Advantages of Disney Resort?

[kellyed]

We are planning a trip to Disney in Oct. with our 2 children ( 9 and 5 yrs). I've been comparing prices at Disney owned resorts and resorts in the park, but not owned by Disney such as Grosvenor Resort, Hotel Royal Plaza, etc. The prices are significantly lower at the latter and we'll have a car if that helps. What am I missing here? What are the advantages of staying in a Disney resort? Thanks, Kellye

 

[LucyStorm]

Disney service- no one does it quite like Disney

Transportation-there is a lot to be said for not having to drive your car to the parks or trying to find it in a humongous parking lot with two tired children in tow.

Disney magic-being immersed in it the whole time you are there

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Hi Kellye,

Let me sum it up by saying, staying at a Disney resort gives you the 'total' Disney experience.
You get Disney theming, and magic

Of course it is a personal preference, and some may argue that getting a cheaper rate at a hotel outside of Disney is a priority for them.

For my family, using the Disney transportation perk was a part of the total Disney thrill.I love the Boat rides, my kids love the monorail, and DH loves the fact that he doesn't have to drive anywhere,LOL !

Whichever you decide is best for your family really doesn't matter. You'll still be at DISNEY

 

[ead79]

The Disney resorts are very convenient--you can leave your car in the parking lot from check-in until check-out. Their transportation will take you everywhere efficiently. My favorite part about staying at a Disney resort is that you get to stay "in the magic." I just feel more connected when I stay onsite. The Disney resorts are wonderfully themed and have fun atmospheres. I know this is minor/cheesy, but I also like the Mickey toiletries and the Mickey wakeup cal.

Of course, if budget concerns are important, there is nothing wrong with staying offsite. I have done that before as well, and Disney is still there waiting for you with it's magic.

 

[SeanSpoonts]

There are few things that make it pretty important and worth the money.
1. If you are in the Magic Kingdom for example, let's say at space mountain and decide to head back to your offsite hotel room, you are about 40 minutes from your car and then you must drive back to your room another 20 minutes perhaps? That is an hour each day just getting back to where you are sleeping. In a weeks stay that's 7 hours. About half a day just trudging back to the car and your offsite room.

2. As a resort guest you get into the park an hour earlier, so in that week you get that 7 hours back don't you? If it only takes you 20 minutes to get back to your room then you recovered 40 minutes from the time you spend as an offsite guest just getting back to your room. That extra 40 minutes over a week ends up being more than 4 hours of additional time in the park, the pool, whatever. Add that to the extra hour you get in the park each morning and you have almost 12 hours extra time to enjoy yourself.

3. Off site there is the tendency to stay in the park as long as possible because you know you are missing that time transiting back and forth so you tend to get tired out by the third day or so, so will the kids believe it or not.

4. There is nothing better after a long day than to know that you are just a short monorail ride away from your room, a shower, a pool and a drink. Just watching people get on the monorail to the parking lot is enough to make the extra money well spent. Did you know that resort guests get their own monorail line? You will never have to wait in line.

5. Are you going on vactaion to save money or have fun? This is an important consideration to make. here is the trick that has worked for my family of 5 for some time. We go to the park early taking advantage of the extra hour they give resort guests. We stay until approximately noon we then retire to the hotel and have lunch with the kids and swim. Around three we head back refreshed and ready to play until the park closes. Then we have the option of watching the fireworks from the hotel or the park. The most important thing is having the "option" to do those things. That is what you pay the extra money for.

Give it some thought, if I can be of any further help drop me a line

 

[amymouse]

I absolutely agree with the previous posts. Staying at a Disney resort is all about the service, the convenience, and the magic.

I love having the Disney theming and fun all around me 24/7.

I am more than willing to let their transportation tote me everywhere I want to go. Navigating unfamiliar roads is not my cup of tea.

I can't imagine how wilted I would be by the end of each day if it weren't so easy to take a midday break at my resort.

Last, I've had so many "magical moments" that happened only because of CMs' quick thinking at the resorts.

Don't forget, you're going have a whole lot of fun on your Disney vacation no matter where you lay your head at night. But I truly believe that staying on-property takes that fun up a notch or two, or three, or four....

 

[cinmell]

We stay at Disney resorts because we spend our entire vacation on Disney's property so it just makes sense for us to stay there. The themimg is great, it's convenient, transportation (bus, boat, monorail) and early magic hour. You can take the transportation back to your room in the middle of the day to rest or cool down at the pool and you don't have to worry about driving off site to get to your hotel or worry about taking time away from the parks because you have to take time to travel to your off property hotel.

 

[Shells9]

Oh my gosh, in addition to what everyone else has said, the transportation is so convenient!

DH is very relieved that we park the car and do not get back into it until we leave. Sure, sometimes you have a 15 minute wait for a bus, but it sure beats everyone dragging themselves to the hot car, fighting over which row we are parked in, navigating our way through the parking lot, getting stuck in traffic back to a hotel, etc.

Also, what's a trip to Disney without the resort channel and all those Zip A Dee Doo Dah, Tips for the Day!

Like everyone else said, it gives you a real Disney feel 24/7. I know some people do not like the Value resorts, but even those are great, especially if you have small children.

Give it a try -- you won't stay off property again. One thing you might try is splitting your stay. Do half off-property and the last half on-property and see what your own prefernce is.

Either way, you will have a great time!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Hi there, I noticed that not one of the people who responded to you seems to have noticed you were enquiring about the Downtown Disney non disney but ON PROPERTY hotels.
So all they said about transportation etc. is wrong since you do in fact have the same bus transportation as anyone in a Disney hotel.
I prefer the Disney hotels for other reasons. I either stay at the premium hotels because of additonal convenience of being close to a park and being able to use monorail or boat right from the hotel I am at, or sometimes the moderates for the same reason.
I also like the Disney atmosphere of those hotels.
The is also early entrance, I can't remember is that is included also in the resorts you mentioned , it may be.
If you look you often find the moderates at the same of less cost than the Downtown hotels.
If you are a AAA memeber they have very good prices on the on property hotels. Then there are also the annual pass holder rates which are a good deal if you go more than once a year.
anyway give the moderates a try I really like Port Orleans Riverside, you can take a boat to Downtown Disney from there as well as the busses to anywhere in the property.
good luck

 

[Grumpy92]

The DD hotels generally get the same perks as that at a Disney resort. Really it all comes down to what type of hotel you want to stay at. We look at it this way. We can stay at a marriot that looks exactly the same in any city in the country. But there are very few resorts that completely immerse you in the theme of their resort. For us that is worth the $$. You also might want to check mousesavers.com for discounted rates. Disney is running alot of special rates right now. So ultimately it comes down to personal choice.

 

[billybaruch1]

Originally posted by Mickiethepooh
Hi there, I noticed that not one of the people who responded to you seems to have noticed you were enquiring about the Downtown Disney non disney but ON PROPERTY hotels.
So all they said about transportation etc. is wrong since you do in fact have the same bus transportation as anyone in a Disney hotel.

"The buses, which are not part of the Disney transportation network..." from Birnbaum's Official Guide 2003 page 83.

Also see http://www.wdwig.com/faq_gro.htm

The Downtown Disney Resorts operate their own transit system. Therefore, if you wish to ride the Walt Disney World transit system, you must either have a passport which provides use of the transit system or purchase a bus pass.

Downtown Disney buses make up to two trips every hour, compared to 3 or 4 for Disney buses. DD buses stop in the middle of the parking lots at some parks. Bus service from the Hilton to AK may be seasonal only.

 

[rrobalew]

Disney hotel benefits
---------------------------

1. Extra Magic Hour - each day a different park opens an hour early for Disney hotel guests.

2. Disney transportation - more frequent and less distance than off-site.

3. Free parking at parks if you decide not to use #2. (Or is this for annual passholders, I can't remember.)

4. Purchases made in parks can be delivered to your room, instead of having to carry them through the park all day.

5. Easily check availability and make reservations for activities, such as character dining PS.

6. The "Magic".

 

[MJames41]

Technically they can use the Disney busses, if they have multi-day passes, however they have to walk (or drive) to Downtown Disney to use them. If walking, this is crossing at least 1 very busy street (speed limit around 35 or 40, 4 lanes, with a stop light and a count down for the "walk" screen).

One thing that wasn't mentioned is security. Usually you will see a Disney CM about every 30 or 40 feet - if something goes wrong, you have help there almost immediately. As a single parent, that is easily worth the extra dollars I pay to stay on site.

Then you add in the transportation (I like Disney to drive me everywhere, even if it's on a bus), and the package delivery to the resort, and it makes it extra sweet. Just my thoughts.

 

[kellyed]

Wow! I really appreciate all this info. We last visited Disney 6 yrs ago and stayed at the Key West Resort. - I've forgotten alot. The downtown resorts say their busses leave every 30" and we will have multi-day passes so we can use the Disney transportation system also. I appreciate the points made about the busy intersection and security - these are things I wasn't aware of. We are still "researching" and looking for deals, but I'm leaning towards the Disney resorts, if only for the soap - I loved that last time! Thanks so much, everyone for your help. Kellye

 

[XStAnt]

Kelleyed,

Disney no longer runs buses from DTD to thew parks (at least not in the am). This is to prevent the guests at DTD from doing precisely this.

Also, DTD buses to MK drop you off in the parking lot at TTC. You still need to take the monorail or ferry. Disney buses take you to the front entrance of MK.

I believe only the Hilton participates in EMH. That extra hour is a HUGE advantage for on site guests.

Often times the Disney resorts are comparably priced with the DTD resorts. Check out www.mousesavers.com for info on resort discounts.

You might even want to check out the Swan and Dolphin. Although not technically Disney resorts they give you virtually all of the perks of a Disney resort (early entry, Disney transportation, immersion in Disney, etc.) They do not have Mickey soaps, package delivery or the Disney TV chanenels, but everything else is just like the resorts. Plus you're right at the Boardwalk area. They often have great discounts. Teacher/Nurse/government employee discount: $129 or $144/night; Entertainment card/AAA discount: 50% off rack rate.

I used to be skeptical of staying on site. But, now, I feel that if you can afford a Disney resort you should splurge and stay on site. But if the $$$ will make you cut back on something else, stay off site.

 

[siouxi31]

I've stayed at DDD, Buena Vista Palace, Grosvenor, and Hilton. BVP is beautiful but very business like, Grosvenor smelled like garbage and I will never go back (it's been 3 years and maybe it has gotten better), Hilton was beautiful with an uneventlful swimming pool. That being said, I've also stayed at CBR, BC, PO, DL and have visited AKL, Poly, GF, WL, CSR. I will NEVER, ever stay off site again! Other than all of the "perks" that are listed as staying on Disney property, I missed the magic when I stayed off site. DDD resorts were convenient but the ambiance wasn't the same, I felt left out and sad. There's really no words to put on it. If you can get the same rate on site vs. DDD, go for on-site.

 

[jcemom]

I was planning to stay off-site, but after getting a good rate at AKL a couple of the things I am looking forward to are:
1. The convenience of being able to charge things to my room and therefore not needing to carry a lot of cash into the parks
and
2. The convenience of having my packages sent to my resort instead of carrying them around all day and worrying about losing something

Of course, I am also looking forward to EVERYTHING ELSE! lol