News Park Hopping Time Change in Early February 2023

[Californian Elitist]

Suddenly the WDW rates seem somewhat less bad.

I remember listening to a podcast with someone who stayed at that hotel when he took his family to Disneyland. Even high status Hilton members had to pay to use the pool!

What?? What is happening? If that’s true, which I assume it is, then Hilton should be ashamed of themselves.

I’m definitely out of the loop when it comes to hotels. It’s almost 100% guaranteed that I stay at an Airbnb when I travel, so I’m unaware of current typical hotel rates and fees.

 

[PiratesMansion]

What?? What is happening? If that’s true, which I assume it is, then Hilton should be ashamed of themselves.

I’m definitely out of the loop when it comes to hotels. It’s almost 100% guaranteed that I stay at an Airbnb when I travel, so I’m unaware of current typical hotel rates and fees.

That was specifically a Hilton Anaheim thing, I've never heard of any other (US) hotel doing that unless they're hiding it inside of a resort fee.

My problem with AirBNB is that I don't particularly want to interact with other people or make nice at the end of a long day of being a tourist. I did that all day when I was out and about, and now I'm ready to rest by myself. The beauty of the hotel for me is that I can go to my room and be completely unbothered by anyone else. I want that. I know that there are some AirBNBs like that, but not all of them are. This isn't to take anything away from the people who have hosted me, who have never been anything less than pleasant. I just don't want to feel like I have to make small talk every time I enter or leave where I'm staying.

I also have stayed at a few AirBNBs with odd design choices (not fun character-giving choices, more like this-person-clearly-didn't-measure-the-amount-of-space-between-the-toilet-and-the-wall-when-they-built-this-unit sorts of design choices) and find that furnishings largely favor being instagrammable over being functional. This is particularly an issue for me with curtains-I want to block out the sun and sleep in; not to have 'fun', 'summery', or 'bright' styles that ensure I'll be unavoidably be graced with even the merest hint of the sun's presence at 5 AM. That's part of the reason why my favorite AirBNB I ever stayed at was in San Antonio-the woman who hosted me had thick blackout curtains that fully covered the window and went down to the floor. It was awesome.

I like the price, and there have been a few nice people I've met and places I've stayed, but at the end of the day I'd much rather deal with a hotel instead.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

It is still a thing at Disneyland Hotels. From the website:



Edited to clarify: Are these fees going away too? Or just the parking fees at WDW hotels?

DL has to charge for parking at the hotels or everyone would park there for free when going to the parks, blocking any spots for actual hotel guests.

 

[Californian Elitist]

That was specifically a Hilton Anaheim thing, I've never heard of any other (US) hotel doing that unless they're hiding it inside of a resort fee.

My problem with AirBNB is that I don't particularly want to interact with other people or make nice at the end of a long day of being a tourist. I did that all day when I was out and about, and now I'm ready to rest by myself. The beauty of the hotel for me is that I can go to my room and be completely unbothered by anyone else. I want that. I know that there are some AirBNBs like that, but not all of them are. This isn't to take anything away from the people who have hosted me, who have never been anything less than pleasant. I just don't want to feel like I have to make small talk every time I enter or leave where I'm staying.

I also have stayed at a few AirBNBs with odd design choices (not fun character-giving choices, more like this-person-clearly-didn't-measure-the-amount-of-space-between-the-toilet-and-the-wall-when-they-built-this-unit sorts of design choices) and find that furnishings largely favor being instagrammable over being functional. This is particularly an issue for me with curtains-I want to block out the sun and sleep in; not to have 'fun', 'summery', or 'bright' styles that ensure I'll be unavoidably be graced with even the merest hint of the sun's presence at 5 AM. That's part of the reason why my favorite AirBNB I ever stayed at was in San Antonio-the woman who hosted me had thick blackout curtains that fully covered the window and went down to the floor. It was awesome.

I like the price, and there have been a few nice people I've met and places I've stayed, but at the end of the day I'd much rather deal with a hotel instead.

Your reasons for preferring hotels are the reasons why I don’t prefer hotels haha (with the exception of furniture). I’m a very personable person and extroverted, so I find hotels to be lonesome and impersonal. I’ve only had three Airbnb stays where the hosts were there (they made me breakfast, too, which was nice), but I was genuinely interested in getting to know them and talk to them. Additionally, I feel more like a local when I stay in an Airbnb, which I love. I can buy my own groceries, cook my own food, have a real key to an actual home, lounge around in the living room, etc. Makes me feel like I’m part of where I’m visiting. Hotels make me feel like a tourist, which I don’t like. I like to say that I lived in Rome for a month, not visited. I had my own apartment via Airbnb and had neighbors, went grocery shopping various times, cooked my own food sometimes, took the metro everywhere, went on staycations and returned “home” to my apartment on the weekends, and had movie nights with friends at my place. I do feel like my experience would have been significantly altered had I stayed in a hotel during that time, and not in a good way.

Different strokes for different folks! I completely understand not wanting to feel pressured into small talk. You’re right about some Airbnb bathrooms and designs in general. I personally like waking up to sunshine, but I also get not liking that haha. I’m glad we each have options that suit our respective needs and likes.

 

[Rob562]

I’m definitely an Airbnb gal, especially when I’m gone for over three days. I save so much money. Recently, I stayed one night at the Hilton down the street from DL and paid nearly $400. For one night.

What peak-rate time was that?

We stayed there for 4 nights December 2021 for $535. Now I'll admit I booked that well in advance before Disneyland had reopened and they were likely desperate for ANY bookings they could get, but when pricing our upcoming trip in early March I could've gotten 4 nights for $845. (We ultimately decided to stay somewhere closer to the parks, but didn't have a problem with the Hilton)

-Rob

 

[Californian Elitist]

What peak-rate time was that?

We stayed there for 4 nights December 2021 for $535. Now I'll admit I booked that well in advance before Disneyland had reopened and they were likely desperate for ANY bookings they could get, but when pricing our upcoming trip in early March I could've gotten 4 nights for $845. (We ultimately decided to stay somewhere closer to the parks, but didn't have a problem with the Hilton)

-Rob

I went in October 2022. Four nights for $845 is a no for me. Too expensive.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I’m definitely an Airbnb gal, especially when I’m gone for over three days. I save so much money. Recently, I stayed one night at the Hilton down the street from DL and paid nearly $400. For one night.

Now this is a topic I love. The Airbnb vs hotel debate is a fascinating one. 5 years ago people were saying Airbnb was going to be the death of select service hotels- but now? Some are thinking Airbnb hasn't done a good enough job regulating their owners, and that their fees are oftentimes outrageous. And that the product is too inconsistent to gain widespread brand loyalty. I stayed at an airbnb in Washington DC for 7 nights and it was fantastic (though it did have a deadbolt that could only be unlocked from the outside- a huge safety concern and probably a fire code violation).

I've worked in hotels for a few years now- and have had many a guest walk in to book a room after showing up to their airbnb and discovering it wasn't quite what was advertised. I've heard horror stories- rodents, dirty linens, the unit being straight up uncleaned.

Hotels have the benefit of a dedicated staff, and if there is a mishap- a maintenance and housekeeping team that can fix it. And a 24hr/day desk.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Now this is a topic I love. The Airbnb vs hotel debate is a fascinating one. 5 years ago people were saying Airbnb was going to be the death of select service hotels- but now? Some are thinking Airbnb hasn't done a good enough job regulating their owners, and that their fees are oftentimes outrageous. And that the product is too inconsistent to gain widespread brand loyalty. I stayed at an airbnb in Washington DC for 7 nights and it was fantastic (though it did have a deadbolt that could only be unlocked from the outside- a huge safety concern and probably a fire code violation).

I've worked in hotels for a few years now- and have had many a guest walk in to book a room after showing up to their airbnb and discovering it wasn't quite what was advertised. I've heard horror stories- rodents, dirty linens, the unit being straight up uncleaned.

Hotels have the benefit of a dedicated staff, and if there is a mishap- a maintenance and housekeeping team that can fix it. And a 24hr/day desk.

For sure. I wrote an article on this topic a few years ago as an intern.

I’ve heard horror stories regarding Airbnb as well. I have stayed in a total of eight Airbnbs (have two booked for Italy in May, so will be ten soon) and have never experienced any problems. I’m very particular with how I go about booking an Airbnb. I don’t book anything with less than a 4.8 rating, I read at least ten reviews for the listings I’m interested in, and I don’t book brand new listings with no reviews. It’s worked for me so far.

Those are all benefits to staying in a hotel, I agree. I don’t completely rule out hotels (planning to stay in one in New York for a wedding), I’m just not the biggest fan of them. I’m happy we have both options.

 

[Consumer]

I'm going to Yellowstone this summer. It will cost me $140 for four nights of camping.

 

[Parteecia]

Now this is a topic I love. The Airbnb vs hotel debate is a fascinating one. 5 years ago people were saying Airbnb was going to be the death of select service hotels- but now? Some are thinking Airbnb hasn't done a good enough job regulating their owners, and that their fees are oftentimes outrageous. And that the product is too inconsistent to gain widespread brand loyalty. I stayed at an airbnb in Washington DC for 7 nights and it was fantastic (though it did have a deadbolt that could only be unlocked from the outside- a huge safety concern and probably a fire code violation).

I've worked in hotels for a few years now- and have had many a guest walk in to book a room after showing up to their airbnb and discovering it wasn't quite what was advertised. I've heard horror stories- rodents, dirty linens, the unit being straight up uncleaned.

Hotels have the benefit of a dedicated staff, and if there is a mishap- a maintenance and housekeeping team that can fix it. And a 24hr/day desk.

Besides being an introvert, I like hotels because I am a klutz. I can't relax in other people's houses for fear of damaging something. I don't worry about that in a hotel.

ETA: Also, I don't but I could leave the room a mess and it wouldn't matter. Part of the fun of a vacation is not having to clean.

 

[DrAlice]

DL has to charge for parking at the hotels or everyone would park there for free when going to the parks, blocking any spots for actual hotel guests.

A required scan of your room key to enter the parking lot would solve that problem without an additional charge. They are charging because they can.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

A required scan of your room key to enter the parking lot would solve that problem without an additional charge. They are charging because they can.

And when person #1 scans key, then it gets passed to person #2 who scans key, then it gets passed to person #3 who scans key... Lot fills up and actual hotel guests can't park there.

There are always ways around the rules and the locals always find them. They are charging in this case because they have to or people will absolutely take advantage.

People already get early entrance playing games of get extra keys or pass the key.

But lest you think it's just locals trying to gain an advantage, I was randomly stopped by a total stranger in the park a few weeks ago and asked if I had a Magic Key with discount. Umm, no I'm not giving you my discount but thanks for asking anyway.

 

[Parteecia]

And when person #1 scans key, then it gets passed to person #2 who scans key, then it gets passed to person #3 who scans key... Lot fills up and actual hotel guests can't park there.

There are always ways around the rules and the locals always find them. They are charging in this case because they have to or people will absolutely take advantage.

People already get early entrance playing games of get extra keys or pass the key.

But lest you think it's just locals trying to gain an advantage, I was randomly stopped by a total stranger in the park a few weeks ago and asked if I had a Magic Key with discount. Umm, no I'm not giving you my discount but thanks for asking anyway.

Can in and out be monitored? Can't zap in unless you've zapped out of the parking lot to raise the arm and exit?

Wow. I can't believe the nerve of someone randomly asking people if they had a discount to "borrow." Not sure how I would respond. Might not be pretty.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

Can in and out be monitored? Can't zap in unless you've zapped out of the parking lot to raise the arm and exit?

Wow. I can't believe the nerve of someone randomly asking people if they had a discount to "borrow." Not sure how I would respond. Might not be pretty.

It was so random. But as I said, it's not like the locals don't know how to game the system, too.

Where there's a rule, there's someone looking for a way around it! lol

 

[Disney Analyst]

Tomorrow!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

DL has to charge for parking at the hotels or everyone would park there for free when going to the parks, blocking any spots for actual hotel guests.

Umm no? Hotel guests would be the only ones allowed to park so the lot would not be filled with locals who would not be allowed to park. Super simple.

 

[Sailor310]

Besides being an introvert, I like hotels because I am a klutz. I can't relax in other people's houses for fear of damaging something. I don't worry about that in a hotel.

ETA: Also, I don't but I could leave the room a mess and it wouldn't matter. Part of the fun of a vacation is not having to clean.

I had an Airbnb-type room in New Zealand. The host set me up with a date for dinner with a cute teacher that was also staying there.
However, she made fun of which spoon I used for my oatmeal in the morning, and I'm very used to formal dining with a wide variety of cutlery.