Originally Posted By dshyates Would I prefer it to be another 300 yards down the street so its off Disney property? You know, I simply don't care anymore.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Why would anyone who has a problem paying $40 a night, even consider going to WDW? I couldn't justify paying for 14 nights at the Poly for our next trip, so we're doing WL instead. But I save up money BEFORE going. I'm not going to let my vacation break me, but it is part of the reason I work.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<See these rates hold true for most places but not Orlando. This August you could get a room at the Ritz Carlton for $199 a night. Anywhere else it would have been no less than $275. With the complex they have, most places more like $325.>> A very good point. I've even used that Ritz example as why people were crazy to be staying on property. But they do have great rates at other locales. Just few and far between. They recently emailed an offer for Jamaica for $150 a night, but it was very limited dates and (sadly) I couldn't take advantage. <<The rack rate in otown is out of sync with the rest of the country. Where else can you get a room at a Quality Inn for $39.00 a night. I live in BFE, WV and the rooms at the interstate exit run no less that $64.00 at the Hampton Inn.>> The average room rate in the USA for 2006 was $107 a night. So O-Town is definitely discount land USA because, like Disney, the major hotel companies all got greedy and overbuilt. I'm not in that business, but I'd rather operate 10 hotels in a market with an average rate of $200 a night, then 22 with an average rate of $69. Real estate, labor, insurance etc ... all count. <<As a Marriott Rewards member we stay at a lot of Courtyards, Fairfields, Springhill, and Residence Inns It is not uncommon to find one in the $75-$95 range (Not Residence they are more expensive), which is in the rack rate range of the all stars and cheaper than the moderates.>> It really depends on the markets. My experience is most often those places are over the $100 mark where I travel. <<If they put a Courtyard in walking distance of a DtD type complex, and I can get a room there cheaper than a moderate then that is where I'll be.>> But that's just it. They won't. Disney isn't completely stupid (even if many of its execs are). You put Courtyards and Hilton Garden Inns and other mid-level type places on property and charge LESS than a MODERATE well ... c'mon, most people aren't Disney nuts, most people see little difference between staying at the DD Hilton and Port Orleans or the Poly ... they're all 'on property' after all. If a Courtyard is what gets built you can bet your pension (oh wait, we don't have those in the USA anymore!) that the rates won't be less than WDW mods. That's why I see very, very basic motels ... Sleep Inn, Motel 6, maybe Fairfield Inn types ...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I'm sure The Four Seasons will pamper your bottom off.< yes indeed they will
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>aren't looking big picture ... much like when they sold off the Newport Beach DVC land ... so it could become the crown jewel of Marriott Vacation Club <<< Yep, can't wait to stay there in February, and this dumbing down of Disney is why we will opt to stay at the MVCI properties next time, and only do a few things at WDW opting for some of the other upscale options in the Orlando area instead.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>It just blows me away at how people will settle for lower quality simply because its Disney. I don't care as long as its nice. The all-stars aren't nice. The Moderates are ok. But for moderate prices you can stay at a marriott resort not 2 miles away. And its MUCH nicer than the moderates.<<< Yep, we stayed at AKL last year - 5 of us for 10 days - $6000. And service was average at best. We just got back from 8 days at Marriott Vacation Club Mallorca - $400 (plus our ownership costs) and the service was awesome. Another nail in my coffin of Disneyfandom. Disney has slipped so far down the totem pole it is laughable. It's a shame as the architecture of some of the resorts is pretty awesome, but the service and maintenance (or lack of) has now gotten to me. Next spring will be an interesting experience for us. We will be spending 4 nights at a Renaissance, 1 night Marriott, 1 night Holiday Inn, 7 nights at the Vacation Club in Newport Beach and 5 nights at the Grand Californian - of those, Disney is THE MOST expensive, but it will be interesting to see who offers the best experience. I will be reporting back.
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn "Flamingo Crossings" sounds like a Florida dog track. Hey ... wait a minute
Originally Posted By Brian Noble >>>the Newport Beach DVC land ... so it could become the crown jewel of Marriott Vacation Club<<< Crazy like a fox perhaps. From what I hear over at TUG/TS4MS, NCV isn't selling all that well. Empirically, it's one of the easier MVCI properties to exchange into except during peak summer season.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I'm sure The Four Seasons will pamper your bottom off. << I bet they change the bedding, and vacuum each, and every day I'm there, at least. It's very true about folks settling for less because it's Disney. I was guilty of it also. I love staying at the Wilderness Lodge so much I managed to overlook just how little I was getting for $300+ during value season. When you only go once a year you tend to overlook some things so as not to spoil your vacation. My wife stopped overlooking these things a couple of years back. Now that I am retired every day is a vacation for me. I can be a little more particular.
Originally Posted By Lake Nona >>Flamingo Crossings sounds like a Florida dog track.<< Hey good one. The name sound like a retro 80's tv show like Miami Vice. About the lodging, watch them put up a "Pixar Resort" just like the Nick off World Drive.
Originally Posted By dshyates I have been saying that I would welcome this development. Well I went back and looked at the art work that was released back in march. And I must have forgotten that I wasn't impressed. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2sabq8" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/2sabq8</a> I have to admit I don't like it nearly as much as AGW, but it does look like it may have fairfield/courtyard level hotels. But I wouldn't be surprised if a Super 8 showed up there. The overall look is really plain and reminds me of what Disney already built over on 192 in Celebration. Where the Joe's Crab Shack is. I would imaging there will be a Joe's at Flamingo Crossings also. It won't totally suck, but it could be nicer. It also doesn't look like there will be very much there.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<True Brian, Koa Olina seems to be the one everyone wants in MVCI.>> And why Disney is building there, although they'll have to 'create' their own cove and beach ... but I'm sure I'll have a spirited visit soon after it opens.
Originally Posted By dshyates This is a recap of my comments on another thread about AGW. From the Orlando Sentinal article linked at the top of this thread. "...services that tourists, Disney employees and area residents might need, such as groceries, toiletries or basic clothing -- thereby competing with area shopping centers and outlet stores". "Generally speaking, it's your typical shopping center that you see along the interstate," Reedy Creek Administrator Ray Maxwell said. Its an interstate exit shopping center designed to compete with the outlets. Spirit, upon further research, I withdraw my approval of this project. Just like at the All Stars. They insult lower income people by assuming that they shop at the outlet mall because they LIKE the outlet mall. In fact so much so that when they vacation at Disney World they would actually want to STAY at the outlet mall. One more, even more disgusting thought. I'm not sure those hotels are for people actually going to WDW. Being there at the interstate exit and looking at what's going in there. I believe Disney is actually going into the interstate outlet mall business, and I bet money there will be little indicator that when you are there, you are on Disney property. You'll be very aware WDW is close by the merchendise in the stores and the mouse ears on the tourists, but it won't say Disney anywhere. Just Reedy Creek
Originally Posted By jmuboy "About the lodging, watch them put up a "Pixar Resort" just like the Nick off World Drive." ......I thought that's what WDW was turning into. Was I wrong? ;-)
