Well, it looks like WDW has finally done it!!!

[d-hlaw]

They have priced me out of vacationing there. I have gone many times, stayed in everything from Pres suites to standard view but the prices have just gotten silly. Latest example..... I want to take the family to the property for 3 nights next month for MNSSHP. We need a 2 bedroom to accomodate our whole family. They want $4400 for the room alone plus party tickets, etc... it will come to close to $5000. (AKL 2 bedroom) Let me put this in perspective. I am taking the family to Aspen for a 8 day ski trip this winter, staying in a 2 bedroom condo slopeside, lift tickets, rentals, and airfare, ground transportation, 3 adults 2 kids for $6500!! I can no longer justify the expense for DW. Sorry for the rant but.... is it just me??? The value is just not there. Even the concierge services are exteremely sub-par relative to other resorts that charge similar prices. Maybe WDW should send some people to NYC and have them stay in a $1500 a night room and see what "concierge" really means.

 

[Tissa]

Nevermind, I see you only stay at the top tier type of rooms. Sorry.

 

[MedCruise07]

There are many other choices besides a 2-bedroom at AKL. Two connecting rooms at All-Stars, for example. We have done both (concierge at AKL and two rooms at All-Star Music). Different vacations, to be sure--we spent more time at the resort when we stayed at AKL but still had a really great time when we stayed at All-Stars. I guess it depends on what your priorities are.

 

[sandybobandy]

Nevermind, I see you only stay at the top tier type of rooms. Sorry.

lol-I was seeing the same thing.

I could be sympathetic if you were unable to afford a 2 room suite at the All Stars, but clearly you can. It's your own preferance not to afford a trip for your family at Disney.

Have fun skiing!

 

[queenofhartz]

Hi, d-hlaw! I understand your frustration, and I think others are feeling the pinch too. I saw a similar thread earlier in the week where another Diser was really surprised at the increase in Disney's vacation packages and wasn't going to be able to afford a yearly trip. DH and I also feel that the room prices are getting extremely expensive, but we are still going to save our money for a trip to the Polynesian in April 2008 (I think the room rate is a little over $400/night). I will admit that we could stay in a moderate or a value resort, but we're hoping that we'll be able to save enough for the Poly (we've never stayed there). We're planning on paying the full quoted price, but I'm also keeping my eyes and ears open for a discount code to try to help us save money. I also feel that the Dining Packages are good deals (considering that DH and I like to eat all of our meals out). There are definitely ways we could save money (pack a lunch, stay offsite, stay at a less expensive resort, etc.) We'll see how this year goes. But, we may have to change the way we "do Disney" in the future if the rates keep increasing steadily (which is ok with us-we really love the Deluxe resorts, but we know they are a luxury since we're only 2 people).

I don't know if you would be interested, but DH and I are actually looking in to purchasing a DVC timeshare. We toured the AK Villas while we were down there, and they were absolutely beautiful. We loved them. And, the DVC seems like a good vacation deal (especially for those that make annual trips to Disney).

 

[rie'smom]

Those of you suggesting other types of rooms are missing the point. The OP and his family like to stay in a certain type of room and the price has become outrageous.
They apparently do not want to stay in a value. Many people will not sacrifice their preferences just to go to WDW. The last time I priced a trip, it came to 8500-that was just for the room!!!
My husband saw how disappointed I was and he surprised me with 300 BWV pts. Now I don't have to worry about price changes. However, I totally understand the OP's dismay.

 

[d-hlaw]

Its not about not being able to afford it.... its about value for the dollar. I dontg mind spending the money I just dont want to feel like I am not getting my moneys worth. Last few visits have left me asking myself what I spend all this $$ for?? Price increases, limited availability, conversion to DVC of parts of resorts, less and less offered in concierge, and increasing prices have left me scratching my head.

 

[sandybobandy]

Those of you suggesting other types of rooms are missing the point. The OP and his family like to stay in a certain type of room and the price has become outrageous.
They apparently do not want to stay in a value. Many people will not sacrifice their preferences just to go to WDW. The last time I priced a trip, it came to 8500-that was just for the room!!!
My husband saw how disappointed I was and he surprised me with 300 BWV pts. Now I don't have to worry about price changes. However, I totally understand the OP's dismay.

I understand what you're trying to say, but I do understand the point. *My* point though is that you can still go to WDW without staying at a top tier resort. If they want to go to WDW that much, there are alternatives to staying at such a resort.

I'm sorry the OP feels as though they aren't getting their value though.

 

[grannyminnie]

I understand your feelings...I too think WDW charges way too much for the rooms. The problem is, there's enough people like me who love Disneyworld sooo much that we usually bite the bullet and go, one way or another. When enough folks start to rebel, they will HAVE to do something, and it sure won't be to raise prices again, IMO!!

 

[cfknight]

They have priced me out of vacationing there. I have gone many times, stayed in everything from Pres suites to standard view but the prices have just gotten silly. Latest example..... I want to take the family to the property for 3 nights next month for MNSSHP. We need a 2 bedroom to accomodate our whole family. They want $4400 for the room alone plus party tickets, etc... it will come to close to $5000. (AKL 2 bedroom) Let me put this in perspective. I am taking the family to Aspen for a 8 day ski trip this winter, staying in a 2 bedroom condo slopeside, lift tickets, rentals, and airfare, ground transportation, 3 adults 2 kids for $6500!! I can no longer justify the expense for DW. Sorry for the rant but.... is it just me??? The value is just not there. Even the concierge services are exteremely sub-par relative to other resorts that charge similar prices. Maybe WDW should send some people to NYC and have them stay in a $1500 a night room and see what "concierge" really means.

We saved $2000 on our upcoming trip just by doing some careful research, their are ways to cutting costs but not sacraficing your vacation. And you are right, With this trip We could have went to hawaii or some other exotic place. But you know what? It's not disney! I know it sounds corny but we love the disney magic of it all!

 

[Lives4Disney]

d-hlaw, I totally understand. Not even going to go into details WHY I understand, because somebody will come along and disagree with why, but I know what you're saying and I agree with it.

Have you tried the S/D??? I know it's not DISNEY, but you look out the window and you're right there and all you see is Disney. Great, convenient and fun location and a MUCH MUCH better rate for a deluxe than Disney offers. We have gotten so we usually do a split between a Disney deluxe in a concierge room and then balance it with a Swan stay. We have lots of fun in the BW area & it feels like two vacations in one.

Lives4Disney

 

[Sammie]

You can always purchase DVC, or you can enjoy your ski vacation. I think comparing the two vacations is like comparing housing in small town USA and Beverly Hills.

The cost of a Disney vacation can't really be compared to a ski vacation, other ski vacations can be compared to each other.

But truly there is nothing to compare Disney World to. Even Universal in my opinion does not come close and Disney knows that.

Basically Disney World competes with itself in setting prices. Whatever their guests will pay is what they will charge. If with the newer prices, they see a drastic drop in room occupancy then something will change. But truly I don't see that happening.

They will lose some guests who have come before and they have out priced but someone will take their place.

But yes, only you can decide if it is worth the asking cost.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

We saved $2000 on our upcoming trip just by doing some careful research, their are ways to cutting costs but not sacraficing your vacation. And you are right, With this trip We could have went to hawaii or some other exotic place. But you know what? It's not disney! I know it sounds corny but we love the disney magic of it all!

Take a look at my thread "Sticker Shock" from earlier this week......very similar to your thoughts and situation. We just joined DVC this week and think it's a great solution for us - since I know we'll always want to go back to Disney. We take one trip a year as a family and also make that a special one We stay at the monorail resorts, usually concierge. I felt that WDW priced us out of our trips as well but I think our DVC purchase was good for our situation. If it's not right for you, maybe just visit less frequently but still stay in the accomodations of your choice. The thread I mentioned also had some good points from other Dis'ers which I really appreciated.

 

[labdogs42]

I think DVC is the way to go for you!

 

[chickenskin]

I understand your feelings...I too think WDW charges way too much for the rooms. The problem is, there's enough people like me who love Disneyworld sooo much that we usually bite the bullet and go, one way or another. When enough folks start to rebel, they will HAVE to do something, and it sure won't be to raise prices again, IMO!!

Finally, someone has stated the obvious, it is all about one thing and one thing only...personal choice. We too have absolutely no qualms about the price of a trip to Disney and have stayed at deluxe and moderate resorts. If you don't feel it is worth the $$$ to go to Disney, then it is time for you to find a vacation that is. From what I've read on this forum recently of the rapid booking of resorts in 2008, Disney has no problem selling rooms. We love going there and in all my travels here and abroad I have yet to get as excited for a trip as I do each time we go to Disney. That's just my personal choice.

 

[ElizabethB]

Universal likely will compete very effectively with WDW once their Harry Potter park is done. I can't believe Disney let that one slip away.

 

[Hannathy]

You aren't being fair you aren't comparing the same thing. A condo at Disney can be rented for less than you are saying the room would cost. I would be willing to bet if you go to Aspen to a top hotel and rent a deluxe level suite it would be comparable in price. Yes Disney is high but so are most tourist locations.
Go to Niagara Falls and try to rent a 2 room suite it will run the same as Disney, Same for Ocean City Maryland, Mackinac Island and what is worse is that at all those places a regular room is far more than Disney. My room at Niagara and Ocean City both cost a lot more for much worse rooms than Disney.

We won't even bring major cities into it.

 

[queenofhartz]

Universal likely will compete very effectively with WDW once their Harry Potter park is done. I can't believe Disney let that one slip away.

OMG! Universal is doing a Harry Potter park?!? I would visit Universal for that. I really like the Harry Potter novels and could definitely see how they could lend themselves well to quite a nice theme park if done correctly.

 

[eliza61]

So sorry to hear you won't be traveling to the world any more. For us, there are always vacations that cost way more than Disney (Jersey shore for one) and vacations that are less expensive. Even though they are raising their prices (it has always been an expensive trip) we still think its a good vacation value so we're still planning on enjoying.

Happy vacations where ever your travels take you.

 

[ElizabethB]

Yes -- Harry Potter is coming to Universal in a new theme park. Don't know many of the details yet, but our boys can't wait, and I mean they really can't wait. The park will open in 2009. I have a feeling our trips will revolve around Universal and the Harry Potter Theme Park once it opens. Happily, we enjoy the Royal Pacific Hotel and would love to try Portofino Bay Resort as well.