Even Though 2009 Prices Increased Disney Has No Choice But...

[qanita92]

Most guests have it hard enough to afford Disney's current prices but with the increase in 2009 Disney would have no choice but to release more codes on packages or room discounts. Do you think there would be any for December 2009? Our Christmas 2009 trip is ranking up to 12 grand.

 

[Freyja]

According to "specialists" Disney seems to be the only themepark with consistant numbers (even rising some say) of visitors despite the slowing economy. The main reason being the great value of the dollar against most European currencies and therefore attracting many international guests.

I´m pretty sure though that Disney will continue to release codes and other forms of discounts, as they have in the past.

 

[bicker]

Indeed, but as you suggested, the economy won't necessarily drive Disney to offer deeper discounts -- discounts generally devalue the offering over a longer period of time, and that's something Disney apparently likes to avoid. The last time things were like this, Disney closed one of their resorts for a period of time (four months?) Since price is a product of supply and demand, they can protect price by reducing supply; and in that case they choose to protect price, so it is as likely as not that they'll do that again, if the situation calls for it.

 

[Disneyfanatic108]

If they do release any specials it will not be until August. This years specials came out on August 13. We were able to save $100 a night off the rack rate at Saratoga Springs. In fact they even cut back on the discount. Last years discount offered a $50 or $100 dinning card and this year it did not.

 

[dburg30]

Most guests have it hard enough to afford Disney's current prices but with the increase in 2009 Disney would have no choice but to release more codes on packages or room discounts. Do you think there would be any for December 2009? Our Christmas 2009 trip is ranking up to 12 grand.

Where are you planning on staying?

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

According to "specialists" Disney seems to be the only themepark with consistant numbers (even rising some say) of visitors despite the slowing economy. The main reason being the great value of the dollar against most European currencies and therefore attracting many international guests.

I´m pretty sure though that Disney will continue to release codes and other forms of discounts, as they have in the past.

DH and I use Castmember rates and availability as a barometer of overall room availability. For example.....when the resorts are booked heavily --- castmember rates decrease or disappear.

Well, if you use THAT as a barometer.......

1.) Our Castmember rate for the 1 BR villa at Boardwalk just went down + we rarely see 1 BR villa's available in December

2.) We are booking a September trip to DL because the Grand Californian rate just became too good to not grab......FAR better than last year at the same time when we traveled to DL.


Lets not forget the reality here.

1.) Anyone who COULD still go to WDW this summer - has gone keeping park numbers up. Many people wrote on these threads that they had already paid or saved enough for this year's trip.

2.) Exchange rate has been favorable for our friends from Europe to visit --- The dollar has gained a little strength AND rumors of banking problems in Germany and GB make keep some of our friends home in the future.

3.) ....and there is always the truth that they have raised prices on just about everything at WDW while dropping the quality of the product.. Checkout the changes in restaurant menus. There was a lengthly thread on this subject a couple of weeks ago.

4.) Their operational budgets continue to be slashed --- take a look at mousekeepers. Why is Disney bringing in so many from outside the US. It's because their mousekeepers leave for US - higher pay and better working conditions.

How do I know.....DH is a 30 year castmember and I work with two former WDW castmembers.


Yes, they had a surprising summer - although the actual park attendance was down 2% and their overall profit % was considered "disappointing" by the Disney beancounters.

Let's see how many people can still afford to go in 2009. Disney is setting themselves up to be able to offer discounts if advance reservations are not what they consider acceptable. That's simply yield management.

 

[boxer]

Indeed, but as you suggested, the economy won't necessarily drive Disney to offer deeper discounts -- discounts generally devalue the offering over a longer period of time, and that's something Disney apparently likes to avoid. The last time things were like this, Disney closed one of their resorts for a period of time (four months?) Since price is a product of supply and demand, they can protect price by reducing supply; and in that case they choose to protect price, so it is as likely as not that they'll do that again, if the situation calls for it.

I'm a newer Disney fan that just started going in the year 2000, so I don't know about this story? Which resort was it, and when did this happen?

 

[bicker]

I'm a newer Disney fan that just started going in the year 2000, so I don't know about this story? Which resort was it, and when did this happen?

From

In addition, WDW closed Port Orleans French Quarter resort completely, while closing substantial sections of Port Orleans Riverside and the Disney Institute.

http://allears.net/ae/issue122.htm

 

[BeckWhy]

I don't know why it's so expensive to go to WDW. I actually find it to be pretty cheap. I've priced out several vacations elsewhere, and in shorter lengths of trip and they cost the same or more.

 

[Brian Noble]

The Company is on record stating that advance bookings through the first quarter of FY09 (Disney's FY is Oct-Sep, so that's October, November, and December 08) were above where they were at the same time last year.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

What resort was closed for 4 months?

I don't beleive Disney has ever closed down a whole resort unless it was for major renovations.

I also have to agree that Disney is cheaper than most other places especially with the DDP.

 

[boxer]

I don't know why it's so expensive to go to WDW. I actually find it to be pretty cheap. I've priced out several vacations elsewhere, and in shorter lengths of trip and they cost the same or more.

Tell me about it........just went to Wildwood NJ a couple weeks ago for 2 days and had close to $1000 between hotel, food, and that Morey's Pier. With my AP passes and discount, we could have gone to WDW for a FEW days for that money.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Most guests have it hard enough to afford Disney's current prices but with the increase in 2009 Disney would have no choice but to release more codes on packages or room discounts. Do you think there would be any for December 2009? Our Christmas 2009 trip is ranking up to 12 grand.

Well, they may or may not have a code next year. Who knows? If your trip is too expensive, you can always downgrade some of your WDW options. We are going this December and are taking our 4 kids and MIL. That's 7 people and we have two preferred rooms at All-Star movies and the basic dining plan and 8 day hoppers and our trip is about $4,200.00. So, unless your family is much larger than ours and you are staying much longer, you can stay-on site, with the dining plan, a lot less than $12,000.00.

 

[bytheblood]

I don't know why it's so expensive to go to WDW. I actually find it to be pretty cheap. I've priced out several vacations elsewhere, and in shorter lengths of trip and they cost the same or more.

I also have to agree that Disney is cheaper than most other places especially with the DDP.

I disagree.

We have a 7-night cruise booked which includes everything except alcohol and excursions, plus our hotel stay the night before we sail for much less than Disney. Half the cost to be exact.

We can go to Hawaii, which includes food, hotel and air for less than we can go to Disney. This is about a 2K savings over Disney.

We go to California to see my brother for a week, pay for room, air, food, sites and fun and it is less than Disney. This is about half the savings over Disney.


Furthermore, the dining plan is not that great of a savings anymore. In many cases, paying out of pocket for what you want to eat is sometimes the less expensive option. The bonus for the dining plan is actually convenience and honestly the only reason we do it.

 

[helenk]

What resort was closed for 4 months?

I don't beleive Disney has ever closed down a whole resort unless it was for major renovations.

I also have to agree that Disney is cheaper than most other places especially with the DDP.

They closed the POFQ after 9/11/01, this was prior to the rennovations that were done there. About a year after 9/11 the resort remained closed while they did the refurbishments. It re-opened in Spring of 2004

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I disagree.

We have a 7-night cruise booked which includes everything except alcohol and excursions, plus our hotel stay the night before we sail for much less than Disney. Half the cost to be exact.

We can go to Hawaii, which includes food, hotel and air for less than we can go to Disney. This is about a 2K savings over Disney.

We go to California to see my brother for a week, pay for room, air, food, sites and fun and it is less than Disney. This is about half the savings over Disney.


Furthermore, the dining plan is not that great of a savings anymore. In many cases, paying out of pocket for what you want to eat is sometimes the less expensive option. The bonus for the dining plan is actually convenience and honestly the only reason we do it.

Well, I agree, the Disney cruise is very, very expensive and we can cruise almost anywhere else cheaper than Disney. But I think the pp were more referring to on-site Disney vacations which can be pretty comparable to a lot of other vacations destinations and sometimes more affordable.

As far as the DP even with the cutbacks on tips and appetizers we are still saving almost $500.00 on our upcoming December vacation. Getting the DP during the holiday season is an even bigger value because they add on all of the holiday surcharges at a lot of the restaurants so we are saving money by having the DP because we will pay a flat fee and not have to pay those surcharges. Even in regular season we would still be saving $300.00 with the DP because, DDP or not, we always have at least one table service/sit down meal per day.

 

[larryz]

From

http://allears.net/ae/issue122.htm

Thanks for posting that link. It puts the current situation into a better perspective!

 

[bicker]

I don't beleive Disney has ever closed down a whole resort unless it was for major renovations.

Hard to believe, I know, but reference the link I provided for a full description of the circumstances.

It happened. It could happen again; it probably won't (because this coming travel recession probably won't be as bad) but it could.

 

[eliza61]

I don't know why it's so expensive to go to WDW. I actually find it to be pretty cheap. I've priced out several vacations elsewhere, and in shorter lengths of trip and they cost the same or more.

Those are my thoughts exactly. I think I am the only person on these boards who think Disney will weather this current economy just fine & dandy. We took a summer vacation at Ocean city Md. won't go into details but final total was $3000 bucks. You bet were going back to Disney in '09. It is a little easier since we are DVc'ers and our room out lay has already been paid.

Op,
I would plan my trip based on the rack rates and if discounts come out, great. If not you won't be disappointed. Can't tell you how many post we get saying of cancelled trips due to "betting" on a code or a discount. Disney always has the option of pulling them or restricting them at any time.

 

[WDSearcher]

We have a 7-night cruise booked which includes everything except alcohol and excursions, plus our hotel stay the night before we sail for much less than Disney. Half the cost to be exact.

We can go to Hawaii, which includes food, hotel and air for less than we can go to Disney. This is about a 2K savings over Disney.

We go to California to see my brother for a week, pay for room, air, food, sites and fun and it is less than Disney. This is about half the savings over Disney.

And yet ... you're still going to Disney next Christmas. So ... apparently they're affordable on some scale, or why bother? You can find deals to pretty much anywhere that are less than Disney. And I'll bet a lot of people here can find you deals that will be more affordable than your trips. It just depends on how and where you want to stay. I've seen people do Disney on pennies. Any travel location is only as expensive as you let it be, KWIM?