Why stay on property?

[SaintsManiac]

Same. Cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping is not my idea of vacation. I’ve done the offsite house thing several times (extended family trips where I wasn’t “the planner”) and while the space is nice, I hate all the things that come with being in a house.

The only reason we do a store run is for beer, milk, coffee and snacks for the room. I have a picky eater, so I need to make sure she’s set. If we don’t have a car we order from Amazon.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

What I am most curious about is the apparent lack of use of Airbnb by Disney goers. Even discussions about staying off-site on this forum only seem to speak of staying at off-site hotels and resorts. We are staying 6 nights at a 3 bedroom, 2500 square foot luxury townhouse with private pool that is 3 miles from the parks for $1400. I guess I should be glad that hotels are still a big thing for most people as it keeps the competition for space down, but my family moved to private house/condo rentals years ago across the world and honestly I get claustrophobic even thinking about standard sized hotel rooms. Being stuck in one for a week with even just my spouse is just not workable, let alone my 2 children as well. Even the deluxe and DLC family suites are tiny compared to an off-site condo. There are literally hundreds of amazing private rentals in the Orlando area that cost a fraction of a standard resort room with 10x the room and amazing property ameneties. My kids each get their own room that is full of Disney and Star Wars bling, we get to cook breakfast and dinner in a full kitchen every day. No amount of theming is worth thousands of dollars for a place you sleep 80% of the time that forces you to eat out 3 meals a day at park prices. A box of cereal costs $4 and a pasta dinner for 4 can be made for $10. I encourage everyone to break the hotel habit ASAP, its just a better way to travel.

That is kind of the whole point of this thread. Some people would prefer the Disney bubble to staying off site. All the things you get at a WDW resort you can't get at an AirBnB. Convenience to parks, theming, service, pools, etc. People who love staying on property do so for so many reasons. Me and my friends take a trip to a new destination city every year and stay at AirBnB's each time. They're nice. But I, personally, would never choose that over an onsite WDW resort.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

The only reason we do a store run is for beer, milk, coffee and snacks for the room. I have a picky eater, so I need to make sure she’s set. If we don’t have a car we order from Amazon.

Yes! We rarely have a car but always do a small grocery order for necessities. Otherwise I’m perfectly happy eating out

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I

It’s good that you found what works for you, but I will not do dishes and cook on my vacation to Disney. Especially not after this long pandemic of eating at home.

I looked at VRBO before booking the Swan. It was tempting, but I want to be in the bubble.

I did the VRBO thing twice for beach trips last spring/early summer. One worked out well, one turned out to have very misleading reviews/pictures and we came to the conclusion the reviews were possibly fake/planted. Both had very inflexible cancellation terms and required full or mostly full payment up front - hard pills to swallow during a pandemic.

Sure it had a ton of value in terms of what you get in space, our own pool, etc, but the huge downside of limited flexibility and it being more difficult to really know the quality of the accommodations we were getting for our $ weigh heavily on our opinion of the experience.

It really reminded me of how much we appreciate and value the relative transparency of a Disney resort. They are so well documented across every corner of the internet, you can get a pretty good idea of exactly what you’re getting into.

Maybe Airbnb has better flexibility and more quality reviews, I’ve never used them.

But yeah, I’m with you - I know it’s a great option for many but a house just doesn’t have much appeal for us when we’re in WDW mode.

 

[Farro]

I

I did the VRBO thing twice for beach trips last spring/early summer. One worked out well, one turned out to have very misleading reviews/pictures and we came to the conclusion the reviews were possibly fake/planted. Both had very inflexible cancellation terms and required full or mostly full payment up front - hard pills to swallow during a pandemic.

Sure it had a ton of value in terms of what you get in space, our own pool, etc, but the huge downside of limited flexibility and it being more difficult to really know the quality of the accommodations we were getting for our $ weigh heavily on our opinion of the experience.

It really reminded me of how much we appreciate and value the relative transparency of a Disney resort. They are so well documented across every corner of the internet, you can get a pretty good idea of exactly what you’re getting into.

Maybe Airbnb has better flexibility and more quality reviews, I’ve never used them.

But yeah, I’m with you - I know it’s a great option for many but a house just doesn’t have much appeal for us when we’re in WDW mode.

I love hotels. LOVE THEM. I love the lobbies, the gift shops, the restaurants, the lounges, the pool...all of it.
Everywhere we travel, the hotel is the single most important aspect of the trip.

I know a lot of people love Airbnb, but we will never travel that way. I have no desire to stay in a house or condo. That is why I don't even really want to stay in places with kitchens, not my thing.

....although I wouldn't turn down a preferred view studio or standard at Riviera if anyone is listening....

 

[WEDWDW]

I love hotels. LOVE THEM. I love the lobbies, the gift shops, the restaurants, the lounges, the pool...all of it.
Everywhere we travel, the hotel is the single most important aspect of the trip.

I know a lot of people love Airbnb, but we will never travel that way. I have no desire to stay in a house or condo. That is why I don't even really want to stay in places with kitchens, not my thing.

....although I wouldn't turn down a preferred view studio or standard at Riviera if anyone is listening....

Same here!

And I love daily Housekeeping!

Coming back to a cleaned room every day is such a break from daily life-shall I say it is MAGICAL!

 

[Moliphino]

I love hotels. LOVE THEM. I love the lobbies, the gift shops, the restaurants, the lounges, the pool...all of it.
Everywhere we travel, the hotel is the single most important aspect of the trip.

I know a lot of people love Airbnb, but we will never travel that way. I have no desire to stay in a house or condo. That is why I don't even really want to stay in places with kitchens, not my thing.

....although I wouldn't turn down a preferred view studio or standard at Riviera if anyone is listening....

This is exactly what I was going to say. It doesn't quite feel like vacation if I'm not in a hotel. I don't want to cook, do laundry, or clean on vacation.

Also, I feel like I'm wasting time if I'm at the hotel during the day. I should be out DOING things.

 

[Orion Nebula]

The only reason we do a store run is for beer, milk, coffee and snacks for the room. I have a picky eater, so I need to make sure she’s set. If we don’t have a car we order from Amazon.

I think I am going for the first time order in some groceries during the next trip. I really don't feel like spending a massive amount poolside for a margarita or beer(s). Those prices are so insane...

 

[SaintsManiac]

I think I am going for the first time order in some groceries during the next trip. I really don't feel like spending a massive amount poolside for a margarita or beer(s). Those prices are so insane...

Yeah the prices are crazy. My husband gets a few craft beers around the parks that he can't get elsewhere, but he likes to pick up local FL beers at Publix or online for the room.

 

[skeeter31]

Well there is some sort of logic to it.

Guest would rather have the roaches out in the hall instead of in their rooms. So this is kind of a reverse Tragedy of the Commons.

With your own house it would be different since you own(the room and hallway) and live in it the whole time. With the resorts, the guest are staying in the rooms for a short period of time and then will never be back/or won't be back for a long time.

It’s not because of roaches, it’s a very simple reason why people are leaving their trash in the hallways, they’re lazy. We’ve stayed on property now 6 times since reopening and have been bringing in takeout food each night for dinner. When we‘re done, I pack it up in the to go bag it came in and walk it to the nearest outdoor garbage can. If everyone would do that it would solve the problem. But people are too lazy and think, well it’s out of my room so I’m good. We don’t want it in the garbage in our room as we don’t want the food smell for the rest of the night, so we put it in one of the cans that are regularly emptied by maintenance staff. Unfortunately, people can be very disgusting, and just think, well it’s out of my room so out of sight, out of mind.

 

[Farro]

It’s not because of roaches, it’s a very simple reason why people are leaving their trash in the hallways, they’re lazy. We’ve stayed on property now 6 times since reopening and have been bringing in takeout food each night for dinner. When we‘re done, I pack it up in the to go bag it came in and walk it to the nearest outdoor garbage can. If everyone would do that it would solve the problem. But people are too lazy and think, well it’s out of my room so I’m good. We don’t want it in the garbage in our room as we don’t want the food smell for the rest of the night, so we put it in one of the cans that are regularly emptied by maintenance staff. Unfortunately, people can be very disgusting, and just think, well it’s out of my room so out of sight, out of mind.

This, exactly.

Who would think to leave bags of their garbage - with food in it! - in a hallway for someone to come by and pick up???

Gross. Walk to the trash can.

 

[WEDWDW]

This, exactly.

Who would think to leave bags of their garbage - with food in it! - in a hallway for someone to come by and pick up???

Gross. Walk to the trash can.

I bet this Pop Century Guest was really proud of their room trash removal effort!lol

Nice job guys!lol

 

[DVCSunDevil]

I think I am going for the first time order in some groceries during the next trip. I really don't feel like spending a massive amount poolside for a margarita or beer(s). Those prices are so insane...

Just curious, can you bring store bought beer down to the resort pool? I honestly never tried. I am assuming you could pour it into a cup and be OK, but I know other non WDW resorts have their own cups and unique beer cans which helps them identify non-resort purchased beverages. I can't see WDW resorts being that over the top, but you never know.

 

[Orion Nebula]

Just curious, can you bring store bought beer down to the resort pool? I honestly never tried. I am assuming you could pour it into a cup and be OK, but I know other non WDW resorts have their own cups and unique beer cans which helps them identify non-resort purchased beverages. I can't see WDW resorts being that over the top, but you never know.

Yes you can as long as nothing is in a glass bottle. And just as anything else you have to keep it at your table. I do plan on mixing up margarita's though and putting them in an insulated cup.

That really is horrible that some resorts go as far as to get "special" cans to monitor and force guests to pay 10.00 for a beer.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I bet this Pop Century Guest was really proud of their room trash removal effort!lol

Nice job guys!lol

View attachment 552858

At least they put it in a trash can
Seems like the resorts need to put out more trash cans if this is really becoming an issue.

 

[skeeter31]

At least they put it in a trash can
Seems like the resorts need to put out more trash cans if this is really becoming an issue.

There are plenty of garbage cans, people just need to walk outside the building to get to them. The tiny cans by elevators aren’t made for that amount of trash. The bigger, rectangle cans on the grounds of the resorts are able to handle the trash. People just need to walk a bit further.

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Yes you can as long as nothing is in a glass bottle. And just as anything else you have to keep it at your table. I do plan on mixing up margarita's though and putting them in an insulated cup.

That really is horrible that some resorts go as far as to get "special" cans to monitor and force guests to pay 10.00 for a beer.

I know, right?!?! That hasn't been the case at WDW, but we were at a resort in California that did that. It prevented you from taking a store bought beer can to the pool because they could see that you didn't buy it there. And the pool bar had their own cups, so all drinks had to be in those cups. The workaround was to save a resort cup and then go to your room and pour store bought beers into it. Ridiculous.

 

[Average Joes]

Just curious, can you bring store bought beer down to the resort pool? I honestly never tried. I am assuming you could pour it into a cup and be OK, but I know other non WDW resorts have their own cups and unique beer cans which helps them identify non-resort purchased beverages. I can't see WDW resorts being that over the top, but you never know.

We bring a small soft cooler to the pool for the beer and hard liquor. Can and plastic. Never had an issue and I drink it out of the can. I am pretty cheap on certain things so if I want a rare frozen drink I will get it non-alcoholic and add the liquor. About 1/2 the price. My wife won't do that for some reason...

 

[DVCSunDevil]

We bring a small soft cooler to the pool for the beer and hard liquor. Can and plastic. Never had an issue and I drink it out of the can. I am pretty cheap on certain things so if I want a rare frozen drink I will get it non-alcoholic and add the liquor. About 1/2 the price. My wife won't do that for some reason...

I am the same with regards to beer and booze. We are going in April and our van service that takes us to/from the airport will stop at a grocery store on the way to the resort. We are going to load up on the essentials, which OBVIOUSLY includes the alcohol. LOL. But if I want the rare frozen drink, I have the same thought process as your wife. I will just pay for the frozen drink. But I will be making my bourbons in the room.

 

[disneyseniors]

Well, thankfully Poly is currently getting a much needed refurb so hopefully that part of the equation is improving. Right now the trash in the hallway is there because rooms are only being cleaned at most every other day, and with limited seating at QS a lot of people take the food back to their room. Unforutnately those trashcans are just too tiny, and after two days we were overflowing all of our cans and that was with limited use in the room. Thankfully they put all the bood in big paper bags now, everything is neat and tidy, and you can just set those out. I've been three times now, one trip doing a split stay, and they were really good about removing trash pretty promptly. However, I've been to a lot of hotels and every single one had trays in the halls (especially after breakfast) so it's not uniquely Disney. People just don't want them in their rooms junking it up when there is already limited space, but how Disney approaches cleaning it up is a completely different issue. I've never experienced trays out for days, but I haven't stayed at Poly either so maybe it's a resort specific issue.

I'm glad they are getting a refurb. But the pandemic is just an excuse, IMO. They have housekeepers, even other personal to pitch in, and pick up the dirty trays in the hall.
When we were there 8 years ago, there was no pandemic and No reason not to do their jobs and pick up trays. I think there is no excuse for being dirty.