A note for offsiters...

[vtownpatty]

Was I wrong in believing I could pay for FP there as an offsiter? If it's a money thing, that I can deal with. I did say that if I paid less for my tickets, I'd be willing to stop whining about this. Or if Disney simply made FP a pay-as-you-go item like Universal did, that'd be fine too. Just flat out turning the parks into a hotel resort with the ability for non-hotel guests to use some of them, well, it sucks. Honestly, go one way or the other. When I'm at Great Wolf Lodge they don't let non-hotel guests in. I'm fine with that. Of course, then their park is part of the entire hotel experience. If Disney World is basically a giant hotel experience, I just wish Disney would be honest--come right out and say it. "World's largest hotel resort (and themepark)". Of course, I suppose they don't want to do that, because then they'd lose AP customers, and they'd probably lose a bunch of other offsiters as customers. And I wonder just how crazy the taxes would be on a giant hotel resort... Then again, Disney owns the city so... ??? Ehhh, whatever works for Disney. I just know when to call a spade a spade. I suppose I just wasn't expecting this level of underhandedness from Disney. It's not a big deal, though, I've had good business deals with other groups that operate similarly (timeshare deals, for example). You just have to go in knowing what to expect!

Actually Great Wolf lodge (and all of the other water park resort hotels near me) sell day passes. So they do let non-hotel guests in. Sorry, but I don't see anything wrong with giving on site guests anywhere more perks.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Actually Great Wolf lodge (and all of the other water park resort hotels near me) sell day passes. So they do let non-hotel guests in. Sorry, but I don't see anything wrong with giving on site guests anywhere more perks.

They do? I wish the one near us did that!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Literally or figuratively? I know that you don't mean it literally. I don't see EMH as the same thing either. Buying a pass simply entitles a person to enter a park and enjoy the facilities of that park during certain hours. EMH is outside those certain hours so it doesn't feel the same way. I personally believe that when a person buys a pass that they should be entitled to the same in-park normal activities as anyone. I don't care if I stay deluxe or budget or offsite - I believe that it should all be the same for everyone during regular operating hours IN the parks. Nothing will convince me otherwise but of course YMMV.

I think we were all used to the differences based on offsite and onsite. And most of the perks for onsite were related to staying onsite not the parks (Magical Express and Dis transportation).

This is just a huge shift and it's very in-your-face. Kind of takes a way a bit of the magic for me, even when I know the reasons behind it are logical from a business POV. On the flip side, I enjoy the onsite Express Pass at Universal, so it's nice benefitting from onsite perks as well.

I am just glad Disney hasn't gone the route of extra FPs for onsite, or even worse, tiering the number of FPs by resort level.

 

[crazymomof4]

Ok... I realize free dining might get thrown in there at disney but just from reading up about it, I'm not convinced it's much of a savings. Certainly not as tempting as unlimited express pass. I can happily eat fries for 4 days.

Just jumping in here... and it may be OT but....
This exemplifies the very reason I believe the perception of "savings" with Free Dining is an individual thing-- depending on your preferences and group composition.
We are a family of 5 "adults" (in the eyes of WDW). DH, myself and one of our DS's consider dining at WDW to be a HUGE part of the vacation. We are "foodies" and would not enjoy a stay where we "eat fries for __ days". We like 1 nice TS meal each day and a decent QS (usually lunch). We literally put more into planning ADRs than we did FP+ selections this year! If we paid OOP for our meals for 10 days it would easily be $2,000-$2500. Getting that free is a savings over an above even the RO discount at BC.
So the fact that we don't view dining as merely stuffing something/anything into our mouths to keep us going in between attractions AND the fact that we are feeding 5 adults DOES make it a savings IN OUR CASE. I DO realize it's not an appealing offer for EVERYONE..... but for many it IS!

 

[Planogirl]

I think we were all used to the differences based on offsite and onsite. And most of the perks for onsite were related to staying onsite not the parks (Magical Express and Dis transportation).

This is just a huge shift and it's very in-your-face. Kind of takes a way a bit of the magic for me, even when I know the reasons behind it are logical from a business POV. On the flip side, I enjoy the onsite Express Pass at Universal, so it's nice benefitting from onsite perks as well.

I am just glad Disney hasn't gone the route of extra FPs for onsite, or even worse, tiering the number of FPs by resort level.

I should qualify my thoughts.

I actually don't mind FP perks as long as they are available for everyone even if for an extra fee. Some people used to say that they thought that different resort categories might get extra FP+ and I see nothing wrong with that but I always felt that offsite visitors or those staying in "lesser" resorts (that just sounds wrong) ought to be able to buy their way into the extras. I don't consider the tours the same thing.

At Universal, onsite visitors in the deluxe resorts get their Express free but others are free to purchase the same access. I like that and consider it fair. I guess that being excluded feels worse to me that having to pay something extra.

 

[aaarcher86]

So, how pissed will off siters be about this?

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/be-o...our-guest-restaurant-in-the-magic-kingdom.htm

 

[Kalea]

I'm fine with onsite perks, but I think there should be greater balance--X% of reservations available at 60 days, Y% at 30 days, and Z% day of.

If bundles of ADRs and FP+ opened up periodically, it would give advance planners opportunity to tweak their schedules. And it would give off-site guests and locals a better opportunity to get what they want.

 

[Planogirl]

So, how pissed will off siters be about this?

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/be-o...our-guest-restaurant-in-the-magic-kingdom.htm

It's annoying but still available for them. Rope drop is just increasing in importance.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I should qualify my thoughts.

I actually don't mind FP perks as long as they are available for everyone even if for an extra fee. Some people used to say that they thought that different resort categories might get extra FP+ and I see nothing wrong with that but I always felt that offsite visitors or those staying in "lesser" resorts (that just sounds wrong) ought to be able to buy their way into the extras. I don't consider the tours the same thing.

At Universal, onsite visitors in the deluxe resorts get their Express free but others are free to purchase the same access. I like that and consider it fair. I guess that being excluded feels worse to me that having to pay something extra.

That's a good point. It's the difference between being able to pick and choose where you want to spend your money, versus being shut out because you are not onsite.

 

[ArwenMarie]

So, how pissed will off siters be about this?

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/be-o...our-guest-restaurant-in-the-magic-kingdom.htm

I think that's good for offsiters, I'd rather take a ticket than stand there roasting on that bridge!

 

[SpringSprite]

my 2 cents on everything....

OP, I'm sorry you didn't get the FP you wanted

It stinks that AP holders don't get 60 days booking

IMO there should be onsite perks...and I would also be ok with deluxe / moderate / value perks broken down accordingly. Pay more, get more.

Taking standby lines away completely would be terribly unfair. Can't charge the same admission for everyone and not offer everyone a standby line.

Not sure why people feel the dining reservation system is unfair...getting reservations at a popular restaurant can be difficult outside of WDW. And with the CC cancel policy in place abuse should be lessened.

OK, thanks for listening...

 

[Pooksie]

I should qualify my thoughts.

I actually don't mind FP perks as long as they are available for everyone even if for an extra fee. Some people used to say that they thought that different resort categories might get extra FP+ and I see nothing wrong with that but I always felt that offsite visitors or those staying in "lesser" resorts (that just sounds wrong) ought to be able to buy their way into the extras. I don't consider the tours the same thing.

At Universal, onsite visitors in the deluxe resorts get their Express free but others are free to purchase the same access. I like that and consider it fair. I guess that being excluded feels worse to me that having to pay something extra.

But the tours are the same thing. They allow you to do exactly what you are referring to, and include a personal guide and lunch to boot.

The "Ultimate Day of Thrills" tour includes all of the headliners at all of the parks with the exception of Epcot. You can make FP+ reservations for Soarin or Test Track for after dinner that day and get all the headliners in all the parks done in one day. The only thing you would have to wait standby for is which ever ride in Epcot that you didn't make a FP+ for in the evening. So that's only one ride. With the traditional VIP tour, you can also get the meet and greets and fireworks and parades. The OP said "If it's a money thing, I can deal with that". So there you go.

The second thing is that using the above mentioned strategy, you are only waiting on standby for Test Track (preferably) or Soarin' on standby at night. With the Universal Express Pass, you do not get front of the line access, but Express Pass line access to the rides. Keep in mind that the Express pass doesn't include, from what I've just read,
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (USF – Diagon Alley)
The Hogwarts Express (at either station)
Ollivander’s Wand Shop (USF – Diagon Alley)
Pteranodon Flyers (IOA – Jurassic Park)
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (IOA – Hogsmeade)
Ollivander’s Wand Shop (IOA – Hogsmeade)

Seeing as a few of these seem to be major attractions, you will still find yourself waiting on standby for several headline rides.

Finally, you can also get a VIP tour at Universal Studios, so in the end there are pay to win options at each park, they are just different flavors.

 

[drstrangelove]

At least you get access like everyone else. Not that we've ever needed it.

OP, we will likely be offsite when we go too. I agree that it's a shame that offsiters and AP users and locals don't get the same access. I know that it's popular to feel like onsite visitors deserve more but I've never bought into that even when we stay onsite.

See, I have always thought the only way to justify over-priced hotel rooms is to give a benefit for it. I always thought the extra magic hours were not worth it. but with FP+ it seems like Disney finally wised up and made the rooms have a perk worth paying a 75% premium for. Universal is the same way. You have to stay at their park or buy and extra pass. The pass makes your offsite room cost as much as an onsite room, so its really 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. the point is that it costs to do these things.

 

[Sparkly]

I'm actually half considering booking a throwaway room at UNIVERSAL for the unlimited express pass. This is our first time going near spring break and I'm worried about crowds there.

 

[shepd]

my 2 cents on everything....

OP, I'm sorry you didn't get the FP you wanted

It's okay, I did say I planned my trip there with the intent to use standby lines, and I'm glad of it. I'm not particularly surprised about A&E, but SDMT is a bit of a shock since it's a high capacity ride. Gonna be a long lineup even in the early days of September for that one!

Anyways, whether or not I'm agreed with on my opinions on this, I can definitively say there is absolute no chance to receive a FP on popular MK rides for off-siters at 12:00 am at the 30-day mark, so offsiters absolutely must either choose to book a throwaway campsite, adjust their holiday to be onsite, "cheat", or work their trip to be a standby-only trip and then use what's left to improve their plans a little. There is the last option of taking your chance and hoping to grab something either during the 30-days or day-of, but I think that's a big risk.

Why? I just booked MK FPs for Sep 9th. By easywdw accounts, this will be the *least* popular day for MK of the entire year. All the same stuff is unavailable.

Anyways, part of my decision on this is that I'm not really pushing disney movies/characters on my child since the last thing I want is to spend 5 hours in a line for Anna and Elsa! LOL! Fortunately, she doesn't even know the movie Frozen exists. I'll make sure she gets to watch it in the car on the way back home.

I just want to make sure anyone else who isn't staying on site knows to work around this problem. How is up to them! For me it'll be a throwaway campsite should I be impressed enough to return, since I only stay in efficiency hotels at a minimum (I prefer condos), and I never pay more than $100 a night (and yes, I'm still managing to make it work). My current solution was to spend a few nights putting together a ridiculously long planning book... 39 pages and counting. After all, this is the most expensive holiday I've ever sprung for so it had better work out!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

You didn't pay the same amount. You bought the same right to enter to the park, but you declined to buy the hotel stay which comes w the perk of getting first shot at a quick ride on the newest hottest rides. You paid the $100 but skipped the $400/night room. Then want to enjoy your savings and still get all the same benefits -- just for less. Crazy! Like Disney should give the fastpass to you for buying a $100 ticket instead of a resort guest who's paying $5000 in hotel costs. Why would they do this? The whole goal of operating a park like this is to leverage the rides to fill profitable hotel rooms.

This actually isn't necessarily true. We stay offsite and pay more for our room than all value and most moderate resorts. For us it's less about the cost and more that we prefer this particular hotel far more than then WDW resorts. Just by staying offsite doesn't mean you are paying less. You are paying less to Disney although technically that isn't true either.

In our case, we stay 5 to 6 weeks at WDW every 18 months. We stay offsite and have AP's. With the exception of 2-3 days at Sea World all other days are spent on property. We eat all meals on property. We do one counter service each day and many characters meals we do twice in that time (Tusker, Garden Grill, Chef Mickey, 1900, CRT, Crystal Palace) It's likely we spend far more in the parks than a family of 3 or 4 staying at a Value Resort for 5 days.

Staying on property doesn't necessarily equate to more money spent.

My only gripe is that AP Holders can only make FP's 30 days in advance and only hold 7 days at that time. It's frustrating when you're going to for a long time. We don't have a hope of getting the Mine Train (We don't care about Anna and Elsa thankfully)

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm actually half considering booking a throwaway room at UNIVERSAL for the unlimited express pass.

We're condo people, and did exactly this. For the four of us, that was less expensive than buying VIP tickets or Express separately.