Disney lost my money this spring

[pha1226]

I think part of the problem with disney is that rack rates are sooo high that they almost need to offer a "discount" just to get in line with other vacation destinations. We have been pricing Easter rates for a while now, and due to it being blacked out so far this year, all room categories at all the resorts we are checking remain available (BC, Poly, WL, BWI). A standard room at BC is $510 + tax per night -- this does not include any food or park tickets. This is a very crazy price in our opinion. Perhaps people used to pay rack rate in the past, but this year most people are not paying it, thus all the room availability. Even hard-to-get rooms are available.....

On a whim, I checked out hotel and dining availability for the week before Easter (traditionally, a very crowded time). No problem finding a room at any level or places to make ADRs for dinner at 6:30 pm for a family of 4. I'm not looking to go until August but I think Disney's plan to "wean" us off discounts will bite them in the a**.

 

[marmalade]

On a whim, I checked out hotel and dining availability for the week before Easter (traditionally, a very crowded time). No problem finding a room at any level or places to make ADRs for dinner at 6:30 pm for a family of 4. I'm not looking to go until August but I think Disney's plan to "wean" us off discounts will bite them in the a**.[/QUOTE]

I agree with this 100%! With the increase in room/ticket prices, airfare almost double what it was last year (for us at least), the cost of gas rising to no end, the cost of groceries are insane and for most people income staying the same or even decreasing. I can guarantee if Disney continues with the price increase and lack of discounts they will see a huge decline in bookings.

 

[TJA]

On a whim, I checked out hotel and dining availability for the week before Easter (traditionally, a very crowded time). No problem finding a room at any level or places to make ADRs for dinner at 6:30 pm for a family of 4. I'm not looking to go until August but I think Disney's plan to "wean" us off discounts will bite them in the a**.

Yes, I've been checking the site daily for Easter availability and there is indeed a large range of rooms available at all resorts. Something interesting is that sites like Expedia had been showing no rooms available during this time period, but in last week or so they suddenly have all the resorts listed as available at full price. So I'm wondering if disney released some rooms to the sites like Expedia in the hopes of filling some.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Even with discounts, the prices have gone up so much over the past 4 years. I was just looking at my spreadsheet from Sept 08 and 10 nts at POR with free dine, PH/WP for 2 adults and 2 disney adults was $2672. I priced out that same package for this Sept out of curiousity(assuming FD occurs), and the exact same dates/package comes to $3591. That's not including the $281 upgrade for a preferred location (we were in bldg 18 in 08, which is now a preferred room surcharge). That's a $919 increase without taking the large increase in airfare into consideration (more than doubled since our earlier trip).

Same for my POP trip in Sept 09. Me and DS (11 at the time) went for 6 nites with WP option and FD(no hopper), the price for that package was $1082. The exact same package (upgrading dining to reg since that is what we had then) comes to $1546 now.

We are currently planning to go in Sept this year, as we want to get in one more trip before DS17 goes to college, and the in-laws can still navigate the parks without assistance. Our trip will definitely cost a bit more than the 10 night trip we had several years ago. But this will probably be the last for us with our kids.

Wow! That's eye opening! I was kind of crabby about our last trip, because it cost so much and I felt like we got so much less. I thought it was just because it was our Spring Break and the rates were much higher. Now I realize the rates are just higher...period!

But this makes me believe the discounts WILL be coming, they will just be releasing them later. Without a substantial discount, I would feel like we're simply overpaying. I will not pay rack rate.

 

[maggiew]

Hey can you let us know how you like Carnival or PM me?

We've been thinking of doing a cruise in April 2013, but Disney is WAY overpriced and the only other cruise that I hear about all the time is Norwegian (I think!). I priced that out and it was a bit more expensive than our Disney trip. I asked around about Carnival and a few people said its a "party ship". With a 7, 5 and 3 year old, we are done with the "party ships". Would love to know your opinion

We've gone on 3 Carnival cruises with the family. I don't think they are party ships. They have great entertainment for the kids (and adults too)

Although, you might find a party atmosphere on the 3 night cruises, so I would steer clear of them. But if you do a 7 night cruise, Carnival will be fine. From my experience, it seems to be a family trip (especially when school is out).

Maggie

 

[Eeyore98]

OP, have you been on Carnival before? We just did a 4-night to Cozumel over New Year's rather than deal with the expense and crowds of WDW that week, and it was SO NOT WORTH IT. The only thing we enjoyed was the actual time in Cozumel (like 7 hrs). The shows were pathetic, the main dining room food didn't even live up to Disney's CS, and the towel animal classes and hairy chest contests that pass for "entertainment" onboard were honestly less interesting to us than the Swiss Family Treehouse or Ellen's Energy Adventure. Never again. If I want to save money at WDW, I will just stay offsite.

But that said, if you've been on Carnival and liked it, hey, go for it! Everyone likes different things.

 

[StuckInKS]

We will still do Disney, but we will find a way to do it within budget. Our first two trips were onsite and our last included 6 nights onsite at a value, so I am not against either of those options. Last year was also our first on DDP, so we can go without it if we need to. We also have discounted tickets available to us and would strongly consider renting DVC points if we want to stay deluxe. If there is a will, there is a way. The only option we would not consider is not going

 

[angierae]

Yes, I've been checking the site daily for Easter availability and there is indeed a large range of rooms available at all resorts. Something interesting is that sites like Expedia had been showing no rooms available during this time period, but in last week or so they suddenly have all the resorts listed as available at full price. So I'm wondering if disney released some rooms to the sites like Expedia in the hopes of filling some.

We had a trip from 3/31-4/7 booked at POFQ with free dining, and were able to add on the night of 4/7 and 4/8 no problem about a week and a half ago.

 

[joybeth]

I think part of the problem with disney is that rack rates are sooo high that they almost need to offer a "discount" just to get in line with other vacation destinations. We have been pricing Easter rates for a while now, and due to it being blacked out so far this year, all room categories at all the resorts we are checking remain available (BC, Poly, WL, BWI). A standard room at BC is $510 + tax per night -- this does not include any food or park tickets. This is a very crazy price in our opinion. Perhaps people used to pay rack rate in the past, but this year most people are not paying it, thus all the room availability. Even hard-to-get rooms are available.....

Agree! I just stayed at BC using a 35% discount. We had a great time, LOVED the location, but the room was just so-so. I would never pay 510 + tax to stay there. I always book my trips with some type of discount and probably only paid rack rate on the first trip. This was before I knew better. I just got back last week from staying at my sister's Hilton Grande Vacation Club, Parc Soleil and loved it! Now I would even consider staying offsite.

jb

 

[princesssatheart]

Hey can you let us know how you like Carnival or PM me?

We've been thinking of doing a cruise in April 2013, but Disney is WAY overpriced and the only other cruise that I hear about all the time is Norwegian (I think!). I priced that out and it was a bit more expensive than our Disney trip. I asked around about Carnival and a few people said its a "party ship". With a 7, 5 and 3 year old, we are done with the "party ships". Would love to know your opinion

I have cruised on several cruise lines and would NOT recommend Carnival in any way. It was fine when I was in my 20's and didn't know any better, but now I would not waste my money. In regard to Carnival, you get what you pay for.

 

[dmart82]

yes we cruised about 5 times and i agree back in the 80's it was kind of a party ship. But now if you do a 7 day carnivl cruise they are doing every thing to get families back. The kids have a blast. Foods is great and the entertainment is even better. I would not travel durning college break. I have cruise on carnival and ncl and more to do for kids on carnival.