A Disney World Story That's Realistic About The Costs!?
I'm not going to go into a lot of details but the "larger family" concern is one that Disney is hearing, and addressing. Disney knows it is losing business to off property condo hotels and suite hotels. (Well, perhaps they aren't "losing business" but it is an under addressed market segment.) I am an Annual Passholder and huge Disney fan. When my Annual Pass expires I will have visited Orlando at least 10 times and spent around 20 room nights. I've not once stayed on Disney property this year even though I love the Disney hotels because I can get a much better value off property.
Next month I'll be staying at a two bedroom condo hotel no more than 10 minutes from the Ticket and Transportation Center for about $120 per night. It has a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms and dining area. One King bedroom, one 2 twin bedroom, a living room with a Queen sofa, and room for a few air mattresses (if I needed them). With my AP I don't pay the $20+ for parking on each visit. And, with the kitchen we take breakfast food which saves us $.
It is safe to say that Disney could build some properties to capture these dollars and, as I understand it, they are looking to do that very thing. Will those properties be on the monorail line? I doubt it.
I guess my frustration is Everyone has a hard time when I use the word reasonable or affordable. What would everyone like me to say where is the price point that we can gauge it by. We are in the United States we know what the average median income is . And we know on average what a memorable and great experience will cost us. So what do we say the dollar amount is I get the fact that it's a business and they want to make money but did we not agree to charge a family $10-$15,000 to sleep for six nights is not ludicrous Forget about the fact it's Disney World but also keep in mind that's just sleeping accommodations .can you honestly say that doesn't cater to the top 10% who else can afford to pay that price.Do the math.
I agree with wahoo. And that is my point that Disney can afford to build some moderately priced rooms and they don't have to be on the mono rail and if Disney is addressing how to accommodate larger families I think that's wonderful .
It makes great economic sense to stay in a large home all property that may be a great option that I may do on my next visit. But I do also enjoy the experience of staying at a Disney hotel. I honestly do agree with all the newspapers that unless you whipped out a black American Express card 95% of people will never see those $10-$15,000 rooms
The problem Isn't the words you're using. The problem Is that you think you should be entitled to a luxury and are upset that you can't afford it. Why not address what Jeff posted about finding alternate 6 person rooms on site?
None of us here ultimately care that Disney charges what they charge for a monorail resort.
"Disney doesn't have rooms that sleep 6" he says.. right after a post that Jeff made, listing at least 3 or 4 on-property resorts that have single rooms for 6.
Try to get one of those room. I can only go when my kids are out of school in November and later summer. There are only a handful of those room available and its like hitting the lottery to get one.....I ;m not making this stuff to make you feel better to trash on me.
Tekwardo, understand this, I don't get upset over a vacation or do I think I am entitled to anything in this world. I work for everything I have.
If you read what I am saying you might understand.I enjoy Disney as much as the next person. Listen to what I am saying......I would like WDW to offer options to LARGER FAMILIES. I can read and use a computer and I know how to check for availability for a room. And when I put in my dates and the rooms comes back at $8000.00 or much much more for a week I say WOW this is insane.....if you don't agree that's fine, that's your opinion but to the rest of the hard working middle class families this is off the hook no mater what the experience brings. Its not a life saving kidney machine or a cancer therapy its a room to sleep in and nothing more. You can go on and on about what WDW means to you or what tingle it give you up and down your spine but I am putting it in perspective with reality. And that my friend is my opinion.
This conversation can go on and on for ever. I see and understand everyone's very passionate about WDW and they get their feeling hurt when someone says something they feel is negative but put your feeling aside. Its funny how television and newspaper articles can make this point to the public more often than not and no one seems to acknowledge it. I like Disney too and not at all trying to say anything negative....I am only trying to say some constructive criticism on how they should and could make more accommodations for larger families. If you feel that I am a bad guy for this then so be it.
"It's a room to sleep in." This a big reason we stay off property. I'm more comfortable when my children can be in one room and my wife and I can be in another. Add in other family members (I'm traveling with the in-laws next month) and that is even more true. But, the reality is we spend most of our time in the parks and just go back to the room to sleep. If I'm not on the monorail line then the bus is no more convenient than my own car and I'll likely get back to my hotel faster in my car.
I can go to Disney and get two rooms or I can stay off property and get a two room suite for at least the same price if not significantly less. Many of the off property resorts have similar amenities as Disney now with resort-style pools and recreation offerings.
I hear you Tom...and I think Disney does too.
They do offer rooms to larger families. You either just don't book fast enough or don't want to have to pay for the rooms they have. We all get it. Still doesn't change how we feel.
I'm kinda done with the arguement because you're just repeating yourself at this point and it isn't going to change the fact that you refuse to be reasonable in your expectations.
Also, many of the people here don't really care much about Disney. So stop accusing everyone of being Disney fanboys. I think the company has had many missteps. Obviously rooming isn't a huge one because their availability, according to you, is low due to demand.
They have a limited supply of rooms for large families, and at a price point that is challenging for some. If Disney had the choice of adding inventory that would meet the demand that seems to go off property then not only do I think they will...but I have a strong reason to believe those plans are in the hopper.
If Tom had changed this: "I would like WDW to offer options to LARGER FAMILIES.'
to this: "I would like WDW to offer MORE options to LARGER FAMILIES."
...I think he would be on to something.
Just like at Cedar Point, in park attendance and revenues have a ceiling, to some degree. Yes, they can create add on options like special nights, VIP experiences, etc. But, if they really want to make a difference to the bottom line then it is likely going to be in out of park revenues (short of building another gate) and in that hotel rooms are key. What the Kissimmee/Lake Buena Vista area has over Disney right now is the inventory of the type of rooms that Tom and I are talking about...and I think Disney is looking to get into the game. Frankly, Art of Animation was the most recent example of that and based on that success and guest feedback I think you can look for them to continue that trend.
Run on sentences run on.
TomG said:
And because I said the word discriminate does it mean it has anything to do with the word racism or oppression , I feel that was out of line but if you want to touch on that subject I have friends that are African-American and they went to Disney World and they said you can count on one hand the amount of African Americans there , they felt They are priced out of the box.
Whoa, what? What does that have to do with anything? Next up: "I also love the gays."
They offer the product that you want, you just aren't willing to pay for it because you don't believe it's reasonable. That's not Disney's problem. There is no moral obligation to meet your expectation when the parks are already slammed and the rooms are filled. Everyone hears and understands what you're saying. This is a pretty smart bunch. It's you who seems to have no regard for basic high school economics.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
TomG said:
It's funny how The Washington post, Orlando Sentinel, New York Times and the New York Post all say the same thing how Disney left most families behind and cater to the top 10%
You say this like it's a bad thing. Disney is intentionally doing this and everyone but you is okay with it.
Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."
Well several million people would agree with him.
Now that the average family is a family of four most things are aimed at families of four. If you want a house, car or anything else that is suited to a larger family it costs more. That's why some of us intentionally had smaller families. I'm not saying you shouldn't have had 4 kids, just that when you did you had to have realized it was going to cost you. Larger house, minivan instead of a compact car, a harder time finding a hotel room at Disney World...I understand you're disappointed and I get that but it appears you're upset that this particular gap in "affordable" services from Disney doesn't have everyone's panties in an equally large knot as yours. It seems I've accepted that I'm never going to be able to afford Disney at all better than you've accepted your inability to find the Disney hotel you want at the price you want.
TomG said:
Well maybe I am the voice for the other 60 million people that are not on this site
That's fine. Because Disney already has a capacity problem and doesn't have room for the millions of people that have no interest in paying what Disney charges.
You're making this in to a battle of entitlement when the other 60million don't care and any that do are statistically irrelevant.
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