Unfair :(

[BayouMickey]

maybe, but there are more and more like myself that are seeing less and less value in a Disney trip. Its only a matter of time before they start feeling it. Disney's brand name and the myth of the long gone "Disney Experience" is the only thing keeping it on top right now.

Then don't go, stop reading disney forums, move on to bigger and better things, instead of sitting here setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

but you don't mind being a slave to Disney's horrible transportation system?

Again. Many of us love Disney transportation. I have never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus/boat/monorail ever.

 

[pilferk]

How much do you pay per night/week for that 1 bedroom villa that has exactly 1 bed?

Staying out of the fray, but I'll take a stab on pricing. Keep in mind, it largely depends on how you get it:

Own DVC:
Depending on how you amortize your points, when you bought in (at what price point) and where...between 120 and 300 a night.

The low end is going to be if you bought in very early (say, OKW) while the high end is going to be either better view (Savanna view) or busier time frame.

Full disclosure, here's the calculation many people use (thought some think the amortization is too long): ((Buy in price per point/contract term) + (annual maintenance per point)*number of points per week)/7

Ex: Buy in was $96 per point at AKV when it "launched" for a 50 year term. Maintenance per point in 2014 is 5.67. It costs 162 points for a 1 BR Standard view villa in "Adventure" (aka CHEAP) season for 1 week.

96/50 = 1.92
1.92 + 5.67 = 7.59
7.59 * 162 = 1229.58
1229.58/7 = $175.65 per night

That number changes as your accomodation level OR travel dates change.

Rent Points:
Roughly $320 a night, figuring $10 a point (I think it's creeped up a bit to 11 to 12 a point, now).

Rack rate:
About $600 a night

 

[nugov2]

Interesting...is this a new addition as I have never seen that offered before.

Pricing is sorta nuts....it would still be cheaper for our family of 5 to book a night in the hotel room...but interesting all the same.

This goes back to my earlier point, some people do not stay off site to save money. They want space and will spend more money on other perks they do not get b/c of picking that option. I will not give up my space, so I will pick off site every single time and will gladly pay more for the perks I would have gotten if I stayed in an on site room . I am not going to be happy (and neither will the rest of my crew) smashed into a hotel room for a week, that is our choice. I am happy that some parks get that and are still willing to take my money for extra perks. I do know that I read that WDW would be offering this to off site so I am hopeful that it will happen. I am also hopeful that you will be able to purchase FP in the future. It will make it much more likely our family will spend time in WDW.

 

[surferdave]

I have never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus/boat/monorail ever.

I'm not really down on Disney transportation but I think your reported experience is way outside the norm. I've been surprised the few times I did not have to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus.

 

[kmarie99]

but you don't mind being a slave to Disney's horrible transportation system?

We have never had a problem with the Disney Transportation, It has always been great for us.

 

[BayouMickey]

I'm not really down on Disney transportation but I think your reported experience is way outside the norm. I've been surprised the few times I did not have to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus.

I kinda have to agree.. I can see the likability for buses and monorails but boats are definitely more than 10 min.

 

[AuroraRora]

Again. Many of us love Disney transportation. I have never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus/boat/monorail ever.

Agreed, Disney's transportation system is the main reason we DO stay on-site!! Far from being a slave to it, for us its a deciding factor. I have zero desire to fly down, deal with renting a car, handling gas, tolls, GPS, finding parking and then waiting on the shuttle trams when I could quickly get on a bus that'll take me directly where I want to go for free. I agree with the PP that about 10mins is the norm we wait on a bus, and since we started coming to WDW in 2000, I can only think of one single time we had to wait more than 20mins for a bus - and a CM handed out FP's for everyone as an apology which we then used to walk on TSM mid-day. Their transportation is probably my favorite perk of staying on-site!

 

[kmarie99]

I'm not really down on Disney transportation but I think your reported experience is way outside the norm. I've been surprised the few times I did not have to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus.

Where have you stayed onsite that has had bad bus service? We stay at CSR and the bus service for us has been great 10 -15 for a bus.

 

[ShayBells]

We have never had a problem with the Disney Transportation, It has always been great for us.

Us too. Never had a problem I love it! I've never waited longer than 10 minutes and I LOvE not worrying about driving.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[kmarie99]

Agreed, Disney's transportation system is the main reason we DO stay on-site!! Far from being a slave to it, for us its a deciding factor. I have zero desire to fly down, deal with renting a car, handling gas, tolls, GPS, finding parking and then waiting on the shuttle trams when I could quickly get on a bus that'll take me directly where I want to go for free. Since we started coming to WDW in 2000, I can only think of one single time we had to wait more than 20mins or so for a bus - and a CM handed out FP's for everyone as an apology which we then used to walk on TSM mid-day. Their transportation is probably my favorite perk of staying on-site!

Ours too... expecially on the 'Drink around the world' day in Epcot!! Neither of us have to drive.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Here's the thing.. I go to Cancun every year to a resort, but it's a lounge around the resort type resort (sheesh that's alot of resorts for one sentence!)
So those type of amenities are perfect for that situation. But in WDW, we're hardly ever in the room, so such amenities are really being wasted on us.

And I can totally see that. I really can.

Disney resorts work for some people. If you like the dining plan, if you like the buses, then chances are onsite is a place for you. I am a devoted offsiter who doesn't like either of those "perks" (and I have stayed onsite before, so yes I have experienced both sides) but can still see why onsite works for some people, despite the cost.

I think what many of the onsiters fail to realize is that onsite doesn't work for some of us, either. I wouldn't get my teen son to go to Orlando at all if we had to squeeze into one room when it came time for bed.

There are tons of ways to "do" Disney. One size does not fit all. Same with accommodations. I can't imagine that Disney execs feel that the only people who deserve a "magical" experience are those staying onsite. I think that's what the OP was most disappointed about. She felt as if she was being punished for not staying onsite by having no access to the tools Disney has created to give guests a great experience.

Other parks have found a balance. Ways to give both groups a great time, and reasons to return. Let's just hope that same balance is in Disney's future when all is said and done .

 

[Postal68]

This goes back to my earlier point, some people do not stay off site to save money. They want space and will spend more money on other perks they do not get b/c of picking that option. I will not give up my space, so I will pick off site every single time and will gladly pay more for the perks I would have gotten if I stayed in an on site room . I am not going to be happy (and neither will the rest of my crew) smashed into a hotel room for a week, that is our choice. I am happy that some parks get that and are still willing to take my money for extra perks. I do know that I read that WDW would be offering this to off site so I am hopeful that it will happen. I am also hopeful that you will be able to purchase FP in the future. It will make it much more likely our family will spend time in WDW.

^^^^^^^^^^^ Hey, someone with common sense

I stay offsite not because of the money but because of the space. If Disney were to offer a purchase program for FP instead of what they have I would gladly pay it. The same way I purchased Express Pass at Universal a few weeks ago.

 

[kmarie99]

And I can totally see that. I really can.

Disney resorts work for some people. If you like the dining plan, if you like the buses, then chances are onsite is a place for you. I am a devoted offsiter who doesn't like either of those "perks" (and I have stayed onsite before, so yes I have experienced both sides) but can still see why onsite works for some people, despite the cost.

I think what many of the onsiters fail to realize is that onsite doesn't work for some of us, either. I wouldn't get my teen son to go to Orlando at all if we had to squeeze into one room when it came time for bed.

There are tons of ways to "do" Disney. One size does not fit all. Same with accommodations. I can't imagine that Disney execs feel that the only people who deserve a "magical" experience are those staying onsite. I think that's what the OP was most disappointed about. She felt as if she was being punished for not staying onsite by having no access to the tools Disney has created to give guests a great experience.

Other parks have found a balance. Ways to give both groups a great time, and reasons to return. Let's just hope that same balance is in Disney's future when all is said and done .

Very well stated, I could not agree more. What is fun for someone is miserable for someone else. Not just at Disney but everywhere!

 

[pilferk]

maybe, but there are more and more like myself that are seeing less and less value in a Disney trip. Its only a matter of time before they start feeling it. Disney's brand name and the myth of the long gone "Disney Experience" are the only things keeping it on top right now.

Again, staying out of the fray, but....go back and read the rec.arts.disney.parks newgroups.

People have been saying, verbatim, exactly what you posted above for roughly 20 years.

And yet...Disney's bottom line continues to inflate, their turnstiles continue to spin like wheels on a slot machine, and their hotel occupancy levels continue to be the industry model.

I'm not saying you're wrong about a good many points you're making (though you leave something to be desired when it comes to style points)....but you're not beating a new drum, here. This has been the Disney way for a LONG time...since at least the middle of the Eisner era, and, really, even before that point.

The argument that Disney is "eventually" going to feel it could, someday, eventually, maybe come true..but it's been the rallying cry for the dissatisfied for a VERY long time, and there is no evidence of it coming to fruition any time soon. What has become apparent is that, as some become dissatisfied and move on, a larger group of people move in to fill that void. And they seem to actually spend MORE money (since the SEC reports show that guest spending continues to rise every year). And until/unless that changes, Disney isn't listening.

And when/if it does..you can sure there will be "quick" (for Disney) action to remedy things JUST enough to turn the trend back again.

 

[Postal68]

It's soooo much fun queuing for a bus when you leave the parks and waiting to get on one, and then you get the bonus!!!! You get to STAND on a bus after walking all day crammed in with a bunch of people that don't have a clue what deodorant is.

 

[Postal68]

I'm not really down on Disney transportation but I think your reported experience is way outside the norm. I've been surprised the few times I did not have to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus.

hey look, non Disney Biased honesty

 

[Kelleigh710]

At the end of the day we need to remember that Disney is a business...everyone can complain all they want to but Disney will take its business model in any direction they please, regardless. They know there is no shortage of people coming to visit. Those of us who have been Disney fans for years will continuously adapt to these changes. It does not mean you have to as well.

 

[nugov2]

Seriously? Crap rooms? you get what you pay for and a 100 dollar room in Disney is way higher quality than you would get for a 100 dollar room elsewhere.. for 300 you can get a nice family suite at art of animation that sleeps 6. I don't think you have a clue what you are talking about...

I was at AOA and would never stay there. I have stated this many times....motel with WDW pictures and loud paint all over it does not change the fact that it is still a motel. There are nice motels all over and WDW values fall into that category, but a motel it still is. Sleeping on a table that people eat on by day is not my idea of an enjoyable vacation either, but that is just me. Some love it. Doesn't make them wrong, but a lot of people don't think that the values are somehow better than a decent motel in any other vacation town just because it has the WDW stamp on it.

 

[FLchick415]

It's soooo much fun queuing for a bus when you leave the parks and waiting to get on one, and then you get the bonus!!!! You get to STAND on a bus after walking all day crammed in with a bunch of people that don't have a clue what deodorant is.

Yeah, we get it. YOU don't like it. But other people don't mind using the Disney bus system.