Does anyone else feel Deluxes are really out of reach now?

[ptrbryant]

I know, I know, we were spoiled by 3 straight years--our first WDW trips--of General Public Codes that offered us WL Woodsview for $135/nt.--inc. tax. May 2005, we couldn't find anything below $200 without tax, so rented points to stay at SSR (which was okay) and POR (which we liked much more than we thought we would!). I called for next May's rates and WL woodsview is now (with AAA discount) $249/nt... over $100 more than we ever paid for the same room! When you're thinking on 8 nts., this is a HUGE difference!

It seems to me that people who are on a strict budget are getting great deals with the Values--esp. with Free Dining Packages, etc....but, DH just doesn't like the look or feel of the Values. The Deluxes are certainly priced in a range many families with only 1 income can't easily afford. I'm grateful we enjoyed our stay at POR as much as we did and that a MODERATE catagory actually exists.

It's just hard to get over identical acommodations nearly doubling from one year to the next due to the switch in discount patterns. And, I have to say, that while we LOVE WL, I just don't think it warrants that big a price difference between their guest rooms and those of a MOD.

Any opinions?

Karla B.

 

[canwegosoon]

For me it is not that they are out of reach, it is just that the value is not there. Honestly our stay at POR was just as good as our stay at BW. The downers was that I thought the common area of BW were dirty...I saw leaves and other dirt sitting in the same spot for 24 hours, the carpeting was dirty everywhere, but the location was great. I though our vacation 2 years ago POR looked great, only negative was the location...but we loved it very much!!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hi! I'm a stay at home Mom right now, so I know how it is on one income. It's not easy. I think it really depends on how much time you spend at your resort. One of my ds's is autistic and we spend a lot of time at the resort, so for us a Deluxe is the right choice. This means we can't go every year. We go every 2-3 years to allow enough time to save, and we use AAA dscounts for the room.
I think the moderates may offer nice alternatives to the Deluxe resorts. Especially POR and POFQ. Lots to see and do at those resorts. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the other moderates. As for the values, it's a poor choice for my family. Since we spend so much time at the resort, the values don't appeal to us. I wish they did, because it would save us tons of money.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I agree that the deluxe pricing is ridiculous. This is from someone who has never gotten a discount, so consider yourself lucky.

I don't really have a budget when it comes to Disney. I want what I want and am willing to pay whatever the price may be. I'll certainly take a discount, but if one doesn't exist then so be it! I decided a long time ago that if I can't stay where I want and do what I want at Disney, I just won't go. People like me justify the ridiculously high rates.

 

[DisneyRocks!]

Don't forget that the offering of discounts is based on how many people are traveling - and if they are willing to pay those rates. Tourism is up this year, and projected to be the same or higher for 2006. People are willing to pay those rates for all levels of Disney resorts, so Disney doesn't need to offer discounts.

I know how you feel - pre-2001 we used to visit the mouse every 2 years, and then once the post 9/11 discounts came out, we started going every year - this year we are even doing 2 trips - one to a value and one to a Deluxe. With the lack of public discounts, we may not go next year, so we are planning a 2007 trip.

We are on a single income - it all comes down to the frequency of your trips and your priorities - if a Deluxe room is important to you, you many just need to space your trips out in order to save the money.

Joe

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well its not out of reach for us, only because dh has a good job and its a viable option for our family of 5, we must have queen beds because of dh and ds being soo tall and we did buy ap's this year, mainly because we are planning 3 trips but I am being hopeful for some kind of ap discount. This past trip we saved $700 but I see the discounted prices are getting, hmm, how should I say this "less generous" from Disney. I realize it is disneys job to get me to part with as much of my money as possible, therefore I always have my disney plan B, a nice govt, discount at the Swan, but even there they are not giving alot of consecutive days with the discount. The last trip we could only get 3 of the 8, so for a little more we went back to the Poly. The contemporary seems a little more manageable $ if you really want and need a deluxe for 5 or more people.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I guess it's out of our reach because I cannot see spending that much on a room. I love amenities but consider value. I would also never discourage someone from staying at a deluxe.

 

[DawnCt1]

I agree with the poster who said that the value isn't there when considering the state of maintainance and the amenities that have been scaled back. I am grateful that we can stay at SoG. I have the benefits of an "inside entry hotel", very reasonable rates, and location. The Deluxes would have to offer me a phenomenal price to give that up.

 

[MinnieSummer]

We have gotten very used to the discounts offered by Disney and have taken advantage of them with up to ten trips a year (FL residents and Passholders). But those discounts aren't what they used to be and this year we will probably only make 5 trips. I agree that the delux resort prices are way out of line so we only stay there on special occasions and if we can get discounts. It always bothered me that I could be staying at a delux and know that someone was staying at a moderate and paying more than I did for my delux same with value to moderate. Are the delux resorts worth the price? It depends on what you are looking for and I guess some people really like the luxury offered by the extra services available and the concierge service. It's nice to experience it every so often but I can't justify spending over $200 on a room for any reason, anywhere. Oops, I forgot we are staying delux for Christmas but that's my Christmas present. Anyway, I think that we might as well accept that the post 9/11 rates we all enjoyed are gone along with the low attendance at the parks. Maybe, now that the hotels are filling up without the discounts, Disney will once again start to maintain things at the pre 9/11 standards and we'll be able to justify the non-discounted prices.

 

[MinnieSummer]

I forgot, IMHO, I think Coronado Springs is every bit as good as a delux. It offers almost all of the amenities offered at the delux resorts (except concierge) and is beautiful. The difference as that it is spread out more -- but that makes for some beautiful evening strolls.

 

[DawnCt1]

Anyway, I think that we might as well accept that the post 9/11 rates we all enjoyed are gone along with the low attendance at the parks. Maybe, now that the hotels are filling up without the discounts, Disney will once again start to maintain things at the pre 9/11 standards and we'll be able to justify the non-discounted prices.

That is so true of all travel. Post 9/11 for a couple of years at least, we were able to get incredible cruise prices during school vacation. One year we paid $410 (including port taxes) on Celebrity. Two years or so ago we paid $485 pp including port taxes for the Voyager (RCCL). I have gotton great rates in Hawaii as well. It all comes down to yield management. As long as they can fill those rooms, ships, etc for top dollar, that will be the price.

 

[Princess Dot]

Sometimes it can be all in your mind, if you know what I mean. Like the OP said, she was used to paying $135 at WL which I think is a really good rate, although I have not stayed there myself. So now, it is really hard to justify paying so much more for the same thing, especially when it has only been a short period of time.


But it seems to be going on all over the place! The house across the street from me was sold maybe 5 years ago and now they are asking double the price than what they bought it for! Talk about a price jump!

For me, more than $220 a night for a resort is too much. Its not a matter of affording it, more whether I feel comfortable spending that much on a hotel, especially when it is for more than one or two nights. But I've been reading these boards long enough to know that many folks have no problem paying $300 and up for the deluxes, so maybe I'm in the minority! Oh well!

 

[disneyfan67]

I agree that the deluxe pricing is ridiculous. This is from someone who has never gotten a discount, so consider yourself lucky.

I don't really have a budget when it comes to Disney. I want what I want and am willing to pay whatever the price may be. I'll certainly take a discount, but if one doesn't exist then so be it! I decided a long time ago that if I can't stay where I want and do what I want at Disney, I just won't go. People like me justify the ridiculously high rates.

I have the same thought process also. I never have gotten a discount and have paid rack rates for the Deluxes I've stayed at. I wish I could of gotten a discount but like you, I also don't have a budget when it comes to Disney. I'm not a theme park comando so staying at the resort that I love is important. I can't afford to stay at a deluxe every year so It will be a while before my next vacation, probably in a few years. Staying at the Poly is a major part of the vacation and after staying there twice it would be a major letdown to try and stay in a value. That's why I won't go if I can't stay where I like. The prices that Disney charges for their resorts are ridiculous without a doubt, but there are people who will gladly pay it. I consider myself pretty lucky to have stayed at 3 deluxes since 2002 and the memories my family has of the Poly was worth the cost,IMO.

 

[Jennasis]

I know, I know, we were spoiled by 3 straight years--our first WDW trips--of General Public Codes that offered us WL Woodsview for $135/nt.--inc. tax. May 2005, we couldn't find anything below $200 without tax, so rented points to stay at SSR (which was okay) and POR (which we liked much more than we thought we would!). I called for next May's rates and WL woodsview is now (with AAA discount) $249/nt... over $100 more than we ever paid for the same room! When you're thinking on 8 nts., this is a HUGE difference!

It seems to me that people who are on a strict budget are getting great deals with the Values--esp. with Free Dining Packages, etc....but, DH just doesn't like the look or feel of the Values. The Deluxes are certainly priced in a range many families with only 1 income can't easily afford. I'm grateful we enjoyed our stay at POR as much as we did and that a MODERATE catagory actually exists.

It's just hard to get over identical acommodations nearly doubling from one year to the next due to the switch in discount patterns. And, I have to say, that while we LOVE WL, I just don't think it warrants that big a price difference between their guest rooms and those of a MOD.

Any opinions?

Karla B.

I often wondered who could possibly afford those suite rooms or the concierge rooms at the deluxes (but it turns out lots of our own DIS'ers are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the concierge!). Now about those $1000+ rooms and suites, I always figured they were for celebrity types.

I do feel like Deluxes are priced a bit out of reach even for those who could afford it. why pay that kind of money when you could do a mod, save a ton, still enjoy the restaurants and ammenities of the deluxes (spas marinas etc). Most mods have a great pool. So whjat besides location does a deluxe offer?

(Must admit I am staying deluxe for my honeymoon on Oct!). I can't help it...it's our HONEYMOON! but if it weren't we'd probably be at POFQ or CBR.

 

[dznyntnh]

Disney, like any other business, is going to set prices that the market will tolerate. If they price the rooms to high and they don't sell then the prices will come down (or they will offer significant discounts to fill the rooms as they have the past few years).

Right now, most of the resorts are trying to make back the money they've been hemmoraging since 9/11. Tourism is up, and those who have avoided traveling for the past few years are not willing to pay more than they might have been, once they get it out of their system, you may see prices come down or discounts increase as they may not be willing to pay that price any longer.

Personally, the trip I'm taking and why I'm going is a big influence on where I stay. This year's is a solo trip, probably my last for a few years, so I'm splurging and staying at CR. Other times, I'll stay at POR, or even the Dolphin, it all depends on the circumstances.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I complained of the price of a Disney vacation until my dh showed me the total cost of our week at the beach last summer. Whew!! That trip was WAY more expensive -- and we only ate out a couple of times. When you compare traveling elsewhere at the same level of comfort, I think you'll find that Disney is not such a bad deal.

 

[katallo]

I can't say we budget for vacations, but I know that our yearly trips will be a thing of the past. It's amazing to me that Disney is just realizing that most hotels have had refrigerators, nice shampoos and soaps and many have continental breakfast and coffee in the lobbies. We recently priced a week at a deluxe and a week in Hawaii. Hawaii cost a few hundred dollars more. For us, 2006 will be the year to explore new vacations and if better rates appear again at WDW, we'll be back.

 

[Yensid_MD]

Did someone start this in order to promote DVC? I have never seen a better advertisement for DVC. This is exactly why we bought into DVC as our cost for going to WDW for rooms will be same for years to come.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

If you have your heart set on deluxes, then save up for one. You may have to go less often, but you will get your deluxe.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

For us, the extra $200 a night for monorail service, concierge(which would be an even bigger charge) and a bit better pool just wasn't value at a time when we're new to the place and won't be spending much time at the hotel except to sleep. The best part of the deluxes is their restaurants. And anyone can eat there and make ressies.