Are Disney Resort Fees A Possibility?

[cer]

I was wondering the same thing. And why should I have to pay a per-day fee for DME when I'm a "local" and do not use the service ?

Walt has to be doing backflips in his grave...

Ed - Come on, you know how this will be spun....Locals or those who rent vehicles or drive will pay the resort fee for parking, while the rest of us will pay it for DME. See, it all works out. That's that funny Mickey Mouse Math for you.

[TheVBs]

Sorry, aren't all those things they've been advertising as justification for paying more to stay on site? And now they want us to pay separately for them? That is cheeky. I mean, who's going to answer that survey with a "Yes, I'd love to pay extra for what I'm already paying extra for."?

We have never minded paying more to stay on site, but charging separately for those things is ridiculous. Unless they give you the option to lower your room rate by that same amount if you'd like to decline. And, I also totally get that we've already been paying for these things because it's baked into the higher room rates, but a separate line item for them is bad show. If they need to raise rates to cover these costs, that's one thing, but I find that hard to believe.

[NewDVCowner]

I can also see having people pay seperately backfiring on them. While DME makes it easy for people visiting, face it, it's basically a way to hold people hostage on their property. "Hey, we have this great service - we'll pick you up and drop you off at the airport. Isn't that great?" Therefore people won't have access to a car, can't stop for groceries (thus needing to pay for more food at the resort) and can't drive to other theme parks and attractions - thus keeping all of their vacation money on Disney property. If they want to start charging me money to be held hostage (so to speak) I'd seriously price out the cost difference to rent a car and use that to stop for groceries, go to other Orlando parks, etc. And then I'd start thinking 'hmm, I have this car now, there's no real reason that I NEED to stay onsite. Oh, look I can stay at this other hotel, offsite, for a fracation of the cost of the Disney resort.'

[VWL Mom]

And....will they tack on the resort fee to those who are vacation club owners???

Keeping in mind that just converted Poly, currently converting VWL, and rumored to be doing BC/YC next they could turn it into a selling point "buy DVC and no resort fees". Similar to days when DVC had free internet and resorts didn't, they still need a gimmick to attract buyers.

[BrowncatP]

If I have to pay an extra 15 a day then I will stay off site. The 15 that I am now saving goes to the parking fee at the parks. The room I would be staying in would be cheaper than onsite. Disney's resorts are going to lose some of us.

[ChipNDale79]

I spoke to guest relations yesterday regarding all of the price increases and cuts, the tone that I got was, thanks for your concerns, but disney is going to continue these until it gets to a point that it breaks the other way.

They blatantly told me they are pushing the market as far as they can on price and will continue to do so until people stop going.

We've decided against going next year as we had planned to.

[1DisneyNut]

I spoke to guest relations yesterday regarding all of the price increases and cuts, the tone that I got was, thanks for your concerns, but disney is going to continue these until it gets to a point that it breaks the other way.

They blatantly told me they are pushing the market as far as they can on price and will continue to do so until people stop going.

Sounds about right. Then it usually takes years to build the business back up to a normal level again.

[BrerGnat]

I spoke to guest relations yesterday regarding all of the price increases and cuts, the tone that I got was, thanks for your concerns, but disney is going to continue these until it gets to a point that it breaks the other way.

They blatantly told me they are pushing the market as far as they can on price and will continue to do so until people stop going.

We've decided against going next year as we had planned to.

This doesn't surprise me at all. At least the person gave it to you straight.

[waymickey]

We stayed offsite twice this year and once on site. While I definitely liked staying on site much more I will not stay onsite if they have resort fees.

I know many will keep paying the higher prices and that is what Disney is counting on.

I also agree that Disney most likely will have DVC members not pay the fee while everyone else does to increase DVC sales.

I love Disney but they are slowly but surely pushing me out to Universal or Sea world or the FLORIDA Keys.

[Tekneek]

They blatantly told me they are pushing the market as far as they can on price and will continue to do so until people stop going.

No doubt that is the full truth. I am very surprised somebody in that role did not try to spin it as necessary for all the capital expenditures, increasing overhead expenses, etc. I would not expect that sort of answer to have been approved by the corporate communications department.

[ChipNDale79]

No doubt that is the full truth. I am very surprised somebody in that role did not try to spin it as necessary for all the capital expenditures, increasing overhead expenses, etc. I would not expect that sort of answer to have been approved by the corporate communications department.

To be fair he did say they were adding things like Avatar and Star Wars, my reply was that those were still years away and after years of cutting, cutting, and cutting, that I didn't believe the increases were something my family could justify. That's when he gave me the line of, pushing the price until people stop going.

[BrerGnat]

I would not expect that sort of answer to have been approved by the corporate communications department.

It certainly is not an "approved" answer, but who cares? Frankly, when I worked as a retail manager many years ago, customers would complain about something related to how our company operated and sometimes, I would agree with them and sympathize. After all, Guest Relations CMs are humans. They probably feel the same way most of us do. And there is nothing wrong with them saying stuff like this. It makes them seem approachable and honest. As long as this CM is not speaking on behalf of the company in a PR role or saying something like that to a news camera while in uniform, anything goes. I appreciate his bluntness to "PR speak." I would probably have laughed and said "Good on you for coming out and saying what we all know is true."

[Tekneek]

I appreciate his bluntness to "PR speak." I would probably have laughed and said "Good on you for coming out and saying what we all know is true."

Definitely. I think it is a good thing, but I have a feeling management would disagree.

[gratuspater]

I find it amazing that Disney can keep the parks full, with what a week long trip to Disney now costs. And I find it insulting when a company blatantly tries to squeeze every red cent they can out of their customers, while at the same time laying off employees, and giving even less value for the monies paid. With a Disney vacation costing our family upwards of $4000 for a week, it is no longer viable or very fun going to Disney on a yearly basis, when you feel like you are being price gouged for every extra little thing. With the ever increasing prices, it is truly becoming a once in a lifetime experience for some, and maybe a overrated one at that.

[ChipNDale79]

I finally figured it out, Bob Iger is Scrooge McDuck

[i'm grumpy]

To be fair he did say they were adding things like Avatar and Star Wars, my reply was that those were still years away and after years of cutting, cutting, and cutting, that I didn't believe the increases were something my family could justify. That's when he gave me the line of, pushing the price until people stop going.

I couldn't care less about SW or Avatar.

[BrerGnat]

I couldn't care less about SW or Avatar.

For every one who "doesn't care" there is probably one who DOES.

I couldn't care less about Avatar. I still have NO desire to see that land. But Star Wars? Yeah, that one I am pumped about because I am married to a HUGE SW fan. I myself am a fan by proxy, but I think the possibilities with Star Wars land are endless, and I think if they pull it off, it will be incredibly popular (moreso than Wizarding World of HP).

[Terra]

IMHO, I'm not a fan at all of this.
We've only ever been able to afford the value resorts [which we do love because we have two younger children], but at $150ish a night now, even the value's are out for us.
Occasionally you can find the $90 a night but it's through the week and that's tough for us with school/work.

We pretty much already stay off property now at Seralago Suites in the kid suites rooms and the boys love it. AT most I've paid $65 a night with a $7 resort fee [which I'm fine with.] We can eat their buffet breakfast for $8.00 per adult [and 2 kids eat free per room]. It has a small game room with tickets/prizes. 2 nice pools, tiki bar, food court/gift shop. Right on 192 with lots of other things around.
Yeah, as much as I love on property, I can't justify it AT all with a resort fee on the already inflated prices for a value room [that doesn't even have a freaking coffee maker].

Of course, we're local so we can drive and it's no big deal either. But even staying on property I'd often drive because it was easier when we needed to go when my ASD son was in overwhelmed/meltdown mode.

[i'm grumpy]

Yes, the values are out of sight. And if you have to pay hundreds each to fly, it's even worse.

[Terra]

Yeah I can't imagine that. We'd never go if we lived out of state.
It's a shame really that the values are so much. My boys really do love it. But man for a room to sleep in, no way. I'd rather have the extra money for nice meals or some souvenirs for the boys.