Convince me to stay on-site at a deluxe

[newFLresident]

I'd like to stay at a Disney deluxe resort, but the price always dissuades me.

On a recent trip, I snagged the 4-star Peabody from Priceline for $79.00 per night. I believe there was a $10.00 "resort fee" on top of this. Even so, the total price with tax was less than $100.00 per night. The room was beautiful. The service was great. It took 20 minutes maximum door-to-door to get to the parks.

Comparable deluxe resorts at Disney have been $250.00 per night at an absolute minimum, and usually much higher ($300-$400 per night) when I have checked. But I frequently read the rave reviews of Disney resorts and I wonder what I'm missing. There are only a few reasons I can think of to pay these prices to stay at a Disney deluxe:

1) I am wealthy and price is really not a consideration.
2) I am from the U.K. and I can afford it due to the exchange rate.
3) I am going on a once in a lifetime (once in a decade, etc.) trip and I want "the works".
4) I won't have my own car.
5) I have only a short time to visit and I want to take advantage of EMH.
6) I'm a Disney fanatic and I want to be surrounded by Disney at all times.
7) I have children and I want them to have an absolutely immersive Disney experience.

None of these reasons apply to me. For those of you who once felt as I do and didn't understand what all the fuss was about, but now do, please let me know what I am missing.

I look forward to hearing your opinions! :D

[Milestravel3]

Okay, to start, I have been extremely lucky to travel to Disney on business and pleasure and stay at deluxe resorts for the past 4 years. Specifically The Yacht club and Boardwalk. For me, it all boils down to proximity to our favorite parks and the AWESOME pool experience at the Yacht club. You can not beat the walk to Epcot/MGM and for down time the pool can not be beat! If you are a MK or AK fanatic you may not feel the same. We LOVE EPCOT. Typically we do not have our own car. Love the immersion to all things Disney from the start of our VK to the end. We have stayed off property before and it is hard to explain what is different, I guess for us it boils down to the total experience from beginning to end.

[SuefromRI]

I have never stayed at a WDW Deluxe resort cuz I can't afford it. I have heard of people getting good rates at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Wilderness Lodge, but not when I've tried. I have stayed at a moderate (the Caribbean Beach Resort-$79 the first time) and values (POP and Music) because I wanted to take advantage of EMH and be close to the parks and feel immersed. We enjoyed those resorts when cheap rates were available and my kids were young, or when my DD and I go to Super Soap without the guys. Otherwise there is not enough room for 4 adults, never mind 2 in a double sized bed instead of the king they are used to. Also, if you use hotel restaurants you would want a deluxe. I would love to stay at the Beach Club, but can't afford it for the prices they ask. I think it is really an individual decision as to a deluxe being worth the money.

[DisneylandForever]

Staying onsite is just a far better overall experience. If you don't want to splurge, I would suggest the POFQ. I think it's about 150 a night in the low seasons. The theming there is fantastic. You can take a boat to DtD too, which is nice.

Like Sue just said, being close to the parks is great, but the immersion might be the best feature. The dining plan and EMH and perks like that are cool, but the trip is just more magical when you never have to leave Disney property.

[newFLresident]

Well, so far I'm not convinced. I do love the Boardwalk area and I hang out there a lot, but an extra $250 per night for an "awesome pool experience" and a 10-minute walk to the park, as opposed to a 20-minute drive just doesn't seem worth it. I'm still with you SuefromRI.

I check the FL resident and passholder rates often, but I never seem to find any reasonable rates over a weekend - even a slow one. Maybe I'm not doing it right. Seems like you should be able to find the occasional deluxe room for $200 per night during slow periods, but I've had no luck.

Anyone else? Keep 'em coming! I love to read experiences and opinions.

[Kwahati]

First things first: why would I try to talk you in to something you clearly don't want to do? That just doesn't make sense to me. You say you're not a Disney fan, so why are you going back? I think you must like *something* about it... Figure out what that is, and tell us, and then maybe we can help you more.

As far as real reasons to stay on site:
1) Free transport from the airport. DME saves $100 or more.
2) Check in you luggage at the hotel before your flight home (don't know if this applies to you, but it's a great benefit for me.)
3) Special benefits only available at Disney resorts: delivery of souvenirs to your hotel so you don't have to lug them around the parks all day, exclusive views (animals at AKL, MK and fireworks at CR...)
4) Disney's level of service is virtually unmatched. The standard you experience at your 4-star was invented by Disney. If something does go wrong with your trip, nobody can take care of fixing it like Disney too.
5) Proximity to parks and EMH. Allows me to spend more time in the parks when the regular people (who aren't so into Disney anyway :rolleyes:) are going back to their hotels.
6) I can ride in a bus or van at home. I get to ride a monorail or boat usually only at WDW.

As far as pricing: have you looked into all available discounts? Florida residents get pretty good deals sometimes...maybe not $200 for a deluxe, but I believe $229 for a deluxe is pretty common...

If you're not into Disney in the first place, though, then why would you want to spend extra time in the parks? Why would you want to shop and have your stuff delivered? Why would you care about seeing fireworks from your room?

I agree with you: if you see things the way you claim to, then you should most definitely not stay on property. However, if you see things the way you claim to, I don't understand why you'd waste your money on going to a place that's so expensive for things you won't enjoy in the first place. :confused:

[ElephantEars]

Your first sentence says it all...you would like to stay at a deluxe resort, but do not want to spend the money. So tell us why you want to stay at a deluxe (not why you do not) and maybe we can help you figure out a moderate on-site or a nice off-site that can offer the features you desire in a deluxe resort. (I'm not being sarcastic, but actually trying to be helpful)

I'm staying at my first deluxe for reason's 3,4,5,and 6. And because for the first time I can afford it and want to spend my extra saved money for this specific hotel.

[newFLresident]

First of all, interesting discussion. Thanks to those who replied. I respect and enjoy reading your opinions. My question is not, "Should I stay on-site?" My question is, "Should I stay at a Disney deluxe?"

Kwahati - As a Florida resident I do not arrive by air, so transportation and luggage are not an issue. Disney souvenir delivery? I don't need any souvenirs. Proximity? Well, that's something I could appreciate if the price were reasonable. Personally, I'd go as high as $250 to be on a monorail or able to walk in. But $300? $350? I just can't seem to justify the extra money to save 10-15 minutes getting to the park. EMH? I tend to visit the parks often and while nice, do not know if I would even use EMH. Riding a bus or van? I am in total agreement with you there! (How about that!) That is the main reason that I am not interested in staying at a moderate resort. I refuse to spend any time waiting for a bus, especially when my car is sitting right there ready to go. Heck, it even knows my name and what kind of music I like! And lastly, exclusive views and level of service - now we're talking! But views cost even more, even at deluxe properties, right? Is the level of service at a Disney deluxe really better than a 4-star off-site? If so, please share your experiences with me. Let me know how their service exceed the service of other similar off-site properties.

ElephantEars - I want to stay at a deluxe because I feel that I must be missing something. I don't know what that "something" is. I've been unable to figure it out on my own, so I thought I'd ask for your help. I am a nut for good hotels. But I also appreciate value.

Let me define value. To me value has nothing to do with the price paid. If a hotel is $300 per night, fine. But it must be a good value, meaning it must have something inherently better than all the other hotels around it that cost $200. I must check-out feeling that it was money well-spent.

I would like someone to help me undertand why a Disney deluxe resort can cost $100-$300 per night more than a similar off-site deluxe resort. If someone can convince me that I absolutely must experence the XYZ Disney hotel because of reasons ABC I will pick up the phone and book one today.

Are the rooms to die for? Does the shower massage and pummel you from all angles until you feel absolutely revived? Is it the best pillow you ever slept on? Did the waitress remember your name and what you like for breakfast on your 2nd visit? Did you leave feeling like you had the best stay ever?

What make a Disney deluxe worth $300-$400 per night, when a similar hotel can be had off-site for $100-$200? What am I missing?

[mom22gls]

We have stayed at the Contemporary twice, once pre-kids, once with them, and at the Wilderness Lodge twice. I actually liked the Wilderness Lodge better, and it was significantly less expensive. We have also stayed at moderates, which were very nice too, but they can be more spread out, and a bit of a hike to get to the main lobby, pool, etc. I am getting used to more spread out resorts, as a DVC member, but I also like using my points at hotel-based DVC resorts, such as the Beach Club, where the pool really is worth it, and walking to Epcot was also worth it. The deluxe rooms will be a bit bigger, which may not matter if there is only one or two of you in the room. The deluxe resorts will have nicer on-site restaurants. The deluxe resorts will, generally have more than one transportation option (Animal Kingdom Lodge only has the bus). We really liked the boat from the Wilderness Lodge. I would consider what hotel features and amenities matter most to you, and choose from there.

[ElephantEars]

I have not yet stayed at a deluxe so at this point I can't really help.

It may come down to just having to see for yourself for one night (maybe the last night of your trip) since everyone has their own idea about value and whether something is worth it.

There are some restaraunts that are insanely expensive in my hometown of Chicago. Some I have tried and walked away thinking they weren't worth it even though tons of people have gushed over them. Some I tried and would gladly plunk down another wad of cash because they really are that good. The thing is that the people at the table next to me might have had a totally different assesment of the restaraunt.

I say book a deluxe for a night and surprise whoever you are travelling with.

[wdwfamily4]

I want to stay at a deluxe because I feel that I must be missing something. I don't know what that "something" is. I've been unable to figure it out on my own, so I thought I'd ask for your help. I am a nut for good hotels. But I also appreciate value.
newFLresident-This one sentence really says it all. You will be happier at the Peabody because of the value available to you. You have to get that special feeling of the Disney experience to justify the extra expense. Some do and some don't. Its not something you can be persuaded into. I am assuming you have been to WDW to see what there is to offer since you reference a recent trip and the time it took to get there.

[newFLresident]

mom22gls - Thanks for your reply. I understand why a Disney deluxe is better than a Disney moderate. But what I want to know is why a Disney deluxe is better than an off-site deluxe.

ElephantEars - I agree with your restaurant analogy completely. If a Disney deluxe is really significantly better than an off-site deluxe, I will gladly plunk down my money.

wdwfamily4 - I believe you are correct, but you never know. I thought it would be nice to get another point of view.

I actually did stay at the Contemporary once a few years ago. I had a reservation at the JW Marriott but had not yet checked in. I spent that day at Epcot. I was feeling the "Disney magic" while touring Epcot, so I called the Contemporary to see if they had availability for that night. They did. The room rate was significantly higher than the room at the Marriott, but I decided to book it. We drove from Epcot to the Contemporary at lunch time and checked in. The room was not spectacular by any means, in fact it really didn't seem upscale at all, but I was still feeling the magic and I thought about how wonderful it would be to jump on the monorail after Epcot closed. We returned to Epcot for the remainder of the day.

After Epcot closed at 9:00pm, we headed for the monorail. The wait for an available seat on the monorail was unbearable. The day had been hot, and even though the sun was down, we stood there dripping sweat for what seemed like forever before we were allowed to board. By the time we got to the Contemporary it was after 10:00pm! As we arrived back at the Contemporary, I remember thinking that if I had stayed at the Marriott, I would have been there by now.

We were famished. We searched in vain, but all the restaurants were closed! I couldn't believe it. What kind of "deluxe" hotel would not have a coffee shop to eat at 10:15 pm?! We returned to the room and ordered hamburgers from room service. The food was not good. The bill for the hamburgers? $50.00!

Ever since then I've been really gun shy about booking a Disney deluxe. But I thought, maybe things have changed. I was hoping that someone would gush about their latest stay at a Disney deluxe and would explain what made it so enjoyable. So far, the only real difference between the hotels seems to be location. And in fact, I have yet to hear anyone mention that they were in some way impressed with their actual room at a Disney deluxe.

If anyone would like to share their recent Disney deluxe experience, "I'm all ears!" - pun intended.

[newFLresident]

Woops - one correction to that story. It was the Marriott World Center where I was holding a reservation, not the JW Marriott.

[wdwfamily4]

A few years ago we did stay in a concierges room at the Grand Floridian and there was always a nice spread of wine, cheese and breakfast items available in the lobby.They also had a midday snack if you wanted to relax for a while during the day.The kids also had items to choose from. Value wise it was very good for us because they had upgraded us to concierges from a standard room. It was clean,friendly and somewhat peaceful considering where you are. The room was very nice and showed no wear. I considered the upgrade a nice bonus but maybe not the bargain you would look for. I do think it would be an atmosphere you would appreciate though.

[Greg in TN]

Well, I guess it comes down to what you're really looking for. If all you want is a place to stay so you can drive to the theme parks, then there's not a compelling reason to pay extra to stay on-site.

What I want when I stay on-site is that never ending, all encompassing Disney environment. I want to truly feel like I'm in another "World" when I get there. When I get to my Disney resort, I don't have to leave the Disney environment again, until I'm going home.

I don't have to walk through the parking lot from my car to the tram or the park entrance; or at the end of the day back through the parking lot to my car. I don't have to drive, or handle traffic issues like I do when I'm home. To me, being able to walk out the door of my resort, maybe down a few steps, and be at the Disney transportation stop is SO much more relaxing than driving myself though the streets & interstates of Orlando, that I really don't mind if I have to wait a couple minutes for the bus or monorail or whatever to pick me up (And there's so much more that is available to you if you're staying on-site, like Disney Dining Plans, resort package delivery, Extra Magic Hours in the park, etc--that the discussion could go on for days about them).

The actual rooms themselves, once you're inside & close your door--I don't know that there is a HUGE difference in quality between Disney resorts & off-site resorts of the same caliber. There is a difference, but it's subtle. And, you are surrounded by Disney magic & theming the entire time you're there--the resort, the transportation services, etc, etc.

Does all that cost more ?? Strictly speaking dollars & cents, probably yes. But I feel I get much greater VALUE for my Disney vacation dollar staying on-site. If I'm going to Six Flags, or some other theme park that's not WALT DISNEY WORLD, on-site v. off-site is probably a moot point anyway, but in any event, doesn't make that much difference.. WALT DISNEY WORLD is a special place, and staying on-site is a very special experience.

I'm not going to try to "convince" you to stay on-site. If the Disney magic is not that important to you, then if you do stay on-site you're just going to be grumbling the whole time about the dollars & cents you're spending.

Enjoy your vacation in the way that makes most sense to you. If that's saving money & staying off-site, then by all means do it. If it's becoming totally immersed in the Disney magic & theming the whole time you're there, then that opportunity is there for you too.

[Kwahati]

...If the Disney magic is not that important to you, then if you do stay on-site you're just going to be grumbling the whole time about the dollars & cents you're spending.

Enjoy your vacation in the way that makes most sense to you. If that's saving money & staying off-site, then by all means do it. If it's becoming totally immersed in the Disney magic & theming the whole time you're there, then that opportunity is there for you too.

Bingo! Some people are just more eloquent than I am. :) I feel this sums it up beautifully. There are lots of things that go into this also and I feel the person who mentioned different people's perspectives and experiences was dead on too. I have a wonderful time virtually anywhere I stay so long as it's on property. I've also stayed at some of the nicest hotels in New York, LA and Seattle, and I feel that Disney service matches or surpasses that in most instances. Yes, you'll pay for it, but I have trouble believing you don't one way or another at other places (only exception being if you've got some sort of exclusive deal--for example, my grandfather owns a bunch of stock in a chain of very upscale boutique hotels so I stay there incredibly cheaply...they're great, but I still feel the experience is better at Disney. Maybe not based on value because of the price differential, but the overall experience is just so much more "magical" [for lack of a better word] at Disney)

As far as the story you told of staying at the contemporary: First, correct me if I'm wrong, but staying off site, don't you have to first make it to the TTC to catch your bus home, anyway? So you would've had to catch that same monorail, or another bus at least before you got on your bus to your hotel. To me that means, at the time you were trying to leave, the crowds for the bus to the TTC would've been huge, too, so there's *no* chance you would have been back to your other hotel before you made it back to the CR. Regardless of that, a little knowledge of some tricks to help you avoid crowds would have averted that situation entirely. My group's strategy involves staying for Illuminations and then shopping until the crowds for transportation die down a little. It might take an hour, but I'd rather spend an hour debating the merits of buying certain art than spend a half hour waiting in line for transportation...

As far as prices: The price I saw on the FL Resident page last night was about $200 for AKL and about $220 for CR for certain dates. Yes, a view will cost you more, generally, but (a) if you're going during the offseason, you can always take your chances and see if you can maybe get upgraded for free once you get there, and (b) I don't know of any Mariott where you can have breakfast while staring at a zebra. (I can recommend some hotels in Tanzania and Kenya where you can do that, but the service is terrible, the electricity gets turned off in the middle of the night which sometimes makes it quite cold in your room, and the baboons running back and forth across the roof all night can keep you awake into the wee hours of the morning if you're not used to that sort of thing!) ;)

As far as service, I do feel Disney is second to none. I've even had experiences at WDW moderate hotels that rival some of the best of New York. The problem is, I can't guarantee you will have these experiences (to be fair, though, there can be issues anywhere. It's really an expectations problem.) Virtually the only way to guarantee a flawless vacation is if you go Magic Your Way Platinum. They'll give you a personal vacation planner who will take care of every detail for you. Food, Massages, golf, the best rooms and even fireworks cruises are all included in the price and they'll make sure everything is perfect. They'll also set up all your dining reservations for you and make personalized recommendations. That's the height of service. It'll cost you, but, if you're willing to pay for quality like you claim, go with that and I guarantee you'll never want to vacation any other way.

I just deleted an entire paragraph because I found a better way to sum it up: I hope that whatever you decide, you enjoy yourself. You certainly, however, should not make any decisions based on the experiences of anonymous people you've only spoken to on the internet. If you know you see the world a certain way, that will color your entire vacation and no hotel could possibly live up to your expectations...

[stan4d_steph]

I stayed at the Peabody once as part of a business trip. I wasn't that impressed. I much prefer the Disney hotels. If $250 is your price point, you can get rooms for less than that at deluxe resorts. The most likely to have a good discount is Animal Kingdom Lodge. Since you're local you have more flexibility about when you go and you can take advantage of the FL resident rates.

I actually got a rate less than $250 for the Polynesian (not including tax), but that was with the current "bounce back" discount.

[mzloolue]

Be sure, however, that you don't confuse the Peabody with The Peabody.

The Peabody is an institution worthy of veneration.

[Kwahati]

The Peabody is an institution worthy of veneration.

Are we talking about the awards? :confused:

Edited to add: I'm also seeing a Peabody Hotel in Tennessee, but I'd never have a reason to go there. I'm one of those liberals who only flies over the states in the middle of the country. :)

[newFLresident]

Kwahati - Your reply was one of the most eloquent and well thought out I have ever read. Thanks for taking the time to share your point of view! One of my best friends used to do escorted tours to Africa for Globus and Amex (as well as many other countries). He used to tell me stories of the hotels in Africa slicing a bar of soap to share amongst the guests! And these were top of the line resorts! Too funny. And yes, the Peabody in Tennessee is a sister hotel, but I like you am a liberal who flies over those states! LOL! I just recently moved to rural FL after living in Las Vegas for 12 years. I could tell you some stories about this place that would bring you tears of laughter! Talk about culture shock.

Just to clarify that stay at the Contemporary I mentioned, I was already at Epcot when I made the reservation. I was parked in the Epcot lot and left Epcot to drive to the Contemporary to check in during the afternoon, returning to Epcot on the monorail after checking in. So, If I had kept the reservation at the Marriott, I would have simply driven directly from the Epcot lot at park closing. I hope that clarifies why I felt it would have been quicker to return to the Marriott by car from Epcot, rather than to wait for the monorail to return to the Contemporary.

Having said that, I have concluded that the price difference between the Disney deluxe and the off-site deluxe hotels really boils down to location and atmosphere, rather than actual hotel quality. So for me, it might be worth it if I can find a Disney deluxe in the $200 range. But more than that, and I'd probably be just as happy with a deluxe off-site hotel. I have decided to keep my eye out for specials and start with one of the more affordable Disney deluxe hotels like the AK or FW. We'll see how it goes.

stan4d_steph - It's not that I was more impressed with the Peabody than any other hotel in its class, but for $79.00 the value was awesome, when compared to a rate of $250-$350 per night for a Disney deluxe. Had it been $279.00, I would not have been the least bit impressed.

This may be a bit off-topic, but I monitor the Disney AP and FL resident rates and I often see the "from" rates they advertise. They look tempting. But when I use their site to choose dates, I never seem to find those rates available. I find their site maddening because they tell you to enter a special rate code when booking, but I cannot find a place to do that while searching for rates. Also, you can only pull rates for specific dates. Since I'm flexible, I'd really like to choose a resort, enter a rate code, look at a rate calendar for 30-60 days, and book during times I see the best rates are available. But they force you to choose specific dates before you can view the rate. When the rate is displayed, it never seems to be the "from" rate that I was searching for. And talk about slow. The whole process is cumbersome and tedious.

Thanks to all who took the time to reply! Oh, and Kwahti - I noticed you have a solo trip to WDW coming up. If you'd like to get together for a scotch flight at the Rose and Crown, PM me! I have a feeling we'd get along famously!

[stan4d_steph]

If you're looking to book using a discount code, I'd skip the website. I've never had luck booking through there. Call the reservations line. Much faster and the customer service is really very good. 407 W-DISNEY

$79 is a good rate, but that was through Priceline. No guarantee that you'll get the same hotel again for the same rate. If you're willing to gamble, you can get great deals, but I'd rather get the place I want.

[danyoung]

To me value has nothing to do with the price paid. If a hotel is $300 per night, fine. But it must be a good value, meaning it must have something inherently better than all the other hotels around it that cost $200. I must check-out feeling that it was money well-spent.

At face value, I'd have to say that none of the on-property WDW hotels are a good value, especially at rack rate. But then I'm an annual passholder, so I pay around $60 to $70 for the values, the low $100's for the moderates, and the low $200's for a deluxe. And even at that rate I have a hard time justifying the deluxe resorts. Part of that is simply cuz I'm not made of money. But like you I usually just can't see spending over $200 a night on a room.

Now, with that said, I've stayed at the Contemporary Resort and the Animal Kingdom Lodge in the past, and have had a terrific time. But in all cases the rooms were in the low to mid $100's, which made it a great value for me. Unless I suddenly turn into a lot richer guy than I've been for my first 51 years on the planet, I'll remain a happy moderate resident.

But if money were no object, I'd definitely go for an on-site deluxe over a downtown Orlando resort like the Peabody. With all of the qualities, features and benefits of staying on property listed above, the only one that really affects me is the sense of total immersion. Once I cross under that arched WDW sign, I'm officially on vacation, and not living in the real world at all! This is very important to me, and something that I never understood untill I stayed on property for the first time. It's an intangible, but completely real and valid benefit, and one that I simply won't do without in the future. As I said, I'm a happy moderate user, but I've enjoyed stays at the Pop Century when money was extra tight. Perhaps this year will be strong enough to where I can get a Contemporary tower room overlooking the Magic Kingdom (a really cool location!). But I won't be paying $250 to $300 for that room.

[newFLresident]

Great response danyoung. Thanks for taking the time to give your opinion. I think we are on the same page. Now that I understand that the main benefit of an on-site deluxe as opposed to an off-site deluxe is the immersion factor, the trick is finding those good deals to get the best value.

For the past decade or so, I've worked for many major internet-based travel companies in one capacity or another. Although I'm on the technology end, I understand how the call centers work. Most internet travel providers are able to give such good deals because they can use automation to complete bookings instead of relying on call center agents to fill rooms/seats, etc. This allows for lower overhead. I know that call center agents are judged based not only their product knowledge and how they treat customers, but also on the number of calls they can take in one day, and often how many bookings they can complete (sales they can make).

I hate to call the Disney folks and get some poor agent on the phone while I just "kick the tires". It just makes me feel guilty. Agents hate this and they can spot a "looky-loo" from a mile away. As soon as they know you are not committed to booking, they will usually do the minimum to answer your questions, while getting you off the phone as quickly as possible. I can't blame them. Often times, their livelihoods depend on it.

But since the Disney booking site is so awful, it seems the only way to approach this is to call the Disney folks, tell them I am looking for a deluxe, give them a range of travel dates, and ask how I can get the best deal. God forbid if I have to be armed with a slew of booking codes when I do this. I've never been sure if booking codes must be known by the traveller in order to take advantage of them, or if the agents will apply them automatically as necessary.

If anyone has any tips on obtaining the best hotel deals when calling Disney, I'd sure be interested to hear them.

[stan4d_steph]

If anyone has any tips on obtaining the best hotel deals when calling Disney, I'd sure be interested to hear them.Sign up to receive the Mousesavers.com (http://www.Mousesavers.com) newsletter once a month, and also to get any hot deal emails. It is not an overwhelming amount of email, so don't worry about getting spammed. Alternatively, you can keep checking back at the website for updates. That's the best place to find all of the latest codes and deals for all things WDW.

[Kwahati]

I hate to call the Disney folks and get some poor agent on the phone while I just "kick the tires". It just makes me feel guilty. Agents hate this and they can spot a "looky-loo" from a mile away. As soon as they know you are not committed to booking, they will usually do the minimum to answer your questions, while getting you off the phone as quickly as possible. I can't blame them. Often times, their livelihoods depend on it.

I'm pretty sure that Disney's call centers are not like that. I've never had a problem with feeling like they're trying to rush me off the phone before. They always seem quite happy to answer my questions... And sometimes my questions are quite vague including: "Are there any discounts that might apply to my stay?" In fact, many times they have been able to find me discounts I did not know about before calling. I don't think they'd bother if they were under the gun to get their call volume up like other places. Like I've indicated previously, I think Disney's service is second to none and they'll go the extra mile to get you there and show you a great time. Hope that helps on two fronts... :D