grannyminnie
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2007
AKL has great theming but is so doggone isolated that for sure, you are a prisoner of transportation whether you drive your own car or take the Disney bus!
Yeah we are definitely in the minority. It’s funny because we also just tried ohana and tusker house and were not super impressed with either of those and I know people love them. I absolutely love por and POFQ! We rented a car last year and stayed at por. I’m not sure if we will rent a car now though.We did AKL lodge as well and it was our first Deluxe and didn't love it either. We didn't necessarily dislike it, it just didn't feel deluxe to us. I have commented on that previously and I have quickly learned that I'm in the minority with that opinion of AKL. We're usually POR and we actually liked that over AKL. We want to try another deluxe too and may give it a whirl if/when free dining comes out since we know we're going back anyway.
Actually, no I won't because as an AP we get parking free at the parks. I always drive, Florida resident who lives just far enough away that a hotel stay is warranted. Since last March we have made a one week trip with two rooms and added the dinning plan for five Disney adults at AKL, two week long stays in the summer at All Stars and countless weekends at mods and values. This new parking fee adds hundreds to our Mickey cash out lay...In addition, not one person in my family of five has ever step foot on the magical express buses and we hardly use the resort buses. Yet, I don't see Disney offering to give us a kick back for services we don't use.Won't you still pay for parking at the parks though? That's really how I'm rationalizing it. If we stay off-site, I still pay parking.
What's this "gem" of a hotel? Do tell.I agree, this was the last straw for us too. We live in NE Florida and have been AP holders for 12 years. We drive down 4-5 times a year. We are a moderate income family, just me and DH, so usually stay at value resorts and sometimes off site if we can't get a AP rate. Back in the good old days, we could get a AP rate of $65 a night at a value resort. Now, we are lucky to get a rate less than $175 AND you don't even get a coffee maker in the room! We found a gem of a hotel off site that is SO much cheaper, free parking, free wi-fi and free breakfast but whenever I can get a "decent" rate a value, I prefer to stay there because of the Disney atmosphere and ability to take Disney transportation. We will no longer do it. I could handle the parking fee if the resort rates weren't so ridiculously high. I know it's Disney, but $175 for the value resorts is outrageous and throw in the parking fee now we are looking at close to $200 a night. I can't do it.
UPDATE
We check in at the Holiday Inn and I have to say I’m literally 5 min drive from Disney and the room is double in size, have a Keurig coffee maker, bathroom are huge, full size crib, mini fridge, queen size beds, no stinky carpet, no mold, is spotless. I’m so glad I’m not going back to the bubble any time soon.
edited to add we have free wifi, and free kids breakfast with a $12 paying adult for a buffet.
They are not charging day guests, so I don’t think it is going to solve anything. I think it will make you more frustrated not being able to find a spot after paying, when non-paying guests can.My husband's response to the news about the parking fees was "Good. Maybe now it will be easier to find parking at the Deluxe Resorts." At least as far as the deluxe resorts go I think the fees might be beneficial for those who drive their car and are willing to pay for parking. Besides AKL, when we have stayed at a deluxe resort we have always struggled to find a parking space (speaking specifically about the Poly, BC, and CR). We also found parking to be much more crowded at ASMu during our January trip compared to times we have stayed there even right before Christmas. I'm hoping that between the people who say they will no longer stay on property and those who will decide not to rent a car that it will be easer to find a spot.
Some of this is also going to be dependent on what kind of parking situation you are used to. We live in a city where parking in general is a nightmare and where even parking for restaurants, shopping, etc. is often valet only. Even if it's free valet there is $ associated with tipping. So we don't find charging for overnight parking to be an unreasonable change - it's something we already deal with on a daily basis at home.
It won't deter us from staying on property but we tend to be pretty easy going about things. I often read a lot of complaints about things on the boards about things that are not really WDW's "fault". We have found parking to be an issue at WDW resorts lately so I don't necessarily see the parking fees as greedy but as an attempt to improve the problem. Just like I have seen people complaining about dirty bathrooms lately. Yes, I have also noticed that the bathrooms have not been as clean as they have been in the past. But I have also ALWAYS encountered a CM actively cleaning the bathroom. The difference I have noticed has been that guests are much more rude and inconsiderate. I can't tell you the number of times I have heard a mom in a stall frantically yell at her young child NOT to flush the toilet because of germs. It seems like no one flushes the toilets anymore. If the auto toilet doesn't flush, then push the little button and flush the darn thing yourself! And I can't be the only one who has been frustrated when you enter a stall only to find that almost an entire roll of toilet paper has been literally stuffed into the toilet which has clogged it. Mounds of toilet paper are also strewn all over the floors in MANY stalls. I have also encountered people allowing the faucet water to run when it doesn't shut off automatically which sprays additional water all over the counter. And I have seen people just toss paper towels onto the floor - not even trying to get it to go into the garbage bin. Even if you had more than one CM stationed in a bathroom for their entire shifts it would be STILL be impossible for them to completely rid the bathrooms of these guest created issues. Dirty tables at QS? It used to be that people would do at least a quick clean up after themselves at a QS restaurant and quickly wipe a table of crumbs, spills etc, throw away their trash. Now I see tables littered with trash, spilled drinks, and dribbled condiments. It used to be that a CM walked around with a rage and simply did a quick wipe of the table top to get the table ready for the next party. Now they are doing a full on cleaning and clearing of multiple tables. If people would show some common courtesy and respect both to other guests as well as cast members I think there would be a lot less complaints. We have also encountered a LOT of people who purposely park their car ACROSS several parking spaces in the the resort parking lot or purposely park in the middle of two spaces. I understand that some people with special needs sometimes require extra space to get into and out of their vehicle but I am talking about people who are taking up additional spaces because they don't want their car to get dinged. I have not encountered that anywhere as often as I have at a WDW resort. That only contributes to the parking problems at the resorts.
As far as prices go, as my husband told me that "Disney is a business not a national endowment or national park". I think because WDW has always been such a great, family friendly vacation destination some people have unknowingly interpreted that to mean that it should also be affordable for most families. It costs money to keep WDW a family friendly destination. Think of what the atmosphere is like at other theme parks that are not family friendly. I would rather pay more money for the family friendly environment at WDW than pay less and deal with some of the things that happen at other theme parks. There are MANY vacation destinations that I would LOVE to visit. Unfortunately many of them are simply beyond what we consider to be an affordable range for our family. I don't complain about the resort or destination because it is not affordable and assume they have greedy business practices, I simply accept that WE cannot afford it.
I find it contradictory that so many people have been complaining about the increase in crowds lately but then also complain that WDW is getting too expensive. From a financial perspective the best way for Disney as a business to take care of the crowds is to "get rid" of the people who spend less money at WDW and "replace" them with people who will give WDW the most money. Then they will have less people spending the same (or much more!) amount of money. Every time I read that someone has decided they will no longer visit WDW, I just think "Perfect. I'm sure the people who are complaining about the crowds will appreciate one less body."
Does it suck to be out-priced from a WDW vacation? Absolutely. Is it any different from not being able to vacation somewhere else because you can't afford it? Nope.
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What did I gain? My dignity
~NM
I'm curious what you & others are finding to enjoy for vacation. There is such excitement involved in a Disney vacation & sooooooo many things to see & do & eat, etc. that it's hard for us to find anything that matches that excitement. I'd really love to be able to considering all that's going on with Disney now....
Just changed our WL 5 stay at the end of May to Hilton lake buena vista (Disney springs). Hilton total cost was $794.25. Will still get EMH and 60 day FP. Saved $1200 by switching.Are the Disney springs hotels cheaper than the values at Disney? We have a stay at all star sports booked for a week that’s $950.
I have a trip planned for next week, room only reservations, I just booked offsite hotel and saved $100 per night and that’s including all fees. Actual hotel is very similar to what I have book with Disney. Parking fee was the last straw even when It wouldn’t affect us on this trip, I put my foot down. Also canceled all resorts dining. With the money saved will be looking for restaurants options outside the bubble.
Who else have or is contemplating to do the same? I was thinking of parking at Disney Springs then taking transportation back to my resort. Next morning back to DS and using my car for jitterbugging around., but that is just crazy. lol
I have a trip planned for next week, room only reservations, I just booked offsite hotel and saved $100 per night and that’s including all fees. Actual hotel is very similar to what I have book with Disney. Parking fee was the last straw even when It wouldn’t affect us on this trip, I put my foot down. Also canceled all resorts dining. With the money saved will be looking for restaurants options outside the bubble.
Who else have or is contemplating to do the same?
We typically don’t do deluxe but might try renting points. I’m not sure yet if by renting you still have to pay for parking or not, but we rarely take a car anyway.Just changed our WL 5 stay at the end of May to Hilton lake buena vista (Disney springs). Hilton total cost was $794.25. Will still get EMH and 60 day FP. Saved $1200 by switching.
How much are you paying per night? If you don’t mind me asking.UPDATE
We check in at the Holiday Inn and I have to say I’m literally 5 min drive from Disney and the room is double in size, have a Keurig coffee maker, bathroom are huge, full size crib, mini fridge, queen size beds, no stinky carpet, no mold, is spotless. I’m so glad I’m not going back to the bubble any time soon.
edited to add we have free wifi, and free kids breakfast with a $12 paying adult for a buffet.
We do a family trip once a year and with this new parking fee, we've decided vacation 2019 will be a cruise. (Probably not a Disney cruise because like everything else Disney, they are overpriced.) I was just watching some youtube videos on cruises and I have to say, it made me disappointed we aren't doing a cruise for this years vacation. They look amazing! I'm so unimpressed with this new parking fee I wanted to cancel this years Disney trip even though the fee won't affect this trip but the hubby and kids are resisting, lol.A cruise, for one, has all that. The ships now a day have tons of dining venues, nightly entertainment, broadway shows, comedy, dancing, lounges, shore excursions (extra fee), games, classes, etc..etc... you can never be bored on a cruiseship.
We have a cruise booked, for 3, next year. Starts in Copenhagen and sails up the baltic coast visiting Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg’s, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; Bergen, Norway; Lerwick, Shetland Islands; Reykjavik, Iceland; Dublin, Ireland. Airfare on was $570pp, 9 night cruise is $4300. Overnight stay in Copenhagen $210, breakfast and airport shuttle included. Excludes dinner. Total = $6220 plus dinner.
7 nights at the Yacht Club last year was $7280, all inclusive.
Cruises from FL, with balcony cabin are as low as $900pp all inclusive except alcohol vising many ports on the caribbean.
Love Portland! We did a walking tour (free-the guide takes tips at the end) and learned a ton about the city! The guide was really really good-his tip was good! We also did a haunted bar tour , complete with beer tastings at each stop. I also could have stayed for a whole day in Powell's bookstore. Multnomah Falls is spectacular.We are going to Portland Oregon this summer and are really excited! We are just beginning our planning. Researching hikes, dining, a trip over to the coast and breweries.