Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I was just checking out the latest info on the Art of Animation Resort. All in all it looks nice. I think it is going to be a huge hit. Then I got to the room rates for 2012, $320 a night for the family suites. Then I compared nightly 2012 rates for the Value Resorts and Ft Wilderness Cabins. The Family Suties at the Art of Animation are cozy and look nice for a family with small children, teenage children or perhaps two couples. But, they look pretty inconvenient for 6 adults. Anyway, is it me or does it seem that the room rates for WDW resorts have been creeping up? And with WDW adding AoA Resort that going to add nearly an additional 2,000 rooms. I'm just begining to think that DVC ownership is a huge bargain! If the room rates for Family Suites and Ft Wilderness Cabins are up in the $320 - $400 per night range. A week at Disney just for the accomidations you are talking upwards of $2,100. And that is the cheapest rate for multi-room bedroom unit with a kitchenette. Now, I understand why WDW has 5 proposed DVCs in the works. Makes good sense to me. I'd rather have a DVC.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, me too. For a while during the recession WDW was discounting rooms so deeply that DVC didn't look very good. But now with room rates going up rapidly and DVC points remaining pretty stable due to the real estate slowdown, DVC looks pretty darned good again.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 I'm just amazed that Disney actually thinks they can fill all of these new hotel rooms at WDW. How many hotels are on property now? With so little in the works for the parks, I can't imagine what they think the new big draw is going to be that's going to get all these families to shell out hundreds of dollars a night to come see the same old stuff? Am I missing something?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Whatever the reason, WDW's Magic Kingdom remains the most visited park in the world.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I'm not sure if families WANT to go there or if they feel they HAVE to go there. That said, if you are a first timer to the Magic Kingdom it is still significant. I think fans/regulars lose sight of that.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<WDW's Magic Kingdom remains the most visited park in the world.>> Agreed - but my point is that they are adding even MORE rooms to the property. That means they must think they're going to be getting even MORE visitors than normal, right? I'm just wondering what is making them assume that attendance at WDW will be even higher than it has been in the past?
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost During the worst weren't they shutting down wings or specific resorts because they couldn't fill them or even have enough to make it worthwhile? Must be things are better then we heard. Another reason might be that in spite of the strength of Universal there still isn't enough there to occupy someone for over three days. So unlike it once was when people went to Disney and ventured over to Uni, they are now going to Uni and spending the rest of their vacation in Disney. Same thing as Disney sees it because it is probably bringing more new people into Disney resorts albeit for a shorter time then before but with increased visitors it results in the same thing for Disney.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz They are adding rooms and trying to steal the business from off property. All those people would still be going to WDW but staying off site. Now Disney hopes for them to move on property. Off course at those prices for a family suite you can do most any other family suite off property including houses and such. Perhaps if Disney feels they have to may hotel rooms on property they will start renovating the deluxe hotels into completed DVC properties...starting with, say,maybe the Polynesian.
Originally Posted By danyoung Keep in mind that you're looking at rack rates. Disney has been consistently discounting their room rates, and I see no reason why they won't be doing so in this case.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <Daannzzz said it, "They are adding rooms and trying to steal the business from off property".> I was doing some reading up on The Art of Animation Resort. Apparently Disney believes they DO need more rooms. WDW believes what gives them the edge of "off property" resorts is the all inclusive WDW vacation packages. Which include transporation too and from the airport, resort, tickets and meal plan. Disney also have been very good at listening to quests needs and there is a high demand for reasonably priced "family Suites" accomodations on property. I think it is a good move for Disney to add a "Family Suite" Resort. Quite frankly Disney needed to do this 10 years ago. <<Another reason might be that in spite of the strength of Universal there still isn't enough there to occupy someone for over three days.>> Intresting observation Goofyernmost. I agree! People are still staying on property. The demand is there. <<During the worst weren't they shutting down wings or specific resorts because they couldn't fill them or even have enough to make it worthwhile?>> Yes, for a while there ( not exactly sure for how long ) Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter to shut down. It was due to the fact that WDW couldn't fill all the rooms for the Moderate resorts. So WDW was progressively shutting down Moderate resorts and doing the best thing possibly by rehabing them. I actually hated this past rehab to Port Orleans Riverside. Before the Alligator Bayou rooms were well themed, like Wilderness Lodge rooms but on a budget. Disney went cheap! They put up plaid curtains, bland bedspreads and are using generic show curtains. Disney use to have the famous "frog" shower curtains in the Alligator Bayou rooms. Remember how there were hidden mickeys in the fabrics on EVERYTHING! Now there are none. <<Yes, me too. For a while during the recession WDW was discounting rooms so deeply that DVC didn't look very good. But now with room rates going up rapidly and DVC points remaining pretty stable due to the real estate slowdown, DVC looks pretty darned good again.>> I couldn't agree more. I did just look at DVC resales and there are bargains to be had. How quickly we forget that you can purchase small blocks of points which are enough to have a week long vacation at WDW every other year. For nearly the same price as how much it would cost to stay in the "new" Art of Animations Resorts Family Suites. I was also looking at the "points" for the new Hawaiian resort. Looks pretty reasonable to me. I guess I'm surprised how on the resale market some DVCs still fetch a higher price per point than other newer DVCs. I guess it truely is location, location, location.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Keep in mind that you're looking at rack rates. Disney has been consistently discounting their room rates, and I see no reason why they won't be doing so in this case.>> I agree danyoung. But, it is not likely Disney is going to greatly reduce the rack rates on a brand new resort like the Art of Animation. And at starting daily rack rate or $320, Ouch! Even if they discounted $100 a night, your still in the realm of DVC pricing. I just don't see the rooms at a brand new resort getting significantly discounted. Ain't gonna happen!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Perhaps if Disney feels they have to may hotel rooms on property they will start renovating the deluxe hotels into completed DVC properties...starting with, say,maybe the Polynesian.>> In my opinion the Poly needs to go. It has outlived it's shelf life. The Poly is sitting on prime real estate and needs to be replaced with an Aulani "like" resort. Put a larger one building or two building resort in the Polys place so guests are not walking outside to get to their rooms.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros <<During the worst weren't they shutting down wings or specific resorts because they couldn't fill them or even have enough to make it worthwhile?>> Was that during the most recent/current recession? I don't think I've heard of any resorts shutting down recently. During the tech bubble/post-9/11 recession, they were doing all kinds of things to save money, but I think they managed fairly well through the recent years. Not as well as they might have hoped, but very well for a 'luxury' (using the word loosely) item that isn't necessary.
Originally Posted By danyoung >I just don't see the rooms at a brand new resort getting significantly discounted. Ain't gonna happen!< It'll go down the same as the opening of DCA. Remember when they weren't offering any APs for DCA, as they thought the full price ticket buyers were gonna storm the place and fill it up each day? Didn't take but a month before the 2-park AP to appear. Same thing here. If the bookings are large, then the price will stay high. But if lots of rooms are left unused, then the discounts will happen really quickly. It'll be interesting to see which way it goes!
Originally Posted By HongKongFoooy let's hope the rooms don't fill up. very bad form to reward stupid things. every one knows that the crowds want more rides not more rooms. pirates of the caribbean, not the caribbean beach, pulls us in. the wildest ride in the wilderness, not the wilderness lodge, gets us to wdw, 4 the most part.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes and no. I really became a fan of WDW after the first time I stayed on-site. The hotels DO make a difference.
Originally Posted By HongKongFoooy i hope you know that rides is just a generalization and should include shows, parades, walk throughs++++++the things that get kids to run for a place in line and adults to feel young again. just sayin, yours truly, Lowden
Originally Posted By HongKongFoooy ok 2 things then. yes, they do make a difference but not that much of a difference for the masses but there are enough rooms already. and when was the last time we saw a super billboard on b-line highway or highway 4 that got us drooling with excitement from a picture of old key west expanding its room selections? the drooling starts when we see tower of terror boards in 1994 or everest coasters in 2005. are you with me? I'm Lowden and it's good to be here.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom HongKongFooy, thanks for being around. Yes, I agree I would like to see more in the parks. However, this particular resort was under construction well over 10 years ago. As far as I'm concerned it is well needed and is going to be a great "draw" to the WDW campus. While the AoA Resort isn't for everyone, Disney is trying to create more "family friendly" accomidations to their collection. In some ways the AoA Resort can be viewed as a blessing as now Disney is not trying to "upsell" first time family visitors to WDW DVC program. I also don't agree with others that just because Disney is devoloping "other" assests means they can't "add" to the WDW parks. If you follow my posts you can easily determine that what I have been stating it that the Disney Company's priority has been on everything else ( and they sure seem to have a lot of their plate ) and NOT the WDW parks. I would like to see the focus BACK on the parks instead of the parks being neglected. I believe the "other assets" and the parks ARE mutually exclusive. You don't have to neglect the parks to improve everything else "in the World". Also, a flaw in some arguements concerning WDW is the belief that any monies the Disney Company has is held constant. Just like the Federal Government, The Disney Company can ( and does ) generate "new" monies by issuing stocks. So, the Disney Company has plenty of money out there if they need it. That being said; my initial comment holds, DVCs are looking like a good investiment for those of us who frequent WDW. And I have actually been on the phone today looking at buying some resale points.
