TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[Canuckbiggs]

They're only inferior to someone who wants a different kind of vacation.

I don't want a 5000 sq ft house to manage on vacation. I don't want a huge kitchen with people in there cooking and making messes that have to be cleaned up. I don't want a tiny little backyard pool. I have a big house and a small pool to maintain at home. I want to have someone else do the work while I'm on vacation.

I don't want to spend that much time out of the parks. It eats time cooking and cleaning. I can cook and clean at home. I'm not forced to eat my meals out- I want to eat out. I want someone else to cook it and clean it up...every single meal.

We wouldn't be able to take breaks during the day as easily if we were off site. During the middle of the day there are virtually no lines at our bus stop and a minimal wait for one to arrive- most times we find ourselves hurrying to get to the waiting bus rather than us waiting on the bus. A quick ride and we're back to our resort. If we're at a monorail resort, it's even quicker. And we don't have to go back to an oven hot car and drive. I don't even want to drive on vacation. I'm on vacation, not making a mini move to another home.

I also want the advantage of staying in the parks after the off site people have left. I don't see the advantage of emh in the mornings- but I sure do at night. Rides are walk ons- even some of the most popular rides. I also like having a jump on getting fp's. That extra 30 days is what makes me not have to post that I couldn't get what I was looking for. I'm hoping with the push to get more on site guests, the perks will just get better.

But mostly, why I stay on site is something that if you don't understand it, I can't explain it. You either get it or you don't- If there wasn't a single perk, if I had to join the masses at the ferry- I'd still stay on site. Because I'm in WDW 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week for my entire trip. I never leave the magic. I want total immersion and I can't get that anywhere but an on site resort.

We don't want to be isolated on our vacation in a private home. Some of our most memorable times are spent at the pool watching my grandson interact with children from all over the world- it's amazing to watch 2 children who have no way to communicate other than with gestures and motions and smiles happily play together. We won't get that sitting in a house.

So to each their own. What you call inferior I call superior in every way.

How do you have to manage a house while on vacation? Are you planning renovations or something? Lock the door when you leave. Not much else too it.

Well, someone staying off site could eat out every meal if they want. But they don't have too. They have a full kitchen if they chose to use it. Don't see that as a negative. Use it or not. Their choice. But I enjoy cooking and my wife enjoys when I do as well. Plus we have a BBQ and red meat right beside the beer fridge and pool. What''s not to love!

I don't go to Disney for me. I'm an adult and if it weren't for my kids there is a looooooooooooong list of places in this world I would spend my vacation time and $$ at rather than Disney. It wouldn't even register. This is our 3rd trip (and perhaps last) to Disney - for our kids. There is magic for them, and in watching them, but not for me. As a result of their age we don't spend anytime in the park late at night. We are usually gone from the parks by 2 pm. We will spend one evening in the MK to watch the fireworks show and the electric parade - but that is an "off day" for us. On our BB day we are having dinner at Beaches and Cream and then will walk into Epcot for Illuminations and a couple FPs.

We won't be isolated in a vacation home. We will be with our friends and their 3 kids. They will spend hours and hours playing together. Plus we have many resort pools they can use if they want to swim with other kids. So they won't be sitting in a house. I lived with the other Father for years at University, we travel with them, and share our cottage with them frequently. The entire families get along wonderfully and there is no concern about "cleaning other people's mess" in the kitchen. We aren't 12 years old.

I still don't see where the "Magic" is once you close the hotel room door and are inside? Not sure how a family of 4 inside a 300-400 square foot hotel room for 10 days is anyone's definition of "Magical". But that is JMO

Oh and we are from Canada, so a "hot" car is a bonus and part of the reason we go to FLA. We had flurries when we are at the cottage last weekend!

But to each their own.

But don't think people only stay off site because of the cost. I could stay onsite at Disney for the same or less than I will be spending - all in. But I won't get what we want for our money.

T - 15 days.

 

[Suvadoo]

I really hope these reports are followed up in November/December with people reporting lots and lots of same day availability. I am really hoping they are limiting the adv books but I fear the worst. It could be "free" dining is filling the resorts and everybody is booking their rides.

I truly think that's what's happening. And when I read posts that say," I got all the FP's I wanted." They usually list 7DMT daily for 3 -4 days of their vacations. So, that shut's out a lot of people.

 

[FlipHipster]

I hope you are right, but I fear the tests with Soarin and TSMM may have been a prelude to a high-crowd scenario that WDW plans on using over the holidays.

We put together this years touring schedule based on rope drop/standby lines and making FP's in the afternoon. I'm gonna be pissed if we show up at RD and TSMM is FP only.

No kidding since it sounds like we are going to be shut out at 30days. Certainly I can plan a week that avg. a 3/10 by TP and ride SB. If those days are gone, Christmas is going to be mighty entertaining around here. Gonna go out on a limb and suggest 80% of social media will not be happy.

 

[Suvadoo]

.

I still don't see where the "Magic" is once you close the hotel room door and are inside? Not sure how a family of 4 inside a 300-400 square foot hotel room for 10 days is anyone's definition of "Magical". But that is JMO

T - 15 days.

Maybe the "magic" is that the occupants of said room don't kill each other. Now that, I call magical.

 

[jms]

Can someone catch me up, I couldn't follow all of these is there a big switch in Nov FP availability? I just booked ours and am shocked at being locked out of TSM and etwb

 

[Suvadoo]

Can someone catch me up, I couldn't follow all of these is there a big switch in Nov FP availability? I just booked ours and am shocked at being locked out of TSM and etwb

Yup. Disney offered free dining in November, so a lot of onsite guests have made the 60 day out FP+ resevations and now it's slim pickings for everyone.

 

[FlipHipster]

Can someone catch me up, I couldn't follow all of these is there a big switch in Nov FP availability? I just booked ours and am shocked at being locked out of TSM and etwb

Several posts and lots of complaints about lack of FP availability for Nov. - Dec. Apparently you are not alone.

 

[FlipHipster]

Yup. Disney offered free dining in November, so a lot of onsite guests have made the 60 day out FP+ resevations and now it's slim pickings for everyone.

?

 

[cakebaker]

I still don't see where the "Magic" is once you close the hotel room door and are inside? Not sure how a family of 4 inside a 300-400 square foot hotel room for 10 days is anyone's definition of "Magical". But that is JMO

If you don't see it, fine. Who cares but you? I couldn't care less how wonderful your home away from home is, why do you care how great mine is?

I'm not sure why you feel the need to try and convince me how great off site is. Or continually say how lousy it is to be on site. You like it well enough to skim off the benefits though.

 

[Planogirl]

If you don't see it, fine. Who cares but you? I couldn't care less how wonderful your home away from home is, why do you care how great mine is?

I'm not sure why you feel the need to try and convince me how great off site is. Or continually say how lousy it is to be on site. You like it well enough to skim off the benefits though.

What benefits are those? Let me in on that action.

ETA: I think that I found what you're referring to. That doesn't bother me because apparently it's OK with Disney or they'd put a stop to it.

 

[cakebaker]

What benefits are those? Let me in on that action.

ETA: I think that I found what you're referring to. That doesn't bother me because apparently it's OK with Disney or they'd put a stop to it.

Maybe, or maybe they just haven't gotten to it yet. It's a relatively new "thing". Time will tell.

 

[cakebaker]

Can someone catch me up, I couldn't follow all of these is there a big switch in Nov FP availability? I just booked ours and am shocked at being locked out of TSM and etwb

Ok, I give- what's etwb?

 

[BMWTeamLeader]

Ok, I give- what's etwb?

Enchanted Tales With Belle

 

[jade1]

I still don't see where the "Magic" is once you close the hotel room door and are inside?

 

[cakebaker]

Nice.

 

[cakebaker]

Enchanted Tales With Belle

Thank you! Was driving me insane! lol

 

[jade1]

Nice.

And I will be in my room before folks can get on a bus after Wishes.

Can also leave our room at 7:50AM for an 8AM MK opening-at least an hour before offsite and most WDW resorts.

 

[jade1]

Still prefer our split stay at BCV-just like the 5 minute walk to and from EPCOT as we spend many nights there-also DHS for Fantasmic.

 

[cakebaker]

And I will be in my room before folks can get on a bus after Wishes.

Are we comparing off site to on? I'm confused here- again.

Never mind- I get it now. Sorry! LOL

 

[OtherScott]

How do you have to manage a house while on vacation? Are you planning renovations or something? Lock the door when you leave. Not much else too it.

Well, someone staying off site could eat out every meal if they want. But they don't have too. They have a full kitchen if they chose to use it. Don't see that as a negative. Use it or not. Their choice. But I enjoy cooking and my wife enjoys when I do as well. Plus we have a BBQ and red meat right beside the beer fridge and pool. What''s not to love!

I don't go to Disney for me. I'm an adult and if it weren't for my kids there is a looooooooooooong list of places in this world I would spend my vacation time and $$ at rather than Disney. It wouldn't even register. This is our 3rd trip (and perhaps last) to Disney - for our kids. There is magic for them, and in watching them, but not for me. As a result of their age we don't spend anytime in the park late at night. We are usually gone from the parks by 2 pm. We will spend one evening in the MK to watch the fireworks show and the electric parade - but that is an "off day" for us. On our BB day we are having dinner at Beaches and Cream and then will walk into Epcot for Illuminations and a couple FPs.

We won't be isolated in a vacation home. We will be with our friends and their 3 kids. They will spend hours and hours playing together. Plus we have many resort pools they can use if they want to swim with other kids. So they won't be sitting in a house. I lived with the other Father for years at University, we travel with them, and share our cottage with them frequently. The entire families get along wonderfully and there is no concern about "cleaning other people's mess" in the kitchen. We aren't 12 years old.

I still don't see where the "Magic" is once you close the hotel room door and are inside? Not sure how a family of 4 inside a 300-400 square foot hotel room for 10 days is anyone's definition of "Magical". But that is JMO

Oh and we are from Canada, so a "hot" car is a bonus and part of the reason we go to FLA. We had flurries when we are at the cottage last weekend!

But to each their own.

But don't think people only stay off site because of the cost. I could stay onsite at Disney for the same or less than I will be spending - all in. But I won't get what we want for our money.

T - 15 days.

We do a hybrid.

We stay in 4 BR/4 bath house (Windsor Hills) with full kitchen, living room and pool, but I bring the magic by:

Allowing the kids eat bowls of cereal on their beds, and allowing them to watch TV only in their shared BR

Walking through their rooms on my way to bathroom 3 times per night

Not allowing them to sit outside on patio or swim in private pool

Allowing them to walk to the front gate and wait for me to pick them up. They really like the uncertainty of whether or not the next Dodge Caravan will be "theirs." They do grumble a bit at night when we reverse action, but I remind them "it's magic."

Allowing them to eat at the same restaurant every day.

Making them walk to clubhouse for a $2.50 pop

Allowing them to put on cold, damp swimming trunks