a joke and a bad practice at every resort. I can't "refuse" to use those services - so it should just in the basic room cost per night, IMO.

This idea is as bad as my internet/tv/phone bill - what is a service price for xyz GB of data and XYZ speed vs the real price with fees is ridiculous!!! Just give me the bottom line. I'm a customer - if I can't refuse the service that the fee s for - then include it in the base price.

 

[disneylovinfamilyof6]

Further, at least the resorts that charge a fee (Hilton, swan and dolphin, and countless others) have a loyalty program to earn points towards free stays. We went to Disney 7x last year and spent 41 nights in their deluxe resorts without earning any perks. That's fine, because of the convienience and perks of being on site. But swan/dolphin and Hilton have a lot of those perks too, and I can earn free nights towards future stays by staying there. This will be the straw that breaks the camel's back for us. We have to get 2 Disney deluxe rooms because of the size of our family. That's an additional $30 (likely soon $50) a night in BS fees. No Thanks Disney.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

haven't done the math yet but i'm pretty sure that my family could stay offsite, rent a car, pay for parking, pay for food OOP, and purchase new MB's for much less than staying in even a value resort at this point!

You can, easily. Check out the various vacation home rentals. Last Sept we rented a 5 bedroom house, with a pool and full kitchen for $1100.00 total, and that was for 8 nights and 15 minutes from WDW. House, car rental and 7 days parking at WDW was right at $1600. We had 3 family groups so would have needed 3 rooms, even at a value the price would have been over $3000 for just the rooms. We used OrlandoVacations, but there are many different rental agencies. Your situation may be different than ours, but I still maintain that with some shopping you can stay offsite cheaper than on.

I will also add that I have enjoyed the times we stayed on property and there is something to be said for never leaving the "magic", but if you are looking for value for your vacation dollar, you can do better.

 

[stitchlovestink]

If they want to charge a fee for those services, can we decline the fee and not use the services?? I don't use Magical Express, almost never use EMH and would happily not use it if I had to pay extra for it, I can reuse my magic bands, and rely on my mobile service rather than wifi at the resort. Such a stupid move on their part - everyone hates resort fees and most resorts are moving away from charging separate resort fees. I will stop staying on Disney property if it comes to this.

More resorts are moving AWAY from charging separate resort fees??
I respectfully disagree! More are charging separate resort fees!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wish they'd keep it wrapped into the price of the room. This way it just irks me that I'm paying for parking that I don't use. Odd I know but that was what I took away from reading it- why do I have to pay for parking?! I don't use a car at WDW.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...They recently raised the prices on almost anything they can....

I don't mean to be snide or anything here I'm just honestly curious: is there actually something Disney can't raise the prices on?

 

[Fuhnuh]

I've nothing interesting to add. Although, I wouldn't be happy if they raised the nightly stay $15, I've grown to expect year-to-year price increases. I do have a problem with mandatory resort fees. I don't understand resorts that charge extra fees that are compulsory with the stay. It is just a way to give the appearance of having lower prices than they actually are. We pretty much stay CL when we go, so the cost isn't the thing that irks me most. Wherever I go, I hate arriving and seeing the resort fee surcharges. It offends my sensibilities. Even though these charges are becoming somewhat standard, at WDW, I somewhat justify the cost by some of the perks we get. I think "yeah, it costs a lot, but at least Disney is good to me." The problem with the separate charge (if they do it), they have now put a value on these "extras". I am more likely to compare onsite and offsite prices evenly using that value. For me, it actually cheapens the value I have already put on these perks.