(Lots) of Room(s) at the Inn(s) ...

Originally Posted By kennect

Spirit, I agree with your comment above and was ready to go off in all directions in response...You know what? It isn't worth it...They basically have lost me as a constant yearly customer...It isn't that the MK is dirty, it is more of the constant changes in policies and pricing...That's fine, I just won't visit as often...We had planned a trip for after the first of the year...At this time I doubt we will do it...I feel sure though that someone else will take our place in a Disney hotel room to make up for us and Disney won't miss our dollars at all....

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

there are cheaper ways than others to do Disney, but It can't be done cheaply. Just the admission media for a family of 4 is not cheap. And sure there are promo codes and secret hand shakes, but you know what. I'll just go some place where they're actually happy to see me.

 

Originally Posted By Brian Noble

<<<I actually feel Disney really 'can' be a value. It just depends on how/when you do a trip.>>>

And also, where. My next trip, during February's Peak season for Disney resorts, will be in a 2BR condo, literally across 192 from the Sherbeth Road entrance to property. Except for MK, I'll have a shorter door-to-turnstile time to the parks than most on-property people will taking Disney buses. Grand total: $304. For the week.

But, how matters too. The next trip after that will be in a 1BR at OKW for four nights over Memorial Day weekend. I got the room through an Interval International exchange, and I used a bonus week to snag it. Total cost to me: $280 for the week redemption, plus another $95 for the DVC inbound extortion, er, exchange fee. Under $100 a night isn't half bad for a 1BR DVC unit in the summer.

We could have stayed the whole week for the same price, but don't really have the time.

For the most part, I just can't ever see myself paying the cash rates for a Disney-owned room given the many other wonderful and affordable options in the Orlando area.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

I wonder how busy it will be at WDW once the bubble pops in Europe? From what I have read their real estate situation is so bubblicious that it makes housing prices in places like SoCal and DC seem like bargains.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Indeed fkurucz. My parent's business (Music School) is feeling it. 5 interest rate hikes in less than a year with variable rate mortgages is hurting people. The economy is precarious here. And travelling to the US is a pain in the rear thanks to all the security measures, it may hit.

even with a strong economy in the UK currently with very low unemployment, although it is great for us to travel and buy from the US, exports are going way down.

Scary times.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

>> oh ... I forget, MPierce, were you saying something or just worshipping at my alter? I forgot. <<

Actually I was just making a big pitcher of Kool-Aid. Just in case...

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<For the most part, I just can't ever see myself paying the cash rates for a Disney-owned room given the many other wonderful and affordable options in the Orlando area.>>

Clearly, Brian, you're a savvy WDW traveler. I sometimes will wind up striking up a conversation with a visitor (usually not a first-timer either) and it shocks me to find out how much they're spending for what I believe is less than what I am getting.

Some people just love the 'Disney magic' and won't consider off-site. I became so disgusted with the lack of upkeep at WDW resorts in the late 90s and early 00s that I went from being on-propery 75% of the time to being off-property 75% of the time. Or staying on property, but at places like the Swan, Dolphin, Wyndham Palace, Hilton etc ...

But I can tell you I haven't paid rack rate at WDW since April of 1998. Even now, with some great renovations, I still won't.

I can get far more off-site for far less.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>> oh ... I forget, MPierce, were you saying something or just worshipping at my alter? I forgot. <<

<<Actually I was just making a big pitcher of Kool-Aid. Just in case...>>

Where is my whip? YOU KNOW I WANT BLOODY MARYS!!!! Keep the Kool-Aid for the Disney execs!!!!

 

Originally Posted By Inspector 57

<<I feel sure though that someone else will take our place in a Disney hotel room to make up for us and Disney won't miss our dollars at all....>>

<<but you know what. I'll just go some place where they're actually happy to see me.>>

With all respect to both of you...

Why are you Personalizing Disney's hotel pricing? Why do you posit that Disney is slapping YOU in the face by not offering lower rates?

Disney has nothing against you as people.

Disney is a business. Specifically, we're talking about the hotel business. In the hotel business, the industry practice is to charge as much as the market will bear.

So, yeah, some Brazilian tour group may be willing to pay room rates that you won't pony up to. Some families from across America may be willing to pay a nominally-reduced rate to stay on property.

If Disney can fill most of their rooms at a relatively high rate, does that make them evil for not offering the rooms to you at at a near-give-away price?

Ay yi yi. Sit down. Once this sinks in, we'll talk about airfare pricing. And automobile pricing. And how beef roasts get reduced at the grocery if they're not purchased close to their "sell by" date.

 

Originally Posted By kennect

Inspector, my comment relates to what Spirit said afterwards....We have never paid rack rates in any of our trips to Disney...And I am not about to start now...Call me cheap if you want to but I love a bargain and you can't believe some of the ones I have gotten over the years at WDW....

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Bargain rates are great for those who can planat short notice. For those of us that need to give major advance warning a fly internationally,there ar greater savings to e had booking flights way in advance and paying posted rates rather than hoping for bargains. Different markets, different approaches.

 

Originally Posted By Brian Noble

No, Dave: the greatest savings are doing what I do---plan your flights well in advance, and stay in much nicer off-property lodging for much less money.

You can rent a fully equipeed 3BR townhome with a private plunge pool in Windsor Hills---a stone's throw away from the Sherbeth entrance---for about the same cost as a Disney Value room.

But, if you must plan in advance, and prefer to stay on-property, nothing prevents you from switching your full-fare advance reservation to a discounted one when the discounts are announced.

 

Originally Posted By Brian Noble

er, that'd be "equipped."

(My kingdom for an Edit function!)

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Problem is Brian, they run some awesome deals on packages here in the UK, but you cannot swap once booked in (or you can, but it costs extra).

I am unlikely to stay on site again however, having bought in to the marriott vacation club, I am more likely to use their facilities - right now 5* 2 bedroom villa is running for $400 for a week in January. Great value and better service than Disney offers.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

^^That sounds pretty good

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Indeed it is fkurucz. I am so glad we bought in to MVCI.

 

Originally Posted By Brian Noble

Yes, those II Getaways are incredible deals in the lower travel times, and the MVCI properties are just super. The next trip I book to Orlando is likely to be an exchange into one of their properties.

 

Originally Posted By kennect

Sorry, Quick question...I got an email today from my Disney Visa card...SS for 149.00 a night...Is that deal in line with what was mentioned above? I am thinking it is....

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

Yes it is.

It's the same deal being offered to APers and Fla residents.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<September is still slower than January ... even with the free dining annually>>

Wow. That runs counter to what the guide books usually say. It wouldn't really surprise me though... September weather sucks and January weather is usually very nice.

As for the main topic...

I think part of it is the usual Disney discounts during a slow time of the year. But I think that the tanking economy may be playing an increasingly larger part in this.

Everyone's cash cow, their home, is losing value quicker than last year's Ford. The rich are getting richer while everyone else is getting poorer and unemployment is up. Consumer confidence is almost as low as Bush's ratings and interest rates are increasing. Oil is selling at all time highs.

What's not to love?

The $4 coffee places (Starbucks, etc.) are facing significantly decreasing sales due to the economy. When things get tight people cut back on luxuries first. Like $4 cups of coffee. Like Disney vacations.

Pretty soon only rich folks like the Spirit, vbdad and me will still be going to Disney.

;-)