Staying offsite and just booked advance FP+ for next week!

[JimmyV]

Domestic Per Room Guest Spending was $267 last year. This number was skewed upward a bit by DLR's 3 hotels but with WDW having about 90% of domestic hotels, the number closely matches spending at WDW, probably within about $10.

So, on average, how much more was a family staying onsite spending than a family staying offsite?

At least $257 per day more.

You missed my point. "Spending" does not equal profit. The family paying a very low rate at the Value Resort may not be bringing in any actual profit with their hotel fee. Tickets, food, etc. Yes. But Disney is probably barely breaking even when it rents a room for $80.

Then there's the "family income" thing. A family able to afford a WDW hotel, even a WDW Value Resort, is more likely able to spend more than the average family staying offsite. (Sorry but even WDW's Value Resorts are pretty expensive, more expensive than a lot of really night offsite hotels.)

Add it all together and the typical onsite family is spending a lot more than the typical offsite family.

I guess we run in different circles. Most of the people that I know who stay off site do so because their families are too large to stay in Disney hotels, or they travel in large groups such that condos are more appealing. They can more than afford the Grand Floridian. At least, one room there. But they aren't going to pay for two separate rooms at a Deluxe or Moderate when they can get a 3 bedroom condo for much less. And Swan, Dolphin, Bonnet Creek and soon, the Four Seasons are "off site". You cannot convince me that the Westin and Waldorf Astoria families can afford to spend less than the All Star families.

 

[lugnut33]

All I know is I make pretty good money and gasp at the asking price for rooms at the deluxes.

 

[JimmyV]

Like most offsite FP+ threads, this one has devolved into chaos and quickly gone off point.

You're right. I am done with the whole hotel discussion. In real estate the three rules are: location, location, location. In the hotel business, it is rates, rates, rates. Trying to link this to FP+ is really hard.

All I know is I make pretty good money and gasp at the asking price for rooms at the deluxes.

That's allz I'm sayin'!

 

[ArwenMarie]

This is it exactly. With the Swan, Dolphin, Bonnet Creek and the Four Seasons breathing down Disney's neck, it has to react. $225 gets you one heck of a nice room at these places (though I haven't seen the Four Seasons rates yet, but I'm betting they will be under $450.) When you compare those rates to the Deluxes, it is real hard to choose Disney. So Disney can react in one of two ways:

• Promotions
• Discounts

or a combination of the two. Will and extra FP per day move you from the Dolphin at $200 to a room at the Boardwalk for $550? It won't move me. I'll save my $$$ and hit Rope Drop for my extra fun. If the Boardwalk were $275, it would still be a close call, but at least I'd give it serious thought.

I agree, you're still going to have to value whatever you think you were getting before for staying onsite. For some people that's Magical Express and Disney transportation, some people it's being walking distance to the parks, the bubble, etc. But more FPs can be part of that. I guess I'm confused why you think the number of FPs wouldn't be a factor at all when they seem to be so important to so many people, at least on here?

 

[lugnut33]

You're right. I am done with the whole hotel discussion. In real estate the three rules are: location, location, location. In the hotel business, it is rates, rates, rates. Trying to link this to FP+ is really hard.


That's allz I'm sayin'!

You want amazing, I'm paying $4300 for a 5 night Disney cruise during spring break of 2015!!

 

[bdb23]

I'm hoping this thread can go back to the OP's topic of offsiters getting invites for advanced FP+ booking. Any additional details those who have obtained these invites can give may help those of us that are in the same boat.

 

[JimmyV]

I guess I'm confused why you think the number of FPs wouldn't be a factor at all when they seem to be so important to so many people, at least on here?

Two reasons. First, (and probably for the only time), I will agree with the people who keep posting here that "The folks on this Board are not representative of the public at large". I generally disagree with that statement when it is applied to the notion that the complaints voiced here are not shared by the general public. I think that is naive. If uber-fans who worship all things Disney can have their feathers ruffled, then the public at large will be far less forgiving. But I digress. People here do care far more about their precious FPs and might be swayed to a life of crime to get more. Most people won't. And most people will not move from a larger room at the Dolphin to a smaller room at the Boardwalk (non-villa) and agree to pay double for the privilege just to get FPs.

Which brings me to the second point. We've all seen the "Math" threads. There cannot be enough "bonus" FPs to make a world of difference. It's not like Disney can give guests a FOTL pass for all major attractions. Maybe, just maybe they can eek out one extra per day. But the math doesn't even support that except in the slow season when FPs are less valuable. So, yes, perhaps in the slow seasons when Free Dining used to be the carrot, an extra FP or two might take its place on the end of the stick. But you don't really need an extra one or two FPs in mid-September, especially if you get to the parks early. So is that carrot enough to move from a $175 room to a $375 room? Maybe for a few people. Not enough to move the meter, I'm betting.

 

[JimmyV]

You want amazing, I'm paying $4300 for a 5 night Disney cruise during spring break of 2015!!

Yep. DCL pricing pushed me over to Princess and I haven't looked back.

 

[Nabas]

You missed my point. "Spending" does not equal profit. The family paying a very low rate at the Value Resort may not be bringing in any actual profit with their hotel fee. Tickets, food, etc. Yes. But Disney is probably barely breaking even when it rents a room for $80.

The average hotel rate throughout the entire country is $78/night, and they operate at about 58% occupancy.

Hotels run profitably at $29.95/night. Respectable hotel chains such as Hilton Garden Inn run very profitably at about $80/night.

How much do you really think a Value Resort room costs to operate?

WDW's Value Resort are small motel rooms with a pool and a bus. A food court? Money in the bank. A gift shop? More money in the bank.

The vast majority of a hotel cost's are fixed. Incrementally, adding guests to a hotel already running at 79% costs practically nothing.

WDW's hotel prices across all levels are among the highest in the industry.

A 945 sq ft suite at the Waldorf Astoria (next to the Caribbean Beach Resort) costs $289/night. That doesn't even get me a 565 sq ft Family Suite at AOA.

Disney's bare minimum 260 sq ft Value Resort rooms are profit making machines. If they didn't have the word "Disney" slapped on them, they'd be renting out at $40/night max, and making money at that price.

 

[*disgal*]

sorry bdb23....I deleted it.

 

[tropicalstorm]

I'm hoping this thread can go back to the OP's topic of offsiters getting invites for advanced FP+ booking. Any additional details those who have obtained these invites can give may help those of us that are in the same boat.

PLEASE!
I keep checking for updates to OPs point and keep finding a REALLY boring argument about hotel rooms

 

[ArwenMarie]

Two reasons. First, (and probably for the only time), I will agree with the people who keep posting here that "The folks on this Board are not representative of the public at large". I generally disagree with that statement when it is applied to the notion that the complaints voiced here are not shared by the general public. I think that is naive. If uber-fans who worship all things Disney can have their feathers ruffled, then the public at large will be far less forgiving. But I digress. People here do care far more about their precious FPs and might be swayed to a life of crime to get more. Most people won't. And most people will not move from a larger room at the Dolphin to a smaller room at the Boardwalk (non-villa) and agree to pay double for the privilege just to get FPs.

Which brings me to the second point. We've all seen the "Math" threads. There cannot be enough "bonus" FPs to make a world of difference. It's not like Disney can give guests a FOTL pass for all major attractions. Maybe, just maybe they can eek out one extra per day. But the math doesn't even support that except in the slow season when FPs are less valuable. So, yes, perhaps in the slow seasons when Free Dining used to be the carrot, an extra FP or two might take its place on the end of the stick. But you don't really need an extra one or two FPs in mid-September, especially if you get to the parks early. So is that carrot enough to move from a $175 room to a $375 room? Maybe for a few people. Not enough to move the meter, I'm betting.

I hear your points. One more question for you...as someone who stays at the S&D, would it annoy you if someone staying onsite, let's just use BW, got an extra Tier 1 FP per day? Or would you not care at all? I guess the flip side question is would a person who stays at BW feel a little bit better about paying BW prices if they got an extra FP per day (assume 1 FP/day times 4 people times 7 day stay =28 extra FPs)

 

[2Tiggies]

Here's a thought. Why don't they rather just reinstate the third evening magic hour that was removed a couple of years ago, bring back the additional evening per week of EMH in the summer for MK? That way resort guests will still have an opportunity to enjoy their perk but the FP's are fairly offered to both onsite and offsite guests. That would be a simple solution to me. After all, when Disney did a poll on Facebook, on the back of rumors of EMH going away, EMH won by a landslide IIRC for the top pick of resort privileges for onsite guests.

FP has always been fair and offered to anyone who has a valid ticket to enter the park/s. And EMH has always been an exclusive onsite perk. So nobody is having something taken away from them to give to someone else.

 

[Karibarry]

I bought tickets from expedia.com and only got a voucher to give to Disney to get my tickets. How do I link to "My Disney Experience" to possibly be able to do this?

 

[vicb]

I'm hoping this thread can go back to the OP's topic of offsiters getting invites for advanced FP+ booking. Any additional details those who have obtained these invites can give may help those of us that are in the same boat.

Agreed.

 

[ArwenMarie]

nm

 

[FlipHipster]

So what's the current situation? Sounds like ADR's are driving the offsite booking windows but I did see that someone posted that they were attending a convention and they were able to book FP. Sounds like Disney is looking at multiple ways to target an offsite guest's window not just ADR booking.

 

[conniehar90]

I am going on 3/27. I have an ADR on 3/28 and linked my tickets earlier this week. So far, I can't use FP+. I keep checking every day. My screen does look different though. I can see dates to book FP+ but it says I am ineligible. Prior to last week, I couldn't see these dates. I am hoping that as it gets closer to my travel date, these will open up.

Hoping to see other offsite folks posting positive news!

 

[mouserrificmom]

So what's the current situation? Sounds like ADR's are driving the offsite booking windows but I did see that someone posted that they were attending a convention and they were able to book FP. Sounds like Disney is looking at multiple ways to target an offsite guest's window not just ADR booking.

I think once you activate tickets in MDE it will assume you will be coming and allow you to schedule FP+ for as many days as you have valid admission linked.

 

[mouserrificmom]

I am going on 3/27. I have an ADR on 3/28 and linked my tickets earlier this week. So far, I can't use FP+. I keep checking every day. My screen does look different though. I can see dates to book FP+ but it says I am ineligible. Prior to last week, I couldn't see these dates. I am hoping that as it gets closer to my travel date, these will open up. Hoping to see other offsite folks posting positive news!

Do you have a MB? I have one from a previous trip - maybe they are needed and considered part of a test.