What’s the advantage of staying on property now?

[RealRickButler]

With no ECM’s, no advantage of making park restaurant reservations, FP+ reservations, and no guarantee that you can even get in the parks everyday what’s the advantage of staying on property now.

My $249 weekly rate for a 2 bedroom timeshare at Bonnet Creek, which is technically on Disney property, seems like a smart purchase. Full disclosure I’m a TCI member so that’s the rate I always pay minus point (depending on season).

We usually stay in Tower 4, parking garage side, ninth floor or higher. We can see Spaceship earth to our left, MK straigh ahead in the distance (still able to see firework), and Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Springs to the right.

Outside of paying daily parking staying at Bonnet Creek I honestly don’t see an advantage.

Thoughts?

 

[soniam]

Magical Express, proximity to parks, somewhat frequent resort transportation, Disney bubble It's not the value it was before Covid. You have to pay to park at the WDW hotels too, unless it's DVC. There's no resort fee.

 

[Marthasor]

You can literally take every other perk away and I still want to be as close to the parks as possible. I don't want to rent a car, take a cab/uber/lyft or rely on offsite transportation. From BC/YC/BWI or CR, I can literally walk to a theme park (or two) and save a ton of time and energy. I've stayed offsite. If my primary goal is to visit WDW, I will never stay offsite again. Bonnet Creek, BTW, is not on Disney property. It is surrounded by Disney property on three sides but none of the land or developments are owned by Disney: https://www.yesterland.com/bonnet.html

 

[SaintsManiac]

The people onsite will get access to the park reservation system first.

 

[Sandisw]

There have always been people who stayed offsite even with some of the advantages,

Honestly, many stay to be in the Magic the entire time. We bought DVC for that reason.

 

[Sunnywho]

I like the theming of the on-site hotels. I'm willing to pay more for that. Also the easy transportation. Our last stay was at the Disney Swan and I liked not even having to take a bus.

 

[Lewisc]

AFAIK Disney has never owned the land Bonnet Creek sits.

It's not clear what priority will be given to resort guests when signing up for park reservations. Guests staying at resorts like Bonnet Creek might have real issues getting reservations

 

[Maistre Gracey]

My $249 weekly rate for a 2 bedroom timeshare at Bonnet Creek, which is technically on Disney property, seems like a smart purchase.

Sorry, but this is a pet peace of mine.
Bonnet Creek is NOT on Disney property.
You need to drive on property to get there, but once inside the entrance you have left Disney property.

 

[Lewisc]

Sorry, but this is a pet peace of mine.
Bonnet Creek is NOT on Disney property.
You need to drive on property to get there, but once inside the entrance you have left Disney property.

Absolutely true, but a few years ago I received a survey from WDW. I was asked where I stayed. One option was onsite resort not operated by Disney. Bonnet Creek was one of the examples offered.

Recently the DS hotels, Hilton and Astoria at Bonnet Creek gave guests perks typically given to guests staying at an onsite hotel. AFAIK the guesrs staying at BC timeshares were never offered those petks

 

[constanze]

For me it's the easy/quick transportation and walkability to the parks We'll see what happens once they announce the new park reservation system...But I'm pretty excited about the announcement tonight with the Food and Wine Festival...if hopping is still allowed, we'll be spending our evening's there.

 

[soniam]

The people onsite will get access to the park reservation system first.

This hasn't been confirmed. Some people think that tickets/AP alone will get first dibs.

 

[constanze]

This hasn't been confirmed. Some people think that tickets/AP alone will get first dibs.

It's a nail biter!

 

[SaintsManiac]

This hasn't been confirmed. Some people think that tickets/AP alone will get first dibs.

Oh? I haven’t seen that opinion. It would be shocking to me if onsite reservations don’t get in first.

 

[buzznina]

Heck, it was difficult before the pandemic. We have been going for over 15 years and each year it gets harder and harder to stay onsite. I have been on DIS for many years and I can tell you people will pay hundreds more PER night for a deluxe just to be able to walk to just 2 parks, an indoor hallway or a balcony and that's just comparing it to the Mods or Values and not even offsite. My DW and youngest DD went to WDW a couple of years ago when our oldest DD had a dance competition there, and I booked them a room offsite for $109 a night and this was going to be their first offsite stay. Neither was looking forward to it. Well my DW was shocked at how much more you get, the room was a suite with a kitchen and sitting area and much better than the deluxes. They had multiple pools, a lazy river, basketball courts, putt-putt, a giant game room with pool tables etc., a lot of food options and a coffee shop. She also said it was a breeze to drive to the park or to a deluxe resort and valet park and was only about 20-25 minutes. Our last 3 trips since then has still been onsite, but now we can speak from experience that offsite is a great option and if they keep raising their rates we will easily spend our $$ on an offsite resort. I will say, now that POP and CBR has the Skyliner, that is a big plus back for WDW.

 

[crazylady]

Absolutely true, but a few years ago I received a survey from WDW. I was asked where I stayed. One option was onsite resort not operated by Disney. Bonnet Creek was one of the examples offered.

Recently the DS hotels, Hilton and Astoria at Bonnet Creek gave guests perks typically given to guests staying at an onsite hotel. AFAIK the guesrs staying at BC timeshares were never offered those petks

Like what?

 

[WillAustin]

Being inside the bubble. Worth it.

 

[nkereina]

Oh? I haven’t seen that opinion. It would be shocking to me if onsite reservations don’t get in first.

I know Disney said earlier this month that when the park reservation process goes live, a park reservation/admission would not be guaranteed for on-site guests. This led some to believe that it will be ticketholders/AP that will get first dibs, as PP mentioned. This method would appease AP holders and would force people to buy tickets in advance, which are typically non-refundable.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I know Disney said earlier this month that when the park reservation process goes live, a park reservation/admission would not be guaranteed for on-site guests. This led some to believe that it will be ticketholders/AP that will get first dibs, as PP mentioned. This method would appease AP holders and would force people to buy tickets in advance, which are typically non-refundable.

I didn’t read it that way at all.

 

[nkereina]

I didn’t read it that way at all.

I was just saying that people were speculating or deducing what the process might look like, based on the fact that on-site guests are not guaranteed entry. Disney didn't say anything beyond that. It could be as simple as Disney reinforcing that *everyone* will need a park reservation, or it could be setting expectations that on-site guests may not necessarily get first priority. Tons of speculation, but of course nothing confirmed.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

We have wondered the same thing..
I am really hoping that the reservations dont go like fast passes... well guys we are " stuck" going to epcot because HS was full.
Orginally our plan was no worries if we dont get in the park we have NSSHP tickets.. I dont know what we have. I guess we have a overpriced room at parks we may not be able to go to and $600 refund on a disney giftcard.
I guess I still have the magical express