Subsonic Radio

Anyone else catch the latest money grab from WDW? In park cabanas for just under $700/day

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/a ... story.html

Now that seems like an odd product/service to offer.

The price-point is clearly for those that would be staying at the higher end, Disney-owned resorts, most of which are on the MK monorail loop. If they wanted a break, they would probably just go back to their room rather than go to a cabana. Now, if it had a perk like being a viewing location for stuff, meal service, that would be a selling point.

Wizzard419 wrote:Now that seems like an odd product/service to offer.

The price-point is clearly for those that would be staying at the higher end, Disney-owned resorts, most of which are on the MK monorail loop. If they wanted a break, they would probably just go back to their room rather than go to a cabana. Now, if it had a perk like being a viewing location for stuff, meal service, that would be a selling point.

Well, elsewhere it was said to include preferred seating for parades and fireworks, but yeah, not a lot of added value that I can see. People that are going to shell out $700 for this perk aren't likely to be all that thrilled with the included snacks and drinks. Someone mentioned the Brazilian tour groups being a possible target group in the comments

Yeah... I don't think the xenophobes are right in this case. This is targeted at unicorns. People who will research everything going into the trip, possibly repeat customers, people that also stay at the highest priced resorts, people aware of the cabanas, and people with the money for them and feel the service is worth it.

I think it's pretty weird. Bad idea.

I agree with the sentiment here - why not just get a room at a monorail resort?

Anyone else see that these prices were reduced to spark more interest and apparently it did not work, so they are going bye-bye?

Yes i saw that too. How much money do they expect people to pay in one day? Good heavens!!

Had anyone been in the parks when they were there to see them? Did they look as out of place as they sounded like they would be? I'm not really surprised they are being discontinued. I'm thinking anyone that would have been able to afford these, and been interested, would have just thought to go back and relax poolside or in their air conditioned room.

I was thinking the same, Amy. I don't remember hearing that they were coming at all, but they mentioned one Mousetalgia podcast they'd be disappearing... my thought was who in the world would pay that much for THAT??!!

I was there twice when they were offered and I didn't notice them at all... I really wasn't looking for them though. Once I saw the price I was thinking the same as you guys---"WHO WOULD PAY THAT!!???" Even the reduced rate.

They probably are not going anywhere, right now the parks are looking for any means of getting short term money in fast. They have just added a personal shopping service for Disney Springs. That confuses me even more, if we were talking about a shopping center with high end stores, fashion, etc. it might work but not for a tourist mall.

I think the easiest way to make the cabanas have any level of demand is to simply promise a table at the highest demand places for whatever time they want. Since those places fill up minutes after ADRs are open, people who weren't aware of the system or didn't have time to check back a million times would be able to buy their way in.

Wizzard419 wrote:They probably are not going anywhere, right now the parks are looking for any means of getting short term money in fast. They have just added a personal shopping service for Disney Springs. That confuses me even more, if we were talking about a shopping center with high end stores, fashion, etc. it might work but not for a tourist mall.

I think the easiest way to make the cabanas have any level of demand is to simply promise a table at the highest demand places for whatever time they want. Since those places fill up minutes after ADRs are open, people who weren't aware of the system or didn't have time to check back a million times would be able to buy their way in.

I could see some of the wealthy foreign visitor taking advantage of the personal shopping service. And perhaps the same people that take advantage of the personal tour guides in the park.
Interesting idea on the reservations for people shelling out the big bucks for the cabanas. That might actually entice some people to pay the big bucks.

Here are some pics of the cabanas, inside and out, courtesy of WDWNT.com:








I heard on a podcast that these may have been a test for a permanent structure that would have most likely taken over the noodle station.

Nicer inside than I would have thought with what the outside looks like. I wonder if the guests got to keep the blanket and pillows too? The ear hats are a nice touch