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I recently went on line to get a 3 day reservation at either the Coronado or Carribean Beach Resort in May 2009. The rate I was quoted was $189-$195 per night. Totally ridiculous. Just last year I was paying between $119 and $145 for the Carribean.
With the economy being hurt, you would think that WDW would at least keep their rates stable. But from what I hear, when economics factors in Disney lays off their employees.

Is the $189-$195 price the weekend price? I know that the prices spike on the weekends.

When did you go last year? I ask because Disney charges different rates at different times of the year. On the Florida Residents area of the website, it's showing Moderate Resorts at only $119 for a couple weeks in February and a large chunk of March.

Prices probably go up after that because that's when the Spring Break crowds start arriving.

Thanks

Last year I went in October and paid $50 less. The weekend rates are also higher than the weekday. But almost $200 per night for a mid level hotel is crazy.

Thanks

Steve

Did you have more people in your party this year compared to last year? Each person is added onto the rate, so you pay more for a room with 4 adults compared to one with 2.

It was 2 people both times

Thanks

My guess would be you hit value season in a non-preferred location last year, and this year you're looking at regular season. The lowest CBR rates this year are value season, non-weekend, non-preferred, at $149/night. Water view, king bed or preferred location jump that up to $174, even in value season.

Edit: But to answer your original question, the room rates do increase slightly each year. Not enough to explain the difference you're asking about, though.

Here are the prices as they break down during the month of MAY 2009:

Regular April 19 - May 21
Weekday $170.00
Weekend $180.00

Summer May 22 - July 2
Weekday $185.00
Weekend $195.00

If you went during the Value season's:

Value Jan 1-15, Jan 19 - Feb 12, Aug 9 - Oct 1, Nov 29 - Dec 17
$149.00 for any night.

You can take part of the buy 4 get 3 free if you have time. I have been pricing a similar vacation that we took last year to Disney and prices did go up a little bit. Over the course of 8 days it came out to around $150 for the Wilderness Lodge.

Dr. Ravenscroft wrote:Here are the prices as they break down during the month of MAY 2009:

Regular April 19 - May 21
Weekday $170.00
Weekend $180.00

Summer May 22 - July 2
Weekday $185.00
Weekend $195.00

If you went during the Value season's:

Value Jan 1-15, Jan 19 - Feb 12, Aug 9 - Oct 1, Nov 29 - Dec 17
$149.00 for any night.

It's worth noting that those are non-preferred rooms, though (which in Disney-speak means 'further from the food court building). Also non water view and non king bed. And no pirate theming. All of which Disney will be happy to charge you more for.

DisBeamer wrote:
It's worth noting that those are non-preferred rooms, though (which in Disney-speak means 'further from the food court building). Also non water view and non king bed. And no pirate theming. All of which Disney will be happy to charge you more for.

But if you know how to Bull you can get all of that for free. Over the years I have found out some good tricks to get that preferred room and a few extras too.

Dr. Ravenscroft wrote:

DisBeamer wrote:
But if you know how to Bull you can get all of that for free. Over the years I have found out some good tricks to get that preferred room and a few extras too.

Would you mind sharing some of those "tricks" with us?

Dr. Ravenscroft wrote:But if you know how to Bull you can get all of that for free. Over the years I have found out some good tricks to get that preferred room and a few extras too.

It's hard to 'bull' booking online (unless you're a hacker, I guess ). But yes, do share what magic you've worked on CRO.

Getting a fridge, When at the front desk tell the CM that you have medication that requires refridgeration. I don't know if this is still a concern now, I think most rooms have them now anyway.

Getting a preferred room is a little trickier. It can be done in many different ways. The way that always seems to work for me is this:

Before you even check-in look at the CMs and anaylize them, see which one looks the most sociable, make sure you get that CM. Whilst checking in strike up a conversation, about anything, steer the conversation to something along the lines of how "the last time I was here" see if the CM is into the same thing you "liked" the last time. This opens the door for sympathy, this is a powerful tool. Hopefully by now you haven't already gotten all the info on the room, the one that they assigned to you, you can now start Phase two. This is where the sympathy comes in handy, start talking about what you are going to do in the parks and what time you will be getting back to the room, how tired you will be, etc. Then you start to reminise about the room you had last time you stayed at the resort. If you do a good enough job they will help you out.

This basically depends on 3 things. One, your ability to convince people to do things for you. Secondly The resorts capacity, this is not something you are going to be able to do in peak seasons. I went once during a conference at Coronado Springs, I didn't get the preferred room because they were all taken. The third and final thing is how you yourself act. If you go in being forceful you won't get anything, most people in the hospitality industry have seen it all everything from anger to threats. The key is to be nice, kind , and courteous and this should work well.

Now this may sound a little weird or a little off, I don't explain things well. I can probably explain it better in person.

Oooh I see. So you're talking about talking your way to an upgrade at check-in, not getting a cheaper rate at the time of reservation. Yeah, that is quite a bit easier to do. *nod*

I think all resorts have fridges in-room now, though I'm not 100% sure about the value ones. I know all mods and deluxes do.