Disney to extend 60 day FP booking to non Disney hotels

[Dakota731]

The food isn't free, just slightly discounted

Only $5 off!!

 

[etoiles]

Well I predict more availability in campsites after this begins.....

We're staying at a good neighbor hotel on our next trip sadly before this goes into effect. However, if we like it there it's just more motivation to stay there again. We're paying the same as a value room for a two bedroom suite with kitchen. Yes we have to pay for a rental car too but that was $200 for 10 days.

Still got everything I wanted as far as reservations including BOG and all the fast passes I wanted including Mine Train and FOP.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

If this actually happens it'll save me a lot of $. Between the skimming off of the EMH and then this, I can definitely stay offsite now Woot!

 

[sharonabe]

The food isn't free, just slightly discounted.

Not really FREE, just discounted. I don't think that would be enough of a discount for me to jump on it, but for others, maybe....

$5/day is free. That's the same as those who buy gift cards at Target and BJs and get more for less.

I think of it this way...that's one FREE Mickey bar/day, so to me, that's free food. I never said all your food was free, but we eat QS mostly anyway, and with a QS gift card, I don't even have to eat the way the QSDP wants me to eat. I get to eat what I want for LESS.

So, $5 pp, pday free food, cheaper rates by the night, AND 60 day FP+ sure makes it inviting to me.

 

[Colleen27]

I stayed on-site before fast pass plus. Here's some of what I felt you got... an efficient bus system (not there now), generous EMH (not there now), unique little things that other hotels didn't do (things like maids making towels into animal shapes and arranging toys into in-room parties - not there now), really clean rooms (not so much now), hassle-free driving on-site (lately - ugh)....

Edited to add - the resort monorail used to be only for resort guests. They checked your room key before you could get on. I liked that and I paid for it and I miss it.

And one more - a dining plan that offered real savings (not there now). The dining plan and EMH were our reasons to stay on site for many years. Now the dining plan price is so high that it is possible to lose money on it, and between the cut from 3 hours to 2 and the generally shorter park hours all-around, evening EMH no longer offer light crowds or late nights.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

they are basically a list of hotels where you can buy park tickets, ect in their lobby, and they provide shuttles to and from the parks. They have a relationship of some kind with WDW.
here is the link to view the list:
https://www.wdwgoodneighborhotels.com/browse-hotels/

Thanks for the link...we've always stayed on-site - neither of us want to drive and bubble and whatnot - but we may consider some of these if there are good transportation options...

 

[dlavender]

$5/day is free. That's the same as those who buy gift cards at Target and BJs and get more for less.

I think of it this way...that's one FREE Mickey bar/day, so to me, that's free food. I never said all your food was free, but we eat QS mostly anyway, and with a QS gift card, I don't even have to eat the way the QSDP wants me to eat. I get to eat what I want for LESS.

So, $5 pp, pday free food, cheaper rates by the night, AND 60 day FP+ sure makes it inviting to me.

Ok. That's one way to look at it.

I got excited when I saw "free food". Then a little bummed when it was "lock in $35, then we will throw you $5".

But if it works for you, then that's great!

 

[Texans_loyal]

The only thing i am hanging on to is the magical express. if another hotel offers the same service, I will apply for a hotel rewards CC and book offsite our next trip. As an AP, i'm disappointed we don't get FPs at 60 days out.

 

[cgh]

wow! That really decreases the incentive to stay. We stayed at the 4 seasons, and loved it. We actually moved to the grand floridian last year, largely because of the fast passes.

 

[Amanda999]

If they truly extend to all the "good neighbor" hotels there are a lot more than just the 7 at Disney Springs:
https://www.wdwgoodneighborhotels.com/browse-hotels/

I was just going to say that - that (official Disney I think?) link shows 53 "Good Neighbor" hotels!

 

[Amanda999]

What are good neighbor hotels? I would so use my Hilton points! Do they provide good transportation to the parks?

There are several Hilton "GN" hotels on the long 53 hotel list (link at a prior post). But who knows which will get the 60 day FP.
I'd never rely on an off site shuttle - rent a car if at all possible, or, if not Lyft/Uber.

 

[Amanda999]

The only thing i am hanging on to is the magical express. if another hotel offers the same service, I will apply for a hotel rewards CC and book offsite our next trip. As an AP, i'm disappointed we don't get FPs at 60 days out.

Uber/Lyft to/from MCO isn't that expensive - $20 (smallest vehicle) to about $48 (SUV with car seat). (You can google for the uber cost estimate, to get a feel for it. I used DoubleTree at Hotel Plaza Blvd to MCO.)
They changed the rules last summer IIRC, so now they can pick up and drop off at MCO (you don't have to take a shuttle to an off airport site).

 

[ShadeDK]

I just wish WDW would adopt DLR's FP methods. It is like FP-, but with the addition of MaxPass this summer/fall, you can book/cancel on your phone from either park once INSIDE either park. No pre-booking, all done day-of. Everyone walks in on equal footing, regardless of where you are staying or if you have an AP or whatever (though you can start booking during EMH for FPs that start after regular park opening if you have Max Pass, so a slight advantage to those who stay onsite OR have 3 day or more tickets and stay anywhere, as that is who gets EMH at DLR). You can get many more than 3 FPs per day if you manage it aggressively (especially with MaxPass).

I've heard many people prefer DL's system to WDW's method of handling FPs - and I've made a comment or two about wishing that WDW would allow management/access of everything via phone in addition to MagicBand. Sadly, I've been reminded why that won't happen (at least not anytime soon). Among other reasons:

1) Disney isn't about to throw the towel in on the $1.5B it spent on MyMagic at WDW (which includes the FP+ and MagicBand features)
2) DL is more of a locals park (and has a greater percentage of APs) than WDW, which is more of an international destination - i.e., the planning options of advance FP+ become more important when WDW has many faraway domestic and foreign guests trying to plan their trips among 4 different parks and aren't interested in rolling the dice to see what FPs they can get the day they arrive after spending $$$ to get there
3) DL has approximately the same number of rides amongst two parks (separated by a 100-yard plaza) as WDW has spread amongst 4 parks that aren't nearly as easy to travel between
4) Unlike WDW, DL doesn't support a massive resort complex that would benefit from an advance FP system as a perk
5) WDW's FP system operates on the idea of "one-park-per-day" and 3 FP initial limit (including tiering for parks with fewer rides) - which doesn't work at DL where there are two parks in close proximity.

Not a vote in favor of one system or the other - just that it appears that the different FP+ systems depend on how the parks are set up and operated. I don't think either system works nearly as well if implemented at the other park.

 

[Texans_loyal]

Uber/Lyft to/from MCO isn't that expensive - $20 (smallest vehicle) to about $48 (SUV with car seat). (You can google for the uber cost estimate, to get a feel for it. I used DoubleTree at Hotel Plaza Blvd to MCO.)
They changed the rules last summer IIRC, so now they can pick up and drop off at MCO (you don't have to take a shuttle to an off airport site).

i wasn't aware they changed it! thank you, this is very helpful info.

 

[Shenry4]

This will make it so much harder for onsite guests to get coveted fastpasses!

 

[georgina]

I will definitely be taking a closer look at the discounts in my mousesavers newsletter on those Disney Springs area resorts. With an AP my parking will be free, and I don't mind driving a rental car. I had already been thinking about going offsite, this is one more push that way.

 

[KyleAfterAWhile]

I better read the article before posting.

 

[KimBean]

Maybe in some seasons but oct-dec there was very little availability.

I agree.

 

[GeneralTso]

I have absolutely no issue with Shades of Green getting the 60 day FP advantage. Zero. Shoot, they should get 75.

I also thought Swan/Dolphin already had this, so this might not a change. All the rest, that's a huge change. I tend to lean toward there's enough for everyone, but I know firsthand how hard it is to get some of the big FP. Ah well, guess we all better skootch over and make room.

 

[KimBean]

Really? I could plan my FP at 180 days, the moment I know my ADRs.

It took until pretty close within a few weeks of FP for me to know what days AK had ROL, if there would be SWAGS (no) if there would be Jingle Jam (yes) what time that was then Park hours changed (and then changed again after FPs), once upon a time changed from before HEA, to after. 2 9am rope drops changed to 8am rope drops after I had FPs which negated my 9am FP to Mickey to try to be first family (we have 3 certificates.)

You can write it down at 180 but it won't be very accurate.