Why are Disney Hotels so much more expensive than Universal Hotels?

[randumb0]

I knew I was paying too much

How did you get GF for under $300?

I am wondering the same thing

 

[soniam]

Comparing Disney Deluxe to Universal Deluxe, the Universal hotels are nicer, closer to the parks, and a better deal. However, at Universal, I am taking into account the unlimited Express Pass that Universal Deluxe guests get. I guess Disney can charge it and people will pay it. Once people will pay more at Universal, they will charge more. One thing that may keep Universal hotel rates more reasonable compared to Disney is that Loews, an actual hotel chain, runs the Universal hotels. They have a sense of what hotels charge in the real world and what amenities they provide. Disney's only frame of reference is what people will pay at their parks, which is apparently a lot. If you think the WDW hotel prices are bad, you should look at what they charge for the on-property hotels at Disneyland

 

[Miffy]

Subscribing in the hopes that the poster who paid less than $300 for the GF will return with their secret!

 

[cmarsh31]

Two details that came up recently while helping a family of 5 - Magical Express vs. paying for shuttle... and none of the Universal Deluxe hotels sleep 5. You can put 5 in a room, but you have to request a cot, $25/night and not guaranteed! For my friend, that was a deal breaker! Getting there and finding that there was no bed for her 3rd child? They were flying with carry-ons, so no bag for an air mattress. Disney Moderate included enough sleeping surfaces for a lot less $... Never realized it was an issue bc we're a family of 5 and LOVED our stay at Royal Pacific!

 

[randumb0]

Subscribing in the hopes that the poster who paid less than $300 for the GF will return with their secret!

I have a feeling they were dividing instead of multiplying

 

[hmcater]

I have to disagree. Granted I've only stayed at the Polynesian, but we always find a great deal to stay there. We're going this August and paying $298/night including tax. The Poly is far superior to Royal Pacific. When we stayed there, the room was tiny and smelled like raw sewage. They refused to move us. Their pool was also disgusting with all kinds of things floating in it. There was nothing deluxe about that hotel. We had a nicer stay at Cabana Bay (which was clean and lovely) than at RPH.

 

[Sue M]

Odd. I find Universal hotels more expensive. Unless I get an AP rate every night of our Universal stay is more than our Disney stay, every time. Guess I'm doing something wrong. Granted, we shop the best rates for our Disney stays. Universal/Lowes doesn't really have many promos

One thing to note, Universal does not own or run their hotels. Lowes does. It's a partnership. Totally different than what Disney has. Does that explain the cost difference? No idea, but it may.

Every time I find Universal room rates are lower than WDW.
To compare apples to apples sorta, I just put in my dates I’m staying at WL at Universals Royal Pacific which is their cheapest deluxe. I can get a standard 2 queen room for $186/night that includes Universal express pass. You can’t even get a WDW moderate for that price anymore.
Cabana Bay their Value Resort is $116 and is light years away from any WDW value or moderate in rooms and amenities.

 

[Sue M]

I have to disagree. Granted I've only stayed at the Polynesian, but we always find a great deal to stay there. We're going this August and paying $298/night including tax. The Poly is far superior to Royal Pacific. When we stayed there, the room was tiny and smelled like raw sewage. They refused to move us. Their pool was also disgusting with all kinds of things floating in it. There was nothing deluxe about that hotel. We had a nicer stay at Cabana Bay (which was clean and lovely) than at RPH.

Or a stay at Universals Portofino late August is only $241! Amazing hotel.

 

[DLgal]

Subscribing in the hopes that the poster who paid less than $300 for the GF will return with their secret!

Probably used that "exclusive travel agent deal." I was quoted around $250/night for GF last year using that discount. It's usually offered close to Labor Day.

Also possible they are using the military discount. We got GF the first week of August 2016, Lagoon View, for $319 base rate (not including taxes).

 

[AngiTN]

Or a stay at Universals Portofino late August is only $241! Amazing hotel.

And I find PB a dump. We've had 3 stays there. I thought it was lip stick on a pig. Liked it less and less each stay. We won't return. Like RPR quite a lot. But never found it for under $300 for our dates

We are trying Hard Rock next month but our 1 night there is more than our nights at BWI. Still cheaper than buying express pass for 2 days for 2

 

[Miffy]

I'm still gasping at the sub-$300 rates for both Poly and GF. I guess it is those "exclusive" rates I've heard about. Rates that make it cheaper than our recent stay at SSR, which is hardly the Poly or GF!

 

[Sue M]

And I find PB a dump. We've had 3 stays there. I thought it was lip stick on a pig. Liked it less and less each stay. We won't return. Like RPR quite a lot. But never found it for under $300 for our dates

We are trying Hard Rock next month but our 1 night there is more than our nights at BWI. Still cheaper than buying express pass for 2 days for 2

What didn’t you like about Portofino? We thought it was beautiful. We were in West? Wing close to boat dock with bay view & balcony. Didn’t get to walk around and explore as much as I would have liked. My knee was really bad at the time, pre surgery. So only went to beach pool which was closest.
We stayed at HRH during tropical storm Fay so never got to enjoy pool. I found hall acoustics horrible, people walking down hall at night sounded like they were in my room.
Next stay I’d like to try RPR. Gotta love the express pass! Best perk ever.

 

[AngiTN]

What didn’t you like about Portofino? We thought it was beautiful. We were in West? Wing close to boat dock with bay view & balcony. Didn’t get to walk around and explore as much as I would have liked. My knee was really bad at the time, pre surgery. So only went to beach pool which was closest.
We stayed at HRH during tropical storm Fay so never got to enjoy pool. I found hall acoustics horrible, people walking down hall at night sounded like they were in my room.
Next stay I’d like to try RPR. Gotta love the express pass! Best perk ever.

It was rather run down. We've stayed on both wings, over the boat dock side twice and across from there once. I've never had what I would consider good service. Not bad but nothing stand out either. Room charging never works. Not a big deal, I find it just as easy to use a card as I do to pull out a room key but it is annoying to offer something that they can never make work.

 

[rchampagne]

Probably used that "exclusive travel agent deal." I was quoted around $250/night for GF last year using that discount. It's usually offered close to Labor Day.

Correct... Labor Day deal with that travel agent's "Agency Exclusive Offer". Booked for late August. $4243 for 8 nights with 7-day park hoppers.
If the park tickets were 5% off their regular rate (maybe $1843), then the room at GF would be $2400, or $300 / night.

 

[little_orange_bird]

Subscribing in the hopes that the poster who paid less than $300 for the GF will return with their secret!

Correct... Labor Day deal with that travel agent's "Agency Exclusive Offer". Booked for late August. $4243 for 8 nights with 7-day park hoppers.
If the park tickets were 5% off their regular rate (maybe $1843), then the room at GF would be $2400, or $300 / night.

So....I’m just trying to follow...it wasn’t actually that the room rates were $300 per night, but that calculating out the package you received made them $300 a night?

 

[Farro]

So....I’m just trying to follow...it wasn’t actually that the room rates were $300 per night, but that calculating out the package you received made them $300 a night?

They booked through a travel agent who gets blocks of rooms at these hotels and in turn those who book with that agency can get them at a really good discounted rate.

 

[little_orange_bird]

They booked through a travel agent who gets blocks of rooms at these hotels and in turn those who book with that agency can get them at a really good discounted rate.

Thanks Farro. $300 for the Grand Flo is mind boggling!

 

[Farro]

Thanks Farro. $300 for the Grand Flo is mind boggling!

Those rates are pretty irresistible for sure! We aren't going back until May 2020, but I'm going to check and see if they have any available for Yacht Club when we go.

My luck the Yacht Club will be $800 a night by then and the discount rate will be $600. Sigh.

 

[LYSE]

Yeah that agency I think they used saves you a good amount but I haven't been able to save quite that much ...but it's probably due to the days I like to go (late Jan, late April, early Oct, early December) those deals seem to happen when I avoid Florida

 

[little_orange_bird]

Those rates are pretty irresistible for sure! We aren't going back until May 2020, but I'm going to check and see if they have any available for Yacht Club when we go. $600. Sigh.

Yeah that agency I think they used saves you a good amount but I haven't been able to save quite that much ...but it's probably due to the days I like to go (late Jan, late April, early Oct, early December) those deals seem to happen when I avoid Florida

So you just call up a travel agent and ask for inexpensive Disney rooms and sometimes you get crazy lucky? Wow. Why doesn’t everyone do that?