FP+ is now completely worthless if you are staying offsite.

[Planogirl]

I've never been in favor of not providing equal access to park rides to every guest that walks through the turnstyles during regular hours. There's nothing wrong with extra hours to me. However offsite visitors pay just as much for their passes and pay often more for food in the parks. I don't see why they should get a lesser experience in the parks than anyone else.

Universal may charge but at least anyone can get access. I look at it as buying a more expensive room or a less expensive room and then extra for Express. It might add up to the same cost.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Uproar? I think you are picking the wrong person to quote in context of an "uproar". All I said was I am watching the direction Disney is taking with FP+ and offsite guests warily. Somebody call the riot police!

You are correct, sorry. My comment about an uproar was not directed towards you nor do I think a call to the riot police is necessary based on what I said.

I quoted your post primarily in response to your comments below - bolding mine. No one is taking anything away from off site guests. Everything is still available to both on site and off site guests. If that changes, I will rethink my position.

The accommodation charge can be large and I am not arguing for a second that there should not be added value for those staying onsite. But consider an onsite guest staying at a value resort and eating QS (or with free dining, or going offsite to eat), vs an offsite family eating TS and signature dining, and paying for lots of extras and "trinkets". The Disney only expenditure of an offsite guest can exceed that of an onsite guest staying at a value resort quite easily. So by this logic, perks should only be offered to those at deluxe and moderate resorts? And these perks should be exactly commensurate to money spent? Perhaps with silver, gold and platinum magic bands to show CMs which level of service is warranted per guest? I am thinking that would not be a terribly popular direction.

So I am not discounting the HUGE premiums that some onsite guests pay for their accommodations, and definitely not saying that WDW should not offer extra value to onsite guests- onsite is their bread and butter, they are going to aggressively cultivate that market. What I am saying is that they have always walked a fine line between adding that extra magic for onsite guests and making everyone at the parks *feel* special and like they are having an equitable experience, both of which are smart from a business perspective. I feel like Disney has always been particularly brilliant at doing this in the past, but some of the new decisions regarding FP+ are pushing more towards the direction of offsite guests feeling shut out and second class ...which as an offsite guest I am watching warily.

 

[KimBean]

Sorry, I don't think it's unfair at all that onsite guests get to make their FP+ sooner. Of course, I always stay onsite so that benefits me. I was always the runner, LOL, so I know how he feels, but I loved legacy FP and am not a fan of FP+ so much. I do think it's useful for arrival day, but that's about it. I don't hate it, but I don't like it.

I don't think I can compare Universal's system to Disney's though. They're just too different.

So am I, and I didn't say it was unfair... I was responding to OP.

 

[btk2333]

Sorry, I don't think it's unfair at all that onsite guests get to make their FP+ sooner. Of course, I always stay onsite so that benefits me.

Agreed. It's not like your only option is to use the 30 day window- you could choose to stay onsite and make use the 60 day window

 

[jcemom]

So am I, and I didn't say it was unfair... I was responding to OP.

I meant that I was agreeing with you LOL. I need to stop replying now. My posts aren't coming across as I mean them to. I'm trying to get ready to go to a wedding and holding intermittent conversations with two kids simultaneously while DIS-boarding LOL.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I don't think off-siters should get any FP+s

Why should Disney reward you when you won't stay at their hotels?

People who stay at Disney hotels eat all their meals at Disney restaurants. They buy their souvenirs at Disney stores. Off-siters eat their meals off site, they buy their souvenirs at Target. Why should Disney reward you with any FP+?

You want to go to the parks, great. But you should have to wait in line for everything. The very few FP+s should be a benefit to those who are willing to stay on site and give Disney more of their money.

We generally stay at Shades of Green, which is offsite for FP+ purposes right now. We eat all of our meals at Disney restaurants. We buy our souvenirs at Disney stores. We give Disney way more of our money than we give SOG.

 

[btk2333]

We generally stay at Shades of Green, which is offsite for FP+ purposes right now. We eat all of our meals at Disney restaurants. We buy our souvenirs at Disney stores. We give Disney way more of our money than we give SOG.

IMO SoG should be integrated into the FP+ system ASAP and it is a shame that it is not currently

 

[KimBean]

IMO SoG should be integrated into the FP+ system ASAP and it is a shame that it is not currently

Concur. I wish there was some kind of like button for posts. LOL!

 

[Angel Ariel]

I agree as well . It's amazing to me that Swan and Dolphin qualify for 60 days, but SOG doesn't. I really hope they change that by the time we stay at SOG next

 

[Planogirl]

I agree as well . It's amazing to me that Swan and Dolphin qualify for 60 days, but SOG doesn't. I really hope they change that by the time we stay at SOG next

I've often wondered if the Swan and Dolphin didn't have to give Disney something for the privilege.

 

[crazyventures]

I'm staying off-site and don't see the problem with on-site visitors getting earlier access to FP+ registration. Granted, I'm traveling without kids and wasn't planning to go to A&E and wouldn't be totally upset if I missed 7DMT. On the other hand, I had absolutely no problem getting my ADRs (including multiple BOG ADRs) for Thanksgiving week.

I think it's a trade-off for each option. We booked a Marriott 1 bedroom villa using timeshare points for $150 for the week, which (for me!) is worth not having a premium selection of FP+. While I love staying at the Disneyland Hotel, I personally wouldn't want to pay $250/night to stay in a glorified motel room for a week just because it's "Disney" in order to get earlier FP+ access. I made a choice to stay in a nicer room off-site and I'll deal with the drawbacks accordingly ... and still hopefully have a good time

 

[Planogirl]

I'm staying off-site and don't see the problem with on-site visitors getting earlier access to FP+ registration. Granted, I'm traveling without kids and wasn't planning to go to A&E and wouldn't be totally upset if I missed 7DMT. On the other hand, I had absolutely no problem getting my ADRs (including multiple BOG ADRs) for Thanksgiving week.

I think it's a trade-off for each option. We booked a Marriott 1 bedroom villa using timeshare points for $150 for the week, which (for me!) is worth not having a premium selection of FP+. While I love staying at the Disneyland Hotel, I personally would want to pay $250/night to stay in a glorified motel room for a week just because it's "Disney" in order to get earlier FP+ access. I made a choice to stay in a nicer room off-site and I'll deal with the drawbacks accordingly ... and still hopefully have a good time

You're definitely kinder in your attitude than I am. I always just wanted the same whether onsite at the Poly or PORS or at the local chain. I don't get upset about it though.

 

[jrdgtr]

I am able to get my passes at 60 days out and signed on at midnight and didn't have the passes I wanted available. So I booked for another day. And if you think about it, before fast pass plus you didn't get to pre book your fast passes. And the kiosks in the parks let you do same day bookings just like legacy fast passes. And they always have the same availability as the legacy fast passes.

 

[cakebaker]

Thanks for responding to this. I was getting ready to do a bunch of research, but you've done it for me. I really get tired of people pretending Disney is the same price as everywhere else. It's not.

I didn't pretend anything and btw, pretending is just a cute way of calling me a liar.

What I posted was a fact and the response given was using what would be Disney's absolute most costly way to go per day- you stay longer and that price drops dramatically.

The fact is, the 2 parks are not comparable. Disney offers 4 distinct parks and 2 water parks. Universal offers 2 smaller parks. You can easily do all of Universal in a single day- it's hard, if not impossible, just to get just the MK down in a day- and you'll miss a lot if you try.

But if I want to go to Universal for 1 day, it's going to cost me about as much as a day at Disney and to say otherwise is just not true. Period.

The fact is, Disney should cost more....a lot more.

 

[Planogirl]

I didn't pretend anything and btw, pretending is just a cute way of calling me a liar.

What I posted was a fact and the response given was using what would be Disney's absolute most costly way to go per day- you stay longer and that price drops dramatically.

The fact is, the 2 parks are not comparable. Disney offers 4 distinct parks and 2 water parks. Universal offers 2 smaller parks. You can easily do all of Universal in a single day- it's hard, if not impossible, just to get just the MK down in a day- and you'll miss a lot if you try.

But if I want to go to Universal for 1 day, it's going to cost me about as much as a day at Disney and to say otherwise is just not true. Period.

The fact is, Disney should cost more....a lot more.

We have never been able to do everything at Universal in a day and believe me we've tried. That doesn't matter though because it really depends on what people wish to experience and that is true at WDW or Universal. I can easily finish Epcot or DHS or AK in a day or less. Others might disagree.

 

[Jennasis]

We have never been able to do everything at Universal in a day and believe me we've tried. That doesn't matter though because it really depends on what people wish to experience and that is true at WDW or Universal. I can easily finish Epcot or DHS or AK in a day or less. Others might disagree.

Preach sistah!

 

[kmb584]

I'm staying off-site and don't see the problem with on-site visitors getting earlier access to FP+ registration. Granted, I'm traveling without kids and wasn't planning to go to A&E and wouldn't be totally upset if I missed 7DMT. On the other hand, I had absolutely no problem getting my ADRs (including multiple BOG ADRs) for Thanksgiving week.

I think it's a trade-off for each option. We booked a Marriott 1 bedroom villa using timeshare points for $150 for the week, which (for me!) is worth not having a premium selection of FP+. While I love staying at the Disneyland Hotel, I personally would want to pay $250/night to stay in a glorified motel room for a week just because it's "Disney" in order to get earlier FP+ access. I made a choice to stay in a nicer room off-site and I'll deal with the drawbacks accordingly ... and still hopefully have a good time

From a fellow off-siter, I think you're spot on. I've always known that the top FP+ weren't going to be available and for two trips in a row, I've been fine with that. If there's an attraction we must do we'll be there at rope drop, as we always are. I'll always happily take our 2BR, 1,200 sq ft+ unit (for less than $1,000/9 nights) over being able to book A&E.

 

[cakebaker]

Thanks for responding to this. I was getting ready to do a bunch of research, but you've done it for me. I really get tired of people pretending Disney is the same price as everywhere else. It's not.

Finally went in and took a good look-

The person you're thanking was doing some major twisting of their own. They intentionally picked the 3 day scenario knowing that Universal offers buy 2, get 1 day free. Nice move...

So, since I don't think there's any question that it would be very difficult to do all 4 parks at wdw in 3 days- lets look at the 4 day option.


4 day Universal, both parks, Unlimited FOTL pass: $339 ( not valid for several of the most popular rides, btw)
4 Day WDW- all 4 parks: $294
Add hopper option: $60 = $354

Looks to me like you could do WDW cheaper, and at worst, for just a few dollars more.

I'm so tired of people acting like WDW costs more when it doesn't.

 

[cakebaker]

We have never been able to do everything at Universal in a day and believe me we've tried. That doesn't matter though because it really depends on what people wish to experience and that is true at WDW or Universal. I can easily finish Epcot or DHS or AK in a day or less. Others might disagree.

I think it's probably just as difficult to do Universal in 1 day as it is the MK.

Doesn't change the fact that Universal is still as costly as WDW under almost all scenarios.

 

[msb578]

I've often wondered if the Swan and Dolphin didn't have to give Disney something for the privilege.

Absolutely. They pay their way in to the on-site benefits. They have to decide if it's something they want to add into their room rates.

I am assuming that SOG will pay for the 60 day benefit at some point. I'm sure there's a negotiation going on that just hasn't resulted in a deal yet.