Really no benefit to stay "on Property" anymore

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the MOST amazing perk of staying on property:

STACEY!!!!!!!!!!

Is Stacey STILL there? we've not been since late 2010, I was just saying to DH other night, oh I wonder who'll do the top ten ride TV thing when we're there! x

 

[mom2rtk]

We are all for bonus stays-that's a pretty good price and we would for sure do that over off site. Keep an eye on Swan/Dolphin-its often around $175 (AAA) and a killer location. We grabbed that a couple nights as well for the kids-bad planning meant take what we can get.

Thanks for the photos. That does look awesome. If we were going to Epcot or DHS I'd probably be on the phone right now checking out the rates!

 

[mom2rtk]

Is Stacey STILL there? we've not been since late 2010, I was just saying to DH other night, oh I wonder who'll do the top ten ride TV thing when we're there! x

Not only is she still there, they have added new Stacey footage in New Fantasyland.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Not only is she still there, they have added new Stacey footage in New Fantasyland.

oh well! x

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

This would not surprise me at all.

They really need to tread lightly though. Once things tip people in favor of staying offsite and they have cars, they'll realize there are much cheaper restaurants close by. And it will be much easier to to add that day at Universal or Sea World.

I really think one of the smartest marketing moves Disney has done is getting people to stay on sit without cars, allowing them to capture close to 100% of the vacation dollar.

I happily stay onsite. I don't want that to change. But as prices go up (are value resorts really over $200 right now? ) I'm not immune to the temptation of cheaper lodging elsewhere. And once I get a car.... well.......

I guess it's sort of like the book "If you give a mouse a cookie....." Only we'll call this book "If you give a guest of the Mouse a car......"

Agree! Although I don't see a day I don't stay onsite x

 

[Arthur92]

I love being "in the middle" of Disney. I don't care if I get in early but I want my kids to experience the magic of sleeping surrounded by giant Disney characters. Staying onsite is just fun!

I concur nothing like opening that hotel door and be right on Disney property.

 

[jiminykrikkit]

I've stayed offsite once as a teenager with my parents when we had no idea how staying onsite worked (in those pre-internet days!). I think at that time in my life, it was the nicest hotel I had stayed in. We thought the pool was amazing, and the rooms were sorta-kinda Disney themed. It was pretty cool.

But my eyes have been opened to the magic of staying onsite. Of course the transportation is a huge tangible perk. But the MAGIC. The attention to detail and theming that goes into Disney resorts is just amazing. And Walt didn't want people's vacations to be "spoiled" by the mundane every day stuff that happens outide the World. Staying onsite really adheres to that philosophy. I, personally, think it *makes* my vacation. Being immersed in all things Disney (which I love, of course) just doesn't happen elsewhere.

If for whatever reason I can't stay onsite again in the future, I'd still enjoy my Disney vacation. Offsite accommodations are lovely. But staying onsite just takes it to another level for me. That's the best perk for me.

 

[TDC Nala]

Which perks are they taking away?

They took one hour off evening EMH...that's not enough for me to think perks are disappearing like wildfire. Not sure what My Magic Plus will bring.

I don't do the dining plan. But not having to drive is sort of priceless. Disney is my designated driver.

 

[TX Momof2]

We stay onsite b/c:
DME
no driving on vacation!
love the "happy" place

 

[jillmc40]

I do both, and I like both. We usually go 2 Easters in a row, when they fall within a year of each other. We get ap's(free parking and a TIW card) and then we will go in the fall for one of the parties. For Easter we stay 10 days, off site. Actually our latest is off site for a week, then the last 2 days on site wherever we want. We did AKL last time. I don't think I could deal with busses for 10 days(I work in NYC and so busses and trains are not a novelty for me), and I don't think I could deal with a hotel room for 10 days. We get a 2 bedroom condo, we have breakfast in the room, some nights we come home early from the parks and I make dinner, I do laundry. I don't feel like I am missing out, I usually average about 10 TS adr's for a 10 day trip, I don't do ddp, I do TIW instead. Sometimes we will hit breakfast and dinner, sometimes just lunch. We have small kids (6 and 3) and I find the stroller on the bus to be a pain. We are usually parked so close that we don't have to wait for the tram either. When we go for the fall, we stay on property. It is for a weekend, and yes, after the halloween party or the Christmas party, I want to hop the monorail and go home. Last time stayed at GF. Yes, it was beautiful, but I don't know if it was 600/night beautiful. We had an ap discount, so it was a little less, and we didn't have a car for that trip, so all of that factors in. I will say this though, I get UNBELIEVABLE prices on condos in Orlando since we have a timeshare. Besides using our week, there are tons of months where I can get a 2 bedroom condo for 400/week. It makes it very difficult for me to pay 600/night for a hotel room, when I can pay 400/week for a large, beautiful condo. IF I had to pay regular prices (100/night or more) to stay off property, I would not, since you can pay that on property and enjoy the perks. Unfortunately, now I am spoiled and can only travel with the kids to a 2 bedroom condo, and those I cannot afford on property

 

[ElizabethB]

I'm with TDC Nala. Disney is our designated driver as well. We enjoy a bottle of wine with dinner or a wine-filled walk around World Showcase during the F&W Festival. And, it's a pleasure to walk back to our hotel or get a bus afterward without worrying about limiting our wine intake due to one of us having to drive.

As for EMH -- that lost any appeal for us years ago when they got rid of the wristbands and let everybody stay in the parks to shop and eat. So an hour less means nothing to us.

Charging privileges on the room card is not of much importance to us.

We don't use the dining plan.

But -- we love the convenience of staying on-site. That trumps all for us.

 

[BeerMe]

When we stay onsite, it's because of DME and DDP. I doubt we'll do DDP any more because neither of us eat that much any more and we share a lot of meals, especially during F&W when we snack all around WS.

And drink beer and wine too. We're both in our late 60s so we may not be that typical though.

 

[goofynut41]

I disagree!!! I love staying in the middle of the magic... I take advantage of the early acess to the parks, Ive gone around the park before it gets crowded and back to my resort to rest till the evening run...

 

[lomillerin]

I know this is probably on here many times but what is being changed or cancelled?

 

[ponyboy]

Time, convenience and having an enjoyable time is more important to me than money. I would never, ever stay off site.

Transportation is a huge perk, no driving or having to park somewhere from the time we get to the airport until the time we get back.

The resorts are awesome and you know you're at DW the whole time you're there plus the CM's at DW are a lot nicer than your average hotel worker.

I like the dining plan because it's convenient and I don't have to carry cash, credit cards or anything else and the kids only have to keep up with their KTTW, so they aren't constantly asking for money or losing their money or anything else.

I go to DW to get away and not worry about stuff for a while. My life is hectic and it's a place for me to unwind and just enjoy time with the kids and family. So the less stuff I have to worry about the better. The only real thing we have to do while we're there is make our dinner reservations, the rest is just goof off time.

It wouldn't be like a trip to DW if we didn't stay on site.

 

[KatMark]

I have to agree. After our three trips this year, we will more than likely stay offsite from now on. They keep taking away all of the benefits. We are big fans of EMH's and use them often. With them limiting the hours of them, it's just not worth it to us anymore.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have to agree. After our three trips this year, we will more than likely stay offsite from now on. They keep taking away all of the benefits. We are big fans of EMH's and use them often. With them limiting the hours of them, it's just not worth it to us anymore.

What benefits have they taken away? The only one I know of is one of the three nighttime hours of EMH. Oh and one night at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[goofy4tink]

They don't have those at the deluxe resorts, though. I don't know if they think people with more money are better behaved or what. My favorite bus experiences have been at the value. I like the orderly queue at the bus depots at those resorts. My worst bus experience was at the Beach Club. Complete chaos. We were one of the first families there (must have just missed a bus) and dozen of people came up to the bus stop after us. When the MK bus finally arrived 25 minutes later people pushed and shoved in front of us to get on. We barely got on as a family. Ugh!

Yes, I'm aware that the deluxe resorts don't have lines...and they should. All the resorts should. But I think that Disney feels it takes away from the deluxe ambiance!! I guess they prefer all that pushing and shoving.
In all reality? If you have a family group, stay together and walk to the bus door. If there are two adults, or even an adult and a child, walking side by side, it's going to be hard to shove through. I know, I know..people do it. And I hate having to come up with a strategy for getting on a bus as a family.
That's why I usually just stand in a spot close to where the bus is going to load. IF that means I have to stand there for 20 mins, so be it.

IMO EMH is being eliminated "for now".

Then low and behold a couple years down the road-you can pay an additional $19.99 for EE and your wrist band will let you in.

Or for $29.99 you can stay a few hours after closing and your wrist band will light up the Mickey, allowing you on attractions after hours.

Or if you buy DVC, or stay Deluxe, or something along this line-again IMO.

Personally? I would be thrilled. I loved the E-Nights of old. Paid $13 and got to go to MK for an addtl 3 or so hours. It was great. People tended to balk at spending that much money for a family of 4 or 5, so they didn't go.
I can see Disney doing something similar to that down the road.

I think the $200 value rate was over Easter at peak pricing. Still, that's just nuts. I priced a Little Mermaid room in early June for 1 night and it was $166. I had considered a weekend night and it was $194.

I'm there June 1 and the 2nd...the 1st is around $170 and the 2nd is around $145!! Ridiculous pricing, but if people continue to pay it, Disney will keep the rates high. The only reason I'm paying it is because this is a special trip with my dd, and she really wants to stay there. So, we stay at Music for 4 nights and then move to AoA-LM for the last 2 nights. But never again.

 

[aubriee]

Yes, I'm aware that the deluxe resorts don't have lines...and they should. All the resorts should. But I think that Disney feels it takes away from the deluxe ambiance!! I guess they prefer all that pushing and shoving.
In all reality? If you have a family group, stay together and walk to the bus door. If there are two adults, or even an adult and a child, walking side by side, it's going to be hard to shove through. I know, I know..people do it. And I hate having to come up with a strategy for getting on a bus as a family.
That's why I usually just stand in a spot close to where the bus is going to load. IF that means I have to stand there for 20 mins, so be it.

Last Sept my mom and I stayed at AKL. We had a rental car, but decided to use the bus one morning to avoid the TTT getting to MK. She was sitting in her ECV in the designated spot for WC/ECVs. However, because the bus picks up first at Kidani, we had to sit through two other buses before there was finally space for her ECV. When that third bus finally came, the driver opened the front door for a minute to tell everyone he was loading my mom first, then would open the front door for them. Immediately we started hearing comments about how it wasn't fair that ECVs were loaded first (yeah, like we hadn't already waited through two other buses for space to become available, while others arriving after us got right on the previous buses. Then you wouldn't believe the people (who were in the back of that line--not the front), who immediately turned and tried to crawl over my mom and her ECV, rushing to try to enter that back door when he opened it, then got mad when the driver told them only the ECV party could load through the back door and for them to get back in line. They were literally trying to crawl over my mom's ECV to cut in front of us. Once she had pulled on, I saw the driver look behind me and then ask the party standing right behind me, if they were with us. The man pointed to me and my mom and said, "yeah, we're with them". I told the driver they most certainly were not with us and I had no idea who they were. The man then proceeded to call me a 'b-tch, because I wouldn't agree that they were with us and the driver made them get in the back of the line, up by the front door. Once on the bus we heard a couple of people saying it wasn't fair that the ECV was loaded first and took up as much space as it did, when other people had to stand. They felt the ECV should have been made to wait, so the driver could squeeze more people on the bus. After that experience, we just chose to drive everyday, including the other times we went to MK.

For both our Oct/Nov trip and our upcoming May trips, we chose to stay offsite. It's not worth dealing with the rude people at the bus stops. In May we will be in a one bedroom condo at Wyndham Bonnet Creek, so will be closer to the parks than alot of the onsite resorts. We don't do the DDP and could care less about EMH. We are getting alot more space, than we'd get in a deluxe resort and paying less than we would at a Value, even with an AP discount (we are paying $89.60/night for a one bedroom villa). I have an AP, so parking is free at the parks anyway. While I wouldn't want to be very far from the Disney gates, I can't think of a single reason for actually staying onsite anymore.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Personally? I would be thrilled. I loved the E-Nights of old. Paid $13 and got to go to MK for an addtl 3 or so hours. It was great. People tended to balk at spending that much money for a family of 4 or 5, so they didn't go.
I can see Disney doing something similar to that down the road.

.

I agree! The E-nights were my favorite on site perk! I have so many pictures from those nights and the park was empty. We don't take advantage of EMH as much as we used to, but I would still stay on site. The convenience is still worth it to us, especially DME.

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