Thinking about going to WDW for Thanksgiving 2002. Have a question for the general population.

Would you rather stay in a Disney-owned hotel (with all the various perks that go with it) or stay in a non-Disney property and earn points?

Of course, given the predilection of this website, I think I already know the answer...

[edited to fix spelling]

[This message has been edited by empedocles (edited 12-18-2001).]

It would depend on if you were going to just do the Disney theme parks or also wanting to do other things in the Orlando area. It would also depend on the room rates at the various on-site and off site properties.

If this will be your first stay, only going for 3-4 days and are going to just do Disney then I would stay at a Disney property. If you are going for longer or want to do other things than Disney then I would stay in a Downtown Disney property. You get the early opening perks and are within walking distance of Downtown Disney. It is also easier to get to Sea World or Universal Studios.

To get the "full Disney" experience then stay at an on-site Disney hotel. It really is something the others can't duplicate.

Hope this helps

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Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

But don't forget that the Swan is on Disney property with all the associated perks and a Starwood property. So you can have both. The Dolphin is also on the property and is also a "point-giving hotel" but I can't recall the affiliation.

empedocles,

As a mother of three kids and a veteran of 15 plus trips to Disney World, my initial reaction is to suggest staying on Disney property, especially since you are looking at Thanksgiving, when there will be crowds (not that you can ever really escape crowds at Disney!).

The Disney resort hotels range anywhere in price, at that time of year, from just under $100 to $400+, so you can probably find the type of accomodations you are looking for within Disney itself.

If this is your first trip to Disney, or you have young children and plan to spend most of your time at the Magic Kingdom, staying on site is a must. (If the kids are very young, a monorail hotel, if within your price range, is ideal). Booking now would not be too early. Staying on site also allows you to take advantage of perks like special early morning park entry and eliminates the traffic tie ups that so often occur in the areas just outside Disney, especially in Kissimmee on Route 192, where many of the outer hotels are located.

If you do decide to stay off site, a rental car would be your best way to avoid lost time waiting for hotel shuttles (you'll do enough waiting once inside the parks). We have found that there are some great hotels in the Lake Buena Vista area, specifically on Route 535, which are just minutes from the Disney gates, and the traffic there is somewhat less than that in the Kissimmee hotel area.

As far as the points go, I maximize my ability to earn them as much as anyone, but on this trip it may be more logical to go for convenience and time rather than points. A Disney vacation is usually not relaxing, especially with kids, so proximity to the parks may be worth more in the long run than the points you might otherwise accrue.

If you need further help with any other questions, or are interested in a specific hotel, let me know.......I've stayed in most of them!

Having just returned from MCO, Disney's new Animal Kingdom Lodge is a real winner!

Posted by doc:

Having just returned from MCO, Disney's new Animal Kingdom Lodge is a real winner!
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What was the price. I always find Disney's hotels a bit (lot) too expensive. Stayed twice at the Radisson (on I-4 North Orlando/Winterpark) for $59/$69 and received 500 AA and/or Delta Miles.
I have been in better hotels, however the (corner) room was nice; nice view over a lake.

The Animal Kingdom Lodge rates appear to run from $200-500 depending on season and room location.

Standard rooms run $200-320.

Rooms with an upgraded view or poolside run $255-500.

Rooms with a savannah view, where you can actual see the animals roaming from your room, run $340-500. If the view of the animals is of utmost importance to you, be sure to confirm that your rooms location does provide that view, as many in this hotel do not.

This is one topic which I can say a lot about! Flyerwife - you've been to Disney more than me and I thought we were bad. I think we've been 11 times in 8 years. And yes, I do wish there was some way to earn points/miles other than the old credit card!

I'd completely agree with flyerwife about staying on-site if you have young children. (Last I knew Disney discontinued the early entry hours for on-site guests as a cost cutting measure.) But the ease of just going back to your hotel in 15 minutes is great. Also, the Disney staff really do work hard to make your vacation pleasant.

About pricing - you folks have been paying way, way too much! Last spring I paid (inc. tax) $175/night for the Polynesian concierge and about $30/night less than that for a savannah view room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Check out www.mousesavers.com for some ideas on lowering the prices.

Other than using an annual pass to lower costs, my favorite tip is to call Central Reservations just after 7 AM eastern time. If you don't like offerings, call back. If you think you *might* want something, make a reservation. You can always cancel and Disney is very good about it.

Kids are not an issue (we don't have any, & don't want any... )

If I were to stay in, say, the CY in Downtown Disney, & assuming we really don't wanna go anywhere ther than the airport and Disney stuff, would a car be necessary? How's the transportation from Downtown D. to the parks?

The hotels in Downtown Disney are considered "affiliated" hotels. There is a bus that provides transportation to the Disney parks. The buses make a loop of every hotel. Also if you stay in Downtown Disney you can walk to the actual Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island/Cirque Du Solie. This can be a real plus if you like to walk. The on-site Disney Hotels are great. The staff at the off-site hotel can be hit or miss like any regular hotel. You wouldn't need a car if all you were doing is Disney stuff. The airport is at least a 30 min ride to the Disney area. So depending on how cheap you could rent a car for it might be just as economical as taking two long taxi rides. Car rental in Florida can be really cheap!

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Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

[This message has been edited by MoreMilesPlease (edited 01-11-2002).]

I am heading to WDW in a couple of days. I did all my Hotels thru PL (saving at least 50%) and called ahead direct to give them my affinity member numbers. May not get the points, but you never know. The response from all 3 properties was positive.
(Two of the properties are right in WDW although not Disney owned or operated)

[This message has been edited by RDY3238 (edited 02-01-2002).]

Not having actually stayed ther yet (Sept 10-14, 2002) I say points and location. I'm staying at the Disney Hilton. Which gave me a great deal at $95/night. I'm hoping for an upgrade to a suite. I'll let you know how it goes for us. No car and a 2.3 year old. We don't plan on seeing too much. 2 character breakfasts and the Cirque make up our list so far.

my time to go now.. They now let you in 3hrs later on some nights if you stay at their hotels, so that's probably the way I'll go.

If it's a weekend trip, then a stay at the Dolphin or Swan is worth it to earn the points. Especially if you're gold or platinum with Starwood and can get the lounge access, but don't expect much more in terms of an upgrade.

If it's longer than that, then it's probably worth it to go for a "real" Disney hotel. The Swan/Dolphin don't have the Disney magic (those who've stayed before know what I mean), and don't feature all of the Disney benefits (like room charging and resort package delivery).

I would venture to guess that I've been to Disney more, and stayed at Disney resorts more than anyone else on these boards. My favorites are the Grand Floridian and the Boardwalk, but as always YMMV. FWIW, I highly recommend paying for concierge service at whatever resort you choose. The rooms and the services make the additional cost quite worthwhile.

i echo your sentiments. If it's a short trip, stay at whichever hotel brand you're loyal to (there are Hilton and Starwood hotels on property, and practically everything else within a half mile of the property line), but for a long trip, stay on property. Disney offers room discounts that cover almost anything, just check mousesavers.com and see what they have