Overpriced hotel rooms.

At the same time, its not like occupancy at Disney is near 100% either. They are down just as much as Cedar Point, however they have reacted by cutting prices and making deals to try and drive it as high as they can, whereas Cedar Point seems content to stand pat.

The question Cedar Point has to ask itself is how much is it worth to struggle through the shoulder seasons? Honestly, if they really discounted the rooms then there would likely be higher occupancy. But, they would also be inviting a nearly impossible situation of having all those rooms occupied with no way to clean them or otherwise provide basic service.

I'm not saying they set their prices higher in order to NOT fill rooms. But, I am saying they may not be interested in deep discounting only to bring on the problems, complaints, etc that would most certainly come with a full house and half staffing.

Disney's staffing remains pretty consistent so putting butts in rooms at a lower price doesn't have a significant impact on their operation. It might seem minor...but I don't think it is.

I'm not trying to make light of crazyhorse's complaints. Yes, a lot of people think the hotel prices are ridiculous. But, a lot don't seem to mind. I think it is ridiculous to own 100 pairs of shoes but my wife does not agree.

I just called kalahari, and they have rooms for $179 a night. Much nicer hotel, and the price includes the waterpark as well.(all rates above are based on 2 adults and 2 chilren).

I wish they were that cheap. On weekends alone they are usually $279 a night with water park tickets for 2.

Everyone goes through some type of cost/benefit analysis any time they make a decision. You look at the benefits of what you get if you take the action and compare it to the costs of doing it. And you look at alternatives and opportunity costs if you can't do something else. You do that when looking at staying at hotel A versus hotel B. Whether to buy a given TV. What to do tonight after work or this weekend. Nothing unusual about that. And different people will come to different conclusions in looking at the same options.

I always understood that many of the folks who stayed in CP hotels did so for the ERT not having access to it through other means. Is that the case?

The economics of a hotel with a 5 month prime operating season and one with a 12 month prime operating season are totally different.

coolkid2345 said:

I just called kalahari, and they have rooms for $179 a night. Much nicer hotel, and the price includes the waterpark as well.(all rates above are based on 2 adults and 2 chilren).

I wish they were that cheap. On weekends alone they are usually $279 a night with water park tickets for 2.

If you go to the website and click on sat night for 1 night, you will see that there are rooms for $175 a night(hut room). And that includes the water park.(based on 2 adults and 2 children).Thats $75 bucks cheaper a night than cp. Look for yourself here...

https://sres.kalahariresort.com/V1Web/Custom/TabbedUI.aspx

GoBucks89 said:
I always understood that many of the folks who stayed in CP hotels did so for the ERT not having access to it through other means. Is that the case?

As a non-season pass holder who goes to CP one or two weekends per year, that definitely factors into our decision.

Again, is that extra 30 min of ride time really worth $100 more per night? For as much as you spend on a room at cp for the weekend with tickets, you can get a season pass and book a cheaper room. And you will still get the ert in the morning.

What about a family of say 4? Does the economics change? In 40+ years of visiting CP, I have never stayed overnight (on CP properties or otherwise other than 4-5 times on a boat at the marina), never gone to CP two consecutive days, never been on any CP ride on an ERT basis and have only had a seasons pass 2 or 3 years (about 5 years ago). So I don't know the answer to that. I know a few people who have stayed at CP hotels for ERT. But maybe they could have gotten a better deal staying somewher else buying passes of some kind.

I think that CP resorts are nice. They do a good job with the hotels over there. The locations are great too. However, the prices are NOT worth how the rooms are. They are nice rooms, but not worth the price.

I stayed at lighthouse point last weekend,always enjoy it there,its pricy,but i like it there,spent over 600.00,woudnt have it any other way.

$600?

That's half the cost of my week long all inclusive trip to disney.

^ Holiday weekend.

It can get pricey. The thing that gets me mad is the rooms and service that you are getting are not worth $300 a night. I would say the snoopy rooms at breakers, Sandcastle Suites rooms, and camper village all seem at best slightly above mediocre. I do not see why Cedar Point is charging $300 a night for rooms that are ugly and service that is mediocre. Disney charges $325 a night for The Beach Club that has amazing new rooms, amazing service,amazing pools, close to all the parks, etc. Breakers bon air you are getting crappy room, mediocre service, mediocre pools, close to the park. They have no idea on how to run there hotels.

One final question would you rather stay in a place that looks like this: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g50940-d101745-w7-Hotel_B...l#18288374
or this: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g34515-d120251-w2-Disney_...l#20071455

Or even a room like this at disney is still cheaper than $300 a night.

http://allears.net/acc/g_contm.htm

Stay in the Cedars Employee Hotel! Its a swindle at 16.80 a week!

I don't mind paying extra for rooms like that in Sandcastle Suites. If you have more than a couple of people, the cost per person is rather reasonable. But, I do agree that Breakers Bon Air section and Breakers Express are way overpriced. I just checked rates for closing weekend and they are pretty booked. Those two are the only ones with rooms available. Bon Air with 2 bed is $172.82 with tax and Express is $113.73 with tax.

We stayed at Sandcastle last weekend due to the film shoot. Since we were needed in the park so early, it was nice staying right there. I will say I enjoyed Sandcastle much more BEFORE it was renovated! I hate the new colors and the decor inside the rooms is odd with nothing matching. There was wallpaper peeling off in a couple of spots. The heater was working half-a$$.
Just wish we would have gotten a room in the Magnum Wing! ;)

crazy horse said:

Chief Wahoo said:
They seem to be doing ok without your business and you seem to be doing ok finding other accommodations so it sounds like it is a win-win for all involved.

Not true. From what I hear, room bookings are down quite a bit this year. I called to get prices on a room for a weekend this july, there were rooms open in every one of the cp resorts.

Hotels don't need to be very full to be profitable, especially, as Chief noted, during the shoulder seasons.

If ya'll don't think location is the difference then rent a Holiday Inn room in Sharon, PA and then rent a Holiday Inn room on Ft Lauderdale Beach.

Guess what? You are going to pay more in Ft Lauderdale.

It was 200.00 a night in lighthouse point,plus taxes,stayed 3 nights,cause sunday night was special park hours.

JuggaLotus said:
At the same time, its not like occupancy at Disney is near 100% either. They are down just as much as Cedar Point, however they have reacted by cutting prices and making deals to try and drive it as high as they can, whereas Cedar Point seems content to stand pat.

Actually, Disney's occupancy was down something like 1 or 2% from last year the last time we had a story about it on CB. We were in awe by that, but it makes sense because they consistently discount and package to whatever rate keeps the occupancy consistent. Make no mistake, they're not letting a lot of empty rooms go.

CP's numbers are definitely down and there are many empty rooms through most of the season. There's a huge cultural problem where they can't lower prices to meet the economy half way. In fact, every year has to be higher than the last, because that's what dad wants.

Maybe its as simple as doing the same, with less? As in, if they can generate similar profit with lower occupancy, why would they be inclined to adjust?