Should Deluxe Resorts Get Added Perks?

[medicjch]

I don't think I can expand too much more than what has already been stated, but my humble opinion is that Disney should not use the class system with Fastpasses. I usually stay Deluxe and that is my choice....would I like to see some more perks, sure, but I really don't think extra fastpasses is the way to go.

 

[mr. figment]

In my humble opinion, the perk should be related to the accommodations and not the parks.

 

[disneyholic family]

The resorts are already classed and vary based off what they offer. It would seem greedy to start offering more non-resort perks to those staying at Deluxe resorts.

If anything, I'd almost say that the only additional perk I'd like to see at the Deluxe resorts, Is for them to start actually offering closer to the non-Disney version of "Deluxe Resort" service. While there is a noticable difference in the resort feel from a moderate or Value, The Deluxe's, to me, don't really seem to really be up to a true deluxe standard that would justify the cost difference.

Since people seem to bring up comparisons to onsite at Universal quite often, I'll throw in my own analysis. The Way Universal handles their express or FotL Priviledges work for them because of the park layouts and design....and their total resort capacity allows them to over the unlimited express without overloading the system. Disney's park layouts and designs, along with their resort capacity, don't really offer them the same ability to offer the same type of perk to their guests without major tweaks that will throw the entire system off-balance.

More importantly... If you look at the costs, Yes....Universal's Current resorts can be priced comparably to the Disney Deluxes. What you get however within your resort and room however at Universal's Resorts are much closer to what would pass for a Deluxe Resort outside of Disney. The universal resorts, run by Lowes, offer the same level of service that you might expect at a Lowes anyplace else in the country.

So IMHO, Rather than concentrate on how to "Improve the Disney Deluxe Experience" thru additional perks or privileges at the parks, I Think Disney would be better served and have more success by improving the level of service at the resorts themselves. [Which might be something as simple as improving the staff training, expectations, and experience to a level that Disney's current pay-scale and interchangeable resort staffing policies currently don't allow]

i completely agree with you! .... the level of service at the deluxes is not at all in line with the incredibly high price...but of course, pricing is whatever the market will bear....if they can sell mediocre quality and service at such exorbitant prices then apparently they aren't overpriced!!
i for one, no longer stay at the deluxes....we used to only stay in concierge - now it's the pop century for us...i can't justify paying those ridiculous prices ..

I think what bugs me most about the added perk argument is the fact that avoiding lines and less wait times, or getting additional Fastpasses is considered a perk in the first place. It was Disney who marketed their theme parks to potential visitors thus creating added lines and wait times. It was Disney who filled their theme parks and created longer lines by not building enough new attractions or adding a new theme park. Now they are going to capitalize on the environment they created by giving deluxe resort guests the added benefit of more Fastpasses or less wait times. They are baiscally going to have us spend more of our money because of an environment they created.

The same could be true about the Dining Plan. They artificially inflate menu prices to make the cost of the Dining Plan look like a value when in essence it's overpriced.

I give Disney a lot of credit. They artificially create certain environments and sell us bargains, values, and perks in return. I'm not exactly sure of the specific term used for this type of marketing, but it seems to work well for Disney. It's easy for the less than regular theme park visitor not to see the cost structure.

Just my 2 cents.

very well said!!

 

[briconlo]

You should absolutely get more perks in the the parks and on property. Disney isn't cheap, but they do offer places for people to stay at lower costs, and offer packages for people so they can receive for their dollar. If you stay at a value or moderate you should still get some perks, but if i choose to spend more at a deluxe, Disney should bend over backwards and give me every extra perk possible. A nicer pool or room doesn't cut it. Deluxe rooms are 3 to 4 times more than a value per night. The people that stay in the deluxe usually spend more money for dining and merchandise too. Where is the value for my dollars? If you stay at a value no one will take away your perks, but if i spend more I should get more. It's capitalism not communism.

 

[DCTooTall]

You should absolutely get more perks in the the parks and on property. Disney isn't cheap, but they do offer places for people to stay at lower costs, and offer packages for people so they can receive for their dollar. If you stay at a value or moderate you should still get some perks, but if i choose to spend more at a deluxe, Disney should bend over backwards and give me every extra perk possible. A nicer pool or room doesn't cut it. Deluxe rooms are 3 to 4 times more than a value per night. The people that stay in the deluxe usually spend more money for dining and merchandise too. Where is the value for my dollars? If you stay at a value no one will take away your perks, but if i spend more I should get more. It's capitalism not communism.

When you pay to stay at a Deluxe or a Value, You are paying more, or less, For your room. The package stuff is extra. While I'm not a HUGE fan of the packages (AP Passholders and DVC Owners tend to get screwed), I don't have as much of an issue with the idea that different packages can get different perks. For the most part, The Packages are what give you the perks outside of the hotel you are staying at, and are a base upcharge above what you spend for your room (and are available to everyone onsite regardless of what level accommodation you stay at.).

The only exception to that rule is the Platinum Package, which was only available to those staying in Deluxe level accommodations.... But I don't really have a big issue with that either considering it was one package that was a small upgrade from the next highest level package that is available to everyone.

Call me old fashioned... but I tend to believe you pay more, or less, based off the quality and merit of the individual hotel/resort you are choosing to stay at. I'm not paying for 'perks' outside of the hotel/resort itself. If I was, then what's to stop Disney from opening up a virtual no-tell motel level place onsite, charging you $200/night, and saying you are paying for the "onsite perks"?

 

[smidgy]

You should absolutely get more perks in the the parks and on property. Disney isn't cheap, but they do offer places for people to stay at lower costs, and offer packages for people so they can receive for their dollar. If you stay at a value or moderate you should still get some perks, but if i choose to spend more at a deluxe, Disney should bend over backwards and give me every extra perk possible. A nicer pool or room doesn't cut it. Deluxe rooms are 3 to 4 times more than a value per night. The people that stay in the deluxe usually spend more money for dining and merchandise too. Where is the value for my dollars? If you stay at a value no one will take away your perks, but if i spend more I should get more. It's capitalism not communism.

this is SO absolutely not true. many people choose the valute resorts not because they are poor, but because they love the over-the-top themeing. or they will not be at the resort much. we stay deluxe if we will be at the resort much, value if we won't. but we love the theming!!!

also we love the looks of the moderate resorts. we love a sprawling resort. we don't care for dark, interior corridors.

many people spend less on a resort, and a heck of a lot more on dining and merchandise. I don't think there is a correlation.

 

[StacyMarie]

You should absolutely get more perks in the the parks and on property. Disney isn't cheap, but they do offer places for people to stay at lower costs, and offer packages for people so they can receive for their dollar. If you stay at a value or moderate you should still get some perks, but if i choose to spend more at a deluxe, Disney should bend over backwards and give me every extra perk possible. A nicer pool or room doesn't cut it. Deluxe rooms are 3 to 4 times more than a value per night. The people that stay in the deluxe usually spend more money for dining and merchandise too. Where is the value for my dollars? If you stay at a value no one will take away your perks, but if i spend more I should get more. It's capitalism not communism.

What a crock! Talk about throwing out there because somebody stays value, they must be poor or a different class as far as money is concerned. Having stayed at all levels and preferring to stay value with 2 rooms, I spend just as much money when I do a stay at deluxe with 1 room as I do when I stay value with 2 rooms. The amount of money I drop in the park for spending money is NO DIFFERENT when I stay value or moderate or DELUXE. This is our 4th year in a row and my kids just prefer value, that's all.

We are staying value again this year with 2 rooms and after upgrading to the regular dining plan and after tickets, dining, resort, and airfare, it is almost the exact same price as staying at the Poly 2 years ago with 1 room.

 

[briconlo]

Last time I checked the restaurants in Deluxe Resorts cost more than Food Court at Pop. Deluxe resorts also tend to sell higher end merchandise. It's not an amount that you might spend but a generality. Things tend to cost more there.

It's not a rich or poor issue. Its value for your dollar issue. The more you spend the better perks you should get.

I wish they had a loyalty program. Everyone would be rewarded based on dollars or nights stayed.

When Disney keeps cutting things, the people spending more need a perk or two more.

 

[StacyMarie]

Last time I checked the restaurants in Deluxe Resorts cost more than Food Court at Pop. Deluxe resorts also tend to sell higher end merchandise. It's not an amount that you might spend but a generality. Things tend to cost more there.

It's not a rich or poor issue. Its value for your dollar issue. The more you spend the better perks you should get.

I wish they had a loyalty program. Everyone would be rewarded based on dollars or nights stayed.

When Disney keeps cutting things, the people spending more need a perk or two more.

Sorry, but just because I stay value doesn't mean I don't eat deluxe, hence upgrading to the regular or deluxe dining plan while there. Also, just because I make the choice to stay value doesn't mean I don't spend my money on some higher end things. Where people make the choice to stay, whether they stay there or not because they can or can't afford elsewhere, should NOT be rewarded, IMO.

Now, I do agree with the loyalty program. Like I said in my previous post, dollar for dollar, now matter where we stay, 1 room at deluxe, 2 rooms at moderate, or 2 rooms at value, we tend to spend the same amount of money on our vacation. When we stay value, we don't eat value and frankly your condescending comment about the price of a deluxe restaurant not costing the same as a value last time you checked is RUDE. We enjoy the same restaurants we would enjoy if we stay deluxe. In fact, we are visiting Boma, O'Hana, and Le Cellier in our upcoming trip while staying value.

 

[slapwhitey]

You should absolutely get more perks in the the parks and on property. Disney isn't cheap, but they do offer places for people to stay at lower costs, and offer packages for people so they can receive for their dollar. If you stay at a value or moderate you should still get some perks, but if i choose to spend more at a deluxe, Disney should bend over backwards and give me every extra perk possible. A nicer pool or room doesn't cut it. Deluxe rooms are 3 to 4 times more than a value per night. The people that stay in the deluxe usually spend more money for dining and merchandise too. Where is the value for my dollars? If you stay at a value no one will take away your perks, but if i spend more I should get more. It's capitalism not communism.

Call me crazy but I think I can understand where the poster is coming from and actually agree on some of these points.

Let me state again that we are typically not Deluxe vacationers for the most part whether by choice or not. I can also completely understand that if you stay couple rooms at a value or 1 room for that matter that you could ultimately spend the same amount on your vacation as the deluxe family when you factor in package, dining, merchandise, etc. There is also that dank dusty part of my mind that can understand why Disney would reward deluxe resort visitors. Resorts and packages is really the only way Disney can measure what you are spending on your trip. They can't tell or assume how much one will spend on merchandise, food and "extras". So if they decide to offer perks, however large or small, based on dollars the resort is the easiest way to calculate those monies. Sure you could say they know what you charge to your room account but not all people do that and that info would also not be available until the trip is well underway.

I also agree that Disney should make a person feel deluxe at the deluxe resorts. We've stayed across the board at Disney and you will never convince me that a room at the Poly is worth $300 or so more than a room at Port Orleans.....you just won't. If we want to experience the theming of the Poly, we visit the Poly. Everyone has that opportunity. I just don't see the added value in the accommodation for such a large gap in price points. Now, you start offering me perks that I can't get at a moderate or value and I may start sipping the kool-aid.

Disney does not always make the best decisions but they are not stupid. If they implemented something that affected the way their guests enjoyed the resorts and parks and started affecting their bottom line they would quickly stop such a promotion.

Also, whether people are confident enough to admit it or not Disney clearly offers merchandise at Poly and Grand Floridian that is geared toward a specific clientele and they have been for years so they can't be far off the mark. I'm fine if I get blasted for some of these remarks and honestly can understand why people would get upset at such a promotion but at the same time I can see why it could work and how it could make sense.

 

[sayhello]

Yes, there should be some added value for staying at the deluxe resorts. But it should have nothing to do with Fast Passes. it should have everything to do with a "frequent flyer" program.

Disney needs to put something into place to award those repeat customers. And like Pete has said, they are the only hotels who don't offer that. Some could argue that DVC is the award for repeat customers but there should be something more.

On the cruise line the Castaway Club has developed into tiers of silver, gold and platinum based on the number of cruises you have taken. The problem with doing things this way is that there is no added value for taking longer cruises or staying in nicer staterooms. A 1-night cruise in an inside stateroom out of New York counts the same as a 14-night transatlantic cruise in the Roy Disney Suite. That is just not right.

When a "frequent flyer" program rolls out for those staying on property at WDW, they can include value for those who stay at the Deluxe resort.

I don't understand the highlighted statement. How do you figure that DVC is a reward for repeat customers? Unless the representative I talked to left out some important information, you don't get automatically upgraded to DVC if you stay on property frequently. You don't get a discount on staying at a DVC resort if you stay on property frequently. You don't get a discount on buying DVC if you stay on property frequently. DVC is a choice some people make (who like that kind of thing and usually who stay on property frequently), but it is in no way a "reward" that Disney awards to someone who stays on property frequently. You could go to WDW 10 times a year, staying on property, and that will in no way earn you anything to do with DVC.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me!

Sayhello

 

[smidgy]

Last time I checked the restaurants in Deluxe Resorts cost more than Food Court at Pop. Deluxe resorts also tend to sell higher end merchandise. It's not an amount that you might spend but a generality. Things tend to cost more there.

It's not a rich or poor issue. Its value for your dollar issue. The more you spend the better perks you should get.

I wish they had a loyalty program. Everyone would be rewarded based on dollars or nights stayed.

When Disney keeps cutting things, the people spending more need a perk or two more.

who says we eat only at the food court when at pop , or all stars? I did get a pretty inexpensive hot dog at a cart, though, when I stayed at the Boardwalk. and a pretty cheap slice of pizza.
oh yeah, I bought an amazingly inexpensive hamburger at Hurrican Hannahs when I stayed at Beach Club.

Oh! but when I stayed at Pop, I enjoyed a 22 ounce porterhouse at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse.

and how would you run such a loyalty program. on which one of the bolded? one year we took 5 trips! but most of them were at a value or moderate resort. I would think that would make us "better" customers than someone who stays one week at the Poly the whole year! ( I don't really think that, just making a point. none of us are better than any other)

Sorry, but just because I stay value doesn't mean I don't eat deluxe, hence upgrading to the regular or deluxe dining plan while there. Also, just because I make the choice to stay value doesn't mean I don't spend my money on some higher end things. Where people make the choice to stay, whether they stay there or not because they can or can't afford elsewhere, should NOT be rewarded, IMO.

Now, I do agree with the loyalty program. Like I said in my previous post, dollar for dollar, now matter where we stay, 1 room at deluxe, 2 rooms at moderate, or 2 rooms at value, we tend to spend the same amount of money on our vacation. When we stay value, we don't eat value and frankly your condescending comment about the price of a deluxe restaurant not costing the same as a value last time you checked is RUDE. We enjoy the same restaurants we would enjoy if we stay deluxe. In fact, we are visiting Boma, O'Hana, and Le Cellier in our upcoming trip while staying value.

 

[BriarRosie]

You should absolutely get more perks in the the parks and on property. Disney isn't cheap, but they do offer places for people to stay at lower costs, and offer packages for people so they can receive for their dollar. If you stay at a value or moderate you should still get some perks, but if i choose to spend more at a deluxe, Disney should bend over backwards and give me every extra perk possible. A nicer pool or room doesn't cut it. Deluxe rooms are 3 to 4 times more than a value per night. The people that stay in the deluxe usually spend more money for dining and merchandise too. Where is the value for my dollars? If you stay at a value no one will take away your perks, but if i spend more I should get more. It's capitalism not communism.

I disagree only because I'm the type of person who has stayed often in a value resort (mostly pre-DVC) in order to have many full service meals, often at signature restaurants.

And to address other people's comments:

I don't really get how people are saying that DVC members are screwed because we can't take advantage of packages. I say we're making out like bandits if we're paying value resort prices (over the course of the purchase plus maintenance fees) and getting deluxe resorts. And the DVC discount for my annual pass, which in turn gets me the AP discount for Tables in Wonderland...I feel that I am doing really well, cost-wise!