Sky high hotel rates

[Annchristine65]

Anyone have any insight as to why the hotel prices are ridiculously high? I am not local but I am an APH and have been going 3-4 times a year for the past 7 years always at high peak times and every year during spring break and have never seen the rates this high. I have always been able to get a decent APH rate. Honestly calling $600 a night an APH rate is insulting.

 

[damo]

Only thing I can think of is that they can? Seems to be quite the demand right now.

 

[mamapenguin]

They are still selling through at those rates. It’s crazy.

 

[Annchristine65]

Only thing I can think of is that they can? Seems to be quite the demand right now.

Do you think there's any chance the rates will go down? I need Apr 4-8 (M-F). I really messed up getting my airfare first. I never expected the rates to be like this.

 

[dreamer17555]

Do you think there's any chance the rates will go down? I need Apr 4-8 (M-F). I really messed up getting my airfare first. I never expected the rates to be like this.

Any chance you would book at a non premier hotel and then book a single throwaway night giving your family two days of express passes? It seems like a potential solution. HRH is $414 on the 6th (giving you express passes the 6th & the 7th). You could do a family suite at Dockside for $159 a night APH rate and still save over $600 a night

 

[Annchristine65]

Any chance you would book at a non premier hotel and then book a single throwaway night giving your family two days of express passes? It seems like a potential solution. HRH is $414 on the 6th (giving you express passes the 6th & the 7th). You could do a family suite at Dockside for $159 a night APH rate and still save over $600 a night

Yes thank you I will definitely look into doing something like that! It's going to hurt paying $159 for dockside knowing I normally pay $189 at Royal Pacific!! LOL But I have to do what I have to do at this point.

 

[damo]

We were at Royal Pacific first week of December (not a busy time) and paid $229 for the AP rate so you probably won't get $189 during spring break.

 

[Annchristine65]

We were at Royal Pacific first week of December (not a busy time) and paid $229 for the AP rate so you probably won't get $189 during spring break.

I have gotten that rate every year during spring break. That's why I think I'm so shocked by the prices. I was just there the week after Christmas and paid $209 a night at RP. And I know eventually the price has to go up just wasn't expecting it to be so high.

 

[lisam70]

I think it’s all the people coming from Disney thinking these rates aren’t all that bad

 

[shh]

Yes thank you I will definitely look into doing something like that! It's going to hurt paying $159 for dockside knowing I normally pay $189 at Royal Pacific!! LOL But I have to do what I have to do at this point.

The 189 rates are gone permanently, I think. I haven't seen one in a long time. The lowest base rate I've seen for low season midweek is 203

 

[shh]

I think it’s all the people coming from Disney thinking these rates aren’t all that bad

I believe that is driving this. It's similar to when HCOL residents from California or NY move to the midwest or south. Everything is "dirt cheap" to them, so they actually drive up the prices in the region - the market responds to their perceptions by leveling up.

Uni knows full well that WDW guests see a $400 deluxe room as a bargain because of the resort rate insanity going on right now at The House of Mouse. I was asking one long-time TM if she thinks any specials may be released on annual passes (like the 3 month free promo) and she said it actually feels like the opposite climate right now. So many WDW guests are buying UO passes because they're so much "cheaper".

Sigh. I think the dark side is no longer. The secret's out. lol

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I believe that is driving this. It's similar to when HCOL residents from California or NY move to the midwest or south. Everything is "dirt cheap" to them, so they actually drive up the prices in the region - the market responds to their perceptions by leveling up.

Uni knows full well that WDW guests see a $400 deluxe room as a bargain because of the resort rate insanity going on right now at The House of Mouse. I was asking one long-time TM if she thinks any specials may be released on annual passes (like the 3 month free promo) and she said it actually feels like the opposite climate right now. So many WDW guests are buying UO passes because they're so much "cheaper".

Sigh. I think the dark side is no longer. The secret's out. lol

That's how I felt the first time we stayed at Univeral. Wow - only $300 a night and you get unlimited EP!! So that could definitely be driving it.

I just booked Hard Rock for Nov and the prices are already up from last week. PBR went up $30 a night for our days, RPR went up $100!! The rates I saw last week were the types of rates we normally see when booking in May for a Nov trip. Book early this year if you have any thought of going!

 

[dreamer17555]

I think it’s all the people coming from Disney thinking these rates aren’t all that bad

Guilty as charged. Once you are used to Poly or YC Club level rates Universal rates seem like a steal.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Yep, fully admit to being part of the problem. I couldn't believe it when I booked a Minions suite in late December for less than I would pay for an off-season room at the Contemporary. But I had to push my trip due to Omicron, and I suspect many others did the same and those rebookings for Spring are keeping inventory tight and prices high. We have a non-suite room in the same hotel for the same price for April now, and that's only because I got lucky and found a Savvy Traveler rate last month. I think Bob Cheapek really underestimated how much Genie+ would play to Universal's advantage, because the included unlimited Express pass with certain resorts really seems like such a good deal in comparison. Hope he's enjoying his fat bonus this year, next year things might not be looking so rosy at the house of mouse.

 

[pigletto]

According to all official inflation reports hotels are up an average of 26% in the USA, with some markets being much higher. I don‘t personally think it has much to do with Disney at all. If hotels are paying more for absolutely everything they will charge the end consumer more to compensate. This isn’t just specific to Universal unfortunately, it’s getting outrageous in a lot of places.

 

[tink2424]

According to all official inflation reports hotels are up an average of 26% in the USA, with some markets being much higher. I don‘t personally think it has much to do with Disney at all. If hotels are paying more for absolutely everything they will charge the end consumer more to compensate. This isn’t just specific to Universal unfortunately, it’s getting outrageous in a lot of places.

Definitely agree but I also think this bubble will burst. There is high demand right now with travelers that needed to reschedule past trips as well as those who are just happy to be traveling again so they will pay whatever. But with those trips dying off as well as rising inflation cutting people's discretionary funding long term I don't think these rates will last...

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Definitely agree but I also think this bubble will burst. There is high demand right now with travelers that needed to reschedule past trips as well as those who are just happy to be traveling again so they will pay whatever. But with those trips dying off as well as rising inflation cutting people's discretionary funding long term I don't think these rates will last...

Yep. Of course this is just speculation but Disney, Universal and other domestic destinations are also benefitting from guests who are more hesitant to travel internationally due to different countries having varying and changing rules about testing/restrictions, and some guests having more discretionary spending power due to saving money during the pandemic. Once that well dries up and people feel more free to travel abroad again, domestic hotel rates will have to come back to Earth. (Except for the Galactic Starcruiser, of course)

 

[shh]

Definitely agree but I also think this bubble will burst. There is high demand right now with travelers that needed to reschedule past trips as well as those who are just happy to be traveling again so they will pay whatever. But with those trips dying off as well as rising inflation cutting people's discretionary funding long term I don't think these rates will last...

If the market continues its downward slope and stays down, that's another huge factor as well. Right now, many were feeling flush in their retirement and other accts, despite inflation. But if stocks join bonds & cash in heading south while inflation continues to roar, most people outside of the top 5%, will be slamming shut wallets and purses on a lot of discretionary spend.

Baseline rates on resorts, theme parks, etc won't drop, but we'll likely see lots of short term loss leader promotions.

 

[Nabas]

According to all official inflation reports hotels are up an average of 26% in the USA, with some markets being much higher. I don‘t personally think it has much to do with Disney at all. If hotels are paying more for absolutely everything they will charge the end consumer more to compensate. This isn’t just specific to Universal unfortunately, it’s getting outrageous in a lot of places.

Not surprising, and it's more than just increased costs for hotel operators.

For most of 2020 and the first half of 2021, we were booking fantastic hotels at up to 75% off rack rate. Nobody was traveling and for our spring 2020 dates, sometimes there were only 3 or 4 occupied rooms. As recently as the spring of 2021, the Dolphin could be booked for as little as $120 per night.

If they are comparing today's rates to 2020 or 2021, then rates should be much higher.

What I find interesting are the reports from experienced Universal travel goers, who say rates are up a lot since 2019.

 

[AJA]

What I find interesting are the reports from experienced Universal travel goers, who say rates are up a lot since 2019.

I had to pay rack rate for one weekend night in 2019 at Cabana Bay. It was the first weekend in Oct (think Oct 1st ish, family suite, ext entry) the rack rate was $199. I just checked that same day for this year and its $269. Around 30% increase.