Off Site visit to Disney, why bother?

[ckelly14]

Understand the frustration but I wouldn't change all your plans yet. I don't think we are seeing the finished product. Changes to the system due to complaints/comments will happen.

 

[aubriee]

Everyone has had different experiences. I was there at the end of Sept and it was fine. I pulled a splash mountain fast pass in the evening that was an hour later. And more of the same other places. At 9:05 I pulled a TSM FP and my return time was 11:30

It just didn't seem any different to me and I did not get to use FP+.

I just think it's harsh to judge something so much.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I posted when I came back that I was at TSM that Sunday at 9:05am and my fast pass return time was for 1:00pm. I grabbed it and then got in the stand by line. Due to getting a later return time than I'm used to, I happened to glance at my watch as I was walking into the building. I looked at it again when the CM told me which gate to get into. I had been in line like 50 minutes. I have never had a standby wait that long right after the park opened, nor have I ever received a fast pass that early that had a return time that late. Once I got past the log cabin and had to wait for what seemed like forever for the FP+ people to get through (many were having trouble with their bands), I saw why the standby line had came to so many long, complete stops. The day I went to AK, I rode EE single rider. The fast pass line is right beside the single rider line. I have never seen that fast pass line that long. I hate to even think what the stand by line was. I go to WDW every single Sept. I have never had to wait in as many lines as I did this past Sept. I admit I am one to repeat favorite rides several times and then skip the lesser rides. Unless they had a single rider line like EE, that was just not possible that trip, unless I was willing to stay in the parks later, which I was not willing to do. Instead, I used my AP discount, spent a night over at Universal and used their unlimited front of the line pass perk to spend two full days over there (and no I am not being hypocritical--if Disney's FP+ was unlimited and you could ride the same ride over and over with no wait, then I would be willing to move back onsite or even to pay for the priviledge). I also spent some time checking things out offsite, which I had not planned on doing. I just did not enjoy my time in the parks like I usually do, due to not being able to tour like I usually do.

 

[d3boyz]

I think it really depends on the dynamics of your trip ... there have been times were we'd MUCH rather have more room in our room, and opt for an off-site location. There are so many timeshare options that are only a mile or so away, and you can get SO much more for your money there; including the ability to eat right in your accommodation. This saves a fortune on restaurant and other eatery prices in the park. However, there are times when you might really want the convenience of staying on-site to take advantage of extended park hours and the convenience of not having to drive and park each time you go in.

We've definitely experienced it both ways. We much prefer to stay INSIDE the park, but we also have Disney timeshare and can have our accommodation include the ability for us to take our meals in rather than at the costly park venues.

I recommend exploring all available options with an open mind ... and have a great trip!!!

Deb

 

[Granny square]

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.

Silver lake. We can walk to our car in 5 minutes, no stupid busses, load the ecv and get Ito the hotel in 15 minutes. While the third ecv in line is still in line.

Less if we are talking ak. Silver lake takes 2 more minutes than akv. In January we stayed at both for a week.

So just as not all the Disney hotels have bowling pins, some off site hotels are as close as some onsite hotels.

 

[davedmaine]

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.

Wow. What a bunch of nonsense.

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I have not read through this entire thread but it seems to me that the "pro" offsite crowd makes the point for FP+ being limited to onsite guests.

Shouldn't the people willing to pay the premium to stay onsite (of which I am one) get an additional incentive?

If I am overpaying for the room, food and convenience, I think I should be allowed some perks offsite guests are not.

 

[ShayBells]

I posted when I came back that I was at TSM that Sunday at 9:05am and my fast pass return time was for 1:00pm. I grabbed it and then got in the stand by line. Due to getting a later return time than I'm used to, I happened to glance at my watch as I was walking into the building. I looked at it again when the CM told me which gate to get into. I had been in line like 50 minutes. I have never had a standby wait that long right after the park opened, nor have I ever received a fast pass that early that had a return time that late. Once I got past the log cabin and had to wait for what seemed like forever for the FP+ people to get through (many were having trouble with their bands), I saw why the standby line had came to so many long, complete stops. The day I went to AK, I rode EE single rider. The fast pass line is right beside the single rider line. I have never seen that fast pass line that long. I hate to even think what the stand by line was. I go to WDW every single Sept. I have never had to wait in as many lines as I did this past Sept. I admit I am one to repeat favorite rides several times and then skip the lesser rides. Unless they had a single rider line like EE, that was just not possible that trip, unless I was willing to stay in the parks later, which I was not willing to do. Instead, I used my AP discount, spent a night over at Universal and used their unlimited front of the line pass perk to spend two full days over there (and no I am not being hypocritical--if Disney's FP+ was unlimited and you could ride the same ride over and over with no wait, then I would be willing to move back onsite or even to pay for the priviledge). I also spent some time checking things out offsite, which I had not planned on doing. I just did not enjoy my time in the parks like I usually do, due to not being able to tour like I usually do.

I'm sorry you had such a different experience than me. My TSM wait at probably 9:10 after I grabbed my FP was only a 15 minute wait and it went fast. And I didn't want long at anything except soarin and that was a fun wait. Even that was quoted 60 minutes and I wait maybe 40.

Everything else was fast and short just like always for me in sept. We were there sept 22-28 when a bunch of resorts were added and I was at POFQ so I didn't get to test but I still was fine.

I don't know. It was just my experience. It seems everyone had different ones.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Chelley00]

Shouldn't the people willing to pay the premium to stay onsite (of which I am one) get an additional incentive?

If I am overpaying for the room, food and convenience, I think I should be allowed some perks offsite guests are not.

But, that's what you are paying for. Room, convenience, EMH, transportation, resort package delivery. Oh, and don't forget all the "magic" people say you can't have offsite.

I think if they only let onsite guests have FP+, they need to raise the room rates since onsite guests are having another "perk" added in

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I have not read through this entire thread but it seems to me that the "pro" offsite crowd makes the point for FP+ being limited to onsite guests.

Shouldn't the people willing to pay the premium to stay onsite (of which I am one) get an additional incentive?

If I am overpaying for the room, food and convenience, I think I should be allowed some perks offsite guests are not.

As a person who stays off-site to have room for our larger family and because we often travel with extended family -- I am all for "perks" that add to the experience for onsite guests, i.e. longer hours on certain days, free dining deals, package delivery, free parking, transportation, etc. I plan to travel alone with my younger kids and stay onsite in a couple years to have the full immersion experience. However, I am not in favor of "perks" that take away from the experience of offsite guests, like essentially shutting them out of the fastpass system, which they've been able to use for more than a decade.

I'm especially sorry for people who booked offsite trips many months ago without the knowledge that FP+ would be available to all onsite guests and not to them. They did not have the ability to weigh all the pros and cons. Now, Disney needs to announce when and how offsite guests will have access, so people can book with all the information.

 

[Sparkly]

I would rather pay £70 a night for a offsite condo/villa with separate bedrooms and a bathroom each then £70 a night to pack 3 adults in a tiny hotel room in a noisy value resort. Heck, I don't really want to share a hotel room with Mum, but we can only justify staying onsite with only the two of us. Definitely packing earplugs and a eye mask.

 

[sueliz]

I'm especially sorry for people who booked offsite trips many months ago without the knowledge that FP+ would be available to all onsite guests and not to them. They did not have the ability to weigh all the pros and cons. Now, Disney needs to announce when and how offsite guests will have access, so people can book with all the information.

This! Disney is a business- they can give whatever incentives they want to onsite guests and exclude them from offsite guests and people will either keep going or stop going. I'm ok with onsite guests getting more for how ridiculously much more they pay- but just be open about it so we can make a fully informed decision when we book. I guess we just unfortunately booked in a weird time of transition where they don't know cause its a bit of a mess and they're not sure when all the kinks will be worked out.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I have not read through this entire thread but it seems to me that the "pro" offsite crowd makes the point for FP+ being limited to onsite guests.

Shouldn't the people willing to pay the premium to stay onsite (of which I am one) get an additional incentive?

If I am overpaying for the room, food and convenience, I think I should be allowed some perks offsite guests are not.

Fp+ is not going to be limited to onsite guests. Disney has officially said this.

 

[islandmum]

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.

the most bizarre post in a while ....!

We've stayed on and off-site, and whilst I enjoyed on-site for some reasons we now prefer to rent a villa close by. More space, private pool, decent kitchen and dining areas, dont have to watch TV in the evening perched on a bed, etc etc etc. Also nice to calm the kids down after a day of Disney madness.

We found ZERO difference in our days spent at Disney being on or offsite - we still got all our FP's, did exactly the same amount of stuff, EMH was never appealing really as we arent "get up at the buttcrack of dawn" people, and we go in seasonally low times so the parks arent mega busy.

if you think its all about staying onsite to be the "real" disney .... you're deluded

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

As a person who stays off-site to have room for our larger family and because we often travel with extended family -- I am all for "perks" that add to the experience for onsite guests, i.e. longer hours on certain days, free dining deals, package delivery, free parking, transportation, etc. I plan to travel alone with my younger kids and stay onsite in a couple years to have the full immersion experience. However, I am not in favor of "perks" that take away from the experience of offsite guests, like essentially shutting them out of the fastpass system, which they've been able to use for more than a decade.

I'm especially sorry for people who booked offsite trips many months ago without the knowledge that FP+ would be available to all onsite guests and not to them. They did not have the ability to weigh all the pros and cons. Now, Disney needs to announce when and how offsite guests will have access, so people can book with all the information.

Yes, this was us we booked before we knew fp would be basically useless to us. If disney was upfront and saying during this time through this time offsite guest will not have access to mb (making fp- almost useless) we would have most likely choosen a value room. But at the time we were just weighing the cost between EMH and free dining vs staying for free on points. That would have tipped the scale for us. What really makes me angry is the whole lack of communication and information with disney about this whole mess.

 

[FLchick415]

the most bizarre post in a while ....!

We've stayed on and off-site, and whilst I enjoyed on-site for some reasons we now prefer to rent a villa close by. More space, private pool, decent kitchen and dining areas, dont have to watch TV in the evening perched on a bed, etc etc etc. Also nice to calm the kids down after a day of Disney madness.

We found ZERO difference in our days spent at Disney being on or offsite - we still got all our FP's, did exactly the same amount of stuff, EMH was never appealing really as we arent "get up at the buttcrack of dawn" people, and we go in seasonally low times so the parks arent mega busy.

if you think its all about staying onsite to be the "real" disney .... you're deluded

It's all a matter of opinion though, isn't it? If someone feels like it's "real" Disney to stay on site, why does that make them deluded? It's their preference and theirs alone.

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I know I am paying a significant premium to stay onsite. It is a choice I make. I do not think that it automatically makes my vacation more "magical" or better.

I've stayed offsite many times and I completely understand why others prefer it, especially larger families.

Bottom line, I just got back from a 10 day trip. I think a lot of fears regarding the new system are overblown. Aside from Toy Story Mania, I did not see other rides running out of regular FPs earlier than would be normally expected (especially with the large crowds we encountered).

I think offsite guests can continue to have a great vacation-----and we did see FP+ terminals (ipads) installed for what I assume will be offsite guests.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I'm especially sorry for people who booked offsite trips many months ago without the knowledge that FP+ would be available to all onsite guests and not to them. They did not have the ability to weigh all the pros and cons. Now, Disney needs to announce when and how offsite guests will have access, so people can book with all the information.

This. I don't care what Disney decides to do regarding onsite vs offsite and FP. I'll adjust either way.

But I do feel bad for the people during these months who made offsite travel plans to Orlando to see WDW and didn't know about all of this, and couldn't have made an informed decision. That just stinks.

 

[Cyrano]

Folks this appears to be discussing Disney Resorts and therefore is not appropriate for TPAS.

 

[dwheaton]

Back in 2012, we went to Disney World with my daughter (who was 3) and my wife's parents. We stayed for a week at an off-site timeshare that her parents got. We had a gigantic three-bedroom villa that basically split the condo so we didn't feel like we were on top of her parents. My daughter got her own room. There was a huge kitchen, a balcony, and three bathrooms. Even if we'd paid out of pocket, it would have been about the price of a moderate WDW resort. We had driven to FL from Missouri, so we already had a car. The commute was less than 15 minutes to everything from the condo.

I think the relaxation of this trip made up for any "magic" that comes from staying on-site. My wife and I have stayed at Pop Century, and we still had a great time, but we also waited in long lines for buses, dealt with a crazy food court, and walked 10 minutes every night to our room (we didn't have a car that time). We also spent $20 every day for breakfast.

This post from OP is just designed to get nasty reactions. I expect the person was bored and knew they'd get people riled up with this post. I realize that I'm taking the bait, but I still think it's worth responding.

We have another daughter now, and looking ahead I don't see the real value in staying on-site. We'll be driving to Florida, so we'll already have a car. We can find a nice villa for $100 a night (or even less) that's within a very short drive from the parks. When we're buying four passes, you're talking more than $1,000 for tickets for a week. Do we really want to drop a crazy amount on hotels too? How much money do people have? I understand that Disney is expensive, but spending $400 a night (if I'm lucky) to stay at a comparable villa on site just doesn't make sense. Then you're looking at a week-long stay that's going to run more than $5,000 at a minimum.

I'm not even getting into the possible issues with FP+ and getting enough value from the parks, even with on-site perks. That makes it even more challenging to warrant the expense. With Disney continuing to raise their prices, staying on-site doesn't seem that feasible. We may do it at some point to have the experience with the kids, but it won't be a regular choice.

 

[FireDancer]

I've stayed onsite and offsite and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. For each trip I price out my options and then decide if that particular trip warrants the price premium that Disney wants. Sometimes it does, like when I'm there for an event, and sometimes it doesn't.

Neither is right or wrong, they are just different, and the OP is beyond weird. I never felt like I was missing anything while staying offsite or like I'm getting pixie dust blown up my behind 24/7 while staying onsite.

I also don't really care about FP+ so that will never enter into the equation. I have no desire to micromanage my vacation and trying to plan what rides I want to ride at specific times in advance sounds like a special kind of hell to me. I go to bed not knowing which park or parks I will go to the next day most of the time. That is why I rarely make ADRs, especially on days I know I'll be in one of the parks.