Ugh...It was great while it lasted

[rwdavis2]

We rented DVC points for 8 night last November at Boardwalk Villas and it worked out to $243 a night.

 

[SwanVT2]

I was hoping to book one last trip before our annual passes expired. Our financial circumstances have changed slightly and I've enjoyed probably 20+Disney trips over the last 5 years. I started frequenting Disney 5 years ago when bounceback offers flowed like water, room rates were super low, and there were actually some slow park days. It really was awesome. It looks like those days are long gone....

I can't find any rooms in October or November. The only rooms available are well over $400 a night. I've never spent over $280 a night and I've stayed at places like Old Key West and Saratoga Springs. (Well except a splurge at BC for a couple nights). I just can't fathom spending $3500 for a week in a hotel. I'm so sad. I mean congrats to Disney. Glad business is booming. I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe I'll get lucky and an AP discount will come out soon. I'll keep looking. Maybe I'll hit the lottery...

Thanks for letting me vent.

What about staying at Swan or Dolphin? They have great deals. Check out the AAA rates and sign up for their newsletter, where they will email you specials.

 

[SwanVT2]

I was hoping to book one last trip before our annual passes expired. Our financial circumstances have changed slightly and I've enjoyed probably 20+Disney trips over the last 5 years. I started frequenting Disney 5 years ago when bounceback offers flowed like water, room rates were super low, and there were actually some slow park days. It really was awesome. It looks like those days are long gone....

I can't find any rooms in October or November. The only rooms available are well over $400 a night. I've never spent over $280 a night and I've stayed at places like Old Key West and Saratoga Springs. (Well except a splurge at BC for a couple nights). I just can't fathom spending $3500 for a week in a hotel. I'm so sad. I mean congrats to Disney. Glad business is booming. I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe I'll get lucky and an AP discount will come out soon. I'll keep looking. Maybe I'll hit the lottery...

Thanks for letting me vent.

Swan for a week in October is 240.00 and that is before AAA.

 

[Lynne M]

Folks, knock off the middle-school bickering. It's not a good look.

 

[Pkltm]

I just searched 10/29-11/04

Pop was 121
POR 209
etc

8 resorts under 250 a night. Do you only want to stay Deluxe?

 

[GoMegGo]

I know it's not as magical, and perhaps it's already been suggested, but what about an off-site hotel? Since you are AP holder you'll have free parking, which is a huge advantage over most off-site guests. There are some really reasonably priced hotels nearby, especially in the Disney Springs area. It would be hard for me to pass up another trip before the passes expire.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I just searched 10/29-11/04

Pop was 121
POR 209
etc

8 resorts under 250 a night. Do you only want to stay Deluxe?

No. I just can't go that week. Got kids in school. Plus we are a family of 5. That is another problem.

 

[Lynne M]

I don't want to derail this thread any more than it already has been, but it seems like a good time to remind everyone about the DIS Guidelines for posting.

If you see a post that you feel violates the guidelines, use the Report Post button to alert moderators and webmasters. We will assess the situation and handle it if necessary. That's all you need to do. Please don't insert yourself into the argument to "support" one side or another, don't quote the offending post, don't call people out publicly. That's why we have moderators. Joining the argument just drags it out longer, makes more work for the board staff, and bores the living daylights out of people who are reading these posts to get useful vacation planning information.

In short: report it, then walk away.

 

[bettybooplove]

It hasn't been quiet in October-December since 2010 in my opinion.

People decided to risk pulling the kids out of school for a few days (and now a lot of schools have a Fall Break) for nicer weather and Halloween/Christmas decorations.

I know the summertime is rough (I'll be there in less than two weeks and I've done summer stays in the past) but if you can "hang" it seems like the crowds are dwindling during that timeframe.

 

[JerseyJanice]

No. I just can't go that week. Got kids in school. Plus we are a family of 5. That is another problem.

Dolphin rooms sleep 5. If you have a Costco membership and use their travel agency, you can get great deals there.

IMO the only important things you'll give up are the Magical Express and the inability to purchase a Disney dining plan. That said, there was some kind of deal offered earlier this year on dining at the Swan or Dolphin. I don't recall the details, but I should mention that all of the casual eateries in the resort give a 20% discount to AAA members.

We stayed at the Swan last October and I adored it. Going again in September. It has so many great things going for it. Location, the pools, the rooms themselves. Really posh.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I was hoping to book one last trip before our annual passes expired. Our financial circumstances have changed slightly and I've enjoyed probably 20+Disney trips over the last 5 years. I started frequenting Disney 5 years ago when bounceback offers flowed like water, room rates were super low, and there were actually some slow park days. It really was awesome. It looks like those days are long gone....

I can't find any rooms in October or November. The only rooms available are well over $400 a night. I've never spent over $280 a night and I've stayed at places like Old Key West and Saratoga Springs. (Well except a splurge at BC for a couple nights). I just can't fathom spending $3500 for a week in a hotel. I'm so sad. I mean congrats to Disney. Glad business is booming. I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe I'll get lucky and an AP discount will come out soon. I'll keep looking. Maybe I'll hit the lottery...

Thanks for letting me vent.

What dates are you looking for? I was just looking at October and I could find just about every week- a full week- available at most of of the resorts. Granted there is not much of a passholder discount (most of them are about $2 off per night- - WORST DISCOUNT EVER- but there are rooms at values, moderates, and deluxes- definitely less than $400 per night).

 

[kandb]

Dolphin rooms sleep 5. If you have a Costco membership and use their travel agency, you can get great deals there.

IMO the only important things you'll give up are the Magical Express and the inability to purchase a Disney dining plan. That said, there was some kindDol of deal offered earlier this year on dining at the Swan or Dolphin. I don't recall the details, but I should mention that all of the casual eateries in the resort give a 20% discount to AAA members.

We stayed at the Swan last October and I adored it. Going again in September. It has so many great things going for it. Location, the pools, the rooms themselves. Really posh.

How does the Dolphin sleep 5? Rollaway?

 

[HopperFan]

Feel ya! My usual fall trips ... all in flux. The rates are not acceptable for the value. I'm not paying that. Am now looking at offsite options and one trip will spend half at Universal. Have also about convinced myself no MNSSHP this year. Been doing two a year for a decade. Other than Hocus Pocus show, nothing has changed except the price.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

No. I just can't go that week. Got kids in school. Plus we are a family of 5. That is another problem.

That is an issue since the mods that sleep 5 go fast, and the deluxes are not heavily discounted during that time period. You could get two value rooms for less than a suite at ASM or AoA.

I know it is disappointing not to stay on property, but if it were me and I had the choice of making a trip and staying off property or not making a trip at all, I would go with the former every time. There are some decent places to stay that are very close to Disney that sleep 5 or more. Towneplace Suites and SpringHill Suites at Flamingo Crossing come immediately to mind- they are super close and offer complimentary breakfast. The Holiday Inn Waterpark Resort is also very convenient to Disney, reasonably priced, and offers a big pool area. Its reviews are hit or miss, but we stayed there in April and had a very nice trip. Much better than not going at all.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Feel ya! My usual fall trips ... all in flux. The rates are not acceptable for the value. I'm not paying that. Am now looking at offsite options and one trip will spend half at Universal. Have also about convinced myself no MNSSHP this year. Been doing two a year for a decade. Other than Hocus Pocus show, nothing has changed except the price.

So true. We have gone every September/October for years and this year we are doing Universal for our September week. I got a great rate at Portofino Bay, Club Level. The room rate was about what a pirate room costs at CBR ($300), and PB is a deluxe resort offering pool hopping privileges, food, and express passes.

I thought we might do MNSSHP, but we opted for Highway in the Sky for myself and my husband instead. It is quite the expense, but at least it is something new to us.

 

[HopperFan]

So true. We have gone every September/October for years and this year we are doing Universal for our September week. I got a great rate at Portofino Bay, Club Level. The room rate was about what a pirate room costs at CBR ($300), and PB is a deluxe resort offering pool hopping privileges, food, and express passes.

I thought we might do MNSSHP, but we opted for Highway in the Sky for myself and my husband instead. It is quite the expense, but at least it is something new to us.

Says it all.

 

[JerseyJanice]

How does the Dolphin sleep 5? Rollaway?

Yes. You can rent a rollaway at $25 per night.

 

[kandb]

Yes. You can rent a rollaway at $25 per night.

Wow, I know hotels need to make money but charging $25 per night for a rollaway is ridiculous. For 7 nights, we would be paying $175? That's probably cost more then the twin rollaway costs. When a hotel price-gouges it turns me off.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Wow, I know hotels need to make money but charging $25 per night for a rollaway is ridiculous. For 7 nights, we would be paying $175? That's probably cost more then the twin rollaway costs. When a hotel price-gouges it turns me off.

I see your point, but in my own experience, I am very pleased with what we get at the Swan versus what we would get for the same money in a Disney resort.

 

[manicstreet]

Wow, I know hotels need to make money but charging $25 per night for a rollaway is ridiculous. For 7 nights, we would be paying $175? That's probably cost more then the twin rollaway costs. When a hotel price-gouges it turns me off.

Huh? $25 is nothing. Let your kid sleep on the floor then. If anything the resort fee is what someone should complain about.