Originally Posted By Mr X I thought I'd start another topic, since I didn't want to derail the other very interesting one DAR started too much... So, we were chatting about how Dixie Landings was priced (at times) around $250 per night, and someone else had commented about that being "moderately priced". I don't think that is moderate whatsoever. In fact, I'm shocked. What are everyones' thoughts about the Disney motels and hotels price levels these days? Too high? Too low? Reasonable based on the location, or the theming? It seems that even in major expensive cities like Tokyo and London, one can find far less expensive options for even highly regarded properties, which sort of strikes a chord with me...has WDW surpassed even the most expensive places in the world in their pricing structure? Is this really "worth it", anymore? Discuss.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The answer to me is, it depends.... The old mantra of real estate is Location, Location, Location. Personally I am not willing to do it for WDW where the transport is poor, and the service is less than a Holiday Inn Express, but I am willing to pay the prices for the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel Paris - where there are park view rooms, the parks are walkable and the service is good.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I would perhaps consider the Poly, but it would be WDW's last chance in my books. Though I am more likely to stay at Marriott, or Ritz Carlton, 4 Seasons, or Gaylord Palms next time.
Originally Posted By barboy davewas, I have read countless times about how bad WDW hotel service is. What have you encountered?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmm, lack of bell services because they were "busy" (seems no one was around). They confirmed at the front desk we had a no smoking room. After walking ages (after a long flight) the room was smoking. Back to the desk, kids in tears, took speaking with the duty manager nicely to sort it out. Got our room non smoking. Luggage from DME did not arrive until 2am after touching down at 5pm. In the room lights were burnt out and the carpets under the bed had rubbish (for days). The gift shop did not seem interested in helping us find things, and treated us like dirt when we exchanged our Pal Mickey a few times because he didn't work. No room service or food available between 11pm and 7 am (an issue when there with jet lagging toddlers and no car thanks to DME). Not many cast members could be bothered to talk (except the lovely African exchange students). The trimmings bar was rarely stocked in the Mara. We did have some good cast members in Boma and one at Mara though. Also Sarah ripped her jeans on a loose screw on a chair at Mara. When she alerted the cast (so not kids got hurt), they gave her a $40 voucher to replace her trousers - that was good service). Then the buses, we regularly waited between 20-45 minutes for a bus to the park of our choice (2.5 hours to go from Wilderness Lodge to AKL via DTD). In the end we started to use cabs. Now if we were staying at a Value, I wouldn't mind (and most of the DOMs seem to be budget folks or people with cars/DVC). But when you are paying those prices, I do not expect service less than I would get at least at a Holiday Inn Express. And when I tried to speak with a lead at the end of my stay, I was told they were too busy.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Compare this to the Grand Californian where virtually everything was perfect (bell services, 24 hour room service, clean rooms, everything in walk distance, turn down etc.) for less than AKL. Or the Hotel New York at DLP where the rooms are 60% of the WDW deluxes(free waterwings for little ones, 24 hour room service, valet parking, - though bell services were not great). And the DLH at DLP is near perfect, the way I remember even the moderates once being and certainly 4/5* quality.
Originally Posted By fkurucz I think that they are overpriced. This may have happened courtesy of the housing/credit bubble. Now that the "free" money is gone for most people (and worse yet, they are now confronted with having to pay all those loans back), I think that a lot of potential customers will be looking more critically at prices.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think the Disney hotels are priced very fairly. People tend to look at a Value Resort and compare it to a Super 8. Sure, the general construction and room size is about the same. What people forget to include in the comparison is all of the amenities that the Disney resort has that the Super 8 does not. I have never seen a regular 'motel' with the pools, landscaping, foodcourts and bars, and transportation that comes with a Disney Value Resort. Even the more expensive resorts are a good value when you compare it to the room cost at other high-demand tourist areas. You can stay at the Wilderness Lodge for about $275 per night at all times of the year except Peak Season (Spring Break and Christmas-New Years). I think it would be just about impossible to find a room in an equivalent resort in New York City, Washington DC, Chicago or San Francisco at that rate. Maybe you want to stay in the REAL DEAL. Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone. That will cost you close to $200 per night for a room WITHOUT much of anything. The Old Faithful Inn gets very mediocre reviews at Tripadvisor.com. All of a sudden Disney's Wilderness Lodge seems like a pretty good deal. Sure, Yellowstone Park is not right outside your door. But four of the finest Theme Parks in America are. I think that overall Disney Resorts offer excellent value for the money. Sure, the service is nowhere close to what you would get at Four Seasons. But when the WDW Four Seasons opens, I bet the rooms will be substantially more expensive than the rooms at any existing Disney Deluxe Resort.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Yes, there are deals to be had in major cities- but most of the timne this is not the case if something major is going on. Case in point- downtown Chicago-Michigan Avenue being hit with recession like anywhere else. So yes deals can be found many days -- HOWEVER- there was a production of the Magnificent Mile Lights Shows right before Thanksgiving. And Mickey is the grand marshall- many Disney characters on buses - floats etc. -- and guess what? Calling for reservations- being a Member of various hotel chains preferred members clubs meant nothing - full boat on all rooms that weekend in the area. I paid it because we wanted to stay downtown ( 35 miles from the suburb I live in) - and because they had an 'event' going on. Well WDW has an 'event' every day - so based on this comparison they are likely priced appropriately. It's what the market will bear, not what we want unfortunately. Now that being said I find most hotels overpriced for what you recive. Some of the best deals are mid tier or slighly below like Hampton Inn where they have deals as well as breakfast when you are travelling. Not the lap of luxury, but not lousy either.
Originally Posted By danyoung The book prices are always way too high on Disney resort - I wouldn't even stay in a value at rack rate. But if you can get an AP discount of $99 to $125 for a moderate, that's a pretty fair price.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> The old mantra of real estate is Location, Location, Location. Personally I am not willing to do it for WDW where the transport is poor, and the service is less than a Holiday Inn Express, but I am willing to pay the prices for the Grand Californian or the Disneyland Hotel Paris - where there are park view rooms, the parks are walkable and the service is good. << What kind of money or we talking about Dave, at the Grand Californian?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo If I recall, that was about $250 a night including passes for 2 adults and a child.
Originally Posted By MPierce I think the rooms across the board should be cut by 25% based on what you actually receive for your money. I don't really want to spend time knocking the resorts because I'm one of those suckers that pay $300 plus a night for a courtyard view room at the Wilderness Lodge during value season. Having said that I still think they are considerably overpriced for what you end up getting for your money. I would gladly pay more if they vacuumed your room daily, and changed your sheets daily. Provided a Continental breakfast bar, had an inroom microwave, had restaurants that stayed open until 2am, and 24 hour room service. Throw in an efficent transportation system, and I would be chumped into paying even more. Oh Yeah, and towel animals for every room (Sorry Spirit I just couldn't resist)!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Oops, just checked, it was $300 << Is that Park view this time of the year?
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I wouldn't pay $250 a night for POR, but I wouldn't go at a time when the rooms cost $250 a night. We've stayed at POR several times and have never paid that much. Rooms in the suburbs here double their prices during Mardi Gras.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I'm sure also included in the hotel price is the cost of the buses/boats/monorail and ME. I got into an argument here before about whether ME is free or not. One way or another, you are paying for all the "freebies"
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Rooms in the suburbs here double their prices during Mardi Gras. << If your lucky enough to get one! I couldn't even get a room at the Casino in Biloxi because of Mard Gras one year.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> ME is free or not. One way or another, you are paying for all the "freebies" << There's definetly no such thing as a free lunch!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo MPIERCE, that was the 1st week of March. But yes, WDW's business model I am sure includes the transport, ME, and a portion of the maintenance of the whole property (roads, signs, lighting, gardening, pest control etc.) However, the quality of the service in the hotels is subpar compared to the other Disney resorts around the globe, let alone compared to other hotels in the area.
