What are the perks?

[Bambi Sunshine]

I suspect that this is a commonly asked question, so I appoligise, BUT what are the additional perks to staying in Disney hotels.

I showed my boyfriend the Disney Planning DVD last night and he FINALLY took some interest in our holiday -- he says he is as enthusiastic about going to Disney as he is about going anywhere so that is a BIG thing for him.

ANYWAY

We have started to consider staying on site; on my previous trip I stayed off site in a villa but that isnt going to happen this time so we will be staying in a hotel somewhere. I would LOVE to stay on site just for the experience of it but aside from that the extra benefits of staying on site, like Disney transportation, extra magic hours, airport transfers do appeal also.

My other half has said that he too has an interest in staying on site even though it will be more expensive but only if the benefits and extra little perks that Disney love to throw in and dont shout about out weigh the additional cost.

So hence my thread. I was wondering if the people who have stayed with Disney know what the other additional benefits there are and also who is the best person to book Disney hotels through for the best prices?

Thank you so much, you all have been such a huge help already to us and I am just so darn excited!!!!!

 

[wayneg]

We stayed onsite once and said never again, Didn't enjoy Disney buses, ASM room way too small, no free wireless internet access and way overpriced, but it was Xmas the busiest week of the year.
We prefer Just offsite at LBV, going next month again to Courtyard by Marriott, £25/night has eveything we want in a hotel.
Other people will only stay onsite and love it, its not for us but we have a car and much prefer offsite dining, being tied to Disney transport and food is not enjoyable to us.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

We stayed onsite about 5 years ago - CBR and AKL and to be honest I wouldn't do a full trip onsite again. As Wayne says it is very expensive for what you get, the buses can be a nightmare when it is busy (especially when leaving the parks after the fireworks!) Now I would stay off-site and perhaps stay at AKL or WL for a couple of nights but that would be it.

As far as extra perks go you can charge all your purchases to your room and have the packages delivered back to your hotel (saves carrying them about) and the maid service make things like doves and mickey ears out of the face cloths and things.

I also found staying on site a bit more restrictive if you wanted to go to other parks or shopping (we didn't rent a car that year). We had two small kids with us so only ventured off property to do the Premium Outlets but it still was a hassle.

Many people love staying on-site it just comes down to personal opinion and your budget

Tracey

 

[ShesAPirate]

For us, it's just the opposite. Once we stayed onsite, staying offsite became a non-option. It's hard to put the idea into dollars and cents, honestly, but the feeling of staying onsite is just sooo much better.

Driving and parking at Disney are a hassel, so having the transportation is a huge plus. It's incredibly convenient to let someone else do the driving, and to be close enough to head back to the resort mid-day for a break.

EMHs are good to have, though I will admit I don't believe we've ever taken advantage of the ones offered in the morning

Staying onsite just has you surrounded by Disney 24/7. I love that feeling. I can stay in a regular hotel anytime. Only at Disney can I feel like I'm on a Caribbean or Polynesian island, or in the Wilderness, or the Serengeti... you see where I'm going with this. It's a total escape, and all part of the experience. Even the Value resorts offer incredible theming - Pop Century in particular.

It does bother me that there isn't free internet access, but I don't spend much time on the laptop while I'm there. There's so much to do at the resorts that by the time I'm back in my room, getting online is the last thing on my mind.

All that being said, I fully endorse staying onsite, and feel that it's worth the extra cost.

Best of luck with your planning!

 

[castanea1985]

Hi Alice,
We much prefered to stay on site when the kids were smaller. There is something about staying at Disney, for that added 'magic'. Although we have never stayed in a budget hotel, we always plumped for the moderate+ resorts. POR (or Dixie landings as it was then), is so beautiful, and if it is only you ( a couple) staying there, that would make a great place to stay. You could 'dance the night away' at DTD and catch the boat back to your resort!!!
Why not do a few days off site and a few nights on?? Then you get the best of both worlds? Do your shopping and visits to other parks when you stay off site, and do more Disney days when you stay 'on site'?
As Wayneg says the Courtyard by Marriott at LBV is a very nice hotel, and is only over the road from DTD. We have stayed there and would recommend it!
I hope you enjoy your trip, whatever you decide to do?

 

[disneyholic family]

well as you can see from my signature, we prefer staying onsite, regardless of cost....
we love all the disney resorts, whether value, moderate or deluxe......

i know people always complain about the transportation at the end of the fireworks, but we're never bothered by that.....we always have such a good time chatting with other people in line, the time goes by quickly....

getting to the Magic Kingdom is easier when you stay onsite.....the buses take you right up to the entrance, whereas if you're staying offsite, you have to go to the Transportation and Ticket Center and then take the monorail or ferry to get to the Magic Kingdom. Doesn't sound like much, but i find going straight to the MK entrance much easier.

when are you planning to go? if you can pick any time, a great time to go is in September when the parks are empty.....

also, during non-peak times (like september) you can sometimes get really great deals on the moderate resorts....we once got Dixie Landings (now called POR - Port Orleans Riverside) for just $10 more a night than the All Star at that time....so it depends when you go and what the specials are at that time...

and yes, I too recommend POR as a lovely place to stay as a couple...
we love the bayou section (we stayed in building 14, right by the main building so it's close to the food court - and there's also a quiet pool nearby)...

But as i said, we have enjoyed each and every one of the resorts and would be happy staying in any of them....

 

[Pootle]

We stayed onsite once and said never again, Didn't enjoy Disney buses, ASM room way too small, no free wireless internet access and way overpriced, but it was Xmas the busiest week of the year.
We prefer Just offsite at LBV, going next month again to Courtyard by Marriott, £25/night has eveything we want in a hotel.
Other people will only stay onsite and love it, its not for us but we have a car and much prefer offsite dining, being tied to Disney transport and food is not enjoyable to us.

I've heard you say this before Wayne, and I totally understand where you are coming from - I like the Courtyard by Marriott too, often eat off-site, was not personally impressed with the All Stars (but do understand why some people love it, especially with children) and I too like a bargain . However ....... there are other Disney options.

'My' Disney's Old Key West resort for instance, has larger rooms than the Courtyard, a kitchenette, beautiful grounds to walk around, is a boat ride away from Downtown Disney, has the option of Disney transport AND is just a quick, convenient drive drive from Crossroads eateries the 'back' way (junction of Apopka Vineland and Palm Parkway). All these things could be said equally of the Port Orleans resort too - well, the room size might be a tie with the Marriott.

I've been staying at the Crossroads area since 1988 and you must admit, what was a pleasant area until a few years ago, is now a traffic snarl-up for much of the day Just like I-Drive - that was great for driving back in '88 too

I wouldn't push Disney at anyone and I've stayed off site many, many times (including a very nice villa), but staying on site does give you options to have traffic-free days if you wish.

On site does come at a cost, especially as you move up from the 'value' resorts. For many though, it's simply worth it Yep, and we even pay the $9.99 per day for internet access sometimes too.

Wayneg, I've just booked some relatives into the Courtyard in November for £26 per night - what a bargain

 

[Lauren101]

Another perk - I am not sure if anyone has mentioned this - is that if you have a car - you get free parking at all the Disney parks if you are staying onsite. This costs I think $10 a day if you are offsite, so this to us is a perk -as we will driving to all the parks except MK due to the drop off being right at the park gates.

It is also easier if you park-hop - as you can catch Disney tranportation to the first park - hop to the second and catch Disney transportation back to your hotel.

I can't compare them for you as have always stayed off-site before due to cost - but this year is our first year on-site and I am really excited about it!!

 

[natalielongstaff]

ive stayed on and off site and its a very personnal choice !! however with young kids i think the onsite option works best for us we love pop century and it is so easy to hop on and off the transport and go back to the hotel for a break.

good luck with your choice.

 

[wideeyes]

I am staying onsite mostly for the fequent transportation to the parks, having a 5y/o I think getting back easily to the hotel is important and we won't have a car as me & mum don't drive, also by staying on site we got free dining for september when we booked last year.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

As has been said I think its down to personal choice.
We stayed a couple of times on site, Carribean Beach for 1 week trip and then Wilderness Lodge for three days when the villa was being finished.

Thransportation is not that good, especially at WL, as the queues after parks closed were huge and the busses infrequent, as we have annual passes, the car parking at the parks and the busses are included anyway.

I rather like the parking at the parks and the shuttle train, makes me feel like I have arrived at Disney.

Whilst the public areas are nicely theamed, the rooms themselves are tiny, with the barest minimum of facilities. In reality there was no difference between the room at Carribean and Wilderness.
they are very expensive for what they are, a one bedroomed hotel room.

As we spend at least 50% of the time away from Disney, (or even more sometimes) it was not worth it for us, especially when you compare it to our three bed villa.

But as I said, its horses for courses. Probably worth being on site at least once to experiance it, but don't expect it to be vastly different to off site hotels.

 

[disneyholic family]

i just noticed you said that in the past you have stayed offsite in a villa...
if that's the case, you must keep in mind (as others have pointed out) that the onsite rooms are just hotel rooms, and some of them quite small at that....
otherwise you might be disappointed, which would be a shame (and a terrible way to start a holiday).....

when we're there for extended stays, we typically stay in a villa (onsite) to have more room....
but for shorter stays, just a hotel room (or now that the kids are big - two rooms) is fine for us...

 

[lorapinky]

I love staying onsite, though I think depends on how much disney you want to do.

We are big disney fans so staying onsite is worth every penny.

We don't get a car when we are in orlando so the disney transportation is perfect for us to take us to the parks.

We love the the ASMo too!

 

[wayneg]

It does bother me that there isn't free internet access, but I don't spend much time on the laptop while I'm there. There's so much to do at the resorts that by the time I'm back in my room, getting online is the last thing on my mind.

If you don't use it its not a big thing but we are there for around 50 days a year and need to be in contact with home and business so staying onsite would cost me an extra $500/year. Also like to keep in touch with the boards and do online check in for return flight plus lots more.

I've been staying at the Crossroads area since 1988 and you must admit, what was a pleasant area until a few years ago, is now a traffic snarl-up for much of the day Just like I-Drive - that was great for driving back in '88 too

Thankfully never had a problem with traffic, aways got thru the lights within a minute or so. Both Xmas and last August free moving. I found it a lot worse at junction near Marriott village onto SR535, Easter this year that was sooo slow.

Another perk - I am not sure if anyone has mentioned this - is that if you have a car - you get free parking at all the Disney parks if you are staying onsite. This costs I think $10 a day

Yes $10 for parking at Disney parks, solved that problem and buy Annual passes

As we spend at least 50% of the time away from Disney, (or even more sometimes) it was not worth it for us, especially when you compare it to our three bed villa.

I think this is a big factor, next month out of 25 nights we will probably only do about 6 in Disney. There is more to the area for us, Disney is a small part.


I do think everyone should try onsite to see how they like it, its not for everyone but a lot love it, maybe one day I will be tempted to a moderate resort and give them another go.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[Bambi Sunshine]

Thanks for all your resposes --- now Im REALLY confused LOL

I would LOVE to stay in a villa again but the cost of a villa for 2 people just isnt ecconomical, a hotel would work out cheeper. I keep trying to convince the people we are going with, James and Dil, to rent one with us but James wont budge, he just doesnt like the idea. I know if we rented one they would come over and then the next time they went they would rent one too. If there was a 1 bedroom villa that was affordable then great but in Orlando they just dont seem to exist.

As far as Disney hotels go I would prefer to stay in a moderate resort but because of costs my other half says we would have to stay at a value; this puts me off. Dont get me wrong I think value resorts are great for families but its not exactly the ambience Im really looking for for our first holiday as a couple.

I look at other hotels and you never know what you are getting and if they are "exactly what it says on the tin". I looked at the Marriot but I dont seem to be able to get the price that people here have been able to, I got a quote of about £65 a night! -- I thought that we were going off season (September 28th - October 12th, give or take a few days)

Im starting to wonder if this is all beyond my capabilities to organise! - Ive never even organised a weekend in Brighton let alone a fortnight in Florida.

I keep trailing through the internet trying to find the best prices for everything and I just get this knot in my stomach that I am going to screw it up. James says we should wait untill the week before we want to go to book the flights because he thinks we would be able to get one for about £150 but I'm not convinced.

I need an idiots guide that says "this is when and where to get the best deal on a flight...this is a cheep hotel that is really nice and you will love it....this is the best place to get a great price for park tickets and none of these deals are from con merchants and it will all be great!" --- do you think that a year of a million dreams will cover that?

 

[Pootle]

I looked at the Marriot but I dont seem to be able to get the price that people here have been able to, I got a quote of about £65 a night! -- I thought that we were going off season (September 28th - October 12th, give or take a few days)

I think wayneg uses a different site, but I used www.travelrepublic.co.uk for good deals at Courtyard by Marriott.

I need an idiots guide that says "this is when and where to get the best deal on a flight...this is a cheep hotel that is really nice and you will love it....this is the best place to get a great price for park tickets and none of these deals are from con merchants and it will all be great!" --- do you think that a year of a million dreams will cover that?

Lol, there are few guarantees in life and not even the Year of a Million Dreams will change that. I can't guarantee that my best friend would like my hotel recommendation; let alone someone I've never met .

Tickets: I've used www.undercovertourist.com four times over the last three years for other people, and I've always been very happy with them.

Make sure you pay with credit cards for some protection against the 'con merchants'

Planning is one of my favourite parts, but I accept it can by daunting and so many things just come down to personal preferences (and cash of course ): package or diy, onsite v offsite, hotel or villa, direct flight v indirect (probably cheaper), to hire a car or not, ticket type and so on. Good luck with it .

 

[wayneg]

I look at other hotels and you never know what you are getting and if they are "exactly what it says on the tin". I looked at the Marriot but I dont seem to be able to get the price that people here have been able to, I got a quote of about £65 a night! -- I thought that we were going off season (September 28th - October 12th, give or take a few days)

Alice, what sites are you looking on? ripusoff.com? LOL
Best prices I can find for your dates are below, don't try and do it all yourself, if your think you are being overcharged for things like hotels post and ask if anyone can find cheaper. I would agree with others after a Villa the value hotels might not be for you. Bet you wish you never posted now

www.aplharooms.com
Double room £27.14 (£26.19)
Suite £38.69 (£37.33)
If you have a rpoints account(if not make one) they give 3.5% cashback on booking with Alpharooms, bringing rates down to bracketed prices.

After doing all this I just checked link from Pootle(glad I checked for new posts before pressing submit), never used them but their rate beats mine £25.39/night I will check with them next time I want to book.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I went to Florida in 2005 and 2006 and am going back September this year and August next year. I stayed off property on international drive 2005 and went to Pop century for the second. Having stayed on property I wouldn't want to stay off again. I like the hotels I like the dining plan, as I am going for 3 weeks this time I will have a car for part of the holiday so I can go to busch gardens and shopping. Would I stay off property again NO!

 

[disneyholic family]

that's another thing to consider - the dining plan....
if you're big eaters, it's probably a good deal..

and they've been known to have free dining plans (though i don't know if they are this year), and that's a really good deal...

by the way, i know exactly what you mean about that feeling in your stomach.....you want to get the trip just right....
the key is to relax and once you're finally there, try to take it easy and not worry about whether what you did was the best or not..
that's what it is and just enjoy yourselves....and don't run yourselves ragged trying to do everything...just have a good time together at the happiest place on earth

 

[crabbie1]

Alice, what sites are you looking on? ripusoff.com? LOL
Best prices I can find for your dates are below, don't try and do it all yourself, if your think you are being overcharged for things like hotels post and ask if anyone can find cheaper. I would agree with others after a Villa the value hotels might not be for you. Bet you wish you never posted now

www.aplharooms.com
Double room £27.14 (£26.19)
Suite £38.69 (£37.33)
If you have a rpoints account(if not make one) they give 3.5% cashback on booking with Alpharooms, bringing rates down to bracketed prices.

After doing all this I just checked link from Pootle(glad I checked for new posts before pressing submit), never used them but their rate beats mine £25.39/night I will check with them next time I want to book.

I just looked for our dates and it was £21 a night each not per room totalling nearly £800-is that right.I know on expedia it was per room not per person