Good Neighbor hotels to get 60-day FP booking! Update: AND EMH!

[LSLS]

Where are you accustomed to seeing those chain hotel rates? I book a lot of hotels in major markets, and it is pretty rare to see any sort of basic hotel for under $125/night. That's the hampton inn, fairfield, holiday inn express and the like. $150 is closer to the norm for what I see.

Just realized what you are asking. I'm specifically talking about these hotels at Hotel Plaza Blvd, which I have priced out a lot over the last 4-5 years as we start moving off site/when I am around for conferences or things without the family.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yeah I stayed there in summer of 03. I was about 7 and got lost at the resort.

Thank god we didn't lose you in the hippy dippy pool...

It opened 12/13/03...it was supposed to open mid 2002...

I thought it opened 12/04...I must be getting old

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I was wondering the same, good like find a Hampton or Fairfield under $150/nt.

The standard chain hotels seem to be $100-125 a night from what I've seen...the region and demand affect that greatly - as one would expect

 

[lockedoutlogic]

What is a decade when the oldshiemers kicks in.

Agree the on property rooms are headed toward DL style for the top incomes only.

You got it...

Disneyland has 3 classes:

Cheap - $350
Middle -$425
Top notch -$500

 

[rteetz]

Thank god we didn't lose you in the hippy dippy pool...

It opened 12/13/03...it was supposed to open mid 2002...

I thought it opened 12/04...I must be getting old

So we got in before the opening then. I still remember getting lost and running through the parking lot and sitting outside my room door until they found me.

 

[HopperFan]

I like this move (but I will probably be in the minority on this site). I have stayed both on and offsite, and I think this move is "fairer" to those who can't afford to stay on Disney property or those who are not able to plan vacations 6+ months in advance. I think in Disney's mind it will encourage people to take more frequent short trips in slow seasons rather than less frequent long, extended stays. The hotel price increases on-property have been pretty drastic in the last few years even at the value resorts and I think it keeps off-siters from feeling like second class guests. Everyone should be able to enjoy Disney's new and popular attractions.

And those who can afford to stay on Disney need to get some perks others don't get because they are already paying inflated prices.

I've never stayed at any of the Disney Springs area hotels, but are they really that much cheaper than Pop? At any rate, opening it up to so many people devalues the "perk" way too much IMO. I agree that everyone should have a chance to experience the new rides. But there is only so much capacity, and I'd rather have a proven method for obtaining fastpasses than a lottery system or a crap shoot. Disney is going to do what is best for them, and hopefully than means taking guest satisfaction into account so I'll wait and see what the full plan is here before I make any judgment. But to your point, I'd like for the system to be fair to everyone. I don't think a system where AP holders have zero chance of getting FP for the new rides is very fair.

Overall no they aren't when you add parking and resort fees BUT prior to the POP renovation you get much nicer bigger beds and bigger rooms along with other pluses.

First dogs allowed in rooms and NO ADVANCE NOTICE.

Now 60 days FP+ for non-disney hotels.

*** (pardon my french)

How do any of these 2 recent additions help attract people to Disney. On the dog front sure it will entice some people to come (locals) and will also send many more away who want no part of that on their vacation) BAD BUSINESS

Now giving away a PERK to non-disney hotels drives people away from Disney Resorts (especially the Values) since that is most likely who they will lose in this. another BAD BUSINESS MODEL

Who the hell came up with these 2 ideas? Maybe Universal has a mole at Disney and is selling them on these terrible ideas.

This going to be my last trip to Disney for a LONG LONG TIME.

Think my next vacation will be Grand Cayman or Ireland.

So if this happens the only perks I see for staying on Disney is Magical Express (I drive) and Dining Plan (I don't get anymore and use AP discounts). All else can be replicated ... other than you have to drive but I'm usually in bed before most are on their bus and sometimes boat so not worth the huge difference in cost.

I hope they got fed some bad info ... I mean at this point whoever at Disney leaks to them should have been fired after the Tron thing. They ruined Disney's big announcement day.

 

[rtbreneman]

Just following this thread, and adding my two cents. This is just another small checked box in the off-site column when comparing where to stay. I'm an AP who drives down with the family, and we have stayed both on and off-site frequently. In looking at our next potential trip come spring, comparable family suites at AoA (565 square feet) and the Doubletree Suites (545 square feet) are $429/night and $220/night, respectively. Yes, there would be some additional charges and parking to the Doubletree numbers but they frankly aren't close. To me, that's a huge delta for the Disney bubble and the 60 day FP would just be one more push to offsite. We don't use DME and rarely use the internal transportation, so I'm running out of reasons to stay onsite other than preferring the theming. But I don't enjoy it enough to pay that huge of a premium.

 

[MJ6987]

thanks - just wondering what it is ... but if they are consistently every 30 mins that is just as good (or better in some cases) as the Disney busses

I found it better than the Disney Hotel transport as it was every 30 mins but on a timetable so you could just turn up in time for the bus rather than turning up at the bus stop and hope you get lucky. And they were very punctual.

 

[Wubar]

For our upcoming trip in January, we wanted to stay onsite to give our son's first trip more of an "immersive" experience. But based on what I've read on this thread...yeah, for the next next trip we'll probably be staying offsite. Practically a no-brainer in terms of cost, anyway.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Interesting. Checked May for next year. $141 for the Pop. Holiday Inn is $103 with a $13 resort fee, Wyndham is $113 with a resort fee and parking, Best Western is $127 with a $14 resort fee. So those are cheaper and much larger rooms. That said, these are WAY higher than I am used to (Wyndham I am used to being around $90, Best Western around $70).

May have missed it, but just wanted to point out that at these hotels you can also rack up some reward points or use reward points to book them. Something disney hotels doesn't offer.

 

[KNovacovschi]

I'm not a fan of this idea since it's already hard to get the popular FPs and by adding that many more people will just make it that much harder. However at this point this is just rumour and I am hoping that it stays that way. I think the only people who really are happy with this change are the ones who stay offsite and I get why they are however I personally don't think they should get it. It's like when you go somewhere, ie Las Vegas, if a hotel there has specific perks yet you stay across the street but visit their casino would you still expect to get the perks that those staying at that hotel get, no. What I don't understand is how people feel Disney Resorts are any different. And no I'm not referring to anyone on this specific thread but have read it in different groups on facebook that those offsite should be able to have this option so they have a chance.

 

[afan]

I just checked for curiosity's sake, and none of the DS hotels (which are the likely candidates for this in the article) have cheaper rates than my reservation at Pop. So I'm not so sure that they're always a better deal. Those rates didn't include resort fees either. And as a solo traveler, I greatly appreciate DME and Resort Airline Check-In. Truly a bummer though. My chances of a FOP FP will be even lower now.

My next trip will be all or partly solo and these are the same reasons I'll stay onsite. I don't want to uber to/from the airport or rent a car I won't want to use or pay to park at both wdw and the hotel.

May have missed it, but just wanted to point out that at these hotels you can also rack up some reward points or use reward points to book them. Something disney hotels doesn't offer.

That's not totally true. You can use chase ur points to book onsite stays through their portal. You won't earn points except for what you charge to a credit card but you can redeem.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm not a fan of this idea since it's already hard to get the popular FPs and by adding that many more people will just make it that much harder. However at this point this is just rumour and I am hoping that it stays that way. I think the only people who really are happy with this change are the ones who stay offsite and I get why they are however I personally don't think they should get it. It's like when you go somewhere, ie Las Vegas, if a hotel there has specific perks yet you stay across the street but visit their casino would you still expect to get the perks that those staying at that hotel get, no. What I don't understand is how people feel Disney Resorts are any different. And no I'm not referring to anyone on this specific thread but have read it in different groups on facebook that those offsite should be able to have this option so they have a chance.

Remember that fast pass is simply a crowd control system to train the visitor to reject the normal
Lines...it's not meant to "get you on" the most popular rides...

If you're inline, they're wasting overhead dollars on operating less popular rides that you're NOT going on...and you can't decide (all on your own) to go shopping or purchase food instead of waiting in 50 minute lines you now find distasteful...

It is what it is.

 

[mort1331]

Remember that fast pass is simply a crowd control system to train the visitor to reject the normal
Lines...it's not meant to "get you on" the most popular rides...

If you're inline, they're wasting overhead dollars on operating less popular rides that you're NOT going on...and you can't decide (all on your own) to go shopping or purchase food instead of waiting in 50 minute lines you now find distasteful...

It is what it is.

Do the DS hotels get parking at parks included? Swandolphin?

 

[shh]

Noticed it didn't say anything about EMH - while that's been reduced a lot, sounds like that's still one exclusive benefit for WDW onsite? That's actually one of the biggest reasons I stay onsite - we always go when there are 4 nights of hard ticket parties in a 7 day week and we're only there 3-4 days. EMH is often the only chance i have to be in MK later at night.

 

[ArwenMarie]

People on boards like this are still a very small percentage of visitors each year. Disney is probably hoping that they can sneak this in and no one really notices and makes the connection with FPs being harder to get. More $$$ for them. Yes a few people will move offsite but that's ok, maybe they will get a cut of that too

I wonder how many rooms this could add to the 60 day window?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Do the DS hotels get parking at parks included? Swandolphin?

Yes...not sure about the swan but yes to the disney hotels...

...for now...they will likely begin charging daily parking fees at disney hotels too

 

[rteetz]

Yes...not sure about the swan but yes to the disney hotels...

...for now...they will likely begin charging daily parking fees at disney hotels too

The poster is asking about Disney Springs hotels not Disney hotels.

 

[mort1331]

The poster is asking about Disney Springs hotels not Disney hotels.

correct, but the answer is?

 

[birostick]

correct, but the answer is?

Stayed at the Wyndham, The B and Best Western on Hotel Plaza blvd. No. You do not get free parking for the parks.