Reasons why rates are so high???

[madthemouse]

I may not be the brightest lamp on the shelf......But, I do have some thoughts as to why I believe, the rates are so much higher this year, in comparison to other years.

More people are traveling since 911? Perhaps, more people are traveling to the Orlando area once again? Maybe more people would like to take advantage of the FOTL privilege?
Maybe, all the above.

Or, just maybe.......that FOTL thing, has reached it's peak. That is... it's popularity. Or the economic thing of supply and demand. As we make our reservations at or near rack rates for our vacations... rooms begin to fill up. We hope that discount rates ie; AP, Entertainment, AAA etc... will give us a better savings. But as this is being done. The percentage of rooms being reserved is constantly going up! I'm sure Lowe's sees such a high number of reservations or a percentage that they would like to be at, that they do not have to deeply discount rooms.

So, in conclusion..... are we the ones driving the price up?

That's my 2cents!
What's yours?

 

[themepark]

My guess is a combination of all that you mentioned. I think the word is out on Universal's hotels and the FOTL perk. More people are booking so less need for them to offer discounts to lure people in.

I still see rooms available for all the dates I am looking at. I am going to hold out. There may never be better rates for my dates but I am going to be optimistic. Last year, they did lower some discounted rates as the dates got closer. If all else fails, I will book for one night instead of the 4 or 5 I would normally book and I will stay elsewhere MUCH cheaper during the rest of my stay. The Universal hotels are top notch and the experience and convenience of staying there cannot be beat, but I can't and won't pay $264+ for a standard room to stay there for any length of time. FOTL can't be beat but at least I can have it for 2 days by booking one night.

 

[Immelman]

simple macroeconomics teach us supply and demand. UO has been doing a much better job at attracting the guest and keeping the guest in the last 3 years. who knows how many people have become web-savvy in the last 3 years? the secret is out, and supply and demand is kicking in. there are a lot of people walking away from a very expensive WDW vacation disappointed, and they're looking at different options. we did. now we live here.

 

[robvia]

There's more UK visitors splitting their stay between Disney and USF.

Last year, I read messages where people would visit USF for 1 day at the end of their trip. Kinda like dipping their toe in the water. This year they're completely skipping Disney and going to USF only.

 

[damo]

Rates for non-peak times do not seem to have changed. I am still getting pool view HRH for $139 for the end of January, beginning of February. We have paid about that for the past several years using a variety of different discounts.

 

[highlander447]

I have found Universal to be better value for money as a package deal from the UK than Disney also FOTL is great but I aslo must say I prefer the parks & Attractions at Universal than Disney although that being said we are staying onsite at DISNEY in September last chance to impress as far as I am concerned although I have a sneaky feeling HHN may have a curious scottish shrek that visit as well

 

[Immelman]

not to mention with exchange rate so strong on the Euro's side, I think a trip to Orlando from Highlander's part of the world is about 14 dollars. we're going to see an influx of UK'ers this year. that's good news for me, because they always buy a round or 2 at Finnegan's.

 

[highlander447]

The exchange rate is great 2 years agoe $1.47 to the £ now $1.82 to the £ plenty of xtra beers

 

[Hilary]

not to mention with exchange rate so strong on the Euro's side, I think a trip to Orlando from Highlander's part of the world is about 14 dollars.

LOL! If only it were that simple...

 

[hapandpam]

I,like a previous poster, can't afford $250/night at RPR for 5 or 6 nights. We bought 2 year APs last year, so we will definately go over for a day or two, but not for an extended stay as we have two other times. I wonder if the changes Disney is making will effect US/IOA? Their new ticketing really encourages people to stay onsite for a longer period, and I would think the complimentary shuttle between MCO and the resorts is going to discourage people, especially first time guests, from renting a car.

Hopefully, we will see some sort of discount as our summer trip gets closer.

 

[Dad of 3]

It's marketing genius. FOTL has made a stay at UO hotels a necessity for many people's repeat vacation plans. Thus hotel discounts are not needed at peak times of the year. However, it seems that UO is cannibalizing their Annual Pass sales by not offering any discounts for AP holders at peak times. There are more FLA resident discounts available than APH discounts. I do not know what the Loews and Universal relationship is, but Loews is getting the better end of the deal.

IMHO
Dad of 3.

 

[damo]

The AP 2 for 1 deal is a great deal even without the hotel discounts. Ever get a Disney annual pass for $169, not to mention for two year's worth of visits? The last I checked, Disney's AP was about $400.

 

[Muushka]

Usually we are not this lucky.

I have complained for 5 years about how WDW ticket prices are out of whack. We have gone to USF (with THEIR great AP rate) and stayed at their hotels at a great rate. This past Dec '04 is the first year we did not renew our USF AP. We both have a few vouchers that we got for cheap, but decided to wait to renew because the rooms were so $$.

Well shock of shocks. WDW has FINALLY offered a AP discount to DVC owners (which we are). I guess we will get the WDW AP, stay at our DVC, get AP discounts for the weekends and let USF alone for a while.

I am sure we will stay at USF again some day, but with the room rates so high, it is hard to pay those prices (esp when we stayed at RPR conceirge for $139, HRH for $99 and PBH for $149).

Not sure why the rates are so high. They really are great hotels and FOTL cannot be beat. Happy planning everyone!

 

[powellrj]

I noticed when we were there in October, there were several large conventions going on. When I last checked our dates for June, it shows the RP sold out. I am wondering if more companies are using Universal for their conventions now is why the prices are much higher and rooms seem harder to get.

 

[matt2525]

As mentioned above - we are from the UK and have just booked to stay at Universal (as well as Disney) later this year for the first time. Previous trips have not included Universal stays.

I think UK visitors tend to book earlier than locals as they have to get cheap flights etc sorted out (or book packages including the airfare). This means that not many UK people benefit from the discount codes.

We prebooked a 5 night universal vacation (using the Entertainment code + the Mastercard offers of 1 night free + room upgrade+ coupons etc) in order to be able to pay in advance when the exchange rates were $1.94 to the pound.

UK visitors also tend to stay for longer from what I can see (US visitors often seem to do 3-7 day breaks where as UK visitors often visit for 14 nights). This is one reason that many split their stays between Disney and USF (now USF has 2 theme parks etc).

One one hand I look forward to discount codes coming out whilst on the other I think life/planning might be easier if all rooms were slightly cheaper and no codes were ever released!

Matt

 

[MickeyMagic]

Muushka -- Same here. We are Disney Vacation club members and Disney Annual Passholders. We also have annual passes at USO and have split several stays over the last 16 months or so. But, it looks like we will not be renewing our AP's at USO. Just can't afford those onsite prices!! We will just stay at Disney. Like you said, someday we'll get back to USO.

 

[polkadotminnie]

We aren't renewing our Ap either. The hotel cost just went up way too much for us. I am paying less to stay on a Carribean island in June than what RPR is charging now. I think I would have taken the increase better over a longer period of time, but they made a huge jump in a year.

 

[Frances999]

As already mentioned, the exceptional £/$ exchange rate for Britain means vacations to the US are much cheaper if everything is booked and paid for in $US. Also, Universal Orlando carried out a very extensive and effective advertising campaign over here in Britain over the last year, and the vast majortity of Brit's visit both Universal and Disney during the typical 2-week trip. The FOTL is genius and it is no wonder why some many people are being attracted to Universal resorts.

 

[themepark]

We aren't renewing our Ap either. The hotel cost just went up way too much for us. I am paying less to stay on a Carribean island in June than what RPR is charging now. I think I would have taken the increase better over a longer period of time, but they made a huge jump in a year.

I agree. I am staying at a Caribbean all inclusive resort (all meals and drinks and tips paid for) for 7 nights for a little less per night than I can book RPR. We paid a bundle to stay 3 nights right after Christmas and I am afraid that will be our last trip there. I just can't justify the cost.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

OMG!!! I just checked the Fl Resident rates for May 30-June 2nd (roughly the same dates I did at the begining of the summer last year for like $109-119) and they are $179!!!! There is no way I am paying that for there!!!! Not at off season & that is a discounted rate. I think I am joining the ranks of everyone else... back to only Disney resorts.