Originally Posted By Christi22222 I've just been considering dave's comments, and now I'm in a quandry. If I am an on-property loyalist, do I have to relinquish my doom and gloom membership?! Do I automatically join the ranks of pixie dust snorters? In all seriousness, am I the worst of the brainwashed if I realize all the negatives - complain loudly, in fact! - and still choose to stay on site and hand over to evil TDO my hard earned dollars? Oh geez, I need a drink for that one and it's not even 11 am.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo FWIW, I do not need luxury per se on every vacation. I mean I am staying in 500 year old Wine Cellar for part of our upcoming vacation, which is quite basic. But then again it is also right on the river, has a wine cellar bar and guided tours of the vinyards included, and it is $90 a night for the four of us on a holiday weekend. For me it is all about value. The problem I have more than anything is how Disney standards have slipped while their prices has risen, and people do not seem to hold them to account. I understand why people choose to stay on site, I really do, I just want Disney to restore their attention to detail and service. Could be worse, in Paris, they got rid of Clint Eastwood on the Bill Boards and replaced him with cars. And at the Hotel New York, they replaced the New York Art Deco pictures in the Manhatten Grill with Ratatoulle pictures. And then they call it theming.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Here are the places we are staying on the upcoming trip: DLP (if paying, the villas tend to be about the same price as the DLP moderates) - <a href="http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/pardp-marriotts-village-dlle-de-france/" target="_blank">http://www.marriott.co.uk/hote...-france/</a> Strasbourg is in a Holiday Inn, but it is free and they put us in a suite: <a href="http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/gb/en/strasbourg/sxbfr/hoteldetail" target="_blank">http://www.holidayinn.com/hote...eldetail</a> The Hotel Colloseo at Europa Park ($900 for a family of 4 for 3 nights including breakfast and tickets): <a href="http://resort.europapark.de/lang-en/Theme-Hotels-Guesthouse/Hotel-Colosseo/c583.html" target="_blank">http://resort.europapark.de/la...583.html</a> Then another free night in the Crowne Plaza at Heidelberg: <a href="http://www.crowneplaza-heidelberg.de/" target="_blank">http://www.crowneplaza-heidelberg.de/</a> Then on to the one I am really looking forward to, the 500 Year Old Wein Kelter on the Mosel ($90 a night for the four of us): <a href="http://www.moselholiday.com/" target="_blank">http://www.moselholiday.com/</a># Followed by the place the girls are really looking forward to, the Ling Bao chinese themed hotel at Phantasialand (the most expensive at $300 for the four of us for 1 night, but includes breakfast and theme park admission): <a href="http://www.phantasialand.de/eng/Hotels/Hotel-LING-BAO" target="_blank">http://www.phantasialand.de/en...LING-BAO</a> And then we will finish off with a free night in the Crowne Plaza in Brussels: <a href="http://www.crowneplazabrussels.be/intro.php" target="_blank">http://www.crowneplazabrussels...ntro.php</a> Ok, I know that my work situation has helped to make this grand adventure more affordable (the grocery store loyalty scheme has taken care of the channel tunnel crossing and the Paris Seine Cruise), but my point is this vacation is going to cost far less than a WDW vacation and will hopefully be more memorable. The owners of the Wein Kelter have already been in touch to see if we have any special requirements and to enquire as to our favorite German wines to ensure they have them there for us!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I've just been considering dave's comments, and now I'm in a quandry. If I am an on-property loyalist, do I have to relinquish my doom and gloom membership?! Do I automatically join the ranks of pixie dust snorters? In all seriousness, am I the worst of the brainwashed if I realize all the negatives - complain loudly, in fact! - and still choose to stay on site and hand over to evil TDO my hard earned dollars? Oh geez, I need a drink for that one and it's not even 11 am.<<< No, but we might make you sit with Duffy at the next meeting you attend.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo If I am honest, I might not be as picky about WDW if I went for a shorter vacation, or more frequently. It is just so gaulling to spend so much and go for 12 days, and find out the service has slipped. If it were a 4 or 5 day jaunt, maybe I would feel differently. I think duration can have a lot more to do with it too. The longer you are at a resort, the more facilities and service that is wanted. If it is a crash pad, then people are not fussed. The challenge is a large quantum of visitors pay for a resort, use it for a crash pad, and then do not notice when a number of the resort ameneties disappear.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I have enjoyed several of the on property resorts. I had nice stays at Wilderness Lodge, Coronado and All Star. The difference was in my level of expectation in each one. It might be nice to say that a Disney resort should feel like a Disney resort regardless of how much you pay but there is no denying that the overall experience will be better at the Lodge than at All Stars. And, a lot of that experience has to do with the other folks staying at the resort...I'm sorry to say. When I go to All Starts I expect the pool will be loud, the resaurant will be loud, the rooms will be small, I'll wait for the busses (if I choose to use them). When I go to the Lodge I'm expecting a different experience. So, when I adjust my expectations it turns out I can have a pleasant experience.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed. But by the same token, should the buses be better at Pop Century than Animal Kingdom Lodge? I am fine going in with lower expectations if staying in an economy. But if I stay in a Deluxe, or in RT's care, the DVC experience he had recently, and get something that would not be tolerated in a 3 Star, is there not an issue there?
Originally Posted By barboy No, I wouldn't want to stay in that amazing off property Disney setup(this assumes that my reason for staying in Orlando is WDW), even if it were free. I'd rather pay $80 per night at the 'Pop'. Proximity to the parks followed by Disney saturation are by far the most important features to me when choosing stays......that is why my favorite WDW stay is Beach Club. If there were a Japanese style 2 person 'capsule' motel on property, then I'd take that over a 5 star multi person high end suite outfit on I-94. I don't go to the 'World' for hotel amenities but for the eats and parks.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>If there were a Japanese style 2 person 'capsule' motel on property, then I'd take that over a 5 star multi person high end suite outfit on I-94.<<< You'd rather be in cramped Disney conditions than luxurious, better, conditions? ...I don't comprehend... But OK, if that's what you want...
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael << Agreed. It was a beautiful setting, but the boats to the MK was a terrible way to travel.>> It's the best way to travel!
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael <<It takes frakking forever.>> Probably about the same amount of time as a bus.
Originally Posted By barboy ///You'd rather be in cramped Disney conditions than luxurious, better, conditions? ...I don't comprehend... But OK, if that's what you want../// But EPCOT Ex., I just layed out my reasons so it should be very easy to understand. I don't get on a plane and travel 3,000 miles to stay in luxurious accommodations when I can stay right here in my own house in California. I go to WDW for the parks, eats and saturation of Disney. So naturally I want to be as close to the parks as possible. The times that I have stayed at the Beach Club I left the room early and come back for a nap and headed out again only to return late. I want a comfortable bed, working toilet and a clean shower stall---that's it. Double sinks, granite floors, fancy lanais, 600 square feet of hotel room, three 5 star restaurants at the hotel, first class room service and an elaborate pool mean nothing to me since I am not even there to enjoy it. That must make sense to you, right? Yes, I'd take a clean Disney capsule for 2 on property over a free stay in luxury on I-94 When going to Disney(or any vacation) it's Location, location, location.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I've stayed in quite a few WDW resorts: All Star Music All Star Sports Dixie Landings Caribbean Beach Villas at Wilderness Lodge Wilderness Home at Fort Wilderness Campground Yacht Club Boardwalk Villas Old Key West Saratoga Springs I've enjoyed all the resorts with the possible exception of the Yacht Club. It just didn't seem very themed to me. I also received an un-requested upgrade to the Concierge floor and I thought the guests there seemed WAY too impressed with themselves. I have to admit that my experience was probably colored by having the worst stomach flu/food poisoning of my life while staying there. As for the original question, even if the off-site location was the world's best DVC resort, I'd still stay on-site. I just really enjoy being close to everything. I like being able to make a quick trip from my hotel to Epcot to have a glass of wine while watching Illuminations. The Boardwalk Villas is my favorite resort, largely due to location.
Originally Posted By leemac I think comparing a WDW vacation to any other experience is like comparing apples and oranges (for most cases). When you are in the parks from opening until closing then proximity is key. I've never stayed at a hotel off-property since 1994 - and don't ever intend to do so again. Room nights run into the several hundreds for me. The deluxes are my preferred choice but then I'm lucky to be in a position to afford those and I also value proximity - which is why I love the BoardWalk Inn as I can walk to my favorite theme park. MK resort hotels also have their +s. I don't care that there is a Waldorf-Astoria at Bonnet Creek or the 5-Star Gaylord just off-property - I want something different to what I'm used to when I'm on-property. I know that the deluxe hotels and even the GF don't compare to real world offerings like St. Regis, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton or W - and I don't care. I don't need those perks (spa etc.) when I'm at WDW.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 Just curious, RoadTrip, our resort lists looks pretty similar, so I have a question. Do you stay in different resorts at all times depending on your needs for that trip? Or did you do it like I have (mostly), where I 'grew up' with the resorts. New young family w/out a lot of spare cash=ASS & ASM. Little older kiddo who can walk pretty far, somewhat more disposable income = CB&POR. Etc. We still pop between mods and deluxe depending on certain factors, but an older kiddo doesn't get as much out of the AS decor in any case. I am always curious if more folks move up resorts as they grow in life, or if more folks save all their vacation dollars and go for exactly what they'd appreciate most regardless.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 >>I don't care that there is a Waldorf-Astoria at Bonnet Creek or the 5-Star Gaylord just off-property - I want something different to what I'm used to when I'm on-property. I know that the deluxe hotels and even the GF don't compare to real world offerings like St. Regis, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton or W - and I don't care. I don't need those perks (spa etc.) when I'm at WDW.<< This is pretty much how I feel about the situation. Apples and oranges, indeed.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I am always curious if more folks move up resorts as they grow in life>> Bingo. Disney firmly believe this to be the case. The value resorts were only built to encourage folks to move up the value ladder. You start at AS/PC and then want to try a moderate resort.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 >>Bingo. Disney firmly believe this to be the case. The value resorts were only built to encourage folks to move up the value ladder. You start at AS/PC and then want to try a moderate resort.<< Wow! Question answered finally. Very interesting. One more question then...did Disney intend that when they built the values? Or did it turn out to be a happy unintended benefit of offering a more affordable accomodation?
