Why is there no Disney All-Inclusive?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I can't seem to find any when I search for them. Are you talking about the same type of all inclusive, where all of the food, drink, and activities are included, and not just add on packages, like in the Caribbean?

Yeah they are there just not very plentiful, few and far between, gotta hunt for them type thing. And the topography of the U.S. you'd be more likely to find non-beach related ones which I think is sorta a turn off for many here who are more used to thinking all-inclusive=beach. Labor may be a part of why all-inclusives aren't very common here but I also think just the way the U.S. is is another one. It's been a really long time but one of the things we got for free (not really but just tacked on) to our Direct Buy membership (which is now defunct) was a voucher for an all-inclusive resort in the U.S. they had a list and it was pretty slim pickins back then (in 2013) but they did exist. I don't think the U.S. is really the market for the all-inclusive but it's not as if none can't have or won't exist here.

All-inclusive usually has food and drink but not always activities for free or there may be some activities included but not all and some may be an upcharge. Sandals, for example, markets that part as a reason to pick theirs over others that they have more activities included. When we stayed in Sandals we paid for a private excursion around Soufriere through our Concierge at the resort but then we had kayaking that was included for instance. I feel like scuba lessons weren't free either at Sandals but I could be wrong.

 

[JimMIA]

I can’t even imagine how expensive a Disney all inclusive would be! My 20 year old just got back from a 10 night stay in the DR on Bavaro beach, said it was amazing and there were many families. I think it was a barcelo resort?

How did they feel about the safety there? DD20 and her BFF (whose mother is from the DR) are thinking about going to the DR next summer.

 

[princesscinderella]

Disney was pretty close to all inclusive for a bit when you would book the room, park tickets and dining package plus you had free transportation to and from the airport and around WDW. Now it’s more nickel and dime.

 

[NotUrsula]

Ok, maybe we are talking about different things here. These hotels are add-on based resorts, not the everyone pays the same and gets access to everything, including alcohol. From what I can see, none of these include unlimited alcohol and have set "free" meals, if you add on that plan. I think what the OP is talking about is like a Sandal's type resort, where you can eat 24/7 all included and all of the alcohol you can drink for 1 price.

There used to be, but not so much any more. The old Catskills "Borscht Belt" resorts were all-inclusive that way.

 

[charmed59]

Sandpiper is a family club med in Florida. Never been so I don’t know how nice it is.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

where you can eat 24/7 all included and all of the alcohol you can drink for 1 price.

You can't eat 24/7 at Sandals either. Places still have hours. You aren't limited or have to pay per plate sort of thing but being all-inclusive doesn't mean you won't be restricted to times.

I'm looking at Sandals Halcyon Beach which is where we stayed and you have 1 option for a place to eat after 9:30pm and that 1 place closes at midnight and that was the same gist back when we stayed in 2013. I remember us being hungry late night after a late night hot tub chatting with other guests thing and there was no food available. That place has 6 places to eat on property. Only has 1 place to eat that is open for breakfast open at 7am. From 11-12:30pm it's closed. There is another restaurant that opens at 12pm. In St. Lucia you have access to the 2 other Sandals resorts via their free shuttle though. It's set up where dinner is where you're really going to want more plentiful options and 4 out of their 6 places to eat on Halcyon Beach are only open for dinner.

I get what you're meaning though you're not having to pay to eat at these restaurants that same that you would normally.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Cause then you'd realize how much you are paying?

 

[mjkacmom]

How did they feel about the safety there? DD20 and her BFF (whose mother is from the DR) are thinking about going to the DR next summer.

They felt safe, even excursions off of the property picked them up from their resort. They went on a TV’s, snorkeling, catamaran, and cave diving.

 

[Toolulu22]

There used to be, but not so much any more. The old Catskills "Borscht Belt" resorts were all-inclusive that way.

There are still a few places in the Catskills while not exactly what people are talking about with unlimited alcohol, Mohonk Mountain House includes meals and all activities. It’ll definitely cost ya- but a beautiful place.

https://www.mohonk.com/inclusions/

 

[MillauFr]

like you are thinking of, in America. It is too expensive to run here.

Not sure that has anything to do with it. Sure it costs more to run a restaurant or hotel in America but they would just adjust the price to compensate for that.

 

[DLgal]

Probably because they wouldn't be able to make them as cheap as competitors in those island countries, so why bother?

 

[MillauFr]

Doesn't the same argument apply to hotels? Why are there hotels in Hawaii when you can go to Mexico for half of the price?

 

[Lilsia]

So the draw of these all inclusive hotels is the free alcohol. They are in these other Countries because they have much cheaper labor then the US does. In order to have that all inclusive concept, at a reasonable price, they have to get the money from somewhere. In the case of the US ones that someone posted as "all inclusive", they really are not the same as the Caribbean ones since they do not have unlimited alcohol. This is just one of those concepts that would not work in the US. You all don't think that companies haven't looked into it? They have and it would not be profitable. We are not coming up with a new idea here that hasn't already been thought of and researched by people in the business.

Doesn't the same argument apply to hotels? Why are there hotels in Hawaii when you can go to Mexico for half of the price?

No, because you are talking about different locations, not a different hotel concept.

 

[bcwife76]

When we aren't at the parks or doing a Disney cruise or Aulani, we enjoy AI resorts for sure. Our go-to are AMResorts - Dreams/Sunscape are family friendly, Breathless and Secrets are adult only. We were last at Dreams Royal Beach in Punta Cana in August.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So the draw of these all inclusive hotels is the free alcohol.

You're changing the goal posts here. The draw is whatever people want to it to be, usually that they don't have to open their wallet all the time. Frankly I don't care about alcohol at an all-inclusive. Many all-inclusives are family friendly and while I'm sure parents imbibe a times many select them for many other reasons. I picked Sandals because I didn't want kids around on my honeymoon, alcohol was the least of my concerns

ETA there are still all-inclusive places (ones that aren't just paying a separate rate) in the U.S. just not very common, hard to find yes. You keep changing your mind what information you're talking about. No one is disagreeing that all-inclusive isn't something that is big here.

 

[mom2rtk]

Then why is Disney starting an all inclusive resort at Disneyworld, the Galactic Cruiser?

That one is different. Because Star Wars comes with such die hard fans, they're betting they can charge prices they wouldn't be able to get away with anywhere else.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That one is different. Because Star Wars comes with such die hard fans, they're betting they can charge prices they wouldn't be able to get away with anywhere else.

And supposedly it's been running into a lot of hot water on the PR front, with cancellations occurring and open availability when people expected it to be sell out (me included), though I haven't checked what posters have been saying about that for a few weeks.

 

[mjkacmom]

There are still a few places in the Catskills while not exactly what people are talking about with unlimited alcohol, Mohonk Mountain House includes meals and all activities. It’ll definitely cost ya- but a beautiful place.

https://www.mohonk.com/inclusions/

Stayed here once, rates now start at $1000 a night. There is also the rocking horse ranch, meals and drinks with meals included, it was a bit run down when we stayed and definitely more than an island AI. The AI lovers I know put the free alcohol as the #1 priority.

 

[mom2rtk]

And supposedly it's been running into a lot of hot water on the PR front, with cancellations occurring and open availability when people expected it to be sell out (me included), though I haven't checked what posters have been saying about that for a few weeks.

I've heard that. But since we can't tell if the cancellations were product disappointment or Covid related, I've chosen a wait and see approach on whether I think it can succeed at that price point or not.

 

[DLgal]

Also, let's be honest. Disney would never have a resort where unlimited alcohol is included. That would be the bean counters worst nightmare.