Resort Survey ... on Resort Fees

[yaya74]

I wonder if the resort fee proposed in the survey would be an "optional" fee.. If I don't pay, then I would not be entitled to free parking, MDE, FP+, entertainment, etc.?
I can see how this fee would upset those who visit WDW frequently. My family don't go to WDW often. Last trip was 14 years ago. So I won't be upset if there is a resort fee. After this trip, I don't expect to visit WDW in at least 5 years. I would prefer to visit Universal Studios or Legoland next time going to FL.

 

[jayfo]

There will be lots of belly aching..... but in the end, people will stay at the resorts anyway. Even staying in close proximity off site will cost you resort fees. My Hilton Bonnet Creek stay had me coughing up an extra $25 a night PLUS parking.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

There will be lots of belly aching..... but in the end, people will stay at the resorts anyway. Even staying in close proximity off site will cost you resort fees. My Hilton Bonnet Creek stay had me coughing up an extra $25 a night PLUS parking.

Yep. I've been on The DIS for 15years. We complain, but then we pay up.

(That said, I have only stayed deluxe once and it was because I got an amazing deal. I think they're way too overpriced and prefer the moderates. So hopefully this won't apply to the mods and values)

 

[soniam]

There will be lots of belly aching..... but in the end, people will stay at the resorts anyway. Even staying in close proximity off site will cost you resort fees. My Hilton Bonnet Creek stay had me coughing up an extra $25 a night PLUS parking.

Yes, but I bet overall your nightly rate, including resort fees and parking, was significantly less than an equivalent (if there are any) WDW hotel. We stay onsite at Universal, where they charge parking. Even with that, I can usually stay at a Uni deluxe resort with discounts for less than I can stay at a Disney moderate. The complaint here is not the resort fee per se, but that Disney already charges a significant premium for these things for which they supposedly want to charge a resort fee. We are saying that the extra amenities are already included in the high nightly costs. If they want to raise rates by $15 a night, it wouldn't be as big of an issue.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Psychologically speaking most people do not like seeing fees separated out- we tend to see this as a way to "nickel and dime" the customer. They could just raise the pricing to include this fee and yes we would all grumble with an increased price per night...but it would go over much more smoothly because we have come to expect things to rise and it's not a "OMG I'm being charged for this and for this and for this just to stay at that place"..

However, if you add on a resort fee on top of the price per night most people would balk at it (I'm not saying they would say "nope not gonna stay there now at all no way" but most would still be upset over it)...and it's just the wrong time with ALL the things going on (tiered pricing, raised multi-day tickets, budget cuts, the knowledge of Shanghai issues, etc). Plus as others have pointed out they don't use all the "amenities" listed in the separate fee..another reason to irritate your customers is make them pay for something they don't want, need or use on top of generally considered high but expected per night charge.

DLR is completely different in regards to resorts than WDW and it's really not as simple as comparing the two...think about how many resorts that are considered on-site for DLR and WDW..think about the amount of off-site resorts in Anaheim (or surrounding area) compared to Orlando-area..think about the average visitor to DLR (who is much more likely to be a regional CA resident, though obviously not all are) and then to WDW (which is typically regarded at more of a world destination place). The customer has many more options in Orlando thus making it more visible added on fees make when someone is comparing where to stay.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Parking fee eh?

So I stay at OKW and pay the fee--then I take my car to AKL to eat at Jiko--another fee to park????

 

[Angel Ariel]

There will be lots of belly aching..... but in the end, people will stay at the resorts anyway. Even staying in close proximity off site will cost you resort fees. My Hilton Bonnet Creek stay had me coughing up an extra $25 a night PLUS parking.

You are right, to an extent. Taking our DLR trip as an example - yes, we stayed offsite and yes, we paid a resort fee. That said, our entire hotel stay was still 1/4 - 1/3 of what it would be to stay in a hotel at WDW with the equivalent proximity to the park gates as we had in Anaheim. We don't spend our time in the hotel at all, so proximity to the parks is the main benefit to us. There's no reason for us to stay at a Disney Deluxe (which we'd have to, to get the proximity), when we can stay at Shades of Green for that same 1/4 of the cost as we did in Anaheim. Yep,we may have to get a shuttle or rent a car, but we still come out ahead on the savings.

 

[Accident]

I found the extra magic hours interesting, if your going to charge me $15 for a room fee that includes extra magic hour, I shouldn't need a ticket to go in for those couple hours...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There will be lots of belly aching..... but in the end, people will stay at the resorts anyway. Even staying in close proximity off site will cost you resort fees. My Hilton Bonnet Creek stay had me coughing up an extra $25 a night PLUS parking.

I just took the survey from WDWmagic from the link rteez posted:



So I would say it def.has people thinking..sure you will have people who will end up staying on-site no matter what but if this pans out you've got people reconsidering the benefit especially if the resort fee is for things they don't want to use (not speaking personally just from other coments made on this thread).

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Yep. I've been on The DIS for 15years. We complain, but then we pay up.

(That said, I have only stayed deluxe once and it was because I got an amazing deal. I think they're way too overpriced and prefer the moderates. So hopefully this won't apply to the mods and values)

Are you kidding? Did you read that list of things they are talking about. There's not hing in there that even remotely says "deluxe only"

Everyone is getting the hit!

And I complained and MOVED. I cannot recall the last time I paid for Disney hotel. I don't feel like I got a magical experience when being RIPPED OFF!

I own DVC but if I am not using my points it's either Swan/Dolphin or off site (Since I am not even bothering to go to Disney parks right now I am sure it's going to be off site for the next few years)

 

[DoingDisney]

You are right, to an extent. Taking our DLR trip as an example - yes, we stayed offsite and yes, we paid a resort fee. That said, our entire hotel stay was still 1/4 - 1/3 of what it would be to stay in a hotel at WDW with the equivalent proximity to the park gates as we had in Anaheim. We don't spend our time in the hotel at all, so proximity to the parks is the main benefit to us. There's no reason for us to stay at a Disney Deluxe (which we'd have to, to get the proximity), when we can stay at Shades of Green for that same 1/4 of the cost as we did in Anaheim. Yep,we may have to get a shuttle or rent a car, but we still come out ahead on the savings.

And I have several people that I know who have been priced out, or have reduced their trips due to price increases. Now Disney is still posting record profits/attendance so it clearly doesn't matter just yet, but wait until the pent up vacation spending in the US has expired, or until the next economic down turn, or until they hit that perfect tipping point, this thing can fall apart pretty quickly.

 

[dina7]

Yes, but I bet overall your nightly rate, including resort fees and parking, was significantly less than an equivalent (if there are any) WDW hotel. We stay onsite at Universal, where they charge parking. Even with that, I can usually stay at a Uni deluxe resort with discounts for less than I can stay at a Disney moderate. The complaint here is not the resort fee per se, but that Disney already charges a significant premium for these things for which they supposedly want to charge a resort fee. We are saying that the extra amenities are already included in the high nightly costs. If they want to raise rates by $15 a night, it wouldn't be as big of an issue.

I completely agree with you! This is why I already pay more to stay at a Disney Resort, for the proximity to the parks & the extra perks. If Disney charges a resort fee to more than double charge me for these perks yet again, I will not be staying on site any longer!! Enough is enough with the gauging from Disney!!! And I am a long time guest who has visited countless times. We will definitely be staying off site if they institute a resort fee!

 

[AnnaKat]

The resort fee could be a way for Disney to split out the parking fee, say $15, and still charge a $15 resort fee for the other amenities. As PP said, if they drive, they don't use Magical Express. I had suggested before that Disney could more than cover the cost of the CMs needed for the Extra Magic Hours IF it became an add-on Tix benefit. Well, they could ALSO split out the EMH on-site resort bene & charge $10 per night of stay.
There is no way they could allow a guest to opt out of the proposed fee as is, as they have no way to know if you enjoyed the resort entertainment, or stayed for evening EMH.
Looks like Disney may want to start charging separately for the currently complimentary benefits & amenities, & could implement a resort fee to eventually switch over to charging SEPARATELY for many of the resort Benes.

 

[Emcg]

I'm done with all the price increases. We can no longer afford to vacation there. We spent a lot of money on 7 trips in 10 years but haven't been able to go the last 5 years. I started out at a moderate, tried a Deluxe then back to Value and now nothing. All that money for Park tickets and you wait in line more than half the day to get on a few rides. Fast Pass, Fast Pass Plus, Order Fast Pass online before you go. Dinner Reservations that you can't make. Now Wrist Bands and whatever they want to charge you for them. Resort fees will be for everyone probably not just Deluxe. I thought Magic Express was free but that will change, checking your luggage at the resort when you leave, Free? probably not for long. They are making it a resort fee so they can still raise the room rate later.
Sadly we won't be going back unless I hit the lottery. We have a lot of good memories from years gone by and I'm glad I took a lot of pictures to look back on. Just can't afford to give them my hard earned money anymore.

 

[larryz]

At least you didn't say Mt. Rushmore...

I hear I can see fog at Mt Rushmore...

 

[larryz]

This is getting ridiculous. Also when is the room rate at the Poly EVER 350$

Back in 1998...

 

[larryz]

Yep. I've been on The DIS for 15years. We complain, but then we pay up.

Used to. Not any more... too many downgrades in too short a time.

 

[AdamsMum]

Maybe we are all getting upset for nothing. The survey didn't come from Disney, did it? Here's my 2c:

The first thing that bugged me was swapping out free valet parking for free internet access (which they then gave to everyone on site) I know that was DVC, but still. Now with tiered pricing, the hint of paying for parking at the resort, the fastpass plus system (which I hate, I either have to plan every moment of my vacation 60 days in advance, or risk spending the entire day waiting in endless lines), the dining plan (can't get into a restaurant now unless you plan 6 months ahead), I'm getting a bad taste in my mouth. I love going to Disneyworld, but their rooms are not on par with the equivalent priced rooms in other hotels. I can get a really nice room at the Hampton with free breakfast for less than $120 a night, much better value than a value room at pop or all stars, and no parking fees. The draw for me was the amenities; free transportation, emh, no parking fees, magic express, and of course location. These are the things that made the price of a disney vacation easier for me to swallow. I really felt like I was getting value for the high price I was paying.

That said, I thought they were making boatloads of money already? Why this? Why now? Just because they can? I'm already considering selling my DVC interest after my next Food and Wine Festival in 2016. (famous last words).

Here's the thing, I used to feel like it was home away from home. Like I was going to a friendly place, where I was welcome...I know that's a fantasy, and WDW is a business, but this is the feeling that kept me coming back since 1990 when I first visited with my 2 year old DD, and my then DH. The lack of that feeling is why I went to Universal once and never went back (in addition to the cost and they way their Universal Express works).

I guess I'm delusional. Or maybe I'm just getting old...time to book a seniors cruise ?

 

[BumbleB]

uh, yeah, if they implement this, we'll more than likely take a break from WDW vacations. There are so many other destinations in the US that are just as fun and far less expensive. We've been going for 25 years (mainly at my insistence), and the cost of a vacation has skyrocketed. We could take 2 trips elsewhere for what we pay to visit WDW. There's a point that it's not worth the cost, and I think it's pretty much gotten to that point.

 

[larissawbb]

I hate mandatory resort fees. We generally stay at the Swan, which has a $25/night fee which includes:

• Unlimited domestic long distance and local calls
• Unlimited access to the resort’s health club facilities
• In room high-speed Internet access
• 2 bottles of water daily

Its $25/night even if I pay with points, so my "free" 5 night stay is still $125+tax out of pocket, for what amounts to 10 bottles of water and WiFi (which we don't even use since we live in the USA and have voice & data on our phone!).

This doesn't even cover parking! And, its never baked into the rates you find online (until you are making the reservation) - total sticker shock.

That's some expensive water!