Perks for staying on-site

[pumpkinpatch73]

As some of you may already know, I was "sold" on the idea of staying on-site with another thread.

Now I'm just wondering what all of the "perks" are for staying on-site. When booking the reservation, I was not told about ANYTHING other than the price. Kinda disappointed me, and I would've asked more, but I don't know what to ask?

Okay, what are the perks - in your opinion?

1. Transportation
2. Magical (lump summing the Mickey soap, cool surroundings, and character wake up calls, etc.)
3. Awesome guest services and mousekeeping.
4. Refillable cup (juice? milk?)

Anything else?

Thanks everyone!
This board is great!

 

[tar heel]

Extra Magic Hour -- especially great if you go when it is crowded and/or hot.

Charging on your room key -- one bill to pay at the end of your stay.

Sending purchases back to your room, so you don't have to carry them around all day.

Alas, no juice or milk with the refillable mugs.

 

[wdwrich]

If you drive or have a rental vehicle, you get free parking at all the parks.

 

[travelin' tigger]

Maybe I'm not understanding your question but you've listed most of the "perks" already - transportation, magic, awesome guest service and mousekeeping, and refillable cup (which I believe is only soda, coffee, tea - juice and milk cost a separate price)????

The fact that you can come and go throughout the day from park to hotel to park is also a perk!!!

 

[Ishy]

mousekeeping leaves ALOT to be desired or trusted. My room had used condoms in it. Others have complained as well - its a large resort(s) and I guess its all luck.

Refill mugs are not good for milk or juice.
soda, coffee, hot chocolate - not milk or juice.

What you are missing:

ERIDE. Eride Rocks!
Room delivery: All your purchases in the parks or at downtown disney can be sent to your room so your not lugging them around.

guest services and managment are not what I expected. I am not a hard person to deal with, I do expect return calls- they TOLD me to call back and check on the security report.

oh well.

 

[Bugsmom73]

Depending upon when you go, guarnteed entrance to the parks on really busy days.

I second sending stuff back to hotel. Great perk!!!

Transportation

Priority Seating reservations, you will at least have a slightly better chance at getting the rest. you want to eat at.

 

[pumpkinpatch73]

What's eride?

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Originally posted by Bugsmom73
Priority Seating reservations, you will at least have a slightly better chance at getting the rest. you want to eat at.

Am I dumb, but in the over 4 years I have been on these boards, I have never heard of anyone not getting a PS because they are offsite?? Am I wrong?

We've been onsite and now offsite. I got all the PS's I wanted whenever I wanted them. Now, I've never gone at busy times of the year. I think it has more to do with how busy they are than where you are staying.

The only perk I truly missed was the package delivery. We wouldn't have had to use it this past time because we did our shopping at DTD, but if when we go again we shop at MK, I'll miss it then.

All the rest of the perks don't really matter to me or, I didn't use them when I was onsite.

But some only want onsite and that's fine. It's all in what you like/want.

 

[tjmw2727]

The main reason we stay on site is convenience. Keep in mind that WDW is the size of Rhode Island and if your off site you have to drive through the gates and then to TTC before you get to the parks. I never rent a car staying on site and (knock wood) have had great transportation. Door to Door at every park, no parking and trams.

The one time we stayed off-site ad a conference with DH we were limited to a bus every hour - but not to each park. IE - 9am - MK, 10am - Epcot, 11am-MGM, 12pm- AK - etc. Getting back was even more confusing so we took a cab LOL.

We love the early morning hours, each day one park opens an hour early for resort guests only - especially at MK you can see alot in that hour.

Package delivery - purchase something and don't want to carry it you can send it back to your resort and pick it up the next day.

Refillable Mugs - great but not the reason I stay on-site. Just to clarify no milk or juice is available, just soda, coffee, tea and sometimes poweraid or lemonade.

For all this and more about on-site vs off-site and especially All Star's hit the home page here as well as deb's site.

http://allearsnet.com/acc/faq_asmv.htm

I travel often with my two dd's as a solo adult and there is no way I would attempt to stay off site.

Have a great trip whatever your resort decision!
TJ

 

[cathy59]

My DS7 doesn't even know you CAN stay off-site!!! Can't imagine what he'd say if we did!

When I was a kid, we always stayed off-site. Dad budgeted hard to afford a trip for a family of 7, and camping in Kissimee was a way to make it work. I have great memories of those trips and I now appreciate the effort it took.

BUT.... to me, staying off-site is missing out -- the MAGIC ends when you walk out of the park. Then you are back to the regular world.

Staying on-site keeps the magic up 24-7. I know not everyone has magical moments. Disney isn't perfect. But an average day at Disney is better than an average day at a lot of other places.

Plus, I would think most people staying off-site don't get to enjoy all of the little things that WDW has to offer... miniature golf, the strolling the Boardwalk, taking a "lego" break at DTD.

To me it's more than just the theme parks. And the best way to do it all is to stay on-site!

 

[SnackyStacky]

You only have better chances of getting Priority Seatings if you're staying in concierge - and even then, it's still a matter of calling in advance. The concierge will work hard and call repeatedly to try and get you a PS, but they can't magically make one appear if one isn't available.

The refillable mugs aren't really a "perk", per se - at least not to me. A perk would be something included in your room rate. Those mugs are $12 each! And as I found out, they're really more like an inconvenience at the Beach Club. It was a pain in the patootie getting the thing refilled. They're only worth it if you have BIG soda drinkers, and your resort has self-service beverage dispensers.

The thing that was best about staying on site for me was the charging to the room. It really did make it so much easier. And I felt SO much safer having only that room key. If I were to lose the room key, they could easily replace it. But losing a credit card - and just having it out that much - it makes it a lot easier for someone to lift the number.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

You've listed the main perks.

It's the little touches, like waking up and looking out at a gorgeous landscape, a savannah, or even a giant foozball table (whatever your taste is).

I personally don'y mind staying off site, but only in our time share which is very inexpensive to us and more space for the money. But even then, we like to throw a few on site days on at the end of the trip.

 

[Goofy4]

Originally posted by pumpkinpatch73
What's eride?

http://allearsnet.com/tp/etik.htm

One more perk: Ultimate Park Hopper Passes

 

[dpic]

You can buy an Ultimate Pool Hoppers pass. For $25 you can visit all resort pools during your stay--and bring the relatives.


Sorry, just kidding.

Okay, I'm not that sorry, but I was kidding.

 

[Leota]

For me, it's Peace of Mind....
Knowing that I can park my car at the airport here in Western NY & not have to worry about anything until I land back here when my trip is over.
I like having someone else do all the work on my vacation -

Plus all the other perks stated above.

 

[cathy59]

Originally posted by dpic
You can buy an Ultimate Pool Hoppers pass. For $25 you can visit all resort pools during your stay--and bring the relatives.


Sorry, just kidding.

Okay, I'm not that sorry, but I was kidding.

Wow! You had me going there! I was ALL OVER THAT and ready to call!

 

[vasoccermom]

I'm still struggling with the rental car situation...we'll be staying on site (AKL) for the first time and we fully intend to use WDW transportation to/from the parks. But in doing the math, I realized the cost for transfers for our family of 4 is about the same as what a rental car would cost for the 5 days. I'm thinking even if the car stays at the AKL parking lot, it might be advantageous to have it for a grocery run or for dining offsite...

I hate struggling with these small decisions...can you imagine how I handle life changing decisions?

Karen

 

[oogieboogie]

If the price of the car rental is only slightly higher or equal to the transfer price plus tips, then go get a rental.

Even if you use Disney buses, having a car is nice when you want to resort hop or have a meal at a resort, or even just for going to DTD.

We struggled with that issue too, and we finally ended up renting. By using Priceline we were able to get a rental for about $40 more than the cost of a town car for 10 whole days! Now that's a bargain.

As much as I love Disney's transportation, sometimes it's just so much easier and faster to drive to where you need to go.

 

[cathy59]

We've done it both ways. This time we are renting a car for the week for about $70 more than Mears RT would cost. (Got a good rate!)

It is more convenient for our frequent trips to Winter/Summerland miniature golf, especially since Blizzard Beach will be closed during our stay. And the Fantasia Gardens course is just hard to get to unless you are staying at Swan/Dolphin or BC/YC or Boardwalk.

Also, Mears always wants to pick you up for the airport so early! I know, they make several stops and don't want you to miss your flight. But I don't want to leave a second earlier than I have to!!!

 

[vasoccermom]

Oogieboogie,
thanks for your reply!
I think the way I calculated it, we can get a small 4 door car for just over $120 for the 5 days. I think Mears costs more than that and even the limo services are around $90-$100 r/t but that's before tip so I think it comes out equal.

Can you tell me anything about DTD? We've never been there and I'm trying to figure out logistics for doing dinner there at least one night (my dd is diabetic and I'm trying to plan ahead a little to keep her on schedule as much as possible). Does it cost anything to park there and are there restaurants that aren't too outrageously priced and kid friendly? Anything else there we shouldn't miss?

Karen