Something I have always wondered about off site hotels

[WDW FAN 4 LIFE]

I have a lot of Orlando travel magazines because I like to collect them & I think they are fun to read for fun & for information. Well there is something I have always wondered about off site hotels & it's this. Why do they always say 1 or, 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World? Yes I know it's true that some are expect that's how far they are from one of their entrances to get of Disney property. For example if you were staying at a hotel on 192 like the Hampton Inn Main Gate East (which is where i stayed at on my 1st trip to WDW in 1996) & it's about 0.5 - 1 mile away from the entrance to Walt Disney World. Well if someone there wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom, they drive their car, park, take the tram to the TTC & take the Ferry or Monorail to the entrance that could take a total of 20-30 minutes. Basically why don't the off site hotels try to estimate how long they would take to get each of the 4 WDW theme parks, if it's possible along with saying how far they are from the entrance to WDW. Anyway what do you all think?

 

[SpongeScott]

I have a lot of Orlando travel magazines because I like to collect them & I think they are fun to read for fun & for information. Well there is something I have always wondered about off site hotels & it's this. Why do they always say 1 or, 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World? Yes I know it's true that some are expect that's how far they are from one of their entrances to get of Disney property. For example if you were staying at a hotel on 192 like the Hampton Inn Main Gate East (which is where i stayed at on my 1st trip to WDW in 1996) & it's about 0.5 - 1 mile away from the entrance to Walt Disney World. Well if someone there wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom, they drive their car, park, take the tram to the TTC & take the Ferry or Monorail to the entrance that could take a total of 20-30 minutes. Basically why don't the off site hotels try to estimate how long they would take to get each of the 4 WDW theme parks, if it's possible along with saying how far they are from the entrance to WDW. Anyway what do you all think?

Because they want to advertise as being close to WDW. Advertising that you are 1 mile away is a lot better draw than saying 20-30 minutes--that equates to 20-30 miles. I worked at a hotel in New Orleans that advertised being only 4 miles from the French Quarter. Technically, they were right if you wanted to reach the utmost corner of the Quarter. In reality, we were 20 minutes away from what tourists would consider the Quarter.

 

[WDW FAN 4 LIFE]

I do realzie they want to advertise as being close to WDW, which the hotels on 192 & in Lake Buena Vista are. As for the hotels on International Drive that's another story because those are farther away when traveling to WDW. I still think they can still advertise as being close to WDW which is not false advertising, but what if a guest complained that it took them forever to drive to a park & all that stuff, how would the hotel handle that, if the guest said that he was told they were close to Walt Disney World?

 

[barnum42]

"Close" is a comparative term, so it can be used quite freely.

As for 1.5 miles from Disney - I suspect that's a measurement to the border of Disney Property as the crow flies.

 

[SpongeScott]

I do realzie they want to advertise as being close to WDW, which the hotels on 192 & in Lake Buena Vista are. As for the hotels on International Drive that's another story because those are farther away when traveling to WDW. I still think they can still advertise as being close to WDW which is not false advertising, but what if a guest complained that it took them forever to drive to a park & all that stuff, how would the hotel handle that, if the guest said that he was told they were close to Walt Disney World?

I understand what you're saying, but by advertising 1.5 miles, they're not telling you how long it's going to taketo get there. It's a gimmick used all the time. I never stay at a place just because they are X miles from a place I want to be.

 

[SteveUK]

A hotel cannot advertise how long it would take to get somewhere. How can a hotel comment on the future traffic conditions? If they advertise 20mins and there is a traffic jam - they leave themselves open to false advertising problems. If they state 1.5 miles - this will always be true regardless of other factors beyond their control.

 

[WDW FAN 4 LIFE]

If off site hotels ever wanted to tell their guests excatly how far it is to a theme park, they could always say we can not be held accountable for giving false information if there is a traffic jam. I know this will never hapen but just the way I would think of doing it.

 

[SteveUK]

Yes you are right - they could say it will usually take you 20mins but add a disclaimer about traffic, weather, speed restrictions, roadworks etc.

But why would they? Nobody has given a good argument against the current system yet!?

 

[mkt]

Most of the hotels on US192 are simply terrible compared to being on WDW property and those located in newer developments (Little Lake Bryan, I-Drive south of Sand Lake Road, etc). They need every little thing they can to stay competitive.

 

[WDW FAN 4 LIFE]

I am just wondering if anyone who has stayed at a off site hotel if they have complained about the fact that even though they got into Walt Disney World fast, it took them longer to reach the parks. I mean there could be some people who calculate their whole trip by a sechdule & then they realzie that their 1.5 mille drive, just turned into a 20 minute drive could make them go nuts & completly change thier plans for the day.

 

[barnum42]

I am just wondering if anyone who has stayed at a off site hotel if they have complained about the fact that even though they got into Walt Disney World fast, it took them longer to reach the parks. I mean there could be some people who calculate their whole trip by a sechdule & then they realzie that their 1.5 mille drive, just turned into a 20 minute drive could make them go nuts & completly change thier plans for the day.

Last place I stayed on 192 (near the large orange) I was able to drive to the parks in ten minutes.

 

[SpongeScott]

I am just wondering if anyone who has stayed at a off site hotel if they have complained about the fact that even though they got into Walt Disney World fast, it took them longer to reach the parks. I mean there could be some people who calculate their whole trip by a sechdule & then they realzie that their 1.5 mille drive, just turned into a 20 minute drive could make them go nuts & completly change thier plans for the day.

I don't think driving an extra 15 minutes is going to ruin their plans for the day.

 

[Uponastar]

Here's some more food for thought.
Hotels may very well advertise a proximity of 1.5 miles or whatever to WDW. They may also say they provide free shuttle service back and forth.
BEWARE!
We found out the hard way that most shuttles service several hotels and what should be a 20 minute ride can often stretch into 2 hours! And the buses are often in decrepit condition.
Advice: If you are staying off-property and relying on bus service for transport back and forth to the parks, make sure your hotel has its own shuttle that services only that hotel. Anything less could be a very big mistake!