Rumor of future discounts

[wdwfan]

I wonder how many millionaires vacation at wdw? My brother who makes 500,000 + a year hated everything about wdw. His wife said epcot was just a "fake europe" she would rather go to the real thing. They prefer to take their family to europe or other exotic places. Not saying the rich don't visit wdw, but IMO disneys biggest consumer is the middle class making between 50,000- 250,000 and they are outpricing their customers.

Good point! I totally agree.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Good point! I totally agree.

Me too. When I think of millionaires on vacation, I don't think of them staying Club Level at a WDW deluxe, I think of them in far more luxurious accomodations. And bottom line, they may be able to afford the best onsite accomodations Disney has to offer, but they still have to deal with the heat, crowds, the same food the rest of us guests eat etc. Even if they decide to pony up for a plaid vested escort, they still have to trudge through those parks. Frankly, I'd bet (just guessing here) super wealthy folks are more likely to go once and then head back to their private beachside villa on Maui and leave the theme park vacation to others.

 

[Feckless]

Also, they need to realize that some people (myself included) have booked based on historical discounts that were offered. If nothing significant comes up, you can be darned sure that my booking will be cancelled prior to the 45 days out (I will stay deluxe off site). I'm sure I'm not the only one. So, there may be many bookings out there that Disney can't count on if no discounts are offered.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

The budget of our Disney vacation skyrocketed when my kids became Disney adults. Free Dining made our trips doable.

I think they are phasing out FD.

Luckily we moved to the west coast and discovered/fell in love with DL. We can get annual passes and make several trips to DL throughout the year for the price of one WDW vacation.

 

[Amy&Dan]

This is a great discussion and I have really enjoyed it. I am one who has grown tired of playing the Disney discount game. I usually have an AP and those discounts have greatly decreased. I have never received a PIN. With the rising prices, Disney is slowly pricing me out. To add insult to injury, I received a 40% PIN today for Universal. Guess who's getting my money???

It does get old (the discount game). Checking emails on yahoo accounts I only set up in hopes of a pin, checking this board, all the while knowing the vacation we most want to take may not happen the way we want or at all. We didn't renew our AP's after about 2007 because we found the discounts getting harder to come by (and waiting so long when we needed to book airfare was not working for us) and they locked us into going at least twice in a year.

For fun (I am bored today, waiting for a service call to show up) I looked back at our 2004 trip to WDW. We were a family of four with three adults (ds was 10) and one child. We stayed at ASMO for ten nights, and did 10 days of the old Ultimate Park Hopper. Which was basically a hopper with the water parks and more added on. Our price was $1982 which included taxes.

I priced that same trip just now on Disney's site and for a party of three adults and one child, 10 nights at ASMO with the same type tix it is now $2834.

Now this is 7 years later but that is a very big increase. The only thing I get now vs. then is Magical Express. But again, that's 7 years so its a lot but that's a lot of time passed.

However, when I compare the price of my trip I took in June 2011, vs the same trip in 2012 (same dates) the increase is about the same. With only one year's difference and the QSDP has knocked off one snack in 2012 so I am getting less. An increase that large over 7 years is way easier to swallow than increase that large in one year.

Its insane and I won't be paying it for sure.

On a different note, we stay at the same place in up in the mountains here in Colorado most years and I know for a fact I am paying less now than I was in 2004 because I guess they feel they had to keep in line with what people can and are willing to pay. And its a completely different venue but then again, its in the Rocky Mountains, close to skiing, river rafting, in one of the most beautiful settings I have seen. But they apparently figure discounts and competitive pricing are important.

 

[nrpofp]

The budget of our Disney vacation skyrocketed when my kids became Disney adults. Free Dining made our trips doable.

I think they are phasing out FD.

Luckily we moved to the west coast and discovered/fell in love with DL. We can get annual passes and make several trips to DL throughout the year for the price of one WDW vacation.

We live about 2 hours from Dl. What makes Dl more affordable is that you only need 2 or 3 days, and there are many offsite hotels within walking distance of Dl. Even if you stay offsite it feels like your staying onsite. Dl resorts are the same price as wdw deluxes if not more.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Then in 2013 we are already thinking we will go to San Diego, my son will graduate from boot camp so we can go see him, spend some time down there and maybe do Disneyland for a day or two. Staying offsite since DLR onsite hotels are very expensive and we can stay across the street for less than half.


In some ways, my family got into a rut with our travel. We started going to Disney when my kids were younger and it was a great vacation. I used to argue Disney was a good deal. But now I don't make that point anymore. I do travel other places and those other places are either just a bit more than they were 5+ years ago or even cheaper. I love WDW and its been wonderful but when we are priced out or just made to feel like they don't want our business, I think if we branch out we'll be surprised at how much fun we can have in other places. For a lot less money!

Your family seems a lot like mine in that way. We chose to spend less with Disney this year by going to DLR instead of WDW. We stayed off site and did many other things in the SoCal area. We did pay for 3-day DLR hoppers, a few QS meals (using a gift card we had), and $12 worth of souvenirs -but that was it. Best family vacation we have had in a long time. I would like to go back to WDW, but I am in no hurry to rush down and pay rack rate. Currently DW is talking about us maybe planning a cruise (non-Disney), and I am listening.

 

[saskdw]

Havoc315 is correct about supply and demand, that is the number one rule of all business. That's why I stated in a earlier post that if they can fill the place at those prices without my business all the power to them. But they aren't filling the place without discounts, they haven't been for years.

It also seems that their strategy is aimed at short stays. There is no incentive for people like us that want to vacation for a full 2 weeks. You can only get 10 day packages for park tickets.

Honestly this thread has me thinking about going somewhere else even more than before.

 

[AVITWeb]

It does get old (the discount game). Checking emails on yahoo accounts I only set up in hopes of a pin, checking this board, all the while knowing the vacation we most want to take may not happen the way we want or at all. We didn't renew our AP's after about 2007 because we found the discounts getting harder to come by (and waiting so long when we needed to book airfare was not working for us) and they locked us into going at least twice in a year.

For fun (I am bored today, waiting for a service call to show up) I looked back at our 2004 trip to WDW. We were a family of four with three adults (ds was 10) and one child. We stayed at ASMO for ten nights, and did 10 days of the old Ultimate Park Hopper. Which was basically a hopper with the water parks and more added on. Our price was $1982 which included taxes.

I priced that same trip just now on Disney's site and for a party of three adults and one child, 10 nights at ASMO with the same type tix it is now $2834.

Now this is 7 years later but that is a very big increase. The only thing I get now vs. then is Magical Express. But again, that's 7 years so its a lot but that's a lot of time passed.

However, when I compare the price of my trip I took in June 2011, vs the same trip in 2012 (same dates) the increase is about the same. With only one year's difference and the QSDP has knocked off one snack in 2012 so I am getting less. An increase that large over 7 years is way easier to swallow than increase that large in one year.

Its insane and I won't be paying it for sure.

On a different note, we stay at the same place in up in the mountains here in Colorado most years and I know for a fact I am paying less now than I was in 2004 because I guess they feel they had to keep in line with what people can and are willing to pay. And its a completely different venue but then again, its in the Rocky Mountains, close to skiing, river rafting, in one of the most beautiful settings I have seen. But they apparently figure discounts and competitive pricing are important.

I hear ya...The last time I went with my entire family...Around '91, for 4 adults and one junior for 10 days, full ride (the old Disney Gold club - meals and EVERYTHING included) it was $2500 for the Poly..
In '05 when I was looking for my honeymoon i looked at the exact same package, but for just two of us, and it was close to $8000.. While it was 14 year between, that is a huge increase.
Even since '05 before free dining, it has gone up quite a bit.
When I booked in '06, because of free dining we could stay an extra day...Here we are 5 years later and the price is probably about 800-1000 dollars more for the same trip (10 days at POFQ w/standard dining and park hopper king bed)
It has been so long since we have gone that i am having serious withdrawal and now that my kids are getting to the "fun" age i really want to take them...But it may not be able to happen.

 

[dbennett3899]

Does anyone else remember this commercial!? HAHA! Wish they'd go back to this marketing scheme...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj11IDUxHC8

 

[havoc315]

Me too. When I think of millionaires on vacation, I don't think of them staying Club Level at a WDW deluxe, I think of them in far more luxurious accomodations. And bottom line, they may be able to afford the best onsite accomodations Disney has to offer, but they still have to deal with the heat, crowds, the same food the rest of us guests eat etc. Even if they decide to pony up for a plaid vested escort, they still have to trudge through those parks. Frankly, I'd bet (just guessing here) super wealthy folks are more likely to go once and then head back to their private beachside villa on Maui and leave the theme park vacation to others.

I can assure you, you're wrong. The millionaires do both.. the beachside villa in Maui.. and the week at Disney.
Because 7 year-old children of millionaires love Disney as much as anyone.

And no, they don't necessarily deal with the same issues as the rest of travelers. They may bring a travel nanny to help take care of the kids. They may get a VIP tour guide for the parks, who does the fast pass running, etc, for them.
I've seen millionaires eating at McDonalds.. money doesn't mean every meal is caviar. But, in terms of Disney... it's the millionaires who are most likely to book Victoria's & Alberts, Paris Bistro, etc.

And when the heat is overwhelming in the middle of the day, it's the rich, who can book a boating excursion, etc.

Disney is quite smart to cater to people of all economic backgrounds. They essentially offer different vacation experiences, depending on your economic bracket.

But their goal with a place like a club room at the Grand Floridian -- their goal isn't to attract a public school teacher to book that room. That room is meant to go to someone who really doesn't care about the price.

 

[FigmentChick]

Does anyone else remember this commercial!? HAHA! Wish they'd go back to this marketing scheme...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj11IDUxHC8

Affordable and Disney in the same sentence?!?! We're going back and forth as to whether we want to stay on-site this October or not, but I think I made the final decision today. I contacted my friend who owns a house in Davenport and asked if he has availability for our time period. He does. So....unless Disney breaks out those discounts in the next week (maybe 2, since he is my friend), I'll be staying off-site in a McMansion. Two master bedrooms, two bedrooms with double beds, 3 and a half baths, washer & dryer, and a kitchen.

The biggest disappointment for us will be the loss of the EMHs. But if that's the sacrifice I have to make to save almost $2,000 then guess what? The choice is easy. (oh and the house has it's own pool with heat!)

 

[tlenzendorf]

i can understand wanting to cut back on discounts. Personally, i will never pay full price for a disney vacation. If i can rent dvc points at a good price, i'll do that. If i can't, and everything is full price and rack rate, then we'll just vacation somewhere else.

i think the price on the value resorts is okay, but we vacation in value seasons, so the last time i checked they were under $100 rack rate. The only one i've stayed at is pop, and i'm really not too crazy over it. I'm not sure if i'd be willing to stay there at rack rate or not. I know i'd never pay rack rate for the mods or deluxes if i wasn't getting some other type of discount (like free dining) to offset the cost.

+1

We have a family of 5, so without a discount/DVC rental it's too expensive. POR and a trundle bed just won't work for us. If we have to get a more expensive sans dicounted room we will go somewhere else.

 

[nrpofp]

I can assure you, you're wrong. The millionaires do both.. the beachside villa in Maui.. and the week at Disney.
Because 7 year-old children of millionaires love Disney as much as anyone.

And no, they don't necessarily deal with the same issues as the rest of travelers. They may bring a travel nanny to help take care of the kids. They may get a VIP tour guide for the parks, who does the fast pass running, etc, for them.
I've seen millionaires eating at McDonalds.. money doesn't mean every meal is caviar. But, in terms of Disney... it's the millionaires who are most likely to book Victoria's & Alberts, Paris Bistro, etc.

And when the heat is overwhelming in the middle of the day, it's the rich, who can book a boating excursion, etc.

Disney is quite smart to cater to people of all economic backgrounds. They essentially offer different vacation experiences, depending on your economic bracket.

But their goal with a place like a club room at the Grand Floridian -- their goal isn't to attract a public school teacher to book that room. That room is meant to go to someone who really doesn't care about the price.

I think your missing the point. Everyone knows millionaires visit wdw, but its still the minority. It's the people making 6 figure salaries that wan't to stay at a nice resort, but can't afford rack rate. My mom is a millionaire and has traveled all over the world. We are taking her to WDW in October when I told her the price of the room with a 40% discount her reaction was She was ok with the price but she couldn't believe that it was 40% off. She would never in a million years pay disney rack rate for a club level room. Its disney world in the middle of a swamp in Florida not some 5 star resort in Paris for goodness sake. I know people that make a lot of money and take expensive vacations they just don't consider disney as a place that should cost as much as going to Europe.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I can assure you, you're wrong. The millionaires do both.. the beachside villa in Maui.. and the week at Disney.
Because 7 year-old children of millionaires love Disney as much as anyone.

And no, they don't necessarily deal with the same issues as the rest of travelers. They may bring a travel nanny to help take care of the kids. They may get a VIP tour guide for the parks, who does the fast pass running, etc, for them.
I've seen millionaires eating at McDonalds.. money doesn't mean every meal is caviar. But, in terms of Disney... it's the millionaires who are most likely to book Victoria's & Alberts, Paris Bistro, etc.

And when the heat is overwhelming in the middle of the day, it's the rich, who can book a boating excursion, etc.

Disney is quite smart to cater to people of all economic backgrounds. They essentially offer different vacation experiences, depending on your economic bracket.

But their goal with a place like a club room at the Grand Floridian -- their goal isn't to attract a public school teacher to book that room. That room is meant to go to someone who really doesn't care about the price.

You make good points. And thank you ever so much for assuring me I am wrong. I can assure you I am not totally wrong anymore than you are totally right because there are no absolutes when it comes to economic spending patterns. But I do not think a large percentage of millionaires flock as repeat guests to WDW thanks to V & A's, GF Club leve rooms and boat excursioins. So if Disney is trying to cater to the repeat millionaire, well good luck with that. Millionaires have lots of money (depending on a lot of variables of course) but they don't necessarily have a lot of time. So if a Disney trip staying at the GF, Club Level with the little plaid vested cm doing all the fp running costs about the same as something far more luxurious, well, you get the idea.

I think Disney's goal with a GF Club Level room is to attract someone, anyone, who is willing to splurge for that room. They offer a product that is high priced for people who want to pay. I have a friend that stays GF CL for 10-12 nights ever year and she would probably love to be making what a public school teacher makes right now. Her husband is a blue collar guy who makes good money. They care very much about the price and they will not stay anywhere else. My brother on the other hand can stay wherever he wants, did the Poly CL a few years ago and burst out laughing when he saw what club level at WDW really means. Not that the little pot stickers with a beer aren't tasty, but compared to other places, that are nicer, that they have stayed for less, well he wasn't in a hurry to book that again. Actually, come to think of it, he liked POR better not because he needed to save $600 a night off the room he had at the Poly CL last trip, he just liked it better. Again, personal taste makes economic predictions and absolutes tough to figure out.

Disney does indeed build rooms for all tastes and income brackets. Heck, you can tent camp at WDW and be really frugal. And millionaires kids do indeed want to go to Disney just like middle class little kids.

But the bottom line is that the economy is what it is. For everyone. And there are way more middle class people struggling to keep up their standard of living than there are millioniaires who find money to be no object.

If they want to phase out discounts its their right. And it may just work wonderfully. We will see. I think discounts will keep up, just not sure they (discounts) will be enough for many of us since the discount on a very inflated rack rate is still a high price to pay. And while my husband is fortunate to make a very good living, the bottom line is that we will have to think carefully about paying a 32% increase in one year for the same vacation. I think a lof of millionaires feel the same. And I think a lot of them will stay at the Waldorf rather than the GF because its cheaper and nicer!

 

[csharpwv]

I am shocked at how many people think that Disney is just totally and utterly stupid!

Disney isn't going to discontinue discounts, promotions, and marketing campaigns.

Disney isn't dumb - they know that more people travel to WDW when there is a better promotion or discount. In a consumption/capitalist economy - if we can get something for less than it normally costs, then it's going to be huge - and word will travel fast!

Should Disney end "Free Dining" promotions? That's for Disney to decide. However, they aren't going to make a decision that makes them less money in the end, they are not going to do it, and their stock holders are not going to allow them to do it!

For one, I think a lot of frequent WDW visitors are actually getting tired of visiting WDW. There haven't been any MAJOR new attractions in years, EPCOT is becoming a relic in appearance and in feel. For people who travel in the summer peak months, the crowds can be just too much, and at some point you have to see Disney Cruise Line as a competitor of Disney Parks.

Disney isn't going to stop discounting their packages - I'm going to stick my head about the water enough to say that for every person in this tread 'swearing off' staying on property, the vast majority of you will be back. It is too convenient. The perks are too great to give up.

Disney is an intelligent company with a very long history of innovation at all levels.

Will Disney discontinue free dining? I would say YES they will - it is just too expensive of a promotion for what it gives back to the coffers in merchandise purchases, other food purchases, etc etc.

Will Disney introduce a new and innovative promotion that will keep families coming back year after year? YES - you KNOW they will. Disney loves one thing more than money, moderately satisfied customers that start thinking about their NEXT vacation before the current one ends.

I think Disney would be better off following the lead of the cruise industry and offering a re-booking opportunity in the lobby of select resorts to get folks to book their next vacation while they are still on the property! It works well for the cruise industry!

Don't be so negative, don't be so 'finger pointy' at Disney for being an awful rotten company that makes millions of dollars every year, and don't make promises you won't keep!

It's Disney, and you'll be back. The next big promotion may not be as good as free dining, but it will be enough to get you back! Talk with your wallet, not with your threats!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

For one, I think a lot of frequent WDW visitors are actually getting tired of visiting WDW. There haven't been any MAJOR new attractions in years, EPCOT is becoming a relic in appearance and in feel. For people who travel in the summer peak months, the crowds can be just too much, and at some point you have to see Disney Cruise Line as a competitor of Disney Parks.

Yes! This was what I was getting at earlier. The only thing MAJOR in recent years has been price increases. The base WDW experience as the same as it has been for quite a while. For various reasons, I think I am at the point where I am more fond of the idea of a WDW vacation than I am a WDW vacation itself. It takes a bit more to move people like me from being interested fans/daydreamers to becoming active registered guests.

One thing for sure though, Disney is pretty smart at keeping up interest in its theme park product. It will be interesting to see how they proceed.

 

[nemofans]

I am shocked at how many people think that Disney is just totally and utterly stupid!

Disney isn't going to discontinue discounts, promotions, and marketing campaigns.

Disney isn't dumb - they know that more people travel to WDW when there is a better promotion or discount. In a consumption/capitalist economy - if we can get something for less than it normally costs, then it's going to be huge - and word will travel fast!

Should Disney end "Free Dining" promotions? That's for Disney to decide. However, they aren't going to make a decision that makes them less money in the end, they are not going to do it, and their stock holders are not going to allow them to do it!

For one, I think a lot of frequent WDW visitors are actually getting tired of visiting WDW. There haven't been any MAJOR new attractions in years, EPCOT is becoming a relic in appearance and in feel. For people who travel in the summer peak months, the crowds can be just too much, and at some point you have to see Disney Cruise Line as a competitor of Disney Parks.

Disney isn't going to stop discounting their packages - I'm going to stick my head about the water enough to say that for every person in this tread 'swearing off' staying on property, the vast majority of you will be back. It is too convenient. The perks are too great to give up.

Disney is an intelligent company with a very long history of innovation at all levels.

Will Disney discontinue free dining? I would say YES they will - it is just too expensive of a promotion for what it gives back to the coffers in merchandise purchases, other food purchases, etc etc.

Will Disney introduce a new and innovative promotion that will keep families coming back year after year? YES - you KNOW they will. Disney loves one thing more than money, moderately satisfied customers that start thinking about their NEXT vacation before the current one ends.

I think Disney would be better off following the lead of the cruise industry and offering a re-booking opportunity in the lobby of select resorts to get folks to book their next vacation while they are still on the property! It works well for the cruise industry!

Don't be so negative, don't be so 'finger pointy' at Disney for being an awful rotten company that makes millions of dollars every year, and don't make promises you won't keep!

It's Disney, and you'll be back. The next big promotion may not be as good as free dining, but it will be enough to get you back! Talk with your wallet, not with your threats!

I agree. There will still be discounts, just not major discounts offered often. I don't think there always needs to be a discount offered or multiple ones in the same season.
They do the bounceback offers while on property too, similar to cruises. My DH won't let us go back often enough to take advantage of those!

 

[saskdw]

I can assure you, you're wrong. The millionaires do both.. the beachside villa in Maui.. and the week at Disney.
Because 7 year-old children of millionaires love Disney as much as anyone.

And no, they don't necessarily deal with the same issues as the rest of travelers. They may bring a travel nanny to help take care of the kids. They may get a VIP tour guide for the parks, who does the fast pass running, etc, for them.
I've seen millionaires eating at McDonalds.. money doesn't mean every meal is caviar. But, in terms of Disney... it's the millionaires who are most likely to book Victoria's & Alberts, Paris Bistro, etc.

And when the heat is overwhelming in the middle of the day, it's the rich, who can book a boating excursion, etc.

Disney is quite smart to cater to people of all economic backgrounds. They essentially offer different vacation experiences, depending on your economic bracket.

But their goal with a place like a club room at the Grand Floridian -- their goal isn't to attract a public school teacher to book that room. That room is meant to go to someone who really doesn't care about the price.

I think there are probably lots of "millionaires" going to Disney. There are lots of levels and types of millionaires as well. Most of the millionaires I know, including my Father, would never leave you with the impression they are one. They blend in with the crowd and would lead you to beleive they have a regular middle class income.

I think the this discussion is reffering more to the multi-multi millionaire crowd. Those are definately the ones filling the suites and club level rooms at GF.

I understand and agree with alot of your thinking. My biggest argument is that when you compare what you get at a Disney Deluxe with what you can get elsewhere for less money the Disney resorts don't stack up. I completely agree that they should have accomodations for all income levels. I'm not "angry" at Disney for making business decisions, I just don't think they will succeed in filling their resorts to 90% capacity with the current rack rates. If they prove me wrong all the power to them.

Its hard for me personally to justify a rack rate trip to Disney, when I have Universal practically begging me to come back there offering up discounts and lots of communication making feel like a valuable customer.

I can stay at the Hard Rock which is IMO a nicer hotel than the Contemporary or the Poly for the price of a Disney Mod resort. So Disney is basically saying we are the best so expect to be gouged if you want to come here. Some people might do that one time to experience Disney, but they won't get too many loyal repeat customers that way.

 

[dclfun]

You make good points. And thank you ever so much for assuring me I am wrong. I can assure you I am not totally wrong anymore than you are totally right because there are no absolutes when it comes to economic spending patterns. But I do not think a large percentage of millionaires flock as repeat guests to WDW thanks to V & A's, GF Club leve rooms and boat excursioins. So if Disney is trying to cater to the repeat millionaire, well good luck with that. Millionaires have lots of money (depending on a lot of variables of course) but they don't necessarily have a lot of time. So if a Disney trip staying at the GF, Club Level with the little plaid vested cm doing all the fp running costs about the same as something far more luxurious, well, you get the idea.

I think Disney's goal with a GF Club Level room is to attract someone, anyone, who is willing to splurge for that room. They offer a product that is high priced for people who want to pay. I have a friend that stays GF CL for 10-12 nights ever year and she would probably love to be making what a public school teacher makes right now. Her husband is a blue collar guy who makes good money. They care very much about the price and they will not stay anywhere else. My brother on the other hand can stay wherever he wants, did the Poly CL a few years ago and burst out laughing when he saw what club level at WDW really means. Not that the little pot stickers with a beer aren't tasty, but compared to other places, that are nicer, that they have stayed for less, well he wasn't in a hurry to book that again. Actually, come to think of it, he liked POR better not because he needed to save $600 a night off the room he had at the Poly CL last trip, he just liked it better. Again, personal taste makes economic predictions and absolutes tough to figure out.

Disney does indeed build rooms for all tastes and income brackets. Heck, you can tent camp at WDW and be really frugal. And millionaires kids do indeed want to go to Disney just like middle class little kids.

But the bottom line is that the economy is what it is. For everyone. And there are way more middle class people struggling to keep up their standard of living than there are millioniaires who find money to be no object.

If they want to phase out discounts its their right. And it may just work wonderfully. We will see. I think discounts will keep up, just not sure they (discounts) will be enough for many of us since the discount on a very inflated rack rate is still a high price to pay. And while my husband is fortunate to make a very good living, the bottom line is that we will have to think carefully about paying a 32% increase in one year for the same vacation. I think a lof of millionaires feel the same. And I think a lot of them will stay at the Waldorf rather than the GF because its cheaper and nicer!

Well, I am SO far from being a millionaire it's not funny but I have booked and paid for 10 nights at the GF Club level from Dec. 1-11th for myself, my dd and her husband, and my grandkids who will be 4 and 1. We are DVC members since 1995 and wanted something different this year. I wanted the GF specifically for location and holiday decor and although I'm disappointed about the lack of monorail service for EMH, the reality is that with the two little ones, we won't be out late anyway. I did get a great discount on room-only, we'll eat breakfast in the lounge, and have our ADR's booked already with one TS per day and the Hoop de Doo one evening. We have extended family joining us and they'll be staying at one of the moderate resorts, hoping for free DDP. The older I get, the more willing I am to splurge on vacations. I work hard and enjoy the WDW resorts immensely and as I travel in a wheelchair with a service dog, ease of transportation and ease of getting back to the resort for a daily rest is a huge consideration. A WDW resort, to me, is not just a place to sleep. We'll bank some DVC points this year or use them at another time as I can't afford a yearly cash splurge...but every now and again, IMO it's worth it. If I were still raising kids, saving for college, etc. obviously my perspective would be different. As to future discounts, I think we'll still see them but perhaps they'll be something new that we've not seen before and even more enticing.---Kathy