Why so expensive?!

[DisneyLvr12]

Holy cow! I was looking at rates for deluxe hotels anytime from March thru early May and I am floored by the prices. Standard garden view room at the Polynesian was $730 a NIGHT!! You've got to be kidding me.

What is going on?! I understand March - April are prime spring break times, along with Easter. But how in the world can they get away with prices like that?? It wasn't much lower the first week in may either. I've been going to WDW my whole life and I've never seen prices like that.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I think you might have been looking at the wrong numbers. Lagoon view at Poly is $730 per night during Easter, but standard view ranges from $465 to $590, with $590 being the two weeks around Easter. Still not cheap, but not quite as much as you thought.

Here is the full list from Mousesavers.com:

http://www.mousesavers.com/polynesian2012.html

 

[padawans]

Holy cow! I was looking at rates for deluxe hotels anytime from March thru early May and I am floored by the prices. Standard garden view room at the Polynesian was $730 a NIGHT!! You've got to be kidding me.

What is going on?! I understand March - April are prime spring break times, along with Easter. But how in the world can they get away with prices like that?? It wasn't much lower the first week in may either. I've been going to WDW my whole life and I've never seen prices like that.

I am always shocked that there are people out that actually will pay rack rate. Yeah those prices are high.

 

[Turk February]

I am always shocked that there are people out that actually will pay rack rate. Yeah those prices are high.

Agreed. Rack rate at WDW is insane. I always wait for a code or GP discount.

 

[NancyIL]

I am always shocked that there are people out that actually will pay rack rate. Yeah those prices are high.

I agree!

I think you might have been looking at the wrong numbers. Lagoon view at Poly is $730 per night during Easter, but standard view ranges from $465 to $590, with $590 being the two weeks around Easter. Still not cheap, but not quite as much as you thought.

Here is the full list from Mousesavers.com:

http://www.mousesavers.com/polynesian2012.html

I consider $465/night to be pretty darn high as well. I usually stay at the Swan (my favorite) or Dolphin, and they frequently have some kind of discounted rate available.

 

[dimndgal1]

I am always shocked that there are people out that actually will pay rack rate. Yeah those prices are high.

While rack rate might be that high, I think that the average guest is using a non-limited discount so the rack rate is higher to make the discounted price higher as well. For instance, we're military and there is a fantastic promotion with minimal limitations but the discount is a certain percent so when rack rate goes up, so does the base price of our discounted rooms.

What I'm trying to say in a convoluted way is I think the high rack rate cost isn't Disney's expectation for tons of people to pay the $700 but to get those with 20, 30, and 40% discounts to pay more than an off-season rate. Just my humble opinion.

That said, I'm sure there are some who will pay that rate, but I feel like it's just a way of raising across the discounted universe.

 

[bigfatwiner]

The Rack rate is inflated so that it seems like you're getting a deal no matter how much they discount it.

 

[padawans]

While rack rate might be that high, I think that the average guest is using a non-limited discount so the rack rate is higher to make the discounted price higher as well. For instance, we're military and there is a fantastic promotion with minimal limitations but the discount is a certain percent so when rack rate goes up, so does the base price of our discounted rooms.

What I'm trying to say in a convoluted way is I think the high rack rate cost isn't Disney's expectation for tons of people to pay the $700 but to get those with 20, 30, and 40% discounts to pay more than an off-season rate. Just my humble opinion.

That said, I'm sure there are some who will pay that rate, but I feel like it's just a way of raising across the discounted universe.

True. I have never stayed at Disney deluxe without at least 35% off. 30% is my cutoff limit.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I consider $465/night to be pretty darn high as well. I usually stay at the Swan (my favorite) or Dolphin, and they frequently have some kind of discounted rate available.

Absolutely, and I wouldn't pay it. But still a bit cheaper than the $730 the OP thought was for a standard room.

 

[I Run Long]

That's why I'll always rent points to stay at a Deluxe. Even when they are discounted it is still cheaper to rent points. As long as I have that available to me, that's what I'll do.

 

[scanmom]

what is the fantastic military deal? We are trying to plan a trip for 12 ppl (all my kids, spouses and grandkids) and we have a military member in the group.

 

[appleorchard]

Between 30 and 40 percent off per night, depending on what type of room you book. The military member can can reserve up to three rooms, I think.

 

[Sue M]

I would never pay rack rate at deluxe. Has to be at least 35% for me to bite. Deluxe rack rates are insane. Otherwise I stay moderate. We love POR.

 

[ethanwa]

I will never pay rack rate at WDW again. I realized three weeks before this vacation that just buying a $500 annual pass saved me $2000 because of the length of my stay and the current AP deals.

Always be patient, wait, do your research, get a PIN code, do something! There is always some way to get better than rack rate at the hotel you want.

 

[emmysmommy]

If I can't get an AP rate or other offer then I wait since I am picky about my resort and room type.... The FD offers are not nearly as good as the room discounts since we stay deluxe/villas and it is only 2 or 3 of us on the reservation.

 

[Mrsjvb]

What I'm trying to say in a convoluted way is I think the high rack rate cost isn't Disney's expectation for tons of people to pay the $700 but to get those with 20, 30, and 40% discounts to pay more than an off-season rate. Just my humble opinion.

.

yup. standrad practice in the industry as they know darn well people will try and scam any discount they can from AAA on down. ever read the published rates on the backs of your local Comfort Inn? yowza


that;s why the FD promos tend to be more popular at Values and Mods because paying rack rate almost affordable when you factor in the fact that your meals are now covered.

 

[maxiesmom]

What I'm trying to say in a convoluted way is I think the high rack rate cost isn't Disney's expectation for tons of people to pay the $700 but to get those with 20, 30, and 40% discounts to pay more than an off-season rate. Just my humble opinion.

That said, I'm sure there are some who will pay that rate, but I feel like it's just a way of raising across the discounted universe.

And just like any pretty much any other business out there that sells merchandise. Most people don't pay sticker price for the car they want, they wait for some sort of discount either on the cost of the car or on financing. From cars on down to clothes, most people refuse to pay the listed price, and instead wait for sales. There are a few people who buy what they want when they want it, but most businesses know people wait for discounts to buy.

It is not just a WDW resort thing.

 

[ElizabethB]

Disney has managed to run the rack rate of their deluxe rooms so high that, with a 40% discount, the room rate is pretty close to what rack rate should be. If somebody comes in and pays Disney's rack rate -- it's a bonus for Disney. In any event, even with discounting, Disney must be making a huge profit on their deluxe rooms.

We have stayed in deluxes many times (including GF RPC a few times), but Disney is now inflating the prices so much, it's hard to find any value at all, even at 40% off.

That's why the bulk of our vacation time and hotel nights are spent at Universal. Portofino Bay is a wonderful hotel -- the equal of any Disney hotel including GF, and with much, much better service. And a stay at Portofino Bay, even at rack rate, is a mere fraction of a GF stay these days. Disney is exploiting the one thing their hotels have that no other hotels do -- on-site proximity to Disney parks. But, there will come a point (they are getting there quickly!) where they will have priced us out completely -- even taking room discounts into effect. It wouldn't be that hard to skip Disney altogether and spend the total of our vacation time at the Universal parks and Portofino Bay.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

That's why the bulk of our vacation time and hotel nights are spent at Universal. Portofino Bay is a wonderful hotel -- the equal of any Disney hotel including GF, and with much, much better service. And a stay at Portofino Bay, even at rack rate, is a mere fraction of a GF stay these days. Disney is exploiting the one thing their hotels have that no other hotels do -- on-site proximity to Disney parks. But, there will come a point (they are getting there quickly!) where they will have priced us out completely -- even taking room discounts into effect. It wouldn't be that hard to skip Disney altogether and spend the total of our vacation time at the Universal parks and Portofino Bay.

As much as I love Disney, I'd rank Portofino Bay ABOVE any Disney hotel. Even not counting the resort perks when you visit the Universal parks, we have had great stays, gorgeous rooms and exceptional service. DH would gladly drive over to WDW from Portofino every day of our vacation. It is one of his favorite places to stay world-wide, and one resort that I would be willing to pay rack rate (although I don't ). He can easily spend four or five days at Portofino whether or not we go to the parks, while I hear complaining if I try to schedule the same amount of time at a Disney resort.

But as much as I love Universal, Disney is first in my heart. Universal definitely has the edge for resorts, though. All three are top-notch and reasonably priced.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Disney has managed to run the rack rate of their deluxe rooms so high that, with a 40% discount, the room rate is pretty close to what rack rate should be. If somebody comes in and pays Disney's rack rate -- it's a bonus for Disney. In any event, even with discounting, Disney must be making a huge profit on their deluxe rooms.

We have stayed in deluxes many times (including GF RPC a few times), but Disney is now inflating the prices so much, it's hard to find any value at all, even at 40% off.

That's why the bulk of our vacation time and hotel nights are spent at Universal. Portofino Bay is a wonderful hotel -- the equal of any Disney hotel including GF, and with much, much better service. And a stay at Portofino Bay, even at rack rate, is a mere fraction of a GF stay these days. Disney is exploiting the one thing their hotels have that no other hotels do -- on-site proximity to Disney parks. But, there will come a point (they are getting there quickly!) where they will have priced us out completely -- even taking room discounts into effect. It wouldn't be that hard to skip Disney altogether and spend the total of our vacation time at the Universal parks and Portofino Bay.