Finally in black and white

[dtum]

The Orlando Sentinel reported this today:

Disney continues to rein in hotel discounts

Disney appears to be making some progress in its long-running efforts to pull back on the discounts it relied on during the recession.

The company reported last week that advance room reservations at its domestic resorts for its fiscal third quarter are running 2.5 percent behind last year's levels. But while the company may be booking less summer business at this point than it did a year ago, it's getting higher prices for the rooms it's reserving. Room rates for those reservations are up by double-digit percentages from last year's rates, the company said during the second-quarter earnings call.

Iger said the company was going to keep prices where they are now to send a signal that the discounts Disney employed to draw crowds during the economic slump are a thing of the past.

"We worked really hard to wean the consumer of the discount, and it worked in the second quarter, where we had slightly improved — if you factor out Easter — attendance and occupancy rates and better pricing, which was really important," Iger said. "The goal remains the same for the third quarter."

That's exactly why DH and I no longer stay on-site. When camping at FW went to $100/night and my kids stayed at ASMo and got nothing more than a bed for $129/night that was the straw that broke the camel's back. We just got tired of paying high rates for a hotel room that was barely a step above Motel 8 and it has been the talk around the FW board for a while about how high the price will go before people reach their limit. We decided last year was our last on-site and will always stay off-site now. WH all the way!!

 

[deakam]

without a deal it will be cost prohibitive for me to stay on-site as well. I can stay off site and rent a car for the same amount, or less than a value. In fact I can rent a condo and not even eat at Disney saving even more. Several years ago I thought Disney was pricing itself out of it's own market.

I think that when Disney unveils it's new Magic Kingdom we will be heading to Universal and Sea World. Seriously--a single day ticket at Disney is nearly $85.00. That is ridiculous.

 

[travelfanatic]

That's exactly why DH and I no longer stay on-site. When camping at FW went to $100/night and my kids stayed at ASMo and got nothing more than a bed for $129/night that was the straw that broke the camel's back. We just got tired of paying high rates for a hotel room that was barely a step above Motel 8 and it has been the talk around the FW board for a while about how high the price will go before people reach their limit. We decided last year was our last on-site and will always stay off-site now. WH all the way!!


Amen! I wouldn't pay it anymore if I had the money to dole out! Their pricing is out of control for sub par rooms in my opinion! You can get much nicer accomodations off site for a fraction of the cost. I can't believe people are still paying it. I think Disney is in a bubble that will burst at some point as I just don't see people continuing to pay more & more when they have a plethra of other options!

 

[kimmyann]

That's exactly why DH and I no longer stay on-site. When camping at FW went to $100/night and my kids stayed at ASMo and got nothing more than a bed for $129/night that was the straw that broke the camel's back. We just got tired of paying high rates for a hotel room that was barely a step above Motel 8 and it has been the talk around the FW board for a while about how high the price will go before people reach their limit. We decided last year was our last on-site and will always stay off-site now. WH all the way!!


Amen! I wouldn't pay it anymore if I had the money to dole out! Their pricing is out of control for sub par rooms in my opinion! You can get much nicer accomodations off site for a fraction of the cost. I can't believe people are still paying it. I think Disney is in a bubble that will burst at some point as I just don't see people continuing to pay more & more when they have a plethra of other options!

This is the exact thing that happened to the housing market. If it can happen to an entire nation, it can happen to Disney. I won't even consider staying onsite again, we stayed at a moderate & I was very disappointed with what you get. A basic hotel room. Next year we are staying in a house where I can have a private pool, hot tub & game room.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

That's exactly why DH and I no longer stay on-site. When camping at FW went to $100/night and my kids stayed at ASMo and got nothing more than a bed for $129/night that was the straw that broke the camel's back. We just got tired of paying high rates for a hotel room that was barely a step above Motel 8 and it has been the talk around the FW board for a while about how high the price will go before people reach their limit. We decided last year was our last on-site and will always stay off-site now. WH all the way!!

Same for our family. We've gone back to staying offsite because the value of the "free dining plan" has been so stripped down from what it once was and rack rates, and days/number of tickets required for the package just keep going up. We were an offsite family for years and years and years and Disney finally got us onsite with free dining. It's no longer the value it once was, so we'll go back to staying offsite and spend only part of our vacation at Disney, spending the other part at Universal and eating offsite.

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

Same here! We stayed 3 nights at AKL a couple of years ago before going to a week offsite at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. I tried to figure out what I had just gotten for my $399/night at AKL. The short answer -- nothing. From that point on we always stay offsite at either Windsor Hills or use our timeshare weeks at Bonnet Creek or Cypress Palms. I thought staying at a deluxe might give me a little extra luxury, but for $400/night, all I got was a standard hotel room with a little Disney theming. And two queen beds. What the h*ll are two grown adults with no kids going to do with 2 queen beds?!? So long Disney Resorts. I'll visit your parks but I won't stay in your hotels. I'll leave the vacancy for those with more money to blow than I.

 

[barb007]

I always stayed off site until Disney offered free dining, but I feel (like many), that I'm not getting the value I once was.

I couldn't believe that I could find a condo in WH for the only $3 more/day compared to the value resorts.

We'll only be going to WDW for 3 days, planning to only eat lunch at the parks & we normally don't buy trinkets, so Disney is not getting as much of my money as they did in the past.

 

[humalexis]

This is our first time ever going to WDW and after weeks of searching and researching the different resorts I came to the conclusion off site is better. We are going to stay at WH in a 3 bd townhouse and I can't wait! I have heard so many positive reviews and the people we rented from have been very responsive.

I just can't deal with only 280 sq feet of space and 3 other people. We would have hurt one another. Plus we get a kitchen and laundry so that makes for more savings. Disney is going to have to rein in their prices or they may find themselves with empty resorts.

 

[katrina1122]

I'm strickly an on-site kinda gal, but the prices and the ddp aren't what they used to be.

I hate losing EMH and having to pay $14/day to park, but I'm thinking it may be the way to go...off-site time share resort. Makes me sad to lose "living in the magic" and using the buses and getting a Mickey wake up call, but this way we can afford to eat, lol.

I'm not giving up hope, but it's not looking good for on-site into the future. Let the code searching commence...

 

[dtum]

I'm strickly an on-site kinda gal, but the prices and the ddp aren't what they used to be.

I hate losing EMH and having to pay $14/day to park, but I'm thinking it may be the way to go...off-site time share resort. Makes me sad to lose "living in the magic" and using the buses and getting a Mickey wake up call, but this way we can afford to eat, lol.

I'm not giving up hope, but it's not looking good for on-site into the future. Let the code searching commence...

WBC is almost on-site and does provide bus transportation to the parks..so no need to pay to park if you don't want to.

 

[katrina1122]

How is the bus transporation from WBC, constant all day like WDW buses, or just certain times? Is it full, or can you get on easily.

 

[dtum]

How is the bus transporation from WBC, constant all day like WDW buses, or just certain times? Is it full, or can you get on easily.

I'm pretty sure there's a gap in the afternoon where they don't run. Maybe some staying there has a current schedule, but you can look here also:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2114303

 

[katrina1122]

Looks like they have a shuttle, but most think car is the better way to go.

 

[jjpope1]

so do yall think it is worth staying off site, and paying cash for food at disney? see the dining plan for me i like due to you dont have to worry about cash, its included, i guess i feel like its cheaper to get dining plan than to pay cash, we have 2 adults and 1 (6yr) boy? what is your opinions about that?

 

[darrius1st]

It is funny because I have been envious of people who stay onsite I have a large family of 7 and an onsite trip for 7 days 6 nights cost about $5,500.00 for just four days at the parks with the minimal dinning plan so I always stayed offsite because we could go for half of that. Now I do not feel so bad anymore because it seems I am not really missing out on anything.

 

[TotoToo]

It is funny because I have been envious of people who stay onsite I have a large family of 7 and an onsite trip for 7 days 6 nights cost about $5,500.00 for just four days at the parks with the minimal dinning plan so I always stayed offsite because we could go for half of that. Now I do not feel so bad anymore because it seems I am not really missing out on anything.

That's why we have always said people should try on site once - they need to KNOW there is a difference but it isn't a good one for far more money! The small amount of theme, the phone calls, etc don't amount to anything of value but you pay dearly to get them. Just not worth it. And the dining - it is bad food and horribly overpriced no matter how you pay cash or prepay. I'd pay to avoid eating in park food (with a very few notable exceptions that are in that area but run by others not Disney).

Overall the idea that being on site is needed to really experience/enjoy Disney is largely great hype. In fact the best experience is available off site and to really enjoy Orlando you need to do more than be immersed in Disney 24/7. It really and very quickly gets very old & actually tends to ruin it (burn you out) rather than increase your enjoyment. A little that leaves you wanting more is far better and easily done with off site stays.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

I have really, really tried to stay on-site. I want to do it, but not for a $3000 premium.

We'll happily stay off-site (this year it will be in Emerald Island) and enjoy our time out of the parks in our 2000-sq-ft home with private pool.

 

[dtum]

I have really, really tried to stay on-site. I want to do it, but not for a $3000 premium.

We'll happily stay off-site (this year it will be in Emerald Island) and enjoy our time out of the parks in our 2000-sq-ft home with private pool.

 

[Planogirl]

We used to always stay onsite and there are advantages such as location but it's just not worth the extra money for us. We want a bit more and we always have a car anyway.

 

[Planogirl]

so do yall think it is worth staying off site, and paying cash for food at disney? see the dining plan for me i like due to you dont have to worry about cash, its included, i guess i feel like its cheaper to get dining plan than to pay cash, we have 2 adults and 1 (6yr) boy? what is your opinions about that?

The convenience of the dining plan is hard to beat but I'm not sure that it's necessarily a better deal money-wise. We eat at few full-serve places though and also eat offsite a great deal of the time.

You might also be looking at eating at some character dining spots which are outrageously expensive unless you have the dining plan. No young kids here so we don't have to worry about that.