Off Site visit to Disney, why bother?

[ShayBells]

My favorite ride out of all parks is carousel of progress. I would go to Disney just to ride that.

And some people like to go to Disney whether they use FP or not so they bother because they love Disney.

There's no reason for putting so much hate out cause you have a stick up your butt.

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[Postal68]

Untrue.

Disney World parks see about 48million visitors per year. So an average of 130,000 per day. Even if every person did ONLY 3 attractions per day then just under 400,000 attraction-seats would be utilized.

If everyone of Disney's 25,000 resort rooms was booked to a family of 4 that's 100,000 resort guests. If they get 3 FP+ each that's 300,000 attraction-seats booked up.

This makes it seem like 300,000/400,000 or 75% are eaten up by resort guests... But lets be rational. How many resort guests go to the park every day of their stay, use exactly the 3 most popular rides, and choose to pre-select FP in advance? That means fewer that the 300,000 for sure.

Plus the very real fact that a guest who accomplishes only 3 attractions per day is the exception not the rule. So if resorts are completely booked, the. Resort guests are taking fewer that 300,000 seats from well over 1,000,000 attraction-seats. Or less than 30%

All true, on paper, Just like some professional teams are easily the best when you look at them but then it is put into the real world and it doesn't play out like that. I saw the mess in person 2 weeks ago, and that was before FP+ is in full implementation.

 

[theparsons]

Really, why bother wasting your money in going to Disney if you are not staying at their hotels. You will start off at a handicap in the Parks and on busy days you won't be able to get a FP for any of the major attractions so your days will either be waiting in 2 hour stand by lines for 4 or 5 good attractions or spending your day on the People Mover, Carousel Of Progress and Aladdin's Flying Carpets.

Well...we haven't stayed onsite in several years.....and there are a long list of reasons....here are the ones that pertain to your rant.....

We go off season so the lines are seldom more than 10-15 minutes for all but the most popular rides. Those we get a fast pass. Now...yes it does sound like that FP+ might make that different and getting a fast pass won't be as easy right now staying offsite (but by next year AP holders like us supposed to get FP+ I hear). But.....then we'll suck it up and stand in an hour line (I Have NEVER been at the parks when there was a 2 hour line for any ride....and frankly if there is now....then we'll ride something else, lol).

A BIG BIG BIG advantage for us is that staying off site I pay $65 including tax and fees for a THREE BEDROOM condo. So dollar for dollar, we can afford to stay for 3 times as long by not paying nearly $200 a night for a tiny little "value" hotel room. And we do....this next trip is actually a "short" trip for us....Nov 20 to Dec 14. It's short not because of cost or concerns about FP+ but because my kids have ceremonies that they need to be home for just before and after those dates. If it weren't for the ceremonies, we'd have left for WDW on Nov 7 or 8 like normal. We'll have similar visits in Feb, May and Oct.

Staying that long we're ok with not having to be there at rope drop and staying until we faint at closing. I always rent a car because I can't stand the waiting for a bus or the crowded bus or the nutty bus drivers. Even when we have stayed on site I had a car (and onsite stays were only during free dining back when the rack rate was semi-reasonable). So the 11 miles I have to drive (from our Condo to MK's gate) doesn't bother me at all...in fact, the night we stay to closing...I'll bet that we'll be walking through our door before you get on the bus and back to your door, lol. We've actually had that happen....friends staying onsite, we part ways at closing, and called them when we arrived and realized we had their backpack...they were still on the bus. The next visit, they were in the next building over in our condo, lol.

I won't even go into the money saved because we eat a hearty breakfast in our condo before heading out.....often we'll do dinner at home as well (we have a crockpot so it cooks all day, turns off automatically, and if we don't make it home in time to eat it, there is left overs for the next evening). I've heard the argument about "it's vacation so I'm not cooking" and more power to ya if that's your vacation style....my girls and I love to cook, and we actually don't consider 5 minutes to throw something in the crockpot even cooking, lol. And, this year we'll be doing Thanksgiving dinner in our condo.....which means we'll likely not bother going to the uber-crowded parks that Wed or Thurs.

If the long lines and high cost bother you.....let Disney know by staying away. Maybe if enough of you do that, this whole crowding and FP+ thing will die and the rest of us can continue to enjoy our stays. Try Universal down the road...I hear they've got short lines.

 

[ShayBells]

I'm the original poster and we ALWAYS stay offsite, every year, for the last 30 years(only 3 times on site). It's not comfortable or cost effective to stay in a Disney room. For 4 or 5 nights at the All Star resort I can get an entire house with it's own pool and a full kitchen. We just came back 2 weeks ago, it's a mess now. Very soon if you are unable to make your FP+ reservation online weeks before you go, you will be unable to get one. Technically, yes, offsite guest can use their park tickets at the kiosks to get a FP, realistically almost 95% of them will be gone before you even walk through the gate. And stand by lines will move at a crawl because the attractions will be busy being loaded with FP holders

So wait.. You haven't even tested FP+ and are judging it this harshly? Why? Because of what other people are saying? You're trusting and gullible.

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[pouncingpluto]

I'm not sure we're equating on-site to bus rides and off-site to car rides. Plenty of people who stay on-site choose to drive to the parks, and plenty of people who stay off-site take hotel shuttles to the parks. We tend to rent a car if staying at AKV and maybe if we're at BCV, BWV, VWL. We skip it if we stay at a monorail resort.

I think it's pretty ridiculous to say that rooms are the same at values, moderates, and deluxes. There are distinct differences in the type and quality of the furnishings of the rooms, not to mention the differences in size. That said, I'm sure you can get comparable rooms of all levels off-site for cheaper. That's beside the point to me. I like WDW trips to be immersive experience. I feel like I'm in a different, happy, beautiful, magical, relaxing reality when I'm at WDW. I don't want to see the same old chain restaurants that I see at home. It breaks the spell.

 

[ShayBells]

You're right. 10 more minutes a day would positively ruin my vacation. Though I could see how that could be a dealbreaker for some people. You've just got to weigh the costs/benefits like everything else. Not everyone is the same

Yeah me.. I hate driving and being in a car lol. So I'd wait an hour for a bus and cram I and stand holding a sleeping four year old and a stroller before I'd drive.

That's me and I'm being serious.

Everyone is different. If y'all like to drive great. If you like the bus great. Everyone smile

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[Postal68]

Well...we haven't stayed onsite in several years.....and there are a long list of reasons....here are the ones that pertain to your rant.....

We go off season so the lines are seldom more than 10-15 minutes for all but the most popular rides. Those we get a fast pass. Now...yes it does sound like that FP+ might make that different and getting a fast pass won't be as easy right now staying offsite (but by next year AP holders like us supposed to get FP+ I hear). But.....then we'll suck it up and stand in an hour line (I Have NEVER been at the parks when there was a 2 hour line for any ride....and frankly if there is now....then we'll ride something else, lol).

A BIG BIG BIG advantage for us is that staying off site I pay $65 including tax and fees for a THREE BEDROOM condo. So dollar for dollar, we can afford to stay for 3 times as long by not paying nearly $200 a night for a tiny little "value" hotel room. And we do....this next trip is actually a "short" trip for us....Nov 20 to Dec 14. It's short not because of cost or concerns about FP+ but because my kids have ceremonies that they need to be home for just before and after those dates. If it weren't for the ceremonies, we'd have left for WDW on Nov 7 or 8 like normal. We'll have similar visits in Feb, May and Oct.

Staying that long we're ok with not having to be there at rope drop and staying until we faint at closing. I always rent a car because I can't stand the waiting for a bus or the crowded bus or the nutty bus drivers. Even when we have stayed on site I had a car (and onsite stays were only during free dining back when the rack rate was semi-reasonable). So the 11 miles I have to drive (from our Condo to MK's gate) doesn't bother me at all...in fact, the night we stay to closing...I'll bet that we'll be walking through our door before you get on the bus and back to your door, lol. We've actually had that happen....friends staying onsite, we part ways at closing, and called them when we arrived and realized we had their backpack...they were still on the bus. The next visit, they were in the next building over in our condo, lol.

I won't even go into the money saved because we eat a hearty breakfast in our condo before heading out.....often we'll do dinner at home as well (we have a crockpot so it cooks all day, turns off automatically, and if we don't make it home in time to eat it, there is left overs for the next evening). I've heard the argument about "it's vacation so I'm not cooking" and more power to ya if that's your vacation style....my girls and I love to cook, and we actually don't consider 5 minutes to throw something in the crockpot even cooking, lol. And, this year we'll be doing Thanksgiving dinner in our condo.....which means we'll likely not bother going to the uber-crowded parks that Wed or Thurs.

If the long lines and high cost bother you.....let Disney know by staying away. Maybe if enough of you do that, this whole crowding and FP+ thing will die and the rest of us can continue to enjoy our stays. Try Universal down the road...I hear they've got short lines.

EVERYTHING you say is our Disney vacations exactly.
Offsite, Off season, no rope drop, not closing the place, cooking meals, ect..


The reason we go off season is mostly because of shorter lines and really no need to use FP's. The problem is there isn't really an off season anymore, and with kids in High School now we can't afford to take them out of school like we did in grade school.

 

[Postal68]

So wait.. You haven't even tested FP+ and are judging it this harshly? Why? Because of what other people are saying? You're trusting and gullible.

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I was there a couple weeks ago when FPs were almost impossible to get because of the crowds and most of them being gone due to FP+.

Yes I've experienced it in person.

 

[ShayBells]

I was there a couple weeks ago when FPs were almost impossible to get because of the crowds and most of them being gone due to FP+. Yes I've experienced it in person.

That's not what I asked and you know it.

You're assuming it was a mess due to FP+. Glad you can read a situation without knowing background information.

And glad you can spin a lie. I was there three weeks ago. Everything was fine.

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[Planogirl]

If riding the headliners and not dealing with much in the way of crowds is YOUR idea of a good vacation then going might not work for you any more. However, I would say to see how it all develops before you make a decision. Don't let anyone else tell you how to vacation but maybe also don't assume the worst yet.

 

[AmyB2006]

I was there a couple weeks ago when FPs were almost impossible to get because of the crowds and most of them being gone due to FP+.

Yes I've experienced it in person.

I think you're kind of jumping the gun here though. I don't think this is always going to be this way for off site visitors. Disney has always said that off site visitors will get access to FP+

I agree it probably sucks right now being an off site guest given the reported FP situation.

But trying to rally the masses right now… a little premature IMO.

But again, I get why you're upset. My friend just came back yesterday and said she felt like a second class citizen.

 

[PeterPanic]

I don't think there's a reason to be snippy. The Deluxe and Moderate resorts aren't bowling pin themed, most of them are gorgeous, and unless you are staying somewhere like Bonnet Creek, there is no way you are back at your resort before someone taking a monorail or bus. Sorry.

Monorail...no! But one pays a hefty price for the minor convenience. Not only do I know that I can get back to my off-site hotel faster, I have tested it at least three times with friends that were staying on-site. Twice they hadn't even gotten on a bus yet and I was in my hotel room calling them. We left MK at the same time.

No, I meant 5-10 minute walk plus the car ride. Either way, yes, I would much rather be on an air conditioned bus than walking to a car and then sitting in traffic. But I also like staying on site and wouldn't stay off site for anything to begin with.

Unless there is an accident, there is no sitting in traffic. It is a steady flow out of the parking lot to a 4 and 5 lane highway to get off-site. I have never, in 30 years been sitting in traffic. I might add, that if there is an accident there is a pretty good chance and you will be sitting in the same traffic as us. Buses cannot fly over them. And if you are one of the many fortunate people that have to stand on the bus because the seats are all filled, they you will be standing the duration, I will be sitting in a comfortable car with AC (because what car in Florida doesn't have AC).

I will wait and see how all this new stuff affects me. If it is detrimental and I feel that I am being discriminated against because I chose not to pay the long price, then this is a very big country with lots of things to do that aren't Disney related. I go to Disney now because it makes me feel good. When that good feeling stops, so do I.

 

[Planogirl]

That's not what I asked and you know it.

You're assuming it was a mess due to FP+. Glad you can read a situation without knowing background information.

And glad you can spin a lie. I was there three weeks ago. Everything was fine.

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I've seen quite a few posts about a recent disastrous week when it was difficult to get headliner fastpasses. Of course, we don't know why that happened.

 

[Don Disney]

I normally like to try and be diplomatic but when my intelligence is questioned because I stay off-site ALL the time, then I just must jump into this discussion.

I stay off-site for many reasons. A lot of it is cost. It's not because I can't afford staying on-site, it's that I have an aversion to throwing away money for a questionable value. I have an aversion to having to decide what I want to eat six months in advance. It is currently dinner time right now and I still haven't decided what I'm in the mood for and that's only minutes away. I have an aversion to being packed into a bus with 60 or so sweaty, smelly people who think that because they have a hang nail I should give up my seat even though my feet are on fire from the days activities.

If you want to stay on-site and pay 3 to 4 times more for your accommodations and meals by all means be my guest. So far there have been rumors that those that stay off-site will not be able to get fastpasses. That may be true, I, like everyone else, do not know that is the going to be how it ends up. To me I cannot see how Disney can ignore the thousands of people that don't stay on the grounds and expect to stay in business unless, of course, they get to double what on-site guests are paying to make up the difference. If on-site people are only allowed three (3) fastpasses a day and they are distributed over a number of attractions that NEVER NEEDED them in the past...I fail to see how that is going to use the good ones up completely without having a major impact on off-site people. If that does happen, surely they don't think that we will all just be forced to stay on-site do they. We will just go someplace else.

Driving...if you don't want too. Fine with me, but I always drive and to be honest, I'm from a very rural area and I have never seen traffic on Disney grounds anywhere near as heavy as at home.

If in order to have a good time it is necessary to sleep with a 5 foot mouse patrolling the hallways, who am it to judge you. But tell me that I cannot have a good time or that the hassles I have to deal with are any greater then yours, well that just is completely incorrect. You don't get into a park without paying for it, neither do I. That is where the fun is, not in the resorts. Every hotel off-site has a pool and a pool side bar, maid service, restaurants everywhere within walking distance for the most part and those that aren't do not require queuing up to catch a bus about an hour ahead of time, still waiting because it isn't a time reservation, it's just an as soon as we can get to you reservation, then again with the bus after. And for that you will pay $40.00 for a $15.00 steak or whatever. From the hotels on Route 192, I can be anywhere on site in less then 10 minutes, try that with your "convenient" bus.

I have stayed on-site once and found a few things not to my liking. First...the rooms are standard sized rooms that you find off-site for a quarter of the price. That is with the exception of the value resorts which are about the size of the closets in rooms off-site. The TV has very limited channels, mostly those affiliated with Disney in some way. The food in the food courts is awful and usually cold by the time you sit down not to mention so damned expensive it makes me quiver.

So I hope that you continue to feel that the only way to enjoy the place is by surrounding yourselves with plastic statures of Goofy or a Bowling Pin or a Yo-yo. Personally I will be relaxing in my hotel room while you are still waiting for a bus to get back to yours.

DUDE!!!

 

[Tamiami]

I might be able to have a good time staying anywhere. That doesn't mean that staying off site is the way to do Disney though. Doing a 'Disney World' vacation and staying off site is doing it far more wrong then someone staying off site and being unable to have a good time.

Say WHAT? So....I've been 'doing Disney' wrong for over 30 years? Oh, ok. Let me tell you something.....I would LOVE to stay at a Disney resort. But, some of us simply can't afford it. But do you really think that's going to make me stay away from DISNEY? Never!! I work my butt off to save so that my DD and I can visit Disney. We drive 20 hours to get there, we stay in a cheap hotel, and I tell you what, we enjoy every minute of our vacation! I'm grateful to be able to give these moments to my daughter, as I am from a small town in rural Mid-Michigan, and many people here NEVER get that chance.
I haven't always been a not-so-financially-well off divorced single mom, I actually grew up with money, but ya know... life happens. I've stayed at CR and POR when I was younger, and cherish those memories, but staying off-site certainly doesn't deter from my joy at being at Disney. By staying off-site, we have the money to visit all the parks, eat at a few TS restaurants, and buy a few souvenirs. We CANNOT afford to stay on-site. Does that make us losers in your eyes? Bad people?? Wow. Maybe you should take a step back, and thank your lucky stars that you can give your family 'the world'. Then again, I don't think of myself as 'poor'.....I have everything I need, a beautiful intelligent daughter who loves Disney as much as I do, and enjoys spending time with me (she's a teen, lol).

Besides.... I can't imagine spending that kind of money on a hotel room. We are going to be there in December, and our hotel room is costing me less than $400 for NINE nights. It gets great reviews online, has a beautiful pool, and is right outside Disney maingate. It will take us roughly 15 minutes from park to hotel, perhaps less, depending on traffic. Yes, that's right, I'm staying 9 nights for the price of ONE night at a moderate Disney resort. Tell me again how stupid I am.....?

 

[disneylover1980]

why stay off site? Ummmmm because I save THOUSANDS of dollars a year doing so. I can VERY easily say WHY do YOU waste your money ONLY staying at a Disney resort. Such a waste of money, in my opinion.

 

[Postal68]

That's not what I asked and you know it.

You're assuming it was a mess due to FP+. Glad you can read a situation without knowing background information.

And glad you can spin a lie. I was there three weeks ago. Everything was fine.

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Not spinning anything. I was on the Dream from the 6th through the 10th and at the Parks the 10th through the 14th. It was a mess.

I'm not saying FP+ was a mess for it's users. it probably was great for most people. But for those who aren't part of it the FP's were either not available or very very late return times(in other words, hardly any left) for the BIG attractions.

I hope FP+ works, I honestly do, but my main point is it should be available to every guest that pays the same price for the same exact Park Admission. not just resort guests. I'll wait until all guests have equal access to it to return, otherwise it's simply not worth it in my opinion. There aren't many attractions at Disney that are worth more than an hour wait. One of my favorite things to do in the Park is to just sit and people watch in the "aura of Disney" but I'm not paying $90 a day to people watch and wait in 90+ minute lines.

And for the record, I am a fan of the Magic Bands. I like the idea of having one less thing to carry and using the band for admission, purchases, ect...

 

[Postal68]

why stay off site? Ummmmm because I save THOUSANDS of dollars a year doing so. I can VERY easily say WHY do YOU waste your money ONLY staying at a Disney resort. Such a waste of money, in my opinion.

I'm an advocate of staying off site!!!!

That's the entire point of my post. Disney is putting off site guests at a handicap the second they walk into the gate because all of it's resort guests with FP+ are taking up all the FP's before off site and day guests even get a chance to get one.

 

[ShayBells]

That's not what I asked and you know it. You're assuming it was a mess due to FP+. Glad you can read a situation without knowing background information. And glad you can spin a lie. I was there three weeks ago. Everything was fine. Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I'm sorry I got the date wrong it was four weeks but still nothing seemed different and I got fast passes late in the day just fine.

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[Planogirl]

I normally like to try and be diplomatic but when my intelligence is questioned because I stay off-site ALL the time, then I just must jump into this discussion.

I stay off-site for many reasons. A lot of it is cost. It's not because I can't afford staying on-site, it's that I have an aversion to throwing away money for a questionable value. I have an aversion to having to decide what I want to eat six months in advance. It is currently dinner time right now and I still haven't decided what I'm in the mood for and that's only minutes away. I have an aversion to being packed into a bus with 60 or so sweaty, smelly people who think that because they have a hang nail I should give up my seat even though my feet are on fire from the days activities.

If you want to stay on-site and pay 3 to 4 times more for your accommodations and meals by all means be my guest. So far there have been rumors that those that stay off-site will not be able to get fastpasses. That may be true, I, like everyone else, do not know that is the going to be how it ends up. To me I cannot see how Disney can ignore the thousands of people that don't stay on the grounds and expect to stay in business unless, of course, they get to double what on-site guests are paying to make up the difference. If on-site people are only allowed three (3) fastpasses a day and they are distributed over a number of attractions that NEVER NEEDED them in the past...I fail to see how that is going to use the good ones up completely without having a major impact on off-site people. If that does happen, surely they don't think that we will all just be forced to stay on-site do they. We will just go someplace else.

Driving...if you don't want too. Fine with me, but I always drive and to be honest, I'm from a very rural area and I have never seen traffic on Disney grounds anywhere near as heavy as at home.

If in order to have a good time it is necessary to sleep with a 5 foot mouse patrolling the hallways, who am it to judge you. But tell me that I cannot have a good time or that the hassles I have to deal with are any greater then yours, well that just is completely incorrect. You don't get into a park without paying for it, neither do I. That is where the fun is, not in the resorts. Every hotel off-site has a pool and a pool side bar, maid service, restaurants everywhere within walking distance for the most part and those that aren't do not require queuing up to catch a bus about an hour ahead of time, still waiting because it isn't a time reservation, it's just an as soon as we can get to you reservation, then again with the bus after. And for that you will pay $40.00 for a $15.00 steak or whatever. From the hotels on Route 192, I can be anywhere on site in less then 10 minutes, try that with your "convenient" bus.

I have stayed on-site once and found a few things not to my liking. First...the rooms are standard sized rooms that you find off-site for a quarter of the price. That is with the exception of the value resorts which are about the size of the closets in rooms off-site. The TV has very limited channels, mostly those affiliated with Disney in some way. The food in the food courts is awful and usually cold by the time you sit down not to mention so damned expensive it makes me quiver.

So I hope that you continue to feel that the only way to enjoy the place is by surrounding yourselves with plastic statures of Goofy or a Bowling Pin or a Yo-yo. Personally I will be relaxing in my hotel room while you are still waiting for a bus to get back to yours.

Great post!

Try Universal down the road...I hear they've got short lines.

Not true when we visit. I wish that it was.