Ridiculous pricing

[AngiTN]

I agree! It's totally insane. Being a deluxe resort person myself I'm starting to see $500 as a bargain! Most of the monorail resorts even WITH an AP discount are still $600+. Rack rates of $800, $900, and rising every year. If we could quit going to Disney we'd be millionaires.

Quit Disney? Just say no!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Quit Disney? Just say no!

Oh don't worry, it's never gonna happen. I'd live in a tent if need be.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Walt Disney World is the most visited travel destination in the entire world. Comparing WDW room prices and hotel amenities/service to hotels anywhere else is comparing oranges and apples. WDW has created hotel options at all price points. They will charge what the market will bear. As others have said, pricing is discussed endlessly on these boards. At the end of the day, Disney is not a charity and is not going to give their product away. If they can't fill their rooms at these prices, they will adjust. Right now, they are filling rooms. Like most people on these boards, we never, ever, ever pay rack rate for WDW rooms. In fact, it's rare that I pay rack rate at ANY hotel. It's evident you know how to search for discounts as you've discovered the nurse's discount at the Swan/Dolphin, which isn't heavily advertised. Consumers need to educate themselves before purchasing something, including a hotel room and there is PLENTY of information on the internet on how to get the best deal at WDW. If they pay rack rate, they didn't do their research OR they've chosen to go during a holiday period when promos are almost non-existent. How is that Disney's fault?

 

[buzznina]

As I said in my initial post, I don't have a problem paying the price to stay at BWI and my numbers for the Venetian are rack rate that the average Joe can purchase on line or through a travel web. My problem is that the last time I looked up BWI rack prices they were just shy of 300 bucks. It is absolutely ridiculous that they have gone up that much. The consumer that doesn't know about AP discounts and packages will pay this much because they want to bring their kids to WDW. This is gouging at its finest. And no, I am not a troll. I am an ap holder and lover of all things that Walt created. I just think that Disney has lost its way. Oh and for auroraborealis, I have stayed many times at BWI. I understand the location and how awesome it is. The Venetian is at the heart of the Vegas strip. I don't question the ability to get that kind of money for a room, I question the sanity of asking for it. So now only 6 figure income peeps and those with a great cash and credit base can afford it. But the problem for me is it is truly not a luxury experience. Its a hotel. Nice, yes. But average at best.

Now you are lucky to get BW at $300 with a discount. JMO, but even with the discount I do not think most of the deluxes are worth it. I have seen where people said that it was worth $200 more per night just to have a balcony or inside hallways. So like a PP mentioned "worth" is different for everybody.
Also on a side note, I just saw on TV that our state of Florida set an all time high with 105+ million tourists in 2015 and is predicting 115 million for 2016. Where was this announcement done by our Governor? EPCOT. I did find one comment interesting, the Governor mentioned that higher tourists means more jobs, as WDW is cutting jobs

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

It is about location, all resorts on property you are paying for a.top notch resort, well themed and on property, with transportation and many, many great fooderies.

AKK

 

[spiceycat]

I just think that Disney has lost its way. I don't question the ability to get that kind of money for a room, I question the sanity of asking for it. So now only 6 figure income peeps and those with a great cash and credit base can afford it. But the problem for me is it is truly not a luxury experience. Its a hotel. Nice, yes. But average at best.

disney has say that they don't care about their royal fans - because we will go regardless. they are trying to get the rich to come - disney is no longer for middle america - the less people in their parks - the more rich may come - so Disney likes it.

have you seem the new tickets.......

 

[Disneylover99]

Is this really what the average Joe is paying these days?

The average Joe looks for discounts at deluxe resorts or they stay moderate, value or off site.

 

[Tom P.]

Disney has several categories of resort and several more room categories within each level of resort. Also, pricing changes depending on the time of year. Rack rates for on property resorts start at $101 for a standard room at the All Stars during value season to $3,354 per night for a two bedroom club level suite at the Grand Floridian during Christmas. That's about as wide a range as you can possibly find.

Yes, Disney is a luxury item and is priced as such. But there are many different options and price ranges available to meet most budgets and needs. And beyond that, there are numerous, very good off property options available.

 

[kniquy]

And this is why we purchased our DVC membership. We couldn't fathom paying the rates that we would have to pay for a 2BR -- $6-7K . With DVC it will average out that we would technically pay less than 1/2 of that. There is always the option of renting from a DVC rental company with doing that you will pay less than what disney charges. Just a thought.

 

[Tom P.]

disney has say that they don't care about their royal fans - because we will go regardless. they are trying to get the rich to come - disney is no longer for middle america - the less people in their parks - the more rich may come - so Disney likes it.

have you seem the new tickets.......

Look at the attendance numbers. In 2014, for example, Magic Kingdom alone had nearly 20 million visitors. If you think that represents only the rich and that the middle class aren't coming, you have a very different definition of rich and middle class than I do. Also, if you think a value resort room is out of reach for the average middle class family then, again, you have a very different definition of middle class than I do.

 

[bumbershoot]

As for those who say "just pay it".

No one has said that here. ?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No one has said that here. ?

I may have come close in some minds, because I said that in most seasons, very little of BWI tends to be available on discounts.

It's a small, in-demand property. Discounts exist to fill rooms, and BWI tends not to need them to any real extent.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Frankly, we would never stay in any of the WDW resorts at these price points if they were anywhere else. There is simply nothing great about any of these resorts. I stay deluxe all over the world - these are not deluxe accommodations.

 

[spiceycat]

Look at the attendance numbers. In 2014, for example, Magic Kingdom alone had nearly 20 million visitors. If you think that represents only the rich and that the middle class aren't coming, you have a very different definition of rich and middle class than I do. Also, if you think a value resort room is out of reach for the average middle class family then, again, you have a very different definition of middle class than I do.

did not mean to insult anyone - but this post is not about value or even moderate - it is deluxe resorts.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Walt Disney World is the most visited travel destination in the entire world. Comparing WDW room prices and hotel amenities/service to hotels anywhere else is comparing oranges and apples.

Vegas had just short of 45 million visitors last year. You can get a great deluxe room - something that far surpasses anything on WDW property - for $200/night during their most busy times of the year. The difference is not the destination or the number of visitors. The difference is capacity. Disney controls capacity so they can charge more. It is a part of their business model.

 

[L&Lfan]

It is about location, all resorts on property you are paying for a.top notch resort, well themed and on property, with transportation and many, many great fooderies.

AKK

Top notch? Maybe by Disney's standards, but I don't think so compared to other "deluxe" hotels around the country.

 

[AngiTN]

I may have come close in some minds, because I said that in most seasons, very little of BWI tends to be available on discounts.

It's a small, in-demand property. Discounts exist to fill rooms, and BWI tends not to need them to any real extent.

I am not sure. Our last 4 trips have been at BWI. All with a discount. All booked within 3 months, including one during F&W. And we are there on Friday night. I booked yesterday, with a discount.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Top notch? Maybe by Disney's standards, but I don't think so compared to other "deluxe" hotels around the country.

No not a 4 season, but then in a prime location like NYC ( like WDW), you pay 3 times Disney rates for a 4 seaons or the plaza or Waldorf.

AKK

 

[ellie05]

did not mean to insult anyone - but this post is not about value or even moderate - it is deluxe resorts.

No but you specifically said that Disney is trying to get just the "rich" and trying to price out middle class. I don't think Disney was thinking middle class when they were creating their highest level of hotel to begin with.

Vegas had just short of 45 million visitors last year. You can get a great deluxe room - something that far surpasses anything on WDW property - for $200/night during their most busy times of the year. The difference is not the destination or the number of visitors. The difference is capacity. Disney controls capacity so they can charge more. It is a part of their business model.

It is not just capacity casino hotels are completely different from a revenue stand point so it is jut not comparable.

 

[Tom P.]

did not mean to insult anyone - but this post is not about value or even moderate - it is deluxe resorts.

I was responding to your post in which you said this:

disney has say that they don't care about their royal fans - because we will go regardless. they are trying to get the rich to come - disney is no longer for middle america - the less people in their parks - the more rich may come - so Disney likes it.

have you seem the new tickets.......

You cast a very wide net there by saying Disney is only interested in the rich and is no longer interested in middle America. That is simply not true. Yes, some of the deluxe resorts are very high priced -- but they are deluxe resorts. They are supposed to be the luxury end of Disney's accommodations. Disney also offers moderate and value resorts for people on different budgets.

To say that Disney doesn't care about middle America by limiting the discussion to only one class of resort is disingenuous. Disney is trying to reach pretty much every demographic of vacationer, which is specifically why they have options ranging from All-Star Sports to the Grand Floridian.