Rumor of future discounts

[Zippa D Doodah]

Am I the only one who thinks Walt Disney would be turning over in his grave if he could see what has happened to his parks? Sure, they have always been there to make money, but the stockholders seem to have lost sight of the middle-class family and what they can afford seeing as the economy is what it is. Not only "fair market pricing", but also quality and value for the price. I think Walt would be ashamed of what has happened.

Hard to say, but remember ol' Walt was a confirmed unabashed capitalist.

 

[KELLY]

Thank you! Waiting for a discount isn't fun. I am totally willing and able to spend $125 on a moderate. At a fair market price this would be entirely possible. I'm the LAST person to complain about the price of things at Disney parks... we go to Disneyland at least once a month and buy every meal there, plus lots of merchandise. But we can't afford to stay on property there, even with an AP discount. Waiting for a WDW discount so we can stay on property is sucking all the fun out of things. And hearing about people getting huge discounts just a few weeks before we will be there or that they got a PIN for Free Dining DURING our dates, is just *sigh* disheartening! Why not us? Thank you for commiserating!

I hate to bring bad news. But I do have a discount at a moderate and for a standard room at CBR it is 157.00 wit tax. This is only for one night before our FD package starts.

There is no way we could afford a moderate without Free dining. I priced out the vacation with the room only discount at a moderate added the same tickets and dining plan and it was 800.00 more than our FD package.

If Free dining wasn't offered we would be in a value for sure. I really have no problems staying at a value at all. But if we stay at a value we usually do the QSDP and tend to spend less there. Beacuse we don't need to leave tips and don't need to buy mugs ect . We don't need to buy extra snacks in the parks.

For us to upgrade to CBR was around 730.00 more for 9 nights 10 days. So really disney wins with giving me a discount I just pick a more expensive place to stay. I'm still spending the same amount of money if I had no discount. Plus I'm spending more in general at the parks ect.

 

[klmall]

Like many of you, my wife and I have recently booked a trip to Disney with hopes of receiving some sort of pin/discount. We have made it a tradition for us to book a Dec. holiday trip as our 2nd vacation of the year or a mini-vacation because we felt in past years it was affordable to do so. Not so much now with the way they've been raising their rates.

What bothers me the most, however, is not just their absurd rack rates (I think it's even more absurd they raise their rates and market themselves mainly to the average family of 4) but it's the RANDOMNESS of how they give out their discounts. We hate the fact that we have to play the waiting game and see whether or not the Disney Gods choose to smile on us and reward us with a PIN. Why can't Disney at least have a clear cut rewards system or better guidelines stating how one can qualify for a discount. I feel like we are all part of some big game they're playing with us.

We can afford to go this Decemeber whether we get a discount or not. But we both decided that if we don't get a PIN we are not going because as others have said, Disney is just not being honorable by giving some people random discounts and others nothing forcing them to pay over market rates. More so, there are tons of other people out there who continue to faithfully go year after year and have never received a PIN at all. We feel Disney is not doing anything for their loyal guests which is very frustrating.

I applaud your thinking. Disney is one of the few big businesses who do not care about repeat customers (other than the token "Bounce-Back" offer with its conditions) and rewards. Heck, even my office supply company is currently given me additional reward points for nothing more than buying toner that I needed anyway. Please follow through on your idea and let Disney know! We feel the same way.

 

[SarahD]

Has anyone priced Pop for next year? There is a new category - used to be standard and preferred. There will be a preferred pool view, which is higher still. Wonder what took them so long to think of that?

 

[AVITWeb]

I think it's interesting to read the responses to these "rumors". First and foremost no one really knows what Disney's master plan, you can only speculate. Secondly it seems as though I'm noticing that many of you who have visted Disney very frequently seem the most upset by the idea of no discounts as opposed to someone like me who goes once every 5 or 6 years. When I plan for Disney I never plan on getting a discount. If we get one great, if we don't, no worries bc I'm paying what I expected to pay. Another thing I've noticed is that many seem to expect or feel entitled to a discount. Disney is a business like any other and the reality is none of us "need" to go there. We go there because we "want" to go there. I agree prices are ridiculous and overinflated but it is what it is, that's whay you pay for "magic" . If you want to go to Disney, you have to expect to pay their prices. None of us are entitled to a deal or discount. If they don't have discounts and you can't afford to go at rack rates, than you stay off site, or you don't go period. It's no different than going clothes shopping. I can walk into a high end store and want a pair of $200 blue jeans, I am not entitled to a discount just because I want them. If I can afford them I can get them, if not I walk out and go into another store and purchase a cheaper pair or go home and keep saving my money. Disney is a massive company and I'm sure they've done their research and crunched the numbers and forecasted the future quite sophisticatedly, they no doubt have a plan that will always revolve around them making the most profit they can (they've done pretty good at it thus far). My 2cents, plan a vacation you can afford with no discounts and in the event there is one it's like a little bonus.

I am in the same boat and I tend to agree with what you are saying to some extent. But my point is that it has become so expensive, if they really want to ween people off of discounts, they really should consider lowering prices for certain things and raising them to a more realistic level in others. Dining is a big one. They could go more dollar wise for dining and it will still be a bargain.

 

[jackglick]

We are dvc members. We usually stay 8-9 nights. 5 nights on points and the other 4 on cash. Next year we are going to do 4 nights at universal and just stay at Disney on points. The cash reservations are getting too high for us.

 

[jcemom]

Has anyone priced Pop for next year? There is a new category - used to be standard and preferred. There will be a preferred pool view, which is higher still. Wonder what took them so long to think of that?

Hmm...I might actually be okay with that category, because it's exactly what I wouldn't want, lol. I'm not crazy about Pop, but if I stayed there again, I'd like to be able to book a preferred room without any chance of getting one overlooking the noisy pool.

 

[nrpofp]

I applaud your thinking. Disney is one of the few big businesses who do not care about repeat customers (other than the token "Bounce-Back" offer with its conditions) and rewards. Heck, even my office supply company is currently given me additional reward points for nothing more than buying toner that I needed anyway. Please follow through on your idea and let Disney know! We feel the same way.

I am booked with a bounceback offer. There was a very limited selection of rooms available when I booked. I have been trying to upgrade to cl with no luck even though cl level rooms are available at rack rate. You would think if someone wants to buy a cl room they would just sell it too them. I also think if someone is willing to make 2 trips in one year they should be able to book the dates and room type they want at a discount. It would be nice if disney had a point system or some type of reward system.

 

[rocg]

Like many of you, my wife and I have recently booked a trip to Disney with hopes of receiving some sort of pin/discount. We have made it a tradition for us to book a Dec. holiday trip as our 2nd vacation of the year or a mini-vacation because we felt in past years it was affordable to do so. Not so much now with the way they've been raising their rates.

What bothers me the most, however, is not just their absurd rack rates (I think it's even more absurd they raise their rates and market themselves mainly to the average family of 4) but it's the RANDOMNESS of how they give out their discounts. We hate the fact that we have to play the waiting game and see whether or not the Disney Gods choose to smile on us and reward us with a PIN. Why can't Disney at least have a clear cut rewards system or better guidelines stating how one can qualify for a discount. I feel like we are all part of some big game they're playing with us.

We can afford to go this Decemeber whether we get a discount or not. But we both decided that if we don't get a PIN we are not going because as others have said, Disney is just not being honorable by giving some people random discounts and others nothing forcing them to pay over market rates. More so, there are tons of other people out there who continue to faithfully go year after year and have never received a PIN at all. We feel Disney is not doing anything for their loyal guests which is very frustrating.

Sbunit...i could not agree with you more..we have been to disney 25 times have averaged between 8000 and 10,000 $ per trip..i wrote to disney explaining to them how i have been loyal to you told them what i had spent..and have never received a pin..so i told them that i am going to start staying at universal to see if they at least take care of their loyal quests..guess what they never even replied...Walt where are you..

 

[PFopma]

I've been traveling to Disney since 1973. There are so many great places to travel besides Disney and so many great travel bargains. In the past few years I have taken a few trips that gave me a lot of bang for my buck. I went to Hawaii (2 islands) for 8 days in May and we paid $1100 per person including Hotels (a B&B and two hotels on the beach - Waikiki and Kaanapali), car rental, day tours, some meals. We were able to cash in some frequent flyer miles for airfare from the East Coast. In Sept we are going to Washington DC. Three people, 4 nights hotel and train for around $800 Total. There are plenty of discounts out there if you research.

I plan on doing a Disney trip next year (it's been 5 years) but if I can get more for my money elsewhere that's were I will be.

 

[saskdw]

This comparison clearly outlines exactly how over priced Disney Deluxe hotels are at rack rate. Thank you for your informative post. My family typically stays deluxe at Disney, but with their prices going up, one has to really start questioning, even if you can afford it, is staying at a Disney deluxe the best way to spend my vacation money?

Exactly my thoughts. This isn't just about people who can't afford to go at rack rate, it's also about people who can afford it but see there is better value for their dollar elsewhere. As I stated before they don't need to be the cheapest because they are the best game in town, but they do need to come to the party.

 

[saskdw]

Havoc315, thanks for starting this thread, it has been a very healthy discussion. Can we stay on topic though? I don't want to see this thread ruined by arguing over Walt's philosophical beliefs.

 

[LisaTC]

This comparison clearly outlines exactly how over priced Disney Deluxe hotels are at rack rate. Thank you for your informative post. My family typically stays deluxe at Disney, but with their prices going up, one has to really start questioning, even if you can afford it, is staying at a Disney deluxe the best way to spend my vacation money?

I just quickly priced a few things out for a real numbers comparison. This for my family to stay this December from the 14th-28th.
The numbers are fees and taxes paid for room only.

Disney Contemporary Resort:

Standard room: $6924
Tower theme park room : $8792

Hard Rock Universal(stay more save more promo):

Standard Room: $3418
Club Level: $4782

Bonnet Creek Hilton (On Disney property beside CBR).

Booking through LastMinuteTravel: $1732
Rack Rate: $2220

These 3 hotels are all comparable for room size, amenities, and overall luxury. The Bonnet Creek Hilton is arguably the nicest resort of the 3. So you can see Disney is really not in the game at their prices. It's not even close. Yes I will pay more for the Disney atmosphere and the extras like the bus service, but the price difference here is crazy. Again, its not about what I can afford, its a matter of fair value.

The Hilton Bonnet would be our choice if not staying on property. That is a good rate, plus we have Hilton Rewards. Disney Deluxe resorts seem really overpriced...now sure how they maintain that, but clearly they are able to (?) Thanks for providing this interesting breakdown.

This is an interesting post OP, but really didn't surprise me at all. It's marketing and economics, draw people in, change the rules. It happens everywhere in every facet of American life.

 

[esmetutu]

The Hilton Bonnet would be our choice if not staying on property. That is a good rate, plus we have Hilton Rewards. Disney Deluxe resorts seem really overpriced...now sure how they maintain that, but clearly they are able to (?) Thanks for providing this interesting breakdown.

This is an interesting post OP, but really didn't surprise me at all. It's marketing and economics, draw people in, change the rules. It happens everywhere in every facet of American life.

Hilton Bonnet Creek looked great, but there's no availability for our dates.

 

[Sbunit]

Sbunit...i could not agree with you more..we have been to disney 25 times have averaged between 8000 and 10,000 $ per trip..i wrote to disney explaining to them how i have been loyal to you told them what i had spent..and have never received a pin..so i told them that i am going to start staying at universal to see if they at least take care of their loyal quests..guess what they never even replied...Walt where are you..

You know, I was actually thinking about doing the same thing.

2 years ago my wife and I went to Disney and brough along both sets of parents with us (it was our parent's first time ever to disney). Last year we decided to invite another couple with us on our yearly trip (it was also their very first time to Disney). In each case we all stayed in Deluxe resorts and added Deluxe Dining meal plans (we actually got free dining when we went with our parents BUT it excluded DxDP and we had to pay the difference for it).

Not only have we been going year after year and spending good money on their "higher end" accomodations and dining plans, but on top of all this we introduced 6 new guests to Walt Disney World who may return again and spend more of their money on Disney. I basically referred new customers to Disney and Disney has never recognized my loyalty. FWIW, I am a (young) healthcare practitioner with a (thriving) private practice so it bothers me more that Disney does not reward their loyal guests, especially ones who refer NEW guests to them (as we do in our office and how every business should be doing).

It's not just about getting the elusive pin. It's how unfair Disney is to it's customers. It bothers me to possibly find out one couple may have gotten a 40% off PIN and on the same exact week of their trip, a family of 4+ may have to pay full rack rate even though they did the same exact things to try and get a pin but weren't choosen for no apparent reason. And there's no clear logic or explaination to why one family gets it and not the other (who may deserve it way more). It just turns us off and we aren't going to participate in their games. If there's no general discount to the public or some sort of discount we are not going this year.

I'm strongly thinking of writing to Disney just to try to get the message across

 

[twoplustwins]

Hilton Bonnet Creek looked great, but there's no availability for our dates.

you might check with Ken Price at vacationupgrades.com for Wyndham Bonnet Creek availability.

 

[diskids2]

I am booked with a bounceback offer. There was a very limited selection of rooms available when I booked. I have been trying to upgrade to cl with no luck even though cl level rooms are available at rack rate. You would think if someone wants to buy a cl room they would just sell it too them. I also think if someone is willing to make 2 trips in one year they should be able to book the dates and room type they want at a discount. It would be nice if disney had a point system or some type of reward system.

Agree...agree...agree. Like many of you have said...we are repeat customers and I am sick of dealing with the pin game. Bottom line is...if I want to go and pay rack...I'll go and pay rack. I'll decide if it is a good value for me at that time...I'll go...problem is...the way they are pricing and cutting out services....I am finding it harder and harder to see the good value.

We have already (for the last two years) cut out some days from WDW and stayed onsite at Universal. More money for Universal...less money for WDW....

 

[Monny2AE]

I agree with the fact that Disney hotel rooms are WAY overpriced for the average family.

Right now I'm comparing 8 nights this November at CBR $1509.75 VS. 8 nights at Buena Vista Suites for $666 using the Mousesavers discount. It's a $843.75 difference!

Buena Vista is a 1 room suite (larger room than CBR), no hidden fees like resort or parking fees, and they include a breakfast buffet for each night's stay. We've always stayed on property but in this economy and with some of the other offers from offsite hotels, it's not rocket science to figure out what's the better deal. Without a discount of some sort to bring Disney prices down at least a little closer to the average of offsite places, it just might be our first trip staying offsite.

Disney has made it more and more difficult for my family to go as often as we would like to. We're not going to drain our savings for a vacation. With this economy, our jobs could be history at any time and having that money in the bank as a cushion is worth more to us than going every year to Disney. With Disney prices being what they are, our trips will be every 2-3 years now.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I think Disney should eliminate the PIN system for a loyalty program. Much more fair and less complex.

Stop even the general discounts. Make it a point system that we can collect then decide on rewards...percentage off, FD, upgrades, etc.

 

[drgnfly30]

I've been traveling to Disney since 1973. There are so many great places to travel besides Disney and so many great travel bargains. In the past few years I have taken a few trips that gave me a lot of bang for my buck. I went to Hawaii (2 islands) for 8 days in May and we paid $1100 per person including Hotels (a B&B and two hotels on the beach - Waikiki and Kaanapali), car rental, day tours, some meals. We were able to cash in some frequent flyer miles for airfare from the East Coast. In Sept we are going to Washington DC. Three people, 4 nights hotel and train for around $800 Total. There are plenty of discounts out there if you research.

I plan on doing a Disney trip next year (it's been 5 years) but if I can get more for my money elsewhere that's were I will be.

Totally agree.. for quite a few years I couldn't imagine a vacation anywhere but WDW but for the last 3 years we've been spending the majority our hard earned vacation money elsewhere.

For the cost that some of you are quoting for your Disney vacations I could take two or three 10-night Mexican Riveria All-inclusive Resort vacations (an ACTUAL resort) where you are pampered & waited on day & night. An Adults Only resort I may add, which for DH & I is an added benefit (because our kids are much older now & the last thing we think is relaxing is a sea of strollers bashing into our ankles all day long).

Honestly if it wasn't for the fact that I was just blessed with free park hoppers (thanks to my employer) and a $100 off 4 nights Orbitz deal (which brought my POP stay to $71.xx a night), I wouldn't be spending a dime at Disney this year... or the foreseeable future!