Are all Disney resort perks fair?

[gschon]

 

[lauradis]

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.

This isn't snarky or meant to be rude.

For a long time I have thought Disney should only allow on-site guest the perk of what ever fast pass system is in place.

Every other amusement park we go to we buy front of the line passes or stay "on-site" to get that perk, it is worth it to us.

Why should someone that only spends 1/3 of the hotel price, off-site get any perks?

Seriously think about all other amusement parks that you know of who do they give perks to? Not the avg person that just buys a general admissions ticket.

 

[gschon]

So hard (for me) to respond to this question without making a political sounding comment. So, I guess I'll run along. But, I won't run too fast.

 

[MmmSuite]

Other than A&E and 7DMT I don't know that FP at 60 is that big of a deal. I changed things the days leading up to my trip and in the park a good bit. Also, somewhere between 30 days and 2 weeks before arrival a bunch of A&E FPs opened up and I moved my FP. I also got a 7DMT in the park one morning when Space was walk on and I went to chance DH and DS's FP. Don't lose hope. Another year, The A&E madness will die down even more! I did go during a slower time through!

About a week before my trip I also got BOG that could accommodate adding my ILs. An 'Ohana and H&V prepark breakfast. I think utilizing the DIS cancellation threads will take away some of the advantage of 10+ also. There are always posts when there are random bunches of FPs and ADRs opened up! The DIS members are great.

Parking isn't really that much of a perk because of Magic Express eliminates the need to rent a car for those flying. I parked at the parks because my MIL is handicapped. This year...I doubt my car leaves the resort much. We drive 14 1/2 hours because we can't afford to fly. It sucked on the way home, but going at all was amazing!

I also think that there is a severe lack of Disney theming in the rooms. I wish there was more Mickey. That's my opinion. But I accept that Deluxe gets more of that.

However, not getting up at 6:00 a.m. for 9 days to book is awesome. Not leaving those Disney arches for days upon days feels amazing. I love EMH at MK! It felt like I owned the park! I thought last year was going to be my once in a lifetime trip and I wanted to experience it ALL! And offsite wasn't going to do it for me. I wanted the Bubble. I could have gotten cheaper tickets through the military base we live on. I could have saved money at Shades of Green, too! But I wanted Free Dining!

I think knowing about and being on the DIS it a huge leveling tool. You'll always check and recheck. However, those without this tool may think that what's available to them that first night at midnight is their only chance. If they know the log on at midnight!

I do tell my kids that nothing's fair because everyone is an individual and lives through different experiences. I do think that people staying at a Disney resort are more than likely visiting the parks so it does makes sense that the perks are there instead of solely at the resorts.

I hope you have a wonderful time and get all your FPs and ADRs(unless you're taking them from me! Just kidding!).

 

[UncleMike101]

No one ever propped me up on their knee when I was little and told me life would be fair.
If anyone was told that life would be fair, they were lied to........
In fact I've learned that if life were fair and equal no one would ever try to achieve anything.
Why bother if someone's going to even things out for you?
The desire to better oneself is the driving force behind all of mankind's accomplishments.
Without adversity, and challenge, there is NO progress......
So think of Disney's perks for spending more money on their property as an incentive to make more money in order to advance your goals in life.

 

[cakebaker]

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.

Yes, I agree. I don't see the issue.

 

[atilley01]

No one ever propped me up on their knee when I was little and told me life would be fair.
If anyone was told that life would be fair, they were lied to........
In fact I've learned that if life were fair and equal no one would ever try to achieve anything.
Why bother if someone's going to even things out for you?
The desire to better oneself is the driving force behind all of mankind's accomplishments.
Without adversity, and challenge, there is NO progress......
So think of Disney's perks for spending more money on their property as an incentive to make more money in order to advance your goals in life.

Life's not fair and make more money... I guess I can't argue with that.

 

[mummabear]

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)

I have to say this is something that I appreciate about Disney and prt of what has us skipping US for the first time in 10 trips(LA and Orlando) is that while there is on site perks I don't think they go so far as to not be worthwhile visiting without them, once you arrive at the park you are not second class like you at at US

 

[atilley01]

I have to say this is something that I appreciate about Disney and prt of what has us skipping US for the first time in 10 trips(LA and Orlando) is that while there is on site perks I don't think they go so far as to not be worthwhile visiting without them, once you arrive at the park you are not second class like you at at US

This is good to know. Thanks for the input.

 

[mummabear]

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.

I don't see this as being any more fair....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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.

I would think that it does since it embeds the guest in sooner. They are able to ride rides sooner and will have filled queues before the first off site guests sets foot in the park. Even if that off site guests manages to secure a pre-park opening ADR, they still are at a disadvantage to the on siter who already got to ride or go tin line prior to 9am.

 

[lauradis]

OP why do you feel that a general admission ticket should allow you any perks?

 

[Networth]

If anything I might argue Disney did not do enough to warrant their prices until the FP+ window lol.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

So hard (for me) to respond to this question without making a political sounding comment. So, I guess I'll run along. But, I won't run too fast.

I will. Stay onsite. It's better than watching the people at the Metro stop waiting to get on the city bus across from your motel throw cigarette butts on the ground or watch the sandwich board guy on the corner hawking sea world discounts. When you stay on site at Disney you get a clean, professional, magically enclosed world where the ravages of the real world depravation are absent. That's what I pay for and the price is more than fair.

If I wanted to see the dirty gas stations and trash strewn streets on my drive to the Disney parks I'd stay off site. Ok then, Carry on.

 

[momof2n2]

As is pointed out on this board time and time again WDW needs more of a daily guest population than they can provide accommodations for. They can't make TOO MUCH of a disparity. They will recognize their limits.

 

[Planogirl]

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.

I haven't read the other responses completely but I'll give you my thoughts anyway. I do agree with you.

First of all some people say that Disney gets more money from people who stay onsite. That isn't necessarily true. Those who stay in budget resorts might actually spend less than those who stay offsite and eat at signatures and buy a lot of souvenirs. It would be hard to quantify how much each person spends though.

Also, I believe that once you buy a pass you should have equal access to the parks as anyone else even if it means paying for it. I've believed since FP+ started and changed the whole fastpass system to one that favors those who stay onsite.

Finally, yes Universal gives free Express to those who stay in their deluxe resorts but at least I can buy them there and thus level the playing field. I can't do that at WDW.

 

[cakebaker]

I don't see this as being any more fair....

I don't either, but then I don't think Disney is obligated to worry about fair.

I don't think Disney would ever make that kind of change- I don't see many people being happy with it. On site would have a fit, off site guests would still complain they're getting short changed.

 

[Planogirl]

If you want the perks of stating onsite, stay onsite. If you want the perks of staying offsite, stay offsite.

You can stay offsite in an entire house (with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a private laundry) for less than the cost of a tiny onsite value room. If there weren't perks for onsite guests, why would anyone stay onsite?

People stayed onsite long before there were fastpass perks. Maybe if the prices weren't so high...

 

[MrInfinity]

Offsite guests get way more "perks" than being offsite at Universal. I would never go to Universal without staying onsite.

Off-topic, but can you go further into this? We're considering going to Uni for just one day. It's kind of annoying, we'd have to buy park-to-park. Thinking of not getting Front of the Line, since we mainly want to see the Harry Potter stuff, and the line pass doesn't work there right? What are other drawbacks of just going for a day vs staying onsite?

 

[Planogirl]

I will. Stay onsite. It's better than watching the people at the Metro stop waiting to get on the city bus across from your motel throw cigarette butts on the ground or watch the sandwich board guy on the corner hawking sea world discounts. When you stay on site at Disney you get a clean, professional, magically enclosed world where the ravages of the real world depravation are absent. That's what I pay for and the price is more than fair.

If I wanted to see the dirty gas stations and trash strewn streets on my drive to the Disney parks I'd stay off site. Ok then, Carry on.

Did you know that there are actually nice resorts in clean areas outside of the Disney complex? Wow.