Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun!

[HokieRaven5]

Good Morning Everybody!

Wait Times - 6/30/21

Happy official return of nighttime fireworks for WDW park guests!

 

[HokieRaven5]

Barriers Added to Magic Kingdom Main Entrance in Anticipation of Crowds

Just a heads up for those who may be there currently!

 

[HokieRaven5]

Fireworks Return in Disneyland

 

[Aprilshack]

Fireworks Return in Disneyland

Why oh why haven't they utilised DW main street for projections?! It looks fantastic!

 

[HokieRaven5]

Why oh why haven't they utilised DW main street for projections?! It looks fantastic!

Only a few more months to go till Enchantment finally adds that to the WDW Main Street!

 

[Aprilshack]

Only a few more months to go till Enchantment finally adds that to the WDW Main Street!

Is it wrong I'm looking forward to the projections more than the fireworks when I go?!

 

[HokieRaven5]

Is it wrong I'm looking forward to the projections more than the fireworks when I go?!

Not at all! The projections are incredible too!

 

[dato63]

Disney Confirms “Extended Evening Hours” for Deluxe Resorts, More Details on Early Park Entry

Update to something that popped up earlier this week.

I sure hope they give the schedule far enough out to redo park reservations. My DDs were hoping to linger at Pandora in the evening while we are there, to see it glow & light up. That extra hour would really help, if we can redo our park reservations around the evening hour.

Looking at this closer. If we have to add hoppers to benefit from the extra evening hour, it would still be cheaper than buying tickets to any evening party at AK, should those return.

 

[cellomom]

Is it wrong I'm looking forward to the projections more than the fireworks when I go?!

Not at all, I can’t wait thrilled that projections are happening on MK Main Street WDW.

 

[Aprilshack]

I sure hope they give the schedule far enough out to redo park reservations. My DDs were hoping to linger at Pandora in the evening while we are there, to see it glow & light up. That extra hour would really help, if we can redo our park reservations around the evening hour.

This. It's probably going to be a headache to swap around. Could do with knowing about the Xmas party dates too.

 

[dato63]

I believe Universal does the same thing with their access passes- they're included with their more expensive resorts.

Agree. We booked our first trip to Universal. And I chose Royal Pacific for the location and express passes. If it weren't for those express passes, I definitely would have chose another resort. But, our first trip - over Christmas - it just made sense to pay more for that perk.

We chose WL for the Disney portion for our trip, due to loving the resort. My issue, but I prefer hotel vs motel type buildings when it is raining, or late at night. Just a personal preference.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Animal Kingdom’s Burudika Band coming to Disney Springs in July

 

[cellomom]

Animal Kingdom’s Burudika Band coming to Disney Springs in July

Woohoo more entertainment returning

 

[cellomom]

Agree. We booked our first trip to Universal. And I chose Royal Pacific for the location and express passes. If it weren't for those express passes, I definitely would have chose another resort. But, our first trip - over Christmas - it just made sense to pay more for that perk.

This ⬆, we always book one of the 3 Deluxe Universal studios hotels which gives you unlimited express passes.
so worth it to have unlimited express passes

 

[bffer]

Ok, so there is now a big plus to staying at deluxe vs value. But what’s the main perk for staying value vs off site? There are many more value customers than deluxe customers. Reducing the amount of EMH hours for value customers isn’t going to keep them coming back.

I’m really thinking I should cancel my AOA suite reservation and stay off site instead

Yeah, I'm staying at Pop in December and unless they start offering perks for those of us who can't afford Deluxe, it may be my last time staying on-site.

The amenities and location, and convenience of a Deluxe are some of the the perks of the Deluxe. They are going to end up losing the POP peasants if they don't start offering or replacing some of the perks to stay on property. Magical Express - gone along with our magical luggage service. EMH replaced with something less and something not even available to Value. If FP+ ends up being reduced or paid, there is no reason really to stay in a Value. Guests can stay off property in a nicer hotel for less money - and usually get free breakfast, too - and rent a car and still stay ahead. We pay a little more to stay on property at a Value just for the perks.

 

[Brob2132]

It’s smart business. You’re always going to find commodity shoppers to fill your value resorts. This actually gives a tangible reason to stay Deluxe as opposed to moderate, which didn’t exist before.

 

[Avery&Todd]

The perks of staying deluxe are fancier hotel and grounds, being closer to parks, alternate forms of transportation to parks, not having to walk so far around the resort to access food/buses/pools, better themed pools with water slides, table service restaurants on site, ability to book club level.

I don't consider those things a "perk" since I pay for them - I consider them what comes with the price I pay to stay deluxe/DVC. However, with the EMH they're offering for Deluxe/Villa resorts, to me that is a "perk" since I didnt pay for it - it's an above and beyond than what I paid OOP for.

 

[Moliphino]

Agreed and same here - over the past several years (pre-covid), evening EMH was the park to avoid. This perk because it seems like a much more limited version of EMH with no value/moderate-staying guests, but perhaps more importantly, seemingly no partner resorts. I love this perk though because I am now DVC so most future stays will be deluxe... Though our first stay impacted will be this November where we are staying cash at Coronado, so...

We always avoided the morning EMH park and went to the evening EMH park. Early hours do nothing for me because it's not worth it to be tired all day, the late hours were wonderful, even if it just meant being in the park and not really doing anything.

Can't they give the deluxe resorts exclusive mornings and have evenings for all WDW resort guests? That'd be much better for me.

 

[redboat45]

Because the amenities at a deluxe hotel *are* the “perks” of the higher price- location, transportation, grounds, pools, etc. We always stay at deluxe for those perks, but believe that these extra hours should be open to all on-site guests.

This is what the focus for Disney should be. Make the hotels themselves worth the extra money! They used to be worth the extra money themselves, better service, more theming etc. Bring back all of the extra's the hotels used to have: boat rentals, impeccable housekeeping, delicious food, free parking. Instead they take more and more away making them not worth the money you pay. If they want to make the hotels worth the cost make them true 4 stay hotels.

 

[Shelby Schroepfer]

We just did a split stay at a value and a deluxe resort. The differences for us:

TOWELS! We got towels and trash service every second day at value. In addition to trash removal, there were piles of fresh towels and refreshed toiletries every single day at deluxe.

COFFEE!! At the value, we used the 2 coffees the first morning and the second day had no coffee left! The quick service wasn’t open until 7am, which was after we left for the park! It was a rough morning. At deluxe, we had keurig and more k-cups than we could possibly drink, refreshed regularly.

Balcony: we had a window at value, but a nice balcony at deluxe which we enjoyed quite a bit.

Quick Service: There seemed to be many more options for food on the quick service menu.

restaurants: there were at least 2 table service restaurants and a lounge and 2 pool bars open at the deluxe. Just the one quick service and one pool bar at value.

Pool Bars: The pool bar had full menus and real food and SERVERS TO YOUR LOUNGER at deluxe! At value we had to leave the gated pool area and go stand in 20-person line for each drink or pretzel (their only real food option).

Outdoor movie: this is a silly little benefit, but for the movie under the stars they put out actual chairs. At value everyone sat on the ground on towels.

POOL SLIDE! We thought our kids would like the value pool theming better but nothing could take the place ofslide. It added so much fun for our kids and kept them busy all day.

DESK! The biggest difference for my husband was having a desk to get some work done. Maybe some values have them but ours did not and he really loved that upgrade.

Crowds: Overall the deluxe resort just seemed less loud and busy and chaotic than the value. We waited in fewer lines and were able to find pool chairs easier, etc.


We really did like both resorts. I think the deluxe just felt more comfortable and relaxed. Like we were at a resort instead of a theme park hotel.

This! 100%. Deluxe price comes with deluxe amenities, moderate a little less, value the least. Yes you pay for those amenities but we all know that going in. We know at 160$ a night we get a tiny room and a quick service restaurant and if we could afford 300+ a night our dining options, pool, proximity to parks would all get better. But staying "onsite" was always something we all kind of shared, value or deluxe. We were all "in the bubble" and we all got the same perks like early ADR, FP+ window, and EMH. I know they've gone away with some of those things and maybe it was covid and maybe they've decided they can make more money with other options but the bottom line is the benefits of staying in the bubble are less and less. Even value is NOT cheap and the average family saves a lifetime just to stay value, so it's disheartening to think of all the onsite perks that we've lost. I sort of think Disney extending all these deals to good neighbor hotels more and more ruined it. Because what used to be a special morning or late night for us on site guests, turned into more of an over populated rope drop due to all the good neighbor hotels. That's a long ramble, just to say I'm bummed. Plenty of nasty people on Facebook telling me "well you shouldn't be poor then!" and I know you guys are more understanding here but it does sting a bit when we spend close to 6k$ every single year to visit and just because we spend the least at the hotels so we can spend a TON at the parks and restaurants we get less perks seems wrong.