How on earth can anyone afford a deluxe?

[Allison]

People afford it because they make enough money to afford it, they plan, they budget.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I'm bringing my mom and she's chipping in...


I'm getting a PT seasonal job and paying half the money towards the trip, and I booked a year in advance and am making payments (50 bucks a week).

Obviously it is a big expense for a "middle income" family (I feel like we're working poor, but whatever thanks cost of living in New England!)

We're staying at AKL which is a "cheaper" deluxe...the Poly and CR are the most expensive deluxes...maybe try AKL, WL, or even the BC (great location IMO within walking distance to 2 parks...)

It is a lot...we'll try it next year and see how we feel about it!

 

[grannyminnie]

Threads with this theme come up frequently. Room rates at Disney, not to mention ever increasing ticket prices, will always be a subject of discussion. And as one poster said, Disney will charge what the public will pay...and someone will always be there to pay it! I am one of those, but ONLY with a discount, and only for 3 days max. And even then, I share the cost with someone else. I buy my tickets in bulk, add on the non-expiring option, so that when we go, we don't pay more than $35 a day for our park fun. We've never bought a package, but I can understand how the lure of the DDP (especially if it's free) can tempt one to book a package. I simply hate the thought of having to pay off the full amount so far in advance!!
When visitors stop booking rooms at exorbitant rates, Disney will have to back off, and offer better deals...and as far as I can see, "it ain't gonna happen"!

 

[Cee]

I've gotten discounted room only rates through Dreams Unltd. before. I think
I stayed at the Beach Club for 198.00/night. Of course this was a few years
ago. But I know it's possible to get a discounted rate but you have to ASK.
That info. will never be volunteered. I also have rented DVC points the last
few years and it literally cuts the cost in half. I stayed 5 nights in a 2 BR at
SSR last Dec. and it only cost a little over $1,000 whereas the rack rate for
that room was $550/night! We're staying in a studio at OKW this Dec. for
an entire week for $800. That's a bargain. Renting isn't for everybody. But
it can sure save some money. Good luck and have a blast on your trip.

 

[Mrsjvb]

for us, we budget ahead of time. we know how much we are willing to spend on a hotel room per night. We have a cash reserve fund that gets added to monthly, and if something comes up, we have the cash lying around. However, if we don't need to touch it, we won't. didn't touch it for our recent trip last month, so next year, it will have twice as much money in it, and for our tenth anniversary, who knows, maybe we will decide to splurge. As of right now, we are sticking with SoG at half the cost of Poly or GF.

I will say this: to me Values are not worth the savings. I am willing to spend more money per night to avoid the families and the crowding even if it means only going for 5 days instead of ten, or every other year instead of every year. Due to DH's schedule, going during the summer is Never an option anyway, so we usually luck out as far as seasonal rates go. we DO spend a lot of time in our rooms, so the concept of "only there to sleep, change and shower" does not work for us. Thus, we make adjustments.

 

[LJD2143]

My family's annual stay at the Poly this year only cost us $5000 GRAND TOTAL:
2 adults and 3 children
7 nights in a Garden View room
$3500 Room & Park Tickets & FREE Dining
$1000 Airfare
$ 500 Miscellaneous

In order to manage the expense, we do the following:
1 - Plan our trip during the Value Season;

2 - Plan our trip while the FREE Dining is offered;

3 - Book airfare as far in advance as possible;

4 - Use the Disney Visa card to accumulate reward dollars. We charge absolutely EVERYTHING (gas, groceries, Dr bills, phone bills) and pay our balance in full each month . This year we had over $400 reward dollars to spend. The reward dollars can be used to pay for almost anything on the property, including food, souveniers, or your room charges;

5 - Use the Disney Visa card to pay for our vacation. When you book through Disney World Travel, you get 6 months free financing;

6 - Purchase only one-park-per-day tickets (i.e. NO park-hopper). We've determined that Park-hopping consumes an enormous amount of time. Since we have 7 days, there is no need to waste time "traveling" between parks;

7 - Utilize Disney's Magical Express - eliminates need/cost for rental car.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Well we're a family of five so that severely limits our options. DH doesn't like POR at all, and that's the only moderate that sleeps five. Two moderate rooms at CBR or CSR are about the same price as one deluxe room. Kids really like slides at the pool so values are out. Also to us transportation is a big deal. When we first started going all three kids were in strollers so having the boat or the monorail make life so much easier. Then we got used to deluxes and it would be hard to downgrade.

We never go in peak season, and usually try to go in value season, although with the way the seasons are changing sometimes it is regular season. We use either an AP discount (if available) or AAA discounts.

DH is a hard worker and vacation time is very important to him since he doesn't get to spend as much time with the kids as he would like during the year. We go for two weeks in the summer so we really do use the resort for more than just sleeping and showering. We usually spend a few "down" days just enjoying the resort. Also the kids usually go to two or three of the kids activities (Wonderland Tea party etc.) and the girls and I try to do a "Spa Day" so we really take advantage of the resort amenities. We do a fair amount of relaxing there as well as park days.

Everyone has different priorities. We've never been park commandos, but I can see if that is your family's style during vacation it would be a waste to pay for a resort that you don't have time to enjoy.

Also DH is a runner. So he runs very early in the morning. I enjoy letting the kids sleep a little and sitting on the balcony with a cup of coffee, watching him run and just savoring the time alone!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Have not paid rack rate since 1995

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Simple, we save..save..and save some more. The Polynesian is our favorite resort and we go every year during value season in late August. It is pricey but worth it to us for so many memories. It isn't cheap and you're paying for location. The Ritz-Carlton is a much more luxurious property but it isn't within viewing distance of the Wishes fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.

With that said, we also do Disney for Christmas but then we usually just stay at POP.

 

[princessesrule4]

For one thing, March is peak season for 2008 and the prices are about $200 more a night than Value Season.

 

[simonkodousek]

We always go in value season, but even then the prices are enormously high. I've stayed in 5-star hotels with similar prices, and let me say, Disney's deluxe hotels don't even compare. However, we only go every 2 or 3 years, so I want to make the trip as special as possible.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We stay at Pop. Why pay more?

 

[Cmbar]

I wonder the same thing! And is $5000 really worth it? We're staying in a 1br at SSR and I believe its just about $500 a night! Yikes. We're only staying 4 nights though.

When are you going? They have a special out right now for SSR and OKW if you have a disney Card. They are easy to get and don't have an annual fee. I think the deal is through the end of the year, so if you are going next year, forget I said anything

 

[princessesrule4]

What room category are you talking about? You have to be talking about concierge. It is $485 +tax per night for a garden view during Peak season at the Poly .So for 7 nights it would be around $3800 not $5000 dollars.

By the way we stay at Deluxes everytime and, we save/ budget ,use a AAA or AP discount when available and we go during Value or Regular season.

 

[eliza61]

I wonder the same thing! And is $5000 really worth it? We're staying in a 1br at SSR and I believe its just about $500 a night! Yikes. We're only staying 4 nights though.

The word "worth" is subjective. I don't think Mercedes Benzes are worth $80,000 dollars but they sure sell a lot of them. Why do folks get judgemental with the deluxes. If you can afford $5 grand to stay at a deluxe, go for it. I've paid twice that to stay in a hotel just to be able to see the eiffel tower out of my room.

Yep, I love the deluxes, think they are totally worth the money and we wouldn't even think about staying anywhere else.

 

[eliza61]

We stay at Pop. Why pay more?

Because we like the deluxes and the great thing about Disney is that if you want to pay the price they'll let you stay anywhere.

 

[storzo]

We work hard all year and save our money and then we can afford a really nice vacation. Our attitude is we go away (on a big trip) one week a year and work the other 51 so we might as well go all out.

 

[jmkrat]

Not everyone who stays in a deluxe has a ton of money on hand or a ton of money period. We like the deluxes, but we pay it off over a year's time. My DH works on Saturdays, we never go out ( and I mean never, no movies, no dinners, nothing) but this is where we choose to stay. It is expensive and I know I could have done alot with my house had I not spent the money, but I have some wonderful memories. We just like the feel of a deluxe, and we do spend time in our room. So, while some folks won't or can't, we save and do. It takes work, but this is how we enjoy our vacation. We have gone back to the moderates when funds were really tight and we like those too. It just is a matter of what you can do, and if you can find the money to do it. I am still paying for my trip in December, but hopefully it will be paid off soon.

 

[madalex]

I am just wondering how everyone affords this... between airfare, park tixs, food & souvenirs, it is an expensive endeavor, without a $5000 hotel room bill. And I see on these boards tons of people who stay at the Deluxe resorts year over year. Am I missing out on some sort of discounted room deal for the deluxes?

I got good grades, went to a top college and law school, worked very hard for many years and now work a job where I get paid a lot of money. That is how I afford deluxes year after year.

 

[boomhauer]

I got good grades, went to a top college and law school, worked very hard for many years and now work a job where I get paid a lot of money. That is how I afford deluxes year after year.

I got bad grades, didn't go to college, and I'm lazy. I'm staying at the Poly for 2 weeks in July.