International Price Comparison for resorts

[davewasbaloo]

Well folks,

It's a new year. Here in the UK, the pound is worth little against the Euro (Cokes at DLP are now $6 and counter service is between $14 and $20 a person). I wondered how the different resorts stack up (just accommodation and tickets for 6 nights, 7 days). This does not include food, transport to get there or souvenirs.

This is for the week of the UK half term - Feb 14 - Feb 20th for a family of 2 adults and 2 children.

I thought you may be interested:

Disney Comparison 14-20 Feb - 6 nights
Pound Sterling US Dollars Jap Yen
HKDL - Hollywood £733.56 $1,078.67 ¥97,782.83
Santa Fe - DLP £940.00 $1,377.25 ¥125,416.18
HKDL - DLH £1,042.01 $1,532.84 ¥138,954.55
WDW - POP £1,194.00 $1,749.36 ¥159,305.23
DL - Paradise Pier £1,908.46 $2,795.00 ¥254,717.74
TDL Ambassador £2,119.44 $3,108.58 ¥281,800.00
DLH - DLP £2,248.00 $3,293.67 ¥299,187.36
TDL - Miracosta £2,376.14 $3,484.10 ¥315,800.00
DL - Grand Californian £2,592.63 $3,797.00 ¥346,078.50
WDW - Grand Fla £2,706.00 $3,967.77 ¥361,211.75
TDL - DLH £2,721.13 $3,991.07 ¥361,800.00

What are your thoughts?

 

[ukstitch]

I'm quite pleasantly surprised to see DLRP so low in the list and also a little surprised at how high DL california is (though the offsites there are practically onsite anyway so it's a little different).

What would be interesting (though much harder to produce) would be a typical week including food, transport and souvenirs as food especially seems a lot cheaper when I was in DL than in DLRP.

 

[davewasbaloo]

I did one last summer that looked at food and souvenirs for a week. Here you go:

http://intobserver.blogspot.com/

What made me do this is everyone going on about the pain of the Euro exchange rate, but if staying on site is important, DLP is still a little cheaper for UK guests than WDW. That said, some may decide the gap is so small now, people may opt for the US.

 

[ukstitch]

I did one last summer that looked at food and souvenirs for a week. Here you go:

http://intobserver.blogspot.com/

What made me do this is everyone going on about the pain of the Euro exchange rate, but if staying on site is important, DLP is still a little cheaper for UK guests than WDW. That said, some may decide the gap is so small now, people may opt for the US.

Yes - I saw this a while ago and it was very interesting to read - I'd be interested to sit down and re-calculate those numbers with the new exchange rate to see if anything has changed.

 

[Ware Bears]

Interesting

We're not going back to DLRP this year (short of that elusive lottery win ) ~ however if we had been planning on going back the exchange rate wouldn't have stopped me, maybe we would have gone for less time or economised on our meals and spending.

 

[Cyrano]

Interesting

We're not going back to DLRP this year (short of that elusive lottery win ) ~ however if we had been planning on going back the exchange rate wouldn't have stopped me, maybe we would have gone for less time or economised on our meals and spending.

Ditto

 

[torsie24]

Wow, really surpirsed to see POP as costing much more than Santa Fe!

If you'd have asked me what is the cheapest resort at the mo, I'd have guess POP or ASresorts...

Looks like my dream of Miracosta is going to remain that for a few years! Lol.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Agreed, the exchange rate will not stop us, just maybe change the way we do things. But the number of negative posts lately seem to largely stem from the concerns around the costs at DLP.

 

[Rosie]

Thanks for another very interesting post!
I am doing both DLRP and Disneyland California this year (both planned before the Sterling drop!). I have already bookedeurostar for DLRP and we need to stay onsite really. It is going to be way more expensive than i had anticipated but as its just DD and I hopefully we can economise somewhere.
We are offsite at Disneyland California (Staybridge Suites) - although we would have loved to stay at the Grand Californian. I am on a very tight budget this year now to find spending money for both of these trips but still think i'm very lucky to be doing them.

 

[Danauk]

It is interesting to see the price comparisons. I think people do tend to forget that the DLRP price includes breakfast and park tickets where as the others do not. I'm glad we got to stay at the Grand Californian on DVC points looking at the price of that!!

 

[davewasbaloo]

Indeed, though all the other prices are INCLUDING park tickets as well, so the only difference is breakfast. I would rather have Blueberry French toast at the Grand Californian than stale rolls in France. But DLP still has good prices in the main. Even if the cost of a coke for us in the UK is a real eye opener.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Thanks for another very interesting post!
I am doing both DLRP and Disneyland California this year (both planned before the Sterling drop!). I have already bookedeurostar for DLRP and we need to stay onsite really. It is going to be way more expensive than i had anticipated but as its just DD and I hopefully we can economise somewhere.
We are offsite at Disneyland California (Staybridge Suites) - although we would have loved to stay at the Grand Californian. I am on a very tight budget this year now to find spending money for both of these trips but still think i'm very lucky to be doing them.

Hi Rosie,

We stayed at the Grand Californian in February, the Hotel New York in August and the Disneyland Hotel (Paris) in October 2008. While the hotel and tickets comes to more than DLP, you will be pleased to know that the food and drink are luckily much cheaper.

A meal at Rancho de Zocalo Mexican Counter Service (food is yummy and served on real plates, not paper) in $9.99 so about £7 and is more food than served in let's say a Walt's main course. Whereas a Fuente Del Oro meal is about half the food at DLP and costs about 11 euro - or £11. A coke is about £2, but the on tap ones are about a liter. Also, remember in table service restaurants, tea, coffee and fizzy drinks are all you can drink.

So the DL portion will not be as expensive when you get there, and the Staybridge Suites are fine. Be sure to visit the Grand though and have a look around. And if you are economising, White Water Snacks at the Grand has some of the best deals on property (be warned they close at 7pm).

Hot Dog platter - £4.75
Personal Pizza - £5.60
Burger and fries (high quality version) - £5.60

Not bad when a Big Mac Meal here is nearly £4 and not the same quality.

For splashing out it's not too bad either -

Blue Bayou (a must) - Fillet Steak and lobster is £30 (cheaper than here in the UK)

Napa Rose - which is even posher and nicer than DLP's California Grill Vintner's Table with wine pairings (an awesome experience and my fav restaurant in the world - it is an international award winner, with more awards than Gordon Ramsey) is £95 each:

Pine Nut Crusted Santa Barbara White Sea Bass - Grilled Last of the Season Heirloom Tomatoes and Orange Basil Tartar Sauce.
Pinot Gris, King Estate, Oregon, 2006

Autumn Green Salad and Crisp Sweet Potato - Braised Breast of Veal with a Cider Mustard Essence.
Syrah, Buena Vista, Carneros, 2005

Sonoma Quail Breast - stuffed with Black Mission Figs. Poblano Chili, Bacon Potato Gratin and Sauteed Chanterelle Mushroom.
Zinfandel, Robert Biale Vineyards, "Black Chicken", Napa Valley, 2006

Warm Wine Country Quince Crisp - Medjool Date Ice Cream and Vanilla Caramel Sauce.
Levendi Estate, Late Harvest Chardonnay, Red Hen Vineyards, Napa Valley, 2005

For more info on menues for budgeting, check this out:

http://allears.net/dlr/din/dining.htm

 

[hildasmuriel]

I've never been to the States, so I am going on what I have read on the US DisBoards, but when eating in the States, don't you have to factor in at least 20% tip? I read that waiting staff in the US are paid less than the minimum wage (unlike those in the EU) - sometimes as low as $2 an hour - and are dependant on decent tips to make up their salary.
Conversely in France, service is included and tips are seen as a pleasant bonus by staff.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Indeed at table service it is customary to tip - 15-20% for reasonable service, and more for excellent service. It is not expected in counter service.

Also, it is useful to know prices in restaurants and shops do not show the tax like in Europe, so the price at the till is between 7-11% more than marked on products.