60 Day Window for non-Disney hotels, for example DS hotels

[DrummerBoy523]

Is it true that guests in the non-Disney branded hotels get the 60-day window as well?

If true, what benefit is it for me to pay double the price of a normal hotel room at a Disney resort?

 

[Grant Parkins]

That is true, there are several Disney Springs area hotels that offer a 60 day FP+ window. I believe that it is typically announced as a limited time thing, but I don't know if that is true or not.

And I agree, it certainly changes the value proposition for staying in a Disney run hotel.

 

[gatorlisa]

I have looked for rates at the Disney Springs area hotels that get the Disney benefits (60 day FP window, EMH) and I don't find them to be any savings. The rates I have seen are up there with Disney, plus most of them have fees not only for parking, but a separate daily resort fee for wifi and other "amenities".

 

[gharter]

There are several resorts aruond Disney that are labeled "Good Neighbor" and have the same perks as staying on site such as 60 FP and EMH.
I have never looked to see if they are any cheaper or not.

 

[siren0119]

There are several resorts aruond Disney that are labeled "Good Neighbor" and have the same perks as staying on site such as 60 FP and EMH.
I have never looked to see if they are any cheaper or not.

That's actually a misconception.

There are two "sets" of offsite hotels in relation to Disneyworld

"Good Neighbor" hotels are a list of hotels that meet minimum Disney standards, but they do not get any special perks, access to 60 day fastpasses or EMH.

"Official WDW Hotels" are 7 specific hotels located at Disney Springs that DO get the 60 day fastpass/EMH privileges. https://disneyspringshotels.com/

 

[DrummerBoy523]

I have looked for rates at the Disney Springs area hotels that get the Disney benefits (60 day FP window, EMH) and I don't find them to be any savings. The rates I have seen are up there with Disney, plus most of them have fees not only for parking, but a separate daily resort fee for wifi and other "amenities".

I just looked at the Best Western (soon to be Drury). Much, much cheaper than the rates quoted me at a Moderate resort. Most expensive rate I found online was $150 with a $15 resort fee/day.

Is Bus service worse for the DS hotels? I just can't figure it out. I know I can't buy the Dining Plan and I don't think you can get Magic Bands. Big Whoop right?

My point in all of this is that I think Disney needs to change up the FP+ window for the Disney Springs resorts. I'm paying a premium to stay on-site and the benefit I get is that I have to fight a bunch of people staying in Disney Springs at almost half the daily rate for FP+ at the 60-day window. Grrrr

 

[siren0119]

If you're staying at the 7 "Official WDW Hotels" at Disney springs that get 60 day FP and EMH, there are pros and cons.
Pros:
Similar perks to onsite resort guests
Can use loyalty points to book (saving money)
Can take advantage of hotel chain discounts (which may be better/more frequent than WDW resort discounts) without needing an AP
Transportation to the parks is available
Can still input your reservation into MDE for trip management with tickets/FP/ADRs

Cons:
Transportation is not as frequent as WDW resort buses
No bus to the parks from Disney springs
Less theming/out of the "bubble"
No airport transportation/Magic Express, so you either need to uber/lyft/hire car or rent a car to get there (and pay parking fees)
Resort fees
Can't purchase "packages" and pay off your WDW park tickets over time.

it's always worth pricing out several options - there may be times that an onsite resort is a better deal (or provides you with more personal value). We did our first offsite stay last year, and did it again this year at the Wyndham LBV (which is a WDW official hotel). I got a great deal on the room, and we didn't feel like we were missing any magic. YMMV.

 

[siren0119]

Is Bus service worse for the DS hotels? I just can't figure it out. I know I can't buy the Dining Plan and I don't think you can get Magic Bands. Big Whoop right?

My point in all of this is that I think Disney needs to change up the FP+ window for the Disney Springs resorts. I'm paying a premium to stay on-site and the benefit I get is that I have to fight a bunch of people staying in Disney Springs at almost half the daily rate for FP+ at the 60-day window. Grrrr

Bus service is not even close to the frequency of WDW resorts to the parks. Some charge a per-person fee to ride the transportation to the parks. During our offsite stays we found it was cheaper and faster to get an Uber/lyft.

You also do not get Magical Express and must find your own way to get from the airport to the hotel, and cannot book packages with room+ tickets that allow you to put down a deposit and pay it off over time but still have the ability to book FP before your tickets are actually paid off. Gotta buy the tickets and pay in full. (Not a big deal for me since we buy through Undercover tourist and have to pay in full with them anyway).

 

[RamblingMad]

If you're staying at the 7 "Official WDW Hotels" at Disney springs that get 60 day FP and EMH, there are pros and cons.
Pros:
Similar perks to onsite resort guests
Can use loyalty points to book (saving money)
Can take advantage of hotel chain discounts (which may be better/more frequent than WDW resort discounts) without needing an AP
Transportation to the parks is available
Can still input your reservation into MDE for trip management with tickets/FP/ADRs

Cons:
Transportation is not as frequent as WDW resort buses
No bus to the parks from Disney springs
Less theming/out of the "bubble"
No airport transportation/Magic Express, so you either need to uber/lyft/hire car or rent a car to get there (and pay parking fees)
Resort fees
Can't purchase "packages" and pay off your WDW park tickets over time.

it's always worth pricing out several options - there may be times that an onsite resort is a better deal (or provides you with more personal value). We did our first offsite stay last year, and did it again this year at the Wyndham LBV (which is a WDW official hotel). I got a great deal on the room, and we didn't feel like we were missing any magic. YMMV.

None of those cons come across as a show stopper for me. I usually stay offsite and rent a car anyway. And I don’t really find the Disney bubble relaxing.

I’ll have to look at these hotels the next time I go to FL.

 

[Turksmom]

Disney Springs resorts have 2 bus loops that run approximately every 30 minutes. If booked through MDE, you can book a room and ticket package. No dining plan, but there is a Quick Service value card you can purchase when booked through Disney. No Magical Express.

Usually stay onsite, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. We've stayed at both Hilton and Best Western in Disney Springs and had good experiences both times. Used a combo of resort shuttles/ Uber/ walking to Disney Springs.

 

[scard192]

for me it's not the pros and cons, it's the fact that a benefit that used be exclusive to those who stay at a Disney resort has now been extended to off site hotels. Did we get any sort of price break for having that exclusive benefit taken away?

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Your question implies that the FP window is the only reason to reserve an on-site hotel.

We choose onsite mainly because:
-The bubble, we are those suckers who get in the bubble by way of DME and don’t leave it until we go back to MCO. TBH even Disney Springs itself feels a little less in the bubble to me.
-The location advantages of some of the resorts, can’t beat walking into a park.
-The feeling we get at the resorts we choose, we just love them. It is way more than just a place to sleep and shower for us. The resort is right up there in importance with the parks to us.

We would stay onsite even if the FP window did not exist or it was the exact same for everyone. If the FP window is your primary reason for staying onsite, you may save money or find a hotel you like better moving to a different hotel that also has the 60 day window. There’s no reason to stick to onsite if that’s your only reason for doing it.

 

[siren0119]

for me it's not the pros and cons, it's the fact that a benefit that used be exclusive to those who stay at a Disney resort has now been extended to off site hotels. Did we get any sort of price break for having that exclusive benefit taken away?

I'm sure the people who used to use the FP paper system felt the same way when they switched to FP+ (why should anyone be able to snatch up the good fastpasses ahead of time when we used to be able to get them while we were in the parks?). You don't have to like the changes, but it's still more "exclusive" than the old FP system was.

 

[RamblingMad]

I'm sure the people who used to use the FP paper system felt the same way when they switched to FP+ (why should anyone be able to snatch up the good fastpasses ahead of time when we used to be able to get them while we were in the parks?). You don't have to like the changes, but it's still more "exclusive" than the old FP system was.

I hate the new system. It’s one of the main reasons I go to DL now. With these hotels making available FP 60 days out at a reasonable price, puts WDW back on my radar.

 

[DrummerBoy523]

for me it's not the pros and cons, it's the fact that a benefit that used be exclusive to those who stay at a Disney resort has now been extended to off site hotels. Did we get any sort of price break for having that exclusive benefit taken away?

This was my point with this thread. I don't care if people like them or not - that wasn't the point. I think the Disney hotels should take precedence with the FP+ system. To me, the DS hotels shouldn't get the same 60-day window. I'm paying almost twice as much to stay in a disney hotel - I should get a head start IMO. Give the DS hotels a 45-day window, sure. But the 60 day window should be reserved for disney properties, not the freaking Hilton.

 

[RamblingMad]

This was my point with this thread. I don't care if people like them or not - that wasn't the point. I think the Disney hotels should take precedence with the FP+ system. To me, the DS hotels shouldn't get the same 60-day window. I'm paying almost twice as much to stay in a disney hotel - I should get a head start IMO. Give the DS hotels a 45-day window, sure. But the 60 day window should be reserved for disney properties, not the freaking Hilton.

As long as there’s demand for onsite hotels, you won’t get a price break.

 

[Grant Parkins]

This was my point with this thread. I don't care if people like them or not - that wasn't the point. I think the Disney hotels should take precedence with the FP+ system. To me, the DS hotels shouldn't get the same 60-day window. I'm paying almost twice as much - I should get a 15-day head start IMO. Give the DS hotels a 45-day window, sure. But the 60 day window should be reserved for disney properties, not the freaking Hilton.

I agree with you, but I have no doubt that the DS hotels that get the 60 day FP window are paying for that privilege. WDW resort rooms are near full year round, and they have nearly maxed out that revenue stream. Taking a little off the top from the DS hotels is an additional revenue stream.

As long as WDW can still hit its room capacity goals, I don't see much changing. That's great for people who are looking for an alternative to WDW resorts but bad for those who always stay on-site. WDW will charge as much, fill the parks as full, and offer as little as the market will bear.

 

[AngiTN]

Is it true that guests in the non-Disney branded hotels get the 60-day window as well?

If true, what benefit is it for me to pay double the price of a normal hotel room at a Disney resort?

You don't get what I think is the best service Disney offers
Luggage service
Both from the airport and resort to resort if you are moving and most importantly, going home curbside check in.
I love those services.
And the better bus service is the cherry on top.
That and charging with my band but that's really last on my list.

 

[siren0119]

I agree with you, but I have no doubt that the DS hotels that get the 60 day FP window are paying for that privilege. WDW resort rooms are near full year round, and they have nearly maxed out that revenue stream. Taking a little off the top from the DS hotels is an additional revenue stream.

As long as WDW can still hit its room capacity goals, I don't see much changing. That's great for people who are looking for an alternative to WDW resorts but bad for those who always stay on-site. WDW will charge as much, fill the parks as full, and offer as little as the market will bear.

Keep in mind too that the hotels which get this privilege are on Disney owned land. That's why it's not ANY nearby offsite hotel, it's specific hotels on specific plots of leased land. WDW is hitting capacity and they'd rather see additional guest traffic go to places that have some impact on their revenue stream, so for Disney it's a win-win.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

This was my point with this thread. I don't care if people like them or not - that wasn't the point. I think the Disney hotels should take precedence with the FP+ system. To me, the DS hotels shouldn't get the same 60-day window. I'm paying almost twice as much to stay in a disney hotel - I should get a head start IMO. Give the DS hotels a 45-day window, sure. But the 60 day window should be reserved for disney properties, not the freaking Hilton.

Someone staying at the Grand Floridian is potentially paying like 8 times the amount per night as someone at an All Star Resort. When you stay at a Disney resort you’re not just paying more for a longer FP window. That’s way too black and white.

At the same time, if you feel like that’s the only thing you’re paying for staying there, it absolutely makes sense to go Good Neighbour or whatever the proper category is called.