Why stay on property?

[Lashed34]

If you can’t get the Florida resident rate there are many times all stars/pop is very similarly priced to swan/dolphin. And that would be with the resort fee of $35 a night.

Looking at 29th November for 2 weeks this year, Pop Century is £1546 per adult, Swan is £2061 ^ Dolphin is £1998, which is a big difference in cost.

 

[kylenne]

A debate seems angry I guess, good to know. Trust me, I don’t care at all how you vacation I just like giving a counterpoint.

"Keep paying for your magic" isn't a debate counterpoint, it's catty and judgmental.

I live in one of the major tourist capitals of the world with an endless amount of things to do. So I can't find a compelling reason for me to fly to Florida to stay at a regular chain hotel and do regular City Vacation Things...if that was my goal I would honestly pick Key West or Miami before Orlando. And I'm really not interested in the other area theme parks, as someone that generally doesn't like extreme rollercoasters (RRNC is the only upside down one I've ever done and ever will) and gets motion sick on many screen based rides. If I just want to hit the beach, I can visit my relatives in other parts of FL for basically free.

FTR, I'm the first to say that on site stays are not for everyone, especially for people coming with very large families. My last boss always goes on big extended family/multigenerational trips and rents a vacation home. It makes sense for her and her family. Like others have said, on site stays have never especially made financial sense for most guests if cost is your primary concern. It has pretty much always been cheaper to stay offsite, and on our family trips growing up we stayed at the Dolphin most of the time. And I don't look down on people who choose to stay offsite either! You do you, there's many fun ways to do Disney. But there are many more aspects to a vacation besides cost for some people. You may not find those arguments compelling for the way you like to travel--heck you might even find them stupid! But I promise lot of us do value what you're being so dismissive about. As an out of state passholder who goes fairly often, my trips started being more and more about the resort experience and less about rides. We were never a rope drop to fireworks family when I was growing up anyway, we liked to take frequent breaks and enjoy the resort. Me and my gf are the type of people who will get dole whips and just ride resort boats for an hour lol. As a disabled adult with brain "stuff" going on I value the resort experience even more. And as a lady who travels either solo or with another lady, being on site I just plain feel safer especially with as late as we like to stay out. It is absolutely worth paying the premium to me for proximity and peace of mind. It's never been about the perks to me, they were just a bonus.

Again...everyone wants different things out of trips. There is no right or wrong answer, these things are entirely subjective and people have to make those decisions for themselves.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

I'm looking at the Dolphin, but the dang resort fees and parking fees add up. I might have another look at it, especially if Disney doesn't put out a decent discount. I think you can get a AAA discount at Dolphin, right?

The resort fee is the kicker. It usually ends up being about $200 a night which is alot compared to some rates you can get at the Disney Springs EMH resort hotels.

There was a time where you could snag Swolphin for $129 out the door and that wasn't bad when it was the only offsite with EMH.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

If I had unlimited money I would stay on site every time.

 

[ucf_knight]

I'm looking at the Dolphin, but the dang resort fees and parking fees add up. I might have another look at it, especially if Disney doesn't put out a decent discount. I think you can get a AAA discount at Dolphin, right?

Aaa offers a discount. Also can pay for the room with credit card points. The parking fees to me are a wash since the other resorts charge for it as well. Even with the resort fee it’s a deluxe resort at a mod price with a great location.

 

[Pixie Dusted Snow]

If you don't see the value then don't.

 

[kylenne]

I'm looking at the Dolphin, but the dang resort fees and parking fees add up. I might have another look at it, especially if Disney doesn't put out a decent discount. I think you can get a AAA discount at Dolphin, right?

I grew up staying at the Dolphin a lot and my mom always booked those trips through Costco packages...back in the day they used to have the fees waived but I think nowadays they will include gift cards that basically cover it. If you're looking to rent a car and willing to go through a third party at this time it's worth taking a look because those packages usually include cars at a good price.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I grew up staying at the Dolphin a lot and my mom always booked those trips through Costco packages...back in the day they used to have the fees waived but I think nowadays they will include gift cards that basically cover it. If you're looking to rent a car and willing to go through a third party at this time it's worth taking a look because those packages usually include cars at a good price.

We are driving in, so paying for parking no matter where we are. I’m still going to look at the Costco deal!

 

[SaintsManiac]

The resort fee is the kicker. It usually ends up being about $200 a night which is alot compared to some rates you can get at the Disney Springs EMH resort hotels.

There was a time where you could snag Swolphin for $129 out the door and that wasn't bad when it was the only offsite with EMH.

Thanksgiving week is looking like $400 a night at Swan when you include all the fees. I am looking at balcony resort view, too. So it’s better than Beach Club.

Definitely something to consider!

 

[jeffmw]

This is a great thread. It's good to know so many others splurge for onsite for the same reasons.

When people say 'Disney Bubble' I picture obsessive Disney fans with customized matching vacation t-shirts (although I know this is becoming more common these days ), Tinkerbelle tattoos, and floor-to-ceiling Mickey Mouse paraphernalia in their living rooms. Nothing against those people at all -- I know there are plenty here and I am in no way in position to judge anyone for their hobbies and interests -- but when people talk of the 'bubble' it's easy to think, 'that's not really me.'

We stay onsite for the exact reasons others are describing. The resorts are so nice and so tied in with the overall theming and feel of the vacation. Port Orleans is a great example. It's a moderate resort with more impressive scenery and vibe than any luxury hotel I've ever stayed. It's stunning how immersive it is. But I can totally understand how someone more specifically interested in the parks would find it insane to pay $300/night for a motel room.

As others are saying, the reasons for staying on site are there. It's just a question of how much they can push the cost and reduce perks before it crosses the line. I'm planning a trip for October. I looked at Universal's website and resorts today. I've never done that before today.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

We are driving in, so paying for parking no matter where we are. I’m still going to look at the Costco deal!

There are alot of places that have free parking. The Homewood Suites properties at Sea World and Lake Buena Vista. Quality in at the Parks on West Irlo. Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inns., etc, etc.

 

[Timandalicia]

Whether it's eating breakfast or hanging out at the pool, there is that feeling you share with the other guests and even cast. It’s something I can't explain... gregariousness maybe? camaraderie? If you know what I'm talking about, you know what I'm talking about. It only happens when we stay onsite. I love that feeling.

 

[Lashed34]

There's enough planning to do when staying on property - so the thought of staying off site, with added planning & travelling would not be for us.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

As others are saying, the reasons for staying on site are there. It's just a question of how much they can push the cost and reduce perks before it crosses the line. I'm planning a trip for October. I looked at Universal's website and resorts today. I've never done that before today.

It's basically the same cockiness and arrogance by disney to take their customers for granted that they displayed in their negotiations with JK Rowling for Harry Potter.

This led to Universal acquiring Harry Potterland and becoming a legitimate theme park competitor. And in the long run it cost Disney more because now they had to spend money to try to create equivalent lands with Avatar and Star Wars.

 

[Lashed34]

It's basically the same cockiness and arrogance by disney to take their customers for granted that they displayed in their negotiations with JK Rowling for Harry Potter.

This led to Universal acquiring Harry Potterland and becoming a legitimate theme park competitor. And in the long run it cost Disney more because now they had to spend money to try to create equivalent lands with Avatar and Star Wars.

It's tough to imagine The Wizarding World being any better than it is too. Universal really took the idea and created something incredible. Disney did well with Avatar & Star Wars, but they're not in the same league IMO and Universal can still expand HP if they wanted to.

 

[kylenne]

This is a great thread. It's good to know so many others splurge for onsite for the same reasons.

When people say 'Disney Bubble' I picture obsessive Disney fans with customized matching vacation t-shirts (although I know this is becoming more common these days ), Tinkerbelle tattoos, and floor-to-ceiling Mickey Mouse paraphernalia in their living rooms. Nothing against those people at all -- I know there are plenty here and I am in no way in position to judge anyone for their hobbies and interests -- but when people talk of the 'bubble' it's easy to think, 'that's not really me.'

We stay onsite for the exact reasons others are describing. The resorts are so nice and so tied in with the overall theming and feel of the vacation. Port Orleans is a great example. It's a moderate resort with more impressive scenery and vibe than any luxury hotel I've ever stayed. It's stunning how immersive it is. But I can totally understand how someone more specifically interested in the parks would find it insane to pay $300/night for a motel room.

As others are saying, the reasons for staying on site are there. It's just a question of how much they can push the cost and reduce perks before it crosses the line. I'm planning a trip for October. I looked at Universal's website and resorts today. I've never done that before today.

I get that lol! For all I joke about being a Childless Millennial(tm) and a parks obsessive we don't do matching shirts and all that...when I talk about the "bubble" what I really mean is the immersion factor and the escapism. Passing through the big gate and just leaving the outside world behind. Theming is the biggest part of that to me. I don't mean in your face Mickey everywhere either, though some people really dig that. I mean things like the smells in the lobby, the cast uniforms, resort TV, etc. Even the H20 products, which I use at home as a little pick me up on bad brain days. There's a lot of little intangibles about the resorts that add up to being a big part of the vacation to me. What someone said before about offsite feeling like there's a party going on and you're not invited is the most perfect way to put it. I fully understand that some may scoff and roll their eyes at that, and that's valid. But so much of why many of us love Disney are those very same intangibles, the emotional component, whether it's nostalgia or other things. When I look back on some of the best times I've had there, it's not so much rides as silly little things like how me and my gf would call out monorail colors whenever they zipped by our balcony at the Poly.

Everyone's line in the sand is going to be different. I don't begrudge people who feel differently and don't see the value. But I wouldn't stay offsite again if it were free tbh. It has that much of a tangible impact on my vacation.

 

[Farro]

I don't know, is Universal really that much cheaper? It would cost more for my dates to stay at Royal Pacific than to stay at Gran Destino.

 

[kylenne]

I have a post above, but I feel I have more to say. Come to think of it, I always have more to say. Whether it's eating breakfast or hanging out at the pool, there is that feeling of something I can't explain... gregariousness maybe? camaraderie? If you know what I'm talking about, you know what I'm talking about. It only happens when we stay onsite. I love that feeling.

I get it! It really feels like you're with your "people" lol. The only thing I can really compare it to is being on cruises. My last trip, Nov 2019 I spent a good part of one day just hanging out in the adults only hot tub at BC chatting with other guests. It was so much fun.

 

[WorldOfPooh]

I don't know, is Universal really that much cheaper? It would cost more for my dates to stay at Royal Pacific than to stay at Gran Destino.

Annual Pass is around $300-$350.

 

[Lashed34]

I don't know, is Universal really that much cheaper? It would cost more for my dates to stay at Royal Pacific than to stay at Gran Destino.

The value hotels are cheaper at Universal. The deluxe are slightly less BUT you get the free express pass with those 3 hotels which is a huge benefit. You also get the extra hour or so in the parks.