Are all Disney resort perks fair?

[wdw4rfam]

Y

That's why value resorts rock!!!

yes, and whenever I have priced offsite they are rarely cheaper than values too.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I stay on and off site every year.
Offsite guests get way more "perks" than being offsite at Universal. I would never go to Universal without staying onsite, but at Disney I can still get 95% of what the onsite guests get. I don't get EMH and I probably can't get a FP for A&E or the perfect time slot for Chef Mickey .... But I can get pretty much everything else ... And I can still do those things, I just have to jump through a couple of hoops ....
Seems pretty fair to me

Although we always end up onsite at Disney just because we like the total experience, I agree I would never go to universal without paying for deluxe because the express pass can't be beat.

 

[cakebaker]

Right, but I am pretty sure those in value resorts get the same perks as those in deluxes

They do- but then you have to look at the difference in amenities, proximity to the parks, convenience of transportation.

Someone staying at All Star Sports is definitely not getting the same level of service and convenience that someone staying at the Grand Floridian. It's not just emh's and the 60 day window. I also think Disney doesn't want to differentiate between their resort guests in an obvious way.

 

[atilley01]

I think they are fair.

I am curious why you did not mention EMH. For the same ticket price, on site guests have access to more park hours.

We love on site perks. We have also enjoyed off site stays where we did not have them trading perks for reduced cost of accommodations.

Hi. I didn't mention EMH because I guess they seem like an added bonus for resort guest but don't really put other guests at a disadvantage either.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

OP - we always stay offsite. Always, always. I never felt badly about not getting EMH, and never blinked at the +10 of ADRs... I always figured onsite guests had to be offered SOMETHING special to get them to stay in those expensive little motel rooms. But with the inception of FP "+" it finally got my attention. It's been a big enough game changer that we canceled our WDW trip last year. And next year we are going to be both onsite and offsite at the same time. We decided that for our family we will (reluctantly) pay for rooms onsite to get the FP, but we will sleep in comfort offsite. It stinks. We will go less often. But we have to take leveling the playing field into our own hands. We will just eat less TS, and more QS/lunch packing. I think we will break even, although we'll miss Chef Mickey's and Hoop De Doo.

So no throwaway room? You have a room booked at disney for every night of your off site stay?

 

[atilley01]

So what you're telling me is that Disney is a for profit corporation and not a public service? Hmm, who knew..

Based on how much money we'll be spending even without staying onsite, I had a clue this might be the case. Thanks.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I stay on and off site every year.
Offsite guests get way more "perks" than being offsite at Universal. I would never go to Universal without staying onsite, but at Disney I can still get 95% of what the onsite guests get. I don't get EMH and I probably can't get a FP for A&E or the perfect time slot for Chef Mickey .... But I can get pretty much everything else ... And I can still do those things, I just have to jump through a couple of hoops ....
Seems pretty fair to me

Agree! Universal's onsite perks are better than Disney's onsite perks. But Disney is better if you are offsite (at least you get 3 prebooked FPs)

 

[momof2n2]

So no throwaway room? You have a room booked at disney for every night of your off site stay?

Yes. DH and I decided we wanted the earlier access to FP+. I'm not going to winnow off days, or play games. I did look to info on that, but at the end of the day it didn't hold up to our personal convictions. So - we're paying the mouse. But sleeping in luxury.

 

[TwoMisfits]

OP - we always stay offsite. Always, always. I never felt badly about not getting EMH, and never blinked at the +10 of ADRs... I always figured onsite guests had to be offered SOMETHING special to get them to stay in those expensive little motel rooms. But with the inception of FP "+" it finally got my attention. It's been a big enough game changer that we canceled our WDW trip last year. And next year we are going to be both onsite and offsite at the same time. We decided that for our family we will (reluctantly) pay for rooms onsite to get the FP, but we will sleep in comfort offsite. It stinks. We will go less often. But we have to take leveling the playing field into our own hands. We will just eat less TS, and more QS/lunch packing. I think we will break even, although we'll miss Chef Mickey's and Hoop De Doo.

Amen - we also have always stayed offsite once our family got bigger. I didn't blink at any perks...til FP+...and now I only go for parties to be on an even playing field (Disney's loss - $2K in tickets and $2K in dining and an extra $200-$300 in extras/parking). And I disagree about going to Universal without perks...it's so easy if it's not a prime season...way cheaper and easier too (no ADRs and no worries about missing times)...

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Yes. DH and I decided we wanted the earlier access to FP+. I'm not going to winnow off days, or play games. I did look to info on that, but at the end of the day it didn't hold up to our personal convictions. So - we're paying the mouse. But sleeping in luxury.

I don't blame you.

I've never agreed with the whole throwaway concept anyway but that's a whole other thread lol

 

[atilley01]

Can I ask what park perks onsite people got before the new FP system came into play?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Can I ask what park perks onsite people got before the new FP system came into play?

EMH
180+10
Free parking
Free transportation
Concierge if you stay CL

 

[Monykalyn]

Until FP+ this wasn't a perk for onsite only guests. Anyone with a ticket could get FP-; --indeed aren't there multiple threads about the dreaded "up at midnight or whole vacation ruined if I don't get my FP+ at exactly the right time for exactly the right attraction" scenarios?? Personally I don't think FP+ should have such a wide difference in schedule. Maybe, someday, if Disney ever gets around to it and builds MORE RIDES than resort guests can book 4 or 5, while offsite limited to 3 at a time-but all at same window. It really wouldn't be such an issue if there were more E-ticket rides. And then extend EMH to include more hours and parks.

 

[HatboxHaint]

Yes. DH and I decided we wanted the earlier access to FP+. I'm not going to winnow off days, or play games. I did look to info on that, but at the end of the day it didn't hold up to our personal convictions. So - we're paying the mouse. But sleeping in luxury.

Can we come stay in the on-site room you aren't using?! For real!!!! This could be mutually beneficial! PM me!!

This a totally new business model! Instead of renting DVC points, you rent a room at a discounted rate from someone who just wants the FP+ privileges.

 

[mummabear]

I totally get that Disney makes the rules and you either choose to play or you don't. Staying offsite is a choice and I fully understand the consequences just like people who stay onsite understand the consequence of paying more for a room. I guess I just feel that the heftier Disney resort price buys you convenience to the parks and the opportunity to stay inside the "Disney bubble". But Disney is going to go what's best for the bottom line just like any other business and I guess perks are just part of that. Just expressing my opinion and I appreciate everyone else's.

I don't mean this in a rude way but what is your point?
You have answered your own question. It is fair because you pay more than staying off site, just like comparing 2 other offsite hotels one might be $79 a night and not have a restaurant or pool but the one for $179 has both and free parking-it is up to you to decide which you want, less cost or more perks?
We have stayed onsite and off site, I prefer on site but after this upcoming trip our family of 5 will likely need to upgrade out of a value resort which makes the difference between onsite and offsite cost more, I think we will probably drop the perks and go off site but we will need to crunch the numbers at that time.

 

[momof2n2]

EMH
180+10
Free parking
Free transportation
Concierge if you stay CL

And none of those were perk-y enough for us.

Until FP+ this wasn't a perk for onsite only guests. Anyone with a ticket could get FP-; --indeed aren't there multiple threads about the dreaded "up at midnight or whole vacation ruined if I don't get my FP+ at exactly the right time for exactly the right attraction" scenarios?? Personally I don't think FP+ should have such a wide difference in schedule. Maybe, someday, if Disney ever gets around to it and builds MORE RIDES than resort guests can book 4 or 5, while offsite limited to 3 at a time-but all at same window. It really wouldn't be such an issue if there were more E-ticket rides. And then extend EMH to include more hours and parks.

This is why some of us are unhappy with the new system.

 

[scrapquitler]

I hope this isn't a controversial topic as I don't mean it to be. I'd just like to hear other's opinions on the subject. And I haven't seen a topic like this posted recently but I apologize if it's been covered in the past.
I'm planning my family's first ever trip to Disney next year. Thanks to a lot of research and the great people on this message board, I feel like I'm in a really good place to plan a great trip for my family. One thing that has confused me in my research though, is some of the park perks that onsite people get over people staying offsite. I decided pretty early on that an offsite resort would work better for my family and that meant giving up some perks that I didn't feel were necessarily fair. The two that I'm referring to most are the advantage of booking early ADRs and FPs.

It's just my opinion that anything having to do with attractions or dining inside the parks should be a level playing field for all ticket holders, regardless of your choice of lodging. I understand that the onsite perks are to encourage people to stay on Disney property but if I pay the same ticket price as an onsite person, shouldn't I have the same opportunity to book FP and park ADRs? I know I'm giving up part of the Disney experience by staying offsite and that's a choice I've made but now I'm also at a disadvantage for a system that Disney has made necessary as a part of the planning process.

I know my concerns won't change the way things are done and that's fine. I just want to hear opinions from other offsite people as well as onsite guests. And again, I don't want my post to ruffle any feathers. No matter where we stay, I'm planning for wonderful time.

Are you going to complain that Universal isn't "fair" for giving the onsite hotel guests front of the line access?

Let me just tell you something my Mom taught me when I was a toddler. Life isn't fair.

It's not up to Disney to make things 'fair'. They provide perks to the guests who choose to stay on site. EMH, Magic Express, FP booking at 60 days, ADRs at 180 days, room charging privileges, free parking at the parks, etc. The people staying onsite are paying a premium to get those perks, and if you want those perks, you can have them too, IF you stay onsite.

 

[wdw4rfam]

They do- but then you have to look at the difference in amenities, proximity to the parks, convenience of transportation.

Someone staying at All Star Sports is definitely not getting the same level of service and convenience that someone staying at the Grand Floridian. It's not just emh's and the 60 day window. I also think Disney doesn't want to differentiate between their resort guests in an obvious way.

Right but you are comparing $100-150 per night to $400+ So the person is paying for those extra amenities, but the onsite perks are the same.

 

[lauradis]

when fast pass first started, wasn't it only for onsite guests? Just like EMH is only for onsite guests.

Nope it has always been open to all... I wish fp- was still here,, I miss explaining it to off-site visitors that thought you had to pay for it or stay on- site...

Like all other parks in the world... It made me happy to make their day.

 

[atilley01]

Are you going to complain that Universal isn't "fair" for giving the onsite hotel guests front of the line access?

Let me just tell you something my Mom taught me when I was a toddler. Life isn't fair.

It's not up to Disney to make things 'fair'. They provide perks to the guests who choose to stay on site. EMH, Magic Express, FP booking at 60 days, ADRs at 180 days, room charging privileges, free parking at the parks, etc. The people staying onsite are paying a premium to get those perks, and if you want those perks, you can have them too, IF you stay online.

I don't believe I ever mentioned anything about Universal. And as a grown woman don't think for a minute that I ever expect life to be fair. I'm well aware of that at this point. Especially when I post an opinion, as unpopular as it may be, in a polite and respectful manner and get condescending responses.