Do you stay at a Disney resort? Why or Why Not?

[kcarts]

We stayed off property once, our first time down there. I was only 10 but I remember thinking how much time was being wasted driving there, parking, getting to the monorail or ferry..... that might have been b/c I was 10 and the anticipation was killing me, but I remember nonetheless! Since then, I have stayed on property every time I have gone. Whether with family or friends. I don't think I would stop now. I love it. You wake up, you're in Disney World. You go to bed, you're in Disney World. For some people it's too much. For me, it's not enough. It's so easy to get around, even if you don't have a rental car.

I could go on and on about why I love staying at a Disney resort.

[boilerbabe]

How are the Swan/Dolphin Disney Jacca?! Not starting an arguement, I just would like to know your views, since you've actually stayed there!

[Jacca5660]

How are the Swan/Dolphin Disney Jacca?! Not starting an arguement, I just would like to know your views, since you've actually stayed there!

I've only stayed at the Swan, never at the Dolphin. I don't understand your question. Why aren't they Disney? I know they are not owned by Disney, but you do have all the privileges of any other resort on property. You also get character breakfast's, you can charge with your room key any place on property. You have the same Disney themeing as all the other resorts and the same level of service as any other DELUXE on property. A plus is the fantastic view of EPCOT!

Now you tell me, how is it different?

[Len90]

They don't offer the magical express service

You are right about the deluxe hotel type classification. However, I do feel like they are not your typical Disney hotel. Most of Disney's hotels are below 6 stories with the Contemporary being the exception. I have also found that they did cut corners on the design of the resorts. I noticed this when driving by the Swan on the Friendships. If you look at top of the building, you can see that they actually went with a flat roof and hid it with raised sides. Those sides are curved to give the appearance of a fancier curved roof when in reality it is a flat roof:

http://images.triseptsolutions.com/slid ... SWAN05.jpg
http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_Disn ... SORT_2.jpg

[wewantsdaredhead]

Len offered five great reasons for staying on-property and there is probably 5 more easily.
I can do plusses and minuses of both, but here's a little story about my last trip to the World:
I was only "allowed" to go because my brother booked his timeshare week at a hotel right on 192 and then found out they were expecting a 2nd child. He asked me to take it--use it or lose it, he said. So my wife "approved it" (that's a whole different story!) and we went in April. This was supposed to be a mid-to-higher end place--not some two-bit Spring Break shanty...
When we would look for a place to eat, you have to wade through all the 'crap' and cheap buffets, etc to find a decent place. When you are on property--you know what you are going to get (95% of the time).
When you drive between the hotel and the parks--you have to see (and drive through) all this cheap business that thrives on Disney. In fact, the only reason they exist, is because of Disney.
When I walk to the pool I had to look at the back of a Cracker Barrel and a $2 dollar t-shirt place...at POR (my favorite) I get to see a horse drawn carriage and beautiful landscaping and clean well-defined paths.
No one's service can compare to Disney (of course there are always exceptions)--every one else seems to be so inconsistent.

After 4 days of this, I told my kids--never again will I stay off-site!

I guess this is a long-winded way to say---I like to be immersed in the whole at-mouse-sphere when I am there, just like everyone has been saying. You really can't put a dollar value on that!

[Amy]

Nicely stated wewantsdaredhead...at-mouse-sphere! That's a good one, and certainly belongs in the subictionary...and now it is...

[wewantsdaredhead]

Nicely stated wewantsdaredhead...at-mouse-sphere! That's a good one, and certainly belongs in the subictionary...and now it is...

Thank you, Amy--and Wow! I am honored...

[Amy]

Nicely stated wewantsdaredhead...at-mouse-sphere! That's a good one, and certainly belongs in the subictionary...and now it is...

Thank you, Amy--and Wow! I am honored...

Always handy to have an auto mechanic as a friend

[jeremyleo]

Family and I just returned from 2 weeks in Orlando, 9 nights off-site and 5 nights at BCV. Certainly my preference is to be on-property for many reasons, primarily the immersive experience WDW offers. Sure, things cost a little more and you are certainly held captive without a vehicle, but this break from reality is one that I welcome with open arms when vacationing at WDW.

Off-site was a nice change (dance competition) that presented opportunities to visit 'other theme parks' and shopping and dining experiences, but definately not the same as waking up and going to sleep in WDW at a Disney resort hotel.

Magical Express
Disney transportation
Key to the World card
Resort theming
Disney music throughout the World
Extra magic hours
Service quality and consistency

The list goes on and on...

[Amy]

Family and I just returned from 2 weeks in Orlando, 9 nights off-site and 5 nights at BCV. Certainly my preference is to be on-property for many reasons, primarily the immersive experience WDW offers. Sure things cost a little more, and you are certainly held captive without a vehicle, but this break from reality is one that I welcome with open arms when vacationing at WDW.

Off-site was a nice change (dance competition) that presented opportunities to visit 'other theme parks' and shopping and dining experiences, but definately not the same as waking up and going to sleep in a WDW at a Disney resort hotel.

Other theme parks?!?! Did you experience the new Harry Potter ride?

[jeremyleo]

Family and I just returned from 2 weeks in Orlando, 9 nights off-site and 5 nights at BCV. Certainly my preference is to be on-property for many reasons, primarily the immersive experience WDW offers. Sure things cost a little more, and you are certainly held captive without a vehicle, but this break from reality is one that I welcome with open arms when vacationing at WDW.

Off-site was a nice change (dance competition) that presented opportunities to visit 'other theme parks' and shopping and dining experiences, but definately not the same as waking up and going to sleep in a WDW at a Disney resort hotel.

Other theme parks?!?! Did you experience the new Harry Potter ride?

Indeed we did (DS and I). It was everything I expected and more, and I had HIGH expectations. Wait time was OK (40 minutes first thing in the morning) but well worth it, even in the July heat. WDW is the bar for me when comparing other resort and theme park experiences, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter certainly did not disappoint. Glad we made the trek to 'another theme park'. Had we stayed on WDW property for the entire vacation we would likely not have made the effort.

[Amy]

Family and I just returned from 2 weeks in Orlando, 9 nights off-site and 5 nights at BCV. Certainly my preference is to be on-property for many reasons, primarily the immersive experience WDW offers. Sure things cost a little more, and you are certainly held captive without a vehicle, but this break from reality is one that I welcome with open arms when vacationing at WDW.

Off-site was a nice change (dance competition) that presented opportunities to visit 'other theme parks' and shopping and dining experiences, but definately not the same as waking up and going to sleep in a WDW at a Disney resort hotel.

Other theme parks?!?! Did you experience the new Harry Potter ride?

Indeed we did (DS and I). It was everything I expected and more, and I had HIGH expectations. Wait time was OK (40 minutes first thing in the morning) but well worth it, even in the July heat. WDW is the bar for me when comparing other resort and theme park experiences, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter certainly did not disappoint. Glad we made the trek to 'another theme park'. Had we stayed on WDW property for the entire vacation we would likely not have made the effort.

Did you get any photos or video? I am curious about the Kuka robotics technology they used...

[Jacca5660]

They don't offer the magical express service

You are right about the deluxe hotel type classification. However, I do feel like they are not your typical Disney hotel. Most of Disney's hotels are below 6 stories with the Contemporary being the exception. I have also found that they did cut corners on the design of the resorts. I noticed this when driving by the Swan on the Friendships. If you look at top of the building, you can see that they actually went with a flat roof and hid it with raised sides. Those sides are curved to give the appearance of a fancier curved roof when in reality it is a flat roof:

http://images.triseptsolutions.com/slid ... SWAN05.jpg
http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_Disn ... SORT_2.jpg

I drive, so magical express service means nothing to be. Your point about the roof is just nit picking! They didn't cut any corners. Stay there and then comment about cutting corners!

[figmentaholic]

I have the interesting experience to have lived in Orlando, as well as staying on and off property. it is an interesting thing, going from your house to Disney. You still have to worry about lines and ttc and such, but I guess being able to go back to your own bed still makes it better than some random hotel room.
But between off property or on property, I will take on property 100 times out of 100. There is not only the better and faster (for the most part) transportation (and free), but also the theming of the hotels and the great shopping and eating on property.

[boilerbabe]

Jacca, it's just my opinion, but the Swan/Dolphin just seem cold and non-Disney to me. When I go to Disney I love the theming of their resorts. To me, the Swan/Dolphin lack that. We also use the Magical Express, so to us that matters. Nothing wrong with our opinions, that's what makes the world go round.