Why stay on site anymore?

[Kisby]

I'm very disappointed that Disney has dropped early entry and won't have e-nights in August when we will be there.

I'm starting to wonder what the advantages are of staying on Disney property? Obviously, proximity is an advantage, but am I paying an extra $100 per night just for that?

 

[AF Brenda]

Has Disney posted somewhere that there won't be E-nights in August? I know that E-nights usually don't come out until a month or so before, so there still might be a chance.

For us, it is location, location, location. It is invaluable to me to be able to hop on a bus and go back to the room for a mid-day break and swim at the resort. Also, I've stayed in many hotels, and I have yet to find one that matches Disney's service.

Depending on when you are going in August, you might be able to get a rate that won't put you at $100/night over off-site.

Good luck!

 

[ukcatfan]

Read my post on this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174845 about my experience earlier this month at an offsite hotel. What happened to me is why I will not stay offsite again.

 

[daannzzz]

I hardly ever did Early entry and never did E ride nights. For us the reason to stay on Property is the themed resorts and proximity. I love the Disney hotels. It is the Disney atmosphere and fun that draws us.

 

[chancellor]

E-nights seem to have come back with a vengeance. The official/unofficial word for May is no less than 8 e-nights (that's more than usual). I can't believe that there won't be any in August, which is still summer season and one of the busier times of the year.

There are still a million reasons to stay on site. Location (especially with small kids who need afternoon naps), theming of the hotels, charging everything in the parks to your room, free parking, free transportation, the list goes on and on. Plus, if you work the discount codes, it's not that much more than staying offsite.

 

[ducklite]

I'm another who hardly ever did early entry, and never did E-Nights. I prefer to take a WDW as a trip to a wonderful resort that happens to have theme parks as well. We don't spend every waking moment at a theme park. instead we spend time enjoying the other amenities offered, from the pools, to the sports and recreation, to just quiet time reading or relaxing.

We prefer to stay at the Epcot resorts, and tend to wander in and out a couple times a day. You simply can't do that when staying off-site.

It actually seems like the people who used EE are far outnumbered by those that didn't as I read through the posts on these boards. There's a thread about it on the DVC board, and the majority said they never or seldom used it.

It might be logical to reinstate EE one-two days a week at theMK (not weekend days) and one day at week at MGM, and be religious about checking for resort ID's on anyone they admit early. That would include no early PS if not staying on site.

If they want to offer an incentive to people to stay onsite, perhaps they need to offer advanced PS advantages to WDW resort guests. In other words, allow those booked at a WDW resort to call 90 days in advance for Cindy's. It wouldn't cost them anything, and it certainly wouldn't make an impact in PS's for the popular eateries, they're going to book up regardless of who gets the PS. It would just give an incentive to stay on property.

Anne

 

[Kisby]

Thanks for the comments. I guess I'm just frustrated about the ending of early entry for WDW guests. I was looking forward to it.

We have reservations for CSR for 6 days and plan to keep them.

 

[AF Brenda]

CSR is a great choice!! We absolutely loved it when we were there last week, and will definitely be returning. Also, I would keep a sharp eye out at mousesavers.com for discounts later on.

 

[Kisby]

Can I use mousesavers? I booked our trip through AAA.

 

[Kisby]

Oops. I messed up my signature, but have now corrected it.

 

[eller]

Since we fly and have 5 in our family, it is easier (and cheaper in the long run) to stay on site. If we are renting a car anyway, because we are doing something else, then it wouldn't matter as much.

Everytime we think about staying off site, we stop and say, "But that will increase our transportation budget." When AP rates are good, or they have good codes it works out for us to be less expensive to stay on site. We would really rather stay on site. We have a list of hotels that we have not stayed in and want to stay in. Right now our list is at 4 hotels. It's fun to try to stay at all the Disney hotels. After our next trip, we should be down to only two more to go! It just depends on the rates that come out for December.

The benefits to staying on site, at least to us, out way any savings to stay off site.

Lori

5/1997 Off site, 2/2000 Off site, 2/2001 Poly, 10/2000 POFQ, AKL & Magic, 1/2002 ASMo & AKL, 12/2002 CSR & CR

 

[AF Brenda]

Keep checking mousesavers, and if a discount comes up there for your dates, contact your travel agent, and get them to make the change. You can't make the change yourself, should the need arise, since a travel agent booked for you.

 

[Traveliz]

I am an old timer here as when I first starting going to Disney there was no early entry at all! And then it went to MK I believe it was two days a week. Anyway we are also ones who rarely used EE - when we traveled with younger children (nieces and nephews) we might one morning to hit Fantasyland and get the adults on Space Mtn early; but honestly we don't miss EE.

E nights have been around a few years but not forever. I enjoy them but the elimination of one or the other of these items doesn't keep me from staying on site.

I like moving in so to speak. Unpacking my bags and living at DisneyWorld for a week. I venture off property to do some shopping and maybe for one meal (at a chain we no longer have) but I definitely notice the increase in traffic and light and noise levels. Oh sure Disney traffic can be bad but they do a great job of traffic flow. There are no neon signs beckoning me for a 2.99 breakfast. I just like that it feels (for me anyway) calmer on site.

So anyway for me we will still be onsite and for now won't be writing any letters complaining about lack of perks.

Liz

 

[Dodie]

See signature, below.

Have NEVER done early entry and only did an e-ticket night once...

ALWAYS stay onsite.

Never considered that those were the only two reasons to do so. It's the proximity, the atmosphere, the transportation, being totally enveloped in the Disney experience 24/7.

 

[Humpbacks1962]

We always used ee mornings, never skipped a park even by a minute late. I know for a fact that when they surveyed guests they did not ask for *my* opinion about ee mornings!

This will be our first vacation onsite without ee mornings, and I am not sure about how I'll feel. I already feel unappreciated because they took so much away, even from AP perks. But since I do not like to rent a car and drive around (been there, done that) I prefer to ride Disney buses. Don't tell me a word about offsite transportation to and from those budget hotels, I despise it.

The mere thought of driving to MK, getting in a line to catch the tram, getting in another one to catch the monorail, getting in another one to get to the gate and be a part of those herds boarding the monorails and then boarding the trams at exit times is overwhelming to me.

However, this is the first time that we'll split our vacation and spend time staying at a Universal resort, so theirs are perks that I am willing to go the extra mile for.

Wanda

 

[Bob NC]

We never used EE much, and have only been to one E-night.

We like to stay onsite because of the ease of transportation, and the themed resorts.

If EE had been very popular, ie: most people at Disney Resorts attending.......Then there wouldn't have been an advantage because the EE attractions would have been full. I think it wasn't utilized as much as most people think.

 

[DisneyMim]

Traveliz took the words right out of my mouth!!

The decision to stay offsite or onsite is a very personal thing. Always has been. There are as many different reasons for both as there are people who love Disney. HOWEVER, I always get the feeling when I read these boards that people think EE has always been there. Actually it is a new thing. We never used it. Staying onsite has been the preference of many people since WDW began. I can remember when people booked the Poly 2 years in advance. And there was no EE back then. I realize that to many people the elimination of EE was a real disappointment, but to many of us it doesn't matter at all. We bought into DVC in 1991 and there was no EE at that time. Didn't stop us from wanting 50 more years of WDW vacations!!! LOL!!! I just wanted to get another opinion in here.

That being said, there are many many wonderful offsite hotels now around Disney. Each person has to make the decision based on what is right for them. For us, we can and do stay in Hyatts, etc. on our other vacations. When I'm in Disney I want Disney 24/7. Not everyone does and that is how it should be. After all that's why there has been so much hotel construction around the Orlando area.

 

[Boots]

My family stays solely on site for the transportation and to constantly be surrounded by the Disney magic.

 

[gatormouse]

Ditto Boots! We would sleep in a tent if it's on Disney property! The transportation and the magic are all we need to have a great time. Knowing I can lock up the car and not have to use it again until we leave is perk enough for us!

 

[schwaa]

Why stay on site anymore?

Because it's Disneyworld!