What do you get at Disney Resort?

[Needafix]

Stayed at many Disney resorts, but just stayed at Hard Rock Universal and have recently stayed at S/D and I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

Do you have to pay for the following at Disney:
Parking
WiFi
gym access
mandatory service fees at restaurants
any other mandatory fees (other than the normal room/taxes)

I love Disney resorts because I feel I get a lot for my money. When I visited those other resorts, I didn't feel like I was getting what I paid for, I was just getting a nice room and I paid a lot for the extras, some I didn't even want

Thanks

 

[lmbcdb]

Stayed at many Disney resorts, but just stayed at Hard Rock Universal and have recently stayed at S/D and I'm wondering if I'm missing something.

Do you have to pay for the following at Disney:
Parking
WiFi
gym access
mandatory service fees at restaurants
any other mandatory fees (other than the normal room/taxes)

I love Disney resorts because I feel I get a lot for my money. When I visited those other resorts, I didn't feel like I was getting what I paid for, I was just getting a nice room and I paid a lot for the extras, some I didn't even want

Thanks

If you stay onsite, no, you do not have to pay for parking or WiFi at the resorts. (or parking at the parks)

With the resorts that have a gym, access is free.

Not sure what you mean about the other fees. I know when I go, all I pay for is tips and souvenirs.

edited to add:I'm confused. I saw in your signature that you have been several times in the past 10 years. Was your question just rhetorical/sarcastic?

 

[HWKI2]

Do you have to pay for the following at Disney:

Parking - NO at Resorts or Parks if you stay onsite
WiFi - Not anymore its free
gym access - No if the resort has a gym
mandatory service fees at restaurants - If your group has 8 or more you will be charged a gratuity fee, otherwise there are no other service fees
any other mandatory fees (other than the normal room/taxes) - No

 

[Needafix]

edited to add:I'm confused. I saw in your signature that you have been several times in the past 10 years. Was your question just rhetorical/sarcastic?

No, I wasn't being sarcastic - I was wondering if I missed something in the past or if things changes due to the "economy". I had a different situation this time than usual. We don't usually drive and people I was with were using the gym and wanted WiFi, which I don't often use and knew they were free the last time I did use them. I was wondering if all resorts were starting to charge for these things to make extra money.

I've found the Dolphin cheaper in the past, but if you start adding on all these extra fees, it may not be cheaper.

Need to know all the information so I can start planning my next trip.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Do you have to pay for the following at Disney:

Parking - NO at Resorts or Parks if you stay onsite
WiFi - Not anymore its free
gym access - No if the resort has a gym
mandatory service fees at restaurants - If your group has 8 or more you will be charged a gratuity fee, otherwise there are no other service fees
any other mandatory fees (other than the normal room/taxes) - No

Gratuity is automatically added for a party of 6 or more, and that is for everyone eating at Disney TS restaurants, not just resort guests.

edited to add:I'm confused. I saw in your signature that you have been several times in the past 10 years. Was your question just rhetorical/sarcastic?

No, I wasn't being sarcastic - I was wondering if I missed something in the past or if things changes due to the "economy". I had a different situation this time than usual. We don't usually drive and people I was with were using the gym and wanted WiFi, which I don't often use and knew they were free the last time I did use them. I was wondering if all resorts were starting to charge for these things to make extra money.

I've found the Dolphin cheaper in the past, but if you start adding on all these extra fees, it may not be cheaper.

Need to know all the information so I can start planning my next trip.

That is what has kept us on property and away from other hotels and resorts, I don't want to pay for things I don't use. I think it's ridiculous to pay for extras at the Swan and Dolphin, as well as parking.

 

[Sue M]

Don't forget the free airport transportation. That's a huge savings not to have to pay for a cab or town car to and from airport.

 

[greeneggs1082]

For our upcoming trip this year (hopefully in September) I had looked at possibly staying at the S/D. Until I saw that you have to pay daily for parking. I've NEVER EVER had to pay for parking at a hotel (except one in Miami where we did Valet Parking, but the company DH was interviewing for down there paid for everything, including the Valet Parking and dinner and a few drinks, lol). Disney resort rooms may be a little more expensive than rooms close by, but in my opinion it is well worth it. Especially the transportation. I love not having to drive anywhere.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Oh yeah, I would not stay at S/D! I had also looked at those earlier this year but it would cost us more by renting a car and paying for parking or getting a cab from the airport when the Disney resorts have free transpotation to and from the airport. If you fly and stay at S/D, you either have to rent a car and pay for parking or take a cab and pay for that. If you stay at a Disney resort, use the ME to and from the airport and it's free!

 

[el_tigre]

For our upcoming trip this year (hopefully in September) I had looked at possibly staying at the S/D. Until I saw that you have to pay daily for parking. I've NEVER EVER had to pay for parking at a hotel (except one in Miami where we did Valet Parking, but the company DH was interviewing for down there paid for everything, including the Valet Parking and dinner and a few drinks, lol). Disney resort rooms may be a little more expensive than rooms close by, but in my opinion it is well worth it. Especially the transportation. I love not having to drive anywhere.

Really? Where are you staying that you don't have to pay for parking. Most four star properties in big cities or resort areas charge for parking. Disney is actually very unique in not having a separate parking charge (although Disney does figure parking and DME into every room rate - don't kid yourself into believing it's free).

Oh yeah, I would not stay at S/D! I had also looked at those earlier this year but it would cost us more by renting a car and paying for parking or getting a cab from the airport when the Disney resorts have free transpotation to and from the airport. If you fly and stay at S/D, you either have to rent a car and pay for parking or take a cab and pay for that. If you stay at a Disney resort, use the ME to and from the airport and it's free!

No offense, but I really don't understand this logic. Take a seven-night stay beginning on August 25 for example. For the general public, Disney is currently offering a discount that puts any of their Epcot resorts at about $250 per night. However, during those same dates, the Dolphin is offering a AAA rate of $127 per night. Even adding in the resort and parking fee, you're saving nearly $100 per night (you make back the loss of DME in just one day).

Don't get me wrong, a lot of hotel fees are annoying, unnecessary and should be built into the rate. But I find it's best to assess all costs together to come up with actual value, which is why the Swan and Dolphin usually fit best for me. The alternative would be to pay hundreds of dollars more for similar properties right next door or to pay the same amount for moderates that are in a much worse location and are lower level resorts overall, IMO.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Yes, I'm sure they build the fees in somewhere. It's all about personal preference and your budget. My husband and I have stayed of Disney property and rented a car, stayed on Disney property and just used Disney transportation. We liked that way better. No need to wait in line for rental and mess with that. Also, incase you don't know, they have added toll charges into car rental, even though you may barely use the car. Anyways, we find it much more convenient to park the car at the airport here and not drive and battle traffic for 8 days! It makes for a much more relaxing vacation, plus we're in love with Poly!! I say it's once a year vacation, you might as well go all out because next year is not guaranteed!

 

[DznyCrzy11]

If you can get a discount that is not offered to the general public, take it! That's your best deal. Our discount at the Poly is slightly more than what is offered to the general public. We could have received 40% off when we checked out last year if we booked our next trip but I said "oh, I think we'll take a year off". YEAH RIGHT! Boy am I kicking myself now for missing out on a much bigger discount!!!

 

[magrudersmakes3]

I know you pay for all the included stuff, but there is just something about Disney - they just do it right. We stayed at HRH at universal and while we had a great time, we kept comparing it to Disney. We have never minded paying a little bit more for something that is better.

 

[cjsm&d]

I know you pay for all the included stuff, but there is just something about Disney - they just do it right. We stayed at HRH at universal and while we had a great time, we kept comparing it to Disney. We have never minded paying a little bit more for something that is better.

It all depends on your idea of "a little" more. We stayed at Swan last year (Presidents Day week) on the Nurse's package and payed $159 per night for 6 nights. Add the tax $17.49 and a $10 charge that includes a large bottle of water in your room and WiFi and it comes to $186.49 per night.

The least expensive rooms at any of the EPCOT resorts ran from $325 to $385 per night. At that time, they were charging $12 for WiFi per day.

We had ME when we got there because we stayed our first two nights at CSR. The Mears limo back to the airport was $50, and I tipped the driver $10.

So if you average the EPCOT resort stay at $350, it's $2100. Swan cost $1179, and that included the extra charges. Even adding $70 for parking makes the difference more than "a little" for my family anyway.

 

[RMulieri]

Difference between Disney and universal is ..Disney charges you for those things, they just build it into the resort cost so you get the illusion of getting alot for your hotel $$.It IS NOT FREE.. Universal charges you a la carte.IF you don't use it , you don't pay for it.I got a deluxe club room at Portofino Bay at universal for $199 per night, no rental car and I used a towncar to get to and from the resort( which I do at Disney anyway because I don't like Magical Express).A club level room at beach club costed me $300+ per night.
Personally I found Universals Hotels much more deluxe for what I spent.In fact I am staying there next trip and driving to Disney for a few days.
FWIW- Lots of major hotels charge for parking. Universal is $17.99 a night for everyone. I have paid $30-45 a night in DC and NYC..Even hotels in Orlando proper charge.

 

[RMulieri]

Gratuity is automatically added for a party of 6 or more, and that is for everyone eating at Disney TS restaurants, not just resort guests.




That is what has kept us on property and away from other hotels and resorts, I don't want to pay for things I don't use. I think it's ridiculous to pay for extras at the Swan and Dolphin, as well as parking.

YOU DO pay for those things.Disney just builds it into the resort room cost and everyone pays it and doesn't question it whether yous use it or not..just another magical illusion.Nothing is free.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have stayed at the Swan, Dolphin, Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock...as well as BWV, BCV, VWL, OKW, Kidani, AKLVillas, Pop, POR, CR, BLT, Polynesian, AllStar Music. For my money?? I feel I'm getting the most value for my dollar at the US/IoA resorts. The rooms are much nicer than the vast majority of WDW resort rooms/villas. Yes, you have to pay for daily parking. But, the resorts are much nicer.
As far as the S/D go.....yep, that daily parking fee is there. But I don't have a car when there, so it isn't much of an issue. And yes, they do add that daily room fee which drives me nutty. But...I love the Dolphin. I love everything about it. I love the resort itself, I love the rooms, I love the toiletries, I love the pool, I love the food options.

When staying at a WDW resort you get a bit more 'magic'. BUT...that can all be relative. My idea of magic may very well be different than someone else's. Yes, I get to use DME, I get to charge back to my room account, I get to buy the dining plan. And there is Mickey magic around every corner. But, other than that, the rooms aren't 'all that and a bag of chips' so to speak.

But, I own DVC...so I primarily stay in villas. And I'm happy to do it. Obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn't have purchased DVC!!

There are times that I don't need to stay onsite. BUT....if I'm visiting US/IoA?? You bet I'm staying at one of their three resorts. Sure, I can get a cheaper room further away..but it's all about what's important to me. I like either walking or taking the boat to the parks there.
At WDW??? Sometimes I'll stay at the S/D...actually the Dolphin since that's my preference. Otherwise, I'll be at a WDW owned resort. And again....sure, I can find cheaper places to stay on International Dr...but I like the perks that come with staying onsite.