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

[LYSE]

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?

There's a travel agency that does these deals regularly but mentioning them on the dis is forbidden since dreams unlimited doesn't want the board taking business from them

 

[little_orange_bird]

There's a travel agency that does these deals regularly but mentioning them on the dis is forbidden since dreams unlimited doesn't want the board taking business from them

Got it! Don’t worry, I will ask no more!

 

[AngiTN]

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?

Because your trip has to fit their deal, not the other way around. Not everyone can do that

 

[Sue M]

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.

Sounds like we had very different experiences. Our room was great as was the service. I wish my knee was better so I could have done some exploring around Resort. Our last night we grabbed dinner from the Italian Deli and took it outside to a table on the piazza to watch the singers. So nice.

 

[sbd78]

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?

Not all travel agents have these deals. The majority have the same deals you can get booking yourself. I believe the DIS has a rule that you can't recommend specific TA's, though.

As far as the Labor day deal, our kids are back in school then and we don't like to take them out of school. I hear the deals are amazing, though. You can still get TA deals the rest of the year, they just aren't as good as the Labor Day deal.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Not all travel agents have these deals. The majority have the same deals you can get booking yourself. I believe the DIS has a rule that you can't recommend specific TA's, though.

As far as the Labor day deal, our kids are back in school then and we don't like to take them out of school. I hear the deals are amazing, though. You can still get TA deals the rest of the year, they just aren't as good as the Labor Day deal.

How close to Labor Day do the deals go into effect? Our kids usually start school the Tuesday before Labor Day, so if we could get those kinds of rates the weekend before Labor Day, that would be sweet. I know many districts start earlier than we do, and lots of parents want a few days to get ready, but I have no problem with flying back from Florida on Monday evening and putting them on the bus Tuesday morning.

 

[sbd78]

How close to Labor Day do the deals go into effect? Our kids usually start school the Tuesday before Labor Day, so if we could get those kinds of rates the weekend before Labor Day, that would be sweet. I know many districts start earlier than we do, and lots of parents want a few days to get ready, but I have no problem with flying back from Florida on Monday evening and putting them on the bus Tuesday morning.

I'm sure it varies a bit year to year, but I think around mid August. My kids get out of school early, usually before Memorial Day weekend and go back mid August so it doesn't work for us.

 

[little_orange_bird]

Because your trip has to fit their deal, not the other way around. Not everyone can do that

Ahhh, I see. That makes sense. Thanks!

Not all travel agents have these deals. The majority have the same deals you can get booking yourself. I believe the DIS has a rule that you can't recommend specific TA's, though

Gotcha. That’s totally fine!

 

[ClapYourHands]

I'm sure it varies a bit year to year, but I think around mid August. My kids get out of school early, usually before Memorial Day weekend and go back mid August so it doesn't work for us.

Thanks for the quick reply. That discount could be amazing, if we can make it work, because I'm sure as heck not paying rack rate for the deluxes.

Once you factor in all the snow days, my kids aren't getting out until June 22 this year. It's crazy to think your kids are getting out a full 4 weeks earlier than mine are!

Could you tell me approximately what the booking window is likely to be?

 

[sbd78]

Thanks for the quick reply. That discount could be amazing, if we can make it work, because I'm sure as heck not paying rack rate for the deluxes.

Once you factor in all the snow days, my kids aren't getting out until June 22 this year. It's crazy to think your kids are getting out a full 4 weeks earlier than mine are!

Could you tell me approximately what the booking window is likely to be?

My kids get out May 24, so yeah, almost a full month before yours! We did have 2 snow days, but they haven't updated the school calendar so I'm not sure if we aren't making them up? Regardless, we are heading to Disney May 27 so if the snow days push it past then, they won't be there!

Looks like travel dates this year are Aug. 15 through Sept. 5. I have no clue how much availability is left, though. And I hear ya on paying deluxe rack rates! That's why we've never stayed deluxe, LOL. We are staying at POR for our upcoming trip. Not a deluxe, but I think we still got a decent deal there.

 

[ClapYourHands]

My kids get out May 24, so yeah, almost a full month before yours! We did have 2 snow days, but they haven't updated the school calendar so I'm not sure if we aren't making them up? Regardless, we are heading to Disney May 27 so if the snow days push it past then, they won't be there!

Looks like travel dates this year are Aug. 15 through Sept. 5. I have no clue how much availability is left, though. And I hear ya on paying deluxe rack rates! That's why we've never stayed deluxe, LOL. We are staying at POR for our upcoming trip. Not a deluxe, but I think we still got a decent deal there.

Yay! I'm thinking about August 2019, so the number of rooms left for this this year's deal isn't a factor. If next year has a similar time frame, I could be in luck. Do you happen to know approximately when next year's deal might go on sale?

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Not all travel agents have these deals. The majority have the same deals you can get booking yourself. I believe the DIS has a rule that you can't recommend specific TA's, though.

As far as the Labor day deal, our kids are back in school then and we don't like to take them out of school. I hear the deals are amazing, though. You can still get TA deals the rest of the year, they just aren't as good as the Labor Day deal.

When the Four Seasons is cheaper than the Grand Floridian then you have prices that are out of whack. And Four Seasons is not even the best chain in the world but its way above Disney

 

[sbd78]

Yay! I'm thinking about August 2019, so the number of rooms left for this this year's deal isn't a factor. If next year has a similar time frame, I could be in luck. Do you happen to know approximately when next year's deal might go on sale?

I believe this years was released in late Oct., so I would imagine around the same time frame but I can't say for sure.

 

[crostorfer]

Because people are willing to pay it in Disney apparently!

I agree with you, OP, completely! We have only stayed at Hard Rock and Cabana Bay in Universal, but they are far superior to their Disney counterparts!

Hard Rock was far and away better than any of the Disney deluxe resorts we have stayed in, and we have stayed in almost all of them. Plus you have the added bonus of being able to walk to both parks and City Walk! We really love the Poly and WL at Disney, so I am not knocking them, but the quality and amenities at Hard Rock were better for a fraction of the cost! I think the most we have paid at Hard Rock was around $250 a night, military discount, Christmas week. Other stays have been a little lower.

Cabana Bay is basically Universal's value resort. To be completely honest, there is no comparison! It far exceeds each and every Disney value resort, and for the most part Disney's moderate resorts as well. The pools at Cabana Bay are even better than some of the Disney deluxe resorts. We have stayed in a family suite, 6 people, over 4th of July week for just under $150 per night with military discount! I am paying $152 per night at a Disney value with military discount in late May, in a room that only sleeps 4. At CB we were walking distance to the new water park, and never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus to the parks.

Universal's resorts win in every category! Disney simply charges what they do because people continue to pay!

Cabana Bay so far out-shines any Disney value resort, Disney should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[crostorfer]

The Lowe's website, the AP holder res site. Sometimes buying an AP for 1 person in your party is worth it for the room and mercy discounts. Go to the DIS universal resorts board and check out the threads there.

Started doing this 4 years ago. I bought an annual pass just for me, and it paid itself off in discounts over a 3 day visit.

 

[cobright]

When the Four Seasons is cheaper than the Grand Floridian then you have prices that are out of whack. And Four Seasons is not even the best chain in the world but its way above Disney

It's funny you mentoment 4 seasons. On my last off site WDW trip we stayed there and I was actually quite unhappy with them by the end. The room was very nice, but the management team was shockingly bad. By the end of my short time there I'd even been provoked to the point that of raising my voice.

Prior to that I had stayed off site at the B with my wife and had a perfectly fine time, so I'm not just that much of a Disney fanboy.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

It's funny you mentoment 4 seasons. On my last off site WDW trip we stayed there and I was actually quite unhappy with them by the end. The room was very nice, but the management team was shockingly bad. By the end of my short time there I'd even been provoked to the point that of raising my voice.

Prior to that I had stayed off site at the B with my wife and had a perfectly fine time, so I'm not just that much of a Disney fanboy.

private message but I will add that is shocking service to have. I believe that should be escalated to the manager Thomas https://press.fourseasons.com/orlando/. its usually firstname.lastname@fourseasons.com if you want to get in contact. I do not work for them. I always email the managers about 10 times before I book to make sure they are good ! or you could email the president via the pm.

 

[cobright]

private message but I will add that is shocking service to have. I believe that should be escalated to the manager Thomas https://press.fourseasons.com/orlando/. its usually firstname.lastname@fourseasons.com if you want to get in contact. I do not work for them. I always email the managers about 10 times before I book to make sure they are good ! or you could email the president via the pm.

I got your PM, and I really should be clear about something in all fairness. My friend Aisling received some treatment that was most probably well intentioned but struck me as ... well I said shocking didn't I. In every traditional way, the hotel excelled. I think it was about $1000 a night and in almost every way possible they were worth every penny. A couple of the hospitality team had some peculiar notions about where my friend could and could not go with her wheelchair and that did upset me but any formal complaint is hers to make.

My first comment was a bit off the cuff and in hindsight I wasn't being fair by just slamming this business without any real context.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

I got your PM, and I really should be clear about something in all fairness. My friend Aisling received some treatment that was most probably well intentioned but struck me as ... well I said shocking didn't I. In every traditional way, the hotel excelled. I think it was about $1000 a night and in almost every way possible they were worth every penny. A couple of the hospitality team had some peculiar notions about where my friend could and could not go with her wheelchair and that did upset me but any formal complaint is hers to make.

My first comment was a bit off the cuff and in hindsight I wasn't being fair by just slamming this business without any real context.

I still think talking to management would not hurt anyone

 

[agame2323]

IMO, the front of the line access for guest staying onsite at US outweighs any perk Disney offers their guest staying onsite

That said, overall I think Disney is still offers a better all around product. But US is catching up.