Is ee worth staying onsite? HELP PLEASE!

[eeyoresmom]

The only time we stayed onsite was Jan of last year when there was no ee.I felt that the increased cost was not worth it and am ok with staying offsite. Now that ee is back.........I am going for Pres. week and am trying to decide if the ee priveledge justifies the cost. I realize this is highly subjective, just wanted some opinions. Thank you!

 

[Lisa P.]

You've stayed onsite before. If EE is the only reason you are seeing for staying onsite, at the increased cost, then no, IMHO, it's probably not worth it for you. If you really enjoy the other aspects of a particular Disney resort, then that's a different discussion.

If you are the kind of family who tends to get to the parks a half hour early or earlier anyway... and you really want to get some of those EE rides in, first thing in the morning, ...then EE has real value. We found the EE value was most significant for getting done with Fantasyland (MK) with small children. The other EE attractions at all the parks usually offer FastPass anyway, when lines get long, so IMHO, their EE offers less tangible value.

Since we really don't like to get up at 6:30 in the morning while on vacation, we're better off sleeping an hour later and getting to the parks just before 9:00. The last couple of times we stayed onsite, we didn't make it to EE - in fact, we avoided the EE parks, except in the evening, for fireworks. So if EE is the main incentive for you to spend more by staying onsite, I wouldn't say it's worth paying extra for (with the exception noted above, family members who love Fantasyland). JMHO.

 

[ttfn3]

Are you going to Disney during peak season or off season? During off season, the crowds at the parks are such that ee isn't really needed. We have found it actually better to go to a park that does not have ee that day. In fact, our trip this past November, the lines were nonexistant all day at MK! What a surprise to us.

I do like having a 8:05 PS for the MK the day that we are planning on being at this park. It's great to be inside the parks before the gates open!

 

[eeyoresmom]

We will be there peak season (president's week). Thanks for your input. Anyone else please?

 

[Bichon Barb]

We are going the Weds before Pres Day to the Weds after. We are staying off site. Personally, it's vacation, and I have to agree that I don't want to get up at 6:00 a.m.! I worked it out so that we are avoiding the EE parks. Also, I'm hoping that that first two days we are there will not be too bad. So, we are doing Epcot and MGM on Thurs and MK on Fri. We are taking Saturday and Mon (Pres Day) off. I'm guessing that Sunday at AK will be the most crowded for us. Tuesday will be Universal.

It really is a science, huh?

 

[baileybrad]

My first answer was no....EE is not reason enough to stay on-site. But when you said that you were going to be visiting during a peak time then....that complicates things. So I suppose I would ask more questions. Have you gotten a decent rate? What are considering off-site, good rate or not? Have you visited before? How many parks would you do EE at? We had a similar choice this past December. We are DVC members and stay on-site much more than off. We were deciding between VR and CSR. Condo vs. Disney moderate room. Both were great rates. Condo was actually cheaper along with its size and washer/dryer. CSR offerred EE and the flexibility that the bus system gives you. In the end, we opted for Vistana Resort and had no regrets. We were visiting at a much less crowded time. We would have used EE only for the MK. We wound up going there on 3 different mornings pretty at much park opening and had virtually no waits. The biggest thing affecting your decision is how many parks/days do you plan to utilize EE and the fact that you are visiting during a busy time. Good luck in your decision.

 

[TDM516]

We have been to WDW four times, three with children at various stages, from 2 to 15. We have stayed onsite the last three times. If you have EE, then IMO it is worth it and here's why: You are less rushed later in the day when crowds build up at certain attractions, allowing you the luxury of going back to your room and taking a quick break or even a nap, which is wonderful with young children. I think this option is even more important when you're going during a peak time like President's Day weekend. So the reduced stress, to me, is worth the extra. If you didn't have EE, I would say forget it, or if you were going during an off-peak time I would say it would not be worth it. In our case, we're probably going back the end of May but we will rent a house this time because our girls are older (almost 16 and almost 18) and we are going to be "picking and choosing" which things we want to see and do again now that they're older. But they want to go back. We will be doing some shopping in Orlando (of course) and hanging out by the pool as well as going to MGM, IOA, and Discovery Cove. Those are the things they want to see again. Whether or not they will want to do anything else in Disney again, I don't know. But for us, this time a house is perfect. So, I guess the short answer is that it depends on what time of year you go and how old your children are as to whether it's worth it. Sometimes yes; sometimes no. Hope I didn't confuse you further!

 

[MELSMICE]

I agree that if you are going during a busy time & want to get a lot done, then stay on-site & take advantage of EE. If you won't get to the parks until later anyway & your only reason for staying on-site is because you might take of EE, then don't bother.

Personally, I find many other reasons to stay on-site & for us EE is not one of them, but everyone has their own reasons for doing different things.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thanks everyone! It IS a science! The planning is worth it though.