More for Less: A Theme Park Planning Strategy

[Lisa loves Pooh]

LT...I don't know if you've stayed at Shingle Creek before, but do not let anyone tell you it isn't a nice property. We have once for a couple days and wouldn't hesitate to stay again. It certainly is better than ANY of the Disney values and imho the moderates as well. As an fyi it is rated on Trip Advisor as the 25th hotel in Orlando out of 327 which is higher than ANY of the Disney hotels (other than the 4 Seasons which doesn't technically count as a D hotel) although I personally wouldn't say it is nicer than the GF etc. You are being more than generous in comparing with the mods.

I stayed there ( specifically Rosen Shingle Creek) for a convention. I did not like it. Not one bit. I would prefer a Hampton Inn. YMMV.

Travis also does not care for Rosen.

 

[SmithSmith]

SmithSmith, I did not quite rack rate, I included the discount. And nobody has to try at all to make offsite cheap as possible in an onsite comparison. I'm not insisting on comparing a King Suite at CSR to the King Suite condo, I used a standard room when it was available and the next tier up when it wasn't. How could I possibly be more fair than that??

Please read several posts above that include the screen shots. I'll check the AP discounts but I'm pretty sure they expire at the same time the general public discounts expire, which is applicable to bookings thru 6/15. These two weeks run thru 6/20.

I know you were quoting the spring offer for the water view room. I'm the one who pointed that out to you. I said you quoted rack rate in your intial thread I.e. FP+ is gonna save 20,000 thread.

I'm aware that the discount, GP and AP, is only through 6/15, but there will be another discount after that. It's not hard to figure out what that projected cost would be.

For someone who's booked free dining on every one of your trips since 2010, I find it really hard to believe you wouldn't actively seek out discounts on your future WDW vacations. Meaning, I don't think your huge savings ($20,000 over 5 years) is as great as you make it out to be, since you're using inflated costs in the first place.

 

[Laketravis]

I stayed there ( specifically Rosen Shingle Creek) for a convention. I did not like it. Not one bit. I would prefer a Hampton Inn. YMMV.

Travis also does not care for Rosen.

I've stayed there before for business reasons, and for those reasons I think it's a fine resort. But for a family visit it wouldn't be my first choice, no. Harris Rosen is very well respected in the Orlando hospitality circles and beyond for good reason; I admire him for his humanitarian efforts, his respect and treatment of his employees, and his modesty. He will often approach guests in the lobby and inquire as to the quality of their stay, introducing himself only as "Harris".

 

[Laketravis]

I know you were quoting the spring offer for the water view room. I'm the one who pointed that out to you. I said you quoted rack rate in your intial thread I.e. FP+ is gonna save 20,000 thread.

I'm aware that the discount, GP and AP, is only through 6/15, but there will be another discount after that. It's not hard to figure out what that projected cost would be.

For someone who's booked free dining on every one of your trips since 2010, I find it really hard to believe you wouldn't actively seek out discounts on your future WDW vacations. Meaning, I don't think your huge savings ($20,000 over 5 years) is as great as you make it out to be, since you're using inflated costs in the first place.

Your crystal ball is apparently on a different frequency than mine.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I've stayed there before for business reasons, and for those reasons I think it's a fine resort. But for a family visit it wouldn't be my first choice, no. Harris Rosen is very well respected in the Orlando hospitality circles and beyond for good reason; I admire him for his humanitarian efforts, his respect and treatment of his employees, and his modesty. He will often approach guests in the lobby and inquire as to the quality of their stay, introducing himself only as "Harris".

The convention I attend was there for 5 years, before and after that, they were at Gaylord Palms. For my convention needs--Gaylord just works better.

No doubt that a personal touch is worth gold, but when we stayed there, never saw him anywhere.

 

[Luckybee]

I stayed there ( specifically Rosen Shingle Creek) for a convention. I did not like it. Not one bit. I would prefer a Hampton Inn. YMMV.

Travis also does not care for Rosen.

Fortunately for them 1000's of others feel differently. My point was, that while you may not like it and I do, the hotel is of a higher class than that of Disney values or moderates in terms of services and facilities and therefore LT was being generous in his comparisons. Rather than us debating the merits of the hotel itself if anyone is curious they could simply go to trip advisor and look at the photos which I think speak for themselves as to what class the hotel falls into.

 

[cakebaker]

The current AP rate ends 6/15 and you have to wait until relatively late to book the AP discounts.

The AP rate ends at the same time, but it's a good bet they'll both be extended in some form. The current discount was released in early January, so it's not that late of a release, usually about a week or so behind the public discounts. Best guesses are they'll release discounts past the 15th some time in late March or early April.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Fortunately for them 1000's of others feel differently. My point was, that while you may not like it and I do, the hotel is of a higher class than that of Disney values or moderates in terms of services and facilities and therefore LT was being generous in his comparisons. Rather than us debating the merits of the hotel itself if anyone is curious they could simply go to trip advisor and look at the photos which I think speak for themselves as to what class the hotel falls into.

I merely offered an alternative based on a prior comment.

Our convention had a five-year contract. As soon as it expired they bolted faster than you can say Rosen. If you want to speak conventions, we can. But not a hotel I would vacation at and there are plenty of other alternatives that are comparable to Disney property while still better than Disney company and Rosen.

 

[cakebaker]

I'm aware that the discount, GP and AP, is only through 6/15, but there will be another discount after that. It's not hard to figure out what that projected cost would be.

It's exactly what we're doing. We're going 6/13-6/20. Booked our resort with only the first few days on the AP- great rate, about 37% off rack- and we're patiently waiting for the release of new discounts. I won't be surprised if they're not quite as good, but I'm pretty confident there will be something.

 

[Laketravis]

I think we've beaten the dining and hotel components to death. Rest assured ALL costs will be collected, tallied, authenticated, audited, verified, and that the fairest of comparisons will be made.

Let's get back to the parks.

So far I'm taking heed that transit times can be much higher than reported by Google Maps or GPS and I may have inadvertently put some FP's at risk of expiring before I can get to them.

 

[Laketravis]

It's exactly what we're doing. We're going 6/13-6/20..

Now that's two DIS'ers I'll be buying drinks for and comparing notes with in the parks. Provided, of course, you're up to a meet?

 

[SeilerBird]

There are a number of motels close to WDW under $30 per night. Many are under $200 for a week. Look on highway 192.

http://www.easyclicktravel.com/Page...2/23/2015&SearchResults=1&st=2&bex=true&dps=1

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think we've beaten the dining and hotel components to death. Rest assured ALL costs will be collected, tallied, authenticated, audited, verified, and that the fairest of comparisons will be made.

Let's get back to the parks.

So far I'm taking heed that transit times can be much higher than reported by Google Maps or GPS and I may have inadvertently put some FP's at risk of expiring before I can get to them.

What may be helpful for you is gauging when rush hour traffic will be.

And not to throw another problem your way, the big I-4 project is being talked about. I have no idea now it will impact traffic. But they are considering it to be a big deal.

Here is the main website for that. I am on my phone so can't really poke around easily.

http://i4ultimate.com

 

[cakebaker]

There are a number of motels close to WDW under $30 per night. Many are under $200 for a week. Look on highway 192.

http://www.easyclicktravel.com/Page...2/23/2015&SearchResults=1&st=2&bex=true&dps=1

Ok, I don't want to be a snob or anything, but I'm just not staying in a hotel that charges under $30 a night. I still have nightmares over a 1 night stay in an off site hotel at Disneyland. Yeah, we're on site at DL too. Grand Californian...nice.

 

[jayohjayoh]

What may be helpful for you is gauging when rush hour traffic will be.

And not to throw another problem your way, the big I-4 project is being talked about. I have no idea now it will impact traffic. But they are considering it to be a big deal.

Here is the main website for that. I am on my phone so can't really poke around easily.

http://i4ultimate.com

The I-4 project starts at the Kirkman Rd exit and goes past downtown, so the poster could easily avoid that disaster. However, between that/International Dr. traffic/all the dang traffic lights on Turkey Lake Rd, it will most likely take longer than expected to get from point A to point B.

 

[WillAustin]

Ok, I don't want to be a snob or anything, but I'm just not staying in a hotel that charges under $30 a night. I still have nightmares over a 1 night stay in an off site hotel at Disneyland. Yeah, we're on site at DL too. Grand Californian...nice.

I agree.

 

[Laketravis]

I've been looking at this and think I'll pull it up over the next few days and see what it looks like at certain times:

Live Orlando Traffic

 

[SeilerBird]

I've been looking at this and think I'll pull it up over the next few days and see what it looks like at certain times:

Live Orlando Traffic

Lt - it is not so much the traffic you have to worry about, it is the signal lights on the surface streets. They are long and crowded. Doesn't matter what time of day either. And traffic is a real bear close to WDW.

 

[Planogirl]

Have you taken into account resort and parking fees? I might have missed that in this long thread.

I'm scratching the Caribe Royale off my bucket list this year and one reason why I'm so interested in the place is because there are no added fees.

 

[WillAustin]

Lt - it is not so much the traffic you have to worry about, it is the signal lights on the surface streets. They are long and crowded. Doesn't matter what time of day either. And traffic is a real bear close to WDW.

They take forever and there seems to be an inordinately high number of people driving extra slowly.