How on earth can anyone afford a deluxe?

[MickeyNicki]

We are lucky enough to live 3 hours away so we save on the airfare. We are AP holders so we dont have to purchase tickets all the time. We do not buy man souveniers (since we go all the time) and most of our stays are just long weekends.

When it is time to renew our passes we usually stay in a mod resort to offset the price. We have also stumbled on the Swan/Dolphin...all the perks of a deluxe for a much lower price.

We leave at noon today for a split stay at the Poly and YC...it is costly but this is our last hurrah for a while.

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

Not to hijack, but WHAT is "pin code" and HOW do I get one??

I alway's rec a pin code via e-mail or post card form the regular mail, I have signed up so many times with Disney they have my address and e-mail.

I also looked for codes (normally 3 letters) Mousesavers.com and in disboards as well..........Hope this was helpful

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I received pin codes and postcards for years (a good 20 yrs) and had some great stays with the codes...$255 at GF in a fabulous room. Also have an AP...might not renew this year.

The codes definitely make a difference ~ would not be willing to pay rack rate for Disney resorts. Poly just received the 4 star AAA rating again and GF should improve after the refurbishment. It was time to spruce up those rooms.

CBR could use a good refurbishment too. Anyway, codes make all the difference for us and am delighted Disney continues to offer some...Disney know it brings in more guests and hooks folks on deluxes

Hey, that's okay by me!

 

[phyllis1966]

We visit WDW during value or regular season, and have always managed to snag a discount...our GV room for the 3 of us (DD is 8) at the GF, including 8-day park hoppers, is costing us $3300. It ain't cheap, but it's a helluva lot better than $5000 for room-only!

 

[klmall]

We now stay deluxe most of the time but we go no more than once every 1 to 2 years. And I totally agree with comparisons to other trip destinations. Even when we rented part of a nice house outside of Honolulu near a beach and an inexpensive car plus airfare it still cost more than the same amount of time in WDW at a deluxe. It was a great trip - graduation present for DS but expensive still the same!

We've also traveled to other places in the US; chosen chain hotels and rented cars, eaten at inexpensive and expensive places and spent almost as much as at Disney.

I consider myself a great trip planner - know the bargain websites and use them along with every discount card I can and we have only paid room rack rate twice in all our trips to Disney. And even on those trips we still saved with other discounts on food, tickets, car rentals and souvenir purchases.

As teachers we worked hard and saved our money carefully but we have always had the philosophy that we should try to enjoy life now and not save everything to do in an uncertain later! We have never sacrificed college funds or retirement money for Disney or any other vacation; maybe a new couch or a finished basement. But which is better in your photo album? DS's face smiling after riding EE? Or DS sitting on a new couch?

 

[barney4liz]

I alway's rec a pin code via e-mail or post card form the regular mail, I have signed up so many times with Disney they have my address and e-mail.

I also looked for codes (normally 3 letters) Mousesavers.com and in disboards as well..........Hope this was helpful

After reviewing the pin code threads -- I called and asked if there were any codes attached to my name. The first CM said she had no way of checking that. So I called back and the second CM was happy to check, but there were no special codes.

I'm being greedy because I usually book when they are offering a Florida resident rate, and the CM said that the discounts were the same.

So there's another tip for how to afford to stay in a deluxe -- move to Florida!

To be honest, though, I've only stayed in a deluxe once (CR) because DH was speaking at a conference and it was free.

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

After reviewing the pin code threads -- I called and asked if there were any codes attached to my name. The first CM said she had no way of checking that. So I called back and the second CM was happy to check, but there were no special codes.

I'm being greedy because I usually book when they are offering a Florida resident rate, and the CM said that the discounts were the same.

So there's another tip for how to afford to stay in a deluxe -- move to Florida!

To be honest, though, I've only stayed in a deluxe once (CR) because DH was speaking at a conference and it was free.

cHECK THIS LINK OUT http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#discountmenu
Maybe this will help you..............let me know I'm interested to know if it helps

 

[antmaril]

Our favorite WDW resort is the Boardwalk Inn. We go during Value Season (usually January) and use either a code or AAA. I will not pay rack rates. We also don't stay more than five nights.

That's how we do it.

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

After reviewing the pin code threads -- I called and asked if there were any codes attached to my name. The first CM said she had no way of checking that. So I called back and the second CM was happy to check, but there were no special codes.

I'm being greedy because I usually book when they are offering a Florida resident rate, and the CM said that the discounts were the same.

So there's another tip for how to afford to stay in a deluxe -- move to Florida!

To be honest, though, I've only stayed in a deluxe once (CR) because DH was speaking at a conference and it was free.

Try rhis code Check-in dates: 9/30/07-12/23/07. Book by 12/23/07. Use code FEY. this is for FL residence

 

[OctDisney]

That is why we do a split stay.
For example, a few years ago we did CBR Sun-Friday. Checked out on Saturday morning and went to AK for one night. Since we still had our park ticket until Midnight and we were just relaxing mostly, it worked out. Did not add that much to the cost but got to stay at AKL for 1.5 day.

This year we are staying primarily at POFQ with a few nights at Poly. Only $200 more since we would be at WDW anyway, so we said why not.

It does not work as well if you are on dining plan, but you get package deal for first part and then room only for second part.

For us, we can enjoy a deluxe, but just not every day.

BTW - I could not stay at AKL for more than a few days since it is so remote.

 

[lindsroc]

"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"


----We're going 10/29-11/02. I booked it a loooong time ago. I do have a Disney Visa card, but we booked the room and tickets seperate- I wonder if I call there is a way to get the price down. Worth a shot I guess! Thanks.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

That seems awlfully high to me. We are 3 adults and 1 child at WL Deluxe room with dining plan and parkhoppers for 4200 for 6days. Last year we stayed CL at AKL with dining and tix and our whole bill only came to 3200. These are both deluxe resorts. Granted not the poly but we did stay CL so you have to take that into consideration. I dont know how it can possibly be so much more at the Poly.

 

[barney4liz]

Try rhis code Check-in dates: 9/30/07-12/23/07. Book by 12/23/07. Use code FEY. this is for FL residence

Thanks mmf! Just want to clarify that I do already have a ressie with the FL resident discount -- I booked it online through the Florida Resident WDW webpage. The rate we got for a "preferred" room at CBR was $149 for 12/22 and 12/23. I really was being greedy looking for an additional pin code discount!

Actually we currently have 2 ressies through Disney with the Florida resident discount (CBR and AKL standard room at $195 for those dates). We also have a ressie at the Dolphin with a gov. employee discount that put the rate at something like $155. I think that is the one we are going with.

 

[MainStreetFireman]

In 2001, we stayed in DTD at what was then a Marriott location. My father gifted us his points, so the room was completely free. In 2004, we had saved and got a great "7 for 4" deal at the Poly. After that trip we decided that this was the way to go for us. We already knew we wanted to stay on site, we didn't want smaller beds (we sleep on a queen at home and were barely comfortable in 1991 in a double in CBR) and we loved the theme and attention at the Poly. (We are trying the WL for the first time soon!)

Our home is quite spartan and we drive practical cars. Our personal belief is to acquire living memories of family activities together, not inanimate things to fill our house. I am not coming down on those who prefer things in their homes and more permanent comforts -- I'm just saying that there is another viewpoint out there as well.

 

[LuvIt]

It is quite expensive to stay a reg room rates at a Disney deluxe hotel. You could spend the same and take a fabulous vacation to Europe or other places in the world to learn about history, see other cultures (not just in the Epcot way LOL) and really expose yourself and family to other stuff.
My guess is that lots of people who stay at deluxes use discount codes or get other discounts as annual pass holders,etc. so they are not paying the regular high room rates. If you are thinking deluxe look for discounted rates! Or do a moderate resort and then with the money saved treat your family to another vacation somewhere else

 

[Sammie]

Some people can afford the cost due to having very good incomes and expendable cash. Some have vacation savings accounts and save until they have the money and then go and some charge it and worry about it later.

I never do understand these questions, Who Can Anyone Afford a Deluxe?, as stated many things in life are expensive, cars, homes, boats, jewelry etc and many afford that. So it truly just depends on your income and what you wish to spend your money on. I have friends that a Disney vacation at a deluxe would be pocket change. They get six figure bonuses each year.

Now as to whether it is worth the cost that is strickly personal opinion, to many it's worth every penny, and to some even though they have the budget for it, it is not worth the cost.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I never could figure out how people can pay so much for the Deluxe resorts at any time other than Value. Even then most of the Deluxes are still out of my reach. We could actually do the more expensive ones, but to me it would just make me very uncomfortable spending that much money on a room. This will be the first full week we have spent at a deluxe, AKL-which is one of the less expensive ones, starting in Value but ending in Holiday (now THAT is a bargain..last time we can do that) for $182/night plus tax.(AAA discount-better than AP rate!) We will probably have a view of the "lovely parking lot" as the CM described it, but I can walk to a viewing balcony and sit and look at animals and drink my morning coffee. I don't need to see them every time I look out the window. I am not the type of person who spends a lot of money "because I am worth it." (My favorite phrase used on these boards-NOT) Everyone is worthy, and we all know what we can comfortably spend. I spend what I am comfortable with, and no more. I also hold out for a room at AAA discount..that's why I haven't booked a room at our favorite, WL..it would be about $400 more to stay there..so I keep CRO busy with my daily calls.

I think it's really great that folks can treat themselves to a really nice room at one of the more expensive resorts.. One day, I may feel comfortable treating myself, too. But I wish some would refrain from saying they do it because "they are worth it"..What's that make the rest of us, unworthy chopped liver?

 

[jimmiej]

Sorry if this has been said before; didn't read all the responses.

We've stayed in 5 different deluxes & never paid rack rate.

Swan- teacher rate
Contemporary- code
Animal Kingdom Lodge- code
Beach Club Villas- points rental
Saratoga Springs- points rental

All of these stays were in the summer except AKL (February).

 

[Minnie&Nana]

We've been going for so many years cannot say the same, but not too bad

12/07 Poly group rate thru MouseFan Travel ($295.88 inc tx)
9/04 GF pin code ($255+tx)
8/03 AKL Savannah Fl resident rate (more then than now $147 + tx)
7/98 BC Travel Industry rate ($150+tx - 50% off)

All trips from '81 to '96 rack rack at Poly/CR $79 to $175 +tx

 

[Sammie]

they are worth it

I don't think that is a reference to any person, but they felt that staying in a deluxe was worth the cost to them for their vacation.

Many do not feel it is worth the cost whether they can afford it or not.