This Year's High Resort Prices

[TapCat]

This year's high resort prices are causing me -- for the first time -- to seriously consider staying off-site. Is anyone else feeling that way? I love all things Disney, but I also like a good deal -- and there are none for November and December, as compared with past years. I don't begrudge Disney; I understand economics. If they can fill the rooms with people willing to pay A LOT of money, then they should. It is a business. But I think they've just about hit the level my stomach can stand, especially when there are a lot of good choices nearby at a fraction of the price. Thanks for letting me rant.

 

[kirbsam]

have never given much thought to staying offsite. disney hotels are expensive, but still very much worth it for us.

 

[chrome64]

If you go to Disney on a regular basis, you should look into the Disney Vacation Club. It can be a great investment if used properly!! I really wish I had signed up years ago! It would have saved me a ton of money by now!

 

[gepetto]

Sure. There are plenty of luxury condos offsite that are about the same price as a moderate, yet have washer/dryer, full kitchen, etc. There is a point where the convenience of staying onsite won't be worth the money.

 

[LoveWDW]

I have a back problem and really appreciate the convenience of being able to walk back to the YC when I start hurting. Staying offsite would make me want to stay longer because of the time spent traveling. Does this thought seem reasonable?

 

[gepetto]

Staying offsite would make me want to stay longer because of the time spent traveling. Does this thought seem reasonable?

not really...how long does it take you to walk back to the back of World SHowcase and then on to YC? They run the parking lot trams constantly at Epcot and drive offsite isn't bad depending on where you stay . Plus, going to the other parks (AK, MK, and MGM) you have to share busses with several other resorts. Look at travel time door-to-door and to some of the offsite resorts isn't all that different.

 

[bicker]

The ability to walk back to the hotel and then back into the park, whenever we feel like it, is a very major consideration for us. I suspect if we weren't DVC members, we'd probably stop visiting WDW whenever we weren't able to afford one of the deluxe Disney resorts (and even AKL, while utterly incredible in its own right, and definitely worth staying at once, is to far from the parks, for our tastes, to warrant visiting WDW each year if that is where we had to stay each time).

 

[Cookie Princess]

While we won't stay offsite, I will be downgrading from a deluxe to a mod if there are no upcoming deals for November. We like the convenience of returning to the hotel for a swim and a break and then going back to whichever park we choose.

 

[TapCat]

Yes, downgrading to a moderate may be our solution too instead of going off site. I am glad that business is going well!

 

[*Fantasia*]

That's why there's value resorts! If budget doesn't permit, then the only way to make it happen is to stay at value resort. If you only want to stay deluxe then it might take a year or two to head back to WDW.

 

[TDC Nala]

It would be difficult for me to give up the bus to Pleasure Island.

Fortunately I like Pop Century.

 

[DisneyGirl]

I have to say that reading about all of the high resort prices has made me really glad I bought into DVC last year! I love staying at the Disney resorts because of all of the conveniences. I think of the dues as the taxes I would pay on the resort if I stayed at a regular resort, and thinking of it that way makes it an even better deal!!

 

[LoveWDW]

not really...how long does it take you to walk back to the back of World SHowcase and then on to YC? They run the parking lot trams constantly at Epcot and drive offsite isn't bad depending on where you stay . Plus, going to the other parks (AK, MK, and MGM) you have to share busses with several other resorts. Look at travel time door-to-door and to some of the offsite resorts isn't all that different.

These are good points! Thank you.

 

[katallo]

We are definitely looking into off site deluxe resorts. WDW is one of our longer, nicer vacations and unfortunately we are used to staying at deluxes. I think it will be easier for us to adapt to a deluxe off site than a value (especially with the great bargains on sites like skyauction). I agree that I love WDW but also love a decent rate.

 

[Dana_Buckley]

Don't forget about the option of split stay. I know you have to unpack and repack, but it gives you opportunity to stay at a deluxe a few nights and a mod or value the other nights. I love staying at a monorail resort!

Happy planning all!

 

[Stitches]

How about the Swan or Dolphin as an alternative? I haven't stayed at them yet, but I see at the All Ears website that they have good discounts available. Lake view rooms for $170 thru December 20th.
This looks like a nice alternative, staying at a deluxe hotel and sharing the transportation with the Disney Epcot resorts.
Has anyone else ever stayed at one of these resorts and used these rates? Or maybe even found better rates?

 

[TapCat]

Stitches, that might be a very good alternative for us. I'll have to look and see if there are those good discounts still available when we're going. I will miss AKL, though, and am holding out some (slim) hope that Disney will discount rooms for early December. And I'll just remember my good fortune -- and be thankful for it -- that we traveled to Disney in the past few years when rates were so great.

 

[babybunrab]

It just wouldn't be worth it to me to go if I couldn't stay on-site. I don't really know why I feel that way, since I've stayed in other very nice non-Disney hotels in other places, but I do. I guess the higher prices will mean more time in between trips, though.