No more incentives left for staying at Disney Hotels.

mf1972

mf1972

Well-Known Member
i’m planning on surprising my wife by booking a deluxe for our 25th anniversary. will probably rent dvc since that seems to be the cheaper route.
 
N

NightGuardianAngel

Member
Original Poster
To add, the food at Disney is your gourmet version of elementary school cafeteria style and flavor for the price of fine dining in Las Vegas.

“Extra Magic Hours” is get your dairy air out of bed extremely early for an Extra Magic 30 Minutes and feel exhausted around 5:00PM from getting up early (at least according to me).
 
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JAN J

JAN J

Active Member
momandmousefan said:
Ha..…you’ve had coffee issues too?
Yeah, our last trip when we had to constantly beg for necessities like coffee, towels, or other appropriate DVC room amenities, and put up with a fire alarm going off for over an hour three days in a row clinched it for us. The busses have gotten so terrible we found ourself driving to MK and AK more and more. Parks were extraordinarily dirty, and of course lines were long, but the worst part is you can tell now that no one cares at all.
And we tried…we really tried. We have always been look on the bright side type of people, very flexible, and Disney apologists / marketers for years. We were those people always telling others how awesome it was to have everything in on place and how much there was to do and how beautiful and convenient the resorts were and how nice the cast members were. But not anymore. It started to go downhill BEFORE the pandemic and we’re not seeing it look like there will be improvement anytime soon.
Over 40 years of visiting the parks 1-3 weeks a year, 7 years of DVC, decades of annual passes, we sold our DVC recently and let the passes lapse. It’s a little heart-breaking to see years of memories getting tarnished by whatever the heck is going on now so we won’t be back for awhile.
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That was a very real and accurate description of how so many of us feel right now...

Back when I lived in my home country in 2011 I took my then GF (now wife) to WDW for 23 DAYS (because she had to like it 😁). And the few days we spent off property (to hit Uni, Aquatica, SW and BG) really felt out of place. It was so worth it: stayed at Coronado Springs (the entire stay), got us APs since it was worth for the duration of our trip (they were $550+tax/each), had all the amazing benefits that made it worth it (free parking, bus transportation, 3 hours of Extra Magic Hours, etc). We were young but since we still lived with our parents I managed to save $10k and she saved some $$ as well, had an absolute blast.

Went again in 2013 and 2016 (each one harder the previous one to save money for), still enjoyed some of the perks (2013 was on-property, 2016 off but by then EMH was no more so the value was killed for me), but the nickel-and-diming was becoming ever more apparent. And just reading about everything Disney did these last few years, removing some perks and charging for others... just heartbreaking.

Fast forward to 2021, we now live in the US, we go down to Florida and... no tickets, no dining reservations in restaurants, NOTHING (it was still the pandemic but still). Go to Uni, have an amazing time (place just hasn't stopped improving, had not seen Diagon Alley yet and was really amazed by it). Gone are the days where going to Uni was "good but not like Disney". And even trying to score APs and paying for on-site resort is now prohibitive.

My dad will turn 70 next year and I will take him to Disneyland. I went there in 2019 for Christmas (right before COVID) and loved it: parks were much less crowded so I was able to repeat rides multiple times, food was good (QS not really but we did a couple Table Services and these were great). Hopefully it will the same way, otherwise DL will be scratched off my holiday list. And my wife wants to take the kids to WDW in 2024, I am having her really convince me that this is a good idea. I will probably cave and do it. But depending on how it goes (crowds and dollars wise, because I already know not to expect any perks), I may just scratch WDW from my list as well (might not be forever but certainly wouldn't plan any vacations in a VERY LONG TIME).

It's sad that a place that gave so many families a lifetime of good memories now has a piece of cr@p CEO, CFO and overall leadership that believe it's absolutely ok milking each and every person for their last $$$ without giving anything back because what's already there "will do" (not even upkeep is good anymore) or even "is too much so we should remove it or charge for it". I never thought I'd actually be rooting for WDW to lose attendance / income / # of days in people's trip while wishing Uni/Comcast will thrive (their Market Cap has already exceeded Disney's so they're well in their way). Because at the end of the day, Uni IS doing it right and improving their parks and experiences (new rides, better food... I had lunch at Mythos in 2021 and it was UNREAL!) while Disney is getting worse by the day. So my hope is that at some point Disney will hit rock bottom, will get rid of these overpaid senseless apathetic greedy suits, and put in a place a team of people that will care about smiles just as much as they care about money.

I saw a mention in this thread of Disney not wanting to build a fifth gate, but Uni is going full steam with Epic Universe. And if people were easily spending a couple days per trip there, 3 days with a new gate will be a no-brainer (Maybe that WEEK Disney wanted people to stay for might not be at their property after all 😬).

Anyway, sorry for the long post, just wanted to wind-off and use a post I related to as a starting point. Have a nice day everyone!
 
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Ayla

Ayla

Well-Known Member
dmw said:
We just got back from a trip to Dollywood. We stayed "on site" at the Dreammore resort. With that came free parking at the resort, free transportation to/from Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country, free preferred parking at the parks as an alternative to the trolley, free limited timesaver for each person in the room ($60 value per person - at Dollywood only), free smores, movie, kids story time in the evenings.

We also opted to purchase the season pass since we have more than one trip planned. The season pass gives us 20% off all food and merchandise in both of the parks and at the resort, plus free theme park parking (when not staying at the resort), free "golden hour" to use the timesaver line for free the first hour of park open, free refillable mug good for refills all season long, 20% discount on lodging at the Dreammore, discounts to local attractions (Stampede, etc.), exclusive season passholder events, $15 discount on park tickets we can purchase for friends, and six free park tickets per season pass to bring in friends/relatives for free (with some date restrictions). And, as a veteran I was able to purchase the season passes at a discount.

** THESE ** are the types of perks I wish Disney would offer to on site guests and season passholders.
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Dang! *That's* how you are supposed to treat guests! Great job, Dollywood.
 
Ayla

Ayla

Well-Known Member
bhg469 said:
Resort parking is IMO the most egregious example of nickel and dining guests to date. It was completely unnecessary and to do it and shortly after get rid of magical express was just pathetic.
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Being charged for staying at a resort began in early 2018. MDE ended in Dec of 2021.
 
JusticeDisney

JusticeDisney

Well-Known Member
It’s just plain silly to say there is no incentive at all to stay on property. While I agree that Disney has sadly taken away many benefits, there are still some benefits that remain. For example, there’s early park entry, there‘s earlier access to ILL, there’s the free transportation, and then of course there’s just the feel and experience and convenience of staying on property that you don’t get when you simply stay somewhere in the city of Orlando. Perhaps these benefits aren’t enough for one to justify paying the crazy prices that Disney charges for a room, and that’s certainly fine if a person finds that to be the case. But to say there is no incentive at all just isn’t true. We visit WDW every year and would never even dream of staying off property. The vacation just wouldn’t be the same for us, not even close.
 
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nickys

nickys

Premium Member
JusticeDisney said:
It’s just plain silly to say there is no incentive at all to stay on property. While I agree that Disney has sadly taken away many benefits, there are still some benefits that remain. For example, there’s early park entry, theres earlier access to Genie+, there’s the free transportation, and then of course there’s just the feel and experience and convenience of staying on property that you don’t get when you simply stay somewhere in the city of Orlando. Perhaps these benefits aren’t enough for one to justify paying the crazy prices that Disney charges for a room, and that’s certainly fine if a person finds that to be the case. But to say there is no incentive at all just isn’t true. We visit WDW every year and would never even dream of staying off property. The vacation just wouldn’t be the same for us, not even close.
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To clarify though, there isn’t early access to Genie+ , everyone can book starting at 7am.

You get the advantage of booking ILLs though.
 
JusticeDisney

JusticeDisney

Well-Known Member
Minthorne said:
that was exactly my point. I either stay deluxe or just skip Disney.
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Oh, I understood your point. And you were obviously free to make it. It’s just that the topic of this thread is staying onsite vs staying offsite when visiting WDW — not taking a WDW vacation vs taking a different vacation. No biggie, though.
 
Minthorne

Minthorne

Well-Known Member
JusticeDisney said:
Oh, I understood your point. And you were obviously free to make it. It’s just that the topic of this thread is staying onsite vs staying offsite when visiting WDW — not taking a WDW vacation vs taking a different vacation. No biggie, though.
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That’s not the topic I read. It only had to do with staying at WDW hotel. Obviously a Universal hotel is offsite. If there is no incentive to stay at a Disney hotel you assume the option is to stay off property and still go to WDW. I was proposing if the incentive to stay at the hotel is gone it also removes the incentive to visit WDW. But like you said, you’re free to criticize my contribution.

Topic

“No more incentives left for staying at Disney Hotel “
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
JusticeDisney said:
It’s just plain silly to say there is no incentive at all to stay on property. While I agree that Disney has sadly taken away many benefits, there are still some benefits that remain. For example, there’s early park entry, there‘s earlier access to ILL, there’s the free transportation, and then of course there’s just the feel and experience and convenience of staying on property that you don’t get when you simply stay somewhere in the city of Orlando. Perhaps these benefits aren’t enough for one to justify paying the crazy prices that Disney charges for a room, and that’s certainly fine if a person finds that to be the case. But to say there is no incentive at all just isn’t true. We visit WDW every year and would never even dream of staying off property. The vacation just wouldn’t be the same for us, not even close.
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I just gave you the cliff notes version 👍🏻
 
JusticeDisney

JusticeDisney

Well-Known Member
Minthorne said:
That’s not the topic I read. It only had to do with staying at WDW hotel. Obviously a Universal hotel is offsite. If there is no incentive to stay at a Disney hotel you assume the option is to stay off property and still go to WDW. I was proposing if the incentive to stay at the hotel is gone it also removes the incentive to visit WDW. But like you said, you’re free to criticize my contribution.

Topic

“No more incentives left for staying at Disney Hotel “
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You clearly misunderstood the topic. 🤣

But all kidding aside, I understand the point you are making.
 
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G00fyDad

G00fyDad

Well-Known Member
JusticeDisney said:
It’s just plain silly to say there is no incentive at all to stay on property. While I agree that Disney has sadly taken away many benefits, there are still some benefits that remain. For example, there’s early park entry, there‘s earlier access to ILL, there’s the free transportation, and then of course there’s just the feel and experience and convenience of staying on property that you don’t get when you simply stay somewhere in the city of Orlando. Perhaps these benefits aren’t enough for one to justify paying the crazy prices that Disney charges for a room, and that’s certainly fine if a person finds that to be the case. But to say there is no incentive at all just isn’t true. We visit WDW every year and would never even dream of staying off property. The vacation just wouldn’t be the same for us, not even close.
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1) Early park entry - 30 minutes is not enough time to do very much despite people telling you it is enough time to get several rides in. That is BS. It takes time to walk to the attraction and even if it is a walk-on the ride takes several minutes itself. Then you have to walk to the next attraction. By then you have blown nearly all of the 30 minutes you had. You might be able to get in line for something else. Maybe.
2) There‘s earlier access to ILL - Not much of a "perk".
3) There’s the free transportation - That is in no way a perk to many. Too cold, too packed, and takes too long. I'll drive and save time, control my own temp in the vehicle, and have room to move without rubbing skin with a stranger.
4) And then of course there’s just the feel and experience and convenience of staying on property that you don’t get when you simply stay somewhere in the city of Orlando - This is in no way shape or form a "perk".
 
JusticeDisney

JusticeDisney

Well-Known Member
G00fyDad said:
1) Early park entry - 30 minutes is not enough time to do very much despite people telling you it is enough time to get several rides in. That is BS. It takes time to walk to the attraction and even if it is a walk-on the ride takes several minutes itself. Then you have to walk to the next attraction. By then you have blown nearly all of the 30 minutes you had. You might be able to get in line for something else. Maybe.
2) There‘s earlier access to ILL - Not much of a "perk".
3) There’s the free transportation - That is in no way a perk to many. Too cold, too packed, and takes too long. I'll drive and save time, control my own temp in the vehicle, and have room to move without rubbing skin with a stranger.
4) And then of course there’s just the feel and experience and convenience of staying on property that you don’t get when you simply stay somewhere in the city of Orlando - This is in no way shape or form a "perk".
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Well, you see, what you just did there was nothing more than state your OPINIONS. While I respect your right to have those opinions, I and many others completely disagree with your opinions. So probably the best way to proceed is, we will continue to stay on property and you can continue to not.

BTW, LMAO at your claim that #4 is “in no way shape or form a perk.” Again, maybe that’s true for you, but for us it’s probably the biggest perk there is.
 

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