Disney pushing resorts not parks

[Momtomouselover]

Last night while watching TV I saw a new Disney World commercial. What struck me is that they are selling the resorts not the "parks" per se. This fits with what some of the Dissers have been posting or suspecting. Disney wants you to buy a full resort experience. Enjoy the pools, the extra entertainments, stay on site, etc. and of course go to the parks but the parks were barely even shown in the commercial. I think this is all part of the making money by selling rooms and an overall experience where the park is only one small part of it. Thus, 3 FP's for the parks are sufficient combined with a couple of standby rides and/or parade with fireworks. The rest of your time is to be spent eating, shopping, swimming, horse back riding, on the Boardwalk or Downtown Disney, etc. I think FP+ pushes people to this mode, less time in parks but you are still at "Disney World". Also, offering more incentives to book in a Disney resort wouldn't be surprising given this line of thinking. Interesting.

 

[minnie mum]

So we have a multinational megacorporation, part of whose business involves resorts. And they are advertising these resorts and offering incentives to stay at them. Sounds like a sound business practice to me.

 

[larryz]

So we have a multinational megacorporation, part of whose business involves resorts. And they are advertising these resorts and offering incentives to stay at them. Sounds like a sound business practice to me.

To my mind (such as it is), the only way this could work out for me is if they start comping or severely discounting park tickets to on-property resort guests.

 

[Momtomouselover]

So we have a multinational megacorporation, part of whose business involves resorts. And they are advertising these resorts and offering incentives to stay at them. Sounds like a sound business practice to me.

I am also seeing different commercials that are aimed squarely at the parks.

I agree it makes sense for them to focus on the resorts. I'm sure that is where the big money is...resort stays and packages. In the past I only remember seeing Disney commercials focused on the parks as "Disney" this new commercial set struck me because they focus on the resorts almost exclusively. I haven't seen new ones focused on the parks, not saying they don't exist mind you for I don't watch a lot of TV, but I don't recall such a focus on resorts previously.

 

[disnut8]

I agree it makes sense for them to focus on the resorts. I'm sure that is where the big money is...resort stays and packages. In the past I only remember seeing Disney commercials focused on the parks as "Disney" this new commercial set struck me because they focus on the resorts almost exclusively. I haven't seen new ones focused on the parks, not saying they don't exist mind you for I don't watch a lot of TV, but I don't recall such a focus on resorts previously.

I haven't really noticed a focus shift (I fast forward through commercials on the DVR) but it would make sense as I think families and all people really, are just now starting to come back from the "stay-cation" thought process of the past few years. So people want to go somewhere for vacation but they don't really want to spend more money for the "extras". Sure, you go to Disney World and people automatically think you are running from ride to ride to ride without a break. But there are many people who don't do that and my husband and I are two of them. We are thinking about going to Disney World for one of the first weekends of the Flower and Garden Festival because we like the band that is playing in the Flower Power series of concerts. We will be content to just tour Epcot the entire weekend and if we ride something, fine. Otherwise, we will be extremely happy just getting away from the house, the work, the four cats who own us, and the daily madness that we call life. We can do that at Disney World - it's easy but the majority of travelers don't realize that. They think Disney World is an exhausting rip where you go, go, go all the time.

 

[Laketravis]

If they are going to focus on the resorts, they need to focus on what they are charging.

 

[DebbieB]

If they are going to focus on the resorts, they need to focus on what they are charging.

Except for holidays, there always seems to be some "special deal".

The thing is they bump up the "rack rate" to make it seem like you are getting a "special deal" when they have a promo. I haven't stayed in a regular room in a long time, I am amazed what the room rates are now.

 

[wiigirl]

So we have a multinational megacorporation, part of whose business involves resorts. And they are advertising these resorts and offering incentives to stay at them. Sounds like a sound business practice to me.

This, plus pushing resorts in a way pushed the parks too.

 

[rosiep]

As an oft returning visitor to Disney, my touring pattern has changed over the years. I find myself taking more down time to enjoy the resort I am staying at as well as visiting the others at a more leisurely pace for dining. Don't get me wrong, I still love my time in the parks but exploring the resorts has now become a favorite pastime too.

 

[Momtomouselover]

As an oft returning visitor to Disney, my touring pattern has changed over the years. I find myself taking more down time to enjoy the resort I am staying at as well as visiting the others at a more leisurely pace for dining. Don't get me wrong, I still love my time in the parks but exploring the resorts has now become a favorite pastime too.

Us too! FP+ and DD expansion, themed resort rooms, advertisement to stay on site pushes this kind of visit to more people I believe. I won't stay at the parks if I have to spend more time in line but this doesn't mean I won't go. I will go but maybe also visit Universal, or spend more resort and pool time, visit other locations (resorts, water park, DD). Or at least that is what I'm thinking...

This is part of my dilemma. I want to book a trip but since I may spend more time in and around my resort I'm thinking I should stay deluxe but yet the deluxes are expensive so I can't decide if it is worth it. I can stay deluxe but then I should limit my visits so now is the AP worth it? Ack!

 

[BudgieMama]

The adverts shown over this side of the pond are definitely about the parks. They barely mention the fact that you can stay there (if at all)- before the deadline passed (October time) they mentioned the Free Dining offer and the free $100 gift card for 2014, but didn't go into details of how you qualified that, and the images are nearly all (if not all- I'll keep my eyes peeled next time I see it) park based.

 

[Planogirl]

I probably saw the same ad and watched to see if FP+ would be mentioned in any way. It wasn't of course.

You can of course stay at a resort and not go to the parks. We stayed at AKL once and only visited MK one day and the rest of the time enjoyed offsite activities. I doubt that Disney wants people to do anything offsite but I can see the focus on only the resorts.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

First day at the park, $100. 10th day at the park $10.
First night in the resort, $300. 10th night at the resort $300.


Hmmm, wonder why they'd push the resorts........

 

[Laketravis]

First day at the park, $100. 10th day at the park $10.
First night in the resort, $300. 10th night at the resort $300.


Hmmm, wonder why they'd push the resorts........

Dang, you're good.

 

[Laketravis]

I probably saw the same ad and watched to see if FP+ would be mentioned in any way. It wasn't of course.

You can of course stay at a resort and not go to the parks. We stayed at AKL once and only visited MK one day and the rest of the time enjoyed offsite activities. I doubt that Disney wants people to do anything offsite but I can see the focus on only the resorts.

Interesting point.

Let's say you've got 10 days total, AP's for both, and want to spend 5 days in the WDW parks and 5 days at the US parks.

Where would you stay? WDW or US? Why?

 

[mom2rtk]

First day at the park, $100. 10th day at the park $10.
First night in the resort, $300. 10th night at the resort $300.


Hmmm, wonder why they'd push the resorts........

Disney's resort revenue for my first night offsite, 0. Disney's resort revenue for my 10th night offsite, 0.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Disney's resort revenue for my first night offsite, 0. Disney's resort revenue for my 10th night offsite, 0.

And there's an even BETTER reason to push the resorts right there


(We stayed offsite too ).

 

[HiHoWeGo]

I opened this thread while watching TV and, wala, a Disney commercial featuring non other than the Disney resorts. It was a resort commercial that touted the up to 30% discount with brief cuts to views of the MK, mostly as viewed from a resort room.

It is probably safe to say that the resorts are cash cows for Disney. They must make a fortune on them. I don't begrudge Disney making money off them. As has already been said, Disney is a corporation, and as such their prime directive is to make money for their shareholders.

My problem with the Disney resorts is that you get so little for the incredible amount of money they are charging these days. Oh sure, the theming is excellently done, and there are some perks offered. But the accommodation are pitiful as compared to off site resorts. The rooms are for the most part tiny, and the service, IMHO, is not up to the standards available elsewhere. But people buy into the thought of staying in the magic, which in the case of staying near the MK or Epcot, to me, has merit. I don't see this changing in the near future.

 

[DOOM1001]

Interesting point.

Let's say you've got 10 days total, AP's for both, and want to spend 5 days in the WDW parks and 5 days at the US parks.

Where would you stay? WDW or US? Why?

don't stress yourself out trying to figure it out,go on Hotwire and get yourself a 2.5-3 star hotel around the south end of I-Drive by Sea World with free breakfast for $45.You're saving money on the hotel,getting free breakfast and since you're between the two resorts you're a 10-15 minute drive to
both Disney and Universal.If you must stay at one of the resorts onsite hotels remember that the 3 main Universal hotels give you free express pass access so you don't have to wait in line.They're newest hotel Cabana Bay will not include this but it will be the least expensive.This is an amazing perk but the hotels are not cheap,it's almost like you're paying for this perk.Maybe you can
just stay for 5 days at Disney and 5 days at Universal.

 

[Laketravis]

the 3 main Universal hotels give you free express pass access so you don't have to wait in line.

That's exactly why I'd want to stay at US on the days we'd be going to those parks. So if I'm staying at a US resort for five days, what would be the advantages of moving to a WDW resort for the next 5 days while we go to WDW parks? Other than being able to pre-book FP, of course, but with AP's and a prior stay I might already be able to do that. Transportation wouldn't be an issue since we'd have a rental, and parking is included with the AP.

So with AP's to both WDW and US, it seems there might be a slight edge to staying at a US Resort because of the FOTL option?