slight rant/question

[dbriggsq]

But if they charged a per person amount that would make it more affordable for larger families, they would then be loosing money on the rooms which have only 1 or 2 people in them.

Would they though? If more larger families stayed on site they would spend more money at restaurants etc rather than off site.

I was thinking about the most recent resorts to be built - is it AKL and WL? Both of these have no provision for larger families as far as I'm aware so it doesn't look like something they are going to address in the near future.

In the UK there are a group of 3 or 4 upmarket, self-contained leisure/holiday resorts which have accommodation in 1-4 bedroom lodges. The difference in price between the different sizes goes up proportionally and in fact in most cases even the 4 bedroom unit is not even twice as much as the one bedroom unit.

I think what would be ideal for most large families is a nice bedroom with one or two small rooms off it with a set of bunk beds in, which didn't cost twice the price of one room.

 

[maxiesmom]

You know what disturbs me most sbout this thread is that its turned into a debate instead of a discussion and many of the replies come off soooo condescending.
Families of 4 people or less just dont get it and I can see both sides of the discussion as we were a family of 4 our first visit, a family of 4 plus baby( stayed at CBR) our second trip and our last two we are a family of 6(a rental with 4 bedrooms 3 baths and pool, and 2 rooms AKL this Feb 2009

Funny, but I think this comment is the most concescending one posted! I don't have 3 or 4 kids myself, but I do spend most of my time at Disney with my sis and her family, which makes us a group of 6. So I do know all of the challenges you run into booking a room at Disney. Also my sis is a SAHM, so it is not loads easier for us to find a resort that fits into our budget.

What you don't seem to get is that large familes are NOT the norm. I think when this subject came up last week the average child per family is still 1.9. So why would it make sense for Disney to offer still more options for larger families? It wouldn't make any sense for them to convert still more rooms to suites, when they have a better chance of filling the rooms than the suites. There are still more families out there that fit into single rooms than do not.

As far as the off site resorts being cheaper, yes they are! I have stayed at the Staybridge Suites too. But they are off site, and a lot of what Disney charges for their resorts is being on site and close to the parks. That is why even among the on site hotels the resorts that are closest to the parks are the most expensive.

I guess what I don't get is why some people with larger families feel they should get some kind of special rate when they need more than 1 room. Sure you spend more money at the parks, but you are also a bigger burden on all of the Disney systems. Larger familes mean more people at the food courts (need more CMs to serve and clean), more people on the busses (need more busses=more gas+more CMs), more towels and utiliies being used. The more people in your family, the more stress you put on the whole system. Why should you not be charged accordignly?

 

[itchin2go]

Now when we vacation else where we often stay at Stay Bridge Suites, Hyatt Suites, Comfort Inn Suites, because they can accomodate our family in one room and I never pay more than $100 a night.

See - I think it's precisely this segment of the hotel industry that Disney is lacking. Again, Disney has no duty or responsibility to provide this for me or anyone else. I would like to see more of these type options. And it has nothing, I mean NOTHING to do with family of 4 vs. family of more. We are a family of 3 and prefer to stay in the affordable suite type rooms. There are plenty families of 3 that feel the same way. Heck, my mom prefers suites when she travels with my dad just so she has a place to go if she wants to stay up later than my dad. When I was a kid, this type of lodging was unheard of or was only available as an ultra-expensive option. Affordable suites make up a big segment of the hotel market now - just not as Disney. I'd like to see Disney pick up on this trend.

Let's don't make this family vs. family or family vs. single or whatever. Some of the posts have had a "woe is me" type of vibe. Then some of the responses have had a response of "tough - you made your bed, now lie in it" type of thing. That's where this is getting off track IMHO.

 

[maxiesmom]

See - I think it's precisely this segment of the hotel industry that Disney is lacking. Again, Disney has no duty or responsibility to provide this for me or anyone else. I would like to see more of these type options. And it has nothing, I mean NOTHING to do with family of 4 vs. family of more. We are a family of 3 and prefer to stay in the affordable suite type rooms. There are plenty families of 3 that feel the same way. Heck, my mom prefers suites when she travels with my dad just so she has a place to go if she wants to stay up later than my dad. When I was a kid, this type of lodging was unheard of or was only available as an ultra-expensive option. Affordable suites make up a big segment of the hotel market now - just not as Disney. I'd like to see Disney pick up on this trend.

They have picked up on that trend. The All Star Suites have only been in existence a few years, and are proof that Disney is paying attention. They will not cost as little as a Staybridge or Comfort Inn Suite simply because the All Star Suites are on Disney property, not off of it.

 

[Guest-expert]

we slept 6 comfortably at the Cabins at Ft. Wilderness. It's like having a private Deluxe room. You still get your room serviced, heck they even cleaned out the grill of ashes. Never stayed in a bad cabin.

 

[Iott Family]

Funny, but I think this comment is the most concescending one posted! I don't have 3 or 4 kids myself, but I do spend most of my time at Disney with my sis and her family, which makes us a group of 6. So I do know all of the challenges you run into booking a room at Disney. Also my sis is a SAHM, so it is not loads easier for us to find a resort that fits into our budget.

What you don't seem to get is that large familes are NOT the norm. I think when this subject came up last week the average child per family is still 1.9. So why would it make sense for Disney to offer still more options for larger families? It wouldn't make any sense for them to convert still more rooms to suites, when they have a better chance of filling the rooms than the suites. There are still more families out there that fit into single rooms than do not.

As far as the off site resorts being cheaper, yes they are! I have stayed at the Staybridge Suites too. But they are off site, and a lot of what Disney charges for their resorts is being on site and close to the parks. That is why even among the on site hotels the resorts that are closest to the parks are the most expensive.

I guess what I don't get is why some people with larger families feel they should get some kind of special rate when they need more than 1 room. Sure you spend more money at the parks, but you are also a bigger burden on all of the Disney systems. Larger familes mean more people at the food courts (need more CMs to serve and clean), more people on the busses (need more busses=more gas+more CMs), more towels and utiliies being used. The more people in your family, the more stress you put on the whole system. Why should you not be charged accordignly?

Maxiesmom, I think you are just itching for this to become heated going by the number of replies you have made to this thread and the tone of your replies.
I dont think the OP or any large family really are expecting a special cheaper rate, they are just saying that because they are not the norm and being a large family its difficult for them to do disney on resort and within their budget and are wondering how other not the norm, large families do the disney deal.
If you would read beyond two sentences you will see that several larger, not the norm families have replied with their solutions to this quandry and we large, not the norm families arent asking you to give up anything so that we might find a more budget friendly way so that we, not the norm, larger families can vacation at Disney, too!

 

[maxiesmom]

Maxiesmom, I think you are just itching for this to become heated going by the number of replies you have made to this thread and the tone of your replies.
I dont think the OP or any large family really are expecting a special cheaper rate, they are just saying that because they are not the norm and being a large family its difficult for them to do disney on resort and within their budget and are wondering how other not the norm, large families do the disney deal.
If you would read beyond two sentences you will see that several larger, not the norm families have replied with their solutions to this quandry and we large, not the norm families arent asking you to give up anything so that we might find a more budget friendly way so that we, not the norm, larger families can vacation at Disney, too!

No, I am not "itching for this to become heated." I didn't like your tone when you were adressing other posters who didn't agree with you.

What some people seem to miss is there is no way to give a discount to larger families, and still have it be fair to the more typical sized families. Or not have Disney loose money by doing so. And discounting a 2nd room because it is needed by in order for one family to stay at a certain resort would lose Disney money. What you are missing is that I do get what you have to go thru when you need to make a reservation for more than 4 people, I do it quite often! It is not a case of no one can understand unless they have 3 or 4 kids. But I don't expect Disney to have suites that cost the same as the off site suites do. Location is a huge part of why disney lodging costs what it does. And I don't expect them to convert more buildings to suites, when I know that most familes don't need to sleep 6, and when we travel that way we are the exception, not the rule.

Believe me, I too would benefit from the per person rate when I don't travel with my sister's family. But I don't see how Disney could charge per person and still keep the rooms costs close to what they are now. If we take a Value Resort and say it typically costs $100 a night. That would make it $50 an adult, cause that is what they base the rates on, how many adults are in the room. If they charged families even a small per child rate of $20, that would make a Value now cost $140 for a 2 adult 2 child family. It would be a price break for solo travelers, and people with more than 2 children, but those are the only ones who would benefit. And those 2 groups are not the majority of Disney travelers. For the typical Disney family costs would have to go up to make up for the loss in revenue from the other groups.

But I don't think you want to listen. I think you just want to feel that no one understands. I do. I just don't happen to agree with you.

 

[eliza61]

You know what disturbs me most sbout this thread is that its turned into a debate instead of a discussion and many of the replies come off soooo condescending.
Families of 4 people or less just dont get it and I can see both sides of the discussion as we were a family of 4 our first visit, a family of 4 plus baby( stayed at CBR) our second trip and our last two we are a family of 6(a rental with 4 bedrooms 3 baths and pool, and 2 rooms AKL this Feb 2009). My best advice for larger families is book two rooms at a value/mod or stay off site in a rental. Windsor Hills, Indian creek, Emerald Island, and Windsor Palms are some very nice choices and very cost effective for large families. You will save a mint of accomadations and food. We ate breakfast in our rental every morning, packed a small cooler with water and fruit and uncrustable, granola bars to snack on, got a mickey bar or icecream cone in parks, ate lunch in park and a counter service and left every day by 3-4 and went back to our rental for a swim and hot dinner then if we were up to it went back into parks for night time shows, rides, etc.
Now when we vacation else where we often stay at Stay Bridge Suites, Hyatt Suites, Comfort Inn Suites, because they can accomodate our family in one room and I never pay more than $100 a night. We also rent a beach home for our beach vacations and its so nice to have the comforts of home but the luxury of a rental with the ocean at your back door, sometimes literally at high tide!!!!!

Not true. I get it, I just never understand the frustration. I know the size of my family, I know what disney offers. I know the world (at least hotel wise) revolves around either double occupancy or families of 4. Wishing it was different, or complaining about the lack of what you or I may deem affordable is just a waste of time. IMO. To me it's like venting that starbucks doesn't offer 0.99c coffee or Mercedes Benz doesn't offer a cheap car? Believe me, the people at Disney are awful smart at seperating people from their money, if they thought there was a big enough market to support building another resort for large parties believe me it would be up before you can say "Jimminey cricket".

I don't want to be condescending at all.

 

[Iott Family]

No, I am not "itching for this to become heated." I didn't like your tone when you were adressing other posters who didn't agree with you.

What some people seem to miss is there is no way to give a discount to larger families, and still have it be fair to the more typical sized families. Or not have Disney loose money by doing so. And discounting a 2nd room because it is needed by in order for one family to stay at a certain resort would lose Disney money. What you are missing is that I do get what you have to go thru when you need to make a reservation for more than 4 people, I do it quite often! It is not a case of no one can understand unless they have 3 or 4 kids. But I don't expect Disney to have suites that cost the same as the off site suites do. Location is a huge part of why disney lodging costs what it does. And I don't expect them to convert more buildings to suites, when I know that most familes don't need to sleep 6, and when we travel that way we are the exception, not the rule.

Believe me, I too would benefit from the per person rate when I don't travel with my sister's family. But I don't see how Disney could charge per person and still keep the rooms costs close to what they are now. If we take a Value Resort and say it typically costs $100 a night. That would make it $50 an adult, cause that is what they base the rates on, how many adults are in the room. If they charged families even a small per child rate of $20, that would make a Value now cost $140 for a 2 adult 2 child family. It would be a price break for solo travelers, and people with more than 2 children, but those are the only ones who would benefit. And those 2 groups are not the majority of Disney travelers. For the typical Disney family costs would have to go up to make up for the loss in revenue from the other groups.

But I don't think you want to listen. I think you just want to feel that no one understands. I do. I just don't happen to agree with you.

Uh huh.......did you even read my posts in particular? Or are you addressing me as the whole? I addressed you in particular AFTER you addressed me by quoting and commenting. I dont like your tone either AND I NEVER said I wanted a special per person discount. If you are going to quote a person and comment you might ant to stay on topic to those particular quotes.

 

[islangrl]

we slept 6 comfortably at the Cabins at Ft. Wilderness. It's like having a private Deluxe room. You still get your room serviced, heck they even cleaned out the grill of ashes. Never stayed in a bad cabin.

I second the cabins! Lots of space, don't need to worry about your kids making too much noise, you can drive right up to your front door. Renting a golf cart is fun for the kids, and the nightly campfire/movie is my kids' favorite thing to do in all of Disney!

 

[itchin2go]

They have picked up on that trend. The All Star Suites have only been in existence a few years, and are proof that Disney is paying attention. They will not cost as little as a Staybridge or Comfort Inn Suite simply because the All Star Suites are on Disney property, not off of it.

Crud. I can't win. All I said is that I'd like to see MORE of the affordable suite accomodation. Sure, there are the ASM Suites -- not alot of them and then only at that property. They're a great start, but I'd like to see more.

I'm not defending anyone who feels like they're being singled out for persecution by Disney. I'm just saying that type of accomodation is in demand, and I'd like to see more. How is that bad?

 

[eliza61]

Crud. I can't win. All I said is that I'd like to see MORE of the affordable suite accomodation. Sure, there are the ASM Suites -- not alot of them and then only at that property. They're a great start, but I'd like to see more.

I'm not defending anyone who feels like they're being singled out for persecution by Disney. I'm just saying that type of accomodation is in demand, and I'd like to see more. How is that bad?

Not bad Itchin'. Don't worry, there's still lots of love here. You have to remember, you're not chatting with normal, rational people. My dh calls us rabid, Psycho, disney fans!! We're super passionate about our resorts and the world.

Never thought a single post would morph, didya

Unfortunately I don't see Disney bringing in more affordable large rooms, just not a big profit in doing that.

 

[United544]

How else should they charge? Per person? Should they pro-rate it according to your income level? How should they charge that would be fair to everyone?

I think the problem people have is with the arbitrary 4 people per room limit before Disney makes you get a second room or a suite. Why pick 4 instead of 5?

Granted, at some point, there has to be a cut-off for fire codes and there will always be someone who's upset at the number -- but there is no reason that a family of 5 should have to get two rooms; when most families of 5 (with younger children) would be just fine sharing a single room.

You're still paying per-person for park tickets and dining - the issue is the arbitrary (yes, I realize it's the industry standard, but it's still arbitrary) 4 people per room number. LOL. I also realize that, I'm throwing out a pointless argument, because it is what it is, and it's Disney's resort, so they can set the rules how they like

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the problem people have is with the arbitrary 4 people per room limit before Disney makes you get a second room or a suite. Why pick 4 instead of 5?

Granted, at some point, there has to be a cut-off for fire codes and there will always be someone who's upset at the number -- but there is no reason that a family of 5 should have to get two rooms; when most families of 5 (with younger children) would be just fine sharing a single room.

You're still paying per-person for park tickets and dining - the issue is the arbitrary (yes, I realize it's the industry standard, but it's still arbitrary) 4 people per room number. LOL. I also realize that, I'm throwing out a pointless argument, because it is what it is, and it's Disney's resort, so they can set the rules how they like

I don't think 4 to a room is arbitray. I think you said it yourself, it has to do with fire codes. Only a certain amount of people can be housed at a resort, and the builidngs have to be desgined a certain way to hold more than 4.

I just don't see how Disney can charge any differently for their rooms, and have it be fair to everyone. It wouldn't be fair to discount a second room just for families. And who would get to decide what constitues a family? Disney can't just change room occupency levels because they want to. They are held accountable to the fire codes. If they charge strictly per person they would most likely loose money on rooms, or have to make the per person rate so high that it would not save anyone money. The only think I see they could do is build new resorts (maybe the Pop section they abandoned?), and with the economy the way it is, that is just not going to happen.

 

[safetymom]

This round of the never ending discussion is done. It has turned into a debate.