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

[melomouse]

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.

(Highlights mine) I glanced at your post earlier and saw only the one response - and just knew in a few hours you'd get pages!!!

I hear you OP - no argument at all. While I think it's silly to ssume that everyone will be staying with Disney paying Disney prices as they keep going up,some will. Others will choose different vacation spots, different types of places. Some will choose to reassess their needs and wants and downgrade resorts. Others will choose to invest in DVC.

"Value" is relative to personal preference, salary, budget, family size, geography, etc. I always try to remember that some are not as fortunate to be able to afford a trip to Disney at all - I came from one of those families and am extremely grateful to be taking my kids as often as I do.

Some people jump down my throat when I say I have thus far refused to take a Disney cruise, because having lots of cruise experiences - - I think the Disney value-ratio on cruises just isn't there. The value isn't there for ME! I can't justify the expense of a Disney cruise when there are so many products out there that are at least equal.

On land, however, DL and WDW are fairly unique experiences, as someone has already pointed out. We all make our own decisions, subject to sticker shock, mulling over,family discussion and budget review!!!

 

[cigar95]

It's pretty standard everywhere that luxury items increase in price faster than "basic" items. (In the context of this thread, "basic" is very much a relative term.) Pretty clearly, the OP likes to stay in the tip-top-end accommodations, of which there are only a handful - multi-room suites moreso than merely a nice view room in a deluxe resort. So this is not surprising - everyone has their tipping point.

For the "regular" rooms at all resort categories, the prices have seen gradual, modest increases every year - nothing dramatic, such as a room that was $190 one year suddenly going to $265 a year later. Rising faster than inflation? Sure - but discretionary spending almost always rises faster than inflation, particularly in times of economic prosperity like we've seen for the past four years.

So our poster is certainly entitled to reach her limit - we each have our own idea of value, given what each of us is looking for in a vacation.

 

[cfknight]

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.

Could you post it or PM me! I would love some more info. on the DVC!

 

[Gary M]

WDW is a vacation destination for people from around the world. Last week the US$ and Canadian$ are valued about the same, a couple of years ago WDW was giving Canadians a discount because of the exchange rates for the currencies. The US$ has really devalued against most currencies. The WDW and USA vacations are much less expensive for foreign visitors and we Americans are competing against foreign visitors for rooms, etc..

 

[helenabear]

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.

Very few rooms have actually been "converted" for DVC. The majority of the time they are add ons to the resort or intended to be there from the beginning. So you are a bit skewed with that thought.
I was going to suggest you try renting DVC points for a 2 bedroom. You'd get a lot more bang for your buck with that if you'd look into it.

Of course if you really go often enough buying into DVC is a far better value IMO to me than anything else.

 

[bab31]

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 agree with you

and I agree with the op- I am glad we got to go last year on our WDW trip. We had free airfare so we chose to stay on grounds. Wanted to do deluxe but could not afford it. CSR was great. Dont think I would have thought the same about a value ( no flames please just our personal choice). But I dont think I can afford to go again for quite awhile. It is alot of money to go.

 

[cigar95]

Yes -- Harry Potter is coming to Universal in a new theme park.

Just to avoid confusion or disappointment (and without trying to take the discussion any further away from the topic), the new project will just be the conversion of one *section* of Islands of Adventure to a Harry Potter theme. It won't be an entire park.

 

[Oogie-Boogie]

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.

Here's the link to the HP Theme park announcement, with some pics of concept art: http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

As far as the resorts being pricey, sure, they are, but if you plan on going more than three times in a row, you might as well just buy into the DVC. Three or four $5k trips to the park, and you've equaled the cost of the DVC, and you'll have the rest of your life to go for 'free'.

Our first trip to WDW is this x-mas, and if we love it enough, we'll skip buying a new car for a few years, and just buy the DVC. It's a better investment than a car, or a boat, and about the same price. Heck to our family it even looks like a better deal than getting an RV. We've done Disneyland once as a family, and I used to go all the time as a kid, and frankly, for the price and the fact that we'll be able to take whatever grandkids we'll eventually have to WDW without ever having to worry about digging up the cash for the hotel each time, it looks like an AMAZING value, and about the only way I can see us being able to be certain we'll be able to afford a vacation every year.. Since you're already needing villa style rooms, it's almost a no-brainer. The only choice would be, buy a timeshare at WDW or somewhere else.

Cheers!

 

[GinnyFavers]

I'm totally with you on Disney not providing value for their higher priced rooms.

I stayed a few years ago in a Deluxe room at the AKL, on an excellent rate that a travel agent friend snagged for us.

Normally, the room would have been around $500 a night.

The toilet paper was of low grade, the bathtub and shower your average motel tub, the mattresses and sheets were run of the mill discount hotel quality.

OK, the decor was wonderful, the animals were amazing, the resort is amazing... *but* I could have gotten all of that in one of the $235 a night rooms.

The only thing that I saw that was explaining the $265 a night more for this room over a regular savannah view room was the balcony was really big.

I think there's a "run" on Disney right now, for a lot of reasons, including the low value of the dollar making it more attractive for affluent vacationers from abroad to come right now, Disney's hard sell marketing, and just a cultural phenomenon that's made Disney the place to be if you have money to throw around (every "has" to go now or they can't keep up with the Joneses).

It will eventually peter out and there will be discounts off these super high rack rates. They're just trying to see how far they can push everyone.

 

[GinnyFavers]

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.

Yeah, that's true. A 2 bedroom condo at an offsite, very nice, property will run you as little as $650 for a week.

We've ended up going off site a bunch, lately, to get the comfort and value we want.

And for people who keep saying "oh, just buy DVC," we do NOT have $15 - 30K to put into DVC. I'm not going to raid our retirement accounts or stop saving for retirement to buy into DVC, or go into debt of any kind. I sometimes wonder where on earth people are getting all this cash from to buy DVC. More power to 'em, but my husband's an engineer and makes very good money, and we can't afford to buy a house up here in the DC/Baltimore metro area, we're sure not going to be giving capital to Disney before we give it to ourselves.

 

[CPM]

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.

It's funny how a staement like this turned into all these posts about value, DVC and more.

I think it's a great move on Universal's part. I don't see it as competition at all. It's just a great addition to Universal.
I love both parks, as well as BG and SW all for their individuality. It would be a shame if they were all the same.
My kids are also very excited about the HP at IOA!

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Yeah, that's true. A 2 bedroom condo at an offsite, very nice, property will run you as little as $650 for a week.

We've ended up going off site a bunch, lately, to get the comfort and value we want.

And for people who keep saying "oh, just buy DVC," we do NOT have $15 - 30K to put into DVC. I'm not going to raid our retirement accounts or stop saving for retirement to buy into DVC, or go into debt of any kind. I sometimes wonder where on earth people are getting all this cash from to buy DVC. More power to 'em, but my husband's an engineer and makes very good money, and we can't afford to buy a house up here in the DC/Baltimore metro area, we're sure not going to be giving capital to Disney before we give it to ourselves.

I think those of us mentioning DVC are just offering suggestions to the OP (who replied expressing an interest in learning more). Everyone's financial situation is different. Some are able to afford DVC and save for colleges, retirement, etc. Some are not. Either way, I think posters are just offering suggestions to the OP! DVC is not for everyone and for some, it makes sense.

CFKNIGHT...."Sticker Shock" is a page or two back on the Resorts board. In regard to DVC, I've found the people over on the DVC area of these boards to be EXTREMELY kind and helpful about sharing DVC info. so you might want to check that out! BTW, my DH and I are skiers and w/ our DVC pts. we can also stay at a couple great ski resorts as well if we choose. Thought you might like to know.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

I think those of us mentioning DVC are just offering suggestions to the OP (who replied expressing an interest in learning more). Everyone's financial situation is different. Some are able to afford DVC and save for colleges, retirement, etc. Some are not. Either way, I think posters are just offering suggestions to the OP! DVC is not for everyone and for some, it makes sense.

CFKNIGHT...."Sticker Shock" is a page or two back on the Resorts board. In regard to DVC, I've found the people over on the DVC area of these boards to be EXTREMELY kind and helpful about sharing DVC info. so you might want to check that out! BTW, my DH and I are skiers and w/ our DVC pts. we can also stay at a couple great ski resorts as well if we choose. Thought you might like to know.

Ooops, sorry....the skiing comments were meant for DHLAW! (original Op)