Resort fees

[Princess Jes]

Expanding on Petes thoughts...
I know resort fees are common and most places they are compulsory.

But, hypothetical thought here: what if they were optional and you only paid if you wanted magic bands, magical express and wifi (for example)?

Would you pay $15 a day for those things?
Are they essentials for you?

 

[Minniesgal]

Resorts here in Australia typical charge $20 a day for Wifi so i guess a charge for Wifi would be a pain but not shocking

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Good questions, Jes. I have not used Magic Bands yet, so can't comment on that. I have used Magical Express numerous times, and have commented I could not believe it was still free. However, prior to that, I rented a Town Car, so I'm also used to that, if I have to. I have also not used MDE and/or the wiFi, but if I did not feel the need to use MDE while on property, I would not die if I could not use wiFi, as I've done without it before.

I can also say that when I stayed at the Swan many years ago, I tried to opt out of the resort fee there, since I did NOT want/use most of what it covered, and they did not let me. So I did go ahead and drink the "included" bottles of water, get the newspaper (even though I did not read it) and I have to admit, I was kind of ticked off it was not a "use of choice" thing - same as I personally would be anywhere else now. I am of the mindset - build it into the basic price, or charge on an "as used" basis, like spa services or something along those lines would be. But that's just my opinion and feelings.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I don't think I would pay for those things if I had a choice. Of the things you list, DME is the most important to me and I can get a car service for about the same cost as a 7 day stay ($15 per day).

I haven't been there since magic bands started so I am unsure how that would work. If I could still get FPs without the band, I would be OK. But I don't think you can ... so if the $15 per day were required to have access to FPs, I guess I would have to opt in and pay $15 per day.

 

[SarahDisney]

I haven't been there since magic bands started so I am unsure who that would work. If I could still get FPs without the band, I would be OK. But I don't think you can ... so if the $15 per day were required to have access to FPs, I guess I would have to opt in and pay $15 per day.

Just fyi, you can get FP+ with a regular ticket - the regular tickets have RFID chips in them, and that's how the FP+ works. I've seen a lot of people using tickets and not MBs for FP+.

 

[mcd2745]

Expanding on Petes thoughts...
I know resort fees are common and most places they are compulsory.

But, hypothetical thought here: what if they were optional and you only paid if you wanted magic bands, magical express and wifi (for example)?

Would you pay $15 a day for those things?
Are they essentials for you?

Well, paying any amount per diem for Magical Express is tough...because you're only using it at most two days - arrival and departure day. Paying a fee for it all the days in between would not feel good. We can get by without MagicBands & WiFi, if necessary, if we wanted to avoid the fee.

However, we still need to get from MCO to WDW and back to MCO. Any other method (shuttle, car rental, etc.) would likely cost as much or more than the total of the daily resort fees. So in the end...we'd probably just pay the fees and use ME (and the other items).

At the end of the day, I just see it as another way to chip away at discounts. If they segregate part of your room cost as a resort fee, and you get a 30 or 35% off room only offer...that discount won't apply to the fee. So now the discount is now technically not as good as advertised.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I think for some things I would. One aspect though is that if there was a separate fee for something I would expect it to work flawlessly. So if I had to pay separate to use the resort buses and I wound up having to wait 40 mins for one I'd be more upset than if it was an "included bonus" ... same with magic bands, etc.

 

[samsteele]

I just don't see how the resort fee will fly at Values and Mods. At all. The motel style rooms are already overpriced but most guests rationalize the $ with these included features. If given a chance to opt out, 80% of guests at Values & Mods will do just that. But many more will opt to stay off site. The other possible is WDW flying this to justify a resort fee at some Deluxe resorts plus extra FP+ choices + included hard ticket events (like 1 or 2) + bling like exclusive magic band designs just for Deluxe resort guests. In other words, make an exclusive Deluxe Magic Plus tier of resorts. Thinking the Grand Floridian, the Poly and maybe one of the Boardwalk area resorts. This would likely pass with flying colours as some (not all) but some Deluxe resort guests are prepared to pay top tier & top dollar to actually receive exclusive extras for a once in a lifetime WDW vacation. WDW doesn't seem to be a fan of hardcore repeat value & mod guests who know how to wring their moneys worth out of the parks. WDW wants splurgers who are prepared to spend for lifetime memories and front of the line access. No judgements here. Just cool speculation.

 

[SarahDisney]

I just don't see how the resort fee will fly at Values and Mods. At all.

This is what I've been thinking too.
I've stayed in a hotel or two where there was a resort fee. Generally it was a hotel that was on a similar level to a Disney deluxe.
If you want to charge me a resort fee for a hotel that's a value or moderate at Disney, you'd better lower the price. If you're charging a resort fee for a hotel like that, it'd better be because the rates are so low that nothing is included (like whichever airline it is that you pay extra for carry on bags and soda).

I honestly don't know what I would do if the resort fees were optional. DME is essential for me because I can't rent a car (and I'm not totally comfortable taking a cab or town car or whatever), I can do without the WiFi (I use my phone's data most of the time anyway and try not to do too much data-intensive stuff), and I'm actually not sure if I would pay extra for a MagicBand (although I already have 4, so I probably wouldn't have to). So I'm kinda torn.
But I do know that personally, I would find it a little easier to stomach the resort fee if I was staying at a deluxe. I expect a resort fee at a high-end hotel - it's just what I've been conditioned to believe. I don't expect a resort fee at a hotel that calls itself a value hotel.

 

[samsteele]

and I'm not totally comfortable taking a cab or town car or whatever)

I've stayed at the BW Buena Vista about 6 yrs plus ago, and the cab fare from the airport for one was approx $45. Of course, a party of 2 or more could split it more reasonably. So today, I would budget approx $120 return to airport & at that price, I'd check out Mears to see what was available. I don't use Uber as a single woman traveling but that's my personal choice & security talking since I've had too many friends who have experienced creepy & beyond experiences with Uber internationally. I already have multiple magic bands & can purchase in the park for $30 or under. WDW wi-fi is poor so not worth paying for. So if push came to shove & I had to make a choice, for a WDW vacation under 7 days stay, I'd prob eat the resort fee at a value or mod. Edited to add: but whatever & had to pay total for the $15/night resort fee would have to be taken out of my travel budget. So that extra $ would not be available for TS meals, souvenirs & goodies. But more than 7 days stay, I'd go off site & stay at a hotel with a basic WDW parks shuttle & get to the parks for rope drop & not worry about advanced FP+. But if I go off site, I'll eat much less in & around the WDW resorts & will def save money eating in my offsite hotel or nearby. I might also find a hotel with a free shuttle to Universal & so spend at par time there.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I did use a cab once from MCO to WDW many years ago,and I don't remember how much it was (wouldn't matter now, since it was a long time ago), but it was almost as expensive, if not the same cost, as it was for me to get a Town Car by myself. The Town Car service I used all those many times was owned by a person who got to be a friend of mine, and he (again, at the time, don't know if this has changed) charged by the carload (up to 4 passengers), not the person, so it was really cheap and convenient if you had a family. A lot of the times I was either solo, or maybe 1 other person with me, but still used for the safety, surety, and convenience of it all. This all changed with the advent of ME, and was a huge thing to me, especially mostly staying at values and mods. And a huge added reason to not only personally always stay on property, as well as recommending it to anyone and everyone seeking my advice and help planning skills. Good and reasonable point (as usual) Sam!

 

[5kidsmommy]

I am just having a hard time thinking about a resort fee. We stay at Fort Wilderness in our own camper. We already pay really high campground fees when compared to other high end campgrounds. We obviously don't use DME because we drive, the pool isn't that great and is often have people in it that are not FW guests, and really there aren't amenities like the hotels, heck there isn't even wifi you have to get a router from the gift shop to have wired access. Not sure what the resort fee would be good for in the campground.
Basically I'd be paying for magic bands which they say are included and for early FP+ access and EMH.

 

[samsteele]

We stay at Fort Wilderness in our own camper. We already pay really high campground fees when compared to other high end campgrounds.

I know what you mean. My parents are RV'rs & they considered staying at Fort Wilderness for a night or two to join me on a vacation. After they saw the rates, they said no thank you. The rate was 2-3 x higher than a deluxe RV pad at any real world RV park. How they could put at $15 resort fee on top of that is beyond any understanding.

 

[RZphilly]

Well if they decide too bring in a resort fee. I think people need to make it known by either not booking on Disney property or complaining to management . If people keep accepting the price increases and added fees .... Then Disney will keep hiking up the money. Personally I'm looking at booking another 2 weeks in 2017 . If a resort fee comes in at 15 dollars a day . That's an extra 200 dollars I'm not going to pay and I'll stay off site if I have too. Disney needs to realise when guests stay on site they spend more money in the resort area. If you nickel and dime them they will leave .
I'm home just over two weeks from my Disney Vacation . Since then Disney has raised ticket prices , The dining plan , and now is contemplating Resort fees! With a family of 4 that will increase the price of our trip for next year over 1k . I don't get the premise of what Disney is doing here? They have marketing material and commercials talking about the advantages of staying on Disney property and all the free perks they offer for the higher price and convenience . If your going to Charge a resort fee then it's not free!

 

[5kidsmommy]

I know what you mean. My parents are RV'rs & they considered staying at Fort Wilderness for a night or two to join me on a vacation. After they saw the rates, they said no thank you. The rate was 2-3 x higher than a deluxe RV pad at any real world RV park. How they could put at $15 resort fee on top of that is beyond any understanding.

I really don't mind the prices. They are way higher than most campgrounds we stay at but we tend to stay at state parks because that is what we prefer. So I don't complain too much about the prices, I know they are high but I am willing to pay them for the amazing access to the parks. But up them $15 a night for things that are already included in the price is fricken absurd. I imagine a lot of people will turn to camping offsite.

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

Well if they decide too bring in a resort fee. I think people need to make it known by either not booking on Disney property or complaining to management . If people keep accepting the price increases and added fees .... Then Disney will keep hiking up the money. Personally I'm looking at booking another 2 weeks in 2017 . If a resort fee comes in at 15 dollars a day . That's an extra 200 dollars I'm not going to pay and I'll stay off site if I have too. Disney needs to realise when guests stay on site they spend more money in the resort area. If you nickel and dime them they will leave .
I'm home just over two weeks from my Disney Vacation . Since then Disney has raised ticket prices , The dining plan , and now is contemplating Resort fees! With a family of 4 that will increase the price of our trip for next year over 1k . I don't get the premise of what Disney is doing here? They have marketing material and commercials talking about the advantages of staying on Disney property and all the free perks they offer for the higher price and convenience . If your going to Charge a resort fee then it's not free!

Bingo! You just said it perfectly

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

So it comes down to that if they do this then they can no longer claim that on site guests have all these extra perks that off site guests dont have. Magical Express would be worthless to me. Woohoo! I get to sit for an hour at MCO waiting for my resort bus to fill up AND I get to pay for it? Simply comical

 

[RZphilly]

So it comes down to that if they do this then they can no longer claim that on site guests have all these extra perks that off site guests dont have. Magical Express would be worthless to me. Woohoo! I get to sit for an hour at MCO waiting for my resort bus to fill up AND I get to pay for it? Simply comical

I don't use DME or Disney Transport as I rent a car ! The Magic hours are a joke in the evening hours ..... The magic bands !!! I have 2 . Don't need another if I have to pay 15 dollars a day

 

[NuttyDisneyDad]

I do use ME because its a PERK of staying on property lol. Im as much a Disney fanatic as the next guy but this nickle and diming is getting a bit ridiculous

 

[Princess Jes]

WDW wi-fi is poor so not worth paying for.

I didn't find the wifi to be poor at all, which speaks more to the wifi speeds here in Aus than how crap it is there

Basically I'd be paying for magic bands which they say are included

I think that's the point, theyre not going to be "included" but part of the resort fee?