Proposed reservation changes -- impact on camping?

[Gatordad]

Disney closes the private cart loophole the same day they close the camper loophole and force you to stay in a cabin.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I think it's probably more appropriate for the golf cart discussion to stay in the Golf Cart Problems thread.

 

[Colson39]

I agree, please, why try turning this into ANOTHER golf cart discussion thread? We all know where you stand

And I agree, this might level the playing field when it comes to being able to get a reservation in the holiday/peak seasons. I know that long term campers won't like it, and as mentioned, I believe that this decision hurts them the most, which of course, is not a good thing for them. I do feel sorry that those that are used to getting the value rates their entire 5 month stay won't be able to anymore, it will definitely shorten some trips.

I still think that the Fort is worth the price, even if that changes during the stay. In the end, is it really fair that you only have to pay $45 bucks a night when your neighbor has to pay $65 bucks a night, just because you are staying longer? Of course, I think both sides will have a different answer to that

 

[CottontailCurl]

I think it's probably more appropriate for the golf cart discussion to stay in the Golf Cart Problems thread.

I thought every thread was a Golf Cart Problem Thread? Every time I turn around it's Golf Carts, Golf Carts, Golf Carts!! (Where's the Jan Brady smiley?)


I think this means Disney is comfortable with the amount of traffic they're getting in the resorts. I hope it doesn't backfire on them, though. You have to admit that some of the prices during holiday season are outrageous, I could see a lot of people going back to the old ways of filling up hotels on 192 and elsewhere before they pay $150+ for a room.

 

[tellnotails]

In the end, is it really fair that you only have to pay $45 bucks a night when your neighbor has to pay $65 bucks a night, just because you are staying longer?

Gee I don't know...........Is it really fair your neighbor rents a cart for $50 a day and has to sign his life away.......while the pivate cart pays $0


Reservations and golf carts do have alot in common

 

[ftwildernessguy]

For those who just can't talk enough about golf carts:

http://server1.buggiesunlimited.com/phpBB2/

Now, can we PLEASE talk about FW and camping??

 

[Gatordad]

Gee I don't know...........Is it really fair your neighbor rents a cart for $50 a day and has to sign his life away.......while the pivate cart pays $0


Reservations and golf carts do have alot in common

I

I agree he's getting fleeced. That's why we laid out the capital initially, so disney wouldn't take it on a trip by trip basis. We will probably end up spending 30 nights a year at FW, and will have regained our cost of capital in a few short years. Although I don't "sign my life away" at the Bike Barn, you can believe that I'm more than careful, as my insurance agent is always looming in the background.

 

[auntie]

While I'm not crazy about it..it seems to me that many campgrounds we are familiar with..and we have been seasonal in two of them(so the nightly rates don't apply to us any longer) charge an additional rates for weekends and holiday periods. One campground we stayed at had different rates for Sun. through Thurs..then a different rate for Fri. and Sat. and yet a different rate for Holidays. Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day were an additional charge to the weekend charge. Then they started a high summer season, and a low summer season..still keeping the additional weekend charges. Add to that the rate was only for 2 adults, and you had to add in the the rates for anyone over that based on their age..and your bill had a whole lot of different rates and charges. Seems like FW is following suit. Let's just hope they don't change the already changing rates to only include 2 adults..and then add on after that. From what I've heard a good many campgrounds are doing that now. Makes it appear that the rates are actually lower than they are, until you add everyone in..plus the weekends. Camping is starting to become a bit more expensive than it used to be. Oh..let's not forget that GAS!

 

[Colson39]

For those who just can't talk enough about golf carts:

http://server1.buggiesunlimited.com/phpBB2/

Now, can we PLEASE talk about FW and camping??

Quoted for emphasis

Anyways, I too hope that FW wouldn't go the "2 adults" charge on a campsite, but hopefully they won't. There really haven't been any indications that they will (and let's not forget, these reservation changes are not confirmed either), although that can change at a moments notice obviously.

Chances are people would just stop telling them how many people would be at a campsite :/

 

[auntie]

If you are adding park passes or a dining plan to your reservation..you need to tell them how many people are staying on site.
If it's a site only..then certainly you can just opt not to indicated how many people are on the site.

Again, I'm not saying that is the case...just pondering with the change in check in dates...the possibilities of them going the way of a good many campgrounds..with the base rate being for two adults. Personally I hate when they do that...they sort of entice you with what seems like a reasonable or low rate, and then tack on all the extras...like "it's Friday...and you have two kids"...bam...there's another $20.00 to your nightly rate. One campground had no charge if your kids were under 6....but over six and they were charging $7.00 a day for each child.
In any case I do feel badly for those campers who had there winter plans effected by the change in rates. On the up side..it will likely open up sites for regular vacationers looking to spend a week or so.

 

[Colson39]

If you are adding park passes or a dining plan to your reservation..you need to tell them how many people are staying on site.
If it's a site only..then certainly you can just opt not to indicated how many people are on the site.

Again, I'm not saying that is the case...just pondering with the change in check in dates...the possibilities of them going the way of a good many campgrounds..with the base rate being for two adults. Personally I hate when they do that...they sort of entice you with what seems like a reasonable or low rate, and then tack on all the extras...like "it's Friday...and you have two kids"...bam...there's another $20.00 to your nightly rate. One campground had no charge if your kids were under 6....but over six and they were charging $7.00 a day for each child.
In any case I do feel badly for those campers who had there winter plans effected by the change in rates. On the up side..it will likely open up sites for regular vacationers looking to spend a week or so.

Of course, if you need the room keys/park passes/dining plan, no way around that Still, I don't see them doing that anytime soon, it would be hard to justify.

And I agree, it would open up sites for the more short term campers for sure.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

You know they used to have the "Settlers" rate for the snow birds but the got rid of that monthly plan several years ago and I'm not surprised...they didn't have monthly/long term hotel room rates. I think they may get some backlash from this variable rate deal. I know most hotels do this, but they generally do this because their rooms sit idle during the week and are packed on weekends, but I don't think Disney really needs to...any body read the annual report lately. Disney generally averages keeping the rooms as full during the week as they do on weekends for any given season.

As far as charging extra for children, I think they know better than to do that unless they do it resort wide...and then WDW wouldn't be a "family" vacation destination any longer. It would be a P.R. nightmare and a media disaster. "Disney charges penalty for bringing children to the happiest place on Earth!" Really, I don't know who this new guy they have in charge of Disney World is, but he is too focused on brown nosing the new chairman of the board...even as a stock holder, I understand there are some things more important than money...like image and P.R. It takes a whole lot of profits to make up for serious damage to a company's image.

 

[clkelley]

One thing I am hoping this new structure will alleviate is playing games with the reservation system to get the nights you need. I am forever having to book longer than I need or having multiple reservations to get various discounts.

For example, try booking just Friday and Saturday night a couple of months out. Almost impossible. Try booking Wed - Wed for the same weekend and you can get the reservation. Then you have to call back later and cancel the extra nights.

I'm hoping they'll get closer to other reservation sites, showing dates and rates available. If you can get AAA rate for weeknights and rack rate for weekends and combine it into one reservation, great!!! It gets old dropping by the Outpost and getting new cards every few days. (Although, so far my two-week stay in October is under one reservation, I hope it stays that way!!, but I'll probably have to split it up into some combination once/if AP rates are released.)

 

[old camper]

It looks like the result of this pricing structure will be fewer long term winter settelers thus opening up Fort Wilderness for more people booking one and two week family vacations. Great for families who would otherwise not be able to get a reservation. Also open up more sites in the winter on the weekends.
I say, great idea!

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

Speaking as one who is looking forward to spending a couple months in the campground this winter......Will a price increase from value to regular or holiday rate effect my lenght of stay? Probably. I envey those of you who live closer and can make frequent short term stays. The cost of fuel for us to come from northern Ohio isnt cheap....hence our reason for making one long term stay. ( OK, we also do it to escape a few weeks of cold winter) I wonder if this potential rate change will only make it more difficult to get a site during value season? Since we all want to save money.

 

[tellnotails]

+1


I get a kick out of this deal.......I've been going to the fort for 10 days average for about 10 years straight....and have never seen the fort to its capacity(late jan./early feb.)........

This will come back and kickem in the ****.....

A majority of the campers at this time of year are extended stayers....

 

[Colson39]

+1


I get a kick out of this deal.......I've been going to the fort for 10 days average for about 10 years straight....and have never seen the fort to its capacity(late jan./early feb.)........

This will come back and kickem in the ****.....

A majority of the campers at this time of year are extended stayers....

Of course you never saw the Fort at it's capacity at that time, that is one of the slowest seasons (if not THE slowest) seasons at Disney. This won't affect extended stayers during this time because the rates will already be low since it is not in the peak season.

If anything, you will see MORE extended stayers during this time because of the abundance of lower rates (at least until late February into March)

 

[mamaloya]

This won't affect us price wise because we only go in value season anyway. It hopefully will make it easier to get a site though now that we are not in the popup anymore. It seems the full hookups fill faster than partial.

I also thought that it was not fair that some were paying the value rates through holiday season. Now maybe some wanting to go to WDW for the parks will get to go. Maybe that is why disney is doing this. The "snowbirds" were not only paying a much cheaper price for a site but also not spending money elsewhere that weeklong vacationers would be, like dining and park admission. Seems a win win situation for disney. I also think it will make many families happy that have been trying to go but can't ever get a site because of those staying for the winter. I say let them go to Tropical Palms!

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

Thought I'd show this yrs. current season/rates:

2007 CAMPSITE RATES
VALUE
1/1-2/14;
7/29-11/15
PRE-
HOLIDAY
11/16-12/19
REGULAR
4/15-7/28
PEAK
2/15-4/14
HOLIDAY
12/20-12/31

Non-Preferred Site Partial Hookup $41 $45 $58 $67 $78
Non-Preferred Site Full Hookup $46 $50 $69 $79 $91
Preferred Site Full Hookup $55 $58 $75 $85 $96


2007 CABIN RATES
VALUE
1/1-2/14; 7/8-10/3; 11/25-12/19
REGULAR
4/15-7/7; 10/4-11/24
PEAK
2/15-4/14
HOLIDAY
12/20-12/31

Wilderness Cabin $249 --- $289 $329 $365

Guess we'll all follow this closely till something offical is announced.

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

Please dont let this topic turn into long term vs short stay debate!! We all want the same thing.....an enjoyable stay at one of the best campgrounds.