Why if there is no EE

[Plan Man]

We loved EE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get way to excited if I don't think my basic plan is going to work so EE always calmed me down. We would get in the park do most of the things we wanted to do and then float through the rest of the day and ride when the lines were short.

My question - Why pay the extra money to stay on Disney property without the EE???????????

We like to drive so we always have a car.

Someone please give me a really good reason --- I love Disney and want to stay on-site.

 

[Eeyore1954]

For me the loss of EE was no big deal. It meant my DW and I could sleep a little later rather than getting up with the chickens to get to the park.

Why stay on-site? For us, it's being able to stay in the middle of the magic. We always have a rental car -- mostly for convenience and for getting to/from DTD. We love being surrounded by Disney during our stay.

We stayed off-site one year and realized as you drive through the gate that the magic does end. You're back at your hotel, which may be nice, but it's just a hotel. There is something very different about a DISNEY hotel.

The wake-up calls from Mickey, the mousekeepers, going downstairs to a Disney breakfast... there are so many things that make staying on-site a wonderful experience.

 

[lizzie64]

1 word


MAGIC

 

[Eeyore2U]

Eeyore and Lizzie hit it on the head.

It is the immersive feeling we get, being knee deep in the magic.

 

[EUROPA]

Plan Man- many people used EE and many people did not it is a topic of hot debate around these parts. I myself am one of these people who miss it dearly. If you do a search for EE over the last 9 months or so you will see this topic has been brought up many times. In fact I find it strange that one poster has not added his "views" already but I'm sure it will come along soon....

Basically don't let anyone bully you into accepting what you feel is unacceptable. If losing EE was the breaking point for you then make sure you let some one at Disney know about it. Everybody has something that Disney offers that would drive him or her nuts if that were taken away from him or her. Some just don't like to admit it. Many things have slowly been eroded away from the Disney experience over the years while some great things have been added; however for some of us it seems the bad outweigh the good. I don't really think that any of us are at the point of not enjoying Disney or not going. At least not yet. Again I feel the best way to effect change at Disney is to speak your mind. Call, write, send an email, and talk to managers at the hotels or Guest Relations.

Hope you have a good trip. I know I will.

 

[callahanjulie10]

About 1 1/2 weeks ago I recieved a call from WDW responding to an e-mail I had sent expressing my wish for the return of EE. We ended up talking for about 45 minutes! She explained to me that a small segment of WDW guests actually used EE and the cost of opening up 1 hour early was unbelievable. They have been monitoring it for quite a while and found that it just wasn't economical. Of course- I told her that my family lOVED it and that we really missed it- a big reason that we stay on-site but not the only one. I told her that we had been at WDW at the time that they had cut out EE with no warning and seemed to try and replace it with Character Caravan. SHe responded that Character Caravan was in response to requests by vistors who wanted more characters without the lines or cost. She said that this option is really cost effective and that WDW could do that to please vistors. I asked if we could ever hope for return and she said she hated to say No but probably not. I would suggest writing and writing and writing and hopefully we can make them change their mind!!

 

[Eeyore2U]

Wasn't the OP looking for opinions and not a diatribe on what to do??

*Sheesh*

 

[ducklite]

We would use it once, maybe twice on a 7-10 day trip, so we do'nt really miss it.

That said, the reason we stay onsite is simple. Convenience. We really enjoy going to a park and leaving to go back to our room for any reason at all, without having to make a logistical plan to do so.

We spend over 50% of our park time at Epcot. We stay at an Epcot resort about 70% of the time. See the correlation?

We also like being able to partake of some of the finer liquid refreshments at Epcot, as well as with our afternoon and evening meals--oh, what the heck, we're on holiday! Mimosa's at breakfast anyone?? At any rate, it's nice to be able to do so without having to think about it. We're not getting behind the wheel at the end of the day.

Anne

 

[Bob NC]

I love Disney and want to stay on-site.

Then what's the question again?

My question - Why pay the extra money to stay on Disney property without the EE???????????

If you have stayed onsite before and liked it, then you know the reasons. If EE is the ONLY reason you like to stay onsite, then the answer is simple. Save the money and don't stay onsite.

We don't use EE and we always stay onsite. Of course, when we go to Vegas we don't stay in Henderson. When we go to Cape Cod we don't stay in Boston.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

For me, I used EE and I will miss it. DH won't though....he teased me about being up at 6:30 every morning on vacation...that's NOT a vacation to him. Anyway, it will be kinda nice to sleep in til 8am til the parks are open at 9am (will be up a little earlier for AK though as they open at 8). Disney has FP and if you know how to use it, it works out very well!! There are soooooo many people who don't have a clue about it, they think it's for resort guests only or guests who purchased "special" passes. Well then, let them think that, just more FP for me and DH.
So will I still stay onsite with EE gone....ABSOLUTELY !!! It just adds something special to me when leaving the parks and still going "home" to Disney. The transportation at the Allstars is also one of the best and that's another reason why I will continue to stay there until someone drops a couple grand into my lap and then I will look into the monorail resorts.

~~~Denise

 

[eeyore0062]

MAGIC, MAGIC, MAGIC!!!

You just can't find it off property!

We have been since EE was stopped, and it really didn't affect us in the least, and we always planned around it. In fact, we found that it was a more relaxing trip, and we enjoyed the little bit of extra time in the morning to either sleep, have a nice cup of coffee, or eat breakfast. Our moods were better, because we didn't feel as rushed.

We would never consider staying off property again!

 

[janetd]

Hi

The loss of EE still continues to bother me. We always used it and when the unctuous CM called and told me that hardly anyone else did I asked him "so how come there were hundreds of people in line with me. Who were they?" Disney is on the ropes financially and that's the reason. I'll return next May to YC concierge because I can't stand to stay any place tacky or cheap.

As for the magic? Well when I was at YC this April there were various conventions going on. I heard one businessman mumble into his cell phone "if someone wishes me a magical day one more time, I'll throw up". I understand what he means.

By the way, because of the hard times at disney, the YC, for example, has had to become more user friendly to conventioneers. One women who sets up meetings for her group said she couldn't believe how much better the cost and service was compared to a meeting she'd arranged ther 2 years previously at YC.

The business about EE still aggravates me. Jane

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by janetd
Hi

The loss of EE still continues to bother me. We always used it and when the unctuous CM called and told me that hardly anyone else did I asked him "so how come there were hundreds of people in line with me. Who were they?" Disney is on the ropes financially and that's the reason. I'll return next May to YC concierge because I can't stand to stay any place tacky or cheap.

As for the magic? Well when I was at YC this April there were various conventions going on. I heard one businessman mumble into his cell phone "if someone wishes me a magical day one more time, I'll throw up". I understand what he means.

By the way, because of the hard times at disney, the YC, for example, has had to become more user friendly to conventioneers. One women who sets up meetings for her group said she couldn't believe how much better the cost and service was compared to a meeting she'd arranged ther 2 years previously at YC.

The business about EE still aggravates me. Jane

Jane,

If you read enough of the EE post you'll see that it seems for every one that used it at least two didn't.

As far wishing someone a magical day, there a number of people that complain if they don't hear it.

You can't please everyone.

To your point about booking conventions, I would hope Disney would do what it takes to gain marketshare but that they would do it wisely.

 

[Nolcrest]

This is why my family stays onsite - even without use of EE.

Easy Bus transportation. We drive to Disney so my husband likes knowing that he can just park the car and forget about it for a week.

Charging privileges to room so we don't have to carry a large amount of cash with us. We pay our bill before we leave so our CC is not charged.

Picking a resort with a theme that strikes my fancy at that time.

Package delivery to room so we don't have to lug stuff around with us.

Leaving the parks at lunchtime to relax and swim in our pool and heading back to the parks in the evening.

Leaving the parks using their transportation to eat at other resorts.

Refillable mugs at our resort. It is very convenient for my family. I'd fill my mug everyday with lemonade and then go sit by the pool.

When you do go and start the car and you find the battery to be dead the Disney resort security is great about meeting you at your room and jump starting your car for you. And when it happens a second time and they come out in a torrential downpour and do it again, they are still quite friendly about it.

 

[cindyfan]

DITTO to everything Nolcrest said!! ......except maybe that dead battery thing!! LOL That never happened to us, so Knock on Wood that it doesn't! LOL

Anyway, it is all part of the Magic and being at DISNEY for the entire trip.
Even though we used EE a lot!!! and miss it a lot!!! This wasn't the only reason to stay on site.

We miss the longer hours more!!!
I am an early bird and if I get to the park at 9am, I feel like half the day is gone! And we love the parks in the evening, the lights and the cooler temps after the sun goes down. It was aweful this year with MGM and MK closing so much earlier.

Tiggerlover91......AK doesn't open til 9am now!!!! It is the worst schedule change out of all the changes they have made!!!

 

[eeyore0062]

I heard one businessman mumble into his cell phone "if someone wishes me a magical day one more time, I'll throw up". I understand what he means.

So what would be preferred... that they nod and grunt? Why go to Disney, which is supposed to be a magical time, if you don't want to hear good cheer coming out of the CM's mouths? There are plenty of other amusement park, or other resort destinations that will live up to the "nod and grunt" mentality, if not the "ignore you and maybe you will go away" mentality, if that is what is preferred!

 

[lovmy2girls]

I do understand about EE, we would have used it for our December Trip since our kids get up early and then come back mid day for a nap.

But staying on park is night and day a different atmosphere to just a regular hotel off property even if its HIFS. We plan on spending time away from the parks because of the kids needing a break, and not able to hit the parks commando style like we did before kids.
Everyone is different, some just use it for sleep and a shower, others use them as part of the vacation. Its up to you. What will your away time be, kids needing to go back etc.....

Onsite-Disney world
Offsite-Real World

Good luck and have a great trip

 

[cindyfan]

eeyore0062....give the guy a break!!!!
It says he was a "business man" on his cell phone...so obviously on a business trip!!! So obviously he did not pick the place for the convention (or whatever)!
And maybe he was just feeling jelous because he was stuck in meetings all day and everyone else was enjoying the MAGIC!!!!
If that were the case I would be rather crabby too!!!!!

 

[Lisa P.]

Here's why we've mostly switched to offsite stays...

Onsite is expensive and we expect more for our money. EE added something of tangible value, not an intangible "magic" that seemed more like marketing hype than anything else. Years ago, we never thought we would EVER think this. DH hits Disney overload earlier than the rest of our family. But we all agree that the food, souvenirs... nearly everything onsite is overpriced and subject to (as someone else recently posted) "constant shameless promotion" so that you will part with your money.

We prefer to drive to all the parks (except MK) even when we stayed onsite. We hated waiting in the loooong lines at the end of the day for those buses and boats... standing on concrete for up to 45 minutes to board a standing-only overcrowded, smelly bus along with a lot of overtired, smelly people (yes, we sometimes went during a hot time of year).

We've found it's just as easy to use a regular Visa debit card or Disney Dollars as it was to use a room charge. Front of the park pick-up is available for all guests' purchases and we didn't have to worry about the last day (no room delivery until next day after 2 PM).

As more offsite resorts are built, more are beautifully appointed and landscaped. Our vacations in offsite timeshare villas have afforded us a level of quality, amenities and space that we could not (or would not) afford onsite. The pool areas are gorgeous. The nearer resorts are as quick & easy to return to, for a midday rest or swim, as waiting for a Disney bus or boat.

We are still able to use our park hopper passes to visit onsite resort restaurants but we are just as likely to visit one of the nice offsite restaurants. We never got much use from the refillable mugs. We can use our full size kitchen to stock all our favorite beverages, snacks, desserts, fresh coffee, etc.

At a good offsite resort, security staff are just as likely to stop and offer assistance as they are onsite. We've experienced this offsite, when we were just waiting for friends to run back inside a moment and DH decided to check the coolant in our van. Security offered to help, though it wasn't needed.

One word of advice to anyone contemplating an offsite stay after only staying onsite for years... if you're going to do it, don't pick the cheesiest, cheapest, oldest Days Inn you can find, then act shocked that it doesn't compare to Disney. It doesn't compare to Vistana, Hilton HGVC, Fairfield or Marriott either. See what you were considering spending for onsite, drop your price a little bit and get the best place you can offsite for that money. Chances are... you may be very nicely surprised! We were!

 

[janetd]

Hi,


I am still amazed at how people leap to defend the "magic" and don't realize that there is "life" offsite. The canceling of EE continues to aggravate me. Some form of EE might have been retained even if on a rolling park basis.

Consider the hotels at Universal. They are just as lavish as the WDW deluxes and more reasonable.

Thanks for the wakeup call.

Also, the idea of refillable mugs as a defense of the "magic" is ludicrous to me. How can it possibly be hygienic?a family of 4 trudging through WDW with mugs. Have mugs will travel. Magic-I don't think so.

Sorry to ruffle any feathers, but this is just my opinion.
Jane