Walt Disney World General
Topic: Is the pricing of WDW motels/hotels unreasonable?

#	Author	Message
1	Mr X Tue 12/2/2008 7:25a	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.
2	davewasbaloo Tue 12/2/2008 7:30a	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.
3	davewasbaloo Tue 12/2/2008 7:31a	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.
4	barboy Tue 12/2/2008 8:58a	davewas, I have read countless times about how bad WDW hotel service is. What have you encountered?
5	davewasbaloo Tue 12/2/2008 9:14a	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.
6	davewasbaloo Tue 12/2/2008 9:18a	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.
7	fkurucz Tue 12/2/2008 10:21a	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.
8	RoadTrip Tue 12/2/2008 10:54a	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. [quote]Please note that all park accommodations are non-smoking, televisions, radios, air conditioning, and Internet hook-ups are not available. In-room phones are not available at all locations. Cell phone coverage is very limited throughout the park and swimming pools are not available.[/quote] 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.
9	vbdad55 Tue 12/2/2008 11:22a	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.
10	danyoung Tue 12/2/2008 11:30a	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.

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