Why People Aren’t Staying at Disney World Hotels
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Before you push that purchase button and confirm your stay at a Disney World resort, watch today’s DFB video! Because we’ve got some important revelations for ya that are leading to THOUSANDS of guests picking DIFFERENT places to stay other than the Disney hotels.
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Because it’s outrageously expensive and they don’t have as many perks as they used too. You can stay off property for half the price and get a better hotel experience. I never stay on property.
💯
Yep! Same here! I save a ton of money by doing the same.
Yea I don't either.
Depending on the hotel in Disney, I feel like there’s lots of perks including the hotel and poolside activities. I always stay at the Deluxe Resorts because they are beautiful. I am a DVC member as well and we stay at the Grand Floridian in a villa and I would say that there is lots of perks available at the GF.
Trip planned for Dec 2 at first we were staying Port Orleans Riverside $3,070. Then we found DVC shop and are staying Animal Kingdom Kidani village savanna view for $2,875. Will never go through Disney again. Planning a trip for next year Poly 6 nights 3,100 or Old Key West (hold your hats) $1,230 for 6 nights.
When all the free perks like magic bands, parking, shuttle, etc go away it’s harder to justify spending $800+ a night when you could stay anywhere else in Orlando and get free breakfast.
That’s what I’m doing starting Sunday. Flying from Dallas. 4 nights. Uber from airport to hotel. Shuttle to the parks. Breakfast at hotel. $750 total for my daughter and I through Expedia. Just have to pay for the tickets and meals. Oh, and taking a backpack full of food and water in to curb that expense
I stayed at grand Floridian during peak season June and it was only like 4-500 a night with passes
Yes, I remember in the 90s when staying in a Disney resort hotel medium level included park admissions and free transportation to and from.
@@iamlsusam- I was definitely shocked we had to figure out our own transportation. Disney needs to have their own shuttle system to and from the airport. We had to get an Uber.
@@chrisd6736 I remember when they chose to eliminate the airport transportation perk. 2 years ago I took the family and my daughter’s friend to Disney and universal we drove. Saving the airfare for 4 people was a big part of making the trip possible.
I used to justify the cost of a Disney resort based on the added value. Extra magic hours, booking fastpasses in advance, free magic bands and the biggest for me magical express. It wasn't just a ride from and to the airport, but the baggage handling. Check in at the airport and then find the bags in your room later. Check the bags at the resort and not worry about them until you land. Unless they add somethings back I won't be staying at a Disney resort.
Absolutely!
Yes! To everything you said. All the perks are gone. Removing Magical Express & airline check-in did it for me.
Coming from California add the flight to the cost… not worth it
extra magic hours and deluxe dining plan was only reason I would ever stay on property..
For me it was package delivery removal, we usually drive, but I did use magic express once when my whole family went and we flew and I can sympathize.
my family of 6 used to stay on property. it's actually ridiculous how much money we have saved staying off property. We rent a condo with 3 BR, 2 bath, full kitchen 5 minutes from the parks for $120 per night. In addition to saving money for lodging, we save a lot on food by having a full kitchen. I get that the "Disney bubble" is really cool, but we cut our vacation cost by more than half and so we can afford to go more frequently. IMO the cost of staying on property is just not worth it.
Found the same last year. I will never stay on property again
Bonnet Creek?
@@dayolddoughnuts4031 Windsor Hills
I just booked our first trip- for me, my daughter, my cousin, and two family friends. It would have been thousands for us to get a few rooms on property at an All Star resort and take the bus to the parks. We rented a 5 bedroom townhouse near the parks for $200/night and rented a car.
@@jmathiason nice! Have fun!
My wife and I have been annual passholders for over 20 years. I proposed in the castle. We got married at the Polynesian. We used to go four times a year to deluxe in to moderate. We can barely afford to moderate. It’s the price.
I feel like Walt would absolutely be so upset by all of this, he’d be furious. When he created Disneyland, he did it for the working class/middle class, not for the top 10%. I wonder when things started to go so wrong, price wise.
We’re a family of 5 & live in Tampa, we’ve been passholders (platinum now I think it’s called incredipass?) for 8 years - we’ve spent 60K alone just on passes. My kids aren’t even teens yet 🫠 the price increases are insane - our passes are a little over $500 a month. It makes us second guess renewing next year after breaking down all our costs
@@RLucas3000 i grew up in southern california, was from a working class family, and we could easily afford to go to disneyland (the original, in anaheim), every year. Younger families today would be shocked to know how inexpensive and affordable it was back then. I bet we didn't spend more than $25 to get in and spend all day, food was probably even less than that for our family of three. Bottom line: people need to stop going to these rip offs, including the outrageous hotel fees. Then and only then will prices come down, because these crooks don't want to go totally out of business. They WILL lower prices and bring back the perks. But people have to stop enabling this nonsense. It's disgusting to see all these idiots who open up their wallets and allow their budgets to be demolished by these criminals who now run Disney. Yes, Walt would be outraged!!!!
@@cwalt6558 60K on passes? that's outrageous.
Stop giving Disney your money.
We were just at Universal for 2 days/1 night. The beauty of staying at their premium hotels is that you get Express Unlimited for not only the day you show up but also for the following day. For a family of 4 that was $1600.00 of value right there. And the whole place ran like a well oiled machine.
plus, you have the luxury of having everything right there within walking distance as well, so you literally don't have to drive off property unless you want to
We had a similar experience. Plus the water taxi was a straight shot and dropped you off within a short walk of the park vs the nebulous bus ride. Totally paid for itself.
I had the same experience on my last Universal Orlando trip. It was well worth the cost and I walked to the parks each day.
Universal had been a way better experience for the last 10 years.
Sounds like a rip off. Prefer to make our own food. I want a kitchen.
The big question you didn't ask:
Why are people not going to Disney, at all? ---
Never mind the hotels, it's been years since I set foot anywhere on WDW property.
Last year, I went to NYC for Broadway shows. Before that, Alaska (NOT aboard DCL). This year, it's Hawaii. And every one of those trips was less costly and easier to plan than a day in the Magic Kingdom.
You need to be a software engineer now to plan a trip.
@@joegrahe3958😂 True
Not so "magic" anymore is it? 😢
My brother in law and his family used to go to Disney twice a year. The last few years they have gone to Hawaii, London and Norway instead. He said “why go see the Disney version of the world when it’s cheaper to take my daughters to see the real thing? They’ll learn more and I’ll enjoy it more.”
I just checked the tip board on the app, and the parks have long lines. Is attendance below average? Sure, but I wouldn't say people aren't going at all. As for the resorts, while they are convenient, the are absurdly expensive now. I recall staying at the value resorts for less that $100 a night. Now they are about $250. Small wonder families are staying off property. You can get a suite at a nearby Embassy Suites for about $130, and that includes a cooked to order breakfast
We used to come from U.K. and the perks of Disney resorts- free dining, 3 fast passes daily, refillable mug and magic band, magical express and extra magic hours- all offset the international flight cost and the fact that we used to book 14 nights to make the distance worthwhile. Now that is all gone, it’s just not viable anymore and we don’t come at all- on or off property. All the perks meant we had money to spend on the park instead but for an international family of 6 all the extras- genie plus, Mears etc etc put it out of our reach. 💔
100% right. Our trip last year was approx 40% more expensive than in 2019
Same for Canadians Disney just priced themselves out of the market
yup, 2019 was my list trip too and for the same holiday but without the perks was coming in at around 2k more (From Scotland)
Exactly. I dont get how adam hattan and disney in detail go every two months when its SO expensive for brits
Same here. Was going for 3rd time in March 2020 for exactly the perks you mention. Then COVID hit, of course, and now all that has gone plus extra fees, Disney have priced themselves out for us. Universal, however… with the addition of their extra park next year, and their (by comparison to Disney) great value hotel stay and perks will probably get my money. Disney’s loss is Universal’s gain.
I used to stay on property ALL THE TIME. The last time I stayed on property was 2019.
Aside from it being to expensive I find that many of the surrounding resorts are overall a lot better. I can easily find a room for 150.00 a night with a kitchen and washer and dryer and still be close to the parks without paying 500 a night 😢
Agree
Exactly!
Where specifically do you recommend staying?
@@lizakroberts Cabana bay or if you want to be close to Disney check out the hotels in flamingo Crossing area.
@@lizakroberts, I don’t where she is staying, but Westgate is our off-property resort home. They have so many amenities, the restaurants are great, and it’s a mile or so from Disney.
They raised the prices and took away all perks except transportation. It used to be that you could book dining 180 days out, extra magic hours, book fast passes 60 days out, etc. They stripped all of that away. And want you to pay more. Not only that, they've been systematically ruining the themeing. They've lost their minds.
#1 reason for my family - they are ridiculously expensive, for moderate (at best) rooms. Tons of amazing hotels in Orlando for literally half the price.
Any out of bubble favorites you have , planning a trip and would love to hear some suggestions?
@@Manu_Verse Holiday Inn Disney Springs Area, very nice place with nice pool and comp buses, also you can walk to Disney springs!
@@Manu_VerseDrury Plaza Disney Springs is amazing and gives deluxe Disney benefits
2 bedroom suite at Universal Studios for what it would have cost for standard room at a Disney Value Resort... Kind of a "no brainer" there.
Exactly. AJ could have just made this a 5 second video, said they're too expensive compared to Good Neighbors, and called it a day!
I feel like Disney is losing his magic. I used to like planning for a Disney vacation but I realized that I can go to other nice places for the same or less amount of money.
Go to Italy or Spain. It'll be cheaper
You do not need to attend or spend your valuable time watching videos on it, then!
Not losing. Lost. Disney has voluntarily destroyed almost everything that was magical, nostalgic, and unique to Disney. I want traditional Disney, not Star Wars or Marvel.
If they had kept the Disney parks for Disney material, and opened separate parks for those separate fan bases, that would be one thing. But star wars fans are in the Disney parks until they can ride their rides.
Too much money for less and less and less. And with the attitude that we should be grateful that they deign to keep any of the traditional Disney experiences, and accept all the absolute worthless, annoying drivel that they've been regurgitating.
Price increases combined with disappearing perks make it hard to justify. I love french quarter, but I'm not sure if I would stay onsite again unless they add back some of the lost perks
French Quarter is our Favorite, but lately we stay off proerty
In the last few years, Disney's management have been taking some really bad decisions, turning a beloved holiday destination into some sort of elitist money oriented enterprise. Its turning into just another amusement park company, charging for everything; i used to feel special going to WDW when the company offered so many additional "free" services, from transportation to fastpass, which was so much fun, finding the next available ride and run to it, really making us feel like kids again. These were the things that made it feel so special. Now we need to pay for Genie+ etc and if you can't afford it, just join the plebs and make way for the rich, and whats the point in paying an overprices entry ticket if you then have to pay for rides individually? who makes these decisione???
It used to feel like "we are doing this for you" to "we need to ask for more money from you"... its already a premium price destination, and people still budget, so they go elsewhere, since its the same and sometimes better as you say.
Universal is so much better
We have taken our family many times but this year we felt extorted at every turn and it really ruined the magic.
It was actually cheaper to visit France and Italy this year. Not going to Disney until they treat you like you are spending the money you are!!!!
Honestly I wouldn’t even care about the price gouging but it’s absurd how they go on about it
I thought about getting the idiotic genie+ thing for our visit to Hollywood studious but it’s so convoluted and unclear that spending the money isn’t worth it.
They keep chipping away at the perks. Without those the comparison is basically just price, and Disney won't win that.
We like renting a vacation home for the same cost as a hotel, we get our own pool, kitchen, everyone gets their own room. Plus we enjoy going to other restaurants or universal.
Yes wife and I rented at a vacation resort when we recently went to Disney. Price was great and had 2 rooms kitchen hot tub pools and stores and shops on each corner. Negative. Once we left park made no sense to try to come back. I heard people staying on site doing that
I have done the Reunion resort and for 10 people it made sense. If you have a small family and can afford a Disney hotel it’s great but with 10 people u need a house. We did a 5 bedroom house and it was great. I like the convenience of the Disney bubble but it would have cost at least triple my 4300 price for 8 nights if I had stayed on property for 10 people.
@@jasonb9174depends on where you stay. When I bring my family we stay in Windsor Hills. 4 br 3bath house with private pool and hot tub! Rent a car. House is 7 mins from Animal Kingdom door to door. Driving to and from the parks for a mid day break is absolutely no problem from this community and we have done it often!
Just for reference, we are taking my family to Disney for Thanksgiving 2024. For 6 nights. 4 adults, 2 kids. The cheapest hotel on Disney property is all stars which is $3140 all in for family suite. Super small space. I’m paying $2083 all in for a 4 bedroom house with tons of bathrooms and space, and a pool, and a kitchen dining room for us to have Thanksgiving dinner. We will probably buy Christmas party tickets for everyone with my AP discount, do brunch one morning at Boma and Topolinos, and relax without all the crowd that is Disney on a holiday. All while saving over $1k on hotel. So many options for your best Disney Trip ever!
I'm also a fan of vacation rental houses. I sort of soured on hotels with the noise. Kids running in the hallways. Doors slamming. TVs at high volume. The last three times I went to Disney World I stayed in a vacation house. Yeah, I was just one person, but a three bedroom house was cheaper than a hotel room. Plus I got a private pool, spa, a full kitchen, a laundry, space, and quiet. I cooked my own breakfast and dinners, took a rideshare to the parks and had one meal there, and came out even (the cost of the rideshares against the price of three Disney meal).
Stay onsight at Universal. Sapphire Falls hotel rocks!
I once went to a job fair in Burbank. There were representatives from several companies who were hiring at that time, including Disney. Of all the companies with similar openings, Disney had the lowest paying positions. I asked one of the reps why this was and was told that “because you should consider it such a honor to work for Disney, they don’t feel the need to have to pay you that much.” Wow! This has nothing to do with Disney hotels, but just an example of the Disney mentality.
Thank you for the video. I'm almost 40 and it's been a life dream to go to Disney World. When I was younger, my job paid for a Walt Disney customer service course for us and we learned the average American family had to save up for a Walt Disney vacation for about 5 years. That's why they offered so much all inclusive service and just went above and beyond to make it the best experience possible for families. We were told a story of a family that had taken a family photo at the park, but had decided not to buy the photo. A month later, the grandmother in the photo passed away and the family really regretted not buying that photo. They called and wanted to buy the photo to remember their last happy family experience with her. Disney painstakingly dig through all their photographs trying to narrow it down by which day of the vacation it was, what time of day, how many family members in the photo, what they were wearing, or anything they had with them, what Disney character. It took a long while, but eventually they ended up mailing that family the photo for free after they confirmed it was the right one. I feel like that spark is missing when I hear about all the things they're pulling one by one. Now I wish I would've gotten the chance to go before it becomes like any other theme park.
For the “average” family, a trip to Disney was a “once in a lifetime” trip due to cost back in the day. NOW,it’s an impossibility for the, “average” family…..They are the epitome of corporate greed.
Yeah, that'll never happen today. They'll be like "lol sorry for your loss" and tell you to kick rocks for wasting their time.
The Cottages at Margaritaville Resort Orlando are a great option for larger families! The resort is very close to Disney! For about the same price as a Disney Value resort family suite, you could rent a 4 bedroom 4.5 bath cottage with a full kitchen. I love the extra space and the colorful island vibes of the resort.
And many cottages are dog friendly!
Or just renting a house in general... 4-5 bedroom houses Private Pools , awesome homes... for a fraction of the price of a Disney hotel or a Margaritaville resort house.... Just need a car....
I’ve wondered about those!
Disney: "If we increase prices and reduce amenities, we can maximize our gross revenue!"
Also Disney: "Hey, why is attendance going down?"
This is not the only reason we're boycotting those creeps.
@@-OBELUS-there are lots of better places you can take your family and kids. I'm not into waiting 3 hours for 3 second ride. And seeing males dressed as women
Vegas has jacked their prices so high you can probably save a lot of money going to Disneyland now
@@jimkoenig5026 Turn off Fox News and remember that it isn't men dressing as women that are shooting up elementary schools, movie theaters, high schools, malls, churches etc. You worry abut the wrong stuff, Mr "FREEDOM!"
It’s like there is something wrong with their brains…duh!
Disney somehow seems to think they can test the waters with higher prices and reduced offerings and perks, and they've used adaptations to COVID as an excuse to make permanent all sorts of initiatives that are unfriendly to consumers.
But as long as people keep paying, Disney will see no need to spend more than they need to.
YES!
Yup. They just keep trying. The margin of tolerance for the customers are too loose. Since lots of Disney die hard fans go to Disney even not being able to pay the credit card which is insane to me.
The problem is Disney owned and operated hotels are way too expensive. Disney needs to consider adjusting their prices to remain competitive with hotels located just outside of Disney World.
We went in April and resorts were $800 a night on average and not pet friendly. We got an off-site whole house, pet friendly airbnb, 10 mins to Universal and 20 mins to Disney for 10 days for $2000. It would have been $8000 for the resort room, not a whole house and pup would have had to be boarded or stay home. We also used a cooler backpack and carried our own food in the park. Saved a ton of thanks to the full kitchen in the rental 💰
I no longer stay on property because I’m no longer going to WDW. For me and my family, the experience overall is no longer worth the effort, patience, or money. Eventually, the crowds were too big, the waits too long, and the expense far too high for what you get. Yes, I understand the crowds are reduced this summer, but that’s at least in part because of people like me staying away. IMO, talking about the perks of staying at the WDW resorts is kind of like nitpicking the details. It’s the big picture - cost vs. reward - that is keeping me away.
How can the crowds be too big? DFB said parks are empty?
"Nobody goes there anymore--It's too crowded". Yogi Berra
After many visits to WDW over the years, my last time was in 2019 - it was super crowded, long waits for every ride, and a 2o minute wait for a coffee. As we were leaving, I waved goodbye to the castle - I won’t be seeing it again.
We did stay at Port Orleans, post cruise, last year, and I was horrified to find the only hot tea available on property was Earl Grey, or Green Tea! I’m English, and this was a big deal for me.
Also, rooms only serviced on alternate days….. very poor at the price!
As a person who takes his family every year to WDW, we NEVER stay on resort property. You can get a 2 BR/2 Bath (full kitchen and living room) with a balcony overlooking a pristine lake just minutes away from Disney for less than their cheapest budget resort. There are so many of these types of resorts to choose from and the extra benefit is that you don't have to rely on pricey Disney food for every meal, as you have your own kitchen and cheaper restaurant options surrounding your resorts. The 30 minute early entry doesn't make a big difference if you know how to navigate the parks. We have no troubles hitting all the rides at AK or Epcot in a single day, without lightning lane. A rental car offers you the opportunity for a beach day or the ability to check out the other sights in the Orlando area. Unless you are needing a "fully immersive" Disney week, I highly recommend skipping the overpriced Disney hotels.
You get it lol this is how one should do a Disney trip.
Where do you recommend to stay?
@@juicylucyable Our favorite place is called the Blue Heron Beach Resort (which is the one I described in my original post). The Two Bedroom Sunrise Suites are wonderful for a family with 2-4 kids. There is even a mini-golf course next door with a volcano that "erupts". It is super close to the parks and Disney Springs. Another great option that is close to the parks (but a tad more spendy than the Blue Heron) is the Sonesta ES Suites Lake Buena Vista. Modern 1 and 2 bedroom suites with breakfast included! There are a half dozen or so that surround these two that are worth a look, but those two are the ones we stay at most often when we go.
I'm going in 2 months, but I think it'll be my last time. We are getting priced out and the lost perks are huge. No more baggage transportation, direct to your room, free transportation from airport, free fast passes, free magic bands, and especially the shopping transportation where you could just send purchases from the parks direct to your room! Also the disney dining plan, extra magic hours. I just can't justify it anymore. It's just a big money grab now and it's so depressing!
Almost no housekeeping now, too.
Have fun for your last time. We went a year ago for our last time at Disneyland. It was sure a crummy time. It was a mess and things were made so you DON'T have any fun. I remember the days you could cruise the park, run on rides, buy stuff, and still have money in your pocket at the end of the day.
I'm an AP holder and have been for a very long time. I stopped staying in Disney hotels when they began charging to park my car. It may sound shallow, but I've stayed in most of the hotels so many times I couldn't possibly remember. That changed after my first trip when I was stunned about that charge. I now value staying off property and find I get back to my room as fast and sometimes even quicker than on property. I also love hitting a store where I can get fresh fruit, cheese, and tomatoes. The parks can leave me a bit dehydrated.
Staying off property really benefits you if you're a local or have a rental vehicle and enjoy going and leaving on your own terms.
I used to stay at Royale Parc Suites on Irlo Bronson (formerly Quality Suites Maingate East).
But the past few trips, I just rent a house through Villa Direct. For the same price as a Disney hotel, I get access to a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house with a covered lanai and private pool. It’s only 15 minutes away from WDW.
They say in order to be successful you need to make the little people feel like big people. If families aren’t feeling welcome and people who want to go are being priced out, then there’s no loyalty to the brand. I was just there for Fourth of July and feel as though there wasn’t anything really separating my experience from Polynesian and sheraton. They didn’t have the ohana noodles last time I was there. It was rice and ever since, I was out 😂
Wow Bob Iger said it was too hot for folks to go 4th of July. Glad you did not melt.😂
That's what you say as a CEO when your attendance is down due to poor corporate decisions. 😏
@@TheGoofy1932 Been to Disneyworld 50 times always hot 105 100% humidity never stopped me or the thousands that went with me!
@@debbieslaten1348 the park was packed that day and the entire week 😂
@@patsysolatzzo2962 just not true. Not packed no waits for most rides. My niece was there and stayed the week. She FaceTime me several times to show how dead it was.
We got a family suite at Cabana Bay at Universal for LESS than we paid for a standard room at POP. I could'nt believe it. The resort was 100% better, we had an hour early entry, free shuttle service that was constantly running, we had souvenirs sent to the hotel while we were exploring the parks, and we could walk to the parks if we wanted to. The perks of staying on site at Disney just aren't what they used to be and in my opinion are not worth the extra $. The only pro to staying on site is that early time to get a spot on those fancy rides. The last time we Disney'd we stayed airbnb and saved a fortune and had an amazing place with plenty of space, our own pool, for a fourth of the price.
a week at universal is almost half the cost of disney for us
I love Cabana Bay!!
We have been using VRBO and renting entire homes/condos with swimming pools for 1/2 the price of a moderate. The 4 bedrooms, living room, multiple bathrooms and full kitchen are hard to give up now when we travel with a group. Just hubby and I will sometimes stay at a Disney vacation property because I do love the bubble but even those are super expensive now.
You missed one of my favorite benefits they got rid of: the airport checkin at the resort! It was SO NICE to drop your luggage off before heading into the parks on your final day and having them shipped to the airport for you. It saved at least 2 hours, which made spending some time at the parks before a flight much more feasible. Between this loss and the loss of evening extra magic hours for Value and Moderate resort guests, I will be seriously considering staying off site for my next trip. I love Disney resorts, but I don’t spend enough time back at the hotel to justify paying significantly more than I would at one of the Disney Good Neighbor hotels.
went once and stayed at a nearby cheaper hotel when I was a kid. At first I complained then realized we barely was at the hotel and we saved SO much money!
Disney needs to take a page from Universals handbook. Offer some sort of tiered Genie+ when you stay on property. Maybe an unlimited Lightening Lane and premium ride (i.e. Tron and Guardians) priority when staying at a deluxe hotel.
Also....their hotel unlimited soda refill cups should also work in the parks. I'd offer that to all hotel guests, not just moderate or deluxe. Disney is missing an opportunity to sell park only refills for like $40 per day. Keep the mug and charge $30 per mug for a re-visit. Soda and water only.
💯
That would be great GOD bless diy sadly Disney won’t
They are never going to get rid of Genie + they make lots of money from it and yeah when you go to Disney you are going to spend a lot of money and it’s worth it every year.
@stitch_life292 ....I didn't say get rid of it. I'm saying to include it in the moderate hotels...and offer some sort of unlimited lighting lane pass for deluxe guests. All others pay for Genie+. Genie+ averages about $25 per day? You don't have to be an economist to figure you can essentially cover that cost in a $450/night moderate or an $800/night deluxe.
I agree so much. I stay at a good neighbor for Disney, but when we came for Universal we stayed at Royal Pacific. Those Express passes were very expensive but made getting them free with RP a good value bc if we stayed at the very reasonably priced value level and added them, we would be at or close to RP prices. The Express passes were also better in wvery way than Genie+. You simply get to use them on almost everything without any need to schedule their use in advance and let that schedule dictate your park day. It was pricey. Our day/night at Universal cost significantly more than our day at Disney. I felt like I got an excelent value at each and did not feel O overpaid for my experiences or stays.
AirBnBs close by are $800 for a whole week. They have water parks, swimming pools, and a bunch more stuff included.
Just an FYI those AirB&B’s the HOA’s have those in their crosshairs here locally, I wouldn’t bank on those staying available.
We stayed at a vacation resort no obligations. Rented like a hotel from there website. $138 a night with kitchen w/d and 2 bedrooms. Very happy
@@williamelewis464 well that’s unfortunate lol
There are many resort house rentals that will remain available even if the Airbnb market shuts down. Many have a private pool and their own little water parks
We didn't know how good we had it back in the day with Disney Resorts. Free park tickets for the duration of your stay were the best thing they had. Everything now seems to be widdled down. I'm sure it won't be long before the buses are an additional charge.
We rented a place just outside the resorts this February when we went. With four kids, it was substantially cheaper to rent a house that had two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, etc.
We stayed at Disney properties for the first few times we visited. Then we realized you can rent a car and Airbnb or hotel room for way less, and have way more freedom. The food options and prices off Disney property is another big savings.
5:12 the limited extra evening hours are what I resent the most… one of my best memories w my older son is going back to our room for late afternoon/dinner, leaving dad and little brother in the room, and sneaking out at “bedtime” and exploring a beautifully lit park at night, and go on some of the “big boy” rides without the lines. 😢
So many perks just gone. Magical Express was Awesome! Magic hours, (now just for the most expensive) Magic bands, etc etc. Not only did they raise prices but every year they take reasons away. The are wrecking many of the reasons to stay on property.
They just stopped offering the same that the surrounding Parks also don’t offer. Weird right
@@williamelewis464but those other hotels don’t have Disney prices.
@@williamelewis464Did you watch the video? Universal gives all hotel guests, from basic to deluxe, free express lane passes (which cost upwards of $400 for a family of three). I haven't looked into it, but I'm sure they also offer a hot breakfast with your stay, which you also do not get with these overpriced Disney resorts.
Unfortunately, the things we've seen in the parks are happening in the hotels. I've seen some cast members that would need customer service training including in Deluxe - Bell service issues - Housekeeping issues - The food has taken a hit in terms of quality and quantity as well - so there is less value/magic...and I haven't even talk about their De-theming going on (Comtempo, GF, Poly etc....)
Exactly, if I wanted to stay at a hotel without Disney theming then I could Very easily find one for half the price or less. So why would I pay Disney's exorbitant prices and not even get the Disney feel from my Disney hotel 🏩?! 😏🤦♀️ So many poor decisions are going on there right now.
I agree 100% with the de-theming...that really stinks...I used to love staying at Disney resorts be cause of the Disney oriented rooms...not any more...they look like any other hotel in America now...plain....nothing relates to disney anymore
We stay at the military resort hotel, Shades of Green at WDW, all the time. So many perks and amazing rooms at really low prices, compared to a Disney resort hotels.
I can't speak for others, but for me there are 2 reasons: (1) They are massively overpriced for what you get. (2) Many of the lower price Disney hotels do not give you enough priority for express lane reservations, only the super-expensive ones.
Although frankly, the Disney experience is now generally so bad that I prefer to go to Universal and Sea World.
They don’t even hold the purchases at front of the park anymore??
When you showed the wilderness Lodge at nine minutes and 40 seconds you said it was 500 and something dollars in 2023 but the screen showed $195 I believe.
Driving down was part of the vacation my parents took us to Disney World. And we went several years in a row everything from taking Amtrak sleeper so flying back then the Contemporary Towers was $90 a night. I was 13 my sister was 12 and my parents had Jennifer who was born later on. World Resort guests had the theme parks for themselves till 12 midnight every Saturday. I'm so grateful we went when we did.
While I only stay on property, they are beginning to price us out.
I went to book a hotel when it was 30% off for Florida residents this year, and at the discounted price it was $1100+ per night! I asked how many park passes were included and the girl was like huh? No passes included for that price! Not a friggin chance. I'll stay at a nice local luxury resort with shuttle service and early park entry for less than $400/night
FYI the price shown for 2023 Wilderness Lodge was for All-Star Sports.
Them killing extra magic hours in the evening for all but most expensive property resorts is what did it for us. We used to plan our trips around them.
I miss the Magical Express and the 1 hour early entry perk. 😢
It's prejudice move against single mothers, making it impossible to afford they only want the super rich there.
Family trip 6 adults 2 kids for a 10 day trip rented a house in Formosa Gardens for $2200. Roughly 10 minutes away from Disney - we rented a van using our first responder discount. House had 5 bedrooms,4 baths,pool and lanai,huge kitchen,dining room,living room,laundry room and garage,all on one floor. We have always rented a home on our last few visits and loved the quiet atmosphere.
Would you mind sharing the company you rented from and which house. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you 😊
Don't remember the company as it was right after COVID but it's called DOPEY'S DELIGHT and the site is on line.
@@joanfoley6148 thank you
I am so sad that Disney has absolutely raised prices so high that we cannot even consider a visit there at all.
Between the constant addition of their time share scheme and the continued removal of the very theming that made the resorts stand out, Disney has succeeded in turning their resorts into very expensive La Quintas.
We've stayed on property once (Coronado Springs) and loved it (pre-COVID). We later stayed at a Good Neighbor hotel (Caribe Royale Orlando, with a suite!) and it was much more affordable and we loved that resort even more. Most recently, we stayed on property at Universal's Endless Summer Dockside resort and that was a steal! The value that we got at Universal's Dockside resort was unreal and we loved it! Brand new resort, two bedroom suite with kitchenette, complimentary upgrade to a pool view, early park admission, complimentary transpo including the the super fun and refreshing water taxi, good food at Dockside for a truly affordable price, resort wide key charging privileges, package delivery, resort style pool, Starbucks on site, and more. We will definitely be returning to Dockside!
As much as I love Disney, there are various factors to consider when choosing accommodations. For some, budget constraints or finding better deals elsewhere might be the main reason. Others may prefer off-site options for more space and amenities.
Was thinking of staying at D-land Hotel for a 55 birthday bash and looked up prices. I was seriously shocked! $600 for 1 night in the crummy room? Please. That's half our mortgage a month. No way am I giving these fools that much dough for a bed for half a night.
As a Disney World fan and as a shareholder, I really hope Josh D’Amaro is listening!
Listening and Acting though are two Very Different things. They're going to continue chipping away at service while increasing their profits. Walt would be beside himself if he were alive to see what Disney has become. This is definitely Not his vision.
The one thing executives are very poor at is listening. They live in their own world of mansions, huge paychecks, and a lavish lifestyle completely disconnected from normal people.
We’re staying at a Universal Hotel next week and spending most of our time in their parks. Just one day at Disney and I agreed to that under duress. Could have happily skipped.
Just a comment on magic bands, do not throw out your old ones. They last for years, originally was told the battery lasts 3 years, but if you are only using it for basics: admission, photo pass, the magic band lasts much longer, was there in December, we were using bands that were like 4 or 5 years old.
We booked a trip in January 2014 when bands were introduced. I used my original blue band in April 2023 without missing a beat!
You are correct. The original MagicBand has 2 RFID circuits in it, a passive short range antenna that always works for touch scanning (room, park entry) and a second active (battery-boosted) RFID antenna for ride photos (10 feet). The whole thing is gel sealed to be waterproof, which is why the battery can’t be replaced.
The new MagicBand+ has a rechargeable battery, buzzer, and lights, which is why it drains so fast and needs nightly recharges.
The thrill is gone for me. I was reintroduced to Disney as an older adult in 2013 and loved it. My first visit was 1978 so much different experience. By 2019 I knew the lay of the land but the perk of free transportation from the airport was very important, especially now that I’m older. The resorts are just out of control with the rates. My first resort was port orleans and one year I splurged at the wilderness lodge but my favorite was the Coronado. It was reasonable until they built the tower. So yes, stay off site to save some of your hard earned money.
With every update, Disney keeps removing the theming in the rooms.
It use to be a fun whimsical time for kids.
Now the resorts are just holiday inn’s with a themed lobby.
We stayed at WorldQuest Resort which is a couple miles away from Disney. It’s $175 a night and you get an entire condo (3 bed / 2 bath) for the entire family.
With our kids being the ages they are we figured it was easier to stay on Disney property in case we needed to take a break in the middle of the day. Originally we had dreams of staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge but then we realized that was insanely expensive so now we're at a value hotel. My girls are still very excited about going (and didn't know about AKL anyways) but if we decide to go back in the future we may be looking at an off property rental or a good neighbor hotel. We were originally going to fly but that's a hot mess right now too so if the drive to Florida goes well we may go again in the future....but drive/stay off property to maybe save some money.
When a good friend and her husband spent a week there in May and I found out my GF and I went to Spain for a week, in May, a lot cheaper than what they paid, I was amazed. They paid almost double what we paid for our entire trip. We had plenty of stories to talk about and visited many different places, they went to Disney and had nothing much of anything to say except the firework shows were amazing.
DisneyWorld has plenty your friends just dont want to share the magic .
I won't begrudge any type of vacation people want to take. A trip to Spain with a GF and a trip to Disney with a spouse are vary different animals.
I remember Disneyland Paris 1995 with my parents. We stayed at Hotel Cheyenne, full themed Western town with free barbecue and music and Saloon show. Justified the expense in a way.
AirBNB can provide as nice of a room (plus 5-8 extra bedrooms) for the same price. If you have to pay for every little thing at a Disney resort might as well save a few thousand dollars and stay a few miles away.
I just stayed in Disney’s Saratoga Springs last weekend. We had a blast!it was full too! 🤷♂️
How much did you pay?
@@DannyTruthMagnified It was on CM discount But Sarasota is reasonable
@@FloridaFreaks Ah, I see.
When taking a small family or going as just a couple, staying on property is doable but try taking a large family of 14 like like I am, hunny the thought of staying on property doesn’t even cross my mind…hell to the no!
As always DFB always helps us with the best information 🙌 And AJ's voice is sooo relaxing lol
While staying 'off property' at one of the neighboring hotels, even the non-Disney hotels near Disney Springs, be aware of parking fees that can be over $35 a night! If you're booking there to save money but end up spending $500 bucks extra to park your car during a long vacation, you might end up feeling foolish.
I haven't watched yet, but my reasons are
- the Perks aren't worth it.
- No dining plan.
- They aren't themed enough.
They have the dining plan back.
Is art of animation or Pop Century not themed enough?
@BeyonderPrime art of animation is themed enough, but it feels like the only one that tries to be Disney. Pop century is not themed when it comes to rooms besides the picture over the bed.
Whoever designed the rooms looks like they were afraid to add any disney charm in case it affected the resale value of the hotel (besides art of animation)
The in-laws took our family and my wife's older brother's family to Disney World last year because the latter were in from China, and it was his wife and kid's first time in the US. We stayed at a non-Disney and non-partner resort and rented cars, but the drive was only about 10-15 minutes to either park, and as folks from the Midwest that's hardly anything to scoff at. Part of the reason for not staying at a resort is things like the Magic Express perk being gone, which my in-laws loved, but also because we stayed for five nights in a 3-bedroom suite complete with a full kitchen and dining area, and I think the whole stay was $1000 or less. We did a quick breakfast each morning before heading to the parks to save a bit more as well. I can certainly see the allure of staying at a Disney resort for some of the extra hours perks and easier time getting to and from the parks, but for the price when you're dealing with six adults and two kids under 5, the option my in-laws chose literally couldn't be beat. Honestly since it was a nearly free trip to Disney World I had absolutely zero reason to complain. 😂
Growing up...I was lucky enough to get to go to Disney World almost every year from about 1979-1988.
My grandparents were snowbirds (I'm from Canada) and lived in New Port Richey, Fla (a few hours drive from the park) and we would visit them around Christmas and hit Disney as our big present. It was awesome!
But....back in those days, a blue collar family like ours could afford to go to Disney for a few days and have tons of fun and NOT worry about the cost.
No way could we afford to do that these days! My folks weren't rich by any means, but they could afford to bring 2 kids to the park every year. The average blue collar family can't go to Disney anymore for a few days without taking a huge chunk out of your Visa...Mastercard and Amex!!
It breaks my heart how much it now costs.
For us, it was the price of food at the hotels and the poor choices we had when we stayed there. We also felt kind of trapped in Disney due to it the location and felt we were missing so much that was outside the resort.
Always amazing videos! Personally i love staying at a good neighbor hotel near the springs and resort hopping 😊
Went last October. Stayed at an air bnb in Kissimmee. 18 min drive to parks, a full 4 bedroom house with an inground pool for a little over $100 a night. The drive was better than waiting for a bus even though I had to pay to park. Seeing as how you have to pay to park at the resorts now there’s really no benefit.
When I called the resort staff said parking is free... When did they start charging for parking?!! I spoke to them last month.
@@slidellaholt unless they changed it recently staying at a resort it was free to park your car if you drove there. Then they started charging I think $25 a night to your resort fee to park there.
I stayed at the Coronado Springs Gran Destino in December. I fell in love with that resort
Hotel Plaza Blvd right next to Disney Springs has tons of good neighbor hotels. I’ve stayed at The B, Doubletree Suites, Wyndham, Hilton & Conf Center, and Hilton Buena Vista Palace (my fave). They are wonderful hotels at HALF the cost! They have more amenities, and offer many of the same perks as a Disney property. And some (most) are walking distance to Disney Springs. Watch it though, some charge for parking or a charge a resort fee or both. They can be up to $35 per night, ouch! There is really no valid reason to stay on property anymore unless you just wanna pay Disney more money🤷♂️
Hilton Buena Vista Palace is my fav as well. The food on property is great and cannot go wrong with their $28 breakfast buffet.
Don’t need to see this video, cause the answer is ultra simple; They’re too damn expensive, just like everything else in DW.
Man I love Disney hotels I’m shocked people don’t have good experiences because they’re themed and really fun usually! I stayed at the boardwalk on July 4th weekend and it was a blast!!! We loved it!!! It’s so much fun and adds to the experience imo
I totally agree. It is such a relief to not have to drive.
The theming has really taken a hit lately with the new refurbs. A few character pictures and not much else seem to be getting common. Also see the Riviera as a whole. A generic concrete tower that could be anywhere.
Yeah like I'm vacation and I don't feel like being responsible for transportation, nor do I want to leave the Disney Bubble at any point during the trip, but it will cost you a premium, and I will pay it, because I am a fiscally irresponsible man-child who loves taking his daughter to Disney every year!
Wish we had the same experience. When we were at the same place we could here people on both side of the hotel talking, TVs also and toilets flushing. The walls were thin and could hear everything. Plus everytime we walked outside someone put there cigarette butts out by the entrance and wreaked. Glad you had a good experience though
@@MatthewOnAMissionFromGodI make great money and very fiscally responsible, but we did the hotel in 2021 and it was sooo expensive!
Those "free perks" are not free at all. Those perks are baked into room rates. As Disney stripped away Magical Express and other amenities the price of the rooms never lowered.
Thanks for the video DFB! Love y’all!
I think the cost just isn't worth it ...first time we went it was 8,000 with everything included(Tix, hotel, flight etc)..
Staying off of Disney property we paid 3500 and stayed in a much nicer place...Disney has basically lost me as a customer until the prices become more inclusive.
The best part is Universal has three premier hotels. Stay at one of them and you get Unlimited Express pass for your entire stay. Spend $2400 a night at Winderness Lodge, and you get the same as the people staying at the $97 a night Holiday Inn.
We got such better deals at Universal that we stayed on property at Universal and used that as our home base for Disney!!!!
Your narration is awesome and soothing at the same time.
We are coming at the end of the year and no way was I putting 5 adults in those small spaces for a week. Also not spending for the accommodations that would make that comfortable. Way too many other options.
Why stay on property when you get no perks on staying on property when it's cheaper to stay off property
We stay in the Springhill Suites Lake Buena Vista- rooms are under $100/night, offer free hot breakfast and the rooms are spacious! 300-400sf for standard rooms! We drive back and forth- the trip is 10 minutes from the gate & you can use your Mariott points. Highly recommended.
Thank you AJ for this video... I hope Disney execs watch it!
For the price of one night at a Deluxe resort you can stay four nights in a timeshare condo. The Sheraton Vistana offers great deals from time to time and doesn’t require that you sit through a timeshare pitch - but they will upgrade your stay if you do.
Yes , expense is the first reason. Then all things you mentioned plus with Disney taking away the theming for me is another reason. Wish I owned/managed a hotel off property because those things that cost little would have big payback for the off site hotels. Although I wonder did Disney do this purposely to cater only to those with lots of 💰💵.
Contemporary garden wing is our go to!
AJ, you have a nice voice and perfect delivery to these vlogs!
because they are too EXPENSIVE
AJ - I love this show, and am a regular viewer. Thanks for the tips. Just a comment on early Park entry based on staying at a Disney Hotel: We entered early, and waked up Main Street, and took a right walked through FantasyLand, past Small World and Peter Pan, and were stopped from going further, because that part of the Park wasn't open yet! So, yes, you can get in the Park, but the entire Park doesn't open until 9AM - did I understand this right?
Stayed in PORS, POFQ and All Star sports growing up. Stayed off property plenty of other times. This yr going for 10 days and staying off property. My own kids first visit. The perks just aren’t there anymore. Cheaper to stay off with a family. Plus with little ones and naps we wanted space and separate rooms. Once they are older we’ll look at staying on property again. Plenty of semi themed VRBO’s and AirBnB’s close by with water parks, pools and space for less.
My bucket list is to stay at every resort at least once. Even if only for a night or 2. We visit to eat at restaurants and check out various resorts. Fell in love with AKL, Destino Tower and Wilderness Lodge that way. Try to take big trips every 2-3 years with small weekend trips thrown in during our off years.
I just booked a 4 bedroom 3 bath house 8 miles from Epcot for $171 a night
Zero reasons to stay at a hotel on property unless you enjoy throwing your money away