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

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

$25 (approx.) in December 1971.

My DW went down to WDW just prior to Christmas of 1971, when the Magic Kingdom had been open for only about two months. Since she was very young (but does remember the trip) I asked her uncle (she went with aunt and uncle's family) where they stayed. His comment:

"We stayed at the Contemporary. I was around $25 a night, and I thought about it for a while, then figured 'why not - they were doing good things down here'. It was expensive for that time."

WOW! What's the price up at now, about 15 to 20 times that figure, depending on the day of week and time of year?

 

[Karlzmom]

We were in the Tonga longhouse (now named Hawaii) facing the Magic Kingdom in April 1975 for $68/night.

based on inflation, that $68 had the same buying power as $270 in 2009! So, the bulk of the price increase has been inflation, but Disney does appear to have gotten more expensive as well.....

 

[summermac]

Cool post!! I can't get over $3 per night for the Days Inn..heck I even called my mom to tell her LOL!

 

[TJM1976]

Wouldn't it be awesome if WDW had a "vintage bounce back offer"? CR for $25 per night.... Poly CL for $60.... umm.. scratch that idea. Resorts would be 100% booked within seconds.

Any of you who went back in the 70's or 80's have any pics of the resort? Would be great to see what it looked like back then. There is a thread on old park photos and old resort photos.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Wouldn't it be awesome if WDW had a "vintage bounce back offer"? CR for $25 per night.... Poly CL for $60.... umm.. scratch that idea. Resorts would be 100% booked within seconds.

Any of you who went back in the 70's or 80's have any pics of the resort? Would be great to see what it looked like back then. There is a thread on old park photos and old resort photos.

OMG I love the idea of the "vintage bounce back offer" We were just talking about this with my in-laws the other night. My m-i-l is going to see if she can find some pictures of them when the went to WDW in the 70's.

 

[CathieArms]

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.

Excellent point. I would also say that places like ASMo/ASMu haven't seen a significant increase in the last 9 years or so.

 

[TJM1976]

Here are 2 active threads with old park / resort photos. If anyone has any to contribute, that would be awesome! Its amazing to see what it looked like back in the 70's 80's or 90's!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1117864

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

 

[Joe Cool]

I haven't posted in over a year, but I just got back from a jaunt down to Florida to visit family for Thanksgiving. Of course, we had time for dinner at Artist Point on the way west to Sarasota, and I did a night at the convenient Hilton across from Downtown Disney (on HHonors points) before the flight home. A panoramic view of fireworks popping up from three Disney parks made me "homesick" for the DIS.

(I thought this thread would be worth bumping, too!)

On pre-inflationary rates: I remember my family planning a big trip to the Grand Floridian around its time of opening in 1988...they talked about "$185 a night" being really expensive. That's $331.20 adjusted for last year's inflation, compared to today's value season rack rate of $410.00 for garden view.

I distinctly remember picking up a rate card in 1998 and reading $284 for the same room...by the same calculation, that's $372.02.

$39 in 1971 dollars comes out to $204.31 for the Contemporary, while $285 is today's value season rate...and $440 for Tower Theme Park View!

My Mom remembers staying at the Polynesian in 1973 before an insurance convention at the old Diplomat in Hollywood, FL. She said they spent about $100/night in Disney. 2009 inflation = $358.80. Sounds about right.

Now, my parents paid $108/night (I believe it was tax included) over Columbus Day 1992 for Martinique courtyard view at Caribbean Beach. 2009 inflation = $163.09. Actual 2010 base rate: $149. 2011 Columbus Day "Preferred Location" rack rate: $215. Yikes.

The WDW Dolphin, Club Level, AARP rate in Feb. 1997 was $335. 2009 inflation = $445.85. Actual 2011 rate for the same date (I had to use Tripadvisor here *** I couldn't find the chart)...I can't find "Club Level", so the highest standard rate is $324. Tracking back to 1997, that's $243.44. The Disney properties seem to have dramatically increased their relative costs, while the high-volume WDW Dolphin became less expensive.

~J.

 

[BattyKoda]

I remember my mom telling me that we went to Disney in 1971 (she mentioned snow that the time that we went)... Since I was all of two at the time I don't recall... I must say, I do miss my mother telling me that (another in a long line of happy memories, not a sad one, so thank you for bringing it up )

 

[karenos]

My first trip to WDW was in 1982. I remember my Dad telling my Mom that the price for the Poly was $105/nite. It was really expensive but my dear Dad called it a once in a lifetime trip!

I distinctly remember it because my parents said it was the 1st time they every paid over $100/night for a hotel.

karenos

 

[Grammie3]

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.

Thank you! I got married in 1971 and my husband was an Airman in the Airforce, we had a whooping $28 per pay check to buy our groceries with, WDW was no where on our budget. For our honeymoon to WDW, he drove me down to the entrance so I could see the arch that we all love welcoming us home now.

Cindy

 

[Minnie&Nana]

My first trip to WDW was in 1982. I remember my Dad telling my Mom that the price for the Poly was $105/nite. It was really expensive but my dear Dad called it a once in a lifetime trip!

I distinctly remember it because my parents said it was the 1st time they every paid over $100/night for a hotel.

karenos

You must have had a lagoon view! We paid $79.00 a ngt for a garden view in March '82. $105 inc tx a ngt for a CR Tower July of '82.

 

[DisneyWisher]

I remember this! There was no "admission" price, you just bought books of tickets for the rides. So you could walk around for free, and some company sponsored attractions were free. My dad worked for Ford and the employees could get a book of tickets for the same price as the
others, but they were all E tickets! We got to test ride Space Mountain for free, too.

Actually one of the tickets was an admission ticket, everyone had to pay to get in but it was really cheap. It was also great when non riding grandparents went, just pay to get in. We'd love for my parents to go but dad can't see spending all the money when they won't ride anything, though he'd love Mickeys PhilHarmagic.

To a pp Orange Bowl was in Miami never in Orlando.

 

[DisneyWisher]

http://allears.net/tix/tixpix70.htm

Historical tickets prices plus pics. My dad loved when they came out with the passport ticket, entrance plus unlimited rides. He had 2 Tweens and a teen that year. If I remember correctly Eastern's If You Had Wings was a free ride. My parents would sit outside while went on over and over again.

 

[PurpleTurtle]

If I remember correctly Eastern's If You Had Wings was a free ride. My parents would sit outside while went on over and over again.

Yes! That and Carousel of Progress were free. We went on that one billions of times!

 

[jlk806]

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...

Disney's Art of Animation Resort, being built across the lake from POP Century, is scheduled to open sometime in 2012.

 

[Laketravis]

Yes! That and Carousel of Progress were free. We went on that one billions of times!

As did we

When we stayed at the Poly in 1971, it was free. Well, only because my dad was one of the EE's on the project and we got to go pre-public opening. Not to mention one of the rare visits down into the subteranean level of the MK.

Awesome for an 11 year old kid, let me tell you.

Every time we went after that, we stayed at the Poly again only because you never could get a reservation at the CR unless you booked two or three years out.

Does anybody remember the name of the 3rd on-site resort that was scheduled to open? I remember seeing the construction site when we rode the monorail in 1971. It was the Venetian, and it was never built.

Things I remember from almost 40 years ago:

1. There were never enough E tickets

2. The Searaycers were MUCH faster back then (a marina attendant told me it's because they had to reduce the hp of the outboards to less than 10 for safety reasons).

3. Never enough E tickets

4. The food seemed SO much better

5. Much less crowded

6. You could see more of everything from both the monorail and ground level because the foilage hadn't grown up as large as it is now.

7. Everything smelled new

8. Did I mention not enough E tickets?

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Too funny what you said about CR being booked - we could rarely get into the Poly because it was always booked so we stayed at CR more often back then.

Does anybody remember the name of the 3rd on-site resort that was scheduled to open? I remember seeing the construction site when we rode the monorail in 1971. It was the Venetian, and it was never built. We looked forward to that resort, but the Grand Floridian was built instead. Interesting difference in concept!

Things I remember from almost 40 years ago: These apply to 30 yrs ago as well.

1. There were never enough E tickets -By 1981 we had a choice of a multi day tkt instead of E tkts

2. The Searaycers were MUCH faster back then (a marina attendant told me it's because they had to reduce the hp of the outboards to less than 10 for safety reasons). YES!!!

3. Never enough E tickets - lol

4. The food seemed SO much better - Oh my gosh, YES!!

5. Much less crowded - heavenly!

6. You could see more of everything from both the monorail and ground level because the foliage hadn't grown up as large as it is now. I miss those days.

7. Everything smelled new - Even in '81

8. Did I mention not enough E tickets? Ya think?

I know it was a long time ago, but in the '80's WDW was very affordable. We stayed at the Poly or CR and with air fare, food and admission (3 day tkt, which included Discovery Island and River Country) a family a 5 could visit for $1300. We did not scrimp on anything. Incredible!

 

[crazy4wdw]

As did we

Does anybody remember the name of the 3rd on-site resort that was scheduled to open? I remember seeing the construction site when we rode the monorail in 1971. It was the Venetian, and it was never built.

The Asian Resort was the third Walt Disney World resort which was planned. It was to be located where the current Grand Floridian Resort built. The Venentain and Persian Resorts were the other two resorts which were to be added within five years after WDW opened.

 

[MissionMouse]

$28 a night? I could have booked 80 nights!

We all wish it could calculate like that, but here is a snapshot of the Cost of Living 1971:
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 4.3%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 890
Average Cost of new house $25,250.00
Average Income per year $10,600.00
Average Monthly Rent $150.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 40 cents
Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe $1,866.00
United States postage Stamp 8 cents
Ladies 2 piece knit suites $9.98
Movie Ticket $1.50