1/8: Affordable Disney World

[sir clinksalot]

Wow, that was lovely Kevin.

15 G's ... Holy crap.

[danyoung]

A most interesting article, Kevin, even though some of it is a retread of the article you posted a few months back that stirred up a lot of angry responses. Most of what I had to say has already been said, but I'll reiterate my big points.

You state your comparison of a Motel 6 room to a $150 on-site room, and that's simply not fair. Yes, WDW rooms are very overpriced at their book rate. But there are TONS of discounts at different times of the year. If you had to choose between a $35 Motel 6 room and a $49 Pop Century room, I think the option of staying on property begins to make much more sense. I just stayed a week at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for around $150/night, and it was spectacular. It really comes down to perceived value. For me there is absolutely NO value to a stay in a Motel 6, anywhere in the country. But I'll gladly shell out $150 a night for a world class premium hotel with live exotic animals surrounding the property. Now, would I spend $250 to $300 a night for the same room? Now you're hitting my value point. But I'll always try to find an on property value or moderate hotel discount rate over going off property. There's just too much value for me of staying on property.

I'm also with Sir Clinksalot on having dining reservations. I'm not wild about having to book them so far out, although I'm reading that we're back to 90 days and not the barely workable 180 days in advance. But still, I plan my days around my dining schedule, and don't have any anxiety about where I'm going to dine on any given meal. It's definitely a stress reducer for me. And for me, dining at WDW is a huge part of the vacation. I'm not just looking to stoke up on fuel for a few more hours of park storming. I truly enjoy slowing down and spending time in any of the terrific restaurants in the parks and hotels - sipping wine, enjoying conversation with a friendly waiter, and savoring a fine meal as opposed to shoveling down a quick sandwich. I know it's expensive, and I don't dine that way at home. But fine dining is a very important part of my vacation, and I won't book one unless my funding can include several table service meals.

I have a big question that I have yet to see addressed by all of the American Idol press. There are no age restrictions for doing the theme park show, yet I'm sure the TV show still maxes out at age 28. So what happens if I, a 53 year old ex-musician with a killer voice and experienced stage presence, go in and win a day's competition? What's in it for me? I'm too old for the real show. Is that just the end of the road, no prize, nothing?

[Wendygirl]

Great article and timely for me (see my countdown ticker below). I took in account some of what you said in your previous article but decided that I would rather stay on property at one of their budget hotels (All Stars) and use Magic Express and their on property transportation system than rent a car. To me renting a car and getting around would be stressful. Just as an aside, when we go on a driving vacation we always stay at a Motel 6 and we do not find them to be that bad at all.

I liked your idea about one fine dining experience and also someone else's post about making lunch the big meal of the day. Also liked the idea of going around to the different resorts and hotels and taking in their atmosphere. No souvenirs for us. Too much to schlep back on the airplane and we don't really need them. Having a basic plan is key to us and will, I think, help us see and do what we want. I've been going to Disneyland since 1955 and have been to Disney World once in the early 90's so I feel confident we can have a good, relaxing time.

[Fansince73]

Motel 6 for a week?!?! Your wife/other half must be thrilled!! All joking aside, I have stayed at just about all WDW properties minus The Grand Floridian and ALL-Star Movies. I am from Fort Lauderdale, and on occasion I will get a little antsy and head up a day early and check-in one of the budget motels along US-192 just so I can have a whole day of Disney fun and eliminate travel time my first day of arrival. Let me tell you i have tried a few, including the Motel 6, and each time I thought I was in the movie "Vacancy"! We are talking stinky rooms, one inch gaps under the front doors, heavily stained carpet, roaches, and I could go on. A couple of years back my cousin fell through a bathtub at a cheap off-site hotel and got athletes' foot. If you are budget minded, and I often am, do yourself a favor and stay in a Disney value resort. By the way, I do not work for Disney nor have I ever, just a guy with a lot of Disney experience to share.

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by Wendygirl

Great article and timely for me (see my countdown ticker below). I took in account some of what you said in your previous article but decided that I would rather stay on property at one of their budget hotels (All Stars) and use Magic Express and their on property transportation system than rent a car. To me renting a car and getting around would be stressful. Just as an aside, when we go on a driving vacation we always stay at a Motel 6 and we do not find them to be that bad at all.

I actually find having a car at WDW to be so stress-free, it's very nice. Try spending an hour waiting for a bus to get from EPCOT to Port Orleans (when you could probably walk there in 20 minutes). Not fun.

But yeah, if it's a "Driving" vacation, and were only going to be in a hotel for a night or so, I don't mind going the budger route and going with the budget hotel.

But, with Priceline, even though you can't Pick your hotel, you can generally get a hotel for less, or even a few dollars more. We did 4 nights in Chicago last September and got the Hyatt Regency for $75 per night using Priceline. The local Motel 6 wanted $60 per night. I think we got the better bargain.

I've always been interested in doing Priceline for one of the off-site hotels to see what we can get, but we've been spoiled with staying onsite at WDW.

[sediment]

I read the article. Seems Kevin isn't making anyone do anything. They're merely suggestions, rather than actual rules. You don't like them, then lump them.

I also think nothing there was antything I didn't already know. Also, of very little use to me, since I have no plans to go to WDW in the near or distant future.

I'm looking for the screed, Kevin, the screeeeeeeed!!!

[flynnibus]

Originally Posted by Wendygirl

To me renting a car and getting around would be stressful

I would tell you do not fear!

Unless you are going in the worst part of the crowds.. parking is never really an issue. If you stay on property, parking is free at all the resorts and getting around the property is quick and relatively easy if you have a map. DO NOT RELY ON THE SIGNS ALONE! They tend to take you looping, traffic control type directions that can really take the 'long way' or can be confusing. With a simple map, its quite easy.

Even when we stay on property, we always rent a car. It's DIRT cheap (do it through hotwire) and liberates you so much. I wouldn't do it without a car anymore.. its worth it so much (especially at shades of green where parking is literally right next to the guest rooms due to the garage)

[AstroBlaster]

I can testify that the Motel 6 or in my case Knight's Inn for $39 a night was not worth it. Very bad room, rotting wood, bugs, bathroom door wouldn't close right, and a funny fuzz in the fridge. Breakfast was Debbie's doughnuts and orange drink. I will never do that to my family again. I really see the point to staying off property and will do so at 3 Star + Hotels with great online reviews. I have stayed at Port Orleans and Pop Century but they lured me in with incredible deals. I have booked Disney hotels at incredible savings at Travelocity. It just depends on the time of year and how empty the resorts are.

As far as Mickey Mouse ears I would classify them as experiences because I have a lot of pictures of my kids first trip to Disney World wearing the ears and having a lot of fun. I don't think I would have taken as many pictures without the ears or they may not have been as good. The ears are safely locked away and though I have thought about bringing them back on another trip to Disney I have avoided this because of the fear of loosing the ears and a piece of the kids first trip to WDW.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Originally Posted by KevinYee

I get the best emails:

He says "If individuals spend too much, it's their problem, not Disney's." and he spends $15,000 on 9 days at WDW. That's just amazing to me. Clearly this guy has never recently had any real concerns about spending when it comes to vacations and making sure you get the bang for your hard-earned bucks.

[KevinYee]

I lived in North Carolina for two years before moving to Orlando, and was in Motel6 every few months on 192-east and 192-west, and pretty much never had a problem like the horror stories you guys are relating. Maybe I got lucky. The rooms were always clean, not stinky (actually, wait, one was stinky)... but I usually just plain didn't care. We came 'home' late, crashed into bed, and could care less what the room was like. My wife, for the record, not only doesn't mind, she would probably yell at me if I offered to spend more on hotels!

[sir clinksalot]

Yeah, I've stayed in some pretty bad motels, and even left one that I wouldn't stay in. That was right across from Knott's and we ended up biting the bullet and staying at the Radisson instead.

[kindagoofy]

Kevin,

I haven't been to WDW for a couple of years now, but they had offered extended park hours for folks staying in Disney hotels. We found our best way to enjoy the parks was to hit them when they opened, wander back to the hotel (in this case, the Saratoga Springs) for a swim, a bite, or a nap, then back to the designated extra hours park for evening fun. I didn't see this mentioned in the article, so maybe Disney has done away with this?

Thanks for your thoughts, insights, and articles!

[daliseurat]

Originally Posted by KevinYee

Actually, this was my intention in the article. I was trying to say that if you want luxury in ONE way (spend more days in the parks, for instance), you might well want to save costs in OTHER ways. I did point out that quality was not equal... I was only looking at price.

Would I ever eat a day old Big Mac over an Outback steak? Yes, sure. If it meant an extra day at Tokyo Disney Sea, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Yes, I get that you're saying that you can save costs one way and splurge in another. And your first paragraph in the hotel area makes a great point.

"Here's a factoid you see debated on Disney message boards all the time: Disney hotels are ridiculously overpriced. You can stay at nearby hotels for a fraction of the price. Take the Gaylord Palms, for instance. A Las Vegas type of resort hotel (minus the gambling), this facility sits right at the edge of WDW property but charges about $150 per room, and you'll get a nicer room than you would have at one of the Disney "premium" hotels, where rooms go for $300 or even $600 per night."

This works great for those who want a nicer hotel, but aren't willing to shell out those HUGE Disney bucks.

But the problem is that anyone who is considering a $150 resort is going to totally freak if they set foot in a Motel 6. And once you add in transportation and parking, it's not that big a difference in price between Motel 6 and the VASTLY nicer value resorts.

"Take the argument to the complete extreme: $40/night at Motel 6 or $150/night at a non-monorail resort like Port Orleans. Yes, I know, it's not a fair comparison for quality. I'm just looking at the money. That's a hypothetical $110 per day more expensive. At this rate, you could afford to eat at Victoria and Albert's every other night of your vacation, and by golly would you have something to rave about when you went back home then!"

You really can't just look at the money part. Motel 6 is not a place anyone who wants to eat at Victoria and Albert's is going to want to stay. Okay, I know you stayed at Motel 6 and had no problems. And the way I do parks, I would probably be okay as well. But it's not going to be saving me THAT much money by the time I add in transportation and parking costs. It would be better to encourage folks to stay in a value resort, for most of their trip and splurge with one night in a deluxe to enjoy all the amenities.

I do wonder if you secretly work for Motel 6... ;-)

[KevinYee]

Originally Posted by daliseurat

I do wonder if you secretly work for Motel 6... ;-)

LOL... no, I'm just really unpicky when it comes to a 'bed for my head' that night. I agree that I wouldn't much like cheap motels if I'd had bad experiences, but I've been pretty lucky, I guess. I've honestly had mediocre experiences in midrange hotels just as often as cheap motels.

Sitting here thinking this through, I'm wondering if it would be cheaper to buy new sheets daily for a motel than to pay $300/night for a premium hotel

[flynnibus]

Simply put.. people are willing to spend different amounts for differing levels of atmosphere and service. That's why all these different tiers of accommodations appear in the first place

What would be better then simply trying to lump the decision of all tiers together would be to create a mapping...

If you were to stay at Grand Flordian a good offsite alternative would be X
If you were to stay at All Stars a good offsite alternative would be X

etc. You can't ignore budget and preferences and give a flat answer to all. Else you end up with this discussion.