What benefits are left of staying on property?

[Kmpcfp]

We are planning a trip for the week before Easter (April 9-15). We have done Easter week before and with FP+/planning/crowd calendars/watching the app it was definitely doable in the past. We have stayed on site before during Easter week to guarantee admittance, but since they now require advanced park reservations it seems unnecessary.

Magical Express will be gone, there is currently no FP+ available, and are they even doing EMH anymore? Other than the disney transportation between parks and I guess "convenience" and "magic" of an all in one package, is there even any true benefit of staying on property? We are a family of 5 so we would have to stay at a moderate or above to accommodate us.

We currently have a 2 bed/2 bath Wyndham Bonnet Creek condo booked that is cancelable up to March.. I am tempted to also put a reservation in to Caribbean Beach or Port Orleans Riverside just in case there are some crazy changes to the FP+ system in the next few months, but I am torn.

 

[GBRforWDW]

and are they even doing EMH anymore

This returns in October and, as the way things currently stand at rope drop, could be a game changer for those getting in early. It also may not matter as much, with all the hotels being opened and other hotels allowed to use this service as well.

however, if you stay at a deluxe resort - I’m assuming renting dvc points would count, which could put your cost slightly higher than the moderates you mentioned, they will also have an extra hour at night.

besides, I’d say the adr booking window is a positive. And definitely FPs if those are brought back.

 

[RanDIZ]

I would agree with PP. ADRs are a huge benefit and then now the Early and evening hours coming soon.

 

[hsmamato2]

not much IMHO. Unless you're willing to pay for 'deluxe' hotel for the late evenings perk. I don't currently see a great reason to pay outlandish prices.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The EMH in the evening will only be available to DVC resorts and Deluxe resorts. The extra half hour in the morning will be available to all the resorts plus a few offsite locations.

 

[Kmpcfp]

ADRs aren't a huge deal for us. We don't have any restaurants that are a "must-do" for us. We usually can track down a couple of reservations that we are interested in within the 60 days. My kids are 10 and under so even if we were to do a deluxe with DVC, I don't think they couldn't even last that long.