Disney Resorts lost their advantage over offsite hotels

[MJ6987]

Hi All,
According to Touring plans / Unofficial Guide the Disney Resort satisfaction ratings have gone down, meaning that they have lost the advantage in satisfaction rating that they had over offsite hotels. Quote:

"With one notable exception, the average Disney-owned hotel dropped about half a letter grade in this year’s survey, and the number of declining scores outnumbered rising scores by anywhere from around 2:1 to 16:1 depending on the category. Vacation homes (but not vacation condos) did exceptionally well, and the advantage that Disney had in satisfaction over off-site hotels has essentially disappeared, meaning people are about as satisfied overall with the average Disney hotel as with the average off-site property."
Comments? Views?

(by the way this is from the non-subscription part of website)

Matthew

 

[littlestar]

I think now days with the internet, people have more opportunity to research and find out about other alternatives to Disney's on-property resorts. Disney will have to stay on their toes on their quality, food, etc., (which is a good thing) and not just think "because it's Disney" that people will keep coming back. I mean, look what's happened with GM. Somewhere along the line, their management and board lost track of reality. I'm not saying that Disney is anything like GM, but if you would have told me 5 years ago that GM would go bankrupt, I wouldn't have believed it.

Orlando has amazing choices and let's face it, there are a lot of really terrific condos, hotels, and private home rentals, etc. I don't know much about private home rentals, but I hear a lot of good things about them here on these boards. I want more of a resort experience so I tend to stay at the major brand vacation clubs in Orlando.

I think with the poor economy that people expect a lot for their money. So that could have something to do with the ratings you talked about. People want good value for their dollar since we are in a recession.

As always, I think competition is good - so I see all the choices as a good thing.

 

[CarolA]

I think Disney has continued to raise prices while not improving quality or service... and the pricing brings a new level of expectation. For $300 to $400 a night in a "deluxe" I expect certain things based on what I get at $200 or less offsite and it's not there.... In this economy where folks are really looking at "value" Disney is not looking good IMHO.

 

[thepwa]

But no off-site hotel can put me steps away from the IG, or give me a balcony view of Wishes, or allow me to walk a few steps to the monorail, or see a giraffe munching from my balcony.

Not many off site hotels can have Lilo and Stitch playing hide and seek with a 5 year old in the lobby.

I call that Magic and that is what I am paying for with a deluxe at Disney.

Has Disney service declined overall? Maybe, but I don't see Disney service declining at any greater rate than I see service declining anywhere else.

 

[CarolA]

Has Disney service declined overall? Maybe, but I don't see Disney service declining at any greater rate than I see service declining anywhere else.

I don't know that it's declined as much as the other "top tier" hotels are "stepping up" and providing EXTRAS to keep us paying top dollar in this economy and Disney is NOT doing anything extra (and IMHO it has declined some)


Honestly the ONLY time I have seen a character in the lobby of a deluxe. During a hurricane! Not much "magic" there on a daily basis IMHO. Instead it's lots of frustrated guests in long lines

And the Swan/Dolphin can put you steps away from the IG, give you a top tier bed and generally come in MUCH cheaper. Disney can't even compete with the "on site" competetion in some ways!

 

[stlrod]

No surpirise there. Disney hotels keep going down on Tripadvisor with offsite hotels going up. I think it is going to be a very interesting summer. No doubt Disney will be crowded, but it seems that SeaWorld and Universal are both offering a lot more bang for the buck which is important these days. They both have new attractions and the hotel deals are phenomenal, particularly for 5 night stays. Disney has just done its regular summer discounting on rooms, raised the price of the water parks (glad I bought my tickets beforehand since I'll pretty much only be visiting Disney for the waterparks) and closed a major attraction for refurbishment. On the other hand, I'm not exactly sure Universal understands its place in the market. I just don't buy-in to it being a 5-night destination, particularly with so much uncertainity surrounding the opening date of the new coaster. It does seem though that others are booking 5 night stays for the savings. My prediction: Seaworld is going to be the one which comes out on top this summer: new waterpark, new ride, great 5 night deals ($838 for 5 nights at the JW with tickets is ridiculously low.) Seaworld's not going to set any records but I do believe their losses will be lower than the others. They got most of my money with a discount for Discovery Cove over the summer. However, I am staying at Disney for part of the trip but only because I could get a Treehouse through DVC.

 

[thepwa]

Honestly the ONLY time I have seen a character in the lobby of a deluxe. During a hurricane! Not much "magic" there on a daily basis IMHO. Instead it's lots of frustrated guests in long lines

Lilo and Stitch were in the lobby of the Beach Club every day that I was there, which gave me the impression that some character was there rather often. I didn't think I could only be so lucky.

 

[littlestar]

Lilo and Stitch were in the lobby of the Beach Club every day that I was there, which gave me the impression that some character was there rather often. I didn't think I could only be so lucky.

It's probably because of Cape May's character breakfast at the Beach Club.

We used to see Pooh in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge, but once the character dining went away, we've never seen a Disney character again in years except during Hurricane Jeanne.