WDW resorts in 1971...what did they cost?

[pixie2416]

We stayed in the Contemporary Resort in 1974. I don't know what the price was, but I do know my parents spent over a year saving for the trip. We wound up in the tower with a Magic Kingdom view.

I remember thinking it was the most magical, luxurious place ever.

 

[sotoalf]

I stayed at the Contemporary in January 1972 with my grandparents. A tower room was $44 per night. I still have the reservation confirmation.

A tower room in 1982 was $115 per night. I stayed at the CR in October 1982 just after Epcot Center opened.

What's interesting is how long these costs per night held. In 1989, a garden wing room at the Contemporary was about $125-135.

 

[Carlyzmom]

I would like to point out that it is all relative. When I graduated from college in 1971, I was paid $4.00/hour in my first job as a Registered Nurse.

WOW! That is amazing. I am an RN and i can't even imagine that!

 

[katallo]

In the mid 70's, we paid $60 for the club level at the Contemporary with a view of Bay Lake.

 

[goingquackers]

there is a list out somewhere that list the years when all the WDW resorts opened.

I would like to see this.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

So this is why my 82 year old mom stares at me in disbelief when I tell her that I paid $20for a pizza.

The Birnbaum Guide is a great resource on how much things cost. I used to have a few from the early to mid 1980's, but I think I recently threw them out. I know he had a spread that listed the various hotel rates and seasons.

 

[That70sGuy]

Rooms ranged from $29 to $44/night! If you brouse through yesterland.com...

I just spent the better part of the afternoon there. Very cool site.

RIP Mr. Toad.

 

[TJM1976]

Resort openings:

1971: Disney’s Contemporary Resort; Disney’s Polynesian Resort; Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
1972: Disney’s Village Resort (Treehouse & Vacation Villas);
1973: Shades of Green (Disney Inn 1986-1993, Golf Resort 1973-1986)
1978: Disney’s Polynesian Resort expansion
1988: Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort; Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
1990: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort; Disney’s Beach Club Resort
1991: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
1992: Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort; Disney’s Old Key West Resort (DVC);
1994: Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort; Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
1995: Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
1996: Disney Institute; Disney’s BoardWalk
1997: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
1999: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
2000: The Villas at Wilderness Lodge (DVC)
2001: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
2002: Disney’s Beach Club Villas (DVC)
2003: Disney’s Pop Century Resort
2004 Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DVC)
2007: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas (DVC)
2009: Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (DVC); Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DVC); Phase 2 of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas opens (DVC)

 

[Disneydenise]

When the GF first opened in 1988 we were one of the first families to stay and we paid $160 a night.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Resort openings:

1971: Disney’s Contemporary Resort; Disney’s Polynesian Resort; Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
1972: Disney’s Village Resort (Treehouse & Vacation Villas);
1973: Shades of Green (Disney Inn 1986-1993, Golf Resort 1973-1986)
1978: Disney’s Polynesian Resort expansion
1988: Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort; Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
1990: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort; Disney’s Beach Club Resort
1991: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
1992: Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort; Disney’s Old Key West Resort (DVC);
1994: Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort; Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
1995: Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
1996: Disney Institute; Disney’s BoardWalk
1997: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
1999: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
2000: The Villas at Wilderness Lodge (DVC)
2001: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
2002: Disney’s Beach Club Villas (DVC)
2003: Disney’s Pop Century Resort
2004 Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DVC)
2007: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas (DVC)
2009: Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (DVC); Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DVC); Phase 2 of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas opens (DVC)

Interesting that WDW hasn't built a non-DVC resort since 2003! And, as far as I know, there aren't any plans that have been made public to build another non-DVC anytime soon. Hmm...

 

[Eeyore's-tail-tack]

There are sections of POP that aren't finished. Not sure if they will ever be, but they are built, just not completed. There are pictures on Dis somewhere.

 

[Misti]

In 1989, we paid $189/nt for a Lagoon View room I believe. Still pretty expensive!! I have a very basic typed paper with old resort rates somewhere. Back in the day, pre computer, Disney used to send rate lists to you that way. I'll have to head to the attic and look for it!

I was reading someone else's response about Magic Kingdom Club. Forgot about it! We loved MKC and always used it for discounts. Used to love getting the magazine in the mail, too. Ahh, nostalgia.

 

[disneyfan55]

I guess we could mention River Country, just sitting idle. It can't be reopened but it's still sitting there. I guess something could be done to make use of the area for Fort Wilderness guests. Also, Discovery Island that is just there as well with the old buildings rotting away. There is something that this is a santuary and can't be touched, but you would think the buildings, not natural, could be hidden or taken down.

 

[Dipstick]

Well unfortunately at this rate the Poly and CR should both be around $2500 a night in another 10-15 years.

I hope not

Well, if there is a demand for it, then it could be $2,500 a night, but you have to remember $2,500 today is not the same as $2,500 in the next 10-15 years assuming there is going to be inflation.

I would like to point out that it is all relative. When I graduated from college in 1971, I was paid $4.00/hour in my first job as a Registered Nurse.

Agreed. It is all to do with inflation.

The prices for everything has gone up, and so has everyone's salaries.

 

[risingsunmom]

My parents took us in '76 for the bicentenial (spelling?) and it was $80 a night. I guess it was higher because of the July 4th weekend. My Mother will never forget this because their house payment was only $85 a month!

 

[TJM1976]

There are sections of POP that aren't finished. Not sure if they will ever be, but they are built, just not completed. There are pictures on Dis somewhere.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1391731


The thread has several pages. You can read the first page or 2 to get the basic info. There are a few pics posted throughout the thread.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Ah, the memories! In August 1981 we had a 3 day MK tkt, which included admission to River Country and Discovery Island (it was, maybe still is, a bird sanctuary on Bay Lake). The tks were paper and had a piece of string with a safety pin attached so guests could wear it if so desired - this was because multiday tkts for all attractions were new.

The price was so inexpensive, even for 1981 - I'll try to find it and post the cost. No scanner or would scan it as well. We pd $79 per ngt inc tx for the Contemporary Garden Wing (we were so excited to watch the monorail glide by every few minutes) and $105 plus tx for the Tower the summer of '82.

Those were the days...the entire 6 ngt trip, including air fare, CR, tkts and food was about $1200 for 1 adult/3 kids ages 7, 9 and 11...and we did the Hoop-Dee-Doo and Luau. Kids back then up to and including age 11. Disney even had a Jr tkt price (and meals) for ages 12-17.

August,1981:
adult 3 day tkt: $31.30 inc tx (3 day MK, 1 day River Country, 1 Discovery Island visit)
child (3-11) 3 day tkt: $23.75 inc tx

air: $119 per adult (the 11 yr old had an adult tkt so the others could go free)
2 children free

 

[TJM1976]

Here is another cool thread with "vintage pics" from the resorts. If anyone has some to add, that would be awesome!!!


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1467284

 

[spiceycat]

Resort openings:

1971: Disney’s Contemporary Resort; Disney’s Polynesian Resort; Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
1972: Disney’s Village Resort (Treehouse & Vacation Villas);
1973: Shades of Green (Disney Inn 1986-1993, Golf Resort 1973-1986)
1978: Disney’s Polynesian Resort expansion
1988: Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort; Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
1990: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort; Disney’s Beach Club Resort
1991: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort
1992: Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort; Disney’s Old Key West Resort (DVC);
1994: Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort; Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
1995: Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
1996: Disney Institute; Disney’s BoardWalk
1997: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
1999: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
2000: The Villas at Wilderness Lodge (DVC)
2001: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
2002: Disney’s Beach Club Villas (DVC)
2003: Disney’s Pop Century Resort
2004 Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DVC)
2007: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas (DVC)
2009: Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (DVC); Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (DVC); Phase 2 of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas opens (DVC)

where is the lake buena vista village/then disney institue - now SSR (SSr is not the same building - it was completely torn down and start over again)

it was build before GF - remember seeing it at DD (okay what was dd called)
that was where we were going to stay next time in the Treehouses when grandmother died in 1976?

 

[TJM1976]

where is the lake buena vista village/then disney institue - now SSR (SSr is not the same building - it was completely torn down and start over again)

it was build before GF - remember seeing it at DD (okay what was dd called)
that was where we were going to stay next time in the Treehouses when grandmother died in 1976?

1972 Disney's Village Resort (treehouse & Vacation Villas
1975 Disney Village Marketplace; Fairway Villas
I believe the Disney Village Marketplace / Lake Buena Vista Village is the same, or am I wrong?
1980 Walt Disney World Conference Center; Club Lake Villas
1996 Disney Institute; Disney's Boardwalk