Staying At The Resort.... Not Anymore

Originally Posted By schnebs

<<Difficulty with driving to places in WDW is mostly in the mind.>>

I so disagree with this statement - not because the drive itself is tricky, but because of central Florida drivers. Between the folks who apparently learned to drive by watching NASCAR, the folks who aren't really sure how to operate everything on their rental cars, and the people who can't figure out how to read a map , I feel like I'm taking my life into my hands every time I drive in Orlando. (This is coming from a native of SoCal, BTW.)

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

I wasn't talking about crazy drivers, but frankly you will find them anyplace you go. I was talking about finding your way around WDW. Lot's of signage and lot's of room.

I never had a problem with driving around Orlando and Kissimmee either. Never seemed any thing different to me, now that you mention it.

 

Originally Posted By SuperDry

<<< Between the folks who apparently learned to drive by watching NASCAR, the folks who aren't really sure how to operate everything on their rental cars, and the people who can't figure out how to read a map , I feel like I'm taking my life into my hands every time I drive in Orlando. >>>

Yea, it's kind of like one gigantic airport road system, but with everyone driving 3x as fast.

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

Don't forget to add in the throngs of impatient Disney cast members driving to and from work.

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

i just saw on another board a discussion about price hikes for the food carts at WDW. Has anybody noticed price hikes for water churros etc at DL?
Do you think they will increase the ticket prices again soon. It seems I saw comments about that also?

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

I saw in Micechat's update Friday morning that there were increases for churros, bottled drinks, etc. at DL this week as well.

I would think that another round of ticket price increases might be coming, since they traditionally did that at the end of the summer, though with this year's huge increase in the spring, we may be getting a bit of relief from it.

 

Originally Posted By wahooskipper

In Orlando I highly recommend the Hilton Bonnett Creek. The hotel is very close to the Caribbean Beach and Epcot area. Free transportation to the parks was as good or better than anything on property outside of staying at a monorail resort.

The resort pool is better than anything on Disney property in my opinion. Just something to consider before writing off area accommodations.

If you don't mind a drive I also recommend the Caribe Royale and the Lake Eve Resort...both 10 minutes or less from Epcot.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

I think staying on-site still makes sense at WDW. I just got back from a WDW/Disney Cruise vacation. Because we used all of our DVC points booking two staterooms on the Dream (one for us, one for brother and sister-in law) we were staying on cash. We stayed at the All-Star Music for about $90 a night and found it to be very enjoyable. Sure, it is a "no frills" resort and the rooms are small, but I slept just as well there as I've ever slept at the Boardwalk. The service we received from hotel staff was just as good as anything I've ever received at the Deluxe resorts... perhaps better. They seem to realize they are an "entry level" resort for many people new to WDW and do their best to leave a good first impression.

They do not have a table service restaurant, but I rarely eat anything but breakfast at my hotel anyway. You can get a convenient and modestly priced breakfast at the Food Court, which is more than I can say for the Boardwalk. At the Boardwalk there is NO PLACE to eat breakfast, other than getting pastries at the bakery.

If you take into account $14 per day for parking at the parks and the $30 a day you would pay for a rental car, your "real cost" is only $46 a night... hard to beat that!

We drove to Florida this year so transportation was not an issue for us. Still, we always took the buses to the parks... I don't like having to drive when I'm on vacation (we drove plenty just getting there). We never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. We did use our car to get to a dinner at 'Ohana... hotel to hotel transportation using Disney transit is a time-consuming hassle.

As for DL, I've stayed on-site there three times with my DVC points, but there is NO WAY I would pay $500 a night for the "privilege" of staying on site.

We are planning a trip to DL next year, but since we will be using all of our DVC points on a longer cruise next year, we will be staying at one of the hotels on Harbor Blvd using cash. No way would I spend what Disney is charging for their DL hotels!

 

Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder

It's now been about a month since I first posted this thread, so I thought I'd check the rates again. Some people suggested rates might change for the better as the time grew closer, and since that has happened occasionally, I figured I'd look into it.

Not a chance.

As of this morning, rates for non-passholders at Paradise Pier on December 15 for one night are $305.00 plus tax. Passholders, $321.75 which includes tax, PLUS a $15 parking fee they tack on at check out (for both rates).

Disneyland Hotel non-pass rates $400.00 plus tax, passholder rates $421.20 including tax plus the parking.

Grand Californian non-pass rate $500.00 plus tax, passholder rate $526.50 which includes the tax but plus the parking fee.

Insanity.

And again, for you locals, or even non-locals who would like something different, the Langham Huntington Pasadena, formerly the Ritz Carlton Huntington Pasadena, a historic Five Star Hotel, the rate for December 15 for a Deluxe room (basic) is now $186.15 if you book 45 days in advance. Also, if you so desire, you can book a suite at the Langham in advance that is 850-950 square feet in size (twice the size of a normal room anywhere) which includes a separate parlor, a four poster bed, french doors leading to a garden and an Italian marble bathroom. The rate is $410.02, all inclusive.

 

Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder

I should add I mention the December 15 date because that's my wife's birthday and it's when we've stayed over the years.

 

Originally Posted By CuriousConstance

Try again a couple weeks ahead of the date. They might offer quick discounts to fill rooms that haven't been booked yet.

Probably not, but you never know.

 

Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder

"Try again a couple weeks ahead of the date. They might offer quick discounts to fill rooms that haven't been booked yet.

Probably not, but you never know."

Well, even if I did, it will be too late. November and December are always busy for us and we need to plan. That's why I was checking a month ago. Too many other things we having going on.

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

Sorry to hear about this since it is your anniversary tradition.
I have been searching for discounts also for Disneyland resorts for next summer. Believe it or not they are even more expensive and your rates look like a discount...

Count your blessings if you are a local and can enjoy DL without hotel fees and airplane. And just for fun pretend you are out-of-towner and try to see exactly what it would cost for that pretend trip. I know the passes keep getting more expensive but you really do have home park advantage.

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

The beauty of DL is exactly what the problem was for good old Walt. There are many affordable hotels within walking distance from the parks that are not owned by Disney.

Unless, one is so hooked on the immersion aspect that they are willing to pay extortion type rates for a place to sleep, none of the hotels on property are necessary. JMHO, but true.

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

i agree with you for myself= but once a year treat for my grandchildren and using it as combo birthday and holiday presents= At the current rates it feels more like a downpayment on a DVC timeshare instead of a 4/5day visit.

 

Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub

Also, goofyrnmost, beware of the rising rates for those hotels off property in the Disneyland area. Perhaps those family owned properties are making even larger profits if you factor in minimum updates ,etc..They have found many ways to add hidden fees recently just as Disney seems to accomplish.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

<Well, even if I did, it will be too late. November and December are always busy for us and we need to plan. That's why I was checking a month ago. Too many other things we having going on.>

Understood, but most places will let you cancel your reservation without penalty 24 or 48 hours before your stay. So if you booked at property X for the birthday, you can rest easy knowing you've got it booked and set. Then if you feel like it, you can check DLR hotels a week or so in advance and see if they're selling any cheap due to not being full. Unlikely, but possible. You might then decide to book there and cancel the original reservation.

My guess is that DLR hotels are going to be well-booked and thus very expensive for at least a couple more years.

 

Originally Posted By Liberty Belle

Yeah, I'm having a similar problem. I'm heading over with a friend next year for our 30th birthdays, and we both want to stay at the Grand (it's only her second trip to Disneyland and she stayed off-site last time), but I'm not sure if it will be an option. It's over $500 a night with taxes then as well, and I don't know if we can justify it for a trip that will be over three weeks in total (only 3 nights at Disneyland). It's a bit hard to justify when non-Disney hotels are the same cost for the entire three nights as the Grand is for one.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

I find it refreshing that people are finally recognizing that the Anaheim Disney owned hotels are a rip off.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

Well, they always had tremendously high rack rates, but you could usually do better than that (we stayed at the DLH our last two trips and did considerably better than rack).

Since CarsLand and with having even better occupancy than usual, it sounds like they're basically selling at rack for now all the time.

And they will for as lomg as they can get it. That's capitalism.