Oh no! DH wants to stay offsite :(

[ajk912]

So DH decided today that he wants to consider staying offsite. He can get a discount at Sheraton, probably $50 a night. I see there are some in the Disney area, and the Dolphin is actually listed on the Sheraton website. I told him- heck, if you can get the Dolphin for $50 a night, I am sold! But anything else..I don't know. This is an employee discount, btw. Right now, we are booked at POR for Aug 24-30. Our room is only $134 a night with tax. If we did the Sheraton, we'll be paying about $60 a night w/parking. It's my VACATION, I don't want to save $400ish for 6 days by staying offsite. I don't want to lose EMH, it's going to be HOT, so I anticipate going back to the hotel to swim and relax...and then I told him that if we stay offsite, we really CAN'T separate much. I am a Disney veteran, he isn't, so I don't mind taking all three kids, getting on the POR busses..and hitting the parks. DH isn't as energetic as I am, so if we stay offsite and drive..he HAS to come. He can't really meet up with us later. Not that I am implying we are going to be separating a lot on vacation, but on arrival day I see him wanting to relax after driving all day, and on the day before we leave I see me and the kids closing the parks where he might want to make it an early night because we'll leave at 4am on departure day. Plus, boy, this is going to make me sound like the witch..but I am on vacation, if we are at a hotel that my husband is associated with- let's say we get bad service for WHATEVER reason, I wouldn't be able to really complain. I am spending $3000 or so on this vacation, let's say I get a hairy room or a noisy room (or whatever) I would want to have the ability to complain..but at my boss's work, I don't want to make waves like that.

So anyway- WWYD? Should I try to wear DH down (I know I can) or should I give in?

 

[tjl1388]

Tell him that this time your going to stay on-sight and if he doesn't like it then the next trip you can stay at his place. Do whatever you have to to convince him to stay on-site. Beg, bargain(you are the women of the house) whetever, it is not even close in comparison. I almost guarantee that you'll never stay offisite on any future vacations if you stay on-site.

In the summer it is imperitive that you go back to the resort and rest. Staying offsite you will not be able to do that. I don't care what the offsite hotel says you will always get the gates late and the trip from the transportation center to the main gate is a pain. Staying at the resorts the buses bring you right to the front gate.

We stayed a POR 4-5 times before we bought DVC and we loved it. The buses are quick, the pool is amazing and the dining/general store is 1st class.

Who says you can't complain. People do it all the time at Disney...usually for no good reason They are great a resolving anything that might come up.

Let us know if you convince him.

 

[Cobbo]

I don't know if I would "wear him down," but I'd definitely stand your ground. DH is wrong on this one and while $400 is nothing to sneeze at, it's less than you'd pay for one Deluxe room on property in season, and certainly not enough of a savings to add that much hassle what is supposed to be family fun (and some downtime for the adults too)....so, as the only XY in my household, I vote for you to push to stay on-site (although if he can swing a $50 rate at the Dolphin, jump all over that!!!!). Since he's a WDW novice, you may want to make up a list for him of all the reasons to stay on site (I'm not sure from your posting if your $60/day w/parking figure meant your parking at the Sheraton or the $11/day parking at the parks...

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck and hope that DH comes around to see the light....

BTW, gotta ask (since you'r only 5 mo3wk out), have you set up your ADRs yet (doing some that coincide with EMH might help justify your case since they'd go hand in hand)...and give you the benefit of getting in before rope drop...

 

[iloveeeyore]

I'm in the "pay more for the convenience and atmosphere" camp, so I personally wouldn't give in, unless it caused REAL strife between DH and me. You are ALREADY spending so much on this vacation...what's a "little" more to ensure that it's magical?! Maybe you could compromise and stay at a value? Now, if you could get a great deal at the Dolphin, go for it!

We stayed for free at a DTD resort years ago and agree that we'd rather wait longer between trips to save the $$ to stay on-site. But then, my DH totally agrees with this philosophy; I don't know what I'd do if he didn't!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

If you can get the Dolphin then definitely do it. You are on Disney property with boat launch or a short walk to two parks and you get to use EMH. A deluxe resort with a great location for $60 a night is a no brainer!

 

[LSchrow]

3 kids, hot & crowded, off-site.......

i would just let him know the marriage counseling after the trip will cost a lot more than $400

 

[dmslush]

Yes, explain to him that $400 is much cheaper than the divorce lawyer would cost

 

[Macysmom32]

A Sheraton off-site I almost fainted/threw up, sorry : I think 136/night at POR is an awesome deal - it's not like you are going hog wild at the Poly or anything, and POR is soooooo pretty and relaxing after a hectic day at the sweltering hot parks. If you give me your phone # I can start making anonymous threatening calls to him (just kidding - or am I?) or you can make one of those subliminal hypnotic tapes to play all night while he sleeps. Last resort - divorce. Good luck!!!

 

[nurse.darcy]

If he can swing the Dolphin then do it. Just remember it is 11 a day to park and 10 a day resort fee. So if the room is $50, it would end up being $71. You do get Disney transportation and EMH so for $71 a night I would do it in a heartbeat. Not any of the other offsite properties though. . .

 

[Prissymouse]

Wear him down and stay onsite!!!
If you don't, considering how hot it's going to be , he most likely will not return. Not ever...

Start working on him now....

BTW, check w/ Dolphin and see what kind of discount you can get for those dates. In the past they have offered great discounts that time of year.
The same as what you are paying for the mod.

Is he allowed to sign up for SPG and earn points with his employee discount?
Check it out...Men love to earn points...

 

[TDC Nala]

Does the Dolphin have a $10 day resort fee? I thought they stopped that.

 

[tiger4me2]

Wear him down it your vacation as well. It is the best part of going to Disney is staying on site. Good luck !

 

[ajk912]

I don't know if I would "wear him down," but I'd definitely stand your ground. DH is wrong on this one and while $400 is nothing to sneeze at, it's less than you'd pay for one Deluxe room on property in season, and certainly not enough of a savings to add that much hassle what is supposed to be family fun (and some downtime for the adults too)....so, as the only XY in my household, I vote for you to push to stay on-site (although if he can swing a $50 rate at the Dolphin, jump all over that!!!!). Since he's a WDW novice, you may want to make up a list for him of all the reasons to stay on site (I'm not sure from your posting if your $60/day w/parking figure meant your parking at the Sheraton or the $11/day parking at the parks...

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck and hope that DH comes around to see the light....

BTW, gotta ask (since you'r only 5 mo3wk out), have you set up your ADRs yet (doing some that coincide with EMH might help justify your case since they'd go hand in hand)...and give you the benefit of getting in before rope drop...

Thanks. I was including the $11 a day Disney parking in my $60 a day or so it would cost to stay at the Sheraton. If he was lucky enough to get Dolphin, obviously we would use Disney transportation as much as possible and not drive at all. And absolutely, if he can get that at the Dolphin..I would be silly to pass that up! I did make 2 of my ADRs- one of them is CRT at 8:30am on a non-EMH day. Hmmmmmmm..I can always squeeze a few more in though!

 

[nurse.darcy]

The Swan/Dolphin have reinstated the resort fee. . .you can read about it on their website. . .

 

[ajk912]

Thanks guys! You guys DEFINITELY reinforced what I was thinking. I keep thinking it will be MISERABLE staying offsite. (Unless we get Dolphin). Miserable. Did he forget how dang hot August is?

If he stands his ground, we may have to rebook in November during parent/teacher conference days (the kids get a few days off school, so they'll only miss 3 days). Then it will be cooler and we'll be able to take the parks all day with no break.

 

[TDC Nala]

The Swan/Dolphin have reinstated the resort fee. . .you can read about it on their website. . .

This appears to be absolutely correct.

Resort Service Package is $10 + tax per day and includes:

Up to 60 minutes free local telephone calls, toll free and credit card access calls
(.10 cents per minute after 60 minutes)
20 minutes of domestic long distance per day
Unlimited access to the resort’s health club facilities
In room high-speed Internet access
2 bottles of water daily


Of course I do not want or need any of this stuff, but the package is mandatory. I have a booking for the Swan in July - made it some time ago - is this retroactive?

Never mind - I called them and they said it applies only to new reservations. But I think after this one I won't be making any more reservations there.