Getting Hotel Rates on Disney.com - Could this be right?

[Disneynerd]

Hi!
The fam and I are kicking around the idea of going to WDW this year instead of our traditional Disneyland trip. Hooray! Well, I just began my on-line search of the WDW resort hotels on Disney.go.com. Wow! 25!
We plan to go April 4 - April 9, 2006. Disney.com is giving me rates of $700 - $1000+ per night!! Is this right? So far I've looked at Animal Kingdom, Boardwalk and Beach Club and it's not getting any better. Can anyone enlighten me as to why the website is giving me such high rates? Are these resorts really that expensive? It will be me, my husband an our 2 year old daughter.
Any help would be great. Thank you!

[mckat]

I get 77$ starting price for value resorts using your dates- so I expect something is wrong. I also am at www.reservations.disney.go.com- so I don't know what to recommend but to try again. Maybe you were getting packages? or the cost for all the nights?

[Disneynerd]

I accidently selected "Interested in Suites" as my preferences. Remind me never to book a suite unless I find a bucket of money.
Thanks for the help!:)

[LeslieM]

Also, remember that numbers change all the time. If you're not getting the results that you want, try again. Or make a call to 407-W-DISNEY and see what's up.

I think the "improved" site is harder to "play" with but maybe that was the goal. (Probably aimed at those like me who plan pretend trips!)

[Mickeymac]

You might try looking into the Moderate resort category as well. The Deluxe resorts come up first, and although they are gorgeous and worth the money in their own right, oftentimes you can capture the same feel as a Deluxe with comparable room amenities such as refrigerator and coffee maker and table service restaurants, without the Deluxe price tag. You won't get the convenience of transportation to some of the parks as a Deluxe, however. The Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary are connected to the Magic Kingdom by monorail, with the Wilderness Lodge and Villas being connected by boat, while the Boardwalk Inn and Villas, and the Yacht and Beach Club Resort, and Beach Club Villas are right next to Epcot and very close to MGM (by boat.) It's a much nicer transition than standing on a bus, jmho.

LOL Leslie! I thought I was the only one who plans pretend trips! I've got one mulling in my head right now for ESPN weekend - would LOVE to get down there and go see a ball game, too!!!

[mckat]

I am the joke of my family for planning pretend trips-- but please let's call it "market research"! Who knows- maybe I'll win the lottery and get to go to GF suite with robes in the room-- I have to be ready!

[Mickeymac]

LOLOL McKat!!! I have a bag packed for that very reason!!! (in reality, it just holds my summer clothes becuase it's so cold and snowy and gloopy here, but hey, I can pretend!!)

[Disneynerd]

[quote=Mickeymac]You might try looking into the Moderate resort category as well. The Deluxe resorts come up first, and although they are gorgeous and worth the money in their own right, oftentimes you can capture the same feel as a Deluxe with comparable room amenities such as refrigerator and coffee maker and table service restaurants, without the Deluxe price tag. You won't get the convenience of transportation to some of the parks as a Deluxe, however. The Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary are connected to the Magic Kingdom by monorail, with the Wilderness Lodge and Villas being connected by boat, while the Boardwalk Inn and Villas, and the Yacht and Beach Club Resort, and Beach Club Villas are right next to Epcot and very close to MGM (by boat.) It's a much nicer transition than standing on a bus, jmho.

quote]I love how you know this! I'm completing a spreadsheet comparing the price, transportation to the parks, balcony, etc. I will be picking your brains when I get stuck. You also make a great point, a ferry is much Disney-er than the bus! Thanks again!

[Mickeymac]

No problems, Nerd. (heheheeheheee, just had to say that. :D )

Be aware that you are NOT to become a slave to your spreadsheet. when it all boils down to coming up with a final, go with your heart.

I have a bunch of resort shots at http://mickeymac.smugmug.com/Travel/52117 if you want to peruse them. Not as many of the Beach Club, but a bazillion at the Yacht Club and Port Orleans Riverside, as well as the Grand Floridian, some of the Poly, Wilderness, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Hope that helps.

[Disneynerd]

No problems, Nerd. (heheheeheheee, just had to say that. :D )

Be aware that you are NOT to become a slave to your spreadsheet. when it all boils down to coming up with a final, go with your heart.

I have a bunch of resort shots at http://mickeymac.smugmug.com/Travel/52117 if you want to peruse them. Not as many of the Beach Club, but a bazillion at the Yacht Club and Port Orleans Riverside, as well as the Grand Floridian, some of the Poly, Wilderness, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Hope that helps.I'm very proud to be a nerd! You know a lot about the resorts. By studying your smug mug site, I know why;) . Here's a question: What's so value about the value resorts? From the pics, they look very nice!
And THANK YOU for the pics!!! It's nice to see un-disney-ized pics once in a while.

[mckat]

Someone else with a spread sheet- yeah. I have a seperate sheet for price issues (types of tickets, number of nights etc), but also one where I map the days with color squares- This one frightens my husband... But it is all for fun and I also love being a nerd.

Value resort difference in my mind is no slides in the pools. Farther away from most parks. Maybe noisier at times when groups come. However- more money in the pocket.

[SuefromRI]

We've stayed at value resorts twice when it was just my daughter and I (the PC and the ASMusic). We enjoyed both stays. Spent most days at the parks, but 1 afternoon each stay at the pools. Used AAA rate both times and got good rates. It would have been too small if all 4 of us were there, cuz my "kids" are now 18 and 24, plus a boy and girl, so 2 double beds are not enough. I think it is a great stay for the money to be on Disney property.

[Mickeymac]

I'm very proud to be a nerd! You know a lot about the resorts. By studying your smug mug site, I know why;) . Here's a question: What's so value about the value resorts? From the pics, they look very nice!
And THANK YOU for the pics!!! It's nice to see un-disney-ized pics once in a while.

LOL - I'm proud too - DH keeps threatening to get me a personalized liscense plate along those lines. :p

Thanks for the photo appreciation. I got frustrated once, looking at marketing pictures. You just dont' get a real feel for the room. Plus, it drives me nuts to try to remember which resort has what room features. Now I can look at the pictures at Riverside if a Guest has a question and see theyhave this nice little extension at the head of the tub that just right for resting a weary head on at the end of the day. :D :D

The Value resorts are very nice, but realize there's a size trade-off in the rooms, and due to the layout of the resort, there are more families packed into a smaller footprint. However, there's nothing like staring at a giant Tramp while listening to Elvis, or playing tag football in between those giant X's and O's on a spongy surface with Dad acting like the giantest kid of them all, to get the Disnerd in you flowing.

You're not going to get free refrigerators, fishing polls, or boat rentals, a table service restaurant, and dang, have to refer back to my pictures on the coffee pot issue, however, you're going to more than make up for it in high-energy In Your Face Disney that is the whipped cream AND cherry on a lot of families vacations. Its just sheer fun.

[Disneynerd]

I can live without a free fridge and coffee pot (maybe), but a loooooong ride to the parks could hold me back. Okay, the value resorts are $77, the moderates and deluxe are $360+! There must be something in between. Has anyone had better luck with independant travel agents, travel websites or calling directly?

[Drince88]

I can live without a free fridge and coffee pot (maybe), but a loooooong ride to the parks could hold me back. Okay, the value resorts are $77, the moderates and deluxe are $360+! There must be something in between. Has anyone had better luck with independant travel agents, travel websites or calling directly?
I think something is still off - moderates shouldn't be 360/night.

[wishiwasthere]

I can live without a free fridge and coffee pot (maybe), but a loooooong ride to the parks could hold me back. Okay, the value resorts are $77, the moderates and deluxe are $360+! There must be something in between. Has anyone had better luck with independant travel agents, travel websites or calling directly?

Moderates are around $137. If you have AAA or APs you can get a discount.

[Disneynerd]

Expedia.com is my new best friend! I think I need to get busy on a new spreadsheet!

[LeslieM]

I'm not sure exactly what you're entering for the numbers you're getting. I got the following numbers:

Port Orleans French Quarter, Standard view room
April 4 - 9
2) adults, 1) 2 yo
$ 975.70

+ 6 day Park Hopper tickets
Total $ 1,478.56

+ dining plan
Total $ 1,858.46

[FigmentFigment]

I would call the toll free number and get rates for different places. I know that for me the website was showing *nothing* available before, but when I called the toll free number, there were a ton of options. I don't know how accurate this is (I know people have gotten different info from different cast members before) but the woman I last spoke with said that the website and calling the number aren't looking at rooms from the same "pool" -- so the website may be showing only the pricey rooms left, or no availability at all, when there are lots of affordable rooms left. Again, I am not sure if that is completely valid, but it is what I was told. It was true in that instance though, so maybe some merit to it.

[Disneynerd]

Not sure what I'm doing wrong on the website, but I'll certainly seek other options. I may sound totally out of the loop, so forgive me, but what happened to the Swan and Dolphin hotels? Are they still there?

[FigmentFigment]

The Swan and Dolphin are still there, but cannot be booked on the Disney site (as far as I know anyway).

You can check rates and availability here:
http://www.swandolphin.com/explore/rates.html


Here is the toll free for Disney reservations if you are interested in calling them -- I am frugal, so refuse to call the 407 number :p 1-877-939-3732 and also 1-800-828-0228

[coyoteo]

I would call the toll free number and get rates for different places. I know that for me the website was showing *nothing* available before, but when I called the toll free number, there were a ton of options. I don't know how accurate this is (I know people have gotten different info from different cast members before) but the woman I last spoke with said that the website and calling the number aren't looking at rooms from the same "pool" -- so the website may be showing only the pricey rooms left, or no availability at all, when there are lots of affordable rooms left. Again, I am not sure if that is completely valid, but it is what I was told. It was true in that instance though, so maybe some merit to it.

I was also told that there are a pool of rooms set aside for travel agents and such and the closer it gets to your arrival date if the agents haven't sold them then they are released back to the Disney reservation line pool. I also found out that the WL wasn't available as a room only booking on our travel dates but if I added the MYW plan then it was available. Again it's the "pool" problem. Rooms are set aside for plan guests, room only guests and then a bunch are set aside for agents.

[LeslieM]

In the latest revamping of the Disney site, you can no longer access the Swan and Dolphin. You used to be able to edit your preferences and they'd pop up in the "other resort" category. This newest reincarnation is harder to play with.

[Micki0624]

LOL -
The Value resorts are very nice, but realize there's a size trade-off in the rooms, and due to the layout of the resort, there are more families packed into a smaller footprint. However, there's nothing like staring at a giant Tramp while listening to Elvis, or playing tag football in between those giant X's and O's on a spongy surface with Dad acting like the giantest kid of them all, to get the Disnerd in you flowing.

I stayed at the Pop Century resort in October and loved it! As for hotels for our family we only sleep there. We are rarely in the room because we are at the parks or pool. They are about the size of a Best Western Hotel which is what I am used to at DL or Las Vegas.