News Round Up 2016

[ladyelizabeth]

This is in regards to resort fees -

From what I understand and have experienced, a resort fee is not a la carte. You pay for it no matter if you use what they list as being provided by the resort fee. As others have said many resorts do this, especially in Las Vegas, off-site of Disney and elsewhere. You don't know how many times I've witnessed people arguing about the resort fee with the front desk saying they did not use these amenities, but the resort will not relent on the fee. Really, this is just a tactical business move to have the room rates appear lower.

Always double-check for fees with hotels, whether they be resort fees, in-room safe fees, parking, etc. It stinks for a traveler, but it seems to be a model that many hotels are adopting. I'm actually surprised Disney hasn't starting using resort fees yet.

 

[smitch425]

Found it...

 

[jlundeen]

I find it funny that all the things listed for assessing the fee are the very "included free" things they use for marketing staying on property. Just feels a little "fishy" to me...Photoshop is a wonderful thing.

 

[Roxyfire]

Found it...

Oh I know but I wanna see all the me toos with actual proof! Things sadly get dredged up all the time on the internet. If they lower the rate of the deluxe to that price point and add on fees for things (kinda like Frontier or Spirit Airlines does) then fine, it makes sense. Otherwise, as a PP stated, the average rate of the Poly isn't $350 a night. Maybe they're including something like WL to bring down the average but it seems a bit fishy on the price concern.

 

[Roxyfire]

I find it funny that all the things listed for assessing the fee are the very "included free" things they use for marketing staying on property. Just feels a little "fishy" to me...Photoshop is a wonderful thing.

It's not a photoshop because someone took a picture of a screen with their phone, it would be difficult to doctor. My thought is, that it's old and got necro shared like some of those more terrible forwards you see on facebook that are 2 or 3 years old.

 

[iamsarahpotts]

The main reason I'm commenting is that in the survey that I saw posted on-line mention "Stay at Disney's Contemporary Resort or Disney's Polynesian Resort with an average nightly rate of $350."

Found it...View attachment 155622

This screenshot is referencing Poly and Boardwalk...I don't know what the average Boardwalk room goes for. Maybe somehow if you average those rates you could get to $350?

 

[marchingstar]

It's not a photoshop because someone took a picture of a screen with their phone, it would be difficult to doctor. My thought is, that it's old and got necro shared like some of those more terrible forwards you see on facebook that are 2 or 3 years old.

I hope it's old, but I think it's more recent than I'd like. Wasn't it only last year that Disney went back to the Poly's "old" name? if this survey was from a few years ago, it would just read "Disney's Polynesian Resort," wouldn't it?

 

[rteetz]

I hope it's old, but I think it's more recent than I'd like. Wasn't it only last year that Disney went back to the Poly's "old" name? if this survey was from a few years ago, it would just read "Disney's Polynesian Resort," wouldn't it?

Correct

 

[Roxyfire]

I hope it's old, but I think it's more recent than I'd like. Wasn't it only last year that Disney went back to the Poly's "old" name? if this survey was from a few years ago, it would just read "Disney's Polynesian Resort," wouldn't it?

Oh yuck, well that's a total bummer. I really don't see how they can keep prices as-is and then add on fees for the advertised "included" perks. Perhaps they're gearing up for extra profit from the star wars demand. I'm no disney addict, I have no problem going once now (first time as a grown, paying adult) and once when star wars is open. I feel bad for the people who only want to do disney. It must feel like a total jerk move.

 

[jlundeen]

Photoshop is not impossible...I did this easily - and I'm certainly not a PS wizard... with more effort and skill, the original could have easily been altered

 

[skier_pete]

This screenshot is referencing Poly and Boardwalk...I don't know what the average Boardwalk room goes for. Maybe somehow if you average those rates you could get to $350?

These prices are easy to find:

The lowest rack rate - and I assume Disney would consider rack rate in the survey - at Boardwalk currently (for a standard room) is $459, the maximum at Christmas is $730. The average price, and admittedly how I calculated average isn't truly right but more of a mean but good enough for these purposes - is $540 a night.

The Poly low price is $508, high is $793, mean is $609.

None of these numbers are ANYWHERE in the vicinity of $350. Again, I just don't see Disney blowing smoke in a survey like that.

A PP mentioned maybe they would lower prices and add a resort fee. First off - this is Disney so unlikely. Second off - if they are going to lower prices $150 and put in a $15 resort fee, I'm all for that.

(These calculations make me feel really, really good about the $175 per night it cost me to stay at the Poly with DVC.)

 

[Roxyfire]

Photoshop is not impossible...I did this easily - and I'm certainly not a PS wizard... with more effort and skill, the original could have easily been altered

Easy to remove content, difficult to add. But you're right, there are some absolute wizards out there.

 

[Mr. lncredible]

Not sure if its been posted yet but I just noticed it this morning. Looks like the price for park hopper add on increased.

 

[skier_pete]

Lost in the survey discussion - saw this posted on the DIS

NEWS

Disney Dining Plan Price Hikes

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/walt-disney-world-raises-prices-of-their-disney-dining-plans/

My family of 3 would cost $185 per night on the dining plan. Last trip we averaged just under $150 a night - though admittedly didn't eat a TS every day. Miss the old days when they dining plan was actually a beneficial price. At least this year it's only a 3% hike - previous years were 10-15%, which is how it's gone up 100% in 10 years.

 

[rteetz]

Lost in the survey discussion - saw this posted on the DIS

NEWS

Disney Dining Plan Price Hikes

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/walt-disney-world-raises-prices-of-their-disney-dining-plans/

My family of 3 would cost $185 per night on the dining plan. Last trip we averaged just under $150 a night - though admittedly didn't eat a TS every day. Miss the old days when they dining plan was actually a beneficial price.

Yep, I posted this in it's own thread. I also read that a lot of dining locations prices also went up.

 

[skier_pete]

Not sure if its been posted yet but I just noticed it this morning. Looks like the price for park hopper add on increased.

That happened when they raised ticket prices. I think it went from $64 to $68 or $69...too lazy to look it up.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

News

Joy and Sadness coming to Epcot in April

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...aymax-in-newly-expanded-epcot-character-spot/

I am really excited for this!!!

 

[Roxyfire]

Disney Dining Plan Price Hikes

Dumb question incoming, this doesn't effect existing reservations, right? I'm not paying off until the yearly bonus cycle in August.

 

[Spacedog1975]

Also possible (no matter how unlikely), that there is a course correction on lodging prices. "Lower" the daily rate, but then charge for what was previously included. With the tiered ticket pricing, it is indeed possible they understand a little of the sticker shock. This is the best way to appear cheaper and in the internet age of travel websites, it gives a better chance of price parity.
If you book a hotel on Kayak.com, it only gives you the daily rate....it doesn't indicate tax, wifi fees, bus fees, valet fees etc. Yet Disney lodging rates include that in their rate. By separating them out they can appear to lower their rates.

Although segregating pricing for things like this on the surface suggests that people who don't use it won't pay for it, in the end, the rates that have the services removed will rise again and you'll be paying the same without the services.

See the airline industry.

 

[Spacedog1975]

Dumb question incoming, this doesn't effect existing reservations, right? I'm not paying off until the yearly bonus cycle in August.

I believe that once you have a deposit, your quoted price is firm.
If you make changes, that may be a different story.