re: Disney Pros, is it worth it to stay on site?

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How is this different from the other resorts?

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Some of them have different types of transportation available. Even being able to take a boat to Disney Springs can alleviate the stress on the buses.
Resorts that must take a bus to every location: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Art of Animation, All-Stars, Pop Century,
Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach.

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the bus will stop at every stop at the resorts with multiple bus stops unless it is already full of passengers. If the bus is full you will wait for another bus regardless of how many bus stops exist on property.

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That's true. But many other places that large have multiple stops, which can be good and bad. Bad in that you are at your resort but sometimes have to wait for your stop which can be frustrating or vice versa where you are the first to get on but then have to wait another 10 minutes to leave the resort. But for some people, they see this as an opportunity. On very crowded days, you can take an extra 2-5 minute walk and guarantee yourself a seat on the bus by going to that first stop. And just like the waiting for dropoff/pickup can be a mental thing, same can be said for watching the bus to your park completely fill up right in front of you and having to wait for the next one.

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Some of them have different types of transportation available. Even being able to take a boat to Disney Springs can alleviate the stress on the buses.

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Oh okay. Yeah boats are definitely cooler. It was nice being able to take a boat to Hollywood Studios and Epcot when we stayed at Boardwalk in May.

I just don't mind the busses. We get to the bus stop early and never have to worry about a spot.

As long as you have a ticket connected to your My Disney Experience, you get 30 days to make the fast passes. If you’re flexible, you can set yourself up to ride some good rides late in the day, and if you do rope drop, still get the ones you missed waiting hardly as long as a regular fast pass in the afternoon.

The Mine Train is usually toughest there. Cool that you got one when you wanted. Toy Story in Hollywood Studios. Frozen Ever After in Epcot. And flight of the passage in animal kingdom. Other than that it’s hit or miss on the other big rides like Saorin, Everest, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, etc.

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I really want to know what house/condo baldona is staying at where he also gets free breakfast for $125/night after taxes. Think it's somewhere in Gainsville?

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I've stayed at multiple places, the below is a solid choice but I've also stayed at some other chains we've got deals on through Credit Cards and other ways. This was off priceline its on International Drive right outside the gate and IMO is nicer than the All-Stars:

Springhill Suites
1 King Bed + Sofabed - Free Wifi, Mini Fridge, Microwave
Includes:
FREE Cancellation until 12:00 PM on 12/12/2017 (EST)
Free Internet In Room
and Free Breakfast
$103
per night
Room Cost $103.00
1 Room x 5 Nights $515.00
Taxes & Fees $64.40
Total Charges $579.40
Prices are in USD.

I don't know why you are busting my balls as someone that goes to Disney a ton, you clearly love it and don't mind the price. Good for you.

Disney has never been the "big" vacation of the year for me. I completely understand others wanting to spend and not have to worry about small things like the transportation. While you can pinch pennies at the All-Stars and they are fine, I am simply offering my opinion on why I prefer to stay off site. I really don't see the issue there, especially if you are a rewards member at a hotel chain and get a good deal.

ETA: We've never had an issue getting fastpasses either. If you set them 30 days or even 25 ahead and check in a handful of times after that to maybe get even better times you can basically get whatever you need.

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And you’ve made incorrect claims about staying on site. Like how that locks you into meals provided by Disney.

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BS, and yes it freaking does lock you into meals with Disney. Not literally lock you in, but why would you stay on site and order to go from off site? As well as everything else. Disney is great, as good as it gets at customer service. They are also hell a good at their business of getting you to overspend on stuff you don't need, my wife is a perfect example of their perfect customer. Of course you can order pizza delivery and have some other food options, but who that stays on site actually does that? If you have the convenience of staying on site you may as well spend the extra and eat on site too.

Absolutely none of my claims have been false, you tried to talk about the valet and you were wrong about that as it stopped years ago. And yeah I didn't know about that and I probably would have used it if I'd known. I did literally eat at Kona Cafe multiple times, park at the Polynesian, and take the Monorail to MK. Maybe its not the perfect tip, but I do it often and it works and many don't know about it.

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here’s the condo you get for $125/night with free breakfast and a separate room for your kids, not some little divider.

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I said I prefer a suite or multiple hotel rooms over a standard room. That Suite I posted above has a door or actually two doors I believe separating the king from the other bed and two tvs.

I have two properties on VRBO in Florida, so yes I can find some condos/ VRBO for roughly the same. If we need 3-4 bedrooms that's what I do. I never said it was $125/ night, I said I save hundreds from taking that same group and staying on site.

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BS

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yes it freaking does lock you into meals with Disney

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Not literally lock you in

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why would you stay on site and order to go from off site?

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Who said anything about ordering to go? If you are staying on site, you can pick up groceries just like anywhere else on your way in. If you are staying offsite, where do you eat lunch? Drive back to your hotel/suite/house/condo/farm?

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They are also hell a good at their business of getting you to overspend on stuff you don't need

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You are talking to someone who has an excel file with 10 tabs half of which are dedicated to helping determine what's the cheapest route for meals while still eating where we want. Every chance I get, I preach against the meal plan for this reason. All of that being said, it has nothing to do with where you eat when you stay on site. Nothing stops people from getting fast food no matter where you stay.

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Of course you can order pizza delivery and have some other food options, but who that stays on site actually does that?

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Per year or per day? Please, please tell me that you don't think every person who stays on site ONLY eats at disney restaurants. FFS.

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Absolutely none of my claims have been false

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Your first sentence of this post is a lie. You even call yourself out on it.

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you tried to talk about the valet and you were wrong about that as it stopped years ago.

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Um. I edited that post before there was even a response to it. You see how that works? I made a statement. Double checked because I wasn't sure. And then corrected it along with some extra information.

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I did literally eat at Kona Cafe multiple times, park at the Polynesian, and take the Monorail to MK. Maybe its not the perfect tip, but I do it often and it works and many don't know about it.

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Literally? Am I to assume that when you don't use the word "literally" that you aren't being honest?

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That Suite I posted above has a door or actually two doors I believe separating the king from the other bed and two tvs.

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I looked it up along with the floorplan. It's a half-room divider. No door.

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If we need 3-4 bedrooms that's what I do. I never said it was $125/ night, I said I save hundreds from taking that same group and staying on site.

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How much do you spend on those condos?

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Where Disney is great at getting you to spend more money, is everything outside of what I mentioned above

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What Disney is good at is getting you to pay for things you normally wouldn't while also getting you to upfront for things you think you'll do knowing full well you will go back to your typical behavior. Either way they win. There are meals you pay a premium for for different reasons and that's not limited to Disney. People are willing to pay extra to eat with characters. That's not a hidden cost. I have no clue who eats 4 meals in disney. That one's new. And it's odd that you put "extra snacks" next to "dining plans you don't use". It's either one or the other, no? Like I said, you can bring snacks in the parks. And I can go very deep into the dining plan about why it's horrible for almost everyone but that isn't this thread. Explain "extra rides" as well. Confused about that one. I love the park hoppers. We certainly use them, especially with a young kid where we often break in the early afternoon. For example, we stay at Bay Lake spending the morning at HS, nap at Bay Lake from 2-4, then walk to MK for the afternoon rather than getting back on a bus/monorail anywhere. Other people do the same depending on how close they are to a park. Something not easily done off site.

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When you stay on Disney and never escape them, you spend a lot more. It happens to everyone.

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If you don't go in with a plan and budget, that will happen no matter where you stay. If you stay on site, you are more likely to spend money at Disney. For most people that's the plan. But in no way are they "locked in" or forced to do anything and many of them can handle that.

This whole time it seems you are looking for a pat on the back. Reassurance that what you do is right. It's not wrong if it works for you. My whole point during all of this is that you are presenting things dishonestly. From how expensive Disney hotels are to the convenience they provide to the meals you think you must eat while staying there. I've been going to Disney World for almost 25 years now and I've done it almost every way possible. From staying offsite and eating sandwiches and wearing fanny packs full of snacks to staying in a Grand Villa on the deluxe dining plan while paying $10 for an e-ticket before extra magic hours where a thing. It can be done a variety of ways and no one way is right. But if we're going to give advice here and help people, it helps to actually paint an accurate picture so people can make the most informed decisions.

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I looked it up along with the floorplan. It's a half-room divider. No door.

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Some springhill suites have some rooms that have more than one room that aren't dividers or half rooms. True wall/door seperation. I've stayed in a few around the country. Marriott points rock.

Not sure if that particular hotel offers them though.