Orlando hotels endure worst year in decades

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-orlando-hotel_occupancy-20100121,0,7527577.story

 

[Purseval]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-orlando-hotel_occupancy-20100121,0,7527577.story

Bad for them, good for us.

 

[DOOM1001]

When I tell people the deals I get in these offsite hotels they refuse to believe me.

 

[Purseval]

When I tell people the deals I get in these offsite hotels they refuse to believe me.

That's because they're too busy crunching the numbers to back up the claim that it's just as inexpensive to stay onsite as off

I personally stayed at the Four Points Sheraton for $22/nt in July and the Radisson Celebration for the same rate in October, though the $11/day resort fee at the latter one rained on our parade. I know several people who stayed at the Hyatt across from Universal Studios for $30/nt including breakfast. The Omni Championsgate was going for the low $70's and this also rippled down into the timeshare/condo/vacation home rental market. If you're looking for deals this is tough to beat. I've actually beat prices I paid when I was coming here in the 1980's.

 

[spiceycat]

how about posting when you find a great deal.

would have stayed offsite more - if you can easily find the great deals.

instead some of the places (the hotel's website) they had increased their rates

 

[Kay1]

Here's another link:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-orlando-rental-vacancies-20100121,0,4745134.story

Anyone thinking of renting or buying in the area should read and consider this article.

 

[kathy884]

Boy, I really believe that article based on the deals I've been seeing and have been able to get. Just since January 1st and the month isn't over yet, there have been two deals posted on Travelzoo (I get their weekly email) for rooms in the I-drive area at decent places for $33 a night before tax ncluding spring break weeks that have retail prices closer to $100 (one of the places was recently remodeled too). I passed this information on to someone in my office planning a budget Orlando area trip. The booking period for these has expired now, but I'm sure there will be more great offers. Makes me want to try I-drive sometime. I've never actually stayed right on I-drive. Our family's favorite place to go is Sea World, and I was able to book the Hilton Garden Inn Sea World for 50% off rack rate on Expedia during spring break (I'm just doing a three night stay -- both full days at Sea World, and got this place for $53 a night -- goes up to $62 with tax.) I was thrilled with that, as I love this place -- I wanted somewhere walking distance to Sea World (no car rental then), with room service (They have a tasty - yummy - reasonably priced menu), mini frig and microwave, and nice swimming area (This place has a very warm pool, nice lounge chairs, a hot tub, and very friendly staff -- have stayed here before). Condo / house rental deals from timeshare owners/owners are very good too and usually my choice for a longer stay, and I'm sure these factor into the good prices the hotels have to offer to fill rooms also. On top of all that, I was able to including all taxes and fees get airfares for $85 each way for direct flights at great times. The great prices meant an unplanned mini Orlando trip over my son's spring break fit right into our family's vacation budget.

20 Trips with # 21 coming up // The boards, though, say I’m just earning my ears.
March 1971 – KOA closest to Disney (camping)
March 1972 – Jellystone Park (camping)
March 1974 – Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1974 – Outdoor Resorts of American (camping)
March 1975 – Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1975 – Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1976 – Fort Wilderness (camping)
Dec. 1977 -- Outdoor Resorts of America (camping)
Dec. 1986 – Marriott Royal Palms (condo by Marriott World Center)
May 1993 – Disney Contemporary (Garden Wing) (hotel)
Dec. 1994 – Polynesian Isles (condo)
May 1999 – Disney Contemporary (Main Building with high floor and Magic Kingdom view) (hotel)
Dec. 2001 – Cypress Pointe (condo)
March 2003 – Sheraton Vistana – Cascades section (condo)
March 2004 – Sheraton Vistana – Cascades section (condo)
Dec. 2004 -- Cypress Pointe (condo)
June 2006 –Tampa relative’s condo
June 2007 – Cypress Point Grandvillas (condo). Disney -- Port Orleans Riverside (hotel), and Sheraton Vistana – Fountains section (condo) – stayed three different places on this trip.
Dec. 2008 – Sheraton Vistana Resort (remodeled Fountains section) (condo)
Oct. 2009 – Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld (hotel)
(Will be going again March 2010 – staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Seaworld again)

 

[A Mickeyfan]

As long as there are people willing to pay the prices Disney sets for their resorts, they will not give the deals offsite gives. You cannot really talk a person into going offsite, they have to learn themselves.. sort of like wanting to quit smoking. You have to want to do it.. I have not stayed stayed onsite in nearly 2 years.. and am a bit "richer" meaning I have more money to eat with while up there

 

[softballmom3]

That's because they're too busy crunching the numbers to back up the claim that it's just as inexpensive to stay onsite as off

I personally stayed at the Four Points Sheraton for $22/nt in July and the Radisson Celebration for the same rate in October, though the $11/day resort fee at the latter one rained on our parade. I know several people who stayed at the Hyatt across from Universal Studios for $30/nt including breakfast. The Omni Championsgate was going for the low $70's and this also rippled down into the timeshare/condo/vacation home rental market. If you're looking for deals this is tough to beat. I've actually beat prices I paid when I was coming here in the 1980's.

'


Just curious as to how you get these deals, if you don't mind me asking

 

[A Mickeyfan]

'


Just curious as to how you get these deals, if you don't mind me asking

Not sure about Purseval, but I have gotten rates like that from Priceline & Hotwire! Once in a while I find really great deals on travelzoo.com also

 

[Purseval]

'


Just curious as to how you get these deals, if you don't mind me asking

Priceline. If you are squeamish about not knowing where you'll end up you can watch for deals on Travelzoo or play the Hotwire guessing game. By using Priceline I've stayed at the Sherton Safari, Hilton Garden Inn, Doubletree Castle, Omni Championsgate, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Wyndham, Radisson, Ramada, you get the idea. We mostly bid on 3 stars because we don't really go to the hotel except to sleep.

When you sign up for Priceline one thing people forget to do is to regularly go into their profile and look at My Rewards. Priceline slips deals in there at random intervals. The bids where I won hotels in the $20's were when Priceline gave us a $10/day reward voucher. Right now I'm using a $5/day voucher to bid on a car rental for March.

I posted a mini primer on how to maximize your bids in post #7 of this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2363217

Above all, be patient and disciplined. If you have a goal don't get antsy and keep raising your price, wait for another day. For instance, I'm trying right now to get a minivan for $30/day in March and I've already started. I won't go any higher until mid February. That's how you end up with the deals.

 

[Swoop1]

As long as there are people willing to pay the prices Disney sets for their resorts, they will not give the deals offsite gives. You cannot really talk a person into going offsite, they have to learn themselves.. sort of like wanting to quit smoking. You have to want to do it.. I have not stayed stayed onsite in nearly 2 years.. and am a bit "richer" meaning I have more money to eat with while up there

+1. This is our first trip in years staying offsite and I will never stay onsite again. In a nice 1 bedroom suite as I type this and won't ever go back to overpriced onsite hotel rooms again. Oh and they have free breakfast here, beats the heck out of that overpriced Peppers Market at CSR where we usually stayed.

 

[spiceycat]

Here's another link:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-orlando-rental-vacancies-20100121,0,4745134.story

Anyone thinking of renting or buying in the area should read and consider this article.

thanks for the article - but still moving. was considering Kissimmee - but Davenport had nicer houses for less money.

since paying cash - definitely need a bargin.

now don't know - still buying but maybe something closer to WDW - of course not sure want something closer - the place made an offer on is 12 to 17 miles from WDW (depending upon the park) - which is probably close enough.

only moving to the area to be closer to WDW - so don't think the economy will effect me - at least hope not.

 

[DOOM1001]

I joke around with my family about how I get the Comfort Suites on Turkey Lake rd so often it feels like I live there part-time,I go to the parks pretty often and have gotten it for $24-$32 probably the last 6 times I've stayed there.Other great deals I've gotten have been the Rosen Centre and Rosen Shingle Creek for like $45-$55 and on my last trip which I went with a hotel snob who always gets the $300 plus dollar rooms in other cities,I booked the brand new Orlando Hilton for $66,needless to say they were impressed with the hotel and the price.