Mousesavers.com Newsletter

[LIFERBABE]

As someone who always stays offsite, after our last trip to WDW I really wondered how they do it all for the price!
We are die-hard off-siters and really didn't see the value of staying onsite.
In June we used our hoppers daily and spent most of our time in the "world" and I was very impressed with the number of services, the number of castmembers to guest ratio, the transportation and the number of activities. My DS's went on the Pirate Cruise and there were 3 CM's for 22 children. My son's K class had 22 kids and 1 teacher!

As someone who travels to Vegas yearly, I recognize that Vegas is supported by Casino's and they still make you pay for everything unless you are losing big money in the Casino! Vegas is no longer a cheap vacation and those days are long gone. With the airfare to Vegas being so expensive this year, Dh and I actually cancelled our 5 night Vegas 4 star hotel (Mandalay Bay) on the strip and booked another family vacation back to WDW because it would cost us the same for 7 days at WDW. Vegas is very expensive on the weekends so we stay Sun-Thur.

Celine Dion's tickets are $200 each for 1 show, yet I can see Beauty n the Beast and Lion King in the same day using a hopper and end the evening with Fantasmic. I was very impressed with the quality of the productions.

Six Flags is $40 bucks a day for an adult ticket and that's 1 park and no way compares to WDW! Granted you can purchase an annual pass for $60 bucks, but I live down the street from one and drive right past it on my way to WDW 18 hours away LOL

I was a die hard refuse to pay rack rates and even the code discounts were too much for me and I refuse to drive 18 hours and stay in a value resort, so we've stayed offsite. After our last trip, we are buying DVC too.

Yes WDW is an expensive outlay, as they hit you upfront for lodging and tickets. But I think alot of the other travel options end up being just as expensive or lack the experience of a WDW vacation.

We don't have alot of Vacation time and I'd rather go somewhere where I know the whole family will have a great time. There is alot of value built into a WDW vacation for our family.

 

[bridgettesmom]

Just a thought, I may be wrong,but, Don't you think that maybe this is their way of pushing DVC sales?? ..It seems like it is the only way right now for AP holders.

 

[cherylp3]

I will send you a copy of my mousesavers newsletter just email me at cherylp3@yahoo.com

-Cheryl

 

[yecats]

I have been fortunate to go to Disney about once every 3 to 4 years growing up. Most of my trips have been off property up until about the early 1990's when we began splitting the trips in half, half on and half off property (specifically to keep cost down).

I live on a limited budget and love to travel but have to do it cheaply. I love to cruise and do this almost every year or every other year (we always manage to find nice affordable deals). My family also takes a beach vacation every 2 years which I love to attend (rental of condo split between family members). I made the decision several years back to attempt to see WDW every year (however, due to personal family problems and whatnot this has not worked out as I wished for). About a year and half ago, I learned of the various disney boards/sites and about the discount codes (go figure, when I am ready to use them, they are no more). I thought my dreams had come true and that I would be able to save and stay at those deluxes every now and again. I was hoping that I would be able to fly in once per year for a long weekend (4 nights and stay at a deluxe property with a code). Then about every 3rd year take a longer stay of about 10 nights throwing in US or Seaworld and spliting stay both on/off property to keep cost down. AP would not work for me. I have no interest in UPH as well as I love the parks and occasionally go to a waterpark but have no interest in Disneyquest. I like to buy my tickets for however long I am planning on going.

When FTP came out this year I called as I was planning a 6/7 day trip in the offseason when I usually go. Well the price I was quoted (moderate) was what I was going to pay anyway so figured that the 2 extra days of UPH and hotel stay was a good deal with this package. But this is for this trip only. I know that if I am lucky enough to go next year it will only be for a 3/4 night stay. I can not afford to pay rack rate for any of the deluxes and now feel that my dreams are washing away. Plus I was also waiting for general codes to be released to see if I could get my moderate hotel cheaper for the first night I am flying in - now seems like a no go.

I can now say without hesitation that I don't think I will be making yearly trips to WDW. When I do manage to go, I won't be able to afford paying $275 or better per night for a deluxe and I don't always want to stay in moderates (IMO value of AS is not worth it to me) which now means I am staying off property. I would prefer to stay at S/D or bid for resort on priceline (Gaylord Palms and MOWC are looking better by the minute for shorter stays). I am becoming a solo traveler who does occasionally travel with family member(s) and am finding that there aren't any options for me anymore. So essentially, Disney will be loosing the business that I have been attempting to throw there way.

P.S. I have never stayed at Caribe Royal but would encourage you to try it out for a few days as I have never had a truly bad stay off site yet (and pray I never do).

 

[faithinkarma]

I don't believe this is strictly a money issue. I think it is about feeling that our loyalty is being taken for granted. And feeling like Disney is trying to herd us into taking our vacations their way.

They just do not seem to be aware that one of their primary assets is " that fuzzy feeling" that someone mentioned earlier. It is something that is unique to Disney. And if that is gone, why not indeed go elsewhere ?

 

[Mamu]

While i believe everything Disney does is for profit. Whether I use an AP, Code or purchase a package. I still have only so much I can spend on each trip.

My last few trips have been with an AP, this has allowed me to upgrade and stay a few days longer for the same amount of money.

I do not like pckages too many add-on which I never use.

My children are grown and married and when we travel to Disney we take our Grandchildren. We have a condo in Cocoa Beach but choose to stay on-site while at Disney. I would probably be just as happy to stay at The Swan, Dolphin or even Downtown Disney. Without and AP Rate I'm sure my choices will change.

Disney has been riding high for years. Resorts have been full. With the change in the economy Disney has noticed a decline in attendence.

Disney has put their CEO heads together and decided by offering packages maybe they will pick up the slack. The FTP package was such a big hit. Their resorts were full. I'm sure they think by offering deals they can keep the atendence high.

I have a February trip planned, I will weight the options. If I feel I am not getting a good deal, I may choose to stay else where. I will wait to see what they are offering, if I feel it's not a good deal, my choices may change. With travel down I'm sure I will not have any problems, for the price for an AP Deluxe, I'm sure Downtown Disney has a lot to offer.

 

[slmjam]

I kept checking throughout the day yesterday and again this morning..... but I still haven't gotten my newsletter. Mary, if you are out there, are you able to resend???

 

[Purrrrfecta]

One of the reasons why I believe we are worried or not trusting of Disney anymore is because we are the "loyal fans" who live to go there every year or maybe even more than once a year!

I was thinking that one of the things they found when they were asking for our phone number before they made our reservations was how many times we have attended Disney. What they probably found out was that WE the "loyal fans" are few and far between.
As a result we are being swept aside to make room for the people who don't know about codes (probaby thousands), and who will take that one trip to Disney and spend $7000 and not return for 3 years or more.

I just don't get it

Liferbabe was wondering how they do it all for the price.
One teacher to 22 kids. Three CM's on a Pirate's Cruise.
A certified teacher makes over $20 an hour. A cast member makes around $6 or $7.

If a dinner cost Disney $3 to make including labour, then it costs the guests $20 to buy.

I am just fed up with their new found arrogance. I can't take it. I am moving on to the Swan and Dolphin, Hilton at DD, and Universal Resorts from now on.


Just think, the only reason I stayed off-site for som many years was because I could not travel to Disney with my favorite dog who passed away in 2001

Maybe if one of their resorts accepts pets one day I will reconsider

 

[luvdisney14]

We wanted to go back to YC or BC this past week but we couldn't get a code for room only - we have passes left. So we stayed at the swan and Hard Rock Hotel. I will have to do the same in 2004 if there is no room only code. Rack rate is too high for me.
I love the yc but the swan location is just as good for a lot less money.

 

[thessaly]

Maybe if one of their resorts accepts pets one day I will reconsider

You know what's weird? The Universal resorts (Hard Rock, Portofino, Royal Pacific) are all Loews' hotels and are extremely pet-friendly... including having room-service menus for your pets.

I've just never encountered that before. It made me want to bring my cat to the Hard Rock, but I suspect she wouldn't be too thrilled with the whole process.

 

[lat]

I think if Disney keeps up with not offering AP rates consistently and instead offering package discounts, it will also make Swan/Dolphin increase their rate also

 

[SpaceAce]

I think it's funny how Disney news and Disney speculation gets under "our" skin, and by "our" I do include myself.

I remember when the park hours posted for my honeymoon in late June infuriated me about two months before we went, and how by the time I got there, hours had changed (added) and I only fealt the hours cheated us a little, not alot.

This newsletter is speculation from one of the VERY BEST in the industry, and I take her speculation very seriously. Granted, some of it is also statement of facts as well.

The "loyal travelers" will not like things as predicted by Mary in Mousesavers, and over time (maybe not too long), Disney will see that they are alienating a fraction of their support base that. This fraction may make less money for Disney because they are more savvy, but because they come more often and predictably they make their money through volume. I think Disney DOES understand that it can only make money off of you if you come, so once they come to terms with this, I believe things will get better.

Please do not take me wrong, I am also concerned. Mostly with the cancellation policy. Disney has had a high reputation for customer service, and I can't believe that over the long-term Disney won't realize that putting a sour taste in a customer's mouth will cost them in future business from that family and change their mind.

Anyway, the moral of the story is...Disney does tend to change its mind alot and with little notice. I hope this is another case. We'll see.

 

[FoodLover]

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Thanks

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[onecoolmama]

We have always done the package deals. I go onto the Disney website whenever I don't have a trip planned and I wait for a package deals to come out. Usually off-season and I book it. This year was the first year we were thinking about buying AP's. But, I think we will do what everyone will do..wait and see.

To the people that thought that packages aren't good for first-timers..I disagree. They are extremely expensive, but I found it soo conveinent, I kept booking them. All I had to do was show up with the confirmation number. I didn't have to worry if I had my tickets or trying to have another confirmation number to go find UPH's at a customer service place. I just showed up got my room/park keys and I was off to the park. Now, I never booked airfare or transporation to and from the airport through them, but I found those packages perfect for me.

Now that I am smarter and Disney has offered the great FTP; I can only hope that Disney will offer this package at least once a year. Then I would go ahead and book two disney packages a year. One just DH and I for a weekend getaway and 1 with our kids. Like I said all we can do is wait and see (and if we find the Disney President treat him like a head coach and pour a bucket of Pixie Dust over his head!!!)