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To: C19fan
But the system is rigged to give a major advantage to people who stay at Disney owned resorts since they can make reservations for rides months in advance while the rest of us have to wait at kiosks hoping to get a spot before they are all filled up.

For the record, rumor is that offsite guests (with tickets) will be able to reserve FP+ spots ahead of time by the end of April, if not sooner. They're rolling the reservations out to annual pass holders (not staying on site) now.

Onsite guests are always going to get perks - and pay for it with resort costs that are too high to justify otherwise. As it is, they get the "extra magic hours" access (early entrance to parks or staying after normal closing time) and I wouldn't be surprised if they either get to book FP+ earlier than offsite guests (like 60 days vs. 30 days) or are given 1-2 additional reservations once the general public gets advance bookings.

If you follow the folks over at TouringPlans.com, they actually point out that their computer models shows some of the parks as being more efficient with FP+, even for the "in the know" guests, because you can optimize your schedule without having to run all over the park to get the old legacy FP. I think it's particularly true in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.

12 posted on 03/12/2014 8:42:42 AM PDT by kevkrom (I'm not an unreasonable man... well, actually, I am. But hear me out anyway.)
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To: kevkrom

We stayed at the Yacht Club - concierge level last time we went to Disney Orlando. It was the best hotel experience I’ve had in 65 yrs.
Expensive but awesome.


15 posted on 03/12/2014 8:47:07 AM PDT by nascarnation (I'm hiring Jack Palladino to investigate Baraq's golf scores.)
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To: kevkrom

“Onsite guests are always going to get perks - and pay for it with resort costs that are too high to justify otherwise.”

Well worth the cost to stay on property, IMHO.

I’ve been many times and enjoyed each visit.

Stayed on property each time.

Cost a little more than staying on I-Drive somewhere but consider the benefits:
1) At the beginning of the day, don’t have to fight massive traffic on the highway to get to the park
2) Don’t have to park out in the parking lot’s boondocks and wait in the heat for a shuttle to take you to the park.
3) You get early access to the park
4) You can stay in some very nice on property hotels (Wilderness Lodge, The Boardwalk, The Grand Floridian, The Contemporary), and if you want a lower cost option (nosier and not as well made), you can stay in those hotels as well—and they cost as little as off property hotels
5) When younger, had smaller children and could easily take them back to the room via the in-park monorail for an air-conditioned break and nap and return when refreshed
6) Today, old guys like me can easily stop in the middle of the day and return to the room via the in-park monorail and take an air-conditioned break from the heat, crowds, noise, etc.
7) At the end of the day, burned-out and tired, don’t have to wait for a crammed shuttle to cart you off to the parking lot where your car has been baking all day—just catch the air-conditioned monorail and be dropped off at your hotel lobby
9) Don’t have to fight massive traffic leaving the parking lot
10) Don’t have to fight traffic on the highway to the hotel
11) Can watch the fireworks from the balcony of my room, while relaxing in my robe and having a drink

Staying off-property does not allow for any of those perks, and given the heat and humidity and crowds and such, a mid-day break does wonders for the Disney experience.

So, I consider the perks worth the cost.


21 posted on 03/12/2014 9:21:01 AM PDT by Hulka
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