I am part of the problem with high resort rates

[JenBush]

My trips over the past few years have been harder and harder to justify on site prices knowing how much farther my money goes off site. My next Orlando trip will be to Universal. I don’t know when I’ll be back to WDW, but I doubt I’ll be staying on site. It’s hard for me to justify $200+/night for a value resort.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I guess I have to confess I am part of the problem…And this is how I/we rationalize :
I get Disney Visa reward credit and “save” that to pay my DVC dues every year… and I was granted park pass for October 31 inside the MK even tho it was not showing availability before my booking so now I can park at the Contemporary and walk to MK to enjoy some of the guests in costumes that arrive early and this “saves” me even more cause I won’t be purchasing Boo tickets… How crazy is that rationale?
I wonder what happens to my park reservation if I cancel resort stay .
I really should not pay$800 for one night ! That is crazy insane…I am part of the problem and need strength to do the right thing to cancel.
Right?

 

[jamescanuck2001]

Not if the hotels are meeting projected capacity at rack rates. (Such as the last quarter of this year...)

Correct, but later after this travel surge.

 

[Eastern]

I wonder what happens to my park reservation if I cancel resort stay

From what I have read, as long as you have park tickets attached to your MDE, nothing should happen to your park reservations.

 

[notatallmagic]

All of this. My 5-year-old twins got the FREE pre-K season passes for Cedar Point this year. I bought the gold pass for myself. For less than $150 (they just raised the price, but it was about $147 with tax when I bought it last month), all three of us can go to Cedar Point for the rest of the summer/ fall season. At WDW, I spent that much for one character breakfast at Topolino's.

We live close enough to CP that we don't need to stay at a resort (though we might try it sometime... it's very beautiful there). My kids like it more than WDW because there are almost no lines for the Kiddy Kingdom rides, and they can ride those by themselves. We spent so much time standing in line at WDW in May that we could only go on 4 or 5 rides before they were exhausted and ready to go back to the hotel. We have another trip to WDW planned for December, when Cedar Point is closed, but there's basically no way I would ever consider going to WDW during the Cedar Point season. The value just isn't there.

As a kid, I stayed at the Contemporary with my family multiple times in the early 1980s. It felt like a decent middle-to-high end hotel, like a Hilton or a Hyatt, but not some kind of super-luxurious resort or anything. It is $954/ night (before taxes) for our December trip dates. That is madness! There is no way I would pay that (and it certainly wasn't priced like that a generation ago, because my parents wouldn't have paid that much either). I've stayed in fancy hotels in some of the most expensive cities in the world for a third of that price or less. We're renting points at OKW instead (which worked out to be cheaper than staying at ASM or Pop for those dates).

We're also going to try Universal in November and see how we like it. The resorts seem much more reasonably priced. And getting express passes included with our stay at RPR sounds pretty nice. The value proposition just makes more sense to me than what WDW is offering.

We must be neighbors - we live about 30 minutes from Cedar Point, and have only stayed at the resort a couple of times. But Cedar Point's new cabins are beautiful, with the beach (which I actually like better than the parks) a short walk away. We've been to the water park, main park, and the beach this past week, and have spent a total of $27 (Three Starbucks trips, with a 20% discount for being a Passholder).

I think most folks do notice the concept of value - even if they have the means to pay full price for everything; and especially if you enjoy several vacations in a year. Disney is now falling FAR short on any value comparison, and their service is often now sub-par, so it's just a struggle to justify the "magic" when it's not magical anymore.

 

[notatallmagic]

It makes me sad too. It’s not the same Disney of past years. I started noticing changes a few years ago, and every year there’s more cut backs some subtle, some obvious. I just don’t get the same feeling about Disney anymore. And we loved Disney. This new giving less but charging more business practice has made me feel ripped off.

"Ripped off" is a good way to describe what I'm feeling. Also "undervalued". I run a business, and you keep customers by showing them that you value their business. I get that Disney is a HUGE business, but there are only so many "once in a lifetime" trips that can support their business model. The "frequent fliers" don't seem very happy right now, and that will become a problem for them.

 

[notatallmagic]

So interested in making a trip to cedar point! Still trying to gather some info on it but we are a huge coaster family and it’s definitely a trip we want to make

I hope you can! IMO, it's an easy long weekend. One or two days at the main park, a day at the waterpark, and a beach/Sandusky waterfront day. Everything is very walkable, and if you like coasters, you will LOVE it! Weekdays are generally a little less busy...

 

[Sue M]

"Ripped off" is a good way to describe what I'm feeling. Also "undervalued". I run a business, and you keep customers by showing them that you value their business. I get that Disney is a HUGE business, but there are only so many "once in a lifetime" trips that can support their business model. The "frequent fliers" don't seem very happy right now, and that will become a problem for them.

Yes with the rising costs and less service I think after the pent up demand for travel eases, and all the people (me included) had to rebook vacay due to lock down, and 50th Celebration is over I think a lot less will choose Disney as their vacay destination. There are other theme parks in Orlando.
$705 for a 10 day hopper is insane. For 1 person! And no real “hopping” and no FP yet. And when it returns it will cost, above the $705 for park pass!
My Universal Preferred AP cost less than this.

 

[Katie2]

Yes with the rising costs and less service I think after the pent up demand for travel eases, and all the people (me included) had to rebook vacay due to lock down, and 50th Celebration is over I think a lot less will choose Disney as their vacay destination. There are other theme parks in Orlando.
$705 for a 10 day hopper is insane. For 1 person! And no real “hopping” and no FP yet. And when it returns it will cost, above the $705 for park pass!
My Universal Preferred AP cost less than this.

I agree. I think WDW is being short sighted in their strategy. Even as a super fan, at a certain point they cross the line. My pocket will always come before Disney’s pocket. And paying double/triple the cost for a vacation because management is trying to maximize their profits off our backs for half the experience is not a fair trade off. To each their own!

 

[epcotobsessed]

"Ripped off" is a good way to describe what I'm feeling. Also "undervalued". I run a business, and you keep customers by showing them that you value their business. I get that Disney is a HUGE business, but there are only so many "once in a lifetime" trips that can support their business model. The "frequent fliers" don't seem very happy right now, and that will become a problem for them.

We have gone twice a year for the past 10 years (with the exception of 2020). We are so, so fortunate to have been able to do that, and we kept coming back because even though it was expensive, we felt that we got good value for our money. Every single extra or perk that we used to get will not be present on this trip, with the exception of being able to walk to Epcot from our hotel (BC). In spite of my username I, too, have a point at which I feel ripped off and undervalued. I already do feel that way and this trip hasn't started yet (we booked it in January when we were desperate for any vacation, and when we thought that things like FP+ and EMH would come back by this point), so, very sadly, this will be our last under the current offerings and prices.

 

[anjuan]

We are big fans of Disney Cruise Line but I had SW ticket credit that I needed to use and our summer cruise was cancelled so we're doing a WDW trip in August instead. It's been quite a few years since we've been. Generally I had always thought that cruises were more expensive than WDW, but it is definitely looking like cruises really aren't more expensive. I know that they are totally different experiences, but it really makes me want to stick with cruising.

 

[ktlm]

We looked at the same week in October we have stayed at YC multiple years. The price for a non-club level room package this year for the same week we have always gone (at least since 2014) and same amount of days was $2,000 higher than we paid in 2018 for a club level room in the same view category; $2,500 more than our club level water view room in 2015, $3,000 higher than the non-club rooms we booked in 2019, 2017, and the club level room we booked in 2016; and $4,000 higher than our non-club room in 2014. The perks keep going down and the prices keep going up. We are keeping an eye on how things change in the parks as it gets closer, but we will likely cancel. No fast pass, having to make park reservations, no real hopping, the boarding group issue that may keep us from being able to even ride ROTR, no more magic bands provided, inability to have true character meets, no real Halloween parties, and likely crowded due to the 50th actually being that month, and I don't see the value of paying thousands of dollars more and getting a whole lot less. We already had an issue with what we paid in 2018 based on all the perks and services that were no longer there at that point. Raising the prices astronomically while having so many things restricted, or eliminated (regardless of whether that is need based due to the pandemic), does not seem like a good business move in my mind. Having been a loyal customer, who has been to WDW almost every year since 2008 (as well as also traveling to other parks, Aulani, and buying a ton of Disney stuff- and being at WDW every few years prior to 2008), I don't feel appreciated or that the same level of care is going into my trip from their end.

 

[Sarahslay]

Yes with the rising costs and less service I think after the pent up demand for travel eases, and all the people (me included) had to rebook vacay due to lock down, and 50th Celebration is over I think a lot less will choose Disney as their vacay destination. There are other theme parks in Orlando.
$705 for a 10 day hopper is insane. For 1 person! And no real “hopping” and no FP yet. And when it returns it will cost, above the $705 for park pass!
My Universal Preferred AP cost less than this.

I only had to rebook one trip, which I've already done, and have gone back to WDW several other times since reopening. That being said, Chapek doesn't realize that all this "demand" is mainly because there really aren't that many other places to really go at the moment. I have two trips booked, and a cruise next April that I'm still wondering if it'll happen with the way DCL is going with things, but after that we're looking elsewhere. I've been going roughtly 6 times a year for the last several years, between 2020-2021 will be 8 times, and at the rate they're going in 2022 that number will go down to 1 and then zero, once the world opens back up I'm done.

 

[jujubiee4]

We are big fans of Disney Cruise Line but I had SW ticket credit that I needed to use and our summer cruise was cancelled so we're doing a WDW trip in August instead. It's been quite a few years since we've been. Generally I had always thought that cruises were more expensive than WDW, but it is definitely looking like cruises really aren't more expensive. I know that they are totally different experiences, but it really makes me want to stick with cruising.

This is us. We would do WDW one year and DCL the next. Really the last 9-10 years. I love the cruise
but other family members love WDW. The pricing use to be uneven but DW is catching up quickly or
even caught up lol. If DCL gets their act together by Christmas I still might switch out WDW. Or maybe
do the cruise and do 2 days of Disney after with that 300 FAST Pass that may be coming.

 

[Rick195275]

I hope you can! IMO, it's an easy long weekend. One or two days at the main park, a day at the waterpark, and a beach/Sandusky waterfront day. Everything is very walkable, and if you like coasters, you will LOVE it! Weekdays are generally a little less busy...

So here’s my problem with a lot of theme parks in general.... I’m abnormal tall, I honestly am not sure my exact height, like I tell people all the time the height stick at my drs stops at 6’5 and I’m at least taller than that lol. There are a number of rides including some of the best that height restrictions end at 6’6. I’m trying to find out if it’s a dead set stop at 6’6 of if it’s more of a restraint fitting thing. I’m not particularly over weight and have long legs so if it’s a restraint thing I might be ok. But we are from the east coast so to travel there and not be able to do the best coasters in the park would be tough. We have access to some of the best beaches in the country so that wouldn’t really be as much of a priority but the main park and water park would be awesome for us!

 

[notatallmagic]

We have gone twice a year for the past 10 years (with the exception of 2020). We are so, so fortunate to have been able to do that, and we kept coming back because even though it was expensive, we felt that we got good value for our money. Every single extra or perk that we used to get will not be present on this trip, with the exception of being able to walk to Epcot from our hotel (BC). In spite of my username I, too, have a point at which I feel ripped off and undervalued. I already do feel that way and this trip hasn't started yet (we booked it in January when we were desperate for any vacation, and when we thought that things like FP+ and EMH would come back by this point), so, very sadly, this will be our last under the current offerings and prices.

Exactly. Undervalued is such a great expression of how I've been feeling. We had a Covid rescheduled trip in June, and although there were some memorable moments, there were many times where I felt disappointed and a little resentful? That sounds spoiled, I know, but I so needed a "magical vacation, been working 80/hours/week, and paid very good money for the trip. And the things we've been talking about, like the room cleanliness, and the garbage everywhere, and the lack of parades/fireworks/dining options...I've NEVER felt that way about a Disney trip. My daughter LOVES Disney, and she struggled to admit that something was really OFF this trip. The magic just wasn't there, and again, that's so sad for me. Disney has been such a huge part of our family.

 

[notatallmagic]

So here’s my problem with a lot of theme parks in general.... I’m abnormal tall, I honestly am not sure my exact height, like I tell people all the time the height stick at my drs stops at 6’5 and I’m at least taller than that lol. There are a number of rides including some of the best that height restrictions end at 6’6. I’m trying to find out if it’s a dead set stop at 6’6 of if it’s more of a restraint fitting thing. I’m not particularly over weight and have long legs so if it’s a restraint thing I might be ok. But we are from the east coast so to travel there and not be able to do the best coasters in the park would be tough. We have access to some of the best beaches in the country so that wouldn’t really be as much of a priority but the main park and water park would be awesome for us!

I know that my favorite coaster (Millenium) is pretty strict on height and weight. My brother is 6'5" and he's ok to ride, but maybe just barely? For a while, they made you be able to buckle your own seatbelt, and those babies were pretty short.

I wonder if you could call or email guest services and check? My son is going tomorrow with a buddy who is at least 6'5"; let me see if they can check on that.

 

[jujubiee4]

Exactly. Undervalued is such a great expression of how I've been feeling. We had a Covid rescheduled trip in June, and although there were some memorable moments, there were many times where I felt disappointed and a little resentful? That sounds spoiled, I know, but I so needed a "magical vacation, been working 80/hours/week, and paid very good money for the trip. And the things we've been talking about, like the room cleanliness, and the garbage everywhere, and the lack of parades/fireworks/dining options...I've NEVER felt that way about a Disney trip. My daughter LOVES Disney, and she struggled to admit that something was really OFF this trip. The magic just wasn't there, and again, that's so sad for me. Disney has been such a huge part of our family.

Can you imagine spending all this money and cleaning yourself? I might as well stay home or
rent a condo for less money. I hope the magic comes back for you. I'm going to watch carefully our
next trip how things are. Cutting some slack because of Covid BUT.........lol

 

[epcotobsessed]

Can you imagine spending all this money and cleaning yourself? I might as well stay home or
rent a condo for less money. I hope the magic comes back for you. I'm going to watch carefully our
next trip how things are. Cutting some slack because of Covid BUT.........lol

Many off-site hotels offer daily housekeeping. Disney is either making the choice to not pay adequate housekeeping staff or to not pay housekeeping staff adequately. Or perhaps both.

 

[notatallmagic]

Can you imagine spending all this money and cleaning yourself? I might as well stay home or
rent a condo for less money. I hope the magic comes back for you. I'm going to watch carefully our
next trip how things are. Cutting some slack because of Covid BUT.........lol

For our June trip (we have two this summer due to airline vouchers we had to use or lose), I booked a split stay on purpose to get a clean room halfway through (7 nights). I found Pop to be very responsive; they didn't come to clean, but were very kind and cheerful when we called to ask for towels, garbage removal, and coffee stuff. Coronado was a different story; they never came once, and were rude when we asked for for LESS than what used to be standard. I guess I should have found the dumpster myself??

Our July trip is all Pop (nothing else available). Hoping that they continue to provide great service, and might even try to ask for a floor cleaning halfway through. It's kinda pathetic that I'm nervous about asking for one floor cleaning in 8 days when we used to get a fresh, clean room and pretty made beds 7 times in a week. And I'm paying almost twice what I paid for the same room the summer of 2019, with no extra hours or FastPass. I miss those things.

Maybe this is the time to go back to tent camping; no expectations there!